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.
The movie about the loot shooter Borderlands had some problems before its release. MyMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was finally able to see it and, without any expectations, was still disappointed.
What do I think of the series? I love Borderlands. I have probably invested several thousand hours into parts 1 through 3 and the spin-offs. I was not particularly excited about the announcement of a movie; with Eli Roth as the director, it could have at least been a bloody trash film.
However, due to the bad press in recent weeks, all my expectations were washed away, and still, the movie managed to disappoint me. Unfortunately, all the Easter eggs do not help with that.
You can see the trailer for the film here:
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English trailer for the video game adaptation Borderlands
A completely boring look
The first part of Borderlands is heavily inspired by Mad Max. There is a lot of desert and gray, dirty buildings. The successors were much more colorful. The movie is a poor mix of both. Mostly, you travel through deserts, which never look dirty and seedy enough for one to recognize Pandora as a criminal planet.
The characters look way too clean. On a dusty sand planet, it should be dirtier. I also do not like the costume design. Nothing about the clothing looks organic; it rather looks like a cosplay event.
The world and the characters never visually merge, and the effects, along with the greenscreen, add to that. The games thrive on a look that blends comic and apocalypse. The movie feels more like a fan film.
Even Cate Blanchett can’t save the film
There’s no story, characters do not work
What about the story? The main story has never been the strong suit of the Borderlands games. It was the absurd characters, side quests, and worlds that you explored. In the movie, there is no real story either. The group around Lilith, Roland, Tiny Tina, Krieg, Tannis, and Claptrap is searching for the vault.
I do not even understand the constellation of the characters. I don’t mind the idea of Lilith as the protagonist, but why is Krieg there instead of Brick, who was playable with Lilith and Roland in part 1? In the games, Brick and Tina have many moments together. Krieg feels like a marketing tool to include the well-known psychos.
The antagonist is also lame. With Handsome Jack, the second part has arguably the most entertaining character in the entire series. You simply love the charmingly unsympathetic villain. The Atlas boss from the film has no character and is just the nasty CEO.
With Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis, they even have good actors, who cannot accomplish much here. Blanchett works best as Lilith, but since there is no chemistry between the characters, no sympathy for the group arises. Jamie Lee Curtis is also disappointing, even though she has already shown in Everything Everywhere All At Once that she can play an absurd role.
What is there for fans? One positive aspect is the fan service. In the background, you can constantly discover Easter eggs. For example, Dahl weapons or the legendary Infinity pistol. I also recognized posters of Face McShooty or Mick Zafford from side quests in Borderlands 2.
Unfortunately, this is never brought to the forefront. Sometimes, names like Caustic Caverns are dropped. When you get there, it does not look at all like in the games, but rather like a dark corridor.
They could have also done more with the well-known weapons. After all, it is the franchise with endless guns. Often, you also see designs that do not fit the world or the games at all.
The movie often does not feel like a film for Borderlands fans, but like a sci-fi movie that hides elements from Borderlands in the background.
What about the action? The action also leaves much to be desired. With Eli Roth, who recently directed a fun slasher with Thanksgiving, I at least expected some bloody scenes like those in the series. But the film is rated FSK12 or PG-13.
Originally, the film was supposed to be much bloodier and more brutal, but for a broader target audience, a lighter version was decided upon. This does not really suit the fans of the series, who are confronted with humorous yet harsh situations in the games. (via Kotaku)
Despite the absence of expectations, I had a glimmer of hope. After all, Fallout, Arcane, and The Last of Us have shown that video games can be adapted well. Unfortunately, Borderlands is not a movie I can recommend to anyone. Neither fans of the games nor trash connoisseurs will find satisfaction here. If you want a dystopian cheesy video game adaptation, you should check out Twisted Metal: A new series on Amazon is the next good video game adaptation – a mix of Fallout and Mad Max
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the Russian Republic of Dagestan, a female chess player is caught poisoning her opponent. The evidence comes from a security camera recording.
Where and when did the incident occur? On August 2, 2024, the chess tournament of the Republic of Dagestan took place in Makhachkala, Russia. Shortly before her match, the Russian player Amina Abakarova allegedly spread mercury on the board of her opponent Umayganat Osmanova.
Liquid mercury is a highly toxic metal that can be fatal if inhaled or swallowed. Contact with the skin is also dangerous.
Chess is a challenging strategy game. In our video, we introduce you to three strategy games that have a lot to offer:
Start video
3 strategy games that don’t have to hide
How Amina Abakarova poisoned her opponent
What exactly happened? Twenty minutes before the chess match was supposed to begin, Amina Abakarova allegedly went to the table where she was set to play against her opponent Umayganat Osmanova. She is said to have had a broken thermometer with her, from which she let the mercury run out and spread it on the chessboard, primarily on her opponent’s side.
