Fans have long wished for a GTA movie. Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, has now explained why a film has never been an option.
Many fans are hoping for a movie or series based on the popular game series Grand Theft Auto (GTA). Dan Houser, co-founder and former chief writer of Rockstar Games, recently explained why this dream has never come to fruition. According to Houser, the high risk was the decisive factor that prevented a film adaptation of GTA.
Fans are hugely excited about GTA 6. The trailer created a huge hype:
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Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer
Why should we do that?
What does Dan Houser say? In an interview with The Ankler (via gamesindustry), Dan Houser explained that although there have been several discussions about possible film adaptations of Rockstar games (GTA and Red Dead Redemption), these were always declined.
Houser repeatedly asked the executives: “Why should we do that?” The answer from the decision-makers was often that it was an opportunity to be allowed to make a movie.
Houser made it clear why he considered this idea to be bad. He feared that a film project without the full creative control from Rockstar would pose a great risk. Additionally, we would have to pay for something that already belonged to us.
He stated the following:
They thought we would be blinded by the lights, but that just wasn’t the case. We had intellectual property [IP] worth several billion dollars. […] The risk wasn’t worth it. Back then, the view was that games made for bad movies.
What is Dan Houser actually doing now? A poor outcome could potentially damage the reputation of the GTA brand. However, Dan Houser emphasizes that times are different now. Today, many video game adaptations are successful, as the series Fallout and The Last of Us show.
With his new studio Absurd Ventures, he aims to build new franchises through more cost-effective formats. The focus is on storytelling – in the form of audiobooks, comics, and games. Currently, the studio is developing an open world action-adventure.
A particularly well-known example of an offer for a GTA movie was what Rockstar received after the success of GTA III. A producer planned a film with rapper Eminem in the lead role and Tony Scott (Top Gun) as director.
But Sam Houser, Dan Houser’s brother and founder of Rockstar, declined. He probably recognized that the GTA brand was bigger. They preferred to focus on their gaming franchise. GTA was already in the process of surpassing the film industry (via RockstarIntel).
Although a GTA film never came to fruition, interest in a possible adaptation remains. Hollywood has significantly evolved in recent years regarding the quality of video game adaptations. Perhaps one day there will still be a GTA movie. In the meantime, you can look forward to GTA 6. By the way, a major new update for GTA Online was recently released: What’s in Bottom Dollar Bounties.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the moment, Blizzard is testing the upcoming Season 5 on the PTR of Diablo 4. In addition to new content, there are changes for all classes – and almost exclusively buffs. However, during testing, players have noticed that sorceresses are even weaker than before. And they were already far from strong.
This is what is currently in Season 5:
Since June 25, the PTR of Season 5 has been playable. The current changes and new features can be experienced there. You can find all the content of Season 5 at a glance.
Blizzard is also adjusting the balance by increasing the damage of many skills and adjusting dozens of legendaries across all classes. You can find the full patch notes for the PTR of Season 5 here.
What is happening with the sorceress? Although the damage of many abilities is being increased, Blizzard has nerfed several skills for sorceresses in the current PTR patch. This primarily affects defensive spells:
Teleport has a longer cooldown
Ice Armor has a higher base barrier but is no longer increased by damage
the cooldown of Flame Shield now only starts when the invulnerability has expired
All these skills are present in almost every top sorceress build because otherwise the class simply wouldn’t survive. Compared to other classes, sorceresses lack health points and defense.
Burning Instinct grants less intelligence and is capped at +40%
Elemental Summoner is capped at +30% damage
A user on Reddit directly compared the numbers for an Incinerate build between Live and PTR. His result: Sorceresses deal 40% less damage with this build in its new state.
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Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
“Sorceresses are the only balanced class”
In another thread on Reddit, the creator describes in detail the problems with the changes and the class itself. Sorceresses have been at the bottom of tier lists along with druids for a while now, and are hardly worth mentioning compared to the overpowering barbarians.
After his lengthy analysis and some contemplation, the user concludes: It is not the sorceresses that are the problem, but all the other classes. The way sorceresses scale is just right, that’s workable – with all others, it is not:
We scale in a reasonably predictable manner. All our builds (except Shatter) cluster closely together. A factor of 2 or 3 better than the others, at most. Honestly, that’s wonderful in a game with multipliers due to our scaling. The problem is: Because of this, we couldn’t keep up with the content, with our buffs. And we were unable to exploit other bugs like other classes.
The user argues: Either sorceresses need to “have their handcuffs removed” or all other classes need to be adjusted downwards. And that is exactly the right way, it is said. It is much easier to balance everything when everyone is only dealing millions and not billions of damage.
The comments and other threads on Reddit at least agree that sorceresses are currently far behind all other classes. Even druids have the potential to deal damage in the billions or more.
The criticism mainly is: Sorceresses are forced into certain builds and these are then nerfed because they are apparently “used too much.” Season 5 is still in the testing phase, and a lot can change by the release in August. The expert Raxxanterax agrees that the balancing is off but praises almost everything else about the PTR. Only the most important feature still needs help: Expert plays Diablo 4 Season 5 for 7 hours – explains what needs to be improved in the most important feature
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Joe Tung, former producer at Bungie for hits like Halo 3 and Destiny, is clearly in favor of the live service model. He explains why it is so much better.
What is the problem with the 60-euro purchase model? Tung tells in an interview with PC Gamer that he is not a fan of the traditional 60-euro purchase model. He explains that developers in this model have to focus on selling as many copies as possible within the first 48 hours.
During his time at Bungie, he often had to make decisions that were not in the best interest of the players. The model forces developers to think short-term and promise features that would ultimately never make it into the game.
E3 trailers and clips (not necessarily from Bungie) would often be filled with unrealistic features, which he refers to as ‘Bullshit Vaporware’. This is intended to impress the audience and boost sales.
