The weapon type Sword & Shield will also be available at the release of Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam and PS5: And the fans are already looking forward to it.
Which game is this about? Monster Hunter Wilds is an action RPG developed by Capcom, where you hunt large monsters, stylish clothing, and crazy weapons either alone or with others.
Monster Hunter Wilds is set to release in 2025 on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with no exact date known yet.
To make the long wait more bearable for fans, Capcom will release short trailers for all weapons in the game. In these, they briefly present the gameplay mechanics and possible combos of each weapon type.
You can watch the trailer for Sword & Shield here:
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Monster Hunter Wilds: This is how it plays with Sword & Shield
Tried and true works better
What can Sword & Shield do? This weapon type is solid both offensively and defensively: The shield is primarily for defense, but you can also deal significant damage with it. Additionally, with Sword & Shield, you remain very maneuverable and can use certain items even when your weapon is drawn.
One might think that this weapon type looks outdated next to such extravagant and versatile alternatives like the Energy Blade. So what makes this weapon appealing?
Sword & Shield are easy to learn, yet remain engaging throughout. Since you can use your shield not only for defense but also for attack, this weapon type offers a variety of combos.
To quote a YouTube comment that perfectly captures the appeal of this weapon type:
“Sword & Shield is like a simple brush; anyone can pick it up and draw a stick figure. However, once you master its true potential, you can use it to paint the Sistine Chapel.”
Sword & Shield are old acquaintances among the Monster Hunter weapons and definitely have their fans. However, if you don’t count yourself among them, Monster Hunter Wilds still offers a wide variety of different weapon types. Here’s an initial overview: All 14 weapon types from Monster Hunter Wilds at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The rarest ending in Baldur’s Gate 3 has never been seen by anyone. Because it is unreachable, yet exists within the game files.
Baldur’s Gate 3 presents you with a vast number of decisions until the very end of the game. In countless dialogues and when interacting with hundreds of NPCs, you slowly shape the story and ultimately the ending toward which your party of heroes is heading.
However, there is a Lae’zel ending that is even rarer – because absolutely no one has reached it. This is due to the fact that the ending cannot be achieved at all, even though it is fully present in the game data.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 is 1 year old and to celebrate the creators share your dirty secrets
Why can’t the ending be reached? Although the ending has been found in the game data, there is currently no way to achieve it. The conditions that would trigger this end sequence contradict each other. To reach the ending, one would have to remain a Githyanki as Lae’zel.
The ending occurs when you are rejected by Vlaakith for not having killed Orpheus. However, if you play as Lae’zel, save Orpheus, and have him transformed into a mind flayer, he will always end up killing himself – which fulfills Vlaakith’s order.
By initially “letting Orpheus live,” the sequence in which you ask Vlaakith for ascension is automatically skipped every time. It simply does not occur.
In other words: This scene is simply unreachable without manipulating the game data.
You can see the corresponding scene in the video by YouTuber SlimX, starting at minute 4:19:
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What does this scene show? The scene goes very similarly to the mind flayer variant, even though the words of the narrator’s voice are somewhat different. Here too, one could make the decision to end Lae’zel’s life – and witness one of the few moments when even Minthara tries to prevent someone from doing something foolish.
As a result, there are many old ideas or fully developed scenes in the game data that one will never be able to see – at least not in a normal way. Data miners who sift through the game files can sometimes showcase completed sequences and give a small glimpse of what could have happened in Baldur’s Gate 3.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Only four seconds were enough to make the community hopeful again. An animated series about World of Warcraft – or is it just a new, small cinematic?
There are only a few days left until World of Warcraft launches the expansion “The War Within.” The WoW social media team has been noticeably more active in recent weeks, continuously releasing new trailers and teasers. Now, a new, very short clip has caused excitement again. Because this does not look like the well-known Warcraft style for cinematics, but rather like an anime or a cartoon series.
The last long trailer was for Xal’atath:
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WoW Cinematic: Threads of Destiny
What can be seen? The short teaser shows animated images with several short scenes that we only see in very short snippets:
High elves fighting against trolls and orcs in Quel’thalas, with Silvermoon visible in the background. Lorthemar Theron is clearly recognizable, as well as Halduron.
An orc bellows his battle cry with a lot of saliva.
Catapults of the Horde are firing – apparently a siege.
The two Windrunner sisters Alleria and Sylvanas leap into battle.
In the end, the logo of The War Within is shown.
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This is what the community hopes: The community hopes that there will finally be an animated series or even a whole anime about Warcraft. Because the little teaser fits, in the eyes of many, only conditionally with the upcoming story around Xal’atath and the World Soul of Azeroth.
The short clip is being actively discussed in the WoW subreddit:
“Please be a series. It has so much potential.” -lvl_60
“Am I crazy or does this look more like it could be a real series rather than just a short video?” – COCAINPEARLZ
“Oh man, did they also release so much hype material for Dragonflight? I found the story of Dragonflight quite flat, probably because they had already been working on this (I’m not complaining, I liked the expansion for other reasons).” – Inlacou
However, some already suspect that the clip is probably “just” teasing a new short video that reveals the story of Alleria.
What is the most likely scenario? Since the logo of “The War Within” is seen at the end of the clip, it seems most likely that it is not a complete animated series. Instead, it should be a new cinematic that highlights the backstory of Alleria. After all, she is the opponent of Xal’atath, who already received a fancy cinematic last week.
This also aligns with the images shown. Because Alleria was mainly active during the Second War, where trolls and orcs fought together, and the Windrunner sisters collaborated as well.
What the cinematic is about, we will probably learn “Soon” – perhaps as early as this evening. If you want to form a little more about the story of World of Warcraft until then, we have summarized the complete lore of WoW on a few pages.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Season 5 of Diablo 4, you can secure a secret player title if you are particularly diligent. What you need to do for that, you can find out here at MeinMMO.
In Diablo 4, you have the opportunity to earn player titles through various activities, such as completing specific quests. You equip these titles through your profile in the game, and then you can proudly display them in Sanctuary.
Just like in Season 4, you can again secure a secret player title in Season 5. However, you must complete the entire season journey – every single task. Some of these can actually become quite time-consuming.
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Diablo 4: The gameplay trailer for Season 5, the season of the hell hordes
How do I secure the secret title? To complete the season journey and receive all stage rewards, it is generally enough for you to complete a specific number of goals in each stage. This means: You don’t have to do all tasks.
However, if you still complete every single goal present in the season journey, you will receive the secret player title, which you can then equip on your profile. For this, you must achieve 100% in the seven stages.
