A former beet farmer from Estonia is now working on The Witcher 4, impressed by his hobby

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Developer studios occasionally hire modders from the community to assist in the development of new games. A then 20-year-old beet farmer was particularly fortunate, as he impressed CD Projekt Red so much that he is now allowed to work on The Witcher 4.

How did he accomplish that? The beet farmer named Eero Varendi (via Moby Games), originally from Estonia, worked on his mods in the evenings. He uploaded his works in videos on YouTube. It was there that CD Projekt Red discovered the young man’s work and took notice of him:

There was a video on YouTube about a guy who reshaped the prologue of Witcher 1 into Witcher 3 without any modding toolset at all. I saw the video and thought to myself, “Damn, that’s such high-quality work”.

Pawel Sasko, CD Projekt Red, in a podcast with Flow Gaming

He asked another employee, who also began his career as a modder, if he knew the YouTuber. When the employee answered affirmatively, CD Projekt Red invited him over. The beet farmer submitted his resume and passed the hiring test, which focused on design, with flying colors.

The man from Estonia, who at the time was living in Australia, was hired by CD Projekt Red and brought from Australia to Poland. Pawel Sasko, Associate Game Director for Cyberpunk 2, praised his colleague and stated that he is now a Senior Quest Designer at The Witcher 4. The game begins a new saga and consists of more than one part.

CD Projekt Red even included an Easter egg from The Witcher in Cyberpunk 2077:

Start video
Cyberpunk 2077: How to find the Witcher Easter Egg

Modders are not uncommon at CD Projekt Red

How many modders work at CD Projekt Red? As Sasko revealed, half of the development team responsible for designing the quests in Cyberpunk 2 consists of former modders. Of the total 24 people, around 12 would thus be former modders.

Not all of the modders have previously worked on The Witcher and Cyberpunk. The Lead Quest Designer Błażej Augustynek started as a modder for StarCraft.

To gain a foothold in the gaming industry, Sasko advises young players to start modding. There are so many toolkits like the in-house REDkit modding tool. Some of the best employees that CD Projekt Red currently has are former modders.

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How far along is The Witcher 4? In the same interview, Sasko reveals that the fourth installment of the Witcher series is set to begin production in 2024. Currently, 400 employees are working on the game. At the end of 2023, there were still around 300 employees working on The Witcher 4.

The title is intended to be further along than Cyberpunk 2, for which the production phase is still a distant prospect. Thus, estimating a release date for both games is difficult, as it will take several years before they are released.

It is no longer uncommon for modders to be hired for the development of a new game. The team from Starfield also hired a modder who was allowed to place trash in the game: Developer makes such good mods for Skyrim that Bethesda hires her, placed trash in Starfield

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 introduces Patch 7, brings many features that practically force you to return

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The next patch for Baldur’s Gate 3 will be significant – bringing many reasons to dive back into the RPG.

Soon, Baldur’s Gate 3 will celebrate its first birthday after the release, yet new patches continue to appear, introducing new content and meaningful, improved features. The developers have now presented the new features of the major “Patch 7”, which is particularly interesting for fans of split-screen action, but there are also new elements for the Honour Mode.

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

What are the highlights? The key points of Patch 7 are:

  • If you play in split-screen and your characters are close to each other, the two screen halves will now be “connected”, creating a complete picture. Once you separate, the image splits again. This option can be disabled.
  • Many creatures in Honour Mode now have new, legendary actions, such as Malus Thorm or Dror Ragzlin, who can now command the spiders.
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 is also releasing the Modding Toolkit, giving mod developers new and improved ways to modify the game.
  • There are now many longer, evil endings. These were previously very short and often consisted only of a small scene lasting just a few seconds. There are many different variants, whether for the “Dark Desire”, the origin characters, or your own hero.

What else is in the patch? Aside from the highlights, there are many smaller new features and improvements that change mainly details. For example, the kiss animations of many companions have been improved.

However, the interactions between the companions have also been revised. Now, origin characters can talk to each other during the adventure, controlled by two different players – this was not possible before.

When will the patch be released? There isn’t a specific release date for the patch yet. However, the “Closed Beta” for the patch will begin on July 22, so one can assume that it will be a few weeks until the release.

More about Baldur’s Gate 3:
Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
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Baldur’s Gate 3: Recruiting Minthara – How to Get the Powerful Companion
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Is this it? Actually, Baldur’s Gate 3 wanted to gradually phase out patches and be “finished” – but it doesn’t look like that yet. The announcement also reveals that “Patch 7 is not the final update for Baldur’s Gate 3”. There are still features to come, such as crossplay, bug fixes, and some performance improvements.

Even though the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 was almost a year ago, the developers are still working on putting the game into its best possible state. A large part of the studio has already dedicated itself to the next big project – and it will not be another Baldur’s Gate.

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

Amazon gives away 17 games for Prime Day – But to get the best ones, you have to be quick

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 4 minutes

On Amazon’s Prime Day, you can secure a number of free games for PC. We show you which ones they are and how to get them.

What is Prime Day? Every year, Amazon has Prime Day, where numerous products are available at discounted prices. Prime Day lasts from July 16 to 17, 2024.

Gaming enthusiasts have special reason to rejoice, as several games are available for free. The only requirement is that you are a Prime member. Then you can choose one or more games on the corresponding page on Amazon.

Depending on the title, they will be added to your Amazon Games library, GOG, or the Epic Games Store. You need to link your accounts with Amazon for this.

Some of the following games are actually only available for free for the limited duration of Prime Day. Others will remain available longer, and we will point this out accordingly.

[toc]

Start video
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Official Coop Gameplay

All Free Games

Which titles are available for free? For gaming fans of different genres, Prime Day offers free games:

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

A fairly recent game is already being given away. Suicide Squad was released on January 30, 2024. It is a service game set in the antihero universe of DC. In the city of Metropolis, you fight against various enemies and meet different characters from the comic source material.

You can play the game alone or in cooperative mode with up to three friends. The game was not a success for the publisher Warner Bros. , which is probably one reason why it is already being given away. This offer is valid only for the duration of Prime Day.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

This is the second part of the reboot series of Tomb Raider. The game was developed by Crystal Dynamics, just like its predecessors. You play once again as Lara Croft. The adventure takes you to Siberia, where you are to find the famous city of Kitezh.

You control Lara as usual from a third-person perspective, with gameplay consisting of a mix of exploration, combat, and puzzles. This offer is also valid only for the duration of Prime Day.

Chivalry 2

The sequel to the first part released in 2012 takes you back to the world of the Middle Ages. In the second part, you engage in large battles with 64 players using various weapons such as swords, axes, or bows to fight for victory.

You play from a first-person perspective, providing a good sense of immersion. In addition to your weapons, cavalry and siege weapons are also available. The game was developed by Torn Banner Studios and was released in 2021. The Prime Day offer, like the previously mentioned titles, is valid for only 48 hours.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II

Here, we also have a sequel to a very popular game. While the first part was developed by Bioware, “The Sith Lords” was created by Obsidian, who are also responsible for very good role-playing games such as Fallout New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity.

In Knights of the Old Republic II, you have the choice to play a good or evil character. You can be a hero with impeccable morals – or a nasty villain. The story takes place five years after the predecessor’s story. Nevertheless, you don’t need to know the predecessor, as the storyline works on its own.

You can get this game for free starting now until August 14, 2024.

Call of Juarez and Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

There aren’t many western games, apart from gems like Red Dead Redemption or Desperados. The Call of Juarez series sends you into dusty western landscapes in first-person shooters. Both available games have two protagonists to choose from, each offering different weapons and thus play styles.

You have the freedom to either act offensively or sneakily attack with a bow. The offer is valid until July 24, 2024, for Call of Juarez. Bound in Blood is available for free until August 6.

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More Free Games

What other games are available? In addition to the highlights listed above, there are several other titles that you can secure:

  • Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX: The remake of a 2D platformer released by SEGA in 1986. Free until September 11, 2024.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge: A side-scroller beat ’em up old school, designed as a tribute to early Turtles games from the 90s. Free until August 14, 2024.
  • Samurai Bringer: A rogue-lite where you fight large groups of samurai and demons. Free until October 9.
  • Wall World: A rogue-lite where you explore mines and use tower-defense elements against attacking enemies. You can secure the game for free until October 1, 2024.
  • Forager: Inspired by games like Stardew Valley or Zelda, you explore an open world along with dungeons and craft diligently. The game is available for free until September 25, 2024.
  • Card Shark: In this card game RPG, you work your way up to the highest ranks of 18th-century French society. This offer is valid until September 25, 2024.
  • Soulstice: In this game, you play as two sisters who have been reborn in a single body. A dark world awaits to be saved. You can get the game until September 25, 2024.
  • Heaven Dust 2: This is a zombie survival game that is meant to evoke classics like Resident Evil. It is a mix of exploration, action, and puzzles. The game is free until September 25, 2024.
  • Deceive Inc.: A game with a spy setting that mixes the hero shooter genre with the extraction shooter aspect. You can also interact with NPCs and hide among them. Deceive Inc. is free until August 21, 2024.
  • The Invisible Hand: Money lovers can amass a fortune in this game as a stockbroker. Any tactic is allowed, but be careful not to get caught in illegal dealings. Available for free until September 18, 2024.
  • Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart – CE: A puzzle-adventure where you search for a missing heart. Get the game for free until July 24, 2024.