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Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer
The Benefits of Games as a Service
What does he say about live service? Tung left Bungie at the end of 2012 and moved to Riot Games, the developer studio behind the popular MOBA League of Legends. There, he worked on LoL and gained experience in the world of live service games that are free-to-play. In 2020, he also left Riot Games to found Theorycraft Games. With his new developer studio, he is currently working on a MOBA-like battle royale called Supervive – which is also intended to be a live service game.
Tung believes that the model Games as a Service is so much better for developers and you players.
He emphasizes the following strengths of the model (in an interview with PC Gamer):
It allows for making much, much, much better decisions overall.
One can think long-term about what is best for the player.
Moreover, developers can continuously work on the game after release and incorporate direct feedback from players.
This flexibility allows for decisions that are advantageous for both players and the company in the long run.
There are also critical voices against the live service model, especially due to the increasing microtransactions. However, one model does not necessarily exclude the other. The shooter hit Helldivers 2 is currently the best example of this and has found a middle ground. Helldivers 2 essentially combines both models and is extremely successful in doing so. MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller reveals what makes Helldivers 2 so good: 5 reasons that make the shooter so good.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Researchers from the USA have developed an AI assistant that only lacks an astromech body from Star Wars to achieve sci-fi perfection.
Do the USA now have astromechs in fighter jets? No, there is no R2D2 sitting behind the pilots in F35 or F22 fighter jets of the US Air Force or any other branches of the United States military. However, a first step in this direction has been taken with the prototype of the Virtual Intelligent Pear-Reasoning agents, also known as VIPR.
John Winder, a computer scientist at APL who co-leads the project, refers in the text to the famous astromech droid R2D2. That droid faithfully supports Anakin Skywalker and later his son Luke – whether in transit or in the cockpit of starfighters.
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Trailer for Star Wars Outlaws, the first open-world game in the ‘Star Wars’ universe
What can VIPR do? Of course, we do not have technical documentation, but according to APL’s information, the following is possible:
Acceptance of voice commands
The role of a co-pilot to assist in handling aircraft systems
Active control of the jet as well as fluid transition from pilot to co-pilot and vice versa
Communication with members of the combat unit (squadron)
Parallel control of several unmanned aerial vehicles in conjunction with the own jet
Continuous, constant monitoring of the airspace around the aircraft (radar, cameras, etc.)
Perception of the cognitive state of the pilot
Estimation of the pilot’s intentions before he actively issues commands
Is VIPR already in use everywhere? No, so far only tests have been conducted, but everyone who has tried it has been quite enthusiastic. And according to the team, it seems to even make untrained individuals competitive, as one of the lead developers explains:
I, as a non-pilot, might survive about eight seconds in a virtual simulation. With VIPR, I win.
John Winder, APL
When will VIPR be widely used? That is not known. Next, flight tests are planned in real aircraft with real external combat pilots from the armed forces. So far, only internally employed, but also trained as combat pilots, individuals have tested VIPR in the simulator.
Activision has announced Season 4 Reloaded for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone with a new trailer and a roadmap. We will show you when the season starts and what new content to expect.
On June 26, the Reloaded update for Season 4 in CoD: MW3 and Warzone was released and brings two new weapons, a new multiplayer map, new modes, new content for the zombie mode and for Warzone. Additionally, new weekly challenges and events are introduced.
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Trailer shows new content in CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded
CoD MW3: Season 4 Reloaded – Update & Download
When will the update arrive? The update has already been released on June 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM across all platforms.
How large will the update be? The update is nearly 22 GB in size.
CoD MW3: Season 4 Reloaded – New Map, Zombies, and Events
What does the roadmap of CoD: MW3 Season 4 Reloaded show? With Season 4 Reloaded, MW3 will receive a new map for the multiplayer mode, new content for MWZ, and two new weapons. But many other contents are also planned.
CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded – A brand new map
What new maps does Season 4 Reloaded bring? CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded brings a brand new map to the multiplayer mode. It is the new map Incline.
This map takes place in the snowy mountains of Urzikstan, featuring a research outpost and a transit facility. You can use the cable car for strategic oversight and the climbing points for tactical advantages.
Multiplayer map Incline in CoD: MW3
CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded Zombies – New content for MWZ
What new content is there for MWZ? The zombie mode in CoD: MW3 also receives new content with Season 4 Reloaded. In the unstable Rifts, you can face new wave-based challenges until you have killed all enemies or are overwhelmed yourself.
Per game, you will have several opportunities to enter the unstable rifts, but only the fastest among you will make it inside.
CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded – Events
What new events are there in Season 4 Reloaded? In total, Season 4 Reloaded in CoD: MW3 brings four new events:
Altered Strain (June 26 to July 24): Collect mutated DNA samples for rewards and mode effects. There are a total of 19 rewards.
Retro Warfare (June 26 to July 10): Experience Retro Warfare with the Bit Party Playlist Modifier and XP rewards. There are a total of 10 rewards.
Vacation Squad (July 3 to July 10): Task Force 141 enjoys summer vacation with tropical rewards. There are a total of 7 rewards.
Vortex: Death’s Grip (July 10 to July 24): Unlock rewards and use the Horsemen Death Ultra Skin for boosts. There are a total of 10 rewards.
Season 4 Reloaded brings new modes, playlists, weapons, and attachments
New modes in Season 4 Reloaded for CoD MW3
What new modes does Season 4 Reloaded bring? With Season 4, four new modes are introduced to the shooter:
Mutation Mode: In this mode, humans fight against mutants. The humans have normal gear and increased ammunition reserves, while the mutants possess unique abilities and NPC support. Both teams strive to defeat each other and switch roles at halftime. The team with the highest score wins.