The following title you will receive:
In German, you will receive the title “Schöpfers (Prefix), Entschlossenheit (Suffix)”
In English, the title is “Creator’s (Prefix), Resolve (Suffix)”
Especially one task annoys the players
In the season journey, there are some tasks that you essentially complete “on the side” while playing, such as finishing world events, defeating demons, or increasing your reputation rank in the “Gift of the Mother” call. However, for other tasks, you will need to put in more effort.
Which task annoys the players?On Reddit, “n1sx” shows a screenshot of a task from stage 5. For the goal shown, you need to defeat a total of 20 Hell Flood commanders. The user comments: “Probably one of the worst seasonal tasks… It should have been 5 instead of 20.”
The problem with this: the commanders spawn at the end of certain events in the Hell Floods. The Hell Floods are now almost permanently available (with 5-minute breaks), but they start on the hour in a different area. While the events are visible on the minimap, they are not on the world map.
“n1sx” notes in the comments that he has completed three Hell Floods and has not found a single commander. “WallaWalla1513” writes: “I hate such challenges. A lot of RNG and constantly running around in hopes of finding the two events where they spawn.”
The season journey has a total of 7 stages that reward you upon completion.
In addition to the player title, you receive different rewards for each stage, such as:
Favor for the Battle Pass
Elixirs & Scrolls of Amnesia
Crafting materials such as Forgotten Souls, Murky Crystals, Obsidian, Ingolith
The season journey is thus a good source of loot, but especially also for materials for crafting and for summoning bosses. Another way to farm loot is the reputation system, “The Gift of the Mother” in Season 5. And at the last level, you also receive a “Magnificent Spark.” The system also essentially allows for an “endless grind”: Diablo 4: Secret change brings more loot for all who love to grind
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The second season of House of the Dragon is over. However, if you still can’t get enough of the fantasy series, we have here the 5 best fan theories for you that hopefully make the wait for the next season a bit shorter.
What are these theories? The fan theories are various speculations.
The basis is the series, as well as the book templates by George R.R. Martin.
However, no known events from the book are anticipated that have not been seen in House of the Dragon.
Attention spoilers: The article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon, Season 1 and 2.
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In the second season of ‘House of the Dragon’, the war begins with fire and blood
1. The Conspiracy of the Maesters
Aemma Arryn in childbirth
The so-called maesters are the scholars in the world of Game of Thrones. They serve as advisors and are responsible for medicine, childrearing, and administration, among other things. That actually sounds very peaceful. But what if they secretly pursue a grand master plan?
What does the theory say? At its core, it is about the fact that the maesters pursue a very specific goal. Namely, to free the world from magic. They see everything supernatural as an uncontrollable danger, especially dragons. Thus, Targaryens are primarily a thorn in their side that must be removed.
Since maesters perform so many important tasks, it should be easy for them to weave intrigues and intervene in the course of history.
In House of the Dragon, some suspect, for example, that Aemma (the wife of King Viserys) was intentionally left to die in childbirth to complicate the succession to the throne.
The headquarters of the maesters, the Citadel, is located in Oldtown. And who rules Oldtown? Right, the high towers. Could there be a connection? Is the conflict we are currently seeing in House of the Dragon even staged to bring down the Targaryens?
Is the theory correct? The conspiracy of the maesters is not only one of the most interesting but also one of the most likely theories. It even appears within the story and is mentioned several times in the books.
A maester explains, for example: “The world that the Citadel builds has no place for sorcery or prophecy or glass candles, let alone dragons.” (from A Feast for Crows – George R.R. Martin)
It remains controversial how far the conspiracy actually goes – which maester is involved and what actions have been staged.
Aegon Targaryen had two children with his sister-wife Helaena, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. But what if Aegon is not actually the real father?
What does the theory say? According to a fan theory, Helaena’s children do not come from Aegon, but from his younger brother Aemond. The clue is many small moments in the series.
Aegon and Helaena have a visibly distant relationship. Aemond, on the other hand, emphasizes, for example, in the first season that he would “do his duty” if he were engaged to Helaena.
Is the theory correct? As exciting as the theory may sound, it unfortunately is not true.
After the first season, rumors circulated among other things, as Phia Saban, the actress of Helaena, used the ship name Helaemond . In an interview (via decider), however, she clarified that she was only describing the general dynamics between Helaena and Aemond.
“It has somehow become established that we call it Helaemond, but maybe not in the sense that people on the internet use it.”
Other reasons also strongly argue against the theory:
The intro of the first season literally shows “bloodlines”. Here, Aemond clearly has no children.
Season 2 shows Aemond’s special sexual relationship with the prostitute Sylvie. An affair with Helaena seems very unlikely.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The factions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard: In the new Bioware RPG, you will encounter a variety of groups, with six of the factions even enhancing your character’s background. MeinMMO introduces you to the most important factions and summarizes everything you need to know.
Are you looking for information about the factions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard? Then you are exactly right here! If you have browsed through the overview of the new companions from Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you have certainly noticed that each companion can be assigned to a faction or – in the case of Lace Harding – has long felt affiliated with a faction.
Each group shapes not only the backstory and behavior of the seven companions, but you can also choose from one of six factions to give your alter ego some profile and unlock exclusive dialogue options. Below, MeinMMO presents the six selectable factions.
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The latest trailer shows plenty of gameplay from Dragon Age – The Veilguard:
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Dragon Age: The Veilguard shows 20 minutes of gameplay from the new fantasy adventure
The Grey Wardens
Anyone who has played one or more parts of the Dragon Age franchise should have already come into contact with the Grey Wardens. The order was once founded to protect against the Darkspawn, has its headquarters in the fortress of Weisshaupt in Anderfels, but operates throughout Thedas.
The order relies on a rank system and is led by the commander of the Grey. Those who wish to join must master a secret ritual and drink the blood of the Darkspawn. Since the blood processed by mages is highly toxic, only a few survive the initiation attempt.
While the Grey Wardens played an essential role in the first part Origins, as the most important faction for the player, they took only a secondary role in Dragon Age II and Inquisition. At times, one even faced hostile wardens, as they had been corrupted by Corypheus.
In The Veilguard, up to two Grey Wardens can be part of your team. One is your character, if you wish. The other is the Dalish elf and griffon dad Davrin, who also belongs to the order.
The Masters of Fate love to hunt dangerous creatures like dragons.
The Masters of Fate
Like the dragon hunter Taash, her faction, the Masters of Fate, also celebrates a premiere in the digital Dragon Age series with The Veilguard. However, you may already know them from the anthology Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights.
Behind the group are treasure seekers, explorers, and hunters from Rivain, who have taken it upon themselves to take on the most daring jobs and retrieve the best-hidden treasures of the world. Those who survive this lifestyle long enough may wrap themselves in colorful clothing and capes and wear striking accessories.
