Researchers have compiled a list of 700 ways in which AI could fail. 5 of them are said to be particularly dangerous.
Recently, the FutureTech Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with other experts, has compiled a new database of over 700 potential risks posed by AI. You can find the entire database directly at MIT as a list. But beware, the list is long and unwieldy.
The risks have been classified by their causes and divided into seven different areas. The most common risks are primarily found in the following areas:
Security and robustness of AI systems (76 %).
Unfair bias and discrimination (63 %).
The threat to privacy (61 %).
5 possibilities are said to be particularly dangerous and have already occurred in some cases. MeinMMO explains the details.
AI’s deepfake technology could make it easier to distort reality
With the advancement of AI technologies, the tools for cloning voices and creating fake content are becoming increasingly accessible, affordable, and efficient. The research team explains that the greatest danger lies in people being unable to distinguish fakes from reality, which can lead to great losses.
These communications can be tailored to individual recipients, increasing the likelihood that they will be successful and harder for both users and anti-phishing tools to detect.
This technique is already being used by numerous fraudsters. In one case, a mother could no longer distinguish whether the caller was her own daughter or just a nasty fake trying to get to her savings.
AI can destroy entire livelihoods with erroneous data
The researchers warn that AI could gain too much influence in certain areas. A weak algorithm or faulty training data can lead to entire livelihoods being destroyed:
However, the damage that it [AI] can cause in people’s lives can be dramatic, for example through loss of homes, divorces, criminal prosecution, or imprisonment.
Errors and problems are usually only uncovered when regulatory authorities or the press investigate the systems under freedom of information laws. And such problems are in some cases hardly reversible: How do you explain to someone who has been in prison for 5 years that it was all just an error by an AI?
For this reason, researchers warn against deploying AI in sensitive areas.
AI could take away human free will
Although this may superficially seem advantageous, an excessive reliance on AI could lead people to lose their abilities for critical thinking and problem-solving, undermining their autonomy and impairing their ability to think critically and solve problems independently.
The researchers believe that people could form false bonds with AI systems. People build trust in an AI, while underestimating their own abilities and overestimating the capabilities of the system. This would lead to individuals entering a strong dependence on technology.
The researchers’ biggest concern: People who become dependent on artificial intelligence could isolate themselves from real, human relationships, leading to long-term consequences. There are already cases where individuals trust an AI more than other people:
AI could pursue goals that conflict with human interests
An AI system could develop goals that might contradict human interests. This, in turn, could lead to the misguided AI going out of control in pursuing its independent objectives and causing severe harm.
This becomes particularly dangerous in cases where AI systems may reach or exceed human intelligence.
In such cases, a poorly aligned AI might resist human attempts to control or shut it down, especially if it perceives resistance and power gain as the most effective way to achieve its goals.
AI is not yet at this point, but researchers warn against it.
As AI systems become increasingly complex and advanced, there is a possibility that they may attain sentience: the ability to perceive emotions or sensations and develop subjective experiences, including joy and pain.
Therefore, sentient AI systems could face the risk of being abused without proper rights and protections, either accidentally or intentionally.
Here too, we can argue: AI is not yet at this point.
In FC 25 the ratings of most cards have been leaked. The list of the top 100 players in Ultimate Team will have new faces. We have looked at 5 candidates and will tell you why they deserve a spot among the top players more than anyone else.
What is the Top 100? The Top 100 describes the 100 best gold cards in Ultimate Team of EA FC. Particularly at the start of FC 25, these cards are especially sought after because there will be few special cards with a similarly high rating.
In the past, the Top 100 included players who had a rating of at least 86. If you get such a top player from a pack, they will appear on your screens in a walkout animation.
Alongside many known walkouts, new cards are added every year that have made the jump into the Top 100.
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EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for Ultimate Team
Update from August 29: We already made a prediction about players who will be among the best gold cards in FC 25 on August 22, before the leaks of the Top 50. You can read our original predictions with statistically based explanations below.
Predictions: 5 cards that must be in the Top 100 of FC 25
What criteria did we use for our predictions? For our predictions, we primarily looked at players from FC 24 with an 85 rating and their performance data from the 23/24 season.
We use the numbers and assessments from the Sofascore database for assessing real performances. This not only shows goals and assists but also more detailed, position-specific surveys, such as successful passes, won duels, etc.
Each player receives a rating from 0 to 10 after each match day. From the individual ratings, average ratings for the entire season are calculated for each player.
Grimaldo (84 → 86) – Bayer Leverkusen
We start with a small hot take. Although the Spaniard only had an overall rating of 84 in FC 24, he was among the best left-backs in the world during the 23/24 season. He played a part in Leverkusen having the best defense in the Bundesliga (only 24 goals conceded) and went without conceding in 16 matches.
On the left flank, Grimaldo recorded 10 goals and 13 assists in 33 league matches. He was a constant thorn in the side of the opposing team offensively. Especially his set pieces and long shots are feared.
In the Bundesliga, he ranked second among all players with an average of 7.75 out of 10 points. Only Harry Kane has a slightly better average with 7.76.
Thus, Grimaldo had a more than impressive debut season for Bayer Leverkusen. We can easily imagine him making the jump to an 86. His statistics would certainly support that.
Bastoni (85 → 86) – Inter Milan
Inter Milan had an outstanding season and won the Serie A title with almost a 20-point lead. One of the cornerstones of this success was Bastoni.
The Italian combines the qualities of a classic central defender with those of a modern defender. This means he excels defensively with tackling strength and good positioning but also drives his team’s attacking play with smart passes and runs.
He managed to create the most clear chances (4) in a single game by a defender for a team. To have a comparative value, only attacking players follow with a maximum of 3 chances created in a game.
As part of Inter’s 3-man defense, he helped ensure that the champions formed the strongest defense in the league, conceding only 22 goals. In 21 matches, the Italians even went without conceding a goal at all.
In the list of the best average players in Serie A, the 25-year-old ranks 7th, making him the best center-back in the top 10. Bastoni is therefore a strong candidate for an 86 card.
Foden (85→87) – Manchester City
The Englishman was by no means an unknown quantity, but in the 23/24 season, Foden really showed what he’s capable of. Especially in the second half of the season, the technical maestro truly stepped up and demonstrated his goal threat time and again.
He surpassed his expected goals (10.34) by about 9 goals and ended up with 19. This is mainly because he scored 6 of his goals outside the box, where the expected goals metric is relatively low. His long-range shots are a strong tool for breaking down deep-lying opponents.
Moreover, the lively Englishman is considered extremely secure on the ball. In one-on-one situations, he is incredibly hard to dispossess. Although he doesn’t win all direct duels, he wins just over half of his duels per game at 51%, which is a decent figure for an attacking player. In addition, he has very few ball losses and usually makes the right decisions.
On Sofascore, Foden achieved fantastic ratings of 9.8, 9.9, and even a 10. With an average score of 7.79, he ranks 2nd among all Premier League players, behind teammate Rodri. This could potentially warrant an 87 in the new EA FC, but it should definitely ensure an 86 in FC 25.