During the match, about half an hour after it started, Osmanova began to feel dizzy, nauseous, and had difficulty breathing. Doctors were called who determined that the symptoms could indicate poisoning. Another person in the room also had the same symptoms of poisoning.
Why did Abakarova act this way? A possible motive is the fact that Abakarova was defeated by Osmanova in a chess tournament a week earlier, and the two women have been rivals for some time. Abakarova only placed second. Thus, the attempted poisoning could be interpreted as a form of revenge.
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What are the consequences? The Russian Chess Federation has immediately provisionally suspended Amina Abakarova. However, a verdict is still pending. If a verdict is reached against her, the player would likely be indefinitely suspended by the Russian Chess Federation and could face up to three years in prison.
In gaming on Twitch and YouTube, the era of “exposing” has begun: In Germany and the USA, major content creators are under scrutiny. They are accused of having behaved improperly in their personal or professional lives. Now one of the nicest streamers is in the spotlight, someone you would never have expected: Leslie “Fuslie” Ann Fu (31) apparently got involved with the wrong man three years ago and is now caught up in a dispute among content creators over Call of Duty.
Who is Fuslie?
Fuslie is a content creator from the 100 Thieves community and is part of Valkyrae’s friend group. She is seen as an innocent, somewhat scatterbrained person that everyone in her friend circle loves.
In 2021, she had about 8,300 viewers on Twitch; she has since shifted her business to YouTube, where she has 900,000 subscribers. On Twitch, she gained popularity with games like Valorant, Among Us, or roleplay in GTA V.
Fuslie is known as a cheerful streamer who spreads good vibes, is friendly, sings, and plays. She’s really the last person you would think would want to harm anyone.
Start video
3 German Twitch streamers you should know
Fuslie gets involved in a dispute between 2 streamers and takes the heat
What is she being accused of now? Fuslie was caught up in a dispute between 2 other content creators, both of whom make their money from Call of Duty.
Streamer “MrTLexify” has been accused of grooming
Apparently to distract from this and deflect the criticism directed at him, MrTLexify has now claimed that Call of Duty content creator NoahJ456 cheated on his wife with Fuslie in 2021.
Essentially, MrTLexify says he doesn’t understand why NoahJ456 continues to be supported by the community, despite having so brazenly cheated on his wife, while he himself wouldn’t receive the same trust from the community.
She went through a tough time in 2021 because she broke up with her fiancé, with whom she had been for 6 years.
She then met NoahJ, who was super nice and great. Therefore, she opened up emotionally to him during a very vulnerable phase.
This topic has weighed on her for several years because, as she was raised, “cheating is equivalent to death.” When she saw that the incident has now come to light, she realized she has to own up to it.
She then says:
I just wanted to say that I am a person, and I hope you don’t put me on a pedestal… I am a person who makes mistakes because I am an idiot. Don’t be like me and don’t try to be like me.
Fuslie says the situation makes her sad. She is sorry. There is not more she can say.
This is the consequence now: Fuslie seems to be stepping back for now and will not participate in Ludwig’s Summer Games. She was originally intended to be part of Valkyrae’s team.
How is this being discussed? A Reddit user who does not live in the USA wonders why such a big deal is being made of this. After all, Fuslie was not in a relationship when something happened with Noah. Perhaps this is something that only “puritans” are outraged about, he asks on Reddit (via reddit).
Another user adds (via reddit). Fuslie only admitted that she emotionally interfered in Noah’s marriage and contributed to him getting divorced from his wife. She has said nothing about any physical aspect. The user states: Both seemed to be disappointed in their relationships, became closer, and kept in touch. But when Noah announced that he was separating from his wife, Fuslie was shocked and broke off contact.
Furthermore, it is said that Fuslie had already privately apologized to Noah’s wife before the matter was brought to the public eye.
Blizzard revamped the loot in Diablo 4 with Season 5, resulting in some pretty powerful drops. And they are so powerful that some players can’t believe their luck.
Season 5 started in August for Diablo 4 and brought new content to the game. The developers also revamped the items, particularly the Uniques, after they were criticized by the community. Previously, many players thought that Uniques were “useless” and everything else was better.
Now, Uniques are supposed to break all the rules of itemization. They are supposed to allow for absurd builds, and experts mentioned at the start of the new season: There’s some really “crazy” stuff in there. A few days have passed since then, and some loot drops have occurred. Some of those are so powerful that players are flaunting their new strong items.
Start video
Diablo 4: Secret change brings more loot for everyone who likes to grind
“Did I just win the game?”
What are players flaunting? On various platforms, players are showcasing their strong loot drops in Season 5. With the question “Is the game over now?” “hungliketrout” presents his Harlequin Crest in a post on Reddit, which has 4 major affixes. The major affixes are 1.5x as strong as normal ones.