The House of Crows sits in Antiva and influences the fortunes of the plutocratic nation behind the scenes – for example, through contract killings of nobles or members of the royal family. The assassins’ guild tolerates no mistakes: Anyone who fails in their job has forfeited their life.
With Zevran Arainai, you could already meet a member of the Crows in Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II. In The Veilguard, you will be accompanied by a certain Lucanis Dellamorte, who is regarded as a contender for the throne being the grandson of Caterina Dellamorte, the First Talon of the Crows.
The Crows prefer to recruit attractive people or elves (preferably orphans or slaves) as they find it easier to deceive their victims into a sense of security. More details about the Crows can be found in the aforementioned anthology Tevinter Nights or in the short story “The Wake” (via ea.com).
In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you encounter numerous different factions.
The Shadow Dragons
As detective Neve Gallus, you may also know the Shadow Dragons faction from Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights (anthology) and Dragon Age: The Missing (comic). This is a resistance movement from Tevinter that fights for the abolition of slavery and against corrupt politicians.
If you join the rebels and include Neve in your group, you will have all the known Shadow Dragons in your team at once.
While Bellara Lutare has so far been a blank slate in the Dragon Age universe, you might already know the faction of the Veiljumpers from the comic Dragon Age: The Missing or the short story “Ruins of Reality” (via ea.com).
The group is made up of researchers who have taken it upon themselves to investigate ancient elven ruins in the forest of Arlathan. Anyone daring enough to face the reality-altering magic of Arlathan is welcome among the Veiljumpers.
This very forest will play a role in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which will undoubtedly be particularly exciting if you belong to the Veiljumpers or take Bellara on your adventure.
The companions from Dragon Age: The Veilguard in the trailer:
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Dragon Age: The Veilguard introduces your companions in the trailer
The Mourning Watch
Last but not least, there are the Mortalitasi mages from Nevarra’s Mourning Watch. One of these mages is named Emmrich Volkarin and is one of the potential companions from The Veilguard. You may know the necromantic order from Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights.
One of the tasks of the Mourning Watch is to take care of the Great Necropolis of Nevarra. Additionally, they deal with failed magic, Nevarran burial rites, and the possession of corpses. They also oversee the grave robbers. All this may explain why undead and ghosts wander in the necropolis.
Other non-playable factions
Unlike in Dragon Age: Inquisition, the Inquisition will likely play only a minor role in The Veilguard. After all, you will meet Harding and Varric, two former or current members of the Inquisition – and the scout may even become one of your companions.
It is also clear that you will encounter Qunari once again. These are the followers of the teachings of the Qun, who can belong to the Kossith, humans, elves, and dwarves. With Taash, even a Qunari can land in your group.
What is Dragon Age: The Veilguard? The game comes from the game studio Bioware. It is the fourth installment of the main series after Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Originally, the game was known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. You can find out more here: Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Everything about the release, release date, and companions
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
One of the weapons that Monster Hunter Wilds will have at release on Steam and PS5 is the Energy Blade: It combines the defensive capabilities of a shield with the offensive power of a battle axe.
What game is this about? Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest installment in the popular Monster Hunter series, which has been around since 2004. The action RPG, which is set to be released in 2025 on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, is being developed by Capcom.
Maybe we will even be able to play Monster Hunter Wilds as early as this spring. After all, Capcom has already started presenting the available weapon types.
Here you can watch the official trailer for the Energy Blade:
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Monster Hunter Wilds: New trailer introduces the energy blade
Two Weapon Modes, Two Play Styles
What can the Energy Blade do? In sword mode, the Energy Blade resembles Sword & Shield: You have a shield for defense and a sword for attack. In this mode, you are agile and can defend well, but you deal relatively little damage.
By landing successful hits in sword mode, you gather energy, which you can gradually use to fill individual vials. These will be displayed in your HUD as five bottles. When they light up, you can transfer the energy into the vials and then use it in axe mode.
In axe mode, you do have to forgo your shield, but you also deal significantly more damage. This can be further increased by discharging the energy collected in the vials all at once.
In an ideal scenario, you will want to switch regularly between the two modes to get the absolute maximum out of the weapon. If the monster is focused on you and relentless attacks are coming down on you, you are better off in sword mode. However, note that in this mode – unlike with Sword & Shield – you cannot use items.
For new hunters, the Energy Blade is not really a good recommendation due to its high complexity. Fortunately, Monster Hunter Wilds will also offer many other weapons at release, which should make the entry much easier for you. Here is a brief overview: All 14 weapon types from Monster Hunter Wilds at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Chapter 1.123, the Straw Hat crew sets course for Elbaf, leaving the events on Egghead Island behind. To prepare you for the new arc, MeinMMO summarizes what you need to know about the island and its inhabitants.
The ship of the giants and the Thousand Sunny head towards Elbaf in Chapter 1.123. It may take several chapters before they arrive at Elbaf. Meanwhile, the mangaka Eiichiro Oda might be drawing other characters and what they are currently experiencing.
However, Elbaf is definitely one of the locations that we will experience before the end of One Piece. To ensure you are well-prepared for the journey to Elbaf, we will summarize the most important information that Oda has revealed throughout the One Piece story.
Bid farewell to the current Egghead arc with the following video:
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One Piece: New trailer shows first images from the Egghead Island arc
Elbaf is the Island of the Giants
What kind of island is Elbaf? Elbaf is located in the New World, where the Straw Hat crew has been sailing since the time skip, and is inhabited by the giant people. It is said that the land has the strongest army in the world.
In the center of the island stands a gigantic tree, surrounded by steep mountains. The waters around the island are extremely dangerous and inhabited by gigantic fish and walruses. There are also said to be colossal monsters in the forests of Elbaf.
On the island, there are the following important locations:
Elbaf Village, the hometown of Boogey and Woogey
Sheep’s House, an orphanage where Big Mom grew up
A castle where Prince Loki was born
A library where Hagwar D. Sauro stored the remaining books he salvaged from Ohara
Especially the library is expected to be intriguing. Nico Robin’s curiosity may lead her to immerse herself in the books of the library and gain new insights into the Lost Century.
Elbaf adheres to Norse mythology and the Vikings.
The entire island is inspired by the Viking era and Norse mythology. This is already evident in Prince Loki, who is named after a god from Norse mythology. The great tree at the center is likely based on Yggdrasil.
What inhabitants exist on Elbaf? Elbaf is the home of the giants. Among the most famous giants living on Elbaf are Boogey and Woogey. The Straw Hat crew encountered the giants on Little Garden and witnessed their heroic battle. Back then, Lysop vowed that he would visit their homeland one day.