These were all the games that are available for free starting today as part of Prime Day and partially beyond. Is there anything that interests you? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you are on the lookout for bargains during Prime Day, keep a watchful eye out for scams – we have some tips for you on MeinMMO.

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

Pokémon GO launches Hyper Bonus today with new Pokémon and big bonuses

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, the first Hyperbonus is coming up. It brings the debut of Zwieps, Famieps, and several bonuses.

When does the Hyperbonus start? The first part of the Hyperbonus under the motto “Together we are strong” starts on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM.

It runs until Monday, July 22, 2024, at 8:00 PM.

What is the highlight? That is likely the new Pokémon debuting tomorrow: Zwieps. We will introduce it to you here.

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

Zwieps in Pokémon GO – Find, catch, evolve

Pokemon GO Zwieps
Pokemon GO brings Zwieps (Image source: Pokémon GO Live)

What is Zwieps? It is a small Normal-type Pokémon. It consists of two little mice that are always traveling together. Zwieps first appeared in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

The evolution Famieps: Zwieps evolution is called Famieps and consists of four mouse specimens – two small and two large. In Pokémon GO, the evolution will cost 50 candies.

Famieps’ specialty: It has a Famieps evolution that consists of only three mice. It was extremely rare in Scarlet and Violet. It remains to be seen how this will be implemented in Pokémon GO.

Additionally, it had a very strong attack in Scarlet and Violet: “Mouse Family” can hit up to ten times and can inflict a lot of damage. How strong it will be in Pokémon GO is yet to be seen.

How do I catch Famieps? In Pokémon GO, you can encounter Famieps in three ways starting tomorrow.

  • You can get it as a reward from Team Play tasks with some luck. So you’ll need to play together.
  • It will appear during the first Hyperbonus in Field Research.
  • It will appear in a limited research of the Hyperbonus event.

Bonuses in the Pokémon GO Hyperbonus

What are the bonuses? In this first part of the Hyperbonus, there are three bonuses that are worthwhile.

  • You get quadruple XP when catching. This is probably the most interesting bonus if you are still on the way to Level 50. When using a Lucky Egg, you even get eight times the XP. It’s worth it.
  • You receive double candies when catching.
  • Additionally, friendship levels increase faster while trading, battling in raids and gyms, battling each other, and opening gifts. The friendship level can also help in leveling up the trainer.
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What Pokémon will the Hyperbonus bring?

We summarize the different spawns for you here. Possible Shinys are marked with an asterisk *.

In the wild:

  • Vulpix*
  • Alolan Vulpix*
  • Diglett*
  • Alolan Diglett*
  • Meowth*
  • Alolan Meowth*
  • Galarian Meowth*
  • Owie*
  • Felin*
  • Paldean Felin*
  • Zigzagoon*
  • Galarian Zigzagoon*
  • Wadribie*
  • Bithora*
  • Alolan Kokowei* (rare)
  • Magneton (rare)
  • Klikk* (rare)

Stage-1 Raids:

  • Hisui-Fukano*
  • Alolan Sleima*
  • Icognito B*
  • Icognito T*

Stage-3 Raids:

  • Hisui-Tornupto*
  • Hisui-Admurai*
  • Hisui-Silvarro*

Field Research:

  • Flegmon*
  • Galar-Flegmon*
  • Voltobal*
  • Hisui-Voltobal*
  • Smogon*
  • Wadribie*
  • Flampion*
  • Galar-Flampion*
  • Gelatini*
  • Kapuno*
  • Zwieps

Throughout the month, there will be further Hyperbonus segments that will bring you different bonuses. However, these are not yet fully known – but Shiny Togedamaru and a Raid Day with Mega-Lucario have been hinted at. This should be especially exciting, as it will make one of the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO even better.

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

Elden Ring: Radahn – How to find and defeat the final boss in the DLC

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 5 minutes

The final boss of the DLC from Elden Ring is a tough nut to crack. In our guide, we show you how to tackle the fight.

Update, July 17, 2024: We have reviewed the article, and it is up to date.

Who is the final boss of the DLC? The final enemy of Shadow of the Erdtree is a familiar face: Radahn, whom players already know from the main game. However, this time he seems younger and even more agile. You will face Radahn in his prime.

In the second phase, he is supported by none other than Miquella. We will explain how to keep the two in check and successfully complete the DLC below. First, though, here are the key points at a glance:

  • Boss type: God
  • Optional: No
  • Health: 46,134 HP
  • Weaknesses: Bleeding, Scarlet Rot, Stabbing, Frost
  • Strengths: Holy damage
  • NPC summons: Yes. Thiollier and Ansbach can be called for help.
  • Spirit ashes: Yes
  • Online multiplayer: Yes
  • Rewards: 500,000 runes, Echo of a God and a Prince

With the help of the table of contents, you can jump directly to a desired point in the article.

[toc]

Start video
Start the Igon Quest in Elden Ring, defeat Bayle and become a dragon – Here’s how to do it

Finding Radahn

Where is the final boss located? The final boss is located in the area of Enir-Ilim. This, in turn, is located northwest of Castle Belurat and becomes accessible only after you have burned the Scadutree after the fight against Romina. This is only possible if you have defeated Messmer beforehand.

Radahn awaits you at the end of Enir-Ilim. Rest at the Site of Grace “Front Steps to the Divine Portal” before the entrance to the arena and prepare yourself.

Defeating Radahn

Radahn is an opponent with strong armor and two large swords, which he intends to use to smash you. To be well-prepared for his powerful attacks, gather as many Scadutree shards as possible beforehand. They make your attacks stronger and increase your defense. On MeinMMO, you will find a guide on this.

If you want to make phase 2 of the fight easier, also acquire Miquella’s Great Rune. You will obtain it after defeating the Avatar of the Scadutree in the Shadowkeep. With it, you can remove a deadly status effect.

Calling NPCs and Summoning Spirit Ashes

You can summon two NPCs for help in this fight after you have correctly completed the Thiollier quest and the Ansbach quest. You can also summon your spirit ashes, particularly strong ones are the Mimic ashes or Tiche. You can also get help in the form of real players if needed.

Radahn’s Weaknesses

What are Radahn’s weaknesses? The final boss is particularly sensitive to bleeding damage and Scarlet Rot. Therefore, use weapons that fall into either category. We have a particularly strong bleed build for you on MeinMMO. Frost is also effective against Radahn.

Holy damage is unfortunately misplaced here, as Radahn is immune to it. He himself uses holy attacks.

With strong attacks that can be achieved with a strength build, it is also possible to break the opponent’s posture and land a critical hit. You can also parry Radahn, although it takes three successful parries before you can execute a critical attack.

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The fight against Radahn consists of two phases. We will examine the attacks and explain how you can respond:

Phase 1: Attacks and Tactics

In the first phase, the boss calls himself “Radahn, Promised Husband”.

  • If Radahn stands far away, he flies towards you while rotating and extends his two swords at you. When he lands, there is an explosion. Roll out of the landing zone before Radahn reaches you.
  • In close combat, Radahn swings his sword and creates flames that cause bleeding damage. Roll backward three times to avoid the range of the sword and flames. Alternatively, roll into the first sword attack and then behind him to dodge the flame. Watch out: After the flame explosion, further attacks follow, so be prepared.
  • If you are far away, Radahn can pull you towards him using gravity magic. During this time, you are immobile. When he is in front of your nose, he strikes the ground and creates sharp rocks that protrude from the ground. However, you can dodge this attack: When Radahn folds his hands, roll quickly back to avoid being pulled. If that happens, try to roll out of the attack radius of the sharp rocks as quickly as possible.
  • At close to medium range, Radahn strikes at you three times. Roll either left or right, three times as well.
  • Radahn can also execute a combo of four sword swings. He ends it once again with rocks coming from the ground. You can evade the sword swings by rolling, then wait about half a second and roll again to avoid the rocks.
  • Radahn can quickly cover a certain distance by performing a somersault and landing directly on you. Dodge to the side by rolling, but be cautious: Radahn can repeat this attack immediately, so do not attack right away.