In another Reddit post, a player shows his Harlequin Crest, which was dropped by the boss Duriel. With the crafting system “Masterworking”, he has upgraded it twelve times and now has a cooldown reduction of a whopping 54%. He too asks: “Did I just win the game?”
With the changes to the Uniques, the developers wanted the items to feel special again. They are supposed to influence and strengthen builds. And some players are now adjusting their builds when strong items drop. In a Reddit post, “Wolfwood28” presents the unique “Fractured Winterglass” and states: “I guess it’s time to play a lightning spear sorceress.”
The “Fractured Winterglass” is used in various sorceress builds, including the “Frozen Orb” build:
What do experts say about the loot? Experts also can’t resist showing off their strong drops. On X, Rob, an expert for the Barbarian class in Diablo 4, shows his new mythical unique. He has upgraded the two-handed sword “Grandfather” with Masterworking and achieved a critical affix with a hefty +660% damage output.
In a YouTube video, Diablo expert wudijo shows his loot drops after a boss fight. He picks up a legendary staff and notes that it has three major affixes (GA): Intelligence, maximum life, and critical hit damage.
wudijo remarks: “This is my first ‘triple-GA item’ that I actually wear.” He believes the item is the best he has so far. In the last season, he got “some crazy things”, including a ‘double-GA amulet’. “I think some would easily pay 100 billion [gold for the staff]”, he notes.
The staff has already dropped with strong affixes, and the Diablo expert subsequently improved it further using the crafting systems. The systems fortification and completion allow you to really strengthen your items. Here you can learn more about it: Diablo 4: Fortification and Completion – How to turn your items into God Rolls
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Currently, there are numerous issues in Helldivers 2. The balancing, as well as the new patch, is causing problems for the players. The game’s leader promises to resolve these issues within 60 days.
What kind of problems are these? Since the launch of the game, Helldivers 2 has repeatedly been noted for inconsistent balance updates that often nerfed the weapons that the community was enjoying. Players have been quite angry more than once.
The last update of Helldivers 2 included a revision for fire and especially flamethrowers. These were central to the new update “Escalation of Freedom”.
The developers wanted the flamethrowers to behave more realistically and not penetrate certain bodies anymore; however, this removed the ability to take down an assailant with a flamethrower.
The players’ criticism has also reached the developers. The game’s leader, Mikael E, has now spoken out about it.
Here you can see the trailer that was supposed to ignite the Helldivers:
Start video
Helldivers 2 shows in the new war bond ‘Flame of Freedom’ fiery democracy
Actions speak louder than words
What does the leader say? The leader of Helldivers 2 states that the team has spent the last week listening to player feedback. The developers have also reflected and agree that they missed their goal with the last update.
The balance and direction of the game have been reconsidered. “What matters most now are actions. Not talk,” he writes on Reddit.
With a 7-point plan, the developers aim to fix their game within the next 60 days. Improvements are to continue to come regularly, not in a single large patch, as the leader of the development studio explains on X.com.
These are the 7 points the developers want to achieve within 60 days:
“We will continue to rethink our approach to the issue of balance. Our goal is for the balance to be fun and not just ‘balanced’ for balance’s sake.”
Updating the fire damage mechanics to optimize the function of the flamethrower as a support weapon in close combat. (A quick, direct reversal won’t work, as it would damage other things).
Revamping gameplay to prevent excessive ragdolling.
Rethinking the design approach for primary weapons and crafting a plan to make combat more interesting.
Reprioritizing bug fixes to address issues affecting gameplay first.
Improving game performance (frame rate is a focus).
Revamping the assailants.
But the developers are already presenting their plans for the future:
“We are looking into creating an opt-in beta testing environment to improve our testing processes and we consider this a high priority.
“Conducting regular player surveys to gain more insights and feedback from the community.”
“Improving our process for patch/release notes – providing more context and reasoning for changes.”
“More blog posts and streams where we delve deeper into these topics for those interested.”
How are the plans received by the community? The community is still upset despite the plans. On Reddit, there are numerous posts expressing confusion over how such changes could take up to 60 days.
Many memes can also be found on Reddit, often criticizing the balance, which has been altered repeatedly over the months through patches, making it no longer enjoyable.
Surveys paint a grim picture of Generation Z, but they also have good reasons to complain, as the situation is complex.
The title image is a symbolic image.
Who is Generation Z? Also known as Zoomers, all individuals in this group are classified as such if they were born between 1996 and 2012. Before them come the Millennials or Generation Y from 1980. The Baby Boomers started their lives in the post-war period. 1965 to 1979 is the birth period for Generation X. All individuals born after 2012 or even those born in 2024 are part of Generation Alpha.
Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
A complex picture of a population group under pressure
Various surveys among entrepreneurs in the UK and elsewhere are consolidating a public opinion that seems to prevail at least to a relevant extent: Young people from Generation Z
find delays of 10 minutes completely acceptable and normal in their daily lives, while Baby Boomers consider this highly rude. (via Fortune)
miss about four times as many deadlines per week as Baby Boomers, around one in four deadlines compared to about one in ten. (via Bloomberg)
spend approximately six times as many hours per week on unnecessary work as Baby Boomers (almost 4.5 hours compared to 45 minutes). (via Bloomberg)
take sick leave relatively frequently compared to previous generations – mainly due to mental health issues. (via Rheinische Post)
Why is Generation Z standing out? Several books could be written on this question, each with different focuses. Various developments in our society, economy, or even the fundamentally different situation of politics and the environment compared to the 20th century exert their influence. Thus, a complex picture emerges:
The economic situation is drastically different and, on average, more challenging for Gen Z as well as for a large part of Millennials than for Baby Boomers or Gen X. Need examples? (via genbeta)
Rental price development
Rising prices due to the price shock, especially since the Russian invasion
Stagnation in wage growth
The Covid pandemic continues to be a factor, as it significantly negatively impacted the mental and professional development of all young people starting their careers
Gen Z has different expectations for their lives and workplaces; promotions and status are less important than a healthy work-life balance. (via genbeta)
The climate crisis often concerns young people to a greater extent than older individuals.
Haven’t older generations always talked like this about younger ones? There is a part of truth buried here. Of course, such views have always existed. Many Baby Boomers can probably still recount conflicts with their parents. They, by the way, belong to the Silent Generation (1928 to 1945). Ultimately, there is no way around Gen Z, as Felix Beilharz, author of the book “Manual Generation Z” clearly puts it in a conversation with MDR:
Whoever does not understand Generation Z will lose. Because the Digital Natives are already numerically the largest generation in the world and will soon also make up the largest group in the labor and consumer market in Germany.
Nick South, a manager at the Boston Consulting Group, views the whole situation with much more relaxation: “When we all entered the workforce, it took quite a while for us to learn, and we wasted our time being ineffective. Over time, we learned when to focus and where we could take shortcuts.” And he also sees a problem with those who train:
The challenge of effectively integrating newcomers into the workforce is fundamentally different than it was ten years ago. It requires a special kind of leadership that really focuses on clear goals, care, coaching, and feedback.
The Space Marines are too powerful to go to battle in groups of four. The developers of the upcoming co-op shooter have realized this as well.
Which game is it about? With Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a new third-person shooter set in the dark Warhammer universe will be released on September 9. It is the sequel to the first part, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, released in 2011.
In Space Marine 2, you play as the legendary Space Marines who crush alien Tyranids with superhuman abilities.
Space Marines 2 will include a co-op campaign, a 6v6 multiplayer mode, and the PvE mode “Operations.”
Space Marines 2 will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.
Here you can see gameplay of the Space Marines marching across the battlefield:
Start video
New trailer shows nearly 8 minutes of multiplayer gameplay from the bloody carnage in Space Marine 2
4 Space Marines are too intense
Why only 3 and not 4 players? As the developers explained in an interview with the American magazine PC Gamer, they decided to design Space Marines 2 based on the lore and the abilities of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
In Warhammer 40k, the Space Marines are true superhumans with powerful abilities. They are genetically modified supersoldiers whose mental and physical abilities far exceed those of a normal human. This is also noted by Yann Françoi, Creative Manager of Space Marines 2:
When you read about Space Marines, you discover that they are superhuman to a really crazy extent. They are up to [two to three] meters tall, and they have two or three functioning hearts.
Yann Françoi, Creative Manager of Space Marines 2
Françoi also mentions that Saber Interactive tried to send the Space Marines into battle as a group of four during development.
However, the developers realized that the game was too easy with four Space Marines: “Many people asked, ‘Why can’t up to four players join?’ They [the team] tried it and found that it was too easy… it was a massacre. So three was a good number.”
Why are Space Marines so strong? The Space Marines are recruited as young men and undergo strict mental and physical training while undergoing genetic modifications.
Mental and physically, they have been so strongly modified that they could be called a subspecies of humans. Even the smallest among them reach a height of 2.5 meters and are about twice as wide due to their musculature and bones. They receive 19 modified organs during their training that grant them a range of superhuman powers and toughen them for battle.
In Pokémon GO, conquering gyms is part of everyday life. However, it is a topic that can sometimes cause irritation.
How does it work with gyms? In Pokémon GO, there are three teams: the red, the yellow, and the blue. All trainers join one of these teams at the beginning of the game.
Gyms, in turn, are specific points on the Pokémon GO map, but also in the real world, that can be conquered and defended by these teams. Once a gym is conquered, it takes on the color of the defending team.
Then begins the waiting, because the longer the team can hold the gym, the more coins there are. The maximum limit of coins per day is 50, which is reached after 8 hours in a gym.
Conquering gyms is one of the fundamental mechanics of the game. However, for some trainers, it seems particularly crucial to have dominance in their own neighborhood – a topic that players in the community discuss from time to time.
