Helldivers 2: Patch Notes 01.001.002 – The largest update of the shooter is live

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 10 minutes

In Helldivers 2 on August 6, 2024, Patch 01.001.002 with the update “Escalation of Freedom” went live. It is the largest update for the co-op shooter so far and brings some exciting new features.

How big is the update? Patch 01.001.002 went online at around 11:00 AM on August 6, 2024. It is nearly 1.7 GB on Steam. On PlayStation, the download size is 1.868 GB.

What’s new with the update? The major update for Helldivers 2 comes with some new content. Here we provide an overview of the new features:

  • A new difficulty level: Level 10 – Super Helldive
  • New mission objectives and larger enemy outposts from robots and bugs
    • offer new opportunities to collect Super Samples
  • New environmental hazards
    • Acid storms (affecting the armor of Helldivers and enemies)
  • New enemies – Bugs
    • The Impaler
    • Sporesprouter
    • Alpha Commanders
  • New enemies – Robots
    • Rocket Tank
    • Reinforced Scout Walkers
  • New swamp planet
  • A new system that saves your loot and sends you as a host to a new lobby if you were kicked from a mission.

Here you can watch the trailer for “Escalation of Freedom”:

Start video
Announcement for Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom shows extreme battles

Helldivers 2: Patch 01.001.002 – Balancing

What changes in balancing? With the update, Helldivers also makes some changes to the balancing of weapons and tactical equipment. One of the highlights concerns the Explosive Crossbow – it is now considered a one-handed weapon.

Here’s what changes:

SG-8S Wrecker

  • Increased wobbling effect.
  • Increased spread.
  • Weapon pulls harder.

SG-225IE Fire-Breaker

  • Max magazines reduced from 6 to 4.
  • Recoil increased from 28 to 41.

GP-31 Grenade Pistol

  • Ammunition capacity reduced from 8 to 6.
  • Number of rounds refilled from an ammo box increased from 2 to 4.

CB-9 Explosive Crossbow

  • Now a one-handed weapon.

AX/AR-23 “Guard Dog”

  • Max magazines increased from 6 to 8.

Linear Orbital Barrage

  • Number of salvos increased from 3 to 5.
  • Movement speed decreased by 40%.

120mm HE Orbital Barrage

  • Cooldown reduced from 240 seconds to 180 seconds.
  • Time between salvos shortened.
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Helldivers 2: Patch 01.001.002 – Gameplay Changes

What was changed in gameplay? In Helldivers 2, the operational modifier “Atmospheric Interference” has now been removed. Additionally, acid planets no longer have the environmental modifier “High Heat”.

Furthermore, the energy shields have been improved. This affects the shield generator backpack and the shield generator relay. Both shields now also block snow and sandstorms.

You can view the complete patch notes for Patch 01.001.002, including bug fixes, here:

Patch 01.001.002 – Patch Notes

Main Updates

Difficulty Level 10 – Super Helldive

  • A new, extreme difficulty level for the most experienced and skilled Helldivers with impressive new enemies and nerve-wracking challenges.

New mission objectives

  • Two new secondary objectives will soon be active on a planet near you! With these faction-specific optional goals, you need to attack the human processing plants of the robots to destroy their lethal bio-processor, and you’ll have to venture deep into terminid territory to extract a living larva as a sample that the bugs want back at all costs!

Larger enemy outposts

  • Raid the strongholds of terminids and robot fortresses on the new difficulty level “Super Helldive”.
    The challenge is great, but the rewards are even greater. Thoroughly search the conquered outposts for confidential data and take them with you before you evacuate. May freedom guide you.

New bugs and bots

  • New and stronger threats to freedom emerge.
    A familiar nuisance makes its comeback: The Impaler returns, digs its head in, and launches tentacles from the ground to ambush you. Watch out for its deadly limbs, but don’t miss its weak point when it digs in – self-preservation still doesn’t seem to be its strength!
  • However, the Impaler is not everything. Get ready for more terrifying enemies! The Rocket Tank rolls in with heavy armor and devastating firepower. The reinforced scout walker has protected its previously vulnerable spot and now has two rockets on each side for more firepower! The Sporesprouter fearlessly pushes through the dense, acidic fog. Accompanied by an Alpha Commander – watch out for his friends!

New swamp planet

  • Get ready to land on a creepy and foggy version of the swamp planet. Stay alert and don’t let fear overwhelm you.

New environmental hazards

  • Acid storms temporarily impair the armor of opponents and players. Use this to your advantage, but always stay alert, Helldivers.

Balancing

  • SG-8S Wrecker
    • Increased wobbling effect.
    • Increased spread.
    • Weapon pulls harder.
  • SG-225IE Fire-Breaker
    • Max magazines reduced from 6 to 4.
    • Recoil increased from 28 to 41.
  • GP-31 Grenade Pistol
    • Ammunition capacity reduced from 8 to 6.
    • Number of rounds refilled from an ammo box increased from 2 to 4.
  • CB-9 Explosive Crossbow
    • Now a one-handed weapon.
  • AX/AR-23 “Guard Dog”
    • Max magazines increased from 6 to 8.
  • Linear Orbital Barrage
    • Number of salvos increased from 3 to 5.
    • Movement speed decreased by 40%.
  • 120mm HE Orbital Barrage
    • Cooldown reduced from 240 seconds to 180 seconds.
    • Time between salvos shortened.

Gameplay

  • The operational modifier “Atmospheric Interference” has been removed.
    Additionally, we have added the modifier “Low Information” for the robots, which shows objectives on the map that unlock a search radius (just like most elimination objectives).
  • Corrosive acid planets no longer have the environmental modifier “High Heat”.
  • Cannon ship patrols are now less frequent, and the number of ships has been reduced.
    Cannon ship engines are now less robust.
  • The control for weapon preview in the armory has been improved.
  • Command user interface has been updated.
  • Energy shields like the shield generator backpack and shield generator relay now block both snowstorms and sandstorms.
  • A new griefing protection system has been added that allows players who were kicked to continue the game as their own mission. This way, players can finish the mission and receive all rewards, even though they were kicked.
    Bug Fixes

Crash fixes:

  • The crash probability when pressing Alt+Tab in exclusive fullscreen mode has been reduced. (Windows)
  • A rare crash has been fixed that could occur while browsing war bonds.
  • A rare crash has been fixed that could occur when switching equipment tabs.
  • A rare crash has been fixed that could occur when inviting PSN friends to a session. (PS5)
  • A rare crash has been fixed that could occur when selecting a booster in the equipment menu.
  • A crash has been fixed that could occur when pressing Alt+Tab while navigating the acquisition center menus. (Windows)
  • A rare crash has been fixed that could occur after joining a game in the equipment menu.
  • A crash has been fixed that could occur when ragdolling in barbed wire.
  • A crash has been fixed that could occur when joining a mission where vehicle skins of disconnected players were active.
  • A crash has been fixed that could occur if teammates with unique skins were thrown from the game or their connection was lost.

Weapon & Tactical Equipment Fixes

  • FS-55 Devastator Armor:
    • Corrected incorrect description.
  • Blitzer:
    • The fire button can now be held down to shoot continuously.
  • GP-31 Grenade Pistol, LAS-7 Dagger, SG-22 Bushwhacker:
    • Moved to the sidearms category “Special”.
  • ARC-12 Blitzer, Plasma Punisher:
    • Added missing armor penetration indicators.
  • LAS-16 Sickle:
    • Corrected incorrect value for fire limit in weapon statistics.
  • SH-20 “Ballistic Shield” Backpack:
    • Enemy line of sight is no longer blocked.
    • Does not collide with the combat walker anymore.
    • A bug has been fixed that caused ballistic shields to drop when a SSSD disk was picked up.
    • Ballistic shield no longer collides with the player while being carried.
  • AX/AR-23 “Guard Dog”:
    • Can now be refilled from ammo boxes on the map.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused weapons to be held sideways after a tactical equipment interruption with a syringe heal.
  • Bows previously did not fire bolts when the line of sight to the enemy was blocked by an obstacle. The bolts are now fired but hit the obstacle. Players previously received insufficient feedback on the dropouts. We hope it’s now clearer how the weapon behaves.
  • The dropouts of bow weapons when shooting quickly at horizontally aligned enemies have been fixed.
  • Missing haptic feedback when firing the AR-61 Tenderizer has been added.
    Bug Fixes in Social Menu
  • General improvements to social menu systems.
  • Some issues related to inconsistent options in the social menu have been fixed.
  • Issues with the block button in the squad menu have been fixed.
  • Diverse issues with the user interface in the social menu have been fixed.
  • The “Block Menu” now shows blocked players more accurately.
  • Improvements to the “Recent Players” tab.
  • The reliability of options in the social menu has been improved.
  • Issues related to friend code generation have been fixed.
  • “Please wait democratically!” now occurs less often.
  • Players should now be able to join games of others more easily.
  • Players should now be able to send/accept/reject friend requests more easily.
  • The user interface for “dangerous” actions has been improved (kicking/blocking/remove friend).