Havoc: Havoc follows the rules of Team Deathmatch, with many different modifiers coming into the match. The goal is to be the first team to reach 75 points.
Headshots only: In this mode, players must eliminate their opponents exclusively through headshots, as the name suggests. Weapons and throwable lethals like throwing knives are only effective if they deal head damage, as are grenades.
Blueprint Gunfight: In the Blueprint Gunfight playlist of CoD: MW3, players can enhance their gunfight matches with a selection of maps and pre-made loadouts featuring various new weapon blueprints.
CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded – New playlist modifier and comeback
What new playlist modifier does Season 4 Reloaded bring? With Season 4 Reloaded, a new playlist modifier comes to CoD: MW3 – the Bit Party. Additionally, the Vortex Mosh Pit and G3T_H1GH3R return to the game for a limited time:
Bit Party: In the new Bit Party playlist modification of CoD: MW3, available for the first time in Season 4 Reloaded, the size of your operator’s head changes based on your performance in the game. By eliminating opponents, the head grows (small, medium, large), which brings targeting bonuses but also increases the risk of being an easier target. Additionally, a new variant of the map Favela called Bitvela is introduced.
Multiplayer map Bitleva (variant) in CoD: MW3
Vortex Mosh Pit: The “Vortex Mosh Pit” playlist returns for a limited time in Season 4 Reloaded of CoD: MW3. In this playlist, players compete in a new hellish landscape, along with Airborne, Satan’s Quarry, Skidgrow, Sporeyard, and Tetanus as part of the current lineup. Here, we receive a variant of the map Das Haus called Das Gross.
Multiplayer map Das Gross (variant) in CoD: MW3
G3T_H1GH3R: In the map G3T_H1GH3R, you explore a retro-futuristic utopian environment full of floating neon grids and platforms. Your goal is the utopian Thought Palace, a fortress under the synthwave sun.
Limited-time multiplayer map G3T_H1GH3R in CoD: MW3
CoD MW3 Season 4 Reloaded: new weapons
What new weapons does Season 4 Reloaded bring? With Season 4 Reloaded, two weapons are introduced to the game that you can obtain through the Battle Pass of Season 4:
What’s new in Warzone in Season 4Reloaded? Warzone also has new changes in Season 4 Reloaded of CoD: MW3. Among others, we can expect a new mode and a new event:
Popov Power Plant: After the detonation of a DNA bomb at the Popov Power Plant in CoD: MW3, new paths have been opened, and a toxic chemical substance has been spread. The power plant is heavily damaged, featuring a collapsed main cooling tower and a destroyed reactor.
New Mode: In Rebirth of Mutation in CoD: MW3, you must navigate near the destroyed Popov Power Plant and use the normal rules of Resurgence. You can equip your operators with mutant abilities by collecting and upgrading DNA to achieve victory.
New Event: In Call of Duty: Warzone, you can trigger the event Runaway Train in Urzikstan during Season 4 Reloaded. It’s about taking control of a train that moves across the map as a safe zone. Players fight against enemy squads and must dominate the train to win the match.
You can already test Season 5 on the official PTR of Diablo 4. Many players and experts are looking at what the next season has to offer and giving feedback. One of them, Raxxanterax, has extensively talked about what Season 5 is already doing well and what definitely needs improvement.
The content is supposed to keep you busy the entire season, similar to the Hell Floods and the Pit in Season 4. However, at least Diablo expert Raxxanterax sees a major problem here.
What Raxxanterax says: According to the expert, the hordes are simply not fun. In a new video on YouTube, he analyzes his approximately seven hours of gameplay at that time. The biggest problem is actually the core functions of the activity:
Too much time passes between waves where you do nothing and have to wait.
The “Boon & Banes”, or pros and cons between each round, are simply not good. The buffs do nothing, and the disadvantages feel boring.
Even the bosses at the end are a disappointment: For some reason, you have to leave the arena and walk into a new room. After the fight, there is not even loot from the opponents. It only comes with the reward chests.
It is already difficult to interact with the activity at all. You need an Infernal Compass to activate it. You can obtain these roughly through the chests of the Hell Floods – but not guaranteed. The drop rate of the compasses is far too low.
Additionally, it is extremely difficult to actually get decent loot from the event. With the largest chests for 250 ether, the new reward currency for the hordes, you can get guaranteed legendaries with Greater Affixes, but obtaining so many is nearly impossible:
“I have not heard a single person think that [the rewards] are appropriate. I assume they will get better by Tier 8, but at Tier 3, where I played the most, the monsters were already at level 100. Most people will never get past Tier 3. The most ether I have gotten in a run was 69 […] and the Greater Affix chest costs 250. I wasn’t even in the dimension to spawn one of the best chests.
And ether does not carry over when you leave [the activity], so you can never open the best chest. […] I spent the entire 69 [ether] on the gold chest, and that gave me less than three million gold. So my best performance there is worth less than three million.”
Raxxanterax gives a few ideas in his video on how the content could be improved, such as with new buffs and curses and especially better rewards and higher mob density. However, he is very satisfied with the season in general.
After Season 5, the 1st expansion of Diablo 4 will already start. Here you can find all info about Vessel of Hatred, in the video the rather bloody intro:
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Trailer for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred provides insight into the story of the expansion
“Season 5 goes in the right direction”
The expert praises most of the changes that will come to the PTR with Season 5 and thus presumably also in this form to the live servers in August. According to Raxxanterax, good improvements include:
the ability to hide damage numbers and effects for better visibility
clearly visible and audible drops of the new Mythic items
Buffs for Uber Uniques, which will become significantly better for many builds
Improvements to minions, which no longer just mindlessly follow you
Raxxanterax particularly highlights a little-noticed change to world bosses. They are now actually a challenge. He was there with a barbarian who had several Mythics and Uber Uniques equipped, a perfect build.