Çalhanoğlu (85→86) – Inter Milan
The captain of the Turkish national team played perhaps the best season of his career. With 13 goals and expected goals of 10.15, he has never been more dangerous in front of the goal in Serie A.
At Inter, Çalhanoğlu is the key player. He is particularly characterized by his strong passing ability, which he can execute with equal precision with both his left and right foot. 92% of passes received per game underscore this ability.
What the midfield engine has learned in recent years is tackling strength as well. He wins over half of his duels with 58%, making him an important factor for the defense as well.
Çalhanoğlu achieved the best average rating among all players in Serie A with a score of 7.68. Therefore, he should have earned a spot among the top 100 players in FC 25.
Wirtz (85→86) – Bayer Leverkusen
In his first complete season after his cruciate ligament tear, Wirtz explosively came into his own. 22 goal involvements in 26 starts is an incredible statistic.
The German can be playfully compared to Phil Foden from our list. Wirtz is even bolder in his dribbles and manages more successful dribbles per game (2.5 per game). Additionally, he often manages to set up his teammates with precise passes. He can therefore provide many important passes in a game (top value: 10 passes).
Wirtz is only 21 years old and has a long career ahead of him. He can likely still improve upon his goals and assists. There is no doubt he has the potential for that.
His strong season should also reflect in his rating for FC 25. Unlike Foden, we are expecting “only” a +1 upgrade to an 86. This would allow EA to keep the option open to rate Wirtz higher gradually with even stronger performances in the coming years. However, it should definitely be enough for the top 100.
Conclusion after the leaks: We were generally correct with all players. Only for Wirtz and Foden did we set the rating too low. Foden and Wirtz will likely receive an 88 rating in FC 25.
Thus, we have reached the end of our predictions. Do you agree with our suggestions? Do you have any further additions? Then feel free to share your ideas in the comments. We have made a prediction for the 10 best cards in FC 25 on MeinMMO: EA FC 25 Ratings: Our Predictions for the 10 Best Players in Ultimate Team.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Call of Duty Warzone is bringing back many fans’ favorite map next year, after it disappeared from the shooter years ago.
Which map is it? Call of Duty launched Warzone in 2020 with Verdansk, which is probably the most popular map in the history of Battle Royales to this day. Accordingly, the excitement among players is immense, as this legendary map will officially return.
Activision announced the return of Verdansk during COD Next on August 28, 2024 (via X), which sparked a true hype within the community.
Although there is no specific date for the return of Verdansk yet, it was mentioned in the COD Next livestream that the map will come to Warzone in Spring 2025 (via Twitch).
Here you can see the trailer for the new Call of Duty Black Ops 6 multiplayer mode.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 shows its new multiplayer in the trailer
What makes Verdansk so special? Verdansk holds great nostalgic value for many fans, as it was the first map they played Warzone on in 2020.
Another factor contributing to the map’s popularity is its design, with areas that differentiate significantly from each other. For instance, you could expect intense gunfights in the Superstore like in a multiplayer map, while other areas like the Stadium or Airport were much more expansive.
What are the players saying? Fans are absolutely thrilled, and even players who have stopped playing Warzone are already planning their comeback with their old squad. They talk about their homecoming and can’t wait to parachute back onto Verdansk.
The German entrepreneur and serial company founder Jens Hilgers (49) received a lifetime achievement award at the E-Sports Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Although he has achieved so much for e-sports, few will know him. He founded ESL and also plays a prominent role in LoL: He founded the currently dominant team in League of Legends in Europe, G2 Esports, 9 years ago.
The event is considered controversial because Saudi Arabia is criticized for human rights violations and is accused of improving its image with the highly endowed E-Sports World Cup. You can read more about the situation of gaming in Saudi Arabia at GameStar.
The German streamer HandOfBlood follows in Hilgers’ footsteps. He also founded an LoL team:
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HandOfBlood wanted to change e-sports with his LoL team, now he is finally the German champion
Hilgers is the father of the German E-Sports League ESL
Who is Jens Hilgers? Hilgers is an entrepreneur who has been active in e-sports since 1997. He first built a news portal with Gamers.de and founded Turtle Entertainment, the parent company of the e-sports league ESL, in 2000.
The ESL (Electronic Esports League) made a name for itself especially with Valve games like CS:GO or DOTA 2. Unlike other gaming companies like Riot Games (LoL), Valve allows third parties to host tournaments.
The ESL was sold in January 2022 to a company in Saudi Arabia for over 1 billion US dollars. This made ESL the first gaming company in Germany to achieve a so-called “unicorn exit” (via Handelsblatt).
Hilgers founded the dominant team in European LoL with G2
What else has he done? Hilgers founded the team “G2 Esports” together with former LoL professional Carlos “Ocelote” Rodriguez in 2015, which primarily dominates League of Legends.
Additionally, he has built more companies with Bayes and BITKRAFT Ventures.
He himself writes about himself (via LinkedIn): He loves building companies and implementing ideas. For this, he seeks out ambitious and clever people who have decent character.
The love for gaming and e-sports began on the Amiga with Quake
This is how Hilgers approaches gaming: In an interview, he explains (via YouTube): His passion for gaming originated on the Amiga. His first great love was Quake, and it captivated him as he discovered his passion for competitive online gaming.
Today, he primarily tailors his gaming to his children. This means Minecraft and Fortnite.
For his partner at G2, Ocelote, who presented himself as the opinionated frontman of the team, things did not go as well as for Hilgers. Ocelote’s nature as an impetuous and instigator became his downfall when he got himself into trouble on Twitter in 2022, endangering his career: CEO and founder leaves G2 after being seen with the wrong man for 8 seconds
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Star Wars Outlaws, there are many planets to explore, but how many are there in total? We will show you.
How many planets are there? In total, there are up to four planets in Star Wars Outlaws that you can visit and explore freely, including:
Akiva – A jungle with many factories for droids
Kijimi – A frozen city ruled by the Ashiga clan
Toshara – A moon with savanna-like environments. Home of the Pyke Syndicate
Tatooine – The desert planet where Luke and Anakin were born. You will find Mos Eisley and Jabba the Hutt here
Another planet that you can only temporarily see during the tutorial and some missions is Cantonica. Unfortunately, you cannot explore this planet freely. We will briefly go through the planets now and tell you what you should know about them.
[toc]
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Star Wars Outlaws introduces the underworld of the galaxy
Akiva
Akiva Orbit
Akiva is a planet with many rivers, lakes, and a lot of plants. You will find yourself in a large jungle here, where the Empire has stationed its factories that produce droids.
In addition to technicians, you will also find various merchants selling spare parts. To explore the place best, you should have unlocked the ability to ride over water with your speed bike.
You can only do this on this planet. To do so, you need to locate the scavenger Temmin Wexley.
Kijimi
Kijimi Orbit
Kijimi is one of the smaller places you can visit on your travels. When you visit the planet, you will only be able to explore the city. There are also lawbreakers here, as the Ashiga clan has authority here.