Hagwar D. Sauro is also known to at least one member of the Straw Hat crew. He protected Nico Robin from a Buster Call on Ohara. After the attack, he took the remaining books from the library and hid out on Elbaf.
The Straw Hat crew also encountered another giant on Dressrosa. Hajrudin was one of the participants in the Corrida Colosseum. On Dressrosa, he swore loyalty to Luffy and became part of his Grand Fleet. In addition to the presented characters, there are many other giants that we will meet in the next arc.
Big Mom was not born in Elbaf, but she grew up there after her parents abandoned her. She caused a lot of commotion on the island and destroyed Elbaf Village when she had a hunger attack. Years later, she even arranged a marriage between one of her daughters and Prince Loki.
No wonder Big Mom wanted to devour the semla immediately.
In fact, Charlotte Lola was supposed to marry the prince. But she wanted to choose her husband herself and escaped before the wedding. Big Mom wanted to cover this up by swapping Lola with her twin sister. The deception was exposed, and Big Mom, who was already unpopular among the giants due to her childhood activities, became even more hated since then.
The Giants Believe in the Sun God Nika
What do we know about the culture? The giants celebrate the winter solstice every year. For this, the inhabitants fast for 12 days and only drink water, after which they enjoy delicious semla. These are visually appealing sweets.
The giants also have a firm belief in the sun god Nika. In their folklore, it is said that Nika has a body that can stretch and contract. Many fans believed that the giant straw hat of Imu indicated that Joy Boy is a giant. But that is not the case.
The story was also adopted by the Buccaneer people, who carry the blood of giants but are significantly smaller. In their version, it is said that Nika is a joyful, righteous god who frees slaves. They are hunted and despised by the World Government because they are said to have committed a great crime in the past.
For Lost Ark, the new content update is released today, on August 14, 2024. The name “The Calm Before the Storm” indicates the plan. You can expect relatively few new features. With this, the developers aim to combat a problem that the MMORPG has been suffering from for years.
What new features does the August update offer? All players of Lost Ark can look forward to the following major new features:
Indigo Island: You can enter the island off the coast of Kurzan with an item level of 1,600 or higher. Unusual underwater landscapes await you, as well as a single-player dungeon that includes three paths.
Bound Gold: With bound gold, you can now receive gold that is exclusively used for certain progression systems. Two current systems will be updated to grant bound instead of “tradeable” gold: the gold reward chests from Una’s Tokens and raids in solo mode.
New mission system for chaos dungeons: When you play chaos dungeons with active aura of resonance, you earn weekly purification points. You can invest these in reward chests. In line with this, a related event runs until September 25, 2024.
There is a new hot-time event, and the daily login reward series will be updated.
The Maharaka Festival continues, featuring a mini-game and a new daily quest.
Names of characters in inactive accounts, whose owners have not logged in for more than a year and who are below combat level 50, will be released.
The maintenance work started at 9:00 AM and is expected to last about six hours. So expect the servers to be available again from 3:00 PM.
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Have you seen the live-action trailer for Lost Ark yet?
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Lost Ark Live-Action Trailer
Fight Against Exhaustion
What problem are the developers combating? Lost Ark is an unusual case. Most MMORPGs struggle with content updates not arriving quickly enough on the servers to satisfy a large part of their respective communities.
Thus, the development team is consciously hitting the brakes this summer. Already the July update went live with the motto “Chill Summer”. In addition to the new solo mode for raids and dungeons, as well as the epilogue quest of the Echidna story, it mainly brought easements and support systems to the servers.
With the September update, the adventure in Arkesia will pick up again. You can expect the new continent North-Kurzan, the next endgame level of Lost Ark, fresh content like the Kurzan frontline and the Kenuart fortress, or the Behemoth raid. Here you can find all plans from the Roadmap 3 for Lost Ark. Turn to the next page for the official German patch notes.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the new episode of WoWCast, several developers once again extensively discussed the innovations of WoW: The War Within. Particularly exciting was what Associate Game Director Morgan Day had to say about the highest difficulty level of the Depths.
It is important to note here that the Depths, similar to Mythic Plus dungeons, offer an increasing level of difficulty. You can earn rewards up to Tier 8 of the Depths. However, in the instances, even tougher challenges await brave veterans.
The latest trailer for WoW: The War Within:
Start video
WoW: The War Within – Shadows Beneath the Surface
What does Morgan Day reveal about the “endgame” of the Depths? The Associate Game Director explains that the difficulty of the instance challenge is expected to rise up to Tier 11. There, a hard mode version of Zekvir awaits you. He draws an exciting parallel to one of the best features from one of the best WoW expansions.
For those who may be familiar with some of these solo challenges, such as the Mage Tower in the past, this will be a new solo challenge that players can tackle over time. We envision that it will take some effort and progress to reach the point where you can defeat Zekvir at this difficulty level.
If you succeed, a truly fantastic, unique version of the customizable Depths mount will be waiting for you, which you will be rewarded with very early in your adventure.
The special mount version that Morgan Day mentions can be seen in the cover image.
All the Important News from WoWCast
What other news did the developers bring? In addition to Morgan Day and host Bethany Stout, Lead UX Designer Laura Sardinha and Lead Gameplay Engineer John-Mark Hemphill were also present. Below, MeinMMO summarizes the most important insights from the conversation.
Not only do collections and a large part of progression account-wide occur through the Warband, but you can also easily transfer items from one character of your account to another, or make use of the earned currencies of another character.
If you have already completed a quest with a member of your Warband, the game will inform you. A reputation reward associated with such a quest has already been collected by your account.
Items now have a new designation in addition to “Bind on pickup” and “Bind on equip”: “accessible to the Warband until equipped”.
Resources stored in the Warband bank can be used by all characters of the Warband to craft items, without requiring them to withdraw the materials from the bank.
The group window, through which you can place symbols on the ground, has been fundamentally redesigned. You can now more easily define which other players may place raid markers or what the difficulty level of the instance should be.
The symbols for quests have been adjusted. Additionally, there is now a hub symbol for cities on the map, which lists all related tasks. Furthermore, there are now what are called meta-quests, represented by a blue exclamation mark and a jagged circle. These are repeatable, like dailies, and hold special significance for the endgame.
The spellbook has not only been revamped; it now also includes the ability to search for spells. Additionally, you can switch between different display options for the spellbook.
The large treasury will be expanded to a world area. When you complete Depths or other world activities, you will earn rewards from the treasury. The rewards for mastering Tier 8 Depths are expected to be higher than the rewards from Mythic Plus 10 dungeons.