Various bug fixes:

  • A softlock has been fixed in the game where the evacuation shuttle sank into the ground and prevented evacuation.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused menu entries that were not visible by scrolling to be clickable in the settings and key mapping menus.
  • The game no longer hangs after changing the crossplay setting and exiting the menu.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused Hellpods in the swamp biome to not destroy trees.
  • Weapons supporting automatic reloading attempts were sometimes reloaded twice when the reload was interrupted in the last phase and the weapon was fired before continuing. Automatic reload attempts can now be canceled by pressing the reload button.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused delays in transitions to jogging and sprint animations when these were spammed.
  • The visual effect of the “Experimental Infusion” booster has been toned down.
  • The missing description of the “Experimental Infusion” booster has been added.
  • A bug has been fixed that reset the prone rotation of Helldivers after dodging while aiming.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the HUD setting for stamina visibility to have no effect on the stamina display.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the number of tactical equipment owned not to be updated when purchasing.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the hologram map preview to not show the evacuation point.
  • The performance of terrain destruction has been improved.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused Helldivers to get stuck in cryo chambers after a film sequence was interrupted by the host.
  • Improvements to the physics of the “Ballistic Shield” tactical equipment, as well as fixes for several physics-related bugs.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the top title in the effects tab to be incorrectly displayed in Portuguese.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused changes to resolution, render scaling or screen to occur when scrolling through the settings menu, even though no changes were applied.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused special characters in player names to not show when picking up objects.
  • A bug has been fixed that prevented players from pressing ESC to discard changes in resolution in the pop-up window.
  • The labeling of Screamer nests as bug holes when pinged has been fixed.
  • The swarm breaker drill now deals damage when dropped in missions to bomb out incubation chambers.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused weapon targeting modes (both globally and per weapon) to not be saved between closing and reopening the game.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the objective progress bar for “Over-Earth Flag Hoisting” to not be displayed.
  • The behavior of flame effects has been made more realistic.
    • The effect no longer penetrates various bodies/objects where one would expect a bounce, such as armor and static objects.
  • A bug has been fixed that allowed interactions on the mini-map during ion storms.
  • Changing the text language in the game no longer causes terminals to appear empty.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused equipping a skin in the war bond confirmation menu to reset the player’s armor selection.
  • Hellpod skins are now visible on ships. The first hellpod drop from host ships uses the host’s skin selection while subsequent reinforcements use the individual skin selection.
  • Samples are transferred to the shuttle upon boarding. If players die in the shuttle, no samples are dropped.
  • Resetting to default settings in a tab no longer overwrites settings in other tabs.
  • The mini-map now closes when exiting an exosuit (if it was open).
  • The requirement times in the equipment menu now include transport time, so they match the values in the game.
  • The hellbomb tactical equipment is now shown in the HUD when you are near a target that it can be dropped on.
  • A fix has been made to prevent some tactical equipment (SOS beacon, turrets, supply pod) from being used within the rescue capsule.
  • Graphics presets for the Steam Deck have been added.
  • Helldivers can now use syringes even at full health to gain the effects of their other democratic effects.
  • The personal command “Kill x opponents with Guard Dogs” can now be completed.
  • The most recently released war bond is now displayed at the top of the war bond list.
  • The display “[0/0]” in missions to take down enemies has been fixed.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the equipment preview to load forever.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the names of teammates not to display in their color when picking up an object.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the text chat cursor not to work.
  • A more meaningful button to toggle “Quick Play” has been implemented.
  • A bug has been fixed that sometimes caused the effects tab to not display correctly.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused mines to not be visible for players joining an ongoing game.
    • Additionally, a bug has been fixed that caused recently deployed mines to become invisible.
  • Mines no longer explode when shot from outside through the shield of a shield generator relay or when placed behind a solid obstacle and shot at.
  • Hit markers are now displayed for all weapons.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the muted icon not to display for muted players.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the sprinting of other players to be interrupted by using a syringe.
  • The syringe animation while holding a single-use anti-tank has been corrected.
  • The trophy “Only 360 seconds left!” is now awarded on difficulty levels 6 and higher instead of just difficulty level 6.
  • If a hellbomb is destroyed while armed and the timer is active, it explodes.
  • A bug has been fixed that allowed a player to throw grenades/throwing knives endlessly after jumping off a ledge while holding the last thrown weapon and then throwing it.
    o Another bug has been fixed that caused a player to hold invisible grenades/throwing knives when they still had some left after landing in the same manner.
  • The option “MICROPHONE ON/OFF” has been added to toggle microphone activity in voice chat.
  • Turrets now no longer try to attack certain buildings, and turrets with bullets no longer waste ammunition on landing ships.
  • The HUD visibility setting for the info feed now works correctly.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the tactical equipment UI to display when opening the map, even though the tactical equipment HUD visibility setting was set to “Hidden”.
  • A bug has been fixed that sometimes displayed the wrong number of destroyed bug holes on the user interface.
  • Patriot Exo suit rockets no longer deal damage to its own exo suit.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused explosions from a distance to have no effect against armored enemies.
  • A bug has been fixed that prevented text chat from being used while in the equipment menu and the rest of the team was in mission.
  • Fixes have been made for the radio operator’s voice output not playing.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused audio language changes to take a long time (sometimes forever).
  • A bug has been fixed that caused the account linking menu to automatically close when accessed via the in-game settings if the user’s account was already linked.
  • The progress of the defense event is now displayed correctly in the sequence at the end of the mission.
  • A bug has been fixed that caused text in the effects tab to sometimes not display correctly.

Known Issues

These are issues that either were introduced with this patch and the developers are currently working on or are from an earlier version and have not yet been fixed.

  • The game can display an endless loading screen if a player loses connection during the mission film sequence.
  • Players may not receive friend requests from another platform.
  • “Invitation only” games created by a friend are still visible on the Galactic War map, but cannot be joined.
  • The mission “Conduct Geo Study” may not be completed if a player requests the ground probe and immediately leaves the game or loses connection.
  • Acid Titans sometimes take no damage at the head.
  • Enemies bleeding out do not count towards personal commands and extermination missions.
  • The corpses of very large enemies can sometimes launch Helldivers into the air.
  • Most weapons shoot below the crosshair when aiming through their scope.
  • Flamethrowers activated within a shield generator relay cannot deal damage to enemies.
  • Wire fences protect against flamethrowers.
  • The tactical equipment beam can stick to an enemy, but is applied at the original position.
  • “Guard Dog” rover does not overheat during sustained fire.
  • Reinforcements are sometimes not available for players joining an ongoing game.
  • Service technicians on ships cannot be interacted with. They have complained that they were interrupted too often and could not perform their work efficiently.
  • Enemies can sometimes shoot through obstacles.

Several days after the release of the update, there will also be a new war bond called “Flame of Freedom.” The war bond will be available on August 8 and will bring a new compact flamethrower as a primary weapon as well as a pistol-shaped flamethrower. There will also be new armor that reduces fire damage: Helldivers 2 is finally bringing the armor the community has long wanted with the new war bond “Flame of Freedom”

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

Pokémon GO: The evidence for the new, big feature is already in the game – Has shaped a generation of the main games

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

Dynamax in Pokémon GO is getting closer. Now you can already see the first evidence in the game.