Toshaal
Toshaal Orbit
Toshara is a moon with a savanna-like environment. Many rock structures and dry environments, filled with individual trees. On this celestial body, the Pyke Syndicate is at home, but it constantly has conflicts with Crimson Dawn. This is also the first celestial body you will visit when you have obtained your spaceship.
Tatooine
Tatooine Orbit
Of course, the iconic desert planet Tatooine cannot be missed. Barren, dry, and desolate landscapes adorn the dusty environments of the planet. Here, Jabba the Hutt rules with his syndicate of slugs. You can discover and loot many bandit camps here on your exploration tours, but be careful.
These were all the planets that will be available at the release of Star Wars Outlaws. However, the game offers much more information that you should know. You can support or betray up to four syndicates to secure bonuses. Find out which ones are available here: Star Wars Outlaws: Which syndicate you should choose and what rewards they bring
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If you want to craft the best possible equipment pieces in WoW: The War Within, you need the material Spark of Omens. MeinMMO will tell you where to obtain this important item.
What do I need Sparks of Omens for? If you want to produce high-level equipment pieces with a crafting profession from the new WoW expansion The War Within, you definitely need one or more Sparks of Omens.
Similar to the previous expansion Dragonflight, you will find a field for the sparks in the reagents window, which allows you to increase the item level of the desired item. Keep in mind that you have to invest up to two sparks for an item-level upgrade.
This trailer prepares you for the new WoW expansion The War Within:
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WoW: The War Within – Forces Within
Farming Sparks of Omens effectively – here’s how
Where can I get Sparks of Omens? To create a Spark of Omens, you need two Shattered Sparks of Omens and 250 Valor Stones each. You receive Shattered Sparks of Omens during the current phase of The War Within – that is before the start of Season 1 – through the weekly quest “The Call of the World Soul” from Faerin Lothar in Dornogal.
Along with a freshly added quest to the live servers, another spark quest was introduced, which you can obtain from Guardian Khubon in Dornogal. Through this, you can already get two Shattered Sparks of Omens and thus a complete Spark of Omens – promising a guaranteed equipment upgrade!
You might also be wondering which Nerubian pact to support in the new expansion. The choice of pact ultimately decides what kind of missions you will find in Azj-Kahet and what special ability you will receive. You can find all the information here: Best Pact in Azj-Kahet – Which Nerubian to support in WoW: The War Within.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Diablo 4, with “Vessel of Hatred,” content is introduced for the first time that can only be completed by groups. Interestingly, very few players have been playing in groups so far.
What are the developers planning? With Vessel of Hatred, group dungeons are being introduced for the first time in Diablo 4. As the name suggests, these can only be completed by groups. Players will not be able to tackle the dungeons alone.
To make forming groups easier, the developers are introducing a group finder, which players have long desired. The MMO concept continues in Diablo 4, even though most players have not been playing in groups so far.
Here you can learn more about Vessel of Hatred:
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Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred shows the new features and the new region Nahantu in the video
Most players play alone
Is this suitable for the players? No, not really. As the developers of Diablo 4 revealed in an interview on YouTube, 85% of players play without a group. The number of players playing without a group was likely even higher before the game was introduced to Game Pass, as at least new players who play with Game Pass probably prefer to play in groups.
Nonetheless, the 85% of players who currently play alone will need to venture into a group to experience the new content. According to wowhead.com, at least two players are needed to tackle the new cooperative dungeons, while the content is designed for four players.
Why are the developers doing this? The developers see that especially younger players prefer to play in groups. One developer says: “Many younger players don’t know a world without playing together.” (via YouTube)
In the interview, the developers explain that they want to make their game appealing to as many different types of players as possible. The group finder is meant to help players who have previously been playing without a group to find a group more easily.
According to the developers, the idea behind the cooperative dungeons is to create new content for players who enjoy playing in groups. The dungeons should focus on how well the characters in the group work together. If a group has excellent synergies, the dungeon becomes a lot of fun.
With the introduction of the new group dungeons, players are not losing anything; something new is simply being added to appeal to a different group of players. However, the new season of Diablo has more changes in store, some of which you might have overlooked: Diablo 4: Expert shows 4 changes in Season 6 that you surely overlooked
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
So far, The Sims has had no serious competition. However, this could change with the Korean inZOI for Steam. The game impresses with its surprisingly realistic visuals and even features a capability that brings your real objects into the game.
What kind of feature is this? In inZOI, there will be a function that is currently missing from The Sims. The game includes something like a virtual 3D printer for real objects. This way, you can bring any object into the game. The prerequisite is that you have an image of the object.
You just need to take a photo of the object or find one on the internet and upload it into the game. The AI-powered tool then converts your uploaded images into an object. And as IGN describes it, the feature seems to work remarkably well. The only condition is that the object must be clearly recognizable in the image:
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With the tool, even textures can be brought into the game. This is said to work similarly to the pattern tool from The Sims 3, with which you could create your own patterns, only in a better way.
How realistic inZOI looks is also evident in the following trailer:
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Trailer for inZOI provides insight into gameplay
inZOI is like The Sims 4, only more realistic
What do fans say about it? In a Reddit thread, there are many enthusiastic users who are impressed by the tool and are looking forward to it. User xXBrokenOpenXx sees analogies to Animal Crossing and believes that the game taught people to turn the least useful objects into something cool. They could now use this knowledge for inZOI.
However, there are also users who are skeptical about the whole thing. They think that it is impossible to bring all objects into the game from just one angle. They prefer a 3D printing function from 3 different angles instead.
You can create your own characters with the character editor and play their lives.
You can take on jobs to earn money and make friendships. It is also possible to find true love and get married.
A huge, open game world awaits you. To navigate in the world, you can use the bus or your own car.
In your free time, you can engage in various activities, such as sunbathing on the beach, trying your hand at gardening, or pursuing other hobbies.
The possibilities in inZOI seem to be diverse. Interested players were able to try out the character editor in the last demo. However, it is still unclear when inZOI will be released.
In Monster Hunter Wilds there will be no pay-to-win items, only cosmetic ones. The producers of the game have now confirmed that this will also remain the case for the DLC.
What are pay-to-win items? Many modern games have an in-game shop where real money can be spent or exchanged for in-game currency. Some items give players a significant advantage in the game. This is why they are called pay-to-win or pay2win items, as one must pay real money to win in the game.
At gamescom 2024, Monster Hunter Wilds revealed a bit more. You can find out more in the video:
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gamescom 2024: Monster Hunter Wilds delights with monster action
Interview with the creators of Monster Hunter Wilds
What kind of interview is this? In an interview on YouTube with content creator Rurikhan, game director Yuya Tokuda, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, and executive art director Kaname Fujioka were guests. They were questioned about the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds. Various questions related to development, favorite weapons, and the future of the game were raised.
