In Baldur’s Gate 3 there are many cool animations. The coolest ones are probably thanks to a man with a stick who imitates a samurai.
What kind of animations are these? In order for the battles in Baldur’s Gate 3 to look as good as possible, the studio collaborated with so-called “Motion Capture” choreographers during the development of the game. These choreographers then choreograph the characters and their movements, which can then get into the game through technology.
In a new video from the developers of Baldur’s Gate 3, they present the choreographer behind some of the coolest combat animations.
Here you can watch the video:
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Who is behind the coolest animations? Mustapha El Bachiri is the choreographer responsible for many of the coolest animations in Baldur’s Gate 3. Equipped with a stick as a sword, he reenacts the most important and refined attacks from Baldur’s Gate 3.
He invented many of the attacks of the Githyanki. The attacks of this race have an “oriental martial arts samurai background”.
A well-known attack, in which the sword is placed on the inside and the attack is executed at lightning speed, for example, originates from a samurai who had to defeat a superior opponent in a dream and invented this attack while doing so.
The choreographer also talks about how the animations are designed at all. He invents many different combat moves, records them with his phone, and sends them to the developers. The finished movement and, ultimately, the animation are then built upon the suggestions.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is 1 year old and to celebrate the creators share your dirty secrets
How is the man with the stick received by the fans? The fans are excited about the insights behind the scenes of the development of Baldur’s Gate 3. @TheGamingPop writes on X.com: The guy is part of the reason why it feels so damn satisfying to use Divine Smite.
Also, @Liamhodsii expresses excitement on YouTube: “One of the best things about the success of BG3 is that it truly celebrates some of the lesser-known people and roles in game development, something that seems to be very rare in game development. It’s nice to see often overlooked but incredibly important roles being recognized with videos like this!”
@SirAron also praises the choreographer’s work on YouTube: “Combat animations don’t have to run in real-time to be beautiful. The turn-based style allowed each animation to be felt and heard so perfectly that it’s amazing.”
After One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Bleach, Naruto is also supposed to get a live-action adaptation. However, things do not look very promising. Initial reports describe it as a disaster and memories of Dragon Ball Evolution resurface.
What information is there about the Naruto movie? The author and director of the live-action film for Lionsgate is Destin Daniel Cretton. He has directed and written nearly all of his productions, and his last two projects were Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021 and Just Mercy in 2019.
Kishimoto has also commented on Cretton, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and it was quite positive.
When I heard about Destin’s hiring, I was watching one of his action movies, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto.
Overall, this all sounds pretty positive, especially since Just Mercy and Shang-Chi were not catastrophic films either. Especially Shang-Chi had some cool fight scenes in the first half. However, behind the scenes, things seem to be going poorly, as a journalist reportedly learned at Comic-Con.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 – Opening Trailer
Allegedly, the responsible parties don’t even know the source material
What do insiders say? Journalist Matt McGloin from Cosmic Book News is said to have received information about the Naruto movie from insiders at Comic-Con. It is said to be a complete disaster, as he was told.
The current state of the film is said to be on par with the notorious Dragonball Evolution from 2009. Apparently, the creators behind the series also do not have much knowledge about the manga and anime source material. Allegedly, they don’t even know who the villains are.
Can we trust the insiders? That is hard to say. Such reports must always be taken with a grain of caution, but other facts indicate a difficult situation for the film, which can certainly be described as a disaster.
Work on the Naruto movie has been ongoing since 2015, as reported by Collider. Originally, Michael Gracey was supposed to work on it. As a director, he has made only three films, the most famous of which is The Greatest Showman from 2017.
However, he distanced himself from the project in 2018, as he was not convinced by the script and implied that Kishimoto was also not involved. It was not until 2024 that Destin Daniel Cretton was officially hired.
When and how the Naruto movie will be released is still unclear. So far, there is little information about the film. Only the studio and the director are known. Cretton himself is also still working on Shang-Chi 2. With American Born Chinese, he has now also directed a series on Disney+. Anime adaptations are a tricky business. At least the Netflix series of One Piece has been convincing and secured another season: One Piece on Netflix gets season 2 and a new character is joining
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There are now three new codes in Genshin Impact to obtain the coveted Primogems. Additionally, more free rewards have been announced.
Where do the codes come from? During the live presentation of version 5.0 of Genshin Impact, the developers introduced the new update. Version 5.0 is set to be released on August 28 and will bring the new Natlan region. This region is said to be associated with the element of fire.
Viewers of the presentation were rewarded with three codes, all of which provide Primogems and other rewards. But you must hurry, as the codes are only valid for 24 hours.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new update:
Start video
Genshin Impact shows new version update with new area in video
Nice rewards for those who are quick
What are these codes? Once the codes are redeemed, you will receive your rewards via in-game mail within a few minutes. The rewards received will remain in your account and can also be saved for new banners.
The following codes will expire on August 17 at 6:00 AM in Germany:
2SMTYV59TLFD : 100 Primogems and 10 Mystic Refinement Materials
7SMTGV59BLXH : 100 Primogems and 5 Hero’s Wit
8T4TGDLRA5E5 : 100 Primogems and 50,000 Mora
How to redeem the codes in-game? To access the rewards in-game, simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to settings
Step 2: Click on account
Step 3: Click on “Redeem Now” under the redeem code
Step 4: Enter the code in the field and then click on “Redeem”
You will receive a message informing you whether the redemption was successful. You can then collect your reward from the mailbox. Simply repeat the steps with all codes.
Are there more rewards? In addition to the three codes that grant free rewards, there will also be others as part of the 5.0 update. For the four-year anniversary, there will be a chance to receive at least 1,600 Primogems along with many materials.
