Valve breaks its own rule on Steam for its new multiplayer game Deadlock

Steam is the leading gaming platform and is used daily by millions of players. Many developers therefore offer their games on Steam, but they must adhere to various rules. Valve, the developers of Steam, have now broken one of these rules themselves.

What rule has Valve broken? On Steam, it is required that a game’s Steam page contains screenshots. These screenshots should only show gameplay and not marketing or concept art. Furthermore, at least 5 screenshots are required (via Steamworks).

Valve recently released the Steam page for their upcoming multiplayer game, officially presenting Deadlock for the first time. However, there are neither screenshots nor trailers or gameplay on the game’s Steam page.

The absence of at least 5 screenshots constitutes a violation of the rules set by Valve themselves.

Start video
This is Deadlock – The new MOBA shooter from Valve

Hero shooter with MOBA elements

What kind of game is Deadlock actually? Not much is officially known about Deadlock yet. Valve only describes it as a multiplayer game. However, an alpha test is already underway, and gameplay and first impressions have been shared.

Accordingly, Deadlock is a hero shooter in which 2 teams consisting of 5 players compete against each other. Each hero has different weapons and 4 different abilities. The principle is reminiscent of Overwatch, but unlike Blizzard’s shooter, Deadlock is played from a third-person perspective.

Additionally, Deadlock apparently has similarities with MOBAs like DOTA 2 or League of Legends. There seem to be lanes and “tower defense” aspects. Some players have therefore coined the term MOBA shooter.

You can play Deadlock if your friends have access

How you can test Deadlock: Currently, an alpha test for Deadlock is running. You can participate if you receive an invitation. You can get an invitation either from Valve or from a friend who already has access.

Valve also points out that the MOBA shooter is still in an early phase of development and includes temporary graphics as well as experimental gameplay. Still, Deadlock has already seen thousands of players on Steam before there was an official announcement on the Steam page: New game from Valve has thousands of players on Steam, even though it hasn’t even been announced

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

Ambitious anime MMORPG dies, global release is cancelled

On paper, everything sounded so good with what Bandai Namco had planned for the new MMORPG project. Now it’s clear: Blue Protocol will never be released in other countries outside of Japan.

What happened? After the bad news from Japan in June 2024, many already feared it; now it’s bitter certainty: The people responsible at Bandai Namco will pull the plug on the Japanese version of Blue Protocol in January 2025. The targeted and repeatedly postponed launch in the West by Amazon Games will never happen.

In the official announcement from Amazon Games on the game’s official website, it says (via playblueprotocol.com): “We know this is disappointing news, and we share your disappointment. We love the world and the characters of BLUE PROTOCOL, and we were looking forward to welcoming players from all over the world to Regnas.”

A playable anime as an MMORPG – here’s one of the trailers for Blue Protocol:

Start video
Blue Protocol Update Trailer Japan October 2023

Great disappointment in the community

Why is this step being taken? The reasoning from Bandai Namco (via blue-protocol.com) reveals very little concrete: They claim to have tried everything to create the best possible player experience for Blue Protocol, but must now admit that they can’t offer a service that would satisfy the target audience of the game.

However, it is clear that Blue Protocol had a disappointing launch in Japan. In May 2024, publisher Smilegate announced that they would suspend the planned launch in Korea for 2024. There had been silence on the German website since November 2023. In June 2024, the report followed that Bandai Namco Online was reportedly facing insolvency.

How does the community react? Many players express disappointment since Blue Protocol had a lot of potential due to its great anime look and focus on story content as well as PvE challenges.

  • gHost928c writes on Reddit: “WOW… four years of waiting, thanks for the kick in my face… I am speechless.”
  • DukejoshE7 had even played BP (via Reddit): “I’ve been waiting since 2019. I played the JP betas, was there for the launch on the JP server, got up at 4 a.m. for every single developer stream, and did content creator stuff for it. I’m so annoyed that I don’t even want to play games anymore. This game was so fun, even with the bugs it had.”
  • SerenityAvalon describes the tragedy of MMORPG fans (via Reddit): “No one knows it better than the MMORPG community that games are shut down before they are playable… Buggy or not, it’s still really tragic.”

This is how MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluates the situation: I was really looking forward to Blue Protocol because I found the combination of cooperative MMO challenges and a story presentation in anime style super exciting.

However, from several colleagues who had already been able to play the game, I knew that the combat had been a major drawback. They did not feel good enough, lacked exciting mechanics and boss designs. Additionally, there was the criticism from Japan: too much grind, bugs, too much focus on the hardcore community, too few rewarding side activities.

The resulting plans from the developers for the future of Blue Protocol sounded good. Obviously, they were unable to significantly improve the player experience through their measures. The financial problems must have contributed to this. Here again is Bandai’s plan: Developers of Blue Protocol explain what has gone wrong with the MMORPG so far

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

The boss of Gearbox reveals which game they would have developed next if it hadn’t been Borderlands 4

With Borderlands 4, Gearbox continues its popular shooter series. If a new main entry had not come about, the developer studio would have been busy with another title, according to Randy Pitchford, the founder of Gearbox Software.

Why did Pitchford speak up? On X, Pitchford responded to a comment from a user. The user wanted to make it clear that Gearbox should have learned from the mistakes of its recent flops to make Borderlands 4 a “banger”.

However, according to Pitchford, the main game of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was “far from a flop”. The spin-off received excellent reviews at release. The Gearbox head reveals that there would have been new content for this game if the developer studio had not focused on Borderlands 4.

So far, we have only seen a teaser trailer for Borderlands 4:

Start video
Teaser trailer announces Borderlands 4

Gearbox head wanted to continue working on Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Which game would have been released instead of Borderlands 4? Pitchford continues that he wishes Gearbox could have worked on a large campaign DLC for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. However, Borderlands 4 does not allow for that. The team’s focus is currently on the new main entry.

You can read the entire conversation in the following tweet in English:

Recommended editorial content

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

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

So far, 5 add-ons have been released that players can purchase as a package in a season pass for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. However, each of these DLCs only featured a few new enemies, items, and environments. The story was not advanced.

The new DLC would have furthered the story of the spin-off. Currently, Gearbox is focusing on the development of Borderlands 4, but who knows what they will work on after its completion. Perhaps they might continue their original plans and develop a campaign DLC for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Hope dies last.

What kind of spin-off is this? Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands itself originated from a DLC called “Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep”. Here, players land in a fantasy world where the tyrannical dragon lord must be stopped. They create a multi-class hero and slaughter their way through the most adventurous dungeons.

In Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, players could also hunt for the best loot. One gamer had the luck to find the rarest item. Even winning the lottery has a higher chance than the drop of this item: Players in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands find the rarest item – A drop is much less likely than winning the lottery

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

Star Wars Outlaws: Early Access, Steam, Game Pass, PS5, Xbox, Preload, Ubisoft Plus – everything you need to know about the release

Star Wars Outlaws starts and MeinMMO tells you everything you need to know about the release, early access, platforms like PS5, Xbox, and Steam, subscriptions like Game Pass or Ubisoft Plus, and what you need to know about download, installation, and system requirements.

When is the release of Star Wars Outlaws? The new action-adventure from Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft will be released on August 30, 2024.

Is there an early access? Those who secured the Gold Edition for 109.99 euros or the Ultimate Edition for 129.99 euros, or have a Ubisoft+ Premium subscription for 17.99 euros per month, can start playing as early as August 27, 2024.

What is the age rating? Star Wars Outlaws will be released on all platforms with a USK-16 rating.

What languages are supported? Interface, audio, and subtitles will be available in English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese. At the beginning of the installation, you can choose which language version should be installed.

PS5, Xbox, and PC – where will Star Wars Outlaws be released?

On which platforms will Star Wars Outlaws be available? You can experience Star Wars Outlaws on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, or on PC.

Here you can learn more about the underworld of Star Wars Outlaws:

Start video
Star Wars Outlaws introduces the underworld of the galaxy

Is Outlaws available on Steam, Epic, PS Plus, and in the Game Pass?

Since Star Wars Outlaws is coming to PC and Xbox, many players are wondering if they can also play the open-world adventure on Steam, PlayStation Plus, or Microsoft’s Game Pass. The answer in all three cases: No!

If you want to play Star Wars Outlaws on PC, check Ubisoft directly or Epic Games. If you’re hoping for a bargain through a subscription, you’ll only have “Ubisoft+ Premium”. However, this is only the status quo at launch. Over time, Star Wars Outlaws could potentially land on Game Pass, PS Plus, or Steam.

Are there tips and tricks for the launch?

More on the topic
Star Wars Outlaws: 8 tips you should know before your launch
von Christos Tsogos

Installation, preload, system requirements

Here are the official system requirements for Star Wars Outlaws:

Minimum requirements (1080p at 30 frames per second, low graphic setting, AMD FSR 2 set to quality)

  • Operating System Windows 10, Windows 11 (64-bit versions)
  • Processor AMD Ryzen 5 3600 @ 3.6 GHz, Intel Core i7-8700K @ 3.7 GHz or better
  • RAM 16 GB (in dual-channel mode)
  • Graphics Card AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (6 GB), Intel Arc A750 (8 GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (6 GB) or better
  • Hard Drive 65 GB free space (SSD)
  • DirectX Version DirectX 12

Recommended requirements (1080p at 60 frames per second, graphics preset “High”, AMD FSR 2 set to quality)

  • Operating System Windows 10, Windows 11 (64-bit versions)
  • Processor AMD Ryzen 5 5600X @ 3.7 GHz, Intel Core i5-10400 @ 2.9 GHz or better
  • RAM 16 GB (in dual-channel mode)
  • Graphics Card AMD Radeon RX 580 (8 GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (6 GB) or better
  • Hard Drive 65 GB free space (SSD)
  • DirectX Version DirectX 12

Microsoft indicates an approximate installation size of just under 62 GB for the Xbox version. The installation size on PlayStation 5 is likely to be similar.

What are the preload dates? These are as follows for the different platforms:

  • PS5: August 25, 2024 (early access) and August 28 (standard) at 00:00 German time
  • Xbox Series: August 19, 2024 at 16:00 German time
  • PC: August 26, 2024 at 12:00 German time

Standard, Gold, Ultimate – the editions of Star Wars Outlaws

Finally, we reveal which editions of Star Wars Outlaws you can purchase:

  • General pre-order bonus: Cosmetic package for the speeder and cosmetic item for the pathbreaker.

Standard Edition for 69.99 euros

  • Base game

Gold Edition for 109.99 euros

  • Base game
  • 3 days early access
  • Season Pass

Premium Edition for 129.99 euros

  • Base game
  • 3 days early access
  • Season Pass
  • Rogue Undercover Pack (Cosmetics)
  • Sabacc Swindler Pack (Cosmetics)
  • Digital Artbook

The Season Pass includes the two (not yet released) story expansions “Wild Card” and “A Pirate’s Fortune”, the exclusive launch mission “Jabba’s Scheme”, and the character pack Kessel Runner. Those who indulge in the Ubisoft+ Premium subscription will gain access to the Premium Edition of Star Wars Outlaws. There is no special Collector’s Edition of Star Wars Outlaws.

Co-op, multiplayer, crossplay – is there such a thing?

Star Wars Outlaws is a pure single-player adventure and completely lacks co-op or multiplayer content. Therefore, there is no need for a crossplay feature.

Important: According to Ubisoft, you will need a mandatory online connection for the installation of the game.

What is the gameplay duration? What do reviews and Metacritic say?

How much length does Star Wars Outlaws offer? Most testers currently report that you should plan for about 25 to 30 hours to complete the campaign and many side quests. If you want to see, discover, and unlock everything, you may need to add a few more hours.

How well does Star Wars Outlaws perform in the first tests and reviews? This is exactly what MeinMMO has already looked at for you, as just before the early access the review embargo was lifted: The hoped-for hit or just mediocre? How good is the open-world game for Star Wars according to Metacritic, GameStar, and GamePro

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

Fritz Meinecke finally reveals whether he will be part of season 4 of 7 vs. Wild

When founding father Fritz Meinecke announced the 7 candidates of 7 vs. Wild Season 4, fans were surprised that he did not include himself. The rumors of a season without Fritz Meinecke grew louder, but now there is certainty.

What about Fritz Meinecke’s participation? It had been quiet about 7 vs. Wild for a long time before a video on the official YouTube account revealed the participants of the fourth season. The 7 participants are:

  • Survival expert Joe Vogel
  • Comedy influencer Selfiesandra
  • Outdoor expert Joey Kelly
  • Twitch streamer LetsHugo
  • Outdoor influencer Stefan from Survival_Deutschland
  • Fitness influencer Flying Uwe
  • YouTuber Julia Beautx

But Fritz Meinecke did not include himself in the video for the new season. For the fans, it was initially a shock, as some express in the comments under the video. But while fans have already found a significant hint about the participation of the series founder, he has now also publicly commented on the participation.

One of the seven participants is the streamer LetsHugo; you can learn more about his success here:

Start video
He dropped out of school because streaming was more important to him – The success of LetsHugo

“I am a part of 7 vs. Wild Season 4”

What does Fritz Meinecke say about his participation? On Instagram, the founding father of the show answered the question about his participation in the new season.

He writes: “I am a part of 7 vs. Wild Season 4. But as in every year, there are changes. What kind you will find out in the coming weeks.”