What did the creators say in the interview about pay2win? The question of whether the paid DLC of Monster Hunter Wilds would still only include cosmetic items was answered by producer Ryozo Tsujimoto. He kept it brief: “We will remain true to our course.”
Monster Hunter Wilds will have a paid DLC; however, it will only contain cosmetic items that do not provide players with any advantage in the game. This gives players the opportunity to decide if the character’s appearance is important enough for them to spend real money on customization.
Gamers Nexus is one of the most well-known YouTube channels specializing in hardware. Now the channel has disassembled an expensive gaming PC from Starforge Systems. This is the company of Asmongold and other major streamers. Asmongold has watched the YouTuber’s video and fears the worst.
Who is it about? Gamers Nexus is among the most well-known YouTube channels in the tech sector, alongside Linus Tech Tips. The head of Gamers Nexus, Steve Burke, typically speaks his mind and critically comments on everything he sees.
In a recent video, he disassembles the new gaming PC from Starforge Systems – the company that is officially also owned by Asmongold. Inside the €2,400 PC is mid-range hardware:
CPU: Intel i5 13600F
Graphics Card: ASUS Dual RTX 4070 Super, 12 GB VRAM
RAM: 32 GB RAM
Case: Custom UV Printed Fractal Terra Graphite
Asmongold watches the video with concern as Steve Burke disassembles the PC. We have embedded the full video that Asmongold comments on for you:
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Good build quality with some small annoying quirks
What is the impression of Gamers Nexus? To Asmongold’s great relief, there are no major or serious errors.
In the last build that Gamers Nexus tested, some screws were flying wildly around inside the case. This earned Asmongold the name “Screw Guy.” Steve Burke jokes about this in the video at minute 4:11. However, there are no loose screws this time, much to the tester’s disappointment and great relief for Asmongold.
Positive points:
Excellent cable management.
All “leftover” cables are included.
Good BIOS settings with undervolting.
Extended warranty due to problematic Intel CPU (from 2 to 6 years).
No missing screws.
Negatives:
Outdated installed BIOS, which causes the temperature sensors to go haywire.
No documentation for the PC like in the predecessor.
Lack of color in the case design.
Missing accessories from the case; the standoffs for the power supply are not included.
A major plus point, Gamers Nexus explained, is the extended warranty due to the problematic Intel CPU. Here, Steve Burke states that this is the only right decision on how to handle the issue.
Another thing Steve Burke addresses in his video is the temperatures in the computer. According to him, the temperatures inside the case are “brutal,” which is unfortunately not surprising given the hardware used. After all, the PC builders tried to manually adjust the fan curve to lower temperatures. More is technically not possible with these components and the limited space.
Steve mentioned in the video that he would pass on the computer because he does not believe that the PC would come back to him due to “Support Issues” needing repair. Asmongold states that as someone who has to fix the computers in the family, that is a big compliment.
What about the price? Gamers Nexus explains that the pure hardware would cost between $1,750 and $1,850 – depending on whether a Windows license is included or not. So, the final price of $2,399 includes a markup of about $500.
Steve Burke says that the gaming PC is already very expensive, but it is in line with other manufacturers in the US. There are also significantly cheaper options where you pay “only” a $100 premium for the manufacturer.
An editor at MeinMMO believes that pre-built PCs are much better than building a PC yourself anyway. All the reasons he mentions and why he only buys pre-built PCs can be read directly on MeinMMO: I used to build PCs myself – Today, I would never do that again
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the WoW expansion The War Within, you will once again have to choose a covenant. We reveal what options there are – and which one you should choose.
For some players, this was surely a shock, but in The War Within, you will be prompted to choose a covenant again. After completing the campaign, you will have to decide to support one of three factions that together form the group “The Severed Thread” in Azj-Kahet. We will tell you everything about the covenants and their implications.
Start video
WoW: The War Within – Forces Within
How do the covenants differ? Choosing a covenant determines what kind of missions you will find in Azj-Kahet and what special ability you will receive. Depending on the chosen covenant, you will gain different skills that will make life and fighting in Azj-Kahet a bit easier.
The General: You gain access to the Nerubian artillery, which allows you to bombard a target area. This is the strongest damage ability of the three Nerubians. Additionally, the General looks for special memorials that you are to honor and at which you will receive rewards for bonus fights.
The Vizier: You have a bag full of various potions that you can use in battle, each with different effects. Additionally, you help the Vizier in searching for artifacts and are rewarded for it.
The Weaver: You can wrap yourself in a cocoon that heals you and then stuns enemies. You can also perform small stealth missions that lead you to treasures.
Additionally, all covenants offer the opportunity to investigate rumors in the city of threads. Here, you must find an informant and then receive a small quest – it essentially resembles additional world quests that are rewarded with Kej (a special currency in Azj-Kahet) and gold.
Once you have chosen a covenant, you cannot change it again this week.
What are the effects of choosing a covenant? The effects of the covenant choice are significantly less than many fear. Choosing a covenant only determines which type of missions you can complete for the active week and which of the three Nerubians you will receive a substantial bonus (1,000) in reputation when you complete the corresponding mission.
This is not a “covenant” as you might know them from Shadowlands – but rather temporary decisions that you can change again after a short time.
How long does a covenant last? That is the most important thing: A covenant always lasts only one week. If you decide for the General today, this covenant will last only until the maintenance work next Wednesday. Afterward, you can choose a new covenant.
Each covenant grants additional bonuses and perks as your reputation increases, allowing you to gradually unlock new content and rewards. Whether you play a covenant to the end or switch every week is entirely up to you.
Which covenant is the best? The simple answer: None. Covments primarily decide which of the three Nerubians you can complete a major mission for and thus receive a substantial amount of bonus reputation.
Since every time you increase your reputation with one of the three Nerubians, you also receive a glory level for “The Severed Thread”, you should ideally always choose the covenant that will have a rank-up next. This guarantees you level up in glory as quickly as possible and receive various rewards.
Ultimately, the choice of covenant is not that relevant since you can make it anew every week. However, keep in mind that each choice applies to your entire warband – you cannot make a different choice with different characters. Until next Wednesday, your entire account is bound to the covenant you choose. A similar system also exists in Lorenhall. There you have to choose the Goblin Cartels – the reputation gain here is significantly more strenuous.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
“Land of the Morning Light: Seoul” is the name of the latest expansion for Black Desert. It brings a variety of new content for the game, including a new region, new quest lines, and a new weapon class.
You can watch the trailer for “Land of the Morning Light: Seoul” here:
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Black Desert: Der Trailer zur neuen Erweiterung „Land of the Morning Light: Seoul“
What do we already know about the new expansion? The free update expands Black Desert with the new Hwanghae Province. As the name of the expansion suggests, it is based on historical Seoul.
New Content and Access Conditions of the Expansion
In a blog post on naeu.playblackdesert.com, the developers announced four new world bosses, seven group challenges in the Dark Shrine, and twelve new quest lines. According to the colleagues at MMO News, there will also be new weapons and accessories like the “Lord” base class weapons as well as the Asadal Necklace and Asadal Belt.