What is new? If you update Pokémon GO to the new version 0.325.0-A-64, you can already find the emblems for the new Dynamax feature that has already been talked about a lot due to leaks.

Once you have the new version, click into the Pokémon collection. Now go to the search and click on “Show more.” The game will now show you plenty of filters that you can apply to your collection. There are now two new ones visible – and they display the Dynamax emblem.

Currently, they are still named “?” and “???”, but the emblems clearly show what it’s about:

Dynamax in Pokémon GO
Here are the new emblems already visible

What does this mean? This is at least confirmation that the Dynamax phenomenon is indeed being introduced in Pokémon GO. And since a filter has already been activated, it can be assumed that it shouldn’t take too long.

Fans are currently speculating about the upcoming new season in Pokémon GO – which starts in September. At least, unless this is a faulty activation of the filter.

But it is also clear: Currently, it is still unclear how exactly the feature will be implemented and when it will be released. We will keep you updated as always.

Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins

What is Dynamax in Pokémon actually?

The Dynamaxing defined the Pokémon games Sword and Shield. This phenomenon transformed Pokémon into gigantic versions of themselves.

These monsters had to be defeated in raids with other trainers. They were epic battles, which could definitely become long and challenging.

However, you could also use Dynamaxing yourself. Then you transformed your own Pokémon into a giant monster that could unleash powerful attacks on the opponent for three rounds.

In addition to the “normal” Dynamaxing, there is also the special form “Gigantamax.” This not only enlarged Pokémon, but also gave them a new appearance and a special Dyna Attack. However, this was only possible with certain Pokémon, such as the gigantic Charizard from Sword & Shield, which is also visible in the title image.

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In Pokémon GO, Dynamax also seems to bring a form of new battles or raids, according to leaks. But this is still unclear. It remains to be seen whether further information will be revealed soon. By the way: In the history of the games, it was the giant, extraterrestrial Pokémon Endynalos that caused Pokémon to suddenly perform Dynamaxing. This Pokémon is also currently missing in Pokémon GO, as are some other powerful monsters.

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 launches a new channel for everyone who ‘loves bears very much’ – but also for all other fans

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The developer of Baldur’s Gate 3 wants to provide more insight into the game’s development. A new YouTube channel is supposed to help with that.

The developers of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios, are not only known for last year’s top-tier mega-RPG, which still attracts 100,000 players simultaneously, but also for their open communication with the community. Early in the development process, they engaged with players and fans, who significantly contributed to the final outcome of Baldur’s Gate 3.

This communication will be maintained in the future, and at the same time, they will provide even more insights into the development process.

Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release

What was announced? Larian Studios has launched a new YouTube channel called “Larian: Channel from Hell.” This is a nod to the former “Panel from Hell,” where they consistently shared new information with the community.

The introduction of the new channel already explains what to expect in the future:

  • Regular streams
  • Patch explanations
  • Unboxing videos
  • General information about what Larian is currently working on
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The idea behind it is that fans will get more “behind the scenes” insights and also some videos in a documentary style that show how the work at Larian actually proceeds and what projects are being worked on in what way.

Of course – as it should be – Larian’s head Swen Vincke will also make occasional appearances, as he always has interesting stories to tell. A few days ago, he revealed that he almost gave up because of publishers.

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What else is there to see? On X, Michael Douse, the Director of Publishing from Larian, mentioned that the channel will also focus on community creations – discussing and showcasing some mods for Baldur’s Gate 3:

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So, for those looking for ways to mod the RPG but don’t want to sift through countless mods, they should also keep an eye on the YouTube channel and could find some inspiration.

Anyone wanting a bit more insight into the development of titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, but also the next big game from Larian, should keep an eye on the channel. Because at least the trailer promises that there will be plenty of insights that are rarely seen in the gaming scene.

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

An athlete at the Olympic Games loves One Piece, strikes a pose like Luffy

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

At the 2024 Olympic Games, the best athletes in the world will compete in their disciplines. One participant has already shown at the last competition that he is a big fan of One Piece. Now he demonstrates in Paris that his love for the manga and anime has not faded.

What did he show? When shot putter Payton Otterdahl enters the Olympic Games, he suddenly pretends to inflate his arm. Shortly after, he takes a fighting stance and bounces up and down on the spot. 

The pose may be familiar to all One Piece fans, as the athlete mimics Luffy’s Gear 4 with the pose. The following tweet shows how well Otterdahl has captured the Straw Hat Captain:

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Especially funny: Otterdahl is a shot putter. It would help him if he could inflate his arms as strong as Luffy. In the Gear 4 form of the Boundman, the rubber man gets a muscular upper body, while the legs merely serve as makeshift support.

Did it help him? Otterdahl just missed the podium. Thanks to his newfound motivation, he threw his shot put so far that he made it to 4th place. Compared to his first Olympic appearance four years ago, this is an improvement. 

Maybe next time Otterdahl can apply Gear 5. With the powers, Luffy nullifies the laws of physics. Perhaps it helps Otterdahl throw the shot put even further to land on the podium.

You can see Luffy’s Gear 4 in the following movie:

Start video
Anime: The Movie Trailer for One Piece Stampede

Shot Putter is a Big Fan of One Piece

Where do we know the athlete from? Otterdahl already showed at the last Olympics that he is a big fan of One Piece. Back then he replicated Franky’s Super Pose, stretching his arms to the sky. He only finished 10th, so 4th place is an improvement for him (via Team USA).

He is not the only athlete expressing his love for anime. Noah Lyles has also shown multiple times that he is a fan of anime. For the 2024 Olympic Games, he prepared a Kamehameha.

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What do others say about it? Under a TikTok video, many fans write that they flipped out in front of the screen. They are excited that the anime is ubiquitous, even in sports.

Under the tweet from yonkoluffyszn, even the account from Toei Animation, which is responsible for the release in North America and other regions, applauded. The Gear 4 pose certainly made a significant impact.

Meanwhile, Luffy has become stronger and reached an even better level. His Gear 5 resembles the effects that appear in numerous comics: One Piece: Luffy has now become even stronger and resembles Tom and Jerry

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

Fans thought the game series was dead, but The Legend of Zelda receives a new installment

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

The Darksiders series is being continued after a long wait. A first trailer shows that the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are not finished yet.

Game series eventually come to an end – and with the “Darksiders” series, it was thought that it had been a long time ago. After all, the last installment, “Darksiders Genesis,” was released in 2019 and received only “mediocre” reviews, especially after the predecessor Darksiders III had not quite met fan expectations either. Nevertheless, the franchise has a loyal community that has been waiting for a continuation – and it seems that they are finally going to get one.

At the THQ Nordic Showcase, a new Darksiders project was announced with a teaser. The game still does not have a name.

Start video
Darksiders – Trailer for the unnamed game

What is shown in the teaser? Unfortunately, the teaser is still quite vague. For most of the time, you only see rocks and boulders illuminated by flames. It is only in the last seconds that you recognize the faces in the stones and hear them shout Horseman!. This refers to the so-called Charred Council, which in the Darksiders series always assigns missions to the individual Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

What is Darksiders about? Darksiders takes place in a post-apocalyptic scenario. The conflict between heaven and hell was mistakenly triggered, and demons have nearly exterminated humanity, while the celestial powers are slowly but surely being diminished by the demons. War, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, has been blamed for the outbreak of the conflict.

In each installment of the Darksiders series, you take on the role of one of the four Horsemen and try – alongside the adventures of the other Horsemen – to uncover the machinations behind the outbreak of the conflict and the plans of the demons.

In Darksiders III, you played as Fury. Her core characteristic: being angry.

What is the gameplay like? The gameplay of the series is a mix of action-packed combat, exploration of the game world, and platforming elements. Fans often describe it as “Zelda in dark” – because many of the basic mechanics are the same or similar, but the presentation is significantly more violent. After all, it involves killing nasty demons, which must, of course, be sent back to hell in a spectacular manner.