Nevertheless, the boss lived for a minute: “It took eight level 100s one minute to defeat a boss […] If you don’t have super strong characters, that could take the full 15 minutes. [The fight] went from an instant one-shot to a one-minute fight.”
However, there is still criticism of some of the content. Raxxanterax says that the hardening system introduced with Season 4 is now better, as recipes are somewhat more targeted. However, it is still not perfect, as there is still too much randomness.
However, the “rerolling“, that is, fishing for the right stats at the enchanter, is worse. Here he spent over 170 million gold in just a few moments to find a stat he needed.
Furthermore, balancing remains a problem. Barbarians are far too strong, while sorceresses and druids still linger somewhere at the bottom. Blizzard is already working on implementing feedback from the PTR and will certainly make several changes before the start of Season 5.
In October, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is set to be released on the PS5. A new trailer now highlights several characters.
Which game is being discussed here? Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO will be the newest installment in the popular Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi series and is set to release on October 11, 2024, among other platforms including the PS5. Since 2005, the Tenkaichi series has captivated several generations of players and anime fans worldwide.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO promises to offer a plethora of playable characters, as Bandai Namco assures, returning to the roots of the Tenkaichi games. A total of 164 character slots are indicated. A new trailer now introduces some of the playable characters.
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In Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, you can expect a lot of characters
Which characters are included? The trailer showcases several characters that will be playable in Sparking! ZERO. You can also get a first look at their fighting styles. It becomes clear that some characters fight with swords rather than just their fists.
Among others, you can play as Trunks, the son of Vegeta, from the future. He is known for using a sword to battle his opponents since his early appearances in the manga and anime. Naturally, he utilizes this in the game as well.
Other swordsmen featured in the trailer are Yajirobe and Dabura. However, you can also expect many “classic” fist fighters, with the trailer showing that there is much more in store than just various Gokus and Vegetas.
Among the playable characters, you will find Mr. Satan, Goku Black, Roasie and Ribrianne, Spopovich, and Anilaza.
What are the reactions? The reactions in the comments (via YouTube) clearly indicate that many fans and players are looking forward to the new installment of the Tenkaichi games. One user commented that he still cannot believe the game is really real. Many fans agree with him, and one user wrote in his comment: “What a time to be alive”.
The best Dragon Ball game and game of the year?
Another user is confident that the developers have created the best Dragon Ball game possible. “This will be the game of the year,” a player similarly stated in his comment.
Many fans are also very positive about the newly announced characters. “This game will really have EVERYONE,” one user noted in his comment. Especially the two swordsmen Trunks and Yajirobe are mentioned in many comments, and some players seem already sure that they will be their main fighters.
The temperatures are rising to a new high, and the air is becoming increasingly oppressive. Instead of burning in the sun, you can check out the best animes of the upcoming summer season 2024. MeinMMO reveals which animes sound particularly promising.
After the strong winter season 2024, some hits followed in spring, like Kaiju No. 8. For summer, MeinMMO has once again sifted through the list of new releases that will appear between July 1 and September 30, 2024.
We noticed three animes that seem promising. In addition to a new movie on Netflix, we recommend two series that will start on Crunchyroll. For the article, we only considered completely new animes. Ongoing series like My Hero Academia or Oshi no Ko, which have new seasons or cours, were therefore excluded.
Keep in mind that this is a subjective opinion. The anime series have not yet aired and can only be assessed based on trailers, the manga source, and similar material.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
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Wistoria: Wand and Sword – The official trailer for the anime
Original title: Tsue to Tsurugi no Wistoria
Release date: Subbed: July 7, 2024
Provider: Crunchyroll
What is it about? Will Serfort has the dream of one day becoming the most powerful magician of all time. The magicians sit at the top of the mage tower. He has promised his childhood friend that he will achieve this goal.
To fulfill his dream, he enrolls at the Regarden School of Magic. However, Will Serfort does not possess a single spark of magic within him and therefore cannot cast spells. To hold his own against the other magicians, he must rely on his sword skills.
Who might it be worth it for? The premise resembles Mashle: Magic and Muscles. Here as well, the protagonist must become the strongest magician at a magic school, even though he cannot use magic. However, if you find the crude and childish humor in Mashle too much, Wistoria: Wand and Sword might suit you better.
The Imaginary
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What is it about? The blonde boy Rudger is not a real person but an imaginary friend of Amanda. No one else can see Rudger. But one day, Mr. Buntin knocks on Amanda’s door. He hunts Imaginaries and is after Rudger.
Rudger flees from Mr. Buntin. However, he must return to Amanda before she forgets him. Otherwise, he will dissolve into nothingness. To do this, he seeks the help of other Imaginaries who accompany him on his journey.
Who might it be worth it for? Fans of Spirited Away might enjoy this film. After all, the same director of the Ghibli film is responsible for The Imaginary. The hand-drawn animation style looks fantastic and is likely to appeal to viewers expecting high-quality animation. However, the film is geared more towards children and families.
Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season
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What is it about? The Monogatari series revolves around the high school student Koyomi Araragi, who temporarily became a vampire during the holidays. As he is almost back to being a normal human, he meets his classmate Hitagi Senjogahara. She and other students are tormented by “oddities,” which are often symbolically represented by animals.
The Off-Season is a series of short stories set at various points in the Monogatari timeline. The Monster Season, on the other hand, is a new story and continues Koyomi’s story as he goes to college.
Who might it be worth it for? The Monogatari series now includes a wide variety of light novels, series, and films. So if you’re looking to dive into an entirely new and comprehensive universe, this anime might be for you. The series is extremely popular; for example, the second season is rated 8.76 / 10 on MyAnimeList.