The streamer Nick “Nickmercs” Kolcheff (33) complains in his new video about the decline of gaming. He says modern games are no longer fun for him. Other than Elden Ring, there isn’t much good left. Therefore, he has turned away from games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, or Call of Duty. But there’s a twist to it, believes MeinMMO author Schuhmann.
Who is Nickmercs?
The streamer Nickmercs was for a long time one of the most successful shooter streamers. He rose to fame on Twitch in the wake of the Fortnite hype around Ninja, then switched to games like Call of Duty and Apex Legends.
Recently, the popular shooter streamer has barely been on air.
Start video
The 5 biggest Twitch bans that caused a lot of commotion
Do video games still bring joy?
How does he justify his break? In a new video on Kick, Nickmercs reacts to a video on the topic: “Do video games still bring joy?” by Zenmai Goose.
The video from September 2023 posits the thesis:
That video games today, while better on paper than before, are more immersive, advanced, and receive more respect.
Video games also involve more money than before.
But due to microtransactions and excessive commercialization, gaming is no longer as enjoyable as it used to be. Video games have lost their innocence and magic. Therefore, many “real gamers” have been put off, who now talk a lot about gaming but no longer play as much themselves.
Another reason cited for the problems in modern gaming is that games have become too complex and elaborate – and the culture of releasing unfinished games along with Day-1 DLC and more updates.
Moreover, marketing and excessive hype are criticized – which has become more important than the quality of the games.
Nickmercs supports this thesis and sees himself reflected in the video. He explains how much he loved video games as a child and today there is “barely anything he likes” except for Elden Ring.
He says: Games are not as good as they used to be – he sees Pay2Win and microtransactions as problems. In principle, games with an in-game shop are okay, but new games take it too far.
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Nickmercs’ criticism is sponsored by the crypto casino Stake
What makes this so strange? Nickmercs laments the increasing commercialization of gaming. That’s completely fine, many criticize that. However, he does so on the streaming platform Kick while the logo of the crypto casino “Stake” is displayed.
That’s about as if someone discussed the problems of alcoholism while being sponsored by Jack Daniel’s.
In the comments, people write: “Gaming too often has a hidden agenda. Gaming should be solely about entertainment” – this is a commonly expressed opinion, implying that leftist developers spread their ideology in games. They focus on issues like diversity, equality, and inclusion, neglecting the actual game and enjoyment.
In October 2024, the new era of the heroes of Conan Exiles begins. After PvE raids, taverns, and death blows, the upcoming era will revolve around the inhabitants of the harsh gaming world.
What does the Age of Heroes bring? When the first chapter of “Age of Heroes” is released for Conan Exiles in October, you can look forward to the following features:
For the first time, you will have the opportunity to take a real companion on your adventures, who will be fully voiced and come with his own progression path and personal story.
The developers are introducing a system called “Living Settlement” for the thralls. Your slaves will have a realistic daily routine, where they eat, sleep, visit the tavern, or interact with other NPCs – this strongly resembles the German role-playing classic Gothic from 2001 by Piranha Bytes.
More companions, events, and updates for the followers are to follow in later chapters. Note that the developers announced a new update structure for the survival adventure back in June 2024 (via conanexiles.com).
In the future, they want to take six months instead of three for a new age chapter to increase the quality of the content.
In between the chapters, smaller updates are to be released that bring fresh events or targeted improvements – recently for thralls, who will no longer die immediately when their health is depleted.
The new era of heroes will initially come without a new battle pass. The saved work will be invested in further content and improvements.
Players of Conan Exiles are still in the “Age of War” – here is the trailer:
Start video
Conan Exiles – Launch Trailer shows innovations of ‘Age of War’
The Conan game is maturing
What is the current status of Conan Exiles? Through the last ages, the survival adventure from Funcom has received a lot of features that make the current version of Conan Exiles significantly different from the launch version from May 8, 2018.
With the Isle of Siptah, there is an alternative zone to the Valley of the Damned.
With the “Age of Sorcery”, the eponymous sorcery, a new fast travel system, a revamped level progression, a significantly improved building mode, golem servants, and more were introduced.
The “Age of War” shone among other things with clan shelters, clan emblems, revamped purges, the tavern (plus hireable mercenaries), a PvE raid, bloody finishers, and more.
On Steam, there are more than 68,400 reviews with a solid “Mostly Positive”, with 78 percent of positive ratings. Whether Funcom’s current follow-up project will also be received as well remains to be seen. Here are all known details so far: Dune Awakening – Everything about the release, beta, setting, and platforms
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Epic Games has managed to bring you Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys on your iOS devices. How you can download the games now will be shown in our guide.
This is how I install Fortnite on my iOS device: To install Fortnite and other Epic Games titles on your iOS devices, you need to complete the following steps:
Open Safari and search in the browser for “epic.download“.
Now click on the button “Install on iOS”.
Note that your iPhone needs at least iOS version 17.6.1 to perform the download
You will receive a message stating that the download is temporarily denied. Click “OK”.
Now go to your settings.
Under your profile, there is a new button labeled “Allow Epic Games Marketplace”.
Click the button and then “Allow”.
Now return to your browser.
Now tap “Install”.
Now another pop-up will appear asking if you want to download the Epic Games Marketplace.
Now press “Install App Marketplace”.
The app will now be downloaded.
Open the app once it has been downloaded and select the game you want to download.
You can choose from Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys.
Important: Don’t forget to log in with your account to access your skins in Fortnite. Otherwise, you will be wandering around with a no-skin, and you surely don’t want that.