Similar to Zelda, you will find new items in a vast world that allow you to explore new areas and perform new maneuvers to reach new zones. Thick boss enemies are, of course, also a must.

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What kind of game will this be? Fans are hoping for Darksiders IV. Because in that case, the story would be from the perspective of the last Horseman, Strife. War, Death, and Fury were already playable in the previous installments. In this case, it would likely be a game modeled after the first three Darksiders titles.

However, there is also a chance that it might not be “Darksiders IV,” but a multiplayer offshoot like Darksiders Genesis. This is something that at least the comments on YouTube hope will not be the case.

It remains unclear when the game will be released. Since the game does not even have a name yet, one can assume that development has only just begun. It will probably be a few years before we can slip back into the role of one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – at least if it is a “Darksiders IV” and not another spin-off like Genesis.

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

House of the Dragon: Team Green or Team Black, who are you rooting for in the season finale?

Linda Baumgartl Linda Baumgartl Reading time 4 minutes

The last episode of the second season of House of the Dragon has been released. And the conflict between Team Green and Team Black is intensifying. Which side would you support?

What kind of survey is this? Just like in Game of Thrones, there is no clear “good” or “evil” in House of the Dragon. Every character has their dark sides, and both sides have committed cruel acts.

But true to the motto of the current season – “Everyone must make a decision” – we want to know from you: Whom would you rather see win, Team Green or Team Black?

To make your decision easier, we will summarize both teams for you. Alternatively, you can go directly to the survey here.

Attention Spoilers: There are some spoilers about the plot of House of the Dragon. However, we will not discuss the last episode.

[toc]

Start video
In the second season of ‘House of the Dragon’, the war begins with fire and blood

1. Team Black

Team Black is all about Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne. She was declared the rightful heir by her father, King Viserys. But after Viserys’s death, Aegon is crowned king instead of her.

Rhaenyra retreats to Dragonstone and tries to gather as many allies as possible to enforce her claim to the throne.

Reasons to support Team Black:

Legitimate claim: King Viserys practically declared Rhaenyra his successor; this is hard to deny (unless your name is Alicent). Many high lords subsequently swore loyalty to her.

Justice for Luce: Whatever Lucerys may have done in his past, he certainly did not deserve death. He was still a child and was traveling as a peaceful messenger when he was killed by Vhagar and Aemond.

More dragons: The more dragons, the better. Team Black currently has a total of 7 dragons on their side, plus two baby dragons. The Greens only have three overall. A clear win for Team Black!

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von Linda Baumgartl

Rhaenyra as Queen: In memory of her father, Rhaenyra always strives for justice and peace. It doesn’t take much imagination to envision her as a better queen than Aegon. And Aemond is also a rather questionable substitute, caring only for his power and not for the well-being of the people.

Jace would be a good successor: Jacerys takes after his mother, always with honor and justice in mind. At the same time, he can assert himself well and tries to tackle problems decisively. As king, he would surely do well.

Daemon: To call Daemon problematic would certainly be an understatement. Nevertheless, he is somehow lovable. His character is just interesting. On one side, aggressive, impatient, and dangerous. On the other side, a great fighter, dragon rider, and commander with deep loyalty to a few individuals, like his brother Viserys.

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The Velaryons: With the Velaryons, Rhaenyra has really secured powerful allies. Even if he might not win Father of the Year – Corlys is a pretty impressive character. And then, of course, there was Rhaenys. How could one not love her, the “queen who was never crowned”?

On the second page, it shifts to Team Green.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Bilder: Warner Bros. Discovery
Pages: 1 2

The Warframe community gathers tips for guardians looking for a new loot shooter after the fall of Destiny

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 3 minutes

The future of Destiny is currently in ruins. Some players from Warframe believe that Destiny fans might soon be looking for a new game and are already preparing some beginner tips.

What is happening with Destiny right now? At Bungie, the studio behind Destiny, things are falling apart:

In the Warframe community, some players are now expecting that Destiny fans might switch to the long-standing competitor in the future – after all, their game may not receive major updates anymore. Other loot shooters like Warframe or the new The First Descendant seem like a good alternative.

The Final Shape was probably the last major expansion for Destiny:

Start video
Destiny 2 shows the launch trailer for The Final Shape

Experienced space ninjas gather tips for guardians

What tips do experienced Warframe players give? The Warframe community has some good tips for starting the loot shooter. We list a few of the tips here:

  • Don’t rush. Warframe is a marathon, not a sprint.
    • The players explain: Don’t try to understand everything in one day. Focus on your immediate goal. You don’t have to hurry.
  • Don’t look at meta builds at first. These builds are meant for endgame, which you will only reach after hundreds of hours according to Warframe veterans.
  • You receive 50x Platinum very early in the game – for free. Platinum is the premium currency of Warframe. Experienced players advise you to spend the 50x Platinum on slots, preferably for Warframe slots.
    • If all your Warframe slots are filled, you won’t be able to add new Warframes to your lineup. Then you will have to purchase new slots with Platinum. It’s best to use your free Platinum for that.
  • Do not sell weapons that are not yet level 30. Level 30 is the maximum level and you want to reach it with all weapons to increase your mastery rank.
  • Be nice and polite and many people will gladly help you, answer questions, or even give you something.
  • Ideally, find a clan that supports newcomers. Many clans actively seek members, and having experienced players by your side will simplify the rather complex loot shooter significantly.
  • Warframes and weapons have the ability to double their mod capacity by installing an “Orokin Reactor” or an “Orokin Catalyst.” You can earn these through the Nightwave Battle Pass.

The Warframe players have written many more tips than we have translated here. If you want to read all the community’s tips in English, you can find them in this post on Reddit.

Bonus tip: MeinMMOs Destiny expert Christos has also played a lot of Warframe. I asked him for a quick tip for his guardian comrades. His answer:

First, finish the story and the galaxy map before you start farming and attempt the endgame. Also, you should get the free weapons/blueprints in the Warframe shop, max them out, and thus further increase your mastery rank.

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Many players also write: Don’t be discouraged. Of course, Warframe is different from Destiny. You won’t be able to replace the gameplay of Bungie’s shooter with it. Just give Warframe some time and maybe you will like it.

Warframe definitely has not run out of steam yet. The next major expansion for the popular loot shooter, titled “Warframe: 1999,” is set to be released in winter 2024. You can read more about it on MeinMMO: Warframe has always been considered the MMO with space ninjas, and the next DLC will take you to the 90s and looks quite different

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

The studio behind Arcane wants to adapt one of the most legendary mangas as an anime

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

After the groundbreaking first season, fans of Arcane are eagerly awaiting the continuation. The production team at Studio Fortiche is currently working hard to finish the second season. In an interview, the studio revealed which manga they would love to adapt as an anime.

Which manga would that be? Pascal Charrue is the co-founder of Fortiche and shared which manga first comes to his mind. In an interview with Crunchyroll, he stated that he would like to adapt Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue. 

The manga is a masterpiece with incredible depth and impressive artwork. It would be interesting for Charrue to translate that drawing style into animation. A manga should benefit from being adapted into an anime. However, not every studio could achieve this well enough to satisfy the readers.

Another mangaka celebrated for his style is Junji Ito. His most famous work is currently being adapted as an anime:

Start video
Uzumaki: The horror anime shows its 2nd trailer

Vagabond has been on indefinite hiatus for 9 years

What kind of manga is it? Vagabond was published by Takehiko Inoue from 1998 to 2015. With around 82 million units sold, it is one of the best-selling mangas (via Wayback Machine). For comparison: Jujutsu Kaisen, a current hit, stands at 90 million units (via Mantan Web).

On MyAnimeList, Vagabond holds the third place among the best mangas of all time. It has a rating of 9.26 out of 10 stars. Only Berserk and JoJo no Mikyou na Bouken Part 7: Steel Ball Run rank above it.

Why is the manga not being continued? The story is still incomplete, but the manga has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2015. The reason for this is the health condition of the mangaka. In several interviews, he revealed that he suffered from stress, pain, and lack of sleep (via Mangabrog). 