So, Fritz Meinecke will be part of the new series but probably not as a regular participant. This fits the introductory video of the candidates, because if Meinecke were to participate not as a candidate but in another role, he would officially not be a candidate.

What kinds of changes could be meant? Fans have many theories about the “game mode” of this year’s season. Since the announcement video of the fourth season mentioned new game modes. Anyone who paid close attention could also see the hint about Fritz Meinecke in the introduction video.

Viewers are still speculating, but there are two theories that seem most likely to fans:

  • Fritz Meinecke hunts the participants, and they must flee or hide from him in a designated area; whoever is found is out.
  • The participants can call Meinecke as a joker, who supports them with questions or emotionally reassures them, so they can endure the potential 14 days.

Whether any of these theories is true remains unknown. It remains to be seen what role the founder of the show will take in the new season and how present he will be in the series. It was still unclear whether the founding father would even participate in the series: 7 vs. Wild Season 4 without Fritz Meinecke – These are the participants of the new season

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

WoW makes leveling harder – The War Within is more difficult from today

Those who have not yet reached level 80 will find it harder in World of Warcraft: The War Within. Blizzard is increasing the difficulty.

Leveling in World of Warcraft: The War Within was too easy. Therefore, Blizzard is now intervening in the leveling experience after the early access and the release of the game. Enemies at the beginning of the expansion will be significantly stronger and will have more health points, allowing them to survive longer in battles. Many do not like this – as they now believe that this was another benefit that the “Early Access” characters could take advantage of. Something that cannot be entirely dismissed.

Start video
WoW: The War Within – Forces Within

This is what Blizzard says: In the official WoW forum, Blizzard justified the change as follows:

While players have immersed themselves in The War Within and begun leveling, our data showed and we also heard a lot of feedback that characters in Khaz Algar with endgame gear from Dragonflight are extremely powerful compared to the entry-level content [of the new expansion]. […] The values we have seen are often so extreme that even normal combat rotations do not occur. This situation also led to strange experiences where characters at low levels could contribute drastically more than characters at level 80 […].

The hotfix will adjust the scaling of enemies in the leveling content of The War Within and will increase the strength of low-level enemies to bring the duration of battles more in line with expected WoW behavior. These changes are most pronounced at level 70 and have less impact the higher your level is. Enemies at level 80 and beyond will remain unchanged.

Why is Blizzard doing this? The reason is that enemies, especially at the lower levels of the new addon – in the range of 70 to 75 – fall extremely quickly when one already possesses strong gear from Dragonflight. Many classes are literally dealing “one-hits”, which means that there is no need for a rotation or to actually try out the new hero talents.

This has also led to Blizzard having to deactivate the level cap, allowing low-level heroes to level their counterparts to level 80 within a few hours. The effect is most pronounced at level 70 and fades continuously up to level 79. Enemies at level 80 remain as tough as before, so there is no change here.

This also means that leveling will take a bit longer, as enemies will survive a few seconds longer. The leveling experience is intended to feel a bit smoother because of this.

This is how the community is discussing it: As expected, the change is not going down well in the official Blizzard forum. The usual comments like “Fun Detected” are being thrown around, and generally, most seem to be rather angry that Blizzard is now making the leveling content a bit harder.

  • “Shoutout to everyone who has already reached level 80, we don’t have to deal with this. Well done, guys.” – Nzhuv
  • “As I understand it, everyone who could start ‘early’ had it easy, and now after the full release, the company has decided to make everything a bit harder. That’s just … wow.” – Evilperiod

However, some indeed see the necessity. Because while some overpowered characters had their fun, others fell behind:

  • “It was absolutely no fun when a level 70 tank pulled half the dungeon and dragged along all the others who just couldn’t keep up.” – Vlädimyr

Cortyn says: Even though I belong to those who benefited from the “easy” mobs during early access, I think the decision is good. Especially the first levels from 70 to about 74 felt simply not exciting at all. I could hardly utilize my hero talents there because the effect rarely came into play when the enemies were already dead.

Moreover, the “loss of power” felt dramatically more pronounced the higher you leveled up. Both are effects that will be significantly cushioned by this change, and even though many are complaining, I think it’s great that leveling my alt characters will feel smoother in the future. In any case, it’s good that Blizzard is now implementing further adjustments – regardless of which content – before the rest of the content is unlocked.

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

“I am quite scared of that” – Twitch streamer quits his most successful content, prefers to have fun

The Twitch streamer AverageJonas has surprisingly announced that he will completely change his content and leave the game Valorant behind. In a statement, he explains his reasons and announces that he wants to focus on other games in the future.

Who is the streamer? AverageJonas, whose real name is Jonas Navarsete, is a 35-year-old Twitch streamer from Norway who has made a name for himself primarily through his content surrounding the game Valorant.

He became known for his creative and precise line-ups with the agent Sova, which he shared on various platforms. His tactics and tips made him a kind of expert figure in the community.

Although he went live only rarely in the first years of his streaming career and attracted few viewers, he steadily built a growing community starting in 2020. With over 1 million followers on Twitch and an average of 1400 viewers per stream, he established himself in the Valorant scene. In recent years, he has spent more than 6000 hours playing the game that dominated his content (via Twitchtracker).

Valorant now also has a console version. You can learn more about it here:

Start video
Valorant is playable as an open beta for Xbox and PS5

In a 5-minute statement on Twitter and YouTube, AverageJonas announces that he is saying goodbye to Valorant and taking on new challenges. Many of his fans react with surprise, as Jonas is closely connected to the Valorant community and has celebrated his greatest successes there.

“It has always been harder for me to stay motivated”

Why is he stopping this content? The reasons for his departure from Valorant are diverse. Jonas explains in his statement that he increasingly finds it difficult to stream the game. He openly talks about his feelings of burnout, which arise from streaming the same game repeatedly. “It has always been harder for me to stay motivated,” he says, referring to the frustrating changes from nerfs to his favorite agent Sova.

Additionally, he has been experiencing health issues for some time, such as throat and vocal problems. This combination has made the last six months particularly burdensome for him.

AverageJonas emphasizes that it is important for him to focus on what makes him happy. “I realized that if I want to continue doing this for years, I need to focus on what brings me joy,” he explains. His viewers should be able to watch a happy streamer, as he firmly believes that his content will improve when he is personally satisfied.

Recommended editorial content

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

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

How he wants to change his content

Why did he take this step? In recent months, Jonas has increasingly streamed different games, discovering Dota 2 and Palworld among others. He shares that this variety gives him back the feeling he had at the beginning of his streaming career.

He is particularly excited about a game test of the new shooter Deadlock, which is being developed by Valve. According to his statement, Deadlock combines elements from shooters like Valorant with the tactical depth and theory crafting of games like Dota and League of Legends.