Start video
Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 5 Season 4 – Official Trailer to Absolute Doom
Is it worth playing on Apple? iPhones and other iOS devices are powerful devices depending on the model, where you can reliably play games as well. Especially in school or at work during lunchtime, it’s worth it if you can play a round of Fortnite out of boredom. It kills time and also levels up your Battle Pass in the process.
Moreover, you also receive rewards thanks to Epic Games. Depending on how much XP you earn, you will receive the following items:
Gifts for Fortnite
Earn 25,000 XP to unlock the “Camouflage Cat” painting.
Earn 50,000 XP to unlock the “Cat Claws” pickaxe.
Earn 75,000 XP to unlock the “Cat’s Bag of Katzarina” back accessory.
Earn 100,000 XP to unlock the “Katzarina” outfit.
What trick should I use for my Battle Pass? There is a trick you can use to quickly level up your Battle Pass, and that is bot lobbies. Many players created a new account on their phone before the Apple Fortnite ban to bring their main account into a bot lobby.
These opponents are no danger, and they can be quickly eliminated. They generate a lot of XP in a very short time and in a very relaxed manner. Chapter 5 Season 4 has just started, so you can test the new system and also quickly get access to the highly sought-after new hero skins from the Battle Pass.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With The Elder Scrolls: Castles, the new game for the popular RPG franchise from Bethesda will be released in a few weeks. However, you should not expect an RPG, but a management simulation.
What do I need to know about The Elder Scrolls: Castles? This is the third mobile game for the Elder Scrolls franchise (after The Elder Scrolls: Blades and The Elder Scrolls Legends) that has been in Early Access since September 2023 and is according to the developers (via X) scheduled to be globally released on September 10, 2024, for Google Play and the App Store.
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The spiritual successor to the hugely successful Fallout Shelter (which reportedly generated over 100 million USD in revenue within its first four years (via gamesindustry.biz)) shows you the various rooms of the namesake castle from a side view, which you will then control, manage, and expand.
You train subjects, appoint heirs, and maintain order. Additionally, you take on quests for the castle residents where they fight against well-known adversaries from the Elder Scrolls universe to fill the treasury with valuable loot.
Elder Scrolls: Castles is the quasi-sequel to Fallout Shelter – here is the trailer:
Start video
Fallout Shelter Trailer
MeinMMO editor’s luck
How does Elder Scrolls: Castles play? MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß looked at the mobile game in March 2024 and shared her impressions. She reports on dying kings, tricky decisions, and the diligent gathering of resources.
Throughout the game, the primary objective is to keep the subjects satisfied – for instance, by providing work, clearing potential dangers like fields with mildew, or mediating disputes between two parties.
In October, the first expansion for Diablo 4, titled “Vessel of Hatred,” will be released. To skip the campaign, players apparently have to complete it first. For some, that’s just a waste of time.
“Vessel of Hatred” will be released on October 8 and brings new content to Diablo 4:
a new class – the Spiritborn
new skills, legendary glyphs, and paragon boards for all classes
In a post on X, Community Manager Adam Fletcher explains that players must complete the campaign to skip the “Vessel of Hatred” campaign. However, some players see a problem here, as they want to jump straight into the new content without playing the story. Others say that having to complete the campaign to skip it is actually logical.
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Trailer for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred provides insight into the story of the expansion
What are players complaining about? Specifically, the discussion taking place on various platforms is about skipping the campaign of Vessel of Hatred. Apparently, you have to complete it first in order to unlock the “skip function.” Some players view this as an issue.
One user asked on X whether there will be a season pause to experience the story of Vessel of Hatred (VoH) on the eternal realms before the season starts, or if both will start simultaneously, forcing players to choose between the campaign and “free play.”
We will discuss this before the launch. There will be no season pause. Players must complete the campaign once to skip the VoH campaign.
Under the comment, “Clinton Butler” writes: “This is really bad. Many players have absolutely no interest in the story. It’s a hurdle that prevents them from enjoying the game. Allowing skipping harms no one, but allows players to enjoy the game as they wish. If they want to experience the story, they will play it.”
In the Blizzard forum, “Falling” writes that it would be nice to be able to skip the VoH campaign. “Give players who want to experience the story the chance to do so, but please don’t force it on us,” he thinks. He wants to utilize all features of the expansion without having to play the campaign. “After all, I’m paying for the expansion. And if I want to skip parts of it, I should be able to,” he writes.
Play through to skip – “It’s logical”
Are there other opinions as well? Yes, a few. In a post on Reddit, users discuss the topic. The top comment is from “ThanosWasRightHanded” and has gathered over 2,000 upvotes. He writes: “There are people in the comments who are actually upset that they may have to play the brand-new campaign, which they’ve never experienced, at least once.”
“Ymmera” wonders why people are upset about this. He states: “Of course, you have to complete the campaign at least once before you can skip it” – that’s logical. “Darksharq” writes that some people bought the expansion for the new class, not for the new story. Repeating the entire campaign would be pretty lame, he thinks.
And “Anxnymxus-622” points out that he can’t count how many people have said they skipped every single cutscene in the Diablo 4 campaign just to then say how bad it was. “_redacteduser” adds: “These are also the first ones to complain that there’s no content.”
For “tomkc518,” the main campaign of Diablo 4 was “fantastic, with the BEST cutscenes,” and he looks forward to playing it again and continuing the story. And for “AdministrativeAct902,” the campaign of Diablo 4 was “absolutely 10/10.”