A new PvP variant called “Rated Battlegrounds – Blitz” will feature smaller teams through which you can earn conquest points and rewards from the rated area.
About a month after the launch of The War Within, a stackable buff will be introduced that counts for the entire Warband and that will progressively make your characters stronger. This way, everyone will have the opportunity to experience the story within the new raid.
To avoid losing sight of your character in chaotic raid situations, you can now not only outline it with a glowing frame but also add a symbol that no one in your raid can remove. Additionally, there is an option where the silhouette of the hero is visible even when they are behind a column.
In Star Citizen, players will soon be able to do what everyone wished for in Starfield: Fly to a new system themselves instead of seeing loading screens.
What was the wish for Starfield? When Starfield was released in 2023, many players had great hopes of being able to travel freely through space. However, shortly after the release, disillusionment set in.
In Starfield, you are not truly free; you mainly travel back and forth between planets and star systems with a loading screen. Even landing on a planet is just a video sequence. This disappointed many players.
What is Star Citizen doing now? In Star Citizen, Alpha version 4.0 is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2024. The update is also set to introduce a new system: Pyro. The space MMO needed a new travel system so that you can travel from the already known system “Stanton” to Pyro.
Unlike in Starfield, you will definitely have to fly yourself when switching systems in Star Citizen. You can’t just press a button, put your feet up, and watch a video sequence.
If you want to travel to Pyro, you need to go to a so-called jump point. There, you will enter a kind of tunnel that connects the two systems and functions like an intergalactic highway. You will also need to fly through this tunnel yourself.
Start video
Star Citizen: Developers present new fire system of Alpha 4.0 in video
What else do we know about it? Initially, there is only one permanent, stable jump point. More jump points are expected to be added in the future, which will differ – permanent and temporary.
During the flight, you must try to avoid the walls of the tunnel. Additionally, you will experience turbulence, which is stronger the smaller your ship is. A larger ship, however, may be more difficult to maneuver through the tunnel.
If you take too much damage while flying through such a tunnel, your “jump” will be aborted, and you can “fall out” of this tunnel. You may then find yourself far from your destination and must hope to reach a safe harbor with your remaining fuel and the damage you have sustained. Alternatively, you might just die directly and find yourself at a respawn.
In Diablo 4 there are particularly rare, unique items – the Mythic Uniques. One of them was added in Season 4: Tyrael’s Might. We will show you how to acquire the chest piece and what makes it special.
What is Tyrael’s Might? Tyrael’s Might is a chest piece that some may remember from Diablo 2 or 3. The Mythic Unique is one of 12 Uniques that were added in Season 4 of Diablo 4.
What can Tyrael’s Might do? All five classes can equip the mythical chest piece, which has the ability to unleash a divine barrage when you are at full health. This inflicts damage on enemies. The chest piece is suitable for builds that play with a barrier or “Fortify”. Additionally, it has several defensive bonuses.
The Mythic Unique “Tyrael’s Might” in Diablo 4. Source: Blizzard
Additionally, the chest piece gives you a bonus to the following stats:
To discern which item is better, you should activate two settings in Diablo 4:
Start video
Diablo 4: Immediately activate these 2 settings, otherwise you will miss important equipment values
Farming Tyrael’s Might
Where can I find Tyrael’s Might? To have the Mythic Unique drop, you can try your luck with the bosses Duriel and Andariel. Both have a chance to drop Mythics when defeated, making them suitable for farming Uniques and Mythic Uniques.
It is also possible to obtain Mythics as loot drops outside of these two bosses, though this is very rare.
You can also now craft the Mythic Unique Tyrael’s Might at the alchemist of your choice in Diablo 4. However, you will need “Pristine Sparks” and a whopping 50 million gold for that. Where to get the sparks and what you can craft with them can be found here: Diablo 4: Crafting Pristine Sparks – How to craft Mythic Uniques with them
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Twitch streamer Maximilian “HandOfBlood” Knabe has stood out since the founding of the esports club Eintracht Spandau through his role as president and has since developed into a popular character among viewers. MeinMMO author Jacqueline explains what makes this role so special.
Who is President Knabe? President Knabe is a role of the streamer Maximilian “HandOfBlood” Knabe. The character represents the leadership of the LoL team Eintracht Spandau.
What defines the role? He embodies a stereotypical, somewhat brash football coach who mainly stands out due to his bad mood and loud shouting. Generally, the entire club is structured to resemble a football team, starting with the name Eintracht Spandau. Furthermore, the club has its own mascot, a local pub, and so-called “Ultras,” as we know it from football.
This article was created in February 2024 and revised in August 2024.
On November 14, 2021, HandOfBlood first appeared as President Knabe. You can see the appearance here:
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Intricate lore of President Knabe and Eintracht Spandau
What is the lore about? A major part of why the role of President Knabe is so well received is probably due to the lore that has been built around the club Eintracht Spandau, which makes the fans emotionally invested. Over time, a kind of ongoing interactive story has developed, in which the viewers can participate.
There are regularly held press conferences. In one video, the caretaker “Broeki” demands the dismissal of President Knabe (via YouTube). The fans immediately joined in, causing the term #Knaberaus to trend briefly on Twitter, ultimately leading to Knabe leaving the team.
What is President Knabe currently up to? Particularly in January, the role of President Knabe made waves again when HandOfBlood also appeared in his popular role at the Baller League.
This was polarizing, as it seemed peculiar to many who do not know the streamer or do not understand the lore around Eintracht Spandau when a streamer pretends to be an old man acting as a big football president.
What does HandOfBlood himself say about Eintracht Spandau and his role? In an interview with IRL streamer SkylineTV, the Twitch streamer explains what he believes defines the role of President Knabe in combination with the club Eintracht Spandau:
In the interview, he emphasizes in the role of president that his club is a real traditional club with its own fan culture that cannot be matched by other clubs. He highlights that the fans are actively involved in shaping the culture.
This creates curious and funny situations time and again. This is also a reason why the role is particularly popular among fans.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the LoL team Eintracht Spandau – in 4 minutes
“First it cracks, then it bangs: KNABE MALZ”
The drink of President Knabe: With his persona President Knabe, HandofBlood has also launched a drink. It is called Knabe Malz, and the associated slogan, which always appears on the Instagram channel, is: “First it cracks, then it bangs: KNABE MALZ”
The drink is a malt beverage but is presented like a type of beer. The beverage was created in partnership with Krombacher and is available in EDEKA, Rossmann, Penny. It can also be ordered online from Ready2Drink, Sparbude, or Dosenmatrosen.