The most recent example of this is a post from a trainer who reports how his mother has apparently become unpopular with a trainer in the area.
Players report rivalries over gyms
What happened? As a user reports in the Pokémon GO subreddit, his 70-year-old mother has discovered Pokémon GO for herself. The lady enjoys playing since her retirement to get out and has even reached level 46 by now.
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Under the name “doonmom,” she is out in the game, conquering the gyms in her vicinity. Recently, however, she noticed something: another trainer, under the name “doonmomFU,” has made it his mission to kick her out of the gym. Apparently, someone has a problem with her frequently conquering the local gym.
Nevertheless, the 70-year-old has apparently made a personal opponent, which she and her child initially took with humor – and also, players in the comments of the post react with jokes. However, some emphasize that they are familiar with the problem.
This is how other players react: Many commentators are particularly amused that someone apparently feels offended by the 70-year-old lady – though it should also be noted that the “opponent” does not necessarily know who is behind the avatar in the game. Nevertheless, players suggest solutions, such as a name change to “DoonmomFUFU.”
Others comment that they also know the “problem” themselves. One player reports about his mother, who is also playing in retirement, and who is now being kicked out of gyms by many players because she would belong to the yellow team – and this, without the gym being occupied by the conquerors afterward.
Others report of “rivalries” in the local community that can be pleasant but sometimes less fun.
“For me, there is a local guy, when I kick him out of ‘his’ gym, he kicks me out of every gym where he can find me. Just me, without taking over the gym,” writes user Swolie7 (via reddit).
Others, however, emphasize that they cannot understand why some players take the gym game so seriously. “People get so angry about their gyms and 50 coins,” comments one (via reddit), “Imagine being so bitter about losing fake money in an online game just to curse other players with a changed username” (via reddit). Another says: “It’s crazy to me how seriously some people take this game. Good for your mother that she handles it with composure (via reddit)”.
Are there other opinions? Some players also advise that the user’s mother should be careful not to hoard gyms or throw out opposing Pokémon too early. Because some communities have rules for when to take a gym that she might not know. In some, for example, it’s only okay to take a gym after 8 hours, as that is when the coin limit is reached. However, the user also emphasizes that she does not immediately rush to kick people out of gyms as soon as they have lost, but that there can be days in between.
What do you think about the gym topic? Have you had similar experiences in Pokémon GO? Do you also have a “Pokémon GO enemy” or a gym situation that is comparable? Tell us in the comments! And if you want to read about an alternative way: some players have sworn off team gameplay in the gyms and instead dedicated themselves to “Team Harmony.” What that is, you can read here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the newly announced strategy RPG Band of Crusaders for Steam, you must face the fight against demons with a group of crusaders to save a medieval dark-fantasy Europe.
What kind of game is this? Band of Crusaders is the first game from the Polish indie studio Virtual Alchemy. The developers themselves describe it as a strategy RPG, meaning a strategy game with role-playing elements.
The setting of Band of Crusaders is a dark-fantasy version of medieval Europe. The twist: In this world, your sins not only summon metaphorical demons. The player assumes the role of the Grand Master of a knightly order in this world and leads the crusade against heretics and demons at the front lines.
Here you can watch the official reveal trailer of Band of Crusaders:
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Band of Crusaders: The official reveal trailer for the strategy RPG on Steam
What do we already know about the game? You can take a first look at the world map in the trailer, where you move your party of crusaders from city to city. There, you accept missions that send you into tactical real-time battles against various heretics and demons of different types and sizes.
Apart from battles, you upgrade your camp and your fighters with upgrades and new abilities. You can equip your soldiers with various weapons and armor at will, affecting their strength in combat.
The game is designed as a sandbox, which is also reflected in the map. According to the developers, the world is supposed to dynamically respond to player decisions, simulating a true invasion of demons.
Tricky battles with consequences
Band of Crusaders aims to provide a dynamic, tactical combat system. The composition of your combat squad, the skillful use of abilities, and the proper positioning of individual fighters are supposed to decide between success and failure. If one of your crusaders bites the dust in battle, there is no turning back for them.
Where and when will Band of Crusaders be released? The game will be released on Steam, but the developers have not yet announced a release date.
A little fun fact: A comment from the developers under the trailer confirms that they were inspired by titles like Wartales, released on April 12, 2023, when developing Band of Crusaders – a game that feels, according to a MeinMMO author, like controlling a raid group in WoW alone.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Wit Studio is currently working on a remake of the anime One Piece. For One Piece Day, there were first images from the series showing what the remake will look like. This could be related to a wish from Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece.
What was his condition? Eiichiro Oda is advising the animation team at Wit Studio. He clarifies in a video that the animation studio should take its own path.