Phase 2: Attacks and Tactics

In phase 2 of the fight, the boss receives a new name: “Radahn, Miquella’s Husband”. In addition to the attacks from phase 1, he also has some new attacks up his sleeve and now uses holy attacks. This phase starts once you have brought Radahn’s health bar down to about 70%.

  • The sword attacks from phase 1 now also cause holy damage with each swing. So be careful when dodging, roll to the side or forward, but not backward, so that you don’t acquire any of that.
  • Radahn floats in the air and creates eight electrically charged meteor projectiles that hunt you. Run left or right just before they would hit you.
  • Radahn raises his sword high and creates four doppelgangers made of light. They rush at you and attack before Radahn follows with a light explosion. Roll here left or right to avoid Radahn’s and the clones’ attacks, and then once forward.
  • If Radahn is far away, he can also raise his sword and create a holy energy field that fills the entire arena. Just roll underneath it.
  • Radahn can grab at you. First, he glows golden, then jumps towards you and tries to grab you. Radahn then holds you towards Miquella, who enchants you. You will not take damage from this. However, if you are grabbed a second time, you will die immediately. You can prevent this by rolling away just before Radahn lands. If he grabs you anyway, use Miquella’s Great Rune to dispel the deadly spell.
  • If Radahn has about 20-30% of his health left, he will fly high into the air and crash back into the arena near you after a brief moment. The explosion it creates is very dangerous and can kill you instantly. It is best to run to the opposite side from where Radahn took off and try to roll away from the explosion at the right moment. Timing may take a few attempts, listen for a scream, and then roll.

If you need additional tips on how to obtain the helpful Scadutree fragments, the following video from MeinMMO might help:

Start video
Elden Ring DLC: Collecting Scadubaum Fragments – Here’s Why They’re Important and How to Get Them

More Tips

What else is there to consider? Many of Radahn’s attacks are physical in nature. A good armor is important not to bite the dust immediately. At the same time, you should at least have a medium roll. So make sure that your load does not exceed 69.9%, otherwise, you will be overloaded and roll slowly. An even better option is a quick roll (load under 30%).

To be prepared against holy attacks, it may be worth bringing the talisman “Golden Braid” (high resistance to holy damage) and the item “Holy-Safe Dried Liver” (-15% holy damage).

There are also builds that are particularly strong against Radahn. For example, one that uses the new perfume bottles, which is currently used by many players against the final boss.

If you play with summons, it can be helpful to draw Radahn’s attention on you, especially at the beginning. This way, your helpers can deal a lot of damage and ideally also survive into phase 2.

Once the boss is down, you will be rewarded with 500,000 runes and the “Echo of a God and a Prince”.

If you keep these tips in mind, the fight against the final boss of the DLC should be easier. Have you developed your own tactics against him? How do you find Radahn as the conclusion of Shadow of the Erdtree? Feel free to let us know in the comments. For more guides on Elden Ring, check out our overview on MeinMMO.

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

In the past, many LoL were broadcast in Germany, today there is only one – We talk to Twitch streamer Tolkin and the LEC head

jacquelinek jacquelinek Reading time 5 minutes

Twitch streamer Tolkin is currently the only German-speaking content creator allowed to co-stream the LEC of League of Legends and has replaced many before him. In an interview with him and LEC head Artem Bykov, we talk about their collaboration.

The German Twitch streamer Tolkin is primarily known for his content on League of Legends. When he’s not casting, he’s actively playing with his team NNO and was able to fulfill his dream of competing against the best player in the world.

At the beginning of the year, his channel was announced as the only German-speaking feed for the LEC. This replaced his former employer Freaks4You and the Summoner’s Inn.

In an interview with the streamer and LEC head Artem Bykov, we discuss their collaboration with Riot.

Start video
LoL – Hall of Legends: Faker Trailer

Tolkin was a Perfect Match

In our conversation with Artem Bykov, we asked him why they decided to allow content creators to co-stream the LEC and wanted to understand his reasons. Artem emphasizes that it is primarily about providing the best possible experience for the viewers. He particularly highlights three reasons:

We see co-streaming as a way to attract new fans to the LEC by reaching people who might see the LEC for the first time through the influencers they already follow. Additionally, we want to work more closely with influencers who cover the LEC. LEC teams also have the opportunity to co-stream the LEC, and we want to give them the chance to tell their own story.

We further asked Artem Bykov how the decision came about to choose Tolkin as the only German-speaking feed. He reveals that this was a natural decision for Riot, as Tolkin has been a solid part of the community for a long time:

Tolkin has long been a respected member of our community and enjoys an excellent reputation. He creates exceptional content that we like to see and shows a great passion for the game. Therefore, he was a natural candidate for this program. When we presented our idea to him, we quickly realized that our values and visions for co-streaming perfectly align. It was simply a Perfect Match.

Viewers have higher expectations than before

Tolkin’s viewer numbers have significantly increased since his time as a co-streamer. His average viewers over the last six months have risen by over 45% compared to the previous six months (via Sullygnome).

We speak with Tolkin about what has changed for him since then and whether he has noticed a difference in his viewers, and especially, whether he feels that viewers now have different expectations of him. He can clearly affirm this, even though he sees it as a compliment:

Yes, of course. At the end of the day, you want to ensure that it’s something special for everyone involved. That’s not always easy, and it’s also a significant challenge in terms of volume, as the LEC has three splits and a big final. It should still feel special. Sometimes it can also add a bit of pressure, especially when people ask, “Is there a guest today?” The viewers demand more today than before. That’s a compliment because they are interested in what you’re doing, but it can also create pressure, especially on days when you might not be feeling your best and would prefer to cast from home.

We also discuss with the streamer whether more has changed for him besides the growing community. He honestly reveals that co-streaming can sometimes bring a slight disadvantage, especially noticeable in tournaments:

I play a lot of League of Legends myself, which is good in one way because it can relieve the pressure of having to achieve a really high Elo. On the other hand, it also hurts a bit. We recently had a tournament with NNO, and it showed that when I don’t play much, I’m not that good. But it has also given me new ambition. It goes a bit against my ego when I don’t perform as well as I could. Otherwise, I can stream a lot of LoL without needing to play it myself, which is cool, but it also makes that ambition feel like a disadvantage.

The feeling of not doing enough sometimes

During our conversation with Tolkin, we asked him if there was anything he didn’t expect before supporting the LEC with his co-streams. He tells us that on one hand, he feels honored that viewers have such a strong interest in him and the streams, but sometimes he feels like he’s not doing enough:

Earlier it was like: You turn on the stream and everyone is happy, no matter what comes. Now it’s like people constantly ask: “When is this? When is that?” On one hand, it’s an honor because it shows interest, but on the other hand, it sometimes gives me the feeling that I’m not doing enough at that moment. That’s not what people say, but it sometimes comes across that way, and I didn’t expect that before.

However, when we talk with Artem about Tolkin as a co-streamer, he cannot confirm this. In our conversation, he repeatedly highlights how impressed he is with Tolkin’s commitment, as he constantly takes care of organizing new guests. They did not anticipate this level of involvement:

One of my highlights of this season is how many guests Tolkin has integrated into his co-streams. When we started this program, we knew that guests were of course an option. But Tolkin has regularly invited guests, whether they are other influencers, professional players, or community members. Seeing how often he gives people from the community a voice has been the big highlight for me.

The LEC depends on personalities in the scene

In the further course of our conversation, we asked Tolkin how he influences e-sports in League of Legends through his co-streams. He believes that it is primarily the personalities of the casters and players that bind viewers to the LEC and that interaction with the audience is important:

I feel that much of the LEC depends on the personalities, which have diminished over the years – some players and casters are gone. We have also experienced a development in the German scene where many have left. That viewers can connect with someone who has a passion for it or with whom they can identify is great. That’s why I think co-streams are generally so successful, even outside of League. I think it’s fantastic to offer people an interactive product because you can read the chat while doing it and respond to the viewers, rather than delivering a TV product where you can’t interact with the chat at all.

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In the future, there could be more co-streamers in Germany

Finally, we talk with both about the future of the LEC and the co-streams. We ask if they consider it realistic that there could be another co-streamer in Germany besides Tolkin. Tolkin makes it clear that he would be very happy about this and only sees benefits in having more co-streamers in Germany:

I think more co-streamers could be really cool. People could then choose where they want to watch the e-sports product with which commentary, and the streamers could also work together more. Sometimes I had trouble getting guests because I was the only one and they couldn’t stream themselves. I see no downside to having more co-streamers.