Do I have to play the entire campaign? According to PC Gamer, Blizzard has stated in an interview that “players starting Diablo 4 for the first time with Vessel of Hatred will have the option to skip the main campaign and dive directly into the story of the expansion.”
According to wowhead, there will be a summary of the previous events for new players starting directly in the VoH storyline.
On Reddit, several users note that they are looking forward to the new campaign. Others write that they want to play the main story again – this time with the new class. MyMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has already played the Spiritborn. For two hours, he more or less tested it out and tried out the skills. You can read more about it here: Diablo 4: I was at Blizzard and played the new class of Vessel of Hatred – This is what the Spiritborn can do
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
But even outside of the film, things are happening in the Borderlands world: The latest main entry in the series, Borderlands 3, has now received another update. And it is actually quite exciting if you feel like diving back in.
Start video
Borderlands 3 Announcement Trailer
New update starts at the end of the game
What’s in the update? It was released on August 8 and brought, unlike the last update from July that only added cosmetics, a few changes for gameplay.
The most important thing: You can create a max-level character directly from the main menu if you have already completed the game once.
This could be interesting for many who just want to have fun with a new character in the endgame of the game without having to play through the story again. After all, you canfight the bosses in Borderlands 3 repeatedly, and other challenges are also worthwhile after completing the story.
What is unusual? As one player reported on reddit, the new update sets you to level 72, but also directly in front of the final battle against the main antagonist Tyreen. You then have to defeat her first.
But: You don’t get any proper weapons for that. Instead, you have to face off with “uncommon” weapons, meaning weapons at the green tier. Additionally, you won’t receive shields, artifacts, or anything similar. So you go into the battle poorly equipped.
However, your vault hunter’s level is so high that it shouldn’t be a big problem to finish Tyreen in the boss fight. From there, you can then head towards the endgame challenges of Borderlands 3.
What’s new? A cool new option is the auto-selling of certain weapon rarities. You can set it so that items with low rarity are automatically converted into cash. This keeps your inventory organized and allows you to focus on getting good loot.
Want to play more Borderlands but have already thoroughly completed Borderlands 3? Then Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands might be for you. The spin-off was released after Borderlands 3 and transferred the successful gameplay formula into a fantasy setting. It’s a nice excursion into another genre if you enjoy the typically action-packed gameplay and the crude humor of the Borderlands series.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new update for Hunt: Showdown, 1896, is finally here and sets a new player record for the game. However, longtime veterans of the game hate one particular change.
What kind of update is this? Hunt: Showdown was offline for 48 hours and during that time it received probably the biggest update in years. In addition to a new map that offers a new setting for the first time, there are many large and small updates, including new weapons, outfits, and enemies.
However, at the heart of the update is the engine update, which is supposed to shine graphically through better lighting effects, as well as optimize performance. For players on the PS4 and Xbox One, however, it’s game over, as the game is no longer playable there.
Now that the game is available again, it immediately breaks its own player record, setting a new mark of over 60,000 players (via SteamDB). Additionally, everyone can try the game for free over the weekend, as the Free Weekend with Hunt: Showdown is currently running.
While the update has brought many interesting changes, one particular change is leaving veterans dissatisfied and is resulting in over 3,000 negative reviews on Steam.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new update:
Start video
Hunt: Showdown presents the new update ‘1896’ in the trailer
Beautiful but impractical
What bothers the veterans? The new user interface, meaning the menus that players have to navigate through daily, is not well-received. While it may not seem important for new players at first, it is really irritating for the pros.
The developers have used large icons and artworks in many places, instead of trying to display as much information as possible on a single screen. This means that experienced players with many characters, weapons, and gear frequently have to click through the menus for minutes on end.
In the hunter selection, the game now only shows three hunters and two halves. Players then switch to the next three hunters with a click. If someone doesn’t know where their desired hunter is located, they may need to click more than ten times to find them.
Additionally, some options are duplicated. On the same page, for example, you can access the shop and the battle pass from the top of the screen, but you can also do this from the left edge of the screen with expandable icons.
The controls themselves are also criticized. In a video on YouTube, a user shows the UI and mentions that you can’t scroll properly either.
Here you can see the video with the impressions:
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What do the veterans say in detail? Veterans have various opinions about the update, but the topic surrounding the user interface is responsible for many negative reviews on Steam. It is noticeable that especially players with hundreds or even thousands of hours in the game are now leaving negative feedback after the update.
Nitocris is a veteran with over 400 hours in the game. On Steam, he now gives a negative review: “No, you should be ashamed of this new UI; I just don’t believe you tested it. Why is everything so BIG, the buttons also don’t make sense. Why is it a spacebar to open my hunter menu and then enter to confirm the action, and not just another spacebar? This whole thing is a mess and was clearly made for console players, but it legitimately makes me not want to touch your game.”
Eurgh has over 2,000 hours in Hunt: Showdown and is now rating the game negatively on Steam: “God, I love this game, but as long as the new user interface stays the way it is now, this review will remain negative. Everyone said from the first videos that the new user interface looks horrible and unusable, and guess what: It does. Additionally, there’s the new marketing that causes a full-screen ad for bundles to appear when opening the game, which used to be just a small overlay in the corner of the screen. I do not recommend the game in its current state.”
What do the developers say about the issue? In response to user Eurgh’s negative criticism, the developers, in the form of community manager CRY_IM, answered on Steam.
The developers first thank the players for the feedback and apologize that the user interface is not liked.
They continue writing: “Our design team has worked hard on the long-requested overhaul of the user interface, which represents a crucial improvement that has been needed for some time. We are focused on finding a balance between simplicity and functionality, which was the whole idea behind the new design. We will continue to gather player feedback and refine the user interface in the future as well.”