Instead of simply reproducing the original manga, the creators are expected to come up with something of their own. The adaptation must stand out with a unique style. This would ensure that the planned long-term project does not resemble the current anime too closely over time.
The studio must master the balancing act between adhering to the source material and reorientation. The animation team emphasizes that they want to focus on a reinterpretation of the settings and emotions of the characters.
Whether the team has succeeded, you can judge for yourself in the following video:
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The One Piece – Interview with the Remake Team
The One Piece Remake is a reinterpretation of the original
How did they want to ensure that? To meet Oda’s requirements, the animation studio hired many young illustrators. They had been the target audience at that time and grew up with One Piece. Therefore, they would have the best knowledge of the anime and manga.
In addition, a young team is still full of energy and motivation to tackle such a large project. However, the older colleagues are not far behind: Kyoji Asano, the character designer of the anime, locked himself away for two months to prepare. During this time, he is said to have simply redrawn the characters from the manga to practice.
Have they succeeded? From the first images of the remake, you can see that the drawing style and color scheme are indeed somewhat different from the original. The colors appear more pastel and the outlines are softer than in the anime.
For Eri Taguchi, the responsible staff member in prop design, it is important to capture the warmth from the original. We believe the team has done this well.
In World of Warcraft, there is a variety of rare and sometimes expensive mounts. One currently trading for over 1200 Euros will soon be available for free for everyone on Twitch.
What kind of mount is this? World of Warcraft once had its own collectible card game, where players could earn not only cards but also mounts that they could use in the game. One of these mounts is the “Ghastly Charger” mount.
The ghostly horse had a 1 in 264 chance of being found in the Betrayal of The Guardian booster boxes and is currently trading for approximately 1,237 Euros. The card with the associated code is no longer available digitally but only as a physical card, as can be seen on wowtcgloot.com.
Rare mounts like those from the collectible card game typically become more expensive over the years because there are no new ways to obtain the mounts, and the available cards gain rarity. The price of the Ghastly Charger mount is likely to plummet soon.
As the launch of the expansion gets closer, you should complete 3 things beforehand:
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3 things you should do before the launch of WoW: The War Within
From rare mount to common steed
How do you get the mount? At the start of the new expansion of World of Warcraft, The War Within, Blizzard is launching a new round of Twitch Drops. From August 26 to September 19, anyone who watches a Twitch channel with Drops enabled for 4 hours can secure the mount for free.
To receive the rewards, you must connect your Twitch account with your Battle.net account and claim the reward within 7 days. The World of Warcraft website explains the details.
Are there even rarer mounts from the collectible card game? Yes, there are. Blizzard has already made available some of the mounts that could previously only be obtained from the collectible card game; however, many fans are waiting for the “Swift Spectral Tiger,” which is trading in marketplaces for about 7,320 Euros.
The Hell Hordes are currently the “hot shit” in Diablo 4. It’s simply fun to face the waves of monsters and earn valuable rewards at the end. One player even received so much gold that the hack & slash adventure almost crashed.
What happened to the Diablo 4 fan? On reddit, CaineMoon shared a screenshot showing the final ether balance after the player successfully completed nine waves of the Hell Hordes at Tier 7 with two revives remaining.
When he converted the 1,110 “Burning Ether” into gold, Blizzard’s hack & slash adventure apparently hit its limits and “almost crashed”. In the end, a substantial 148 million gold ended up in the pockets of the Hell Hordes conqueror. Goodbye, gold problems!
More loot in Diablo 4? This change will please you:
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Diablo 4: Secret change brings more loot for everyone who likes to grind
DaftWarrior writes (via reddit): “We are collapsing the market [for gold sellers, editor’s note]. We are literally printing gold, like JPow.” By the way, JPow refers to Jerome Powell, the current president of the Federal Reserve (more info on de.wikipedia.org).
kuhas adds (via reddit): “Gold sellers hate this simple trick.”
Schniiic even suspects a targeted measure against gold sellers by Blizzard (via reddit): “I actually believe that Blizzard didn’t do this just for us, but also to combat gold sellers.”
hey_im_cool is no longer interested in Hell Hordes (via reddit): “My laptop crashed when I opened the emote wheel. I think I’ll avoid this content.”
Helpful_Cry_8227 had similar experiences (via reddit): “I did a tier 5, got 63 million, and it also almost crashed my game. The gold was picked up immediately and a huge stack of scrolls was left.”
Destiny 2 thrives on its loyal fans who continuously support it. Unfortunately, things do not look good at the moment. Bungie is experiencing one of its highest player losses for its loot shooter on Steam. Can the shooter recover from this?
How high is the player loss? Paul Tassi, a well-known figure from the Destiny community and a journalist at the news site “Forbes,” has looked at the significant player losses from the recent DLC releases on Steam and summarized the following (Source: forbes.com):
The Witch Queen lost 61% of its peak player count after its release.