“It’s super scary, I’m pretty afraid of it”

What is he afraid of? Of course, Jonas is aware that such a change carries risks. “It’s super scary, I’m pretty afraid of it. Of course, it’s my career,” he openly admits. He mentions that he has observed with other streamers that a change of game often doesn’t end well.

This is also reflected in his current viewer numbers: While he has an average of 1700 viewers per stream for Valorant and gains about 135 followers per stream, his numbers for Dota 2 drop to only around 600 viewers. Furthermore, he even loses followers there (via Twitchtracker).

Despite these challenges, Jonas remains determined to stick to his decision and continue working on his new content. On his main channel on YouTube and Twitch, there will still be guides, line-ups, and theory crafting – just for other games. Shortly after his statement, he already releases a beginner’s guide for Deadlock on YouTube, making it clear that he is moving forward in his career with full commitment.

If you’re now curious about what kind of game Deadlock is for which Jonas is now creating content, you can learn more here: Valve officially announces a new multiplayer game, it’s like a mix between Team Fortress and Dota 2

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

There are 2 characters in Dragon Ball who are stronger than Son-Goku and Vegeta – according to the mangaka, this should remain the case

Son-Goku and Vegeta are training harder in Dragon Ball to be able to take on increasingly stronger opponents. However, Akira Toriyama wanted to set a limit and named 2 characters who are supposed to remain stronger than the two Saiyans for the time being.

Which two characters are we talking about? In an interview regarding the release of the first volume of the Dragon Ball Super manga, mangaka Akira Toriyama chatted with his editor Toyotarō. 

The editor asked his mentor what the God of Destruction Beerus and the angel Whis would mean for the manga. Toriyama then replied that he had no plans to make Son-Goku and Vegeta stronger than the two:

Well… First of all, I currently have no plans for Goku and Vegeta to surpass Beerus and Whis.

Akira Toriyama, via Kanzenshuu

The interview took place about 9 years ago, and even in the latest released chapter, it didn’t seem like the powers of Son-Goku and Vegeta had surpassed the strength of Whis and Beerus. 

This could change with the upcoming chapter. Unfortunately, Akira Toriyama has since passed away and has handed the baton to Toyotarō. Therefore, it might be possible that the new mangaka decides to give Son-Goku and Vegeta a power-up.

A new video game about Dragon Ball will be released soon:

Start video
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO in the trailer

Beerus and Whis are 2 of the strongest characters

Who are Beerus and Whis? Both Beerus and Whis made their debut in the very first episode of Dragon Ball Super. Beerus is the God of Destruction from Universe 7 and is accompanied by his martial arts teacher and servant Whis. 

Whis, on the other hand, is an angel bound to serve his god. Normally, Beerus does not leave his planet without company. Like the other angels, he is a child of the Grand Minister, who in turn serves Zeno. For us, he is the coolest (and strongest) teacher of Son-Goku.

Son-Goku and Vegeta underwent training with the two characters. Over time, Son-Goku learned to master his Ultra Instinct. With this, he adapts to the speed and calmness of the angel’s fighting technique.

Vegeta, on the other hand, apprenticed under Beerus and learned to use his Ultra Ego. This allows him to harness the power of destruction that enables Beerus to erase entire planets.

It could be that Beerus and Whis have taken the two under their wings because they are to replace them one day in their positions as god and angel. Beerus says that he would nominate Goku as the next God of Destruction if he were ever to surpass him. At least the Earth would then be in good hands: The heir of Son-Goku is neither Gohan nor Goten: Another character could be the future of Dragon Ball.

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

The next highlight from Marvel has a new disturbing villain who might finally become good

A major weakness of the MCU movies has always been the villains. Sure, there are iconic baddies like Thanos and Loki, but many others are forgettable. The new series about Daredevil brings a relatively unknown villain to the screens, one that you probably won’t forget anytime soon.

Which villain is it about? So far, there is no public trailer for Daredevil: Born Again, the upcoming series that ties into the Daredevil series from Netflix. However, a trailer was shown at D23, an event for various Disney products. As Charles Soule, a writer for Marvel and Star Wars comics, pointed out on x.com, Muse was also revealed in the trailer.

Muse is a relatively new villain and adversary of Daredevil, who made his debut in 2018 in the comic Daredevil (Vol. 5) #11. Fitting the dark tone of the Daredevil series, Muse is not a huge threat to the universe but rather a disturbing serial killer.

Other superhero series for an older audience can be found here: 5 superhero series that are not for kids

Start video
Marvel’s Daredevil – Trailer for the dark superhero series from Netflix

A malevolent artist

Who is Muse? In Charles Soule’s tweet, you can get a first look at the TV version and the comic version of Muse. He wears a completely white suit that also covers his head. He also wears a black hat, gloves, and a backpack. His distinctive feature is blood flowing from his eyes and pooling in a large spot on his chest.

Recommended editorial content

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

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

His true identity is also unknown in the comics. He sees himself as an artist. In the comics, he first appeared when he painted a mural with the blood of missing persons. He created these artworks multiple times. This likens him to villains from the series Hannibal who also displayed their murders as artworks.

With his powers, he makes a good adversary for Daredevil. He is stronger and faster than normal people despite his average build, and he is nearly invisible. This poses a significant problem for Daredevil, who, being blind, can only rely on his enhanced senses for perception.

Why is Muse so promising? Marvel’s Daredevil was a real surprise hit in 2015. Compared to the MCU, the series was gritty, brutal, and impactful. There were great fights and a really intense interplay between Wilson Fisk and Daredevil. But the best part of the series was that it was grounded.

There were no aliens or gigantic threats to the universe. It was about the underworld and criminals in New York and the tough neighborhoods.

Muse fits perfectly into this. He is not a major villain with his powers, but one who could shock and pose a new, especially moral, challenge to Fisk and Daredevil. However, one has to wait until 2025. For those who need series content until then, they can check out here: A new Netflix thriller is a really good series, especially for fans of True Detective and Prisoners

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

Those waiting for Civilization 7 can get a brilliant alternative on Steam for 20 € – I have already played 264 hours

After the gamescom 2024, many strategy game fans are now waiting for Civilization 7. Our author Schuhmann says: If you like the new ideas in Civ 7, you should treat yourself to Millennia on Steam. It is currently available on the PC platform for 20 euros. It implements many of the ideas that Civilization 7 will have, and has already received its first expansion.

Why can Millennia be recommended now?

The strategy game Millennia is similar to Civilization – but is more of a city-building game than the famous series. I already introduced the game in April, but back then – after about 130 hours – I could not give a clear purchase recommendation. Since then, the game has received some updates, I have played over 130 more hours and am now at 264 hours of gameplay: I can fully recommend the game now – especially because it is currently 50% cheaper and you can grab it for 20 € on Steam.