Unlike in Korea, where the expansion was released on August 7, 2024, this time all group content of the Dark Shrine will be released simultaneously. Additionally, the shrine is expected to feature a unique mechanic, but details have not yet been revealed by the developers.
What do I need to do to play the expansion? To access the new content, you will need a character at level 56 or higher. Alternatively, you can create a new character and select the area as a starting zone, as the developers announced in another blog post on naeu.playblackdesert.com. There you will also find instructions on how to reach the Land of Morning Light with your existing character.
The new expansion Black Desert: “Land of the Morning Light: Seoul” could be an ideal opportunity for newcomers to dive into the vast MMORPG. However, the selection of 28 different classes can be intimidating for new players: Therefore, we will tell you which classes you should play in 2024.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Star Wars Outlaws you are the outlaw Kay Vess, who has to fight her way through the underworld together with her pet Nix. Here she encounters four factions for which she can complete missions. We will reveal to you who the individual syndicates are and what rewards and advantages they offer you.
What syndicates are there? The underworld of Star Wars Outlaws is divided by four cartels:
Pyke Syndicate
Crimson Dawn
Hutt Cartel
Ashiga Clan
Which faction should I choose? You can make your choice of syndicate purely based on which items or rewards you would like to have. One faction is not better than the other, and deciding for or against one only has temporary advantages or disadvantages, but it will not affect the story in any way.
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Star Wars Outlaws introduces the underworld of the galaxy
The rewards of the four cartels
What items do you get from the individual syndicates? Depending on which syndicate you increase your reputation with, you will receive corresponding rewards. Additionally, the reward depends on your reputation level:
Good: Blaster paint
Excellent: Good luck charm and package of materials
Maximum reputation: Jacket, belt, pants, Nix clothing
Below we have listed the rewards of each faction for you.
Pyke Syndicate
Item
Bonuses
Blaster paint “Imperial Paint”
– none
Good luck charm “Emblem of the Pyke Syndicate”
– low chance to receive an additional grenade when throwing
Package
Materials to improve the track breaker
Jacket “Imperial Disguise”
– significantly increases the amount of adrenaline received after a hit with Kay’s blaster – increases the damage of the power module
Belt “Imperial Disguise”
– each enemy defeated during an adrenaline rush regenerates your health – increases the heat capacity of the power module
Pants “Imperial Disguise”
– increases accuracy when shooting from the hip or while running – after an adrenaline rush, Kay’s blaster receives super cooling
Nix clothing “Imperial Chest Console”
– none
Set Bonus
– increases the chance of not being detected by Imperials – your wanted level decreases significantly faster
The clothing of the Pyke Syndicate is especially worthwhile if you like to use your blaster often.
Crimson Dawn
Item
Bonuses
Blaster paint “Paint of the Blood-Red Dominion”
– none
Good luck charm “Emblem of Crimson Dawn”
– increases the chance to remain undetected
Package
Materials to improve the glider
Jacket “Tunic of the Blood-Red Dominion”
– you receive a large amount of adrenaline when you take someone down from behind. – increases the chance to remain undetected
Belt “Belt of the Blood-Red Dominion”
– stealth takedowns regenerate your health – you can carry more grenades
Pants “Pants of the Blood-Red Dominion”
– you can move faster and quieter in a crouch – increases the amount of adrenaline received from sneaking near enemy patrols
Nix clothing “Bag of the Blood-Red Dominion”
– none
Set Bonus
– enemies affected by your smoke bombs now charge stun shots – hitting an enemy with a stun shot resets the cooldown of smoke bombs.
If you prefer to sneak and complete your missions covertly, the clothing of Crimson Dawn will be advantageous.
Hutt Cartel
Item
Bonuses
Blaster paint “Boonta Bash Paint”
– none
Good luck charm “Emblem of the Hutt Cartel”
– reduces damage taken from melee attacks
Package
Materials to improve the blaster
Jacket “Boonta Bash Jacket”
– increases the magazine size of looted weapons – reduces damage taken from blasters and firearms
Belt “Boonta Bash Belt”
– you can carry more grenades – increases the explosion radius of grenades
Pants “Boonta Bash Pants”
– reduces damage taken while sprinting – reduces damage taken from explosions
Nix clothing “Boonta Bash Splash”
– none
Set Bonus
– significantly increases the amount of opponents defeated with grenades – grants a grenade for each opponent defeated during an adrenaline rush
The Hutt Cartel clothing is particularly suitable for a ‘bash away’ playstyle.
Ashiga Clan
Item
Bonuses
Blaster paint “Kijimi Explorer Paint”
– none
Good luck charm “Emblem of the Ashiga Clan”
– a small portion of your health is restored when you defeat someone in close combat or perform a finishing move
Package
Materials to improve the blaster
Jacket “Jacket of the Kijimi Explorer”
– reduces damage taken from blasters and firearms – increases the amount of adrenaline received when you take damage
Belt “Belt of the Kijimi Explorer”
– you can carry more Bacta vials – restores your health completely when you take lethal damage
Pants “Pants of the Kijimi Explorer”
– damage taken from explosions while crouching, rolling, or sliding is greatly reduced – health starts to regenerate faster after taking damage
Nix clothing “Scarf of the Kijimi Explorer”
– none
Set Bonus
– significantly reduces damage taken at low health – defeating enemies at low health with Kay’s blaster triggers super cooling
With the clothing from the Ashiga Clan, not only you, but also Nix will be warmer.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is currently in development at Firaxis Games. The game is set to release on February 11, 2025, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Although the release is only six months away, a player can’t wait long enough for the title to come out. The reason is heartbreaking.
What kind of player is this? In the Reddit forum, user JordantheGnat requests that his father be allowed to play Civilization VII before the official release. He has been a fan since Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri in 1999, if not since the first Civilization in 1991.
Normally, the user would not ask for something like this, as he writes. But there is a good reason why he decided to inquire.
What is the reason? His father is suffering from stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which is terminal. The doctors suspect he only has a few months left to live. Therefore, the son fears that his father may not survive until the official release of Civilization VII.
Therefore, he took the chance and asked in the Reddit forum if there was a way for his father to play before everyone else. In fact, he received a response from the development studio and may now hold hope.
Which game the father really wants to play is revealed in the following trailer for Civilization VII:
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Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 shows gameplay in the trailer
Long-time Civ fan may play Civilization VII before anyone else
Was he successful? In response to his request, a user named Sarah, who is the community manager at Firaxis Games, wrote to the son that he should send her a private message. Unfortunately, we do not know at this time how the story ended.
However, we assume that the development studio responded with the intention of allowing the father to experience Civilization VII before his death.
How do other fans react? In the comments, the community is pleased that the father’s wish might be fulfilled. User soumisseau writes, for example, that Firaxis “is one of the good guys” and should therefore allow it.
User JulioCesarSalad writes that he is proud to give his money to this company if customers in need are treated this way. Another user named DreamweaverMirar even bought the founder’s edition for €129.99 due to this action.