Lightfall, one of the lesser DLCs, initially lost 19% and then subsequently 44% of its peak player count.
The Final Shape, one of the best DLCs ever, lost up to 67% after its release.
Although there are still up to 44,503 players playing during the last 24-hour peak, and the average number is 63,464 players, the numbers are bleak. Normally, player counts gradually decline as the season approaches its end, but in this case, it seems that a large portion of the fans played the DLC and then dropped off.
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Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer
Fans want no fillers, but real content
Why have so many players disappeared? It is hard to say exactly, as every player has their own opinion on this matter. However, if one had to identify reasons, it could be the end of the Light and Darkness saga mixed with the lost trust of players in the future of Destiny 2.
Additionally, the current stories surrounding the layoffs at Bungie have shaken the trust of the fans. It is unclear where the developers’ focus lies and whether Destiny 2 is being kept alive artificially until the new big hit “Marathon” is released.
Lastly, the current content feels like filler. The episodes tell the stories after the Witness has been defeated, but they do not convey a sense of ultimate conclusion. It feels as though Guardians are wrapping up side stories until the next big thing appears. Unfortunately, there are currently few reasons to check back into the loot shooter.
Can Destiny 2 recover from this? This is very difficult to assess. Bungie has been known for crafting one of the best stories ever with Destiny 1 & 2. Now that this story is concluded, it is uncertain whether Bungie can spark that exciting feeling again that many Guardians have been chasing for years.
Moreover, fans do not know if Destiny 2 will continue and whether Bungie will pursue the secret project “Frontiers.” If developers aim to bring the loot shooter back to a golden age, they would need to create something that reignites excitement even among veterans – with 6-month seasons without any DLC, this is highly unlikely to happen.
In FC 25, a number of new cards will be released. The first ones have now been presented. One of the best dribblers of the past decade is making his return. However, many fans do not agree with his rating.
What kind of player is he? Eden Hazard is back. The Belgian super dribbler is certainly remembered by many for his less than glorious moments. His transfer to Real Madrid in 2019 was a real career killer. Many injuries, weight issues, and barely any playing time plagued him in the final years until his retirement in 2023.
Many may have already forgotten that Hazard was one of the best wingers during his time at Chelsea FC. A testament to his strong performances can still be found in the Ultimate Team database.
From FIFA 13 to FIFA 21, he had a rating of at least 87 every year, reaching an overall rating of 91 at his prime time in FIFA 18/19. This meant he only had to stand behind a few other players.
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EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for Ultimate Team
Hazard gets a new special card in FC 25
How does Hazard return? Hazard is one of 14 new Heroes that will find their way into Ultimate Team in FC 25. A Hero card is given to former players who are primarily associated with a sustained strong phase at their club during their careers.
Hazard’s Hero is likely to remind fans of his successful time at Chelsea FC. His, as well as all other Heroes, are dynamic and will upgrade in November, automatically getting a higher rating.
Some fans are already dissatisfied with the rating of Hazard’s Origin version.
Fans about Hazard’s 86 rating: “This is a complete joke”
In a post on Reddit, there was already plenty of discussion about the new Hero cards. Many fans are bothered by Eden Hazard’s rating. This is also expressed in one of the top comments by user vk2499.
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What bothers the fans? User vk2499 expresses his dissatisfaction: “Hazard with a rating of 86 is a complete joke.” He then addresses EA directly: “EA, you rated him 90/91 for 3 years and over 86 for 10 years. And his Hero has 86???”
Over 260 people agree that this rating does not suit them.
Other fans also see a problem with Hazard’s rating compared to other Heroes. User gonnj points out: “Base Hazard has 86, while Ginola has 89.” (via reddit.com)
And indeed, looking at the statistics of both players, it becomes clear that Hazard can look back on a significantly higher football output.
Hazard contributed to a goal or an assist for his team in the Premier League every 230 minutes. In contrast, Ginola needed almost 3 times as long, with 660 minutes for a goal involvement in the Premier League. (via transfermarkt.de)
Fans might not want to be too upset about the initial ratings. We do not yet know whether the other Heroes will also be adjusted to the new dynamic system.
Furthermore, while ratings are an important indicator for evaluating a player in EA FC, his true value usually only becomes apparent when you play with him. So it is possible that Hazard feels much better on the pitch than his 86 suggests. We have all the important information about EA FC 25 for you at MeinMMO: EA FC 25: All information on release, price, and innovations
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Obbe Vermeij was a developer for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He also followed the latest trailer for GTA 6 with excitement and was particularly impressed by one scene. He believes that AI technology was used for this scene.
Which scene does he mean? Vermeij’s attention was especially drawn to the beach scene in the trailer for GTA 6. He was surprised to see that each character seemed to have something different to do. Every person appeared to have their own animation.