Artem Bykov also does not rule out the possibility of more co-streamers in Germany in the future. However, he emphasizes that they are not under pressure to increase the number of co-streamers and that the right opportunity must arise:

Co-streaming is a success for us. It is an evolving program, and we plan to expand it in the future. We are not under pressure to increase the number of co-streamers year by year. Maybe we will find a market or region where we feel that our fans are underserved. If there is then a suitable creator who is loved and respected by the community, and we see a good match, that could be an option.

For Germany, but also for all other languages, the rule is: all contracts are non-exclusive. So we can decide at any time whether we want more co-streamers for a country or not. If we feel that a great opportunity arises to showcase a new face, that’s definitely an option.

Tolkin has already been allowed to co-stream other e-sports events before his co-streams of the LEC. One of the biggest matches last year pushed him to his limits. Which match it was and why it made Tolkin tremble, you can read here: LoL: The biggest game of 2023 brings the German caster to Twitch over the limit – “I’m trembling all the time”

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

New format on YouTube captivates millions, even the creator of 7 vs. Wild is excited

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

David “DAVE” Henrichs has launched a new format on Joyn and YouTube, in which five YouTubers must get from Morocco to Cologne as quickly as possible without money and a smartphone. The previous episodes of “The Race” are perfect for bridging the waiting time for Season 4 of 7 vs. Wild.

What do I need to know about The Race? The race through Europe is about five creators getting from Morocco to Cologne as quickly as possible without money and a smartphone. The format producers have succeeded in luring some fresh participants in front of the camera who have not already been seen in countless other YouTube formats.

Here are the participants:

  • David “DAVE” Henrichs
  • Laurens from the channel Life of Laurens (videos about outdoor, sports, and adventure)
  • Brian from the channel Das Leben des Brian (videos about Brian’s daily life and projects)
  • Daniel from the channel Daniel Ngl (videos about traveling)
  • Jovan from the channel Jovan Uljarevic (videos about stunts)

The rules of The Race:

  • As soon as a participant reaches the finish line in Cologne, the game is over and the winner is determined.
  • All participants have the same equipment and are on their own. Mutual support or teamwork is prohibited. Help from authorities, family, and friends is also not allowed.
  • The equipment may not be sold, lent, or exchanged.
  • They may accept help and money from strangers but must not make promises that they can only fulfill after the race (e.g., money will be returned later via PayPal). They also cannot exploit their own fame.
  • On the first day, participants were allowed to open an envelope at 4:30 PM to receive a surprise (which we obviously won’t spoil here).
  • The GPS tracker must be active at all times. All important interactions must be traceable.
  • Riding without a ticket is allowed. Anyone caught once will receive a travel ban of twelve hours. Anyone caught a second time will be disqualified from the race.
  • If someone gets seriously injured, they can call for help with an emergency phone. This means disqualification from the race. Each participant must send an OK message with their phone twice a day.
  • Commercial flights are prohibited; private flights are allowed. Only one national border may be crossed per hitchhiker.

Not participating in “The Race”, but one of the most important German YouTubers:

Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute

What makes The Race so entertaining? Scrounging money for the FlixBus? Or working instead? Trying luck by hitchhiking? Riding without a ticket? While the five participants have the same goal in mind, the path to that goal is as varied as the characters themselves.

The same goes for how the participants endure the nights. From sleepless hours under the open sky to restful sleep phases in hotel rooms, everything is included. And since the weather can be quite unpleasant, “The Race” sometimes feels delightfully like a “5 vs. Wild”.

That this mix captivates is evident from the viewer numbers so far. On DAVE’s channel alone, the first three episodes have between 2.1 and 1.2 million viewers. Episode 4 is close to a million. The latest episode has reached 736,616 viewers after two days. In addition, there are viewers from other channels and platforms.

Where can I watch The Race? The format was launched on June 16, 2024, on Joyn.de, where you can already watch ten episodes for free. On June 30, the release followed on DAVE’s YouTube channel, where Episode 5 went live last Sunday. More episodes will follow every Wednesday and Sunday.

Of course, there are also reaction videos for the episodes of the format on various other channels, such as Fritz Meinecke – Live, the creator of 7 vs. Wild, who enthusiastically comments on each episode, or on Lattensepp, the reaction channel of Papaplatte.

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Who is behind The Race? In 2014, content creator David “DAVE” Henrichs, whom you may know from the first season of 7 vs. Wild, had the idea for a format like “The Race”. At that time, however, nobody was watching the videos of the YouTube enthusiast.

This has changed significantly in the past ten years. The main channel DAVE has 1.18 million subscribers, and the secondary channel MEHR DAVE has 191,000 subscribers. There are also projects like The Studio. In 2021, for example, revenues of 381,710 euros were generated with expenses of 304,792 euros.

The previous episodes of “The Race” are perfect for bridging the waiting time for Season 4 of 7 vs. Wild. We summarize all the information about the new season in this overview article: 7 vs. Wild Season 4: Participants, Start, and Location – All Information About the New Season

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

Diablo 4: How much gold do I need to farm in WoW to get Vessel of Hatred “for free” – And is it worth it?

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

Those who play World of Warcraft extensively can earn Battle.net credits through diligent farming and smart trading. With that, you can buy any games and expansions from Blizzard, such as the new expansion for Diablo 4. However, you will need a lot of gold.

How do I get Vessel of Hatred “for free”?

  • In World of Warcraft, there have been WoW tokens for many years, a quasi-legal trade with gold for real money.
  • If you buy such a token from another player through the auction house, you can exchange it for game time or for Battle.net balance.
  • On October 8, Vessel of Hatred, the first expansion for Diablo 4, will be released. If you play both games actively anyway, you can buy the addon for WoW gold. However, this is only worthwhile to a limited extent.

Here you can find all the information about Vessel of Hatred. In the video, you can see the intro for the new expansion:

Start video
Trailer for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred provides insight into the story of the expansion

This is how much gold you need: If you buy the token from Blizzard, it always costs 20 euros and you can offer it for gold in the auction house. A buyer in WoW can then exchange the token back for 13 euros of credit.

However, the price of a WoW token in gold fluctuates, as it is determined by supply and demand. At the moment (July 16 at 4:00 PM), a WoW token costs 394,531 gold. Experience shows that the price fluctuates significantly even during the week and is highest on Wednesdays and on weekends. On Tuesdays, you often have the best chances of getting tokens cheaply.

In the last month, the price fluctuated between 380,000 and 415,000 gold (via wowauction.us). Therefore, we estimate the average price to be 402,500 gold. This results in the following costs:

  • For the standard edition of Vessel of Hatred, you need 4 full tokens (39.99 €), which corresponds to 1,610,000 gold.*
  • For the deluxe edition, you need 5 full tokens (59.99 €), which corresponds to 2,012,500 gold.
  • For the ultimate edition, you need 7 full tokens (89.99 €), which corresponds to 2,817,500 gold.

*Alternatively, you can cash in only 3 tokens and pay an additional euro. Then you will only pay 1,207,500 gold.

Although you cannot get Vessel of Hatred for free, since you still need a WoW subscription, you do save real money. If you’re still unsure about which edition you want to buy, you can find the details of the deluxe and ultimate editions here.

If you do not own Diablo 4 at all, you can also find a “expansion package” in the shop, which includes Diablo 4 + Vessel of Hatred. This costs 69.99 €, which corresponds to 6 tokens or 2,415,000 gold.

2 million gold for Vessel of Hatred – Almost impossible without trading

The amount of gold you need for the expansion is considerable, and Dragonflight has few options for really efficient gold farming. Common guides usually promise between 15,000 to 30,000 gold, and in rare cases even 50,000 gold per hour.

Some exceptional talents with a lot of luck report over 3 million gold in 10 hours, which sounds a bit implausible. But even here you are likely better off simply going to work. In most jobs, you will earn more money in the same time than you need to simply buy Vessel of Hatred.

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However, if you have a good hand for the auction house and specialize in trading or rare items like mounts, pets, and transmog, you can probably accumulate the gold quite easily on the side. In this case, you might consider investing the gold in Diablo 4.

If you are considering buying WoW tokens, you should hurry. The price is likely to rise in the coming weeks, as not only is Vessel of Hatred being released, but also the next WoW expansion The War Within. New releases traditionally drive up the price of WoW tokens. Here you can find all the information about the new WoW addon: WoW: The War Within – All Important Information about Beta, Release, Hero Talents, War Clans, and Earthen Dwarves

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

I don’t care about Amazon Prime Day because I’m an elite gamer who only imports special goods

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 4 minutes

While you are on the hunt for bargains on Prime Day, only selected products make it into the home of MeinMMO editor Dariusz – and they are rarely available on Amazon.

It is Prime Day and that means for many gamers: time to shop. A ton of gaming equipment is on sale. I went through my collection to see if any of my prized possessions are on offer and can be recommended to you.