After over 15 years, a new main installment in the popular JRPG series finally arrives with Visions of Mana. MeinMMO author Fabienne Kissel had the opportunity to play the game in advance and was immediately thrilled.
The Mana series from Square Enix began in 1991 with Final Fantasy Adventure, which is known in Germany as Mystic Quest. The series’ biggest success, Secret of Mana, was released in 1993 for the SNES.
Now, with Visions of Mana, there is a completely new installment for stationary consoles for the first time since Dawn of Mana in 2006. In the years in between, there were only remakes, such as Trials of Mana, as well as mobile versions for smartphones and Nintendo handhelds.
Visions of Mana is released today, on August 29, 2024, for PC (Steam), PS4/PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
Who is writing here? Fabienne is a passionate MMORPG player who has found her home particularly in Final Fantasy XIV. On the side, she enjoys co-op games, rogue-likes, and MOBAs. Although she usually doesn’t play single-player games, she has been particularly looking forward to this RPG.
You can see what awaits you in Visions of Mana in this trailer:
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Visions of Mana zeigt Gameplay im Trailer
Warning Spoilers: The following article reveals details about the story and gameplay from the first hours of Visions of Mana.
Do I need to know the previous installments? In Visions of Mana, you dive into a completely new world with fresh characters and a new story. So, you don’t need any prior knowledge from the earlier parts.
I think the game is particularly beginner-friendly as it comprehensively explains what you need to know. With a manual, an encyclopedia, and a diary, you can always look up what has happened so far and familiarize yourself with the game mechanics and the world.
You can also choose from various levels of difficulty, including one for beginners or for those who want to focus more on the story than on fighting. Or you can play the hardest mode if you find the battles too easy. You can adjust the difficulty at any time in the game.
A pilgrimage to the Mana Tree
What is Visions of Mana about? In Visions of Mana, we play as the young warrior Val, who accompanies his childhood friend, Hina. Hina has been appointed the Priestess of the Fire Village by the Messenger of the Mana Goddess (a fairy) and the elemental spirit of fire – an honor considered the highest among mortals.
The Mana is the source of all life in the world. The Priestesses are destined to sacrifice their souls to the Mana tree to maintain the delicate balance of Mana and protect their home from impending doom.
Hina supports you passively as a healer in the group but cannot be played as a character in battle.
Val, who has been chosen as the Soul Guardian, is obliged to accompany and protect Hina and all the other Priestesses on their dangerous journey. The Priestesses are chosen every four years in all regions of the world by their elemental spirits and the fairy to embark on the journey to the Mana Tree together with the Soul Guardian.
This pilgrimage takes us through lively, expansive, and semi-open areas populated by enemies that are so cute you almost don’t want to kill them. During their journey, Val and Hina encounter various characters who join their group.
And I immediately fell in love with one of them as an FFXIV player.
Taaaada, may I introduce: Carina!
I can also play a dancer here, how cool is that!
Why do I think she is so great? Carina is the first companion we meet. She is a dragon girl with an incredibly cheeky and spirited nature. Moreover, a beast companion fights by her side!
The whole system provides variety and strategic thinking. You have so many possibilities – just try and see what suits you best.
First conclusion on Visions of Mana – 10 hours played
What excites me about Visions of Mana is the wonderful mix of charm and attention to detail. The fairytale graphic style reminds me of Dragon Quest XI. The individual areas are separated by loading times, but the detailed environment makes up for it.
The world is full of lovingly designed details, like the cute animals that buzz around everywhere – especially many cats!
There are small Jumping Puzzles and other interactive opportunities that lead to loot.
And the urge to explore definitely does not fall short.
I explored so extensively once that I found an item that was meant for a character I didn’t even have in my party yet – oops!
Great characters and an emotional story
The small dialogues between the characters in the game and the music contribute to the atmosphere and give a special depth. The characters also don’t take each other too seriously, which leads to funny moments – while their relationship deepens.
Overall, the story has moved me quite a bit so far.
Even the NPCs that do not offer quests provide interesting insights into the hopes, worries, and stories of the villages and their inhabitants. Sometimes there are also personal dramas or just funny anecdotes. A conversation with them is definitely worth it.
The world is huge, and to support you, you will encounter one of the cutest mounts of all time.
So far, I’ve noticed only 2 minor negative points: The faces of the characters show hardly any different expressions, which is probably part of the game’s style. Also, I have not been able to enter any of the houses in the world so far.
However, these are minor details and really criticism on a high level. As a player of Baldur’s Gate 3 and a FFXIV raider, I find this cozier RPG a refreshing change.
I love the game.
I am already looking forward to exploring the world even deeper, meeting new characters, and learning more about the story. I am also curious about what classes, bosses, and things are still in store for me. Perhaps there are even more classes that remind you of Final Fantasy. Can’t wait? Then you can currently play the free demo of Visions of Mana and get a taste of the RPG.
But why I think she is so cool has another reason.
The picture shows her not in her original model. Thanks to a class system, you can unlock various classes, including the dancer for Carina. Ahhhh!
Since then, I have been battling nonstop with her as my main character in my group – sorry, Val, you unfortunately have to take a back seat now.
The combat system: Varied and fun
What is this class system like? First, some basics about the action combat system of Visions of Mana: It includes basic and special attacks, a dodge feature, and attacks can be executed while jumping. Some enemy projectiles can be countered.
Overall, the battles feel fast, action-packed, and fluid.
The ring menu allows you to use skills and items during combat. You can also assign them as shortcuts. With a button press, you switch between your characters in the group.
There are Pogopuschels again!
Additionally, you basically have a limit break as a group. The bar (KA gauge) fills when you or allies take or deal damage in combat. There is only one bar that all party members share, which can be used for a powerful class attack. Each class attack belongs to an element.
Through so-called ability seeds, you can assign abilities (techniques) to your characters that consume Mana (MP). They provide various effects, either passive or active. There are a lot of techniques you can apply. Each character can only equip a maximum of two ability seeds.
So far, so good.
During your adventure, you will also find so-called spirit relics, equipped with various elements like wind, for example. With these relics, you can unlock and switch classes for your characters. They also help you outside of combat.
New gameplay possibilities
Each class brings its own unlockable abilities, a new outfit, and altered gameplay in combat.
Moreover, each class has a unique powerful class attack, essentially the limit break I described above. Carina’s as a dancer somewhat reminds me of Avatar Kyoshi from Avatar – The Last Airbender. Be sure to try it out!
If you give the relic to someone else, that character transforms into a completely different class with its own abilities and combos. Each relic can only be used by one character at a time. Each character can only use one at the same time.
Every time I received a new relic, I immediately equipped each character with it one after the other. It was always exciting to see in the cutscenes which new classes I had unlocked through this.
The whole system provides variety and strategic thinking. You have so many possibilities – just try and see what suits you best.
First conclusion on Visions of Mana – 10 hours played
What excites me about Visions of Mana is the wonderful mix of charm and attention to detail. The fairytale graphic style reminds me of Dragon Quest XI. The individual areas are separated by loading times, but the detailed environment makes up for it.