Inoue stated that he has been feeling better since he put his work on Vagabond on hold. He had been overthinking the ending and would only resume working on the manga once all his negative thoughts and emotions had dissipated. He even added that he sees his hiatus as the death of his artistry.

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However, Inoue is still working on a real manga. It revolves around basketball players in wheelchairs. The mangaka previously became famous with another basketball story, Slam Dunk.

What is Vagabond about? Vagabond has nothing to do with basketball; it is the fictional retelling of a famous swordsman from Japan. The story takes place in 16th-century Japan. Shinmen Takezou and his best friend Matahachi Honiden leave their hometown and join the Toyotomi army. 

They yearn for glory but narrowly escape death in the Battle of Sekihara. The two friends become separated, and Shinmen returns to his village to report on the survival of his best friend. However, in his hometown, he is suddenly treated like a serious criminal.

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For those interested in the Vagabond manga: Starting in October, Egmont Publishing will release the manga as a Special Edition. The cult hit will be available in stylish double volumes.

One Piece is also getting a new manga series. In “Shueisha Jump Remix,” the mangaka Eiichiro Oda retells the story. This time, however, from the perspective of the individual Straw Hats: New manga shows One Piece from a completely different perspective, allowing you to experience the story from the perspective of the Straw Hats

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

570 percent increase! 14-year-old MMORPG suddenly experiences a surge of players on Steam

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

For about eight years (!), no more than 100 fans played the MMORPG Allods Online at the same time on Steam. Accordingly, the recent surge of players in the fantasy world of Sarnaut is quite surprising.

What kind of increase are we talking about? Allods Online has been around since October 2010, but it wasn’t until June 2016 that it was fully integrated into Steam. Just two months later, from August 2016, there were no more than 100 adventurers simultaneously in the fantasy world of Sarnaut (via steamcharts.com).

This sad picture was delivered by the MMORPG from Allods Team despite mostly positive reviews (71 percent) for about eight years. Until a sudden surge occurred in recent days, which has been ongoing:

  • Allods Online has seen an increase of over 570 percent.
  • With 1,018 concurrent players, the MMORPG reached a new all-time high.
  • The 24-hour peak is at 1,004 concurrent players.
  • On early Tuesday morning, 968 players were active in Allods Online.

Compared to other successful Steam titles, the numbers may seem unspectacular, but in the context of the previous history of Allods Online, this increase is more than remarkable.

Allods Online does not feature in the list of the best MMORPGs of all time:

Start video
The best MMORPGs of all time for PC and console

On the Trail

Why are player numbers suddenly increasing? Finding an answer to this question is not so easy.

  • There has been no comprehensive update in recent days that would explain this sudden increase in players.
  • Apart from the usual events, no groundbreaking new occurrences are planned for August.
  • Despite the sudden increase in players, there are almost no new reviews on Steam. The negative review from August 1, 2024, links to a blog post with images and a short review of Allods Online (the gist: boring game). The two positive reviews from July 26 and August 3, 2024, come without explanatory text.

What stands out when looking at the graph of Allods Online on steamcharts.com is that since August 3, 2024, around 950 to just over 1,000 characters have been consistently online in the MMORPG, regardless of the time of day.

In a discussion on Reddit, several users are therefore convinced that this increase in players has been generated solely by bots. Thanks to the Free2Play servers, they have easy access to the game.

One reason for the suddenly increased activity of the bots could be the long-awaited Update 15.0 within the community, which is supposed to overhaul the equipment system (via allods.my.games). However, there doesn’t seem to be a release date yet.

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What do I need to know about Allods Online? The online role-playing game from Russia dazzled at launch with classic MMORPG content, gameplay, and visual similarities to World of Warcraft, as well as several nice ideas like the floating islands that can be explored using airships.

However, the launch was bumpy, as some items relevant to the gaming experience were offered at high prices in the real-money shop. Among these was an item that was essential to remove the penalty for character death. It took months for the costs to be removed.

In addition, there was a high grind factor, followed by the announcement of Allods Team’s second MMO: Skyforge was released in July 2015 for PC. MeinMMO editor-in-chief Gerd Schuhmann was present during the open beta and launch: Skyforge in Test: Is the Free2Play MMORPG worth it?

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

Pokémon GO: Spotlight Hour today brings Rotomurf and XP bonuses

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

The first Pokémon GO Spotlight Hour in August brings you a strong monster: Rotomurf!

What kind of event is that? Every Tuesday, Pokémon GO hosts the Spotlight Hour. During this hour, numerous examples of a specific Pokémon appear all over the game.

Additionally, there is always a bonus that you can take advantage of during the Spotlight Hour.

Which Pokémon? This time, on August 6, 2024, the Ground-type Pokémon Rotomurf will be in the spotlight. The mole Pokémon originally comes from the Pokémon editions “Black” and “White”.

Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins

Spotlight Hour on August 6, 2024 – Start and Bonuses

When does the Spotlight Hour start: At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The normal spawns will return at 7:00 PM.

What bonuses are there? You will receive double XP for catching Pokémon. Furthermore, the bonuses from Adventure Week are still running concurrently.

Is there a Shiny Rotomurf? Yes, you can catch it during the Spotlight Hour as well. However, the chance is not increased, so you will need some luck.

Rotomurf Shiny
Pokemon GO: Shiny Rotomurf and Stalobor

Is the Spotlight Hour worth it? Yes, because Rotomurf evolves into Stalobor. And Stalobor is among the best attackers in Pokémon GO. So you should definitely try to catch a good specimen if you don’t have one yet.

And if you already have a strong Rotomurf or even a Shadow Rotomurf, you can at least use the hour to gather candies to strengthen the Pokémon.

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With the first Spotlight Hour of the month, August is slowly picking up speed. It is the last month of the current season in Pokémon GO: In the upcoming September, the “Heavenly Teamwork” season will end, and a new season will begin. What will happen until then, you can read here: All events in Pokémon GO in August 2024.

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

The most frustrating experience for new players that I have ever experienced in an MMORPG

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

The MMORPG expert TheLazyPeon has looked at the third alpha testing phase of Corepunk and drawn a preliminary conclusion. MeinMMO summarizes the strengths and weaknesses identified by the well-known YouTuber during gameplay.

What is the current status of Corepunk? The MMORPG by Artificial Core has gone through three alpha testing phases so far and various delays and has two important milestones ahead:

  • Early access starts on November 26, 2024
  • Alpha Test 4 runs from August 6, 2024, to September 6, 2024

Anyone who wants to can support the developers by purchasing a pre-order package and thus secure access to Alpha 4, early access, as well as the release version and the content of the first season. However, before you reach for your credit card, you should continue reading!

Here you can see gameplay of the “Top-Down MMORPG” Corepunk:

Start video
Corepunk – 15 Minutes Gameplay

Tough conclusion from the lazy Peon

A few days ago, one of the most internationally recognized YouTubers for the MMORPG genre, TheLazyPeon, released a video about Corepunk (via YouTube), to draw a conclusion about the Alpha 3 testing phase. The content creator living in Thailand has 750,000 subscribers and more than 660 videos, and there seems to be no current online role-playing game that the “lazy Peon” hasn’t played.

What does TheLazyPeon say about Corepunk? Right from the start, the onboarding and player guidance seem to be two major issues in the last alpha version of the MMORPG. Testers are thrown straight into the world without any introduction. Quest givers are not recognizable as such.

The drop rates for items needed for early quests seem to be abysmally low across the board. Additionally, the sources for these resources are widely dispersed and not visible on any map. The MMORPG professional stated that it took him “hours” to collect the desired items for one of the starting quests.

Another system further hinders the gaming experience of Corepunk: Injured characters do not regenerate health points. Instead, you have to place the injured fighter at a campfire, for example, and painstakingly refresh their health. Moreover, even fighting against two enemies can quickly lead to death.

Here you can find the video from TheLazyPeon about Corepunk:

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What are TheLazyPeon’s “pros”? At the end of his videos, the YouTuber likes to reveal which strengths and weaknesses he identified during gameplay. In his opinion, these areas deserve praise:

  • TheLazyPeon likes the visual art style of the “Top-Down MMORPG”.
  • The “User Interface” looks tidy and intuitive.
  • The MOBA-esque combat system has a tactical component and rewards skill.
  • From the beginning, players are unleashed, which brings a feeling of freedom to a certain extent.