However, I have come to the realization that I did not buy my basic equipment on Amazon – it is not available there. The same goes for retailers like Media Markt, Expert, or Saturn.

Everything I need for playing shooters is imported – after all, that’s my main genre. I don’t use mice that I think are not suitable for that purpose. From the MeinMMO editorial team, it echoed directly: I am an elitist gamer, a snob, because I am not satisfied with standard products.

I can’t stand Razer, Logitech, and Co.

There are several reasons why I no longer buy standard gaming brands. On the one hand, I have simply had too many technical problems with many products from various manufacturers, especially Razer, Logitech, and SteelSeries. To name a few examples:

  • several Razer Raiju Ultimates with stick drifts
  • a Logitech G Pro Wireless with double-clicking and terrible software
  • a SteelSeries Arctis Pro, where the plastic of the earcup mount broke without outside interference.

On the other hand, I want hardware that fits my needs. I mostly play shooters and want products that are tailored to that. Many mice, for example, are designed as all-rounders. They are meant to appeal to as many gamers as possible with as many different games as possible.

But I don’t buy soccer shoes when I play volleyball. I am interested in mice that are ideal for shooters. And I apply the same principle to mousepads and keyboards.

Light mice and special mousepads

This is, of course, a very subjective feeling, but I find light mice to be the best for shooters. About a year ago, I got a Lamzu Atlantis Mini. It is light (49 g) and nicely small – ideal for my hands.

If I were to buy a new mouse, only lighter mice would be of interest. I am currently looking at the WLMOUSE X Mini or the Ninjutso Sora V2. However, since I am still satisfied with the Lamzu for now, nothing will be replaced. By the time that happens, there will certainly already be successors to my favorites.

Neither the Lamzu Atlantis Mini nor the Beast X Mini or the Sora V2 are available on Amazon or at German electronics retailers.

Start video
The Gaming Mouse Lamzu Atlantis Mini in Trailer

Additionally, I play on an X-raypad Aqua Control 2. On the mousepad from the USA, the mice move at a pleasant speed. It is a bit faster than typical control pads like the QCK from SteelSeries, but also not as fast as, for example, the Artisan Hien or glass mousepads.

The speed of the mouse on the Aqua Control 2 and the stopping effect of the mousepad are ideal for tactical shooters like Valorant, CS2, or Rainbow Six: Siege, as the first shot is crucial – unlike in fast movement shooters like CoD, XDefiant, or Apex Legends.

The Aqua Control 2 is indeed available on Amazon, but only in certain sizes with selected designs. If you buy it from the manufacturer and import it from the USA, like I do, you have more sizes to choose from and can even select your own design.

Lamzu Atlantis Mini product photo

There is only one keyboard I would buy

While there are various mice that I find interesting for shooter players, there is only one keyboard that I would really consider buying: the Wooting 60/ 80 HE (60% or 80% keyboard).

Wooting is a Dutch company that has developed a special concept for their keyboards. With the accompanying software, you can make various adjustments, such as how many millimeters a key should be pressed down before it registers or how many millimeters it needs to move back up after registering before it can be triggered again.

Through this concept, you can set your keys to trigger faster than with standard switches – even faster than quick switches like the Cherry Speed Silver.

Wooting has further explained the principle of their switches in a video on their YouTube channel:

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Meanwhile, besides Wooting, there are other manufacturers that use a similar principle in their keyboards. However, I have mostly read really good things about the quality of Wooting and would, as soon as I buy a new keyboard, choose a Wooting. They, of course, are also not available on Amazon.

Are there no good products for shooter players on Amazon?

Amazon has a large selection, and in the end, you need to find products that appeal to you. My colleagues at MeinMMO are right, in a way, I am a gaming snob. That does not mean, however, that you won’t find products there that satisfy you.

I have also bought gaming equipment on Amazon – but rarely for shooters. For example, I use my Xbox controller on the Nintendo Switch via a stick that I got from Amazon. But I use it to play Pokémon, Zelda, or Mario Kart and not Call of Duty.

One of my most important shooter gadgets can actually be purchased on Amazon: my headphones. They are IEM (In-Ear Monitors) for under 30 euros, which I still use after over a year when I play Valorant and Co. – and they are currently even on sale: Audio expert designs headphones for under 30 € and I have never heard steps in a shooter so well

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

Dragon Ball: Early sketches show the 6th member of the Ginyu Force that never made it into the anime

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Silly poses paired with superhuman strength – this is the best way to describe the Ginyu Force, Frieza’s elite unit. It consists of five members who are clearly different from each other in appearance. However, the creator of Dragon Ball had drawn a sixth member, who unfortunately did not make it into the anime.

Who would have become the sixth member? The mangaka of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, created a character for the video game Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, who could have been part of the Ginyu Force. Her name is Bonyu, and aesthetically, she would fit well into the group.

She has red skin, white hair, and has a bit more on her hips than the other members of the Ginyu Force. She would have been the only woman in the group if she had stayed in it. Toriyama drew her appearance between 2018 and 2019:

Dragon Ball Ginyu Force Bonyu
Akira Toriyama’s sketch of Bonyu, via 3D Juegos

Bonyu was indeed the first member of the Ginyu Force hired by Captain Ginyu. However, she decided to leave the group. The reason for this was the silly poses that the Ginyu Force strikes during their appearances.

Bonyu could not cope with the strange behavior. Therefore, she asked to leave the group. Instead, she became a soldier who remained loyal to Frieza.

Since she did not appear in the manga, she is not an official part of the story. However, it is easy to imagine that she did not want to participate in the silly posing and instead joined Frieza’s army.

In the latest Dragon Ball Super movie, the Namekian Piccolo takes center stage, alongside Son Goku’s son Son Gohan:

Start video
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – The Official Trailer for the Movie

The Ginyu Force is Frieza’s elite squad

Who is the Ginyu Force? The Ginyu Force is part of Frieza’s army and is tasked with conquering planets. It consists of the following five elite soldiers:

  • Guldo
  • Recoom
  • Jees
  • Baara
  • Ginyu

The group first appears during the Frieza Saga. They are summoned by Frieza to Planet Namek to eliminate Vegeta. They are also tasked with obtaining the Namekian Dragon Balls.

During the Majin Boo Saga, the elite unit can be seen in the afterlife, watching the fight between Kid Boo and Son Goku. Unfortunately, the group has no other notable appearances in the anime.

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Frieza relies heavily on his elite unit and only assigns them the most important tasks. They are a significant support for the Emperor who wants to subjugate the universe.

By the way, Frieza could also have been a bit bulkier. Early sketches of the villain show him in a form that has never been seen in any Dragon Ball medium: A form of Frieza never made it into the Dragon Ball anime because it was so strange

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

Once Human: Weight plays an important role – Here’s how to increase it

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 2 minutes

In Once Human, weight plays an important role. It has a significant impact on your character and provides certain advantages and disadvantages. How you gain weight in the survival game is discussed here.

What advantages and disadvantages does weight bring? In Once Human, there are three weight categories. You can see the categories and your current weight when you hover over the character next to your status bar in the inventory. Each category provides certain bonuses to your character but also comes with disadvantages:

  • <65 kg:
    • Base load (carrying capacity) 80 kg
    • Melee attack speed +15 %
    • Damage -10 %
    • Max. Stamina +25
  • 65-85 kg:
    • Base load (carrying capacity) 90 kg
    • Torso damage reduction +10 %
    • Stamina recovery speed +20 %
  • >85 kg
    • Base load (carrying capacity) 100 kg
    • Melee attack speed -10 %
    • Damage +15 %
    • Roll speed -20 %
    • Weapon stability +15

Depending on your playstyle, you should weigh which weight category suits you best and aligns with your playstyle. However, you can also change your weight retroactively.

Start video
Once Human lässt Spieler zurück in eine verrückte Welt

3 Ways to Gain Weight in Once Human

How do I increase my weight in Once Human? If you want to increase your weight in the survival game, for example, to achieve a higher carrying capacity, there are various ways. The fastest method is using the “Ground Mirror,” which you can craft in your base. Additionally, you gain weight by consuming certain foods – and when you use specific companions in the base.

This is how you increase your weight:

  • At the Ground Mirror, you have the option to fully modify your character. To gain weight, simply increase your fitness in the body category. However, this adjustment is not free: you pay a Cocoon Token for the change. If you run out of tokens, you can acquire them in the shop.
  • By eating certain dishes, you increase your weight. Dishes with the “Muscle Growth” trait are well-suited for this. You can get the recipe for “Fish & Chips” in the “Red Sands” area (level 43) at the “Gap Anchor Evergreen 1.”
  • If you have deployed the “Extra-dimensional Cat” in your base, it ensures that you sleep well. You receive the effect “Cat Nap” – indicating that rest breaks are important for recovery and muscle growth. Therefore, the cuddly companion could also cause weight gain.
once human fish and chips
With “Fish & Chips,” you gain weight in Once Human.