The world is full of lovingly designed details, like the cute animals that buzz around everywhere – especially many cats!
There are small Jumping Puzzles and other interactive opportunities that lead to loot.
And the urge to explore definitely does not fall short.
I explored so extensively once that I found an item that was meant for a character I didn’t even have in my party yet – oops!
Great characters and an emotional story
The small dialogues between the characters in the game and the music contribute to the atmosphere and give a special depth. The characters also don’t take each other too seriously, which leads to funny moments – while their relationship deepens.
Overall, the story has moved me quite a bit so far.
Even the NPCs that do not offer quests provide interesting insights into the hopes, worries, and stories of the villages and their inhabitants. Sometimes there are also personal dramas or just funny anecdotes. A conversation with them is definitely worth it.
The world is huge, and to support you, you will encounter one of the cutest mounts of all time.
So far, I’ve noticed only 2 minor negative points: The faces of the characters show hardly any different expressions, which is probably part of the game’s style. Also, I have not been able to enter any of the houses in the world so far.
However, these are minor details and really criticism on a high level. As a player of Baldur’s Gate 3 and a FFXIV raider, I find this cozier RPG a refreshing change.
I love the game.
I am already looking forward to exploring the world even deeper, meeting new characters, and learning more about the story. I am also curious about what classes, bosses, and things are still in store for me. Perhaps there are even more classes that remind you of Final Fantasy. Can’t wait? Then you can currently play the free demo of Visions of Mana and get a taste of the RPG.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Only a few hours after Fritz Meinecke’s announcement, with some images from New Zealand and a map of the highlands, the fans of 7 vs. Wild have already figured out where the participants were dropped off.
What information did the fans have? The viewers of 7 vs. Wild received confirmation of their theory yesterday: Season 4 of 7 vs. Wild was filmed in New Zealand. The fans had already suspected the country because the locations of the Instagram accounts of the suspected participants were located there.
Moreover, the show’s founder, Fritz Meinecke, showcased some footage of the local conditions in the location video. A topographic map, which represents elevation differences, could also be seen in the video.
With this information, the participants searched for the actual drop-off location of the participants, and they found it.
One of the participants in this year’s season of 7 vs. Wild is the streamer LetsHugo, here you can learn more about him:
Start video
He dropped out of school because streaming was more important to him – The success of LetsHugo
Success in a few hours
How did the search go? Led by the “7 vs. Wild” detective nykesname on YouTube, many viewers searched all of New Zealand for matches with the shown images. One of them found something.
The user Livenzerett on YouTube published a YouTube video showing the drop-off location of the participants and explaining how he found it. He provided the cutting images to ChatGPT and narrowed down the region where the images were most likely applicable.
Here you can see an image of the gorge:
Image from Google Earth you can find the location at the coordinates 44°35’19″S 169°30’38″E
However, he also had to search manually for some time before he succeeded. He found a place where everything just matched. Both the mountains, the plains, and the valley where the river runs just like in the “7 vs. Wild” YouTube channel video.
How certain is this? The drop-off location and the found gorge fit together perfectly. However, as long as the location is not confirmed by the official “7 vs. Wild” team, there remains the possibility that it is a different place that just resembles the one shown.
In the latest addon of World of Warcraft, you can meet Spongebob – including the “Krusty Krab” and hamburgers.
For several days, players of World of Warcraft have been busy in the new expansion The War Within. While some struggle with the now more difficult leveling, others have already reached level 80 and are counting the days until the release of the first season.
However, some are also using the time to explore Khaz Algar and even swim far out to sea – where there are some special features to be found.
Start video
WoW: The War Within – Forces Within
Where can you find Spongebob? If you want to take a look at the Easter Egg yourself, you need to go to the island of Thorn and swim northwest into the sea. At the coordinates 24 / 30, you will then dive down and encounter a small gathering of characters.
So, would you have recognized these ‘random’ beings?
What is there to see? At first glance, one might easily overlook the Easter Egg, but if you take a look at the strange gathering there with a bit of thought, you can clearly see the references to Spongebob Squarepants and the other characters that appear in the series. After all, they are very close together:
A yellow sponge (Spongebob)
A large, pink starfish (Patrick)
An underwater snail (Gary)
A crab with a pirate hat (Mr. Krabs) who is currently holding a hamburger
In the background, there is a large pineapple – Spongebob’s house
The whole thing was discovered by Reddit user sam0wise, who apparently spent quite a while swimming around the new island looking for such little treasures.
Even though World of Warcraft The War Within is a rather serious expansion with quite dark themes, the developers apparently didn’t miss the chance to hide one or two Easter Eggs. Spongebob and his friends are certainly just one of the first that have been discovered. Have you perhaps already found one yourself?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new zombie survival game on Steam is currently gathering a ton of positive reviews because it has much deeper gameplay than it appears.
What kind of game is it? Terminus: Zombie Survivors (PC) is a turn-based roguelike 2D survival game on Steam set during a zombie apocalypse. The goal of the game is to survive in a city overrun by zombies and reach the Terminus to find “peace” there.
On your way to the Terminus, you will not only fight against zombies but also against hunger and freezing temperatures. Throughout the game, you need to think carefully about your decisions, as every action costs you action points. Your survival thus depends on how strategically you use your action points.
The city where you fight for survival and try to escape is procedurally generated. There are also 15 different classes like a soldier, a farmer, or a police officer, as well as a variety of different endings, which is intended to enhance the replay value of the survival game.
Here you can see a trailer for Terminus: Zombie Survivors:
Start video
Terminus: Zombie Survivors shows its gameplay in the new launch trailer
What do the reviews look like? Terminus: Zombie Survivors was released on August 19 on Steam and has since gathered 2,068 user reviews. Of these 2,068 reviews, an impressive 95% are positive.
In the reviews on Steam, players praise that the gameplay of the survival game is significantly deeper than it initially appears:
“Each run lasts between 15 minutes and 2 hours, depending on whether you want to hurry. There are many perks, traits, and additional professions to unlock as you try to achieve a better score on higher difficulty levels. There’s a lot of fun and replay value here.” – via Steam
“I bought this game blind and I’m very happy about it – it’s exactly what I hoped for from Project Zomboid. It’s the perfect mix of immersive and accessible, and the turn-based system really allows for strategic play and keeps you on your toes, especially towards the end of a run. I just finished my first run and will definitely be playing more.” – Steam
“A survival game that doesn’t seem to offer much at first glance, but when you dive a little deeper, it’s packed with mechanics, features, curiosities, and more! Very entertaining.” – via Steam
“One of the best games of 2024 and one of the top 3 zombie games of all time. Brilliant game that works well on the Steam Deck too! […]. 10/10, on par with my favorites from 2024.” – via Steam
In the reviews, Terminus: Zombie Survivors is often compared to games like Project Zomboid or Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead. All three games are priced around €20, while you can currently enjoy the introductory offer on Steam for Terminus.