Under the review, six pages of comments are accumulating, expressing that they do not find the developers’ response satisfactory. The topic of simplicity appears to not be very successful for many, considering the cumbersome controls. You can find out more about the update and its contents here: Hunt: Showdown goes offline for 48 hours, resulting in the largest update in years on Steam
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There are many great games available on PS Plus that are already included in the PS5 offer. Now the first free title for September has been revealed.We present to you the game “The Plucky Squire.”
What kind of game is this? This is the game “The Plucky Squire.” In this action-adventure, you play as the squire Jot, who must protect the land of Mojo and his friends from the evil wizard Grummweil. The setting of the story is a picture book, from which you can break out.
You can get a first impression of the game with this trailer:
Start video
The gameplay trailer of The Plucky Squire takes you into a cute picture book world
Dive into the adventure world!
What is special about the game? As Jot, you not only play within his picture book but also beyond that. You can jump out of the picture book repeatedly to get into the real world. The game represents a mix between 2D and 3D worlds.
Especially the cute art style and the lovingly designed worlds of this indie game are convincing. You have to solve puzzles and defend yourself against dangerous monsters with your sword.
When will The Plucky Squire be released? The Plucky Squire will be released on September 17, 2024, and is part of the PlayStation Plus catalog. Therefore, it will be available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members from day one.
For those who are unsure if they want to play the game, but have a PS Plus membership, trying the game is therefore free. Those without a membership can play a demo of The Plucky Squire on Steam.
In League of Legends there are a lot of emotes that are sometimes more, sometimes less helpful. Especially the ping system is supposed to help players. However, a notorious emote was removed by Riot because it was completely misused. Now it is returning in a new form.
Which ping is it about? In Season 13, Riot expanded the ping system. Many emotes were added. Among them was the bait ping. It was a kind of fishing hook in the game. With it, you were supposed to indicate to your team that they should try to lure the opponents.
However, the toxic LoL community used the ping in other ways. According to Riot, the ping was hardly used and when it was used, players spammed the ping against their teammates. In the worst case, players used the ping to tell another player to hang themselves. Riot removed the ping from the game. But now it is returning in a different form as a new emote.
How is the bait ping returning? On August 27, 2024, new emotes will appear in the game, designed by the Tier-1 teams from all regions. There are many new emotes showing different poses or references to memes.
The European team BDS designed an emote that shows a penguin with a fishing rod. Hanging on the fishing rod is the old hook of the bait emote. On the penguin’s head is a hat with the team’s logo. You can see the emote here:
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The difference from the bait ping this time is that you have to buy the emote for 350 RP, about €3. 30% of the proceeds from the new emotes go to the respective teams.
Another emote has already been changed. The American team 100 Thieves had an emote with Akali showing the sign for something small with her finger and thumb. As SkinSpotlights reports on X.com, this emote has already been changed.
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For 13.77 €, Humble Bundle is selling 7 of the best fantasy role-playing games of all time in the style of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam: the first two Baldur’s Gate, as well as Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights, and the Pathfinder games.
What kind of offer is this? Humble Bundle offers a special sale, “Killer RPGs from the modern masters.” The offer is available in 5 price tiers. The most attractive price tier is the second one, for 13.77 € you get 7 role-playing games on Steam (via humblebundle):
Wrath of the Righteous was released in September 2021 and has received 2 Season Passes:
Start video
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous – The Trailer for the Role-Playing Hit
Those who pay more get a sci-fi epic in the Warhammer 40k universe
Can the package be upgraded? Those who pay 32.14 € also get the very good Warhammer: 40,000: Rogue Trader, the latest game from Owlcat. This is not a classic fantasy game, but a dark sci-fi RPG.
You can also spend 250 hours in Rogue Trader.
Even if you only pay for the cola, it’s enough for 2 top RPGs
Are there cheaper alternatives? For 9.18 €, if you skip the cola, you get the same as for 13.77 € – only the season passes for the Pathfinder games are excluded.
For 6.42 € you forgo Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous and Neverwinter Nights.
For 3.67 € you still get Planescape Torment and Icewind Dale.
Role-players can stock up on material until Christmas for 13.77 €
What makes the offer so good? Planescape: Torment was considered for decades to be the best-written role-playing game of all time – only Disco Elysium can match it.
The early games of Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale are classics of the genre. Even though they seem a bit rusty compared to Baldur’s Gate 3, they have shaped the genre.
The Pathfinder games from Owlcat do not play in this league, but are as close as modern games come to the classics – alongside the direct predecessors of Baldur’s Gate 3, the Divinity games from Larian.
If you are into classic fantasy role-playing, the variants of the offer will keep you supplied with gaming material until Christmas. Also nice: buying the package supports a charitable cause. A portion of the proceeds goes to a scholarship fund for Girls Make Games.
How long is it valid? The offer is valid until September 5th.
This weekend, the Pokémon World Championship is taking place in Hawaii. MeinMMO author Max Handwerk takes another look back at the past WM 2023.
The Pokémon World Championships 2023 in Yokohama was a true home game for Pokémon: The headquarters of the Pokémon Company is located just about a 45-minute drive away in Tokyo. And upon arriving in Yokohama, it was clear that this tournament extended beyond the boundaries of the convention center.
The first signs that the area around the World Championship would turn into a true Pokémon paradise could be seen from afar. Huge inflatable Pikachu figures lined the way to the tournament hall. Small “Easter Eggs,” such as mailboxes designed in the style of Eevee and Pikachu, could also be found.