And how do I lose weight? If you want to reduce your weight (again), you can also use the character editor via your Ground Mirror. Alternatively, there is a “Fat Burner Juice,” the recipe for which you can find in the “Greywater Camp.”

In Once Human, you should generally keep an eye on your status values, as hunger and thirst can also incur disadvantages, such as reduced movement speed or lower carrying capacity. Conversely, you receive bonuses when you are full and well-hydrated. Here you will find more tips and tricks you should know for survival.

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

Destiny 2: Servers down for patch 8.0.0.7 – All patch notes and information

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

A new week begins in Destiny 2 and that also means a new patch. Bungie is taking its servers offline for update 8.0.0.7 and refreshing its loot shooter a bit. What you should know about the downtime can be found here.

Update, 7:10 PM: The update is now available for download and is 333.9 MB on the PS5. After downloading, you can log back in. We have added the patch notes for you. Have a nice evening!

What you need to know today: Today marks the start of Act 2 of Episode: Echos in Destiny 2. With it, new weapons, as well as the Solstice event and additional content for the season are set to be released. But before the new content is added, you will have to endure a downtime along with an additional download of the update. How long this will last and what you should pay attention to will be covered in the following section.

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

Maintenance on 07/16 – All times for server downtime

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

This is what the maintenance schedule looks like:

  • At 3:00 PM, background maintenance begins on all platforms.
  • At around 3:45 PM, the servers will go offline. Players will be automatically kicked from the game.
  • At 7:00 PM, the shooter is expected to be back online and you can log back in.
  • Maintenance will continue in the background until 9:00 PM.
This is to be considered during downtimes: As long as background maintenance is running, there may be connection issues in the game. Additionally, login queues may occasionally form because Bungie gradually opens access to the servers to avoid problems caused by excessive server load. Therefore, you may have to wait longer before you are back in the game.

Also, please note that third-party applications as well as the official companion app may also be inaccessible for a while, so you cannot use them.

What changes with the new update in Echos: Act 2

The following issues are known: There are numerous issues that players are experiencing in The Final Shape. Bungie is aware of some of them, but it is not known which ones will be fixed (via bungie.net). However, the following bugs could be addressed:

  • For PC players with 3D audio enabled, the audio output in the game does not work.
  • When class-specific exotic glaives are crafted, the error code “Weasel” appears.
  • When playing on PlayStation with 3D audio enabled, the audio output does not work.
  • The slam attack with consecration no longer shatters Stasis crystals.
  • Heatwave is not activated when gliding or mid-jump.
  • The diamond lance no longer shatters Stasis crystals.
  • The wish bearer title has been removed from players who previously obtained it.
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Patch notes for the update on 07/16 in Destiny 2

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

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

Here you can find the patch notes for update 8.0.0.7 (EN)

These are currently all the information about today’s update. If there are unforeseen changes, we will, of course, keep you updated. So feel free to check back. Until then, we recommend this article about Destiny 2 on MeinMMO: “It served as inspiration” – Developers of The First Descendant respond to plagiarism accusations

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

The campaign in WoW: The War Within is brief – This is intentional

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 4 minutes

Beta testers complain about few quests in World of Warcraft: The War Within. We asked Blizzard what that means – and received an answer.

The beta of The War Within is accessible to many people because you can buy into the test of the latest WoW expansion. Leveling through the new areas has repeatedly raised one point of criticism: there are few quests. We confronted Blizzard with this accusation and received a response about what this is all about.

Start video
WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within

We had the opportunity to talk to Blizzard and during an interview, we asked some pressing questions regarding the upcoming addon “The War Within”.

Maria Hamilton, Lead Game Designer of World of Warcraft, answered our questions.

We asked: The areas in The War Within seem to have fewer quests than usual and some players are not happy about that. Why did you decide to reduce the quests?

Maria Hamilton explained:

The campaign is shorter than it has been in the past. But the amount of quests is quite comparable, in terms of local stories. So it could be that players have not found these stories or that they were not available during the beta.

We made the campaign a bit shorter this time because we know that there are some players who do not enjoy the story aspects as much and do not want to play that much. That’s totally fine.

What we have done with part of the campaign is what we deem necessary for you to understand the basics of what is happening. And then we shifted our other stories about the places and characters into our local stories. They are not marked with a campaign sign but are regular quests.

That was a conscious decision. We want people to understand what they need to understand, but then they can level in a way that they enjoy.

We do not want to force anyone to play a long campaign if they don’t enjoy it at all.

Previously, in World of Warcraft, it was often the case that the campaign had to be completed to unlock important features. Often this had to be done with every character. In The War Within, this is not the case. If you have completed a quest line once, it is considered “done by your war team”.

Additionally, parts of the quests were not playable at all. A large part of the quest line that actually leads to the new expansion was not available. Instead, the journey begins after the end of a catastrophic incident – and how that unfolds, we will find out in a few days.

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What does that mean? In plain language, that means that The War Within has about the same amount of quests as was the case with Dragonflight or other expansions. Only the main campaign is a little shorter. So if you only follow the main missions, you will complete the areas relatively quickly. The “mandatory part” is therefore significantly shorter.

However, in other expansions there have always been many camps spread over the areas that do not lead to any quest but still offer interesting missions.

How long it takes to complete all the quests, we will probably experience ourselves in a few weeks. Because the launch of World of Warcraft: The War Within is already in about 5 weeks. Then we can finally level to level 80 and see what Xal’atath is planning for Azeroth.

Your twinks can then enjoy all the benefits as if they had already completed these quests and can even completely hide the corresponding quests. Those who want, of course, can play the quests multiple times.

WoW Alleria Xalatath Anduin title title 1280x720
If you like the story: These 5 characters you need to know for The War Within.

Optional dialogues and questions for all story fans

But that does not mean that there is less story, as Hamilton further explains:

We have built in a lot of optional stuff for people who [are interested in the story]. You can ask many of the characters many questions and listen to longer “Stay a while and listen” dialogues to learn more about the characters or the world. That is always optional. We do not want to force players to stop and listen to a dialogue if they are not interested at all.

Additionally, parts of the quests were not playable at all. A large part of the quest line that actually leads to the new expansion was not available. Instead, the journey begins after the end of a catastrophic incident – and how that unfolds, we will find out in a few days.

More around WoW:
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von Schuhmann
State of Play: Where do the MMORPGs WoW, ESO, GW2, FF14, and Black Desert stand at the beginning of 2017?
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WoW has a Germany-exclusive mount – action fails, mounts already on eBay
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What does that mean? In plain language, that means that The War Within has about the same amount of quests as was the case with Dragonflight or other expansions. Only the main campaign is a little shorter. So if you only follow the main missions, you will complete the areas relatively quickly. The “mandatory part” is therefore significantly shorter.

However, in other expansions there have always been many camps spread over the areas that do not lead to any quest but still offer interesting missions.

How long it takes to complete all the quests, we will probably experience ourselves in a few weeks. Because the launch of World of Warcraft: The War Within is already in about 5 weeks. Then we can finally level to level 80 and see what Xal’atath is planning for Azeroth.

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

Petition demands: Satirist El Hotzo must be fired after tweet about Trump – RBB fires him

MeinMMO MeinMMO Reading time 2 minutes

The satirist Sebastian “El Hotzo” Hotz has a significant presence on X, formerly Twitter. He is currently under criticism for his comments regarding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Who is it about? Sebastian Hotz is a German satirist who has worked as a joke writer for Jan Böhmermann and his ZDF Magazin Royale, among others. However, many probably know him primarily from his presence on X, formerly Twitter, where he spreads humorous short messages for his nearly 700,000 followers under the name “El Hotzo.”

Currently, El Hotzo is trending not because of his pointed observations of everyday life, but due to a post about the shots fired at Donald Trump, which many found in poor taste.

Online, many have destroyed their reputations in seconds:

Start video
Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?

Critics demand dismissal and legal consequences

What did El Hotzo post? The satirist posted a meme on July 14, 2024, in response to the assassination attempt on American presidential candidate Trump. In it, he links the terms “the last bus” and “Donald Trump” with “unfortunately missed it by a narrow margin.”

For those who did not find the message of the post clear enough, El Hotzo wrote underneath unambiguously: “I find it absolutely fantastic when fascists die.” The statements have since been removed from the satirist’s X account.

How were the reactions? Quite critical. “El Hotzo” is currently trending with over 27,000 posts on X, including a lot of outrage. Bundestag Vice President and lawyer Wolfgang Kubicki saw the posts as the “public endorsement of serious crimes.”