Are there any other animes you are particularly looking forward to in the upcoming season? Let us know in the comments which series and films the fan community should not miss!
If you are more of a fan of Harry Potter, we also have some recommendations for you that deal with magic, sorcery, or witches. MeinMMO has put together five animes that could appeal to fans of the wizard with the lightning scar: 5 Animes you should know as a Harry Potter fan
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Next week, the free loot shooter The First Descendant launches. Now, three trailers showcase the gameplay of the characters you can play at the beginning.
The First Descendant is a free-to-play loot shooter scheduled to be released on Steam on July 02, 2024.
Now, three trailers briefly present the three characters that you can play at the beginning. Over time, you will be able to unlock more characters, including outfit variations.
Which characters can you play at the beginning? The first trailer focuses on the speedy fighter Bunny.
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Bunny is a fast fighter with electrifying power
Bunny wants to prove herself on the battlefield with the power of electricity. In the trailer, you can see how she runs super fast, jumps far, and shocks her enemies with various attacks using this power.
In the second trailer, the fighter Valby is introduced, who keeps her opponents at bay with her water-based attacks.
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Valby uses water to assert itself in battle
Using water, Valby can glide over the battlefield, leaving a wet trail behind. By creating larger puddles, she ensures that her opponents keep tripping over. Additionally, she can shoot large soap bubbles at her enemies, which then trap them for a certain period.
Finally, the warrior and protector Ajax is introduced.
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Ajax wird euer mächtiger Beschützer auf dem Schlachtfeld
With his abilities, Ajax is a good protector for your team. In the trailer, you see various barriers he can create. He seems to be able to create them in the form of a dome as well as a simple wall. His barriers are not only designed to deflect attacks but can also reflect them. Additionally, he can blast his opponents away with a kind of explosion.
With these three characters, you can tackle the story mode as well as the strategic boss battles in the 4-player co-op mode at the beginning of the game. The First Descendant also offers impressive graphics. You can find more truly beautiful games here: 5 games that surprise with impressive graphics.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The German streamer ohnePixel is actually specialized in Counter-Strike 2, but currently he is the largest European streamer for Elden Ring on Twitch. Apparently, his accent has a certain charm.
These are the biggest streamers for Elden Ring:
The clear biggest streamer for Elden Ring is Kai Cenat – he has been putting on a huge show for weeks as he struggles through the main game and then the DLC.
In 2nd and 3rd place are familiar names: Asmongold on his second account zackrawr and shooter specialist shroud.
However, at the same level as shroud and Asmongold is ohnePixel, who has spent 74 hours on Elden Ring in the last 7 days and achieved over 1 million hours of watch time, which is not much more than what shroud and Asmongold have.
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
German takes a vacation from Counter-Strike 2 and is in overtime mode
This is exciting: ohnePixel is actually booked on Counter-Strike – that is his clear main game. As the statistics show, he has played almost only Counter-Strike throughout the years. He has hardly looked into other games:
In 2023, he spent 1900 hours in Counter-Strike – then Fortnite came in 2nd place with 30 hours.
In 2022, he spent 2068 hours in CS:GO – with “Dark and Darker” in 2nd place, which he only showed for 3 hours on Twitch.
However, on June 13, ohnePixel turned away from Counter-Strike 2 and has since only played Elden Ring: he has already spent 106 hours in the game.
In fact, when he plays Elden Ring, he has only about half as many viewers as he does with CS:GO. Statistically, it is going well for him because he is putting in overtime. Normally, his streams end after about 8 hours. However, with Elden Ring, he extends his hours and is often live for even 12 hours.
In the last 30 days, ohnePixel was on air twice as long (194 hours) as in the previous 30 days.
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What makes him appealing? ohnePixel streams with a lot of ambition and a noticeable German accent. He is emotional – as evidenced by 522 deaths – and goes into Elden Ring “blind”.
The “Elden Ring” phase might soon come to an end for him: in the last stream, he briefly checked back into Counter-Strike 2 again.
In China, Honor of Kings is one of the biggest games, and now the MOBA aims to convince the western market as well. In an interview, the developers explain what they plan to do.
What is Honor of Kings? Honor of Kings is the most played MOBA on mobile devices worldwide. In 2020, over 100 million people played the game daily on average. In the MOBA genre, Dota 2 and League of Legends are particularly well known in our region.
Initially, Honor of Kings was only available in Asia, but now more and more countries are joining. Recently, the game has also become available in Germany. This is reason enough for MeinMMO to ask the developers about their plans for the game.
You can watch the trailer for Honor of Kings here:
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Honor of Kings World – Multiplayer trailer
How Honor of Kings Aims for Success
MeinMMO:How will you ensure that Honor of Kings can replicate its success in the West as it did in China?
TiMi Studio: There is no guarantee that we can replicate the same success. Therefore, we can only strive to create the best possible chance through our player-focused approach. There is no guarantee that we can replicate the same success. Therefore, we can only strive to create the best possible chance through our player-focused approach.
What does that look like? Since the game’s release, we have analyzed millions of hours of gameplay and made several updates and adjustments to continuously improve the player experience.
After launching in Brazil last year and in the Middle East and Turkey earlier this year, we were able to gather feedback from a new community of players and make further improvements to the game.
A great example of this is the amount of free space required to install the game. We have worked hard to keep this as low as possible while maintaining high visual quality. This ensures that players with older mobile devices can enjoy the game just like those with the latest high-end smartphones.
In addition, Honor of Kings is free to play and provides fair competition, meaning that players’ success does not depend on their financial capabilities but on their actions on the battlefield.
To further facilitate fair play, we have our own robust matchmaking system that ensures balanced matches against players with similar ranks. With the global launch, we will continue to listen to our new players and strive to make Honor of Kings even better.