In Millennia, the focus is to build your own cities as efficiently as possible. Because even with optimal gameplay, you are limited to a few cities, which can grow enormously over time and occupy a lot of play space on the map. Unfortunately, the AI opponents build closely – when you inevitably conquer their cities, you can now demolish them and make room for expansion.

Millennia has been meaningfully improved since its rough launch in March 2024 and has already overcome the biggest pain points, such as those terribly cramped cities of the opponents.

Furthermore, Millennia is already implementing some ideas that Civilization 7 will also bring.

Start video
Announcement Teaser Trailer to Millennia

Millennia is already implementing some ideas that Civilization 7 will be praised for

Which ideas does Millennia anticipate for Civ 7:

For one, there are no workers in Millennia anymore, but you collect improvement points and can improve individual fields of the city in each turn by building mines or fields. The “workers” exist in a similar form with certain experts who mine rare resources on a map at certain ages, such as in the age of alchemy.

Also, there are no “fixed cultures” in Millennia: The cultures are actually just empty shells, with which you can regularly take new paths and specialize them. Early in each game, you have to choose whether you want to play more as a culture of seafarers, want to benefit strongly from quarries and stone masons, or take a warlike path.

If you want to read more about Civilization 7 and its new ideas, we recommend the article from GameStar.

This is what makes Millennia very clever: Even the “wonders” are cleverly designed in Millennia – you unlock them by investing points in “innovation” and temporarily forgoing other special effects, such as waiting to expand a city or foregoing a boost for research.

The most important feature of Millennia is surely the ages – the technically most advanced nation can regularly determine which direction humanity takes by meeting certain conditions:

  • For example, one can declare the age of Spanish conquistadors and discover lost cities that hold treasures.
  • Or one must, if things go badly, deal with the plague.
  • One of the worst ages I ever had completely paralyzed my economy in the endgame due to demonstrations and civil protests, and the game became a torment.

Millennia is not perfect, but definitely worth a solid recommendation.

This is my experience with Millennia: I played a lot of Civilization 6 and got bored and although I liked Humankind, it could not completely captivate me.

Millennia is a strong alternative to Civilization – an initial DLC, “Ancient Worlds,” has now loosened up the first hour of the game a bit. It’s nice, but nothing that has really changed the game: The improvement came more from clever patches that have noticeably improved the gameplay experience.

I still have criticisms of the game: There is still no satisfying end screen and the game becomes very tedious in the endgame, when you have actually already won, but I can now recommend it to any fan of strategy games to spend 20 € on the game.

It really has some excellent, fresh ideas and the part about city-building is really fun. Another highlight in the strategy game genre is coming in a month: I am obsessed with a game on Steam, I have spent 1,360 hours in it – Now the series is getting the best new feature in 20 years.

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

The movement of Black Ops 6 is crazier than expected, turns you into a dolphin with a gun

The new movement system of Black Ops 6 enables extraordinary gameplay and is crazier than previously thought.

What makes the movement even crazier? Black Ops 6 is switching to a new movement system: the omni-movement. The new system allows you to sprint, slide, or jump in any direction. You can also seamlessly chain these maneuvers together.

These possibilities are also showcased in the new multiplayer trailer of Black Ops 6. There, you also see an operator leaping out of the water shooting – like an armed dolphin.

We already knew about the omni-movement that you can sprint, jump, slide, and turn while lying down in any direction without losing speed, but leaping out of the water is crazier than expected.

Start video
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 shows its new multiplayer in the trailer

However, it’s important to note that Black Ops 6 has not yet been released and individual elements may still change – especially after players can provide initial feedback in the upcoming beta for BO6.

On August 30, the beta starts for all pre-orderers of Black Ops 6. A week later, on September 6, everyone else can join in as well.

The latest trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 showcased the multiplayer of the shooter, but during the Opening Night Live of gamescom 2024, we also saw a new trailer for the campaign of the latest “Black Ops” installment: The new gameplay trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 reminds of Hitman

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

ARK 2: Release, Trailer, Gameplay – What we know so far

ARK 2 is an upcoming survival game from the developer studio Wildcard. MeinMMO shows you the trailer and summarizes everything that is currently known about the release date, the role of actor Vin Diesel, and the platforms.

Update: August 28, 2023: The article was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated with new information. The most recent update of the article is from August 28, 2024, during which we could not add any new information.

The Release of ARK 2

When is the release? ARK 2 is expected to be released in late 2024, as announced by the developers during the reveal of the ARK roadmap on March 31, 2023 (via survivetheark.com). However, an exact release date is still not known as of August 2024.

During the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on June 12, 2022, the original release planned for 2022 was first postponed. As a result of the first delay, the survival title was supposed to be released in the first half of 2023 but could not meet the intended release timeframe.

What do we know about the release? ARK 2 will be available on Steam in Early Access and on Xbox as Game Preview.

On which platforms will ARK 2 be released? What about PS4/PS5?

Will ARK 2 be released on PS4 and PS5? ARK 2 will be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC. A release for PS4, PS5, or Xbox One has not been announced at this time.

The official announcement that ARK 2 will be exclusively released for Xbox Series X|S on console was made by Microsoft in a detailed statement on Xbox.com.

In early June 2022, there was a rumor that ARK 2 would also be released on PS5. However, the statement has not yet been officially confirmed. The rumor was based on a video from an independent YouTuber.

What is known about a possible “Game Pass” release

Will ARK 2 be included in Game Pass? ARK 2 is expected to be included in Game Pass as Game Preview on Xbox and PC at launch.

What we know about gameplay scenes and trailers

Are there already trailers? In December 2020, Studio Wildcard released the announcement trailer for ARK 2. Another trailer was shown at the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase 2022.

As soon as Studio Wildcard releases more new trailers, they will be added to the list.

Start video
ARK 2: Watch the 4-minute announcement trailer for the survival sequel

Watch the ARK 2 trailer from the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase 2022, in which Studio Wildcard announced the delay of the release to 2023.

Start video
ARK 2 Trailer Release 2023

Is there gameplay to see? At this current time (August 2024), there have been no officially released gameplay scenes or gameplay trailers.

What we know about the gameplay of ARK 2

What is known about the gameplay? The Steam page for ARK 2, which went online on June 12, 2022, states that ARK 2 will be played in a third-person perspective.

Moreover, ARK 2 is said to feature a melee combat system and movement inspired by Soulslike games, as well as mods being available across all platforms, according to Studio Wildcard.

Additionally, building will be possible using player-created templates, world events will occur continuously on the map, and the crafted equipment will be significantly more customizable. Animals are also expected to be improved and hunt based on their senses.

If you want to take a closer look at the information released following the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase 2022, we have summarized all the new info about ARK 2 here.