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Some users are also demanding that Hotz should no longer be allowed to work for public broadcasting after his comments. However, there seems to be some confusion about what kind of employment relationship the satirist has.

For example, some expect that the ZDF would throw Hotz out (via X). In fact, the satirist does not work for the broadcaster and has likely only written freelance for ZDF Magazin Royale. Additionally, El Hotzo also had a brief appearance on the show, ironically on the topic of cancel culture. The images we used for the title picture come from this video (via YouTube)

However, it is correct that Hotz presents the show “Theoretisch cool” on the RBB radio station Fritz every third Sunday of the month. Critics are therefore demanding that all public broadcasters stop working with Hotz. There is even a petition that has currently been signed by about 11,000 people.

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Both ZDF and RBB distanced themselves from the statements. ZDF emphasized to the Frankfurter Allgemeine that there is currently “no collaboration” with Hotz.

A spokesperson for RBB referred to the statements as “dehumanizing.” They have “no place in our shows…” They now want to “contact the author.” Subsequently, a decision will be made on the next steps.

El Hotzo has so far taken the criticism very calmly. Thus, on July 14, he poked fun with further posts:

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The attack on Donald Trump has further unexpected consequences. For instance, it leads to a previously forgotten game on Steam experiencing a sudden surge in players. In a forgotten game on Steam, you rescue Donald Trump from an assassination: Suddenly it is alarmingly relevant

RBB terminates collaboration with Sebastian Hotz

Update 16.7, 18:49: As reported by the Zeit, the RBB broadcaster has terminated its collaboration with Sebastian Hotz until further notice.

His statements are not consistent with the values that RBB stands for, said the program director.

Hotz had moderated the show “Theoretisch cool” at Radio Fritz since summer 2022.

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

The First Descendant is the surprise hit on Steam 2024 – Now players are threatened and 3 things are prohibited

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

No one expected the success of The First Descendant. Especially on Steam, the game is extremely successful and seems to be holding up remarkably well. Now, however, developer Nexon warns of 3 behaviors they no longer want to see.

How well is The First Descendant performing?

  • The First Descendant was released on June 30 and had a spectacular launch, peaking at 264,860 players on Steam. It is the surprise hit on Steam so far in the current year 2024, alongside Palworld.
  • What is amazing is that this was not just a flash in the pan; The First Descendant still retains a good portion of players even 2 weeks later: it peaked at 160,699 players, which is quite impressive.
  • Although the South Korean loot shooter has faced criticism over microtransactions, plagiarism, and grinding, its factual success cannot be denied. Even though The First Descendant surely will not hold that many players for months to come, it has at least managed to convince some sharp critics of it.
Start video
Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer

Developers warn players and point out 3 rules

This is the new message: The developers stated today in a post on X that there have been many complaints about inappropriate behavior in The First Descendant lately. They will work on finding measures against this behavior.

However, in the meantime, they remind players that these 3 things are prohibited (via X.com):

  • The use, distribution, or creation of unauthorized programs is strictly prohibited.
  • Do not go AFK during cooperative play. If you need to step away, please do so only in Albion!
  • Please refrain from AFK farming during missions.

While no specific penalties for violating these rules are mentioned, it is implied that suspensions, up to and including permanent bans, await players who offend.

The First Descendant is specifically addressing the problem of “loot lurking,” which we reported on today at MeinMMO on July 16.

Because the behavior of taking loot without contributing to the success of the team has caused frustration in the community. Consequences from Nexon were demanded. The Twitter post from Nexon can be interpreted as a reaction to this demand: The First Descendant has a problem with freeloaders who just want to grab loot

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

Player in Final Fantasy XIV completes the most difficult solo content of the MMORPG after 800 hours

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Final Fantasy XIV, a player spent nearly two years and over 800 hours mastering the toughest challenge for soloists. He defeated the Palace of the Dead as a simple Druid all by himself.

How did he achieve success? Even though the new expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, Dawntrail, was recently released, there are still players who prefer to focus on the old content.

One of them is Aurora. The content creator has made it his mission to master the toughest challenges for single players.

The Palace of the Dead had been on his agenda for quite some time. The dungeon is different with each entry and presents increasingly difficult challenges to groups of 1 – 4 players as they descend further down. Every 10 floors, players encounter a boss enemy.

Starting from level 101, the dungeon can no longer be entered with a random group due to its difficulty. However, Aurora does not need a group anyway.

Here you can watch the new trailer for the Dawntrail expansion:

Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural

The challenge lasted nearly two years

How many attempts did it take him to succeed? Aurora completed the challenge on his 62nd attempt. “I spent almost two years of my life climbing the Palace of the Dead daily as a Druid,” he wrote in his post on X.com.

While 62 attempts may not sound like much, the game hours for this challenge amount to quite a bit more: “I lost over 800 hours because of this. I canceled so much to enable these streams. July 14, 2024. 62nd attempt.”

Angelus Demonus, another player known for his runs in deep dungeons like the Palace of the Dead or the Heaven’s Pillar, praised the Druid player’s achievement on X.com: “The dedication to his craft is unparalleled.”

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Is this his first challenge? No, Aurora continuously attempts challenges for soloists, but this was his toughest one yet. In a stream, he explained that he only needed one attempt to master the dungeon Heaven’s Pillar. The dungeon works almost exactly like the Palace of the Dead.

Now that Aurora has gained some time, he can immediately turn to the latest content in Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail. The MMORPG is set to receive new field operations, as the lead producer revealed: “It will excite the fans”: Head of Final Fantasy XIV announces the most anticipated content for the MMORPG for Dawntrail

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

This week one of the hottest new strategy games is coming to Steam: It mixes 2 unique cult games

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

A new strategy game is set to be released on Steam on July 18, which many are looking forward to: Norland mixes the busy view from RimWorld with malicious RPG elements from Crusader Kings 3. MeinMMO author Schuhmann says: These are 2 of his favorite games, and he should actually be looking forward to Norland. But he is skeptical after being somewhat disappointed by the gameplay experience of Norland.

What kind of mix is this?

The basic idea of Norland is reminiscent of Crusader Kings 3: You build an empire, but play as the ruling class, which cares little for the people and pursues its own ambitions. The rulers want to eat, drink, and have sex. The relationships between the individual nobles are crucial; new stories keep emerging, keeping Norland dynamic.

While Crusader Kings 3 largely occurs in the player’s mind, with reading texts, Norland depicts the whole hustle and bustle like RimWorld with stylized figures.

It sounds like a wild mix, but RimWorld and Crusader Kings 3 have an excellent reputation as games that continually tell new crazy stories, and Norland has also made it to the top 20 wishlist on Steam. The early access release is on July 18 (via Steam).

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Norland could build on the success of Manor Lords

Great anticipation for Norland – but many open questions as well

Will this be a success? That seems questionable at the moment. A demo has already been released and it was well received and found some fans.

However, even though I am precisely the target audience for Norland, the demo didn’t convince me back then, and I love both RimWorld and Crusader Kings 3. Yet, I found Norland too chaotic and arbitrary; I couldn’t get into the game.

The community around the game is still relatively quiet, although it’s clear there is a target audience interested in Norland.

Initial reports, such as from PCGamer, attest to Norland’s great potential, but make it clear that the title still has some balance issues in the details and will clearly be an early access title, albeit an advanced one.

PCGamer criticizes especially a mechanic involving rings, which brings the game into a permanent, unresolved imbalance of dissatisfaction – which sounds like a big red warning flag for every strategy gamer.

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All attempts to copy the cult games have failed so far

What could go wrong? Ultimately, both Crusader Kings 3 and RimWorld are unusual hit games of their developers, into which a lot of work and time have been invested. We will have to wait and see if Norland can capture the unique charm of these games right at release – and if they don’t succeed, whether Norland then gets enough time to mature.

Because ultimately both games continually tell new stories that arise from the game world – for this, a polished world and a logically coherent game mechanic are essential. Other games that have attempted to copy the success of Crusader Kings 3 or RimWorld have been unable to establish themselves.

I have started several games in recent years that have tried to imitate either Crusader Kings 3 or RimWorld and have quickly given up on all copies and turned back to the original: Games like Going Medieval, Stars Dynasties or Great Houses of Caldaria failed to captivate me.

I must even shamefully admit that RimWorld spoiled me for the original of the genre, Dwarf Fortress. I wanted to dive in with the Steam release, but ultimately spent only 22 hours on it.

I am curious if Norland will at least end this trend for me.