In an interview with aboutdrinks, HandofBlood said: “Furthermore, malt beverage is so fitting because it culturally and visually resembles beer, but is alcohol-free and safe for young audiences. This fits perfectly into our portrayal at Eintracht Spandau, where of course every proper Ultra should hold a canned beer in hand.”
In summary, it can be said that the role of President Knabe is noticeable and polarizing. Through the portrayal of a stereotypical football coach, the role is already very humorous for many.
Above all, fans feel connected to the club Eintracht Spandau and President due to the genuine fan culture that has emerged, where fans can actively participate. There is an extensive lore and plenty of humorous content, as is customary with HandofBlood.
More about the Baller League and the duo President Knabe and Hans Sarpei can be read here:
In Diablo 4, you cannot currently trade because Blizzard has disabled the feature. The developers are investigating a dupe exploit that apparently also involves the Stygian Stones for the endgame.
Update August 16: In the forum, community manager “filthierich” writes on August 16 at 05:16 AM that trading has been re-enabled.
Why was trading disabled? On the evening of August 14, 2024, Blizzard disabled trading in Diablo 4. In a forum post, community manager Adam Fletcher states that the team is currently investigating a “possible duplication issue”.
How long will trading be disabled? It is still unclear how long trading will remain disabled. Fletcher mentions in the forum:
We will disable trading in Diablo 4 while we investigate a possible duplication issue. We apologize for the disruption and will keep you updated on when trading will be available again as soon as we have further investigated the problem and taken all necessary measures.
In the current case, items, materials, and especially the Stygian Stones were apparently multiplied and sold. Diablo expert “Rob2628” showcases in his YouTube video a trading site where the stones are offered thousands of times. A screenshot in the video shows a player’s inventory filled with stones – about 1,500 pieces.
Diablo 4: The gameplay trailer for Season 5, the season of the hell hordes
What does the Diablo expert recommend? Rob notes in his YouTube video that it is currently also not possible to drop items and pass them on in this way. He considers it a “win” that Blizzard reacted so quickly here. Furthermore, he encourages players to report such cases if they notice them:
This ruins the economy every time in every season, and I really hope that with the release of “Vessel of Hatred” in just a month and a half, all these exploits will be discovered and disabled.
If you have any information, please report it to the official channels […]. I want to encourage you to do so because it is not cool that the economy gets destroyed every time. Every time a new season starts, there is a new duplication exploit, and every time the economy is heavily affected and ruined.
In a Twitch livestream, Diablo expert wudijo joked on August 14 that there would be no Diablo 4 season without a dupe exploit and disabled trading. He wonders if there will ever be a season in which no dupe exploits appear.
There were also such exploits in the last season that allowed players to multiply items. A couple accidentally duplicated several items. Without really knowing how this happened, the two immediately sounded the alarm and reported the glitch in Diablo 4 in a panic.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Warcraft can be played for free in various ways. We explain how well the different options work.
World of Warcraft is still one of the largest MMORPGs in the world even after nearly 20 years. Many still feel the urge to dive into Blizzard’s MMORPG. However, the monthly subscription costs seem outdated and no longer up-to-date for many. So the question arises: Can you test World of Warcraft or even play it for free?
Both are possible. We answer the most important questions about playing World of Warcraft for free.
The trailer for the WoW expansion “The War Within”:
Start video
WoW: The War Within – Shadows Beneath the Surface
Playing WoW “free” with the Starter Account
Like almost all major MMORPGs, World of Warcraft offers a trial version (“Free Trial”), which is sometimes called a “Starter Account”. This version is fundamentally free of charge, and you only need to create a Battle.net account, download the Battle.net client, and then install World of Warcraft.
After that, you can create dozens of different characters, try out all classes, complete quests, and explore the game world.
However, the trial version has a whole range of restrictions:
Characters can only reach a maximum level of 20.
Each character can have a maximum of 1,000 gold.
You can only participate in chat to a limited extent. Voice chat is disabled.
You cannot send or receive mail and cannot trade in the Auction House.
Pet battles cannot be fought.
Guild functions are not available.
You cannot create groups.
The latest expansion is not available.
These restrictions are quite drastic, but they are intended to protect players from “spam bots” and similar issues that would undermine the gaming experience with starter accounts.
However, the fact is that a large part of the social components that make an MMORPG an MMORPG are only very limited or not available at all with a Starter Account.
In WoW you can try for free – but with severe limitations.
Is the trial version of World of Warcraft worth it? World of Warcraft has a relatively conservative trial version that only covers a very small part of the game. Up to level 20, many classes feel similar, and you can hardly get a sense of how the class feels in the later stages of the game.
However, the trial version is useful if you want to check out the game’s graphics, the basic combat system, or get a glimpse into the various gameplay elements.
If this impression is not enough for you, a one-month subscription may be worthwhile to experience the “full” functions of World of Warcraft more extensively. However, keep in mind that it can take up to 24 hours after the subscription is completed until the restrictions of the trial account are lifted. Usually, this happens much faster.
By the way: If you have had a subscription and it expires, your account will be downgraded to the settings of a trial account. You can then only play characters below level 20 and the same restrictions (for example, for chat) apply as for other trial accounts. After resubscribing, you will regain access to all characters.
Play World of Warcraft for free with the WoW Token
There is another option that allows you to really play World of Warcraft “for free” and with all the features the game offers. Because within World of Warcraft, there is an option to earn playtime with ingame gold: The WoW Token.
In essence, the WoW Token is a legal variant of gold selling in the game.
Here’s how it works: Who has little gold in the game and does not want to buy it can purchase a “WoW Token” in the in-game shop for 20 euros. This is then sold in the game’s auction house for gold to other players.
Savers can take advantage of this and use their ingame gold to buy a WoW Token from the auction house.
The WoW Token costs a lot of gold – it’s only worth it for those who have a lot of it left.
You can then redeem the WoW Token. Either for 30 days of gameplay for your WoW account (essentially a monthly subscription) or for 13 euros as credit for your Battle.net account. With this credit, you can also purchase the latest WoW expansion or other games from Battle.net.
In other words: Anyone with a particularly large amount of gold in the game can bypass the subscription costs for World of Warcraft and play completely for free.
Is the WoW Token worth it? Earning the subscription costs of World of Warcraft through farming ingame gold seems like a lucrative solution in theory when finances are tight. However, one must be aware that this option is only realistic if at least one of the following factors is met:
Extremely much free time for farming.
High gameplay level to pull other players in content and sell these services.
Very good market knowledge and time to earn gold in the game’s auction house.
These factors are likely available to only a fraction of all players. For the vast majority, it is not realistically achievable to cover subscription costs through gameplay. At the same time, you should have fun with your chosen method. Otherwise, 13 € per month is probably the better investment.