Vin Diesel will be the executive producer of ARK 2

What role does Vin Diesel play? Actor and producer Vin Diesel is a big fan of ARK. At Studio Wildcard, he is a member of the production team as “President of Creative Convergence” and equivalently the executive producer.

In ARK 2, Vin Diesel takes on the role of the hero protagonist Santiago da Costa. Many players of ARK: Survival Evolved know Santiago’s character from the content updates. MeinMMO presents Vin Diesel’s role as Santiago da Costa: Hollywood star Vin Diesel is starring in ARK 2 – All about his role Santiago.

What is known about the pre-order of ARK 2

When can I pre-order ARK 2? Currently, pre-ordering ARK 2 is not possible, nor is it known when it will start. It is conceivable that the pre-order will start simultaneously with the release of a gameplay trailer.

Since June 12, 2022, you can add ARK 2 to your wishlist on Steam.

ARK 2 may still be a while away. If you want to try other survival games while waiting for the release of the dino adventure and sink many hours into them, we might have some interesting recommendations for you on MeinMMO: The 28 best survival games of 2024 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox

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

The head of Fallout Season 2 on Amazon reveals when filming will start and what should change

Just one week after the release of Season 1, it was confirmed that there will be a second season of the Fallout-series. Now, the showrunner comments on what fans can expect.

What kind of series is it? The Fallout series, which is set in the same universe as the game series, is one of the most successful shows on Amazon Prime. The series follows Lucy from Vault 33, who must leave her safe bunker in 2296 to save her father.

Along the way, she encounters the new inhabitants of America. In the Los Angeles area, there are many factions such as the Steel Brotherhood, ghouls, and mutated creatures like RAD cockroaches and more.

Here you can watch the trailer for the Fallout series:

Start video
Fallout: New trailer for the video game adaptation by Amazon

More, More and More

What can fans expect from the new season? Fans can also expect interesting characters in the second season of the show. Executive producer Jonathan Nolan says in an interview with thewrap.com: “We have learned a lot about the characters and how they interact and talk with each other, and the exciting possibilities for different encounters between characters who perhaps haven’t met yet […]”.

The focus of the second season, however, is mainly on more and more elaborate areas, monsters, and factions. Nolan adds: “But we’ve also figured out how to create all the monsters, and there are more monsters, more environments, and more factions that we’re currently designing and building, so we can start production soon. So we are very excited.”

Fans can look forward to more monsters, more environments, and more factions that will expand the series.

When will Season 2 be filmed? Filming for the second season will “begin pretty soon,” Nolan reveals in the interview. However, it will likely take some time before the series is released, as the release date is still unknown.

In the first season of the series, all episodes were released at the same time. The decision on whether this will also be the case for the second season has not yet been made. However, according to Nolan, Amazon is flexible here, so everything is open. Just like in a good video game, there is also an Easter egg hidden in the Fallout series that fans have since discovered: Fans of the Fallout series discovered an Easter egg that shouldn’t actually exist – Almost no one knew about it

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

„Idiots“ in the team should not be a reason for failure in Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2

In Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on Steam, the developers have a clear stance on your teammates and make a promise that will delight many players.

What kind of game is this? You fight in Space Marine 2 as Ultramarine Titus and carve your way through massive hordes of monstrous space insects – with heavy bolters and chainsaw swords. The game offers a single-player mode as well as a co-op mode for you and two friends, and a PvP mode in multiplayer. You have 6 classes available to lead in the 6 versus 6 PvP matches.

Regarding the co-op mode, the developers have recently spoken in an interview with PCGamesN and made a promise.

Here you can see the trailer for Space Marine 2:

Start video
New trailer shows nearly 8 minutes of multiplayer gameplay from the bloody carnage in Space Marine 2

It stands and falls with the teammates

What influence do teammates have on the rounds? Tim Willits, Chief Creative Officer of Space Marine 2, has developed many co-op games, he says.

“Games that rely too much on people playing together and make [teamwork] a prerequisite for success sometimes fall apart because people unfortunately do what they want – and I love my gaming friends, but sometimes I want to kill them!” he says in an interview with PCGamesN.

He further explains what makes a co-op game good: “The most successful co-op games are those where you can kick ass even when your teammates are idiots. Because it’s just frustrating when you have three people doing exactly what they need to do, and one is just screwing up – it’s like ‘Fuck you.'”

He then clarifies what this means for Space Marine 2: “So there are [in Space Marine 2] no prerequisites for group fights, but it is definitely an advantage when you team up.” For him, it is important that players can have fun in the game even without good teammates and can win missions even solo with a little burden.

According to the first tests, the co-op missions should not just be a mere shooting, but also offer more tactical depth. Moreover, the individual classes should significantly stand out from each other and especially from the “Swiss army knife” Titus.

What experiences from current games are important for Space Marine 2? The developer has looked at Helldivers 2 and has a positive view of the game. “I played Helldivers [2] like hell, and it legitimizes what we’re doing, and it shows that this kind of game can be very successful because people are social and want to play together,” he says in the interview.

Space Marine 2 will be released on September 9 on Steam. The release will show whether the developer can keep its promise and whether the game really works well even with “idiots”. If you are interested in the game, we have an overview of the tests for you: “Has the potential to become the best game in Warhammer 40K” – That’s what the first tests say about Space Marine 2

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

Destiny 2: Server Down for Patch 8.0.5.3 – All Patch Notes and Info

In Destiny 2, the Weekly Reset starts with a new patch for the loot shooter. What you should know about the downtime and upcoming content can be found here in our overview of the server down.

Update, 20:50: The update is now available and is 319.8 MB on the PS5. After downloading, you can log in again. According to Bungie’s pop-up, you can play the new exo mission right away – we haven’t verified this yet. The patch notes have been updated.

What you need to know today: In Destiny 2, patch 8.0.5.3 launches today along with Act 3 of Episode: Echoes. The end is slowly approaching, but in addition to new story snippets, new weapons and the new exotic mission will be released soon.

Start video
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer

Maintenance on 27.08. – All times for server down

These times are important today: Bungie is informing its players via x.com (formerly Twitter) about the exact downtime. The servers are planned to be unreachable for 3 hours and 15 minutes.

This is what the maintenance schedule looks like:

  • At 15:00, background maintenance starts on all platforms.
  • At around 15:45, the servers will go offline. Players will be automatically kicked from the game.
  • At 19:00, the shooter is expected to be online again, and you can log in once more.
  • The maintenance will continue in the background until 21:00.
This should be considered during downtimes: As long as background maintenance is ongoing, there may be connectivity issues in the game. Additionally, there can sometimes be login queues because Bungie gradually releases access to the servers to avoid problems caused by excessive server load. Therefore, you may have to wait longer until you are back in the game.

Also, keep in mind that third-party applications as well as the official companion app may also be unavailable for a while, so you may not be able to use them.