However, this is not only related to Rockstar’s own graphics engine RAGE. Rather, the Rockstar veteran believes in an interview with SanInPlay on YouTube that the advanced physics and realistic animations are a result of AI technology.
You can watch the scene in the following trailer:
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Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer
According to a Rockstar veteran, it’s time for AI technology
What does the San Andreas developer think about it? Vermeij believes that GTA 6 will rely on advanced AI technology for the gigantic open world. He has heard rumors that Rockstar will use a quite new technology that is “related to animation and artificial intelligence and all that stuff.”
And this would be just right for him. The San Andreas developer believes it’s time for a revolution. Animations should no longer be done manually but should be based on AI and physics. In GTA 4, Rockstar had already done something similar, so he believes that Rockstar would be the first company to take this step.
This statement is consistent with an earlier interview with Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two. He sees AI in gaming primarily as an option to characterize NPCs and develop more dialogue options. This would increase the replay value of games.
Therefore, it could indeed be that Rockstar has taken a new step where AI is used as a tool for the development of video games. According to Zelnick, at least everyone is currently working on artificial intelligence. Thus, it would be possible for upcoming video games to make increasingly significant leaps in development.
One of the greatest villains from Baldur’s Gate 3 was supposed to be ancient – at least that was what the story writers thought. But then he turned out to be much younger.
Baldur’s Gate 3 features some of the best villains in RPG history. Characters like Orin, Ketheric, and Gortash have remained memorable to many fans – some even found them so compelling that they would have liked to get a bit closer to the enemies in an evil playthrough. In particular, the villain Gortash fits perfectly in the eyes of some fans with the “Dark Urge.” Together they would have made a dark but fitting pair.
The fact that this option was overlooked displeases one of the story writers.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 is 1 year old and to celebrate the creators share your dirty secrets
What was said? In an interview with Eurogamer, Baudelaire Welch spoke. Welch was the “Companion and Romance Lead” for Baldur’s Gate 3 and wished that they had foreseen how well Gortash would be received by fans, and that many desired a romance option with him. Especially in connection with the Dark Urge, there are many fan stories and theories. Welch said the following:
I wholeheartedly believe in the “Dark Urge x Gortash” ship, but I never saw that coming. I think we always imagined Gortash as an 80-year-old man during the development [of the game]. But then we saw his model and thought, “Oh!” Then we heard that the voice actor Jason Isaacs was cast for him and contributed the purring-dark performance, and suddenly Gortash was a 40-year-old emo beauty.
In hindsight, Welch wished that they had realized earlier what “tension” could have existed between Gortash and the Dark Urge:
I wish so, so much that I had seen that coming and could have incorporated some additional hints or reactions into the whole thing.
The creators at Larian likely never thought Gortash would be so popular. After all, Gortash and Orin are really only present in the third act of the game and therefore have comparatively little screen time. Depending on the choices of the hero team, there is a bit more to see from Orin or Gortash – but a romance simply isn’t possible. Not even for the Dark Urge, who can’t have a truly “evil” companion at all.
What the community thinks: If you took a look at the Baldur’s Gate subreddit or various forums in the past year since the release, it’s clear that Gortash has become a true favorite among fans. The “emo goth” appears again and again in various fan fictions, and many generally wished that there was a romance option with the villain.
However, although Larian has fulfilled many of the community’s wishes in retrospect, the Gortash romance will likely remain a wish that only mods can fulfill. Even for the upcoming Patch 7, they have already turned down a love interest for Gortash. Some things are just not meant to be.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The hunting horn is probably one of the quirkiest weapons in the Monster Hunter series: New fans will also get to know the reason for this in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Which game is this about? Monster Hunter Wilds is an action RPG from the Japanese developer Capcom and the latest installment in the Monster Hunter series. The game is set to be released in 2025 for PC on Steam, as well as for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Although a precise release date is still pending, Capcom has already started presenting the various weapon types. Here you can take a first look at the hunting horn:
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Monster Hunter Wilds: Capcom shows the hunting horn in action
However, the hunting horn can not only deal damage but also grant you and your hunter companions various buffs. Each attack with the weapon is assigned one of several musical notes, which can be combined into different songs.
By playing songs, you can grant yourself and your allies armor and damage buffs, among other things, in the predecessor Monster Hunter: World, or increase your resistances to elemental damage. The more notes you string together, the stronger the buff will be.
What are the Echo Bubbles? They are a new mechanic of the hunting horn in Monster Hunter Wilds. You can now place Echo Bubbles on the ground that grant special effects in an area. According to the trailer, multiple ones can be active at the same time.
Whether the effects of the Echo Bubbles will be the same as those offered by the songs or if Capcom has come up with something new remains unclear from the trailer.
Is the hunting horn not for you? No worries, because Monster Hunter Wilds will offer you a total of 14 different weapon types: from the classic sword & shield combo to more exotic weapons like the gunlance, there is something for everyone. You can get a first overview here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