A third option to play World of Warcraft for free is only available at certain times. Occasionally, World of Warcraft runs a “Free Weekend” event. For a period of 3-4 days, the entire game is available, and all accounts can temporarily access all features.
However, these weekends usually only occur 1 or 2 times a year and are often announced at short notice.
These dates are especially suitable if you have taken a longer break from World of Warcraft and want to dip back into the current content. However, you must also be well informed about the date and have the time available. Therefore, it is less suitable for a spontaneous “test”. If you want to know more about getting started in World of Warcraft, we have our beginner’s guide to WoW here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A woman has apparently played so much Baldur’s Gate 3 that she would now fit into the game based on her behavior.
In recent weeks, a woman has gone through an amazing transformation after countless hours with Baldur’s Gate 3, at least according to her partner. RandomToxicSwede reports on reddit that the RPG has influenced his partner so much that her entire behavior has changed – in a way reminiscent of James Bond villains.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is 1 year old and to celebrate the creators share your dirty secrets
What exactly does he say? On reddit, RandomToxicSwede reports that his wife has spent a ton of hours with Baldur’s Gate 3 in the last few weeks. This has influenced not only her speech habits but also her body language. Instead of her normal accent, she now speaks with a posh British accent. Her body language also seems different now – like that of a James Bond villain.
Astarion is obviously to blame
How did this happen? RandomToxicSwede says she now calls him Darling (Darling) and uses many other buzzwords that come from one of the most popular and charismatic companions in the game – we are, of course, talking about Astarion.
The reddit user also adds the following:
I haven’t played the game myself, but I constantly get story snippets from her gaming sessions. Recently, she wanted to show me something on Instagram, and the platform only recommended a series of images of that vampire guy. A large portion of her free time is now spent listening to interviews with the voice actors from this game.
RandomToxicSwede explains that his partner had already been influenced by pop culture before. When they watched Breaking Bad together, she started saying “Bitch” at every opportunity. She is a huge One Piece fan, and every time she watches it, there is a phase lasting a week where she uses random Japanese phrases and behaves like she is in the anime.
A player of Final Fantasy XIV has had enough of healers in his group spamming a particular spell. Now he has created a website to educate other players on why this spell is not the best choice.
Final Fantasy XIV is known for its friendly community. However, there are still times when certain players or individual spells and abilities cause frustration. One player has finally had enough of a healing spell that he believes is not effective enough.
Which healing spell is it? The player named BakaDango expressed his frustration about the healing spell Cure 1 (also known as Vita) on reddit. This single-target heal can be used by White Mages from level 2 onwards. However, this spell is often still used even when more effective healing spells have been unlocked – namely Cure 2 (Vitra), which is obtained at level 30.
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural
BakaDango was clearly tired of seeing White Mages still spamming Cure 1 in his content. Last night, after over 30 minutes of Alexander, I had finally had enough of the Cure 1 WHMs. That is why he decided to create the website Stopusingcure1.info to explain to other players the disadvantages of Cure 1 and the advantages of Cure 2.
Many inexperienced players still rely on Cure 1 even though they have already unlocked Cure 2. When casting Cure 1, there is a chance that the next application of Cure 2 will be free – but that is a trap.
Others are entertained by how Cure 1 is demonized – as can be seen on X:
What makes Cure 2 better? BakaDango explains on the website why you should prefer Cure 2:
Stronger and faster healing:Cure 2 heals with 800 Potency (from LvL 85) per spell, while Cure 1 only heals with 500 Potency (also from LvL 85). Since Cure 2 offers more healing per spell, you save time that would otherwise be spent on additional spells. This means that with Cure 2, you use fewer GCDs for healing and have more GCDs available for other actions like damage spells – if you want to.
What does GCD mean?
In Final Fantasy XIV, the Global Cooldown (GCD) is an important mechanic that regulates the cooldown period you must wait after using an ability before you can perform another GCD-enabled action. The GCD is typically 2.5 seconds. This means you can only perform one action affected by the GCD every 2.5 seconds. In the meantime, you can use so-called oGCDs.
Freecure trap:Cure 1 has a 15% chance to trigger a Freecure, whereby the next Cure 2 spell costs no MP (Mana). However, this does not happen often and is usually ineffective, as you need to cast many “Cure 1” spells to get a free application of Cure 2 .
MP management: Although Cure 2 costs more MP (1000 MP instead of 400 MP for Cure 1), you can always restore MP with the ability “Lucid Dreaming.” This makes the higher MP costs of Cure 2 less significant.
Another player on reddit explains that the Freecure effect of Final Fantasy XIV is outdated nowadays. In the past, Freecure would have been useful because healers often had MP issues. A character’s maximum MP used to increase with level. Today everyone always has 10,000 MP and can use Lucid Dreaming to solve MP problems.
BakaDango makes it clear on his website that the issue is not due to the players themselves, but rather the game design of Final Fantasy XIV. It is a White Mage problem.
One doesn’t want to step on people who are already down, but Bungie doesn’t make it easy. On Wednesday, August 14th, Bungie admitted to another serious error in Destiny 2: This time there are issues with the moderation tool that is supposed to ensure decent names.
This is what Bungie says about the new error: At 14:30, Bungie reported (via x)
They have identified a problem with the name moderation tool that “affects a variety of accounts”: Their names have been changed.
They are now investigating the problem and promise to fix it tomorrow, August 15th, and to give all affected players the opportunity to change their names back.
The problem apparently is that people currently cannot revert to their “original name,” as it has been marked as inappropriate.
Start video
Destiny 2: The Final Shape „Edge of Salvation“ Raid Trailer
Bungie faces another mistake
What is going on? The problem occurred with the last update for Destiny 2, which was intended to fix some annoying bugs on August 13th.
After the update was rolled out, players complained on Reddit and on the Bungie forum that their “Bungie name,” which they have had for years, was changed without any prior warning.
Players simply received the message that a new Bungie name had been assigned to their account.
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Among the people who are complaining is also Rick Kackis, one of the largest content creators in the gaming community.
In an initial reaction, Bungie seemed clueless about exactly what happened, but they have apparently now realized that the error is on their part and hopefully will present a solution tomorrow.
Why does this annoy people? For many online players, their name in games is synonymous with their identity and is tied to many memories and emotions. Therefore, this seemingly small issue is something that is quite annoying.
In Once Human, starchrome, alongside energy connections, is a currency. You can unlock new building plans at the wish machine. We will show you how to best obtain and farm starchrome.