If you want to read how the demo of Norland was received and how enthusiastically many players reacted to the unusual title, we recommend this article: Steam: New game is RimWorld in the Middle Ages, it is received very well – “I will sink hundreds of hours of my life into it”

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

Dead by Daylight finally brings ‘2vs8’ mode, but there is no catch

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

For many years, fans of Dead by Daylight have been waiting. Now, the long-awaited 2vs8 mode is finally here. We will reveal how it works.

The Dead by Daylight community is quite generously described as “quirky.” Time and again, they have strange requests that the developers are more than happy to take up. For example, there was a request for “Sex in Dead by Daylight,” and it turned into its own dating game with the killers.

Another request was the plea for a “2vs8” game mode, where two killers face off against eight survivors. That is now being put into practice. In just a few days, you can join matches with ten players and show just how chaotic Dead by Daylight can really be.

Start video
Dead by Daylight: 2v8 – The new game mode causes chaos

How does the mode work? Essentially, the gameplay principle of Dead by Daylight is retained. Survivors must repair generators and escape, while the killers attempt to prevent exactly that.

Games are played on familiar maps, although they have been slightly adjusted in size for this mode to allow for more space. After all, two killers cause significantly more problems, and the additional generators need space as well.

What can the killers do? Only five of the original killers are available. Each one comes with a passive ability that helps the killers work better together.

  • Trapper grants the other killer a short speed boost when he sets a trap.
  • Wraith grants the other killer brief stealth.
  • Hillbilly makes survivors vulnerable for a few seconds when he runs past them with his chainsaw.
  • The Nurse has more teleportations while she is near the other killer.
  • The Huntress reveals the aura of survivors she has hit with her axe.

Whether the killers are operating alone, covering as much ground as possible, or overwhelming individual survivors together to take them down quickly – both are viable strategies with pros and cons.

New abilities, different mechanics

The only catch: there are no hooks. Killers do not have to carry survivors to a hook; instead, they can teleport them (similar to Pyramidhead) directly to a random point on the map, where they hang trapped until another survivor rescues them.

However, as a killer, you won’t be informed by a sound when a captured survivor is rescued. But since you are essentially chasing and downing survivors continuously, that’s not really a problem.

In contrast to the usual “5 out of 7,” survivors in this mode have to put in a bit more effort. A total of eight out of 13 generators must be repaired before the exit gates can be opened.

Neither killers nor survivors can bring perks into the match. Instead, survivors may choose classes to support certain play styles. For example, you can make better progress on generators or escape from killers for longer. Whether the killers will fall for that remains to be seen.

How long can you play 2vs8? That is probably the biggest downside to the game mode so far. Because it can only be played from July 25, 2024, to August 8, 2024 – just for two weeks.

The developers have already announced that they will further develop the mode and bring it back multiple times, so it will get better each time. Whether it will eventually become a permanent game mode remains to be seen, as it mainly depends on the mode’s success.

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Who is the mode suitable for? In short: for everyone. Whether you want a bit more chaos as a survivor or if you want to distribute the sometimes burdensome pressure onto multiple shoulders as a killer – 2vs8 looks like a perfect change to lighten the stress of the game.

If you’ve rarely dared to take on the killer role: grab a friend and go hunting for survivors together. Because when you fail, you fail together, and it’s only half as bad – but if you succeed, there’s a lot to laugh about. Because amusing situations in the new 2vs8 mode happen almost continuously.

Will you take a closer look at the new game mode? Or can 2vs8 not convince you? In that case, you should check out all the killers in the game and find the one that suits you best.

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

Players find the characters in Genshin Impact too bland – More than 50,000 demand a change

Lydia Lydia Reading time 2 minutes

In August, the new Natlan region is set to enter Genshin Impact, inspired by Latin American and African cultures. However, the character design has sparked criticism.

What is the deal with the characters? The release of the new Natlan region is approaching in the action RPG Genshin Impact by MiHoYo. Like other areas in the game, Natlan and its associated new characters are inspired by the real world.

For instance, the new character Ororon seems to be based on Ọlọrun, a deity of the West African Yoruba religion. The character Mavuika has parallels to the Māori goddess Mahuika. The new Dendro character Kinich also shares his name with the sun god Kinich Ahau of the Maya.

Despite these roots, the new characters are all strikingly depicted with light skin, much to the dismay of fans. Critics accuse MiHoYo of cultural appropriation and demand a revision of the characters. Similar discussions had already arisen regarding the Arabic-influenced Sumeru region.

Start video
Genshin Impact teases the Natlan region and new characters

MiHoYo allegedly gave the characters a “whitewash”

What are players criticizing? On social media, fans are indeed pleased that Genshin Impact draws inspiration from diverse cultures, but they criticize that these are not accurately represented. Two terms often come up:

  • Players accuse Hoyoverse of “cultural appropriation”: this means that one exploits foreign cultures without showing them the corresponding respect. Specific elements of the culture are picked out and usually represented in a stereotypical and disrespectful manner.
  • Critics refer to “whitewashing” in this context because the characters, despite their suggested cultural background, are portrayed as white or light-skinned.

Players demand changes from MiHoYo

In a petition, players call for an end to cultural appropriation and whitewashing in MiHoYo games. The creators of Genshin are urged to engage with indigenous cultural consultants, revise existing content, and commit to creating diverse and inclusive characters.

Since July 7, 2024, 50,000 people have already signed the petition (via change.org).

Genshin Impact voice actors voice concerns

Even voice actors from the game are now entering the discussion. Valeria Rodríguez, the English voice of Sucrose, writes on X: “If you use deities from the real world, respect them. If you build on real cultures, respect that.” She further states: “That is unforgivable.”

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Cyno voice actor Alejandro Saab refers to the upcoming release and writes: “You still have time to fix this.” (via X)

The Beidou voice actress Allegra Clark describes it as “simply disappointing when parts of the world that are rarely depicted in the media could be accurately represented.” She understands that the designs are merely “inspired” and are not meant to be exact representations of the real world.

However, if one is going to use specific sources, it would be nice to portray them as they should be, the actress states. “There is so much beauty in this world, so many stories that can be told or can inspire, and when it is not done in full, it feels disrespectful in the end.” (via X)

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There has not yet been an official response from MiHoYo to the criticism. However, it is questionable whether they will make extensive changes shortly before the release. Natlan and the associated characters are expected to be introduced into the game on August 28 with version 5.0. Until then, you can pass the time with Zenless Zone Zero. For this, we have for you All codes that you can redeem in July 2024.

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

LoL: A Champion Is Annoying Players, Dominates 4 out of 5 Positions, Is Super Easy to Play

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

In League of Legends, there are always champions that annoy the community because they are super strong, seen in every game, or simply considered unfair. Currently, the object of hatred is the champion Brand, who performs incredibly well.

How good is Brand currently? Brand is a champion who has been in the game since 2011 and was primarily played as support. For some time now, however, he is being played almost everywhere except on the top lane, and even successfully.

If you look at the current statistics for all ranks on U.GG, Brand performs quite well.

  • Brand in the jungle has a win rate of 51.5 %
  • Brand on the mid lane has a win rate of 52.11 %
  • Brand as bot lane has a win rate of 53.58 %
  • Brand as support has a win rate of 50.86 %
  • Brand as top laner has 49.55 %

In this context, the incredibly high value as an APC stands out, making him the best bot laner in the game in terms of win rate. Interestingly, the support role with 50.86 % is his second-worst after the top lane.

Professionals also fear the new champion: LoL: Pro players fear that the new champ Aurora is too strong

Soon you can finally relax after a tough LoL match:

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Swarm – Trailer for the new LoL PvE mode

Players are fed up

Why is Brand so strong? A major aspect of his success is his simple game design. His abilities, except for the Q ability, are quite easy to hit, and his passive ability allows for an easy clear in the jungle and enormous damage in fights. His ultimate is useful in every team fight and also helps activate the passive ability. The synergy with the item Blackfire Torch is really good and works on all lanes.

The community on reddit is now tired of having to see Brand in every match.

  • Petudie: Nothing annoys me more than the damn Brand
  • SCYZERZ: We can talk about 100 things, but the reality is just one: Right now, Brand is GIGA OP and at the same time DAMN EASY. Nothing more and nothing less.
  • Tall_Hunter8617: Brand is absolutely broken, his hitboxes are much larger than they seem, the damage he deals is insane, and he can spam abilities without running out of mana

Many do not necessarily see the abilities themselves as a problem, but rather the synergy with items like Rylais Crystal Scepter or Liandry’s Anguish.

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Will anything change? It is very likely that Brand will be nerfed soon. In the last patch, he was already weakened, and since he is still doing so well, one can assume that more nerfs will follow. Besides Brand, the community is also disturbed by soft-inter, which Riot wants to address. What exactly falls under this can be found here: Lol: Bad players fear being banned – Riot clarifies who really has to be afraid.

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