MeinMMO:What differences do you generally expect between the West andChina? Are there specifics to consider in the West?
TiMi Studio: We have observed that players from the East and West have different attitudes towards playing competitive games on mobile phones, which may be due to the differing developmental histories of PC and console games in the various markets.
However, we are pleased that more and more western players are considering playing a competitive mobile game, which represents an opportunity for Honor of Kings.
We highly value the western market and aim to provide rich and diverse content for western players in the future while maintaining the core experience of the game. This way, we hope to excite them about Honor of Kings.
MeinMMO:With League of Legends: Wild Rift, there is already a good alternative for a MOBA on mobile. How will Honor of Kings differ?
TiMi Studio: For us, competition is a good thing. We are the most played mobile MOBA in the world, but if we want to maintain this position, we cannot let up.
We must continue to listen to our community, create new content, and leverage the latest features of mobile devices. That is the challenge, and we will meet it.
MeinMMO:Are you planning to build an e-sports scene in the West?
TiMi Studio: Absolutely, competitive play is an integral part of the appeal of Honor of Kings, and therefore we are committed to building a global e-sports ecosystem that promotes talent from the grassroots level to professional e-sports players.
This year, we are investing 15 million USD in our e-sports program, which includes the Honor of Kings Invitational Series for established e-sports organizations and the Open Series for newcomers.
We are dedicated to promoting the long-term development of clubs and will collaborate with local e-sports organizations to provide high-profile international gaming events for players and audiences.
Starting June 29, 13 teams from around the world will compete in the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 2 for a share of the prize pool of 300,000 USD and eight guaranteed spots for the Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason | Esports World Cup.
MeinMMO:Are there already plans for other well-known licenses that can be associated with Honor of Kings? If so, can you already name any specifically?
TiMi Studio: We have conducted some collaborations in the past and are actively exploring possible integrations. New collaborations are planned with brands such as Saint Seiya, SNK, Hello Kitty, and Bruce Lee, and we will share more about this as soon as possible.
MeinMMO:Honor of Kings has more female players than male players, which is quite unusual for the genre. The connection to WeChat plays a significant role in this. Is it your goal to build a large female player base in the West as well, and if so, how do you plan to achieve that?
TiMi Studio: It is always our goal to promote a safe and welcoming community where like-minded players can meet and play together. We hope that these conditions will motivate players with different backgrounds to experience Honor of Kings.
MeinMMO:Do you have recommendations for which champs to check out for beginners? Which ones are particularly beginner-friendly?
TiMi Studio: We have designed tutorials specifically for newcomers and recommend heroes like Angela and Hou Yi for those just starting out.
We also encourage players to interact with us through the social features in the game or our accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Discord. Our goal is to help players quickly experience all the excitement of Honor of Kings.
MeinMMO:Can you give us 5 general tips for beginners?
TiMi Studio:
Select heroes that are easy to handle in the beginning
Follow the recommended lanes for your heroes to ensure balanced teamwork with teammates
Pay attention to the minimap to observe the positions of allies and enemies
Use voice chat or communicate via quick messages for smooth collaboration
Remember: Honor of Kings is a team game, so always trust your teammates
To ensure that your entry into the MOBA is successful, you can secure free items right away. We have gathered all the codes that are currently valid in Honor of Kings and explained what you can do if they do not work: Honor of Kings: All codes that you can redeem in June 2024
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Besides Star Wars, Marvel, and other franchises, Disney+ also has some gems that are greatly beloved by critics. One particular movie deals with the emotional past of the protagonist without clumsily tugging at the heartstrings.MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes can highly recommend All of Us Strangers.
What is All of Us Strangers? In All of Us Strangers, Adam is at a difficult point in his life. He is unhappy, unable to connect with others, and lives in an apartment in a seemingly abandoned house.
Suddenly, he meets Harry and then he goes to his childhood home. In the house, he finds his parents, but they are suddenly young, visibly younger than himself. Adam now seizes the opportunity to finally talk to his parents about his emotions and the past, which allows him to open up to Harry.
You can find the English trailer for the film here:
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All of Us Strangers – Trailer for the emotional drama on Disney+
The script is exactly on point
The story of All of Us Strangers is simple, but incredibly effective. Essentially, we follow Adam, played by Andrew Scott, as he wants to tell his parents everything about himself. The focus is mainly on his homosexuality. As a teenager, he had no chance to come out to his parents.
When he tells his mother, she initially reacts very awkwardly. But later, when he talks to his father about it, really emotional yet surprisingly positive scenes unfold. I was surprised by how elegantly the film approaches the topic. Nothing is pushed into the emotional realm just with music. The focus is on the dialogues and the characters.
This is also one reason why the film moved me so much, even though I have not experienced such things myself. All of Us Strangers is always nuanced and to the point. The film never exaggerates anything or forcefully shoves the characters’ feelings in our faces. You empathize because you see how the characters feel, not because you’re told how you should feel.
The parents are also not just a single note; they show multiple facets. They try to understand something that is foreign to them from their time and environment. The love for their child is, however, always presented and made understandable.
The performers are also a highlight. Harry, played by Paul Mescal, is the other part of the story in All of Us Strangers. He symbolizes how Adam can gradually open up after talking to his parents. The chemistry between the two is always palpable.
The great thing about both performances is that you can always sense a certain wistfulness, a sadness, that is only conveyed through their expressions, through their eyes. They might joke around, but you can still tell that both are not necessarily doing well. This is a truly remarkable achievement, as they communicate less through dialogue and more through body language with the audience.
This never evokes pity, but rather empathy. When the two look wistfully into the camera and share their emotional backgrounds, it simply touched me. But also Adam’s parents, played by Claire Foy and Jamie Bell, embody the fundamental theme of love outwardly.