Where can I find starchrome? You have several options to get starchrome:
complete objectives of the current season
complete the cleansing of a territory
fulfill travel destinations
the free path in the battle pass
In Once Human, you need to fight your way through a fanciful world:
Start video
Once Human lässt Spieler zurück in eine verrückte Welt
How to farm starchrome
How can I get starchrome faster? To get starchrome faster, you need to build a stardust resonance filter. You can find the device in build mode under “Facilities”. To build it, you need:
With the stardust resonance filter, you can convert cortices into starchrome. In one week, you can cleanse 40 units of cortices to process them into starchrome. The limit resets after the end of the week.
When you activate the stardust resonance filter, a countdown begins: “Cleansing defense duration”. During this time, waves of enemies will come that you must defend against.
If you are still at the beginning of the game, you should be careful. Prepare sufficiently for the attacks and only then activate the machine. You can view the duration and the levels of enemies beforehand and weigh whether you can defend against them.
Where can I get cortices? You can obtain cortices at security silos, of which there are six on the map:
in the north of Broken Delta
in the northwest of Iron River
in the south and northwest of Chalk Peak
in the northeast and southwest of Red Sands
The locations of the security silos (Map via mapgenie.io)
Farming this way can be a good bonus to the starchrome that you mainly get from reaching season or travel objectives.
In Once Human, there are many things you can build. However, for most, you will need many units of resources, some of which are not so easy to obtain. Another important resource is aluminum; you can also farm this.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Dariusz took a look at the beta of Spectre Divide and is already a big fan after just a few hours. Learn here what makes the tactical shooter from shroud so good.
Spectre Divide is a tactical shooter being developed by Mountaintop Studios. The gameplay draws on the classic mechanics of tactical shooters like Valorant and Counter-Strike, but has a few unique features.
If you haven’t heard of Spectre Divide yet, let me briefly explain what kind of game it is. Just expand the text “What is Spectre Divide?”. There you will find a summary of the game.
What is Spectre Divide?
In Spectre Divide, you have the same objective as in CS or Valorant. One team defends, one team attacks. The attackers aim to plant a bomb. The defenders’ goal is to prevent the planting or to defuse the planted bomb. Additionally, you earn money with each round played, which you can then use to buy weapons and gadgets.
However, Spectre Divide has a few important differences:
You play 3v3 instead of 5v5
You use scopes much more than in CS2 and Valorant
You can move while shooting without losing precision
And of course, the big feature: You control 2 bodies, not just one. You can switch to this second body, called Spectre, at the push of a button. The second body can be used tactically, for example, to stand on the spot where your main body currently isn’t. Or you can place it in a way that flanking enemies can be intercepted. Or you can use the Spectre as a second chance, as there is no respawn.
You have the choice of how to use your Spectre.
Here we have already introduced Spectre Divide in detail:
I have now spent nearly 6 hours playing Spectre Divide. After I played the short stress test on August 3rd, which only ran for a few hours, I jumped straight into the closed beta on August 13th. I was actually looking forward to the beta for a few days because the stress test was already a lot of fun.
Spectre Divide simply does a few things differently than Valorant and Counter-Strike that bothered me a bit with both genre giants. Two of these points are unfortunately central gameplay aspects of the shooters:
Shooting “from the hip” instead of using scopes
The declining precision while shooting during movement
That I was “bothered” by these two points might be a bit of an exaggeration. But I told friends years ago: If I could shoot while running in Valorant like in Rainbow Six: Siege and the use of scopes was more important, I wouldn’t play anything else.
In Spectre Divide, scopes are important. At long distances, you won’t hit much with hip fire. Also, you don’t lose precision while moving. You can wonderfully spam “A” and “D”. Tactical shooters with scope use and movement? I love it!
Start video
Spectre Divide provides detailed insights into the gameplay of the shooter
Unique gameplay through multiple bodies
Of course, the big feature of Spectre Divide is a plus point that I really like – not just because I have a second chance with the second body if I rushed into a gunfight that I could only lose.
This is indeed a big advantage. Instead of waiting several minutes for your four remaining teammates to win or lose the round, you can jump back into the fight. This simply gives you more actual playtime and fewer breaks. This also means you have less time to blame your teammates or insult enemies.
Regardless, the principle of two bodies really offers countless tactical possibilities. We had a few situations where we cleverly played the opponents with the second body and were then pleased that it actually worked.
A very simple example: feigning an attack on the A-spot with the second body but attacking the B-spot. The opponents switch to their bodies on “A” and you have a few seconds to get to the spot and position yourself well.
There are truly countless other ways to use the two bodies tactically, and that’s just a lot of fun.
The perfect size for friend groups
I have been playing tactical shooters for several years now. One thing I constantly see is that the teams almost never consist of 5 players playing together. Nevertheless, most tactical shooters are designed for 5v5 matches.
Of course, my experience in the games is not representative of the entire player base, but there have been many large community discussions on this topic. In Rainbow Six: Siege, for example, players have been demanding for years that there be separate matchmaking for solo players, 2-3 person teams, and complete 5-player squads.
Whether that’s a good idea is debatable. But players are talking about it because it concerns them. A team composed of a 2-player and a 3-player squad is simply at a disadvantage against 5 well-coordinated players in their established formation. However, many players can’t pull together a 5-player squad during spontaneous gaming in the evening. Let’s be honest: Someone is always missing.
Spectre Divide is 3v3. This makes it much easier to field a complete team. You are not dependent on random teammates who, in the worst case, are really toxic. But even if you are only two in Spectre Divide, it’s already significantly better than trying to play a 5v5 game as two or three. You can significantly influence the mood of your team.
You are 2 thirds of the team. If you communicate a lot, are friendly, and encourage your random teammate, there’s a high chance that he will also not behave toxically. However, two toxic randoms in Valorant can’t be calmed down easily even with three.
For me, Spectre Divide is the best PvP shooter of 2024 so far – even though it is only in a closed beta at the moment. The gameplay is familiar but still unique. You quickly become familiar with the basic gameplay and can then try to play tactically well. There are already exciting, intense matches, and everything without bugs or server issues – at least I haven’t experienced any yet.
For me, XDefiant is the biggest competitor for the title of “best PvP shooter 2024”, but Ubisoft’s title just lacks a lot for me. The progression system could be better, shots are still not registered properly at times, and there are numerous bugs. I really enjoy playing XDefiant and check in regularly since its release, but it just hasn’t left as positive a lasting impression as Spectre Divide.
Delta Force: Hawk Ops could also be a really good PvP shooter with the Battlefield mode, but I haven’t been able to test the alpha yet. In terms of innovation, I don’t see such a big impact as with Spectre Divide. A 3v3 tactical shooter with 2 bodies is truly unique.