What’s changing with the new update in Echoes: Act 3

The following issues are known: There are many issues in The Final Shape that players are complaining about. Bungie has noted some, but it is not known which of them will be fixed (via bungie.net). However, the following bugs might be addressed:

  • For PC players with 3D audio enabled, the audio output in the game does not work.
  • When crafting class-specific exotic glaives, the error code “Weasel” appears.
  • When playing on PlayStation with 3D audio enabled, the audio output does not work.
  • The slam attack with consecration no longer shatters Stasis crystals.
  • Heat Wave is not activated when gliding or in mid-jump.
  • The diamond lance no longer shatters Stasis crystals.
  • The wish bearer title has been revoked from players who previously obtained it.

Patch notes for the update on 27.08. in Destiny 2

What is in the patch notes? A complete overview of all the fixed issues and improvements will only be available today in the evening or afternoon after the update goes live.

We will update our article and provide you with the link to the patch notes. Because it is possible that the patch notes will be changed or corrected by Bungie subsequently.

These are all the current information regarding today’s update. If there are any unforeseen changes, we will of course keep you updated. So feel free to check back. Until then, we recommend this article about Destiny 2 on MeinMMO: Is there any new game like The Division or Destiny at gamescom 2024?

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

Concord in free fall on Steam, players report matchmaking issues

The hero shooter Concord continues to struggle with low player numbers on Steam. Now it has even dropped to double digits.

What is Concord? The hero shooter comes from Firewalk Studios and is published by PlayStation Publishing. It was released on August 23, 2024, for PS5 and Steam. On Steam, the game can be purchased for €39.99, while the Deluxe Edition costs €59.99.

The hype hoped for by Sony was absent around the release. Instead, the weak player numbers dictated the headlines. At the peak of the release, the numbers were only 660 concurrent players – a figure that Concord has not surpassed since.

On the contrary, it seems to be declining further.

Start video
Sony shows first gameplay of the new PvP shooter Concord

The player numbers of Concord are dropping to as low as 97

What do the numbers say? You can track the current status of Concord on SteamCharts. The 24-hour peak was 267 concurrent players, and the all-time peak remains at 660.

Today, Tuesday, August 27, 2024, it even dropped to double digits at one point. At 12:00 PM, SteamCharts recorded only 97 concurrent active players, which later increased to 154 in the following hours.

It is unclear how many players are active on PlayStation in Concord. There are currently no statistics available for this.

Players report issues: In the game’s subreddit, players are sharing their experiences, and some are reporting long queues as they cannot find teammates to play with (via Reddit). One user mentioned an 8-minute wait time between matches – too much for him.

At the same time, at least a few PlayStation players are commenting that they are facing fewer wait times. This suggests that the numbers here might look somewhat better. Hence, some are also recommending enabling crossplay.

In the comments, players are not necessarily optimistic about an improvement – even though some do have a soft spot for the gameplay. They are discussing what could save the game – such as switching to a F2P model to compete against strong free alternatives like Overwatch.

What are the problems? Several factors likely come together here. First is the lack of hype surrounding the game. The reviews on Steam show that Concord has received “mostly positive” feedback with 71 percent, but only 418 reviews have been submitted so far.

On Metacritic, the game has a mediocre score of 65 percent, while the user score stands at only 2.2 points. MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller looked at Concord and criticized various points.

Additionally, the price tag of €39.99 for a “mediocre” game in the hero shooter genre may simply be too much, especially with so many strong and affordable alternatives available. Whether Concord can recover on Steam or if the PlayStation numbers will eventually add up remains to be seen. We will keep you updated on this matter.

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

Just 14 months after release, the MMO to Harry Potter suddenly announces the end in the West

In June 2023, a MMO for the popular Harry Potter franchise was released in the West with Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. Now, the responsible parties at Warner Bros. Games and Portkey Games have unexpectedly announced the premature closure in America, Europe, and Oceania.

What is the reason for the shutdown? According to the statement on magicawakened.com, the Western servers of the MMO are set to shut down forever on October 29, 2024. The game was already removed from the App Store and Google Play Store on August 26, 2024. Since that date, it has not been possible to make in-game purchases.

Until the end in October, all interested parties can still experience Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. And if you’re coincidentally in Asia, you can even continue playing the MMO, as the Asian servers are expected to remain live. In China, the game has actually been playable since 2021.

Here is the trailer for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened:

Start video
Free Harry Potter MMO gives you what Hogwarts Legacy lacked

Mobile, yes, but not so bad

What kind of game was it? Similar to Blizzard, Warner Bros. Games also teamed up with the Chinese mobile experts at NetEase to develop a mobile game for a renowned franchise aimed at the Chinese market and beyond.

In Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, you create a character and visit the famous wizarding school Hogwarts about ten years after the books. With Hagrid by your side, your adventure begins in Diagon Alley, where you gather supplies for the upcoming school year. As a first-year student, the Sorting Hat eventually lands on your head, allowing you to choose your house.

In class, you meet familiar teachers like Minerva McGonagall, who is now the headmistress, or Filius Flitwick. You can explore the castle completely freely and constantly interact with other players. The combat system is turn-based. Through cards, you learn new spells. There is an alchemy system and PvP duels, a Quidditch mini-game, and more.

Why the closure? The developers do not provide a reason for the premature end in the West, other than “the time is right.” Just last week, there were supposedly new ability cards and powers, and a design competition is currently underway. Accordingly, the announcement is quite surprising. This is not the first MMO to meet its end in 2024: An important free-to-play MMORPG is closing after 10 years

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

Gen Z can’t find work because the Boomer bosses supposedly fear a ‘work-life balance’

When you ask company bosses what they think of the young people of Generation Z, you rarely hear anything positive. Especially regarding work ethic, there are significant shortcomings.

Where does this statement come from and who is speaking about whom? The website intelligent.com surveyed around 1200 company bosses in July 2024 about their opinions on graduates from the most recent classes. This refers to graduates from US colleges between 2020 and 2023.

So they all belong to the so-called Generation Z, meaning those born since 1996 who are currently completing their (university) education. The company bosses are likely mostly from the post-war Baby Boomer generation or Generation X (1965 to 1979).

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

Is the lack of work ethic among Gen Z a hindrance?

What do Boomer and Gen X bosses think? Breaking it down, the survey results can be summarized as follows:

  • Only 53 percent perceive graduates as at least somewhat prepared for the job market. About 40 percent see significant deficiencies.
  • 70 percent of the bosses cite work ethic and communication skills as the main points of criticism. About half mention unrealistic expectations as a reason for criticism.
  • The situation is worsening. Graduates from before the pandemic are viewed more favorably.
  • 9 out of 10 bosses try to avoid hiring graduates from 2020 to 2023.