And in the shopping center next door, countless Pokémon cards shaped its appearance – on the floor as stickers, set up in oversized displays, or as gigantic artworks in the center of the mall. In addition, photo spots were set up, screens were prepared to broadcast the championship matches over the weekend, and various locations in Yokohama featured Pokémon street art on the walls.
In short: the decoration was already on point. But that was just the beginning.
Who is writing here? Max Handwerk has been writing for MeinMMO since 2018 and has covered various topics. Nowadays, he mainly covers Pokémon GO and provides you with the latest news about the game.
Pokémon Take Over the City
The WM started in the convention center with an impressive opening ceremony. People from all over the world had come to participate in the tournament – or just to be a part of it. One player I spoke with emphasized: “I didn’t qualify, but I’m still here. I didn’t want to miss it.”
It seemed that many fans who traveled to Yokohama that weekend felt the same way – whether from the nearby area or from thousands of kilometers away. Day by day, more people appeared on the tournament grounds and around, playing Pokémon GO, trading cards, or simply soaking in the atmosphere.
Countless Pikachu or Eevee hats could be counted, the lines in front of the photo spots grew longer and longer. Notably: the mood. Fans gathered from everywhere to have a good time together. On the last day of the tournament, a Community Day in Pokémon GO took place and I rarely saw so many players simultaneously occupying gyms. Overall, the game was quite active there.
The WM took place in YokohamaSuch Easter Eggs could be found all over the city.A small Pokémon festival took place in Matsuri Park.Even small stands were packed.Cards were displayed oversized in the adjacent shopping center.Huge Pikachu figures were found everywhere.There was also much to see in Tokyo, for example at the Pokémon Center…… or at the Pokémon Café.The final matches took place here, but also the ceremonies.The stage created a great atmosphere.Even in the hall, a giant Pikachu could not be missed.
Meanwhile, in the tournament hall, games were being played at hundreds of tables. The Pokémon main games, the card game, Pokémon Unite, and Pokémon GO were looking for their world champions this weekend.
The final matches then took place on the big stage, which was designed almost like a “real” Pokémon arena. Large screens displayed the duels, and with every important action, a murmur spread through the hall, just as if one were at a final in a football stadium.
For Pokémon fans, there was also plenty to see otherwise. Various attractions could be visited: Such as the Pokémon cruise ship including a treasure hunt, or the park next door, where various games could be played or a small Pokémon festival was celebrated. In the evening, a Pokémon stage show took place, drones created gigantic monsters in the night sky, the local Ferris wheel lit up in Pokéball or Pikachu designs, and of course, there was also a Pikachu parade.
No matter where you looked: The entire place had transformed into a small Pokémon world.
Even in Tokyo, the effects of the WM were quickly noticeable – especially at the PokéCenters, i.e., shops. Here, people were already lining up in the morning to secure cards or other fan merchandise. If you came later, you went home empty-handed again, at least when it came to buying card sets. I had only seen such a hype before, when the PS4 was released and similar scenes unfolded in front of the Saturn around the corner.
Of course, the surroundings were special, but it was mainly the people on site who turned the weekend into something extraordinary. Whether tournament players or fans who just wanted to be part of it: Together, they created an atmosphere that one would not forget quickly.
The mood at the closing ceremony also matched this. The tournament winners were crowned and cheered, and every further announcement was met with murmurs. Even the announcement that the next World Championship would take place in Hawaii.
Start video
Pokémon World Championship 2024: Trailer for the Event in Hawaii
This new WM will start now – on Friday, August 16, 2024. Once again, the best trainers in the world will compete for the titles. And for sure, this time it will again be an event ultimately shaped by a large community, where many people bring the same passion for the subject.
In Pokémon GO, you can also take advantage of the WM without being on-site. Here, a global event around bonuses for various PvP Pokémon will take place, which can be secured until next Tuesday, August 20, 2024. If you want to know how to make the most of the event, check here: Make the most of 3 things at the Pokémon GO World Championship event.
MeinMMO was present as a press representative at the Pokémon World Championships 2023. The costs for admission, travel, and accommodation were covered by the organizers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Pokémon World Championship is approaching, and it’s being played in Pokémon GO as well. Accordingly, there are codes for gifts via Twitch.
When is the Pokémon World Championship happening? The Pokémon World Championship takes place from August 16 to 18, 2024. During this time, there will be live streams on Twitch for Pokémon GO. You can find the channel on Twitch here.
What do I need to do? During the championship, you should watch 30 minutes of the live stream on the channel on Day 1 and Day 2, respectively. There is a gift for each day. Additionally, there is a third gift for players who watch an “official co-stream” of the championships for another 30 minutes.
The codes must be redeemed by August 27, 2024, at 01:59 AM.
What kind of gifts are there? You will receive codes that allow you to unlock limited-time research tasks. We summarize what is included below.
How can you redeem the codes for Pokémon GO?
Link your Twitch account with your Pokémon Trainer Club account
Watch the respective live streams for 30 minutes
Day 1 starts on Friday, August 16, at 9:00 PM
Day 2 is Saturday, August 17, 2024, starting at 9:00 PM
It is also possible to receive the codes in replays
After 30 minutes, you can click on your reward through Twitch Drops
After doing that, you need to go to the Pokémon rewards page rewards.pokemon.com
There you will receive the code that you can then redeem in the web shop for Pokémon GO
Once you have done all of that, you should find the corresponding research in your game. You can also check if it worked in the journal.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
What the gift research for the World Championship brings
Research 1: This is called “Pokémon World Champion” and you will get it with the code from Day 1. The code must be redeemed by August 27 at 01:59 AM.