All the performers in All of Us Strangers show that love has not only positive effects but consists of several complex facets that cannot always be named.
How is the film technically? The camera and sound provide the perfect setting for the film. Music is never used as manipulation but only as the ambiance of the scene. The cinematography regularly impressed me, as despite the few sets, the film manages to create truly beautiful images through lighting and perspectives that I will not forget anytime soon.
All of Us Strangers is a film I can recommend to everyone, even if they have nothing to do with the topic of coming out. It’s not just about that. It’s about suppressed emotions and loneliness and how love, in all its facets, influences us, even when we don’t want to acknowledge it sometimes. For those who can bear even more emotions afterward, they might want to check out this film: A new Oscar contender moved me to tears while also making me laugh out loud
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The DLC “Shadow of The Erdtree” for Elden Ring is being enthusiastically discussed by many. Twitch streamer Asmongold gives it a 10 out of 10. German-speaking users on Steam write 89% positive reviews. But in the overall rating on Steam, the DLC only has mixed reviews. What is the reason for that?
This is an open question: The DLC for Elden Ring is difficult but is generally praised for its presentation, design quality, and environment:
But why is the DLC so weak on Steam, with only a “Mixed” rating – at 59% positive reviews?
And what does that have to do with a “blue bear”?
So far, it has been thought: The game is simply too hard, and the bosses are unfair. But the explanation could be something else.
He is currently number 4 for Elden Ring, ahead of Kai Cenat, the German withoutPixel, and master shroud:
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Twitch streamer Asmongold says: “Stop watching streams at 3 AM if you don’t have money!”
Asmongold gives the DLC a 10 out of 10
This is how Asmongold sees the DLC: Twitch streamer Asmongold has now completed the DLC, albeit with an OP build, and praises it highly. He says it is the best DLC ever, only “Iceborne” from Monster Hunter World comes close.
Asmongold usually takes any criticism of games into account. But if he even praises the game: Why does the DLC have such mediocre reviews on Steam?
Germans love the DLC for Elden Ring – 89% positive
So why does the DLC have poor ratings? A statistic from Steam shows that an overwhelming majority of English-speaking players rate the DLC positively (86%).
German-speaking users even give the DLC a positive rating in 89% of cases.
But 32% of the total reviews come from Chinese-speaking users, and they view the game much more negatively. In translated comments from Chinese users, a “Blue Bear” is frequently mentioned and cursed at.
Chinese players are bothered by the anti-cheat system
What does the bear have to do with it? The “Blue Bear” is the symbol of the anti-cheat system that FromSoftware uses in Elden Ring.
We in the West would understand criticism of the system as meaning that an anti-cheat system might negatively impact performance.
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However, for the Chinese, the criticism is likely really about the fact that cheating is not allowed in Elden Ring.
Because in China, the attitude towards cheating is more like “The honest person is the fool.” In China, among gamers, cheating is not as frowned upon as it is here and has a different significance.
Fortnite is now offline. On Thursday, June 27, 2024, servers will go down to install a new patch. We will show you all the information and inform you about the server status.
Fortnite: Server Status for Maintenance
Update, 12:45 PM: The servers are back and the game can be started. However, don’t be surprised if you cannot play Reload as a duo yet – that will only be possible from 3:00 PM.
What time are the Fortnite servers down? Fortnite took the servers offline on June 27, 2024, at 10:00 AM. The matchmaking was deactivated shortly before that.
When can I play Fortnite again? The status page of Fortnite (status.epicgames.com) mentions maintenance until 12:00 PM. The official post on X.com also speaks of a brief server maintenance. We will keep you updated on this.
Why are the servers down? A new patch for Fortnite is being installed, which brings new content to the game.
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Fortnite: Chapter 5 Season 3 – Trailer for gameplay with ruthless wasteland
This means: You will be able to play Reload as a duo and no longer need a complete squad of four players.
When does Reload Duos start? The duo mode for Reload starts at 3:00 PM on June 27, 2024. So you will have to wait until the afternoon if you want to play duos.
Leaks and Patch Notes for Patch 30.20.01 in Fortnite
Currently, there are no further contents, leaks, or patch notes known for the new patch. As soon as they are available, we will add them here. We will also keep you updated on when the servers are back online. And to find out how the current season in Fortnite generally looks, you can read here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers of Total War: Warhammer 3 have presented the content of their next DLC. They directly state: The focus of development is now on Immortal Empires, the huge skirmish campaign of the strategy game. Thispleases the fans, as they finally feel heard after a dispute with the studio.
On Steam, Total War: Warhammer 3 had almost 50,000 simultaneous players in June (via steamcharts). This makes it both the largest Total War and the largest Warhammer game on Steam.
What makes the game so special, is the massive “Immortal Empires” campaign. Instead of pursuing specific goals, you play a conquest campaign that unites all three Warhammer parts of Total War into a gigantic map with over 280 factions.
This is what’s in store for Total War: Warhammer 3: In a Developer Update, the developers explained that the focus will now be on Immortal Empires (via YouTube). This addresses criticism from the community. Senior Game Director Rich Aldridge stated:
You have shown us where the importance of the game lies […] and that is Immortal Empires. So our next DLC fully focuses on Immortal Empires.
So far, each expansion also included content for the “Realms of Chaos” campaign, the actual “main game.” However, this has been criticized since its release and is not particularly popular with most players, especially due to its tedious quest mechanics.
The old campaign is not to be completely neglected, it is said. However, Immortal Empires should receive more love at the moment. Specifically, three new faction leaders have been revealed:
Gorbad Ironclaw for the Greenskins, focusing on cavalry and a new beast unit.
Skulltaker for Khorne, who sews the skulls of his enemies onto his cape and brings Blood Beasts as a new unit.