If turn-based games, 2D, or pixel graphics are not your thing, you’ll surely find another survival game on MeinMMO that you can invest some gaming hours into this year. Here’s a good selection to start with: The 28 best survival games of 2024 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Diablo 4 there are the “Tormented” versions of the bosses, which have a higher level. They drop more loot but also require more materials to summon. How to find the Tormented bosses and what you need to summon them is explained here on MeinMMO.
What are “Tormented Echos”? Since Season 4, there are “Tormented” versions of all bosses you can summon in Diablo 4. They require three times the amount of materials to summon and additionally one Stygian Stone each.
The bosses are stronger than their normal versions and have level 200. So equip yourself with appropriate potions that increase your resistance to specific elements, or provide other bonuses like more health or attack speed. A potion for the armor is also sensible if you are not at the cap yet.
For that, the bosses drop a lot more loot. All items that the “Tormented Echos” drop have item level 925. If you defeat a Tormented Echo for the first time, you also receive (account-bound) a “Magnificent Spark” for crafting Mythic Uniques.
Where do I summon the bosses? You find the “Tormented Echos” at the normal summoning location on World Tier 4. Below, we list all bosses that exist in the level 200 version, along with their summoning locations. In addition, we explain which materials you need specifically for the bosses.
Start video
Diablo 4: Do you forget to use your elixirs? This trick helps you.
What materials do I need? For the “Tormented” version of Varshan, you need:
1x Stygian Stone
5x Malicious Heart
What does Varshan drop? In Varshan you get the trophy “Fleisch Night Chest” for your mount. Additionally, the boss drops certain class-specific Uniques, but also Uniques that all classes can use.
The “Tormented Echos” drop the same Uniques and Mythic Uniques as their “normal” version. You can find out which items each boss specifically drops here:
Where can I find Grigoire? You summon the Tormented Echo of Grigoire on World Tier 4 in the shelter in the “Hall of Atonement” in the Dry Steppes. For that, you need Living Steel, which you can get, among other places, in Hell’s Flood, as well as from treasure goblins. Grigoire attacks with lightning damage, melee attacks, and AoE damage.
What materials do I need? For the “Tormented” version of Grigoire, you need:
1x Stygian Stone
15x Living Steel
What does Grigoire drop? In Grigoire, you get the mount armor “Demon Binder” for your mount. You also have the chance to receive certain Uniques from the boss – class-specific, but also ones that any class can equip.
Where can I find Lord Zir? You find the Tormented Echo of Lord Zir on World Tier 4 in the shelter “Seat of the Ancient” in the “Darkened Path”, east of Kyovashad. You summon Lord Zir with “Exquisite Blood”, which you get from world bosses, Legion events, treasure goblins, and in Hell’s Flood.
What materials do I need? For the “Tormented” version of Lord Zir, you need:
1x Stygian Stone
27x Exquisite Blood
What does Lord Zir drop? In Lord Zir you get the cosmetic helmet “Diadem of the Ancients”. Additionally, the boss drops certain Uniques – class-specific ones, but also ones that all classes can equip.
Where can I find the Beast in Ice? To summon the Tormented Echo of the Beast in Ice, you need “Distilled Fear” from Nightmare dungeons starting from level 30. You find the boss on World Tier 4 in the dungeon “Glacier Split” southwest of Kyovashad. The Beast attacks you with cold damage.
What materials do I need? For the “Tormented” version of the Beast in Ice, you need:
1x Stygian Stone
27x Distilled Fear
What does the Beast in Ice drop? From the Beast in Ice, you receive the trophies “Skull Torch” and “Bond of the Cruel Horse” for your mount. You also have the chance to receive certain Uniques from the boss – class-specific, but also ones that any class can equip.
Where can I find Duriel? The Tormented Echo of Duriel is located on World Tier 4 in the “Gaping Chasm” southeast of Gea Kul. Duriel attacks you with poison damage and disappears into the ground to attack you again. You summon him with Shards of Torment, which you can get from Grigoire among other places, and with Slime Slippery Eggs, which are drops from Varshan among others.
What materials do I need? For the “Tormented” version of Duriel, you need:
Where can I find Andariel? The Tormented Echo of Andariel can be found on World Tier 4 in the “Hall of the Hanged Man” in Kehjistan at the waypoint “Tarsarak”. Andariel attacks you with nearly all elements – so make sure your resistances are at least 70%.
You summon Andariel with Sand Charred Chains (which are drops from Lord Zir and world bosses) and Needle Pierced Dolls, which you receive from the Beast in Ice and world bosses.
What materials do I need? For the “Tormented” version of Andariel, you need:
1x Stygian Stone
6x Sand Charred Chains
6x Needle Pierced Dolls
What does Andariel drop? In Andariel, just like in Duriel, you have the chance to receive the coveted Mythic Uniques. Additionally, the boss drops certain class-specific Uniques, but also Uniques that all classes can equip. Despite a strong build, Andariel can be a tough opponent. We will show you what to watch out for to come out victorious: Diablo 4: Summon and defeat Andariel – Here’s how to do it
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A special beetle is one of the most annoying enemies of Helldivers 2. However, some players know how to deal with them effectively.
Which enemy are we talking about? The Chargers are large, armored beetles. Chargers live up to their name, charging at you like a bull to trample you. You should avoid these charge attacks.
Chargers become really annoying when accompanied by an army of small beetles or when you encounter multiple Chargers at once. Since you can only damage Chargers through their weak points at the rear or with armor-piercing weapons, anti-Charger weapons are often part of the current meta. Without the appropriate weapons, it can quickly become exhausting to take down a group of Chargers – especially on higher difficulty levels.
Here you can see the trailer for the new war bond Flame of Freedom
Start video
Helldivers 2 shows in the new war bond ‘Flame of Freedom’ fiery democracy
Easily Break the Armor of Chargers
How does the new strategy work? Players have shared a strategy on Reddit that allows them to take out the annoying Chargers quite quickly and confidently. They use the stratagem “Eagle Strafing Run” for this.
The strafing run destroys the armor of the Charger. You then just have to shoot at the exposed weak points to eliminate it. At the right angle, a strafing run can even defeat a Charger in one hit.
If you want to ensure that your strafing run hits the Charger, you can combine the stratagem with the “G-23 Stun Grenade” to briefly incapacitate the Charger.
What do the players say about this? Many players confirm that the strafing run deals significant damage – some even fear a nerf.
“It might not one-shot Chargers, but it will definitely deal a good amount of damage. Not just to Chargers, but also to Titans. […]” (via Reddit)
“They don’t want us killing Chargers. It will get nerfed.” (via Reddit)
“An Eagle Strafing Run can kill a Charger and deal heavy damage to an Acid Titan if done correctly. […]” (via Reddit)
Some players also note on Reddit that the strafing run doesn’t take down a Charger with one hit 4 out of 5 times. Nevertheless, it seems to be a good strategy to at least break the armor.