The research offers the following rewards:
Zorua with Dark Claw and Leech Seed. With a lot of luck, it can be shiny.
A charged TM
A bonus that newly caught Zorua will also know these two moves. This lasts until August 31, 11:59 PM.
And a bonus for an extra XL Candy for trainers above level 31 when you complete level 3 Crypto Raids. This bonus also lasts until August 31, 11:59 PM.
Other, yet unknown rewards.
Research 2: This is called “Team Spirit – Super League” and gives you a research task with a team choice. This code must also be redeemed by August 27, 2024, at 01:59 AM. You will choose between the following teams. Potential shinies are marked with an asterisk*.
Team 1: Dummisel*, Mantax*, Pam-Pam*
Team 2: Galar-Smogmog*, Pionskora*, Igamaro*
Team 3: Pummeluff*, Schalellos*, Iscalar*
Additionally, you will receive 8,500 Stardust and other yet unknown rewards.
Research 3: You will receive this if you follow one of the co-streamers for the championship. A list of all possible streams can be found on the official Pokémon World Championship homepage (on pokemon.com).
As a reward, you will receive among other things a WM-2024-Pikachu and additional rewards. This code is also valid until August 27 at 01:59 AM.
What makes the rewards special? Overall, it is clear that the rewards are mainly centered around Pokémon that are interesting in the PvP league. With them, you have a good chance of winning a few matches in the Super League. In general, it is not so easy to reach a high rank in PvP. You have to keep in mind many different monsters and be able to react accordingly. If you want to level up in PvP, check here: 3 pros in Pokémon GO explain how you can become better in the battle league.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The hate surrounding The Last of Us Part 2 continues – even after many years. Once again, an actress playing Abby is the target.
In recent years, there has been hardly any video game that has emotionally affected players as much as The Last of Us Part II. The continuation of Ellie and Joel’s story, who must survive in a zombie apocalypse, made headlines at the time. However, many disliked the course of the story and took out their frustration on the developers and actresses who brought the character Abby to life.
This drama seems to repeat itself with the series adaptation, as Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby in the series, needs additional security.
On PlayStation 4, The Last of Us Part II was a huge success – despite controversy:
Start video
The Last of Us: Part 2 – PS4-Trailer
Why does Dever need protection? In the podcast “Happy Sad Confused,” Josh Horowitz spoke with Isabela Merced, who plays the role of “Dina.” During the discussion, she was asked about Kaitlyn Dever and what is happening due to some fans. She responded:
There are people who really hate Abby, even though she is not a real person. And that is why Kaitlyn needed additional protection from security while we were filming.
Dever appears visibly confused in the interview that some people’s feelings are so strong that they apparently cannot differentiate between a real person and a fictional character.
You can watch the entire interview here:
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Why are the fans so angry? Honestly, the reason behind this hate is not rational. The character of “Abby” has been deeply hated by some since the release of the video game “The Last of Us Part II.” She is responsible for the death of an important character in the game and is simultaneously a protagonist that players must control for half of the game.
Even back at the release of the game, there were many who hated Abby so much that they expressed their anger towards the actress or the voice actress. This ranged from insults to death threats or threats against the families of these women.
How severe the threats have been at times and how much it has affected those involved was shown in a 2-hour documentary about the making of The Last of Us Part II. It features, for example, voice actress Laura Bailey, who has been drastically affected by the hostilities and threats:
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Many players long for the good old days with Call of Duty. One of the biggest fan favorites is Modern Warfare 2 from 2009. Tinkers wanted to bring back this time with a new mod for Modern Warfare Remastered, and players eagerly bought it during the sale. However, a day before the release, Activision pulls the plug.
What is the H2 mod? With H2, a team of modders aimed to bring back the old Modern Warfare 2 in a new guise. H2 was planned as a mod for Modern Warfare Remastered, which was released in 2016. The team wanted to bring back the original maps, weapons, and perks from MW2. Additionally, there would have been new content in the form of skins or maps.
CoD: Black Ops 6 shows the new Omni-Movement in gameplay
Just before release, Activision blocks the mod
Why does the mod have to be discontinued? As the team posted on X.com, all work on the modification has been permanently halted. The blame is said to be a cease-and-desist letter that Activision reportedly sent to the team.
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There is also discussion about the topic on reddit where fans are angry and even want to return Modern Warfare Remastered on Steam. Much of the criticism stems from the fact that the original MW2 can only be played on the now unsafe servers.
RJE808: Well, I guess I’ll refund MWR on Steam now. Screw this company, man. Holy crap.
Robospy1: I’m considering not buying any more CoD games. I wanted to get Black Ops 6, but now? Probably not.
BamzookiEnjoyer: I’m sorry for those who bought MWR for that, I hope you all can get a refund. The project looked great, and it’s really sad.
Users like tactikz4 even accuse Activision of waiting too long, as until recently there was still a sale on many CoD games, where many interested parties probably only jumped in for the mod.
A new event for the Pokémon World Championship in Pokémon GO is starting. You should take advantage of some bonuses within it.
When does the event take place in Pokémon GO? The bonuses related to the World Championship event start on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 10:00 AM. You can use them until August 20, 2024, at 8:00 PM.
The actual World Championship in Honolulu, where other Pokémon games besides Pokémon GO crown their champions, takes place from Friday to Sunday. You can thus use the bonuses a little longer.
Three bonuses are worth highlighting that you should take advantage of.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
Which bonuses are worth it for the World Championship event?
1. Use codes for free research: During the World Championship, various livestreams for Pokémon GO will be running. You can follow them on Twitch and secure rewards by watching 30 minutes of different streams.