Furthermore, he praises throughout the video that the character – for a “Top-Down MMORPG” – is unusually agile. For example, he can jump and swim.

What are TheLazyPeon’s “cons”? The list of identified issues is significantly longer:

  • TheLazyPeon criticizes: “Corepunk has one of the least intuitive, most frustrating experiences for new players that I have ever experienced in an MMORPG.”
  • The basic gameplay loop is not fun enough and does not motivate continued play.
  • Collecting resources is not enjoyable, and is said to be worse than in most other MMORPGs – due to the limited number of resource sources combined with player competition and random drops.
  • The drop rate of quest items is so low that the YouTuber was repeatedly unsure whether the current quest was simply bugged. Additionally, the vague descriptions add to the confusion. Questing feels unintuitive and frustrating.
  • Health regeneration outside of combat is far too low. After each fight, one must take a longer break.
  • The voiced quest dialogues have cringe-worthy quality.
  • The world feels generic and uninteresting in the first hours. There are hardly any interaction opportunities, and many areas of the game world feel copied.
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What conclusion does TheLazyPeon draw? The YouTuber is certain: Corepunk actually needs a complete overhaul of the onboarding experience and the core gameplay loop. The greatest strengths of the MMORPG – the visual design and the tactical combat system – are not enough to compensate for the many weaknesses. The game feels outdated and simply isn’t fun.

Keep in mind that the YouTuber played an alpha version of the MMORPG. While only minor tweaks may be made before the early access launch in November, there could still be significant improvements by the final launch – for which there is currently no date.

By the way, TheLazyPeon also has a specific improvement suggestion: The developers of Corepunk should play RuneScape for two weeks. Because there, one can find all the solutions to the current issues of the new “Top-Down MMORPG.” And it still captivates a fine community: Expert plays MMORPG for a special item, breaks record, and only needs 1,758 hours

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

“Leave the poor woman alone” – Twitch streamer buys a mini and gets criticized for it

Sarah Sarah Reading time 2 minutes

Twitch streamer Fibii recently fulfilled a long-held wish: she leased a Mini. However, instead of joy and recognition, she is facing significant criticism on social media. Her colleague Zarbex is now standing up for her.

Who is Fibii? Fibii, whose real name is Fibi Pfeiffer, has quickly become one of the most well-known female streamers on Twitch. She started her career at just 16 years old and, at 18, is now a prominent figure in the scene. She has over 800,000 followers and is among the top 10 most watched female streamers worldwide.

What kind of car is it? Recently, Fibii fulfilled a long-held wish and leased a Mini. She herself states that the era of her electric car is over and that she is very excited about her new car. She streamed the pickup of her new vehicle live on Twitch and uploaded a montage of it on YouTube.

Her fans on Twitch and YouTube are predominantly responding positively to the video, with many congratulating her on her new car and her success. However, on TikTok, she is unexpectedly facing a lot of criticism.

Start video
Whether on Madeira or at the mixing console – These are 5 of the biggest German Twitch streamers

Big discussion over a small car

What is she being criticized for? Some users cannot understand how she can afford a new car at such a young age. They question whether it is appropriate for someone her age to already have such financial means.

Others find it hard to understand why she only bought a Mini and did not opt for a more expensive car. These differing opinions lead to heated discussions and a full-blown shitstorm against Fibii.

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What does Zarbex say about the car? Zarbex, who is currently experiencing a real hype, is aware of this situation and commented on it in one of his streams. He praises Fibii’s choice and emphasizes that she has chosen a down-to-earth car, even though she could have afforded a more expensive one.

“Her dream was a Mini, so she got a Mini. […] It’s a nice little car, a little cuddle ball,” he says in his stream.

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“She is being torn apart on TikTok”

How does Zarbex react to the criticism? Still, Zarbex also perceives the hate that Fibii has to endure for her new car. “Fibii, the poor girl, brother. She is being torn apart on TikTok,” he says and appeals to his viewers: “Brother, just leave the poor woman alone.”

He criticizes the growing envy on social media and emphasizes that others should enjoy each other’s success. “Instead of saying: ‘Hey brother, here’s an 18/19-year-old who bought her car and is happy about it’ – no, there’s just hate,” he adds.

https://www.tiktok.com/@clipfeverde/video/7398239077927013665?is_from_webapp=1&web_id=7303524894736844320

A clear statement to the community

What words does Zarbex give to Fibii? Zarbex explains that he feels sorry for Fibii in this situation and that he finds her new car very stylish. He hopes that Fibii does not let the hate get her down.

In conclusion, he makes a clear statement to his viewers: “Someone who is so envious in life and spends their whole life hating on the internet will never be happy in life.”

Fibii’s choice of car is actually something special in the streaming scene, as expensive luxury cars have become a status symbol. Those who have “made it” get a Lamborghini to make sure everyone knows: “The car bought him, not he the car” – EliasN97 explains the rules for his 300,000-Euro Lamborghini.

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

Developer of Baldur’s Gate reveals: ‘There used to be an award for that, now it’s the end of your career’

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Nowadays, the end of a career is what would have once been a reason for extravagant parties – this was revealed by the developer behind Baldur’s Gate.

Gaming has drastically changed over the past few decades. From a small hobby for nerds, it has now become a huge industry. What was once celebrated as a groundbreaking success just a few years ago is now just a drop in the bucket and could be considered a flop. This was revealed by one of the creators of the original Baldur’s Gate.

More insights into the development of the latest Baldur’s Gate 3 can be found here:

Start video
We spoke with the winners of the DCP 2024 and gained insights into the development of Baldur’s Gate 3

What was said? Brian Fargo is one of the developers behind classics such as the original Baldur’s Gate or Fallout. Amused, he compares the gaming market of 25 years ago with today’s market. He displays a series of images on X and writes:

Back then, you received an award if you sold 50,000 or 100,000 units [of a game], today it’s the end of your career.

He also shows pictures of the awards that he and his team received at that time. They received the “Platinum Award” for selling over 150,000 copies of Baldur’s Gate.

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If a game achieved such sales figures today, it would likely be considered a flop. Imagine Baldur’s Gate 3 had only sold 150,000 units – it has been sold 100 times more so far, with over 15,000,000 copies sold.

Why has this changed so drastically? The situations that Fargo refers to are a long way in the past. Roughly 25 years ago, at the release of Baldur’s Gate (1), gaming was still a niche subject mainly for teenagers and “computer nerds” – today it is a mass market and an industry larger than film and music combined.

With this larger target audience come greater expectations. At the same time, production costs have risen dramatically. Because increasingly realistic graphics, voice acting, and ever more complex gameplay systems simply require many more employees to implement.

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Production costs have risen drastically while prices for a full-price title have remained relatively constant. Therefore, to be considered a success for a large company or an AAA production, many more copies must be sold to be profitable.

Games from smaller developers or “indie titles” can usually survive on fewer sales and are considered successful by the creators much earlier – however, in most cases, it only involves a fraction of the costs that an AAA studio would incur with a publisher. That it can also go really well without a publisher, is shown by the head of Baldur’s Gate 3, who almost threw in the towel.

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

The Dragon Seeds Explained: Season 2, Episode 7 of House of the Dragon

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

In a new video, Marco from Nerdkultur analyzes the sixth episode of Season 2 of House of the Dragon. This time it revolves around the dragon seeds, among other things.

Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been discussing news, analyses, critiques, and interviews about current films, series, or games on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur .

In addition, he meets weekly with his colleague Yves Arievich and chats in the Podcast Nerd & Kultur about pop culture topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. 

Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.

In his new video, Marco analyzes the 7th episode of House of the Dragon and explains, who the dragon seeds are:

Start video
Nerd culture: House of the Dragon analysis: Season 2 Episode 7

Who are the dragon seeds?

Dragon seeds are the bastards of the Targaryens. Marco explains in his video that in the past, dragon seeds were envied – for their silver hair, but also because their mothers were well compensated.