Who is to blame for the situation that the bosses perceive as a disaster? Respondents attribute blame (multiple answers allowed) to culture in general (60 percent) and consistently cite parents, the pandemic, and the education system at around 45 to 50 percent.

Challenges and various solutions

Is Generation Z simply unfit for the workplace? No, it shouldn’t be this simple. As experts from our Spanish-speaking colleagues at genbeta clarify, there are often simply differences in attitudes towards work between older generations and Generation Z or even Generation Y (Millennials). Professor of communication Diane Gayeski from Ithaca College summarizes it in the context of the survey:

No one is prepared for the current job market. It has changed so dramatically recently […]. Young people communicate and solve problems differently than their 50-year-old bosses – but they can do it.

Those aged 20 to 40 today actively see or have witnessed what older generations experience: increasing mental health issues due to job stress, little leisure time, and so on.

The way they deal with challenges is very different and leads to misunderstandings. Younger people place more value on a balance between work and leisure (via Gruender). Additionally, there is often more of a quest for meaning in actions, life goals are defined differently, and high income and advancement are seen as less important. This can quickly be interpreted as a lack of work ethic, which in turn erodes the trust of Boomers and Gen X.

This also partly explains the results of a survey from the United Kingdom, which we discussed in the following article: Generation Z is often late, wastes work time, and frequently suffers from mental health issues, surveys show.

By the way, anyone who is completely against working from home – regardless of who would like to work there – is US billionaire Elon Musk (Gen X). In an interview, he once expressed very negative views about the popular alternative since the Covid pandemic. Elon Musk not only considers working from home unproductive but also “morally reprehensible”.

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

Steam: Companies give away Black Myth: Wukong to employees, give them time off to play it

The new action-adventure Black Myth: Wukong is big on Steam, but it’s huge in China. Reports are increasing that companies are giving away the new action-adventure to their employees and allowing them to play it.

These are the reports from China: The site The Strait Times summarizes 3 news reports from Chinese-speaking local news reports:

  • The company “Sichuan Muziyang Technology” has given all employees a day off to play Black Myth: Wukong. They want to show support for the Chinese gaming industry and give employees the opportunity to share the gaming experience with friends and colleagues.
  • The gaming publisher Gamera Games from Shanghai has gifted every employee a digital copy of Black Myth: Wukong.
  • The strategy platform Game Teahouse has granted each employee a half-day off and reimbursed them for the money spent on a copy of the game.
Start video
Black Myth: Wukong – How to find the secret boss in Chapter 1

China is proud that the game is received so well as their national epic

What’s going on in China? Apparently, people in China are extremely proud of Black Myth: Wukong, which is considered the first true AAA game developed in China and is celebrating an overwhelming success on Steam – especially among Chinese players.

The game uses themes from the Chinese national epic “Journey to the West,” which they are particularly proud of.

In China, novels such as “Journey to the West” or “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” hold a culturally unifying effect similar to that of the Bible or the myths of Homer in the Western cultural sphere. In Germany, one might see the tales of the Brothers Grimm or perhaps the Nibelungen as similarly culturally formative narratives.

According to “The Strait Times,” the success seems to also be a bit uncanny for the creators of Black Myth: Wukong. They quote the producer:

“Play slowly, don’t rush to finish the game.”

Has this ever happened before? It is rare for something like this to happen. In 2017, we reported on a case where the South Korean MMO giant NCSoft gifted all of its employees a Nintendo Switch and the game Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The CEO said he enjoyed the game so much that he wanted to share it with everyone. However, there was no day off back then: MMO giant gifts 3000 employees a Nintendo Switch and Zelda

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3dJuegos

Player invested 400 hours and spent over 330 dollars in a month, now locked out of his favorite game

In Once Human, the mood is currently bad, triggered by a bug and the subsequent reaction of the developers. Their “bug fix” caused players to be banned, some of whom had invested hundreds of hours and dollars into the multiplayer game.

What happened? MeinMMO reported on October 26, 2024, that players of Once Human had complained about login issues and the temporary loss of characters. Apparently, there was an exploit that allowed players to acquire double the amount of real money currency.

Later, the obtained amount of real money currency is said to have disappeared, causing various accounts to suddenly have a negative balance. According to the terms of service of Once Human, such account access can be blocked until the account is settled. Did players stop being able to log into the game because of this? There were no official statements from the developers or concrete evidence for this.

Once Human is a unique survival game – here’s a trailer:

Start video
Im Survival-Spiel Once Human müsst ihr zusammenarbeiten

A victim speaks out

What is the current status? The post by mystikx on Reddit substantiates and expands on some previous assumptions – supported by screenshots from the game, support tickets, the official Discord, and the developers’ ban notification. Here are the key findings:

  • His main character was permanently banned from Once Human. So far, he had invested about 400 hours and just over 333 US dollars. He can still log in with all other characters.
  • When he contested the ban with an initial ticket, he was told that he supposedly violated the terms of service (but not in what way). The ticket response mentions that the character was muted. Well, banned characters are mute in their own way.
  • According to the player, the ban came after he received the message that 3,140 Crystgins would be deducted from his account. After that, the account balance was -1,190 Crystgins.
  • Although all of this was supposedly triggered by a bug from the developers, the player would have happily invested more dollars in the game to balance the account. However, since he cannot log in with the affected character at all, this is apparently not possible.
  • When asked about the issue on the official Discord, the player was told that there is no ban status for the affected character.
  • Similar information was conveyed to the player through in-game support. Nevertheless, he still could not log in with the mentioned character – and with every attempt, he received the message that his character is permanently banned.
  • Instead, the next day a second character of mystikx was also banned. He had spent some dollars on Crystgin for this character as well. The only available character now is the one that has not had any money invested in it.
  • As a next step, the affected individual contacted Steam directly to initiate a refund for all previous expenditures by providing all Steam transaction IDs. A corresponding message was sent to the Once Human support.
  • Then, his case was investigated again. The result: He supposedly displayed abnormal behavior in the game and was banned for that reason.
  • In a later message, he was informed that he allegedly had been caught using a cheat 15 times on August 19 and 20. Strangely: The corresponding character was already banned on those days.
  • On August 22, mystikx was banned from the official Discord channel of the developers after he shared his experiences with the rest of the community there.

From here, the further updates (19 in total) and screenshots from mystikx go in circles. Although the Reddit post linked above has stirred up quite a bit of dust, the developers continue to refuse to provide a concrete, comprehensible reason for the ban or to revoke it, or to approach the affected player in any other way.

What about other victims of the bug? A second post on Reddit vividly shows that many other players are affected. Bitter: Despite the complaints of those affected being over a week old, the operators of Once Human remain silent. If you want to try your luck despite these events, you can find assistance in the game guide: Once Human – All Guides, Tips, and Tricks Overview

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