Over the weekend, there are three free researches that you can earn by watching the streams.
2. Teach Pokémon special moves: During the event, you can teach strong moves to various monsters that are interesting for PvP in Pokémon GO. You can find the entire list here:
When catching:
Slurpuff learns Body Slam
Lin-Fu learns Tower Kick
If you evolve the following Pokémon:
Morlord: Water Tail
Altaria: Lunar Force
Akkup: Volt Switch
Fiaro: Incinerate
Additionally, you can remove the move Frustration from your Shadow Pokémon.
3. Fight in the Battle Week: The Battle Week allows you to earn quadruple Stardust for your matches. This is a really good source for the important resource.
To farm effectively, 100 battles per day are possible. Additionally, a research task focusing on PvP will be unlocked.
Which Pokémon does the World Championship event bring?
We summarize the list of spawns for you here. Possible Shinies are marked with an asterisk*. The highlight is likely the costumed World Championship Pikachu in a diving suit. Additionally, you can now try to find Lin-Fu as a Shiny.
Thus, even players who are not present at the World Championship have plenty to take advantage of. Additionally, there are more dates to watch out for this month. To give you a complete overview at a glance: Here are all events in Pokémon GO in August 2024.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After being sold exclusively on the Epic Games Store for a year, players on Steam will soon be able to enjoy the first-person shooter.
What game are we talking about? Witchfire is an RPG shooter from the Polish developer studio The Astronauts. The game combines elements from Soulslikes, Roguelites, and extraction shooters in a single-player campaign.
In the dark fantasy world of Witchfire, a relentless war rages between witches and the Vatican. This conflict has led to the creation of the “Preyer” – undead witch hunters driven only by the Witchfire flowing through their veins.
The player takes on the role of a Preyer, tasked with retrieving a legendary artifact from the witches. Along the way, you will have to face the witches, armed with various firearms and powerful spells.
The game already released on September 20, 2023, exclusively on the Epic Games Store, and the Steam release will follow in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, the game will still be in early access at that time. According to the developers’ statements in the Steam shop, this is expected to remain the case for another nine to twelve months.
You can watch the new trailer for Witchfire here:
Start video
Witchfire: The Destiny with Witches has a trailer for the Steam release
What are the reactions to the trailer? Fans are excited on YouTube about the upcoming Steam version and the many new players who will likely become aware of the shooter.
chillhour6155 writes: “Congratulations on the Steam boost, this game deserves a broader player base.”
UngliYT particularly praises the gameplay: “The game is currently a bit shallow in content, but it’s one of the best-feeling shooters I’ve ever played. From the spells to the actual shooting and level progression, I love everything.”
Kaiser_Kloob prefers to wait until the early access phase is over. He writes: “I will buy it as soon as it is fully released on Steam.”
On August 14, 2024, the “The Wailing Tower” update was released, introducing a new map with the Island of the Damned, as well as new features like Prophecies, Corrupt Arcana, and “Fallen Preyers.” A detailed list of all new features from the “The Wailing Tower” update can be found on the developers’ blog (via theastronauts.com).
The update also brings new music to the game, composed in part by Marcin Przybyłowicz. He has composed some very well-known pieces from The Witcher series, and the developers released a sample on X, formerly Twitter:
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The responsible parties at Amazon Games are hosting a second beta phase before the official launch of New World Aeternum on October 15, 2024, specifically in September.
What is known about the second beta test? After the confidential beta in July, which was only open to invited participants, the next test is set to be open to all players in September. The beta is scheduled to run from September 13, 2024, at 6:00 PM, to September 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM.
You have the freedom to choose whether to try out Aeternum on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S. As crossplay between consoles and PC is enabled, you can easily team up with your friends, regardless of the platforms they are on.
Also known:
The beta version will be available for download starting September 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM.
The scope of the beta includes the beginning of the game and the first quest lines up to level 30. By that time, you will have unlocked features like mounts, arenas, and some expeditions.
Participants in the open beta will have the opportunity to earn rewards for the launch version of New World Aeternum. More info in the next section.
The trailer for the new console version of New World:
Start video
Trailer for New World Aeternum announces console version
What rewards can I earn during the beta? During the open beta, you can earn the following goodies for the respective platform you participate on:
Title: Pioneer of Aeternum – Participation in the open beta
Gloves: Bracers of the Aeternian Adventurer – Reach level 10 with any character
Footwear: March Boots of the Aeternian Adventurer – Reach level 15 with any character
Legwear: Leggings of the Aeternian Adventurer – Reach level 20 with any character
Headgear: Tricorn of the Aeternian Adventurer and Chest Armor: Winter Coat of the Aeternian Adventurer – Reach level 25 with any character
Here is the new trailer for the start of the open beta of New World Aeternum:
Start video
New World Aeternum: Trailer for the open beta in September 2024
Restart for Amazon MMORPG
What can I expect with New World Aeternum? The new version of the online role-playing game from Amazon Games is expected to not only provide the console release but also content-wise ensure a restart – with a greater focus on solo experience, staging, and more action-packed battles. The main innovations are as follows:
Optimization of controls and UI for the controller
The first 10-player raid
Extensive PvP zone
Solo challenges in the endgame
Adjusted combat system
Character archetypes for easier entry
New dialogue system and new cutscenes
Improved story
Enhanced leveling system
Characters will finally be able to swim
Note: Those who want to try New World Aeternum at launch on one of the consoles will need, in addition to the paid game, a PlayStation Plus subscription or a Game Pass Core subscription.