However, Jaehaerys I abolished this. Interestingly, he himself has a bastard. Rhaenyra is searching for the dragon seeds. Many come forward because power could be in sight. Power that is otherwise promised to the nobility.

The focus of the camera is on Hugh Hammer, Marco explains. He symbolizes a chosen one. He presents himself as Vermithor. In doing so, he realizes the power he has. The power that he inherited from his grandfather Jaehaerys I. A theory about Hugh’s mother can be found with our colleagues at Filmstarts: “House Of The Dragon” Season 2: Do dragon riders have to be Targaryens? And who is Hugh’s mother?

Marco shows that the bastards not only resemble their noble relatives externally. Hugh and Ulf resemble Viserys. Rhaenyra wants to use the bastards to create an army. She approaches the dragon seeds not as a superior, but on an equal footing. Quite perfidious, considering that she is partially responsible for their suffering.

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What happens next with Daemon? Daemon is always shown in nightmarish scenarios, Marco explains. The weather and the surroundings symbolize this. It seems that his nightmare is over, but Daemon finds himself in unusual moral distress.

Here we see the influence of Alan Taylor, who worked on the legendary series The Sopranos. Betrayal, loyalty, and consequences are portrayed through Daemon, like in a mafia series. His behavior is explained in his visions.

Viserys appears again in his visions, this time probably for the last time. This time he poses another question to him, and typically for Daemon, there is still no answer for the viewers. Those who missed Marco’s last analysis should check this out: The Dragon Riders Explained: Season 2, Episode 6 of House of the Dragon

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

“Disgusting and Dangerous” – Developer Warns on Twitch of an EU Initiative to Save Video Games

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

An EU initiative wants to save video games. That actually sounds good, but former Blizzard employee and “developer type” from Twitch Jason T. Hall aka “PirateSoftware” sees a great danger in it.

What kind of initiative is this? The initiative “Stop Destroying Videogames” by YouTuber Scott Ross aka “Accursed Farms” as part of his project “Stop Killing Games”, abbreviated as SKG, aims to prevent publishers from “destroying” video games.

Games are to remain playable even when the publisher stops supporting them and shuts down the servers. On August 1, 2024, a petition that 1 million EU citizens must sign was launched for it to be discussed as a possible draft law.

You can support the initiative through the official EU website for citizen initiatives. The whole thing was sparked by the shutdown of the racing MMO The Crew by Ubisoft.

The initiative generally receives a lot of support from influencers in the gaming scene, as it is viewed as consumer-friendly. However, a well-known Twitch streamer is now sharply criticizing the plan.

On April 1, 2024, Ubisoft shut down the servers of the racing MMO The Crew and reminded gamers that they own nothing.

Start video
The Crew: The trailer for the racing game MMO

Who is supposed to do all this?

Who is the developer? Jason Thor Hall is a former Blizzard employee and cyber security expert who is now working as an indie developer and streams on Twitch under the name PirateSoftware. His expertise, his illustrative explanations, and his understanding of the all-powerful algorithm made his channels grow at an incredible speed.

In a Twitch stream on August 2, the developer addressed the initiative – and made it clear that he is anything but thrilled. Hall primarily criticizes the “vague” language of the initiative. In his view, this could potentially encompass all multiplayer games under any resulting law.

What is the criticism? The developer considers this unjustified for live service games, as you are not paying to own the game, but to experience the service of being able to play the game.

Although SKG specifies that publishers do not have to provide servers or resources, such a law would require them to find another way to keep their game playable. For example, by allowing private servers or converting the game into a single-player title.

Hall asks who is supposed to do this work. After all, games are usually discontinued because they are no longer profitable – not only by publishers but also by developers. The developer fears that indie studios would face penalties if they could not afford to convert their games into single-player titles.

Initiative could do more harm than good

Hall sees particularly critically a point that Ross counted as a plus for the initiative in his video: The YouTuber said that politicians neither have much knowledge of video games nor much interest in the topic. Therefore, politicians could occupy themselves with a topic they consider unimportant, thus avoiding unpleasant and more difficult issues.

However, the developer sees this as dangerous: Yes, politicians may not understand, they might not even understand loot boxes. This could lead to government overregulation. With such an initiative, you would be giving a government a weapon to march through the gaming industry and indiscriminately attack things, Hall states.

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Is there a response? In fact, Ross has contacted the developer and offered him a conversation. Hall’s reaction suggested some misunderstandings that the YouTuber would like to clarify. For example, “real service games” like World of Warcraft would be exempt from any resulting law.

Ross acknowledges that he and Hall likely have fundamentally different views on whether it is a problem when games are made permanently unplayable.

However, Hall declined a clarifying conversation, referring to Ross’s assumption that he could push through a law by offering politicians an “easy victory”. The developer finds this reasoning “disgusting”. He has no respect for that.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Twitch 1
  2. Twitch 2
  3. Twitch 3

Diablo 4: Season 5 starts today – All information in 2 minutes

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 2 minutes

Today marks the start of Season 5 in Diablo 4. Here on MeinMMO you will learn everything about the start time, the preload, and the best classes in the “Season of the Infernal Hordes.”

When does Season 5 start? Season 5 starts today, August 6th. It kicks off at 7:00 PM, and this time there will be a preload. According to Blizzard, Patch 1.5.0 will be available for download approximately one hour before the season starts – around 6:00 PM.

How large is the patch? The size of the patch is not yet known. We suspect it could be around 5 GB, but possibly less overall than for Season 4. In that case, there were simply many more changes that significantly reshaped Diablo 4.

You can find the complete patch notes here in German:

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New Features in Season 5

What’s new in Season 5? The theme of the new season is “Infernal Hordes.” This also refers to the new endgame activity of the same name, where you will fight against waves of monsters. In addition, there are smaller versions that represent the season mechanics: In the “Hellbreach Dungeons,” you farm XP, reputation, and loot.

There is a new quest line on the eternal and seasonal realm and a reputation system where you can earn materials, loot, and finally a “Magnificent Spark” again. The bosses are being revised, so that summoning is easier and you no longer have to reset the dungeons. The “Beast in the Ice” is no longer located in a nightmare dungeon and Varshan only requires a body part. World bosses are more resilient.

Additionally, the developers are overhauling the items in Diablo 4:

Start video
Diablo 4: Developers offer insight into the Season of the Infernal Hordes

The Best Classes in Season 5

Which class is currently top tier? The developers have also adjusted the class balance. In their livestream on August 1st, the developers explained that the Barbarian is “too strong compared to other classes.” However, they do not want to simply nerf him but rather strengthen other classes. The team has received much feedback, especially regarding the Sorceresses.

Blizzard has made several changes to the skills, aspects, and items of the five classes in Season 5, resulting in various strong builds. Currently, any class can compete at the top with a strong build. Sorceresses and Hunters are currently represented in S-tier with most builds. It will be interesting to see how this develops in the coming weeks after the season starts. Our tier list will be regularly updated: Diablo 4 Season 5 Tier List: The Best Builds for All Classes in Endgame

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

Helldivers 2: Who is Joel? – This is what lies behind the man who determines the fate of the Over-Earth

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

In Helldivers 2, one name stands out above all others: Joel. The community repeatedly speaks of the godlike mystery. But who is this Joel, anyway?

If you play Helldivers 2 or follow the community discussions, you must have encountered the name “Joel”. He is said to hold the fate of the galaxy in his hands and determine the destiny of the Über-Earth.

The name Joel often comes up alongside terms like “almighty” or “God”. If you don’t know who this mysterious Joel is and what he’s all about, you will find the answers here.

Helldivers 2: Joel – The True God of the Über-Earth

Who is Joel? Joel’s full name is Joel Hakalax, and he is a Swedish employee of the development studio Arrowhead Games.

In Helldivers 2, Joel works as a so-called Game Master (short GM). These are employees who design in-game events, help with problems, punish misconduct, or mediate disputes. Joel is one of them.

Start video
Helldivers 2: Be careful, because this is how you make yourself really unpopular on Over-Earth

Helldivers 2: The Tasks of Joel

What exactly does Joel do? Joel operates in Helldivers 2 similarly to a Dungeon Master in DnD and has the ability to exert control over the player experience.

For this purpose, the studio has made forecasts about how the campaign surrounding the galactic war could develop and integrated systems into the game that allow Joel to influence events.

The CEO of Arrowhead, Johan Pilstedt, explained: The tasks of the Game Master primarily consist of deciding which daily commands are active and where the enemies attack.

What could Joel’s influence look like in practice? In the Helldivers 2 community, there is a theory that the robots might have set their sights on the planet Cyberstan because it was the home planet of the cyborgs in Helldivers 1. Players suspect that the cyborgs are the creators of the robots.

After the players completely eliminated the front line of the robots, a much larger army of automatons attacked Cyberstan. We still do not know if there is a connection between the robots and the cyborgs, but this attack certainly fueled the theory. This could have been a deliberate decision by Joel to give the players something to ponder.

In the meantime, Helldivers 2 has also released a video that shows Joel at work. However, the video is meant to be humorous and gives the Game Master special abilities. More about this can be found on MeinMMO: Helldivers 2 shows the almighty Joel for the first time in a video, and he actually has superhuman powers

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

Helldivers 2: Player kicks friendly helper and screams at him for hugging the wrong person

David U. David U. Reading time 2 minutes

Helldivers 2 players help newcomers with difficult missions using their experience and are kicked and shouted at for it.

Who is the friendly helper? The Reddit user “deathsnipez” is an experienced Helldivers player, with a level of 103. In a post on the social network, he writes that he enjoys diving into adventures with random teammates and helping newcomers get to know the game during missions.

But as the experienced Helldivers player reports, this time he helped the wrong person, as he was rewarded with shouting and a kick.

Feel free to check out the trailer for the new war bond “Flame of Freedom”.

Start video
Helldivers 2 shows in the new war bond ‘Flame of Freedom’ fiery democracy

What led to the shouting? The experienced “Helldivers 2” player saw that a squad of three fairly new players with levels 32, 21, and 3 was on a mission of difficulty 7. He joined them and helped. He noticed that the two higher-level players were distancing themselves from the player with the lowest level and that this player was struggling to defeat the enemies. So, “deathsnipez” rushed to assist the level-3 player.

Normally, the experienced helper does not use voice chats, he writes in the post on Reddit, but the squad’s newbie was so panicked that he explained some things in voice chat. In the end, the team successfully completed the mission, and everything went well, so they went on another mission together. There, the same thing happened again: the two higher-level players separated from the newbie, and the Reddit user rushed to help.

After completing the second mission, the Reddit user used the shooter’s hug emote and hugged his three teammates. Then he was suddenly shouted at by the level-32 player and subsequently kicked from the squad.

Why was he shouted at and kicked? The shouting player accused the Reddit user of making advances towards his girlfriend – the level-3 player – claiming he followed her all over the map and only helped her and not the team.

Then came the kick.

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What does the community say about the incident? Players want to give him the hug he deserves and support him. Some even recognize the friendly player from their own shared missions and thank him for his help:

  • “OMG I finally found you! This Helldiver was incredible! I played a few weeks ago and had the best time, and you made sure me and my friends had a lot to laugh about. Thanks for helping us!!!” (via reddit)
  • “That sounds like a boyfriend who realizes that you’ve treated his girlfriend better than he does and has to stop the good example before she notices.” (via reddit)
  • “That sounds like he is 13. It’s best not to invest too much energy into it, see it as immature behavior of a child in video games.” (via reddit)

Overall, many players positively acknowledge the Helldiver for helping new and inexperienced players – this is not a given in the community of the co-op shooter. Some squads even kick new players from the lobby instead of explaining the game to them. However, this behavior has been sharply criticized by other players: “If you kick low-level players, you are just bad” – Helldivers 2 community criticizes player behavior

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

Xbox delays Avowed – 2024 still has these potential highlights for role-playing game fans

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 5 minutes

The people in charge of Team Xbox are postponing the role-playing game Avowed to February 2025. Nevertheless, all RPG fans can look forward to various other potential highlights in this gaming year 2024.

Wait, Avowed is not coming out in 2024 after all? Exactly! The new role-playing game from Obsidian Entertainment (Pillars of Eternity, Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds) has a new release date and is set to be released on February 18, 2025. The reason given by the Xbox team via X is:

“So many games are being released! That’s why we are moving Avowed to February 18, 2025, to give all gamers’ backlogs a breather.”

The good news: Even though we are already in August, the gaming year still has several other potential highlights in store for all role-playing game fans. Below, MeinMMO presents the most promising RPGs of the coming months that already have a fixed release date.

[toc]

The remaining schedule for MMORPGs in 2024

As MeinMMO regularly keeps you updated on upcoming online role-playing games, you will find below a “just” brief overview of the key dates for MMORPG fans in the remaining year 2024:

Additionally, both Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen and Corepunk are set to enter their respective early access phases in 2024, and final launches for Blue Protocol and Brighter Shores are planned (without specific dates yet).

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Upcoming RPG highlights for 2024

Away from the MMORPGs, towards action RPGs and more classic role-playing games. The MeinMMO editorial team has cast a particularly interested eye on the following role-playing games.

Black Myth: Wukong

  • Action role-playing game with Souls elements
  • Developer: Game Science
  • Publisher: Game Science
  • Release date: August 20, 2024
  • Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5 (the version for Xbox Series has been postponed, with no date yet)

When it comes to graphics and presentation, Black Myth: Wukong is going to be a treat:

Start video
New trailer for Black Myth: Wukong shows spectacular gameplay and great graphics

Black Myth: Wukong is based on the Chinese novella “Journey to the West” and you will take on the role of the famous Monkey King. He uses different staff techniques as well as spells, transformations, and magical vessels in combat.

When it comes to the fast combat system, the detailed game world, the creative enemy design, the dense atmosphere, and sheer scope, Black Myth: Wukong follows in the footsteps of From Software’s Elden Ring. 

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Visions of Mana

  • Action role-playing game
  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release date: August 29, 2024
  • Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox Series, and PlayStation 4 and 5

In the first trailers, Visions of Mana looks like a worthy successor to the Mana series:

Start video
Visions of Mana zeigt Gameplay im Trailer

With Visions of Mana, you can expect the first new installment of the venerable Mana series in more than 15 years. The footsteps of Mystic Quest and Secret of Mana are big but have also become quite worn over time.

However, the developers want to return to the roots and present you with a colorful, semi-open world where exploration is important, and you engage in action-packed battles. If you’re interested, you can already try out the quite extensive demo version.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3

Developers of Helldivers 2 are surprised because you chose children instead of weapons

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of Helldivers 2 thought you would let kids die to get new mines, but you “surprised and delighted” them.

What’s the deal with the kids? In June 2024, a new general order presented the players of Helldivers 2 with a nasty choice: They could either secure resources for the production of anti-tank mines or save sick children. They could not save both.

The players chose to save the sick children. Subsequently, the developers of the shooter donated money to the charity “Save the Children” – in response to the heroic decision of the community.

However, some players are now unsure whether saving the children was the right choice, because with the update on August 6 a new tank will reinforce the robots in combat.

Here you can see the trailer for the new update – including the new enemy tank:

Start video
Announcement for Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom shows extreme battles

Developers thought you would save the mines instead of the children

What do the developers say? The developers of Helldivers 2 talked about saving the children in a new community update.

The team was reportedly surprised by the players’ decision:

In truth, we probably thought the players would choose the mines. We are aware of the joke that not choosing the mines has caused (e.g., “it’s fun to keep missing them”), but this seemed like an easy win to grant the community the missing stratagem. Instead, this was one of those truly incredible moments in which the community surprised and delighted us.

Arrowhead via Steam

Subsequently, the developers thanked the players for the donations they sent to “Save the Children” and made it clear how much they appreciate the community of the loot shooter: “You are truly amazing, Helldivers.”

Even though the players chose the children over the mines in June, they might still receive the useful equipment now – whether they want it or not: Helldivers 2 now threatens you with equipment that you continually reject if you do not kill 1.5 billion opponents in time

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