Golgfag Maneater for the Ogre Kingdoms, who primarily wants to destroy and reinforces his armies with Giant Mammoths and Blood Vultures.
You can purchase the Lords individually or in a bundle. Additionally, there is a free character that also belongs to the Khorne faction. However, there is no specific information about this yet. The DLC is scheduled to be released at the end of the year, with more information to come in late summer 2024.
After the next DLC, Slaanesh will receive new Lords. Plans are already in place for the Vampire Lords, Norsca, and the Lizardmen. However, there is no more detailed information about this yet.
The currently latest DLC is Thrones of Decay:
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Total War: Warhammer 3 – The trailer for the new DLC Thrones of Decay
“We are so back”
The update creates a lively atmosphere in the community. On Reddit, there are hundreds of comments expressing great joy over the developers’ statements. Especially the possibility of purchasing the Lords individually, so as not to pay for something you don’t actually want, is receiving a lot of praise.
The players feel heard:
“Leaving Realms of Chaos behind, open and clear communication, new format for the dev chats, the style of Thrones of Decay continues …
The joy is partly due to the fact that Total War has been experiencing significant turmoil lately. There have been major issues recently, especially with communication with players. After a price increase for the DLCs, Warhammer 3 has fallen to harsh 19% ratings on Steam.
With Thrones of Decay, things have significantly improved. The reviews have risen to 92%, and the developers have ensured that fans are happy again with numerous free updates and improvements. Even MeinMMO editor Gerd Schuhmann has overcome his skepticism: Two years ago, I wasted 60€ on a game on Steam: Now it should finally be good
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new officially licensed controller is coming for Steam. However, it is not made by Valve, but by Hori. The controller will be released on the market at the end of October 2024.
About 5 years ago, Steam discontinued its official experimental controller and the device disappeared from the product range.
Now, manufacturer Hori has introduced a new official controller for Steam. It offers several Steam features, but you will have to forgo a few functions from the Steam Deck.
Wireless Horipad for Steam is an official controller, costs around 50 Euros
What kind of controller is this? The Wireless Horipad for Steam is a controller specifically designed for PC, matching the menu buttons of the Steam Deck and featuring similar touch sensors on the sticks to enable gyro controls.
It also supports wireless Bluetooth and wired USB-C connections, as well as a range of custom programming options with Hori’s software.
What is missing from the controller? You will still have to make a few compromises, as the controller does not offer a vibration function (Rumble), and there are no additional buttons on the back like on the Steam Deck.
The large trackpads, which allow you to control the mouse pointer on the Steam Deck, are also missing from the controller. These are especially useful in games that do not offer official controller support.
How much will the controller cost? The controller is set to be released in Japan on October 31, 2024, and will cost 7,890 Yen. This is roughly equivalent to 50 Euros. This aligns with other controllers in the same price range, but without offering Steam-specific features.
It is still unknown whether the new official Steam controller will also be available in Germany. However, manufacturer Hori does sell various console accessories in Germany as well. So, the idea is not entirely far-fetched.
The first major patch for the new MMORPG Tarisland is here and brings not only numerous bug fixes but also a fresh game mode and a new costume.
What kind of patch is this? Overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, there were maintenance works on the servers of Tarisland for the first time. After a slight delay, the servers came back online this morning. As a small compensation, players received 300 time travel tokens, which can be exchanged in the shop for various items like mounts and trinkets.
The new patch introduced version 2.1.6_1847 and brought some innovations, but primarily bug fixes for the MMORPG.
Here you can see the trailer for Tarisland:
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Tarisland: Trailer for the global launch shows cinematic class action
Fresh game mode, but only for a limited time
What kind of game mode is this? The first patch introduces a fresh game mode for the MMORPG. The specifics of the game mode are not known, only the name “The Trial Ground of Destiny” is listed in the patch notes on X.com.
This is a test of the mode that will only run for a limited time. The developers hope to receive feedback and suggestions for improvement from players. Starting Saturday, the mode will be available for a limited time.
What else has changed with the patch? The new update brings, in addition to the limited game mode, a new costume called “Spring Vision,” which will also be available starting Saturday.
However, the patch also included many bug fixes and minor changes that are intended to improve gameplay quality.
What else is currently happening in Tarisland? In the MMORPG, a new 10-player raid started on June 26. On the highest difficulty level, only 4 player groups managed to defeat the raid boss on the first day.
The Sea People King is the first boss of the raid “Root of Corrosion.” The raid bosses will be unlocked gradually. The next raid boss, “Ancient Tree,” will be released on Friday.
In FC 24, daily upgrades can occur through the Copa América matches. On MeinMMO, our Make Your Mark Tracker for the Copa América shows you all players and their improvements.
What kind of event is this? “Make Your Mark” is a live event that brings a variety of dynamic cards. It focuses on players who want to write their own success stories in the upcoming weeks. The following tournaments are in the spotlight:
Some of the new cards have 4 Playstyle+. This has never happened at any other event before. And players can even receive 3 more upgrades.
When do players receive upgrades? Players must meet the following requirements in their national teams to unlock the corresponding upgrades:
Debut: Chemistry+ (three chemistry points from the start)
Forwards/Midfielders register 2 goals or assists: +1 Overall Rating (OVR)
Defenders/Goalkeepers do not concede a goal in 2 matches: +1 OVR
Appear in 5 matches: +1 OVR
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EA Sports FC 24: Update teaser for the UEFA Euro 2024
Make Your Mark: All players and upgrades of the Copa América
A total of 27 Make-Your-Mark players (as of June 27) from the Copa América have chances for upgrades. We have recorded each individual card in our tracker.
What information does the tracker provide? From the tracker, you can derive the following information from left to right:
Player (current rating) – Positions
all player ratings that have already received an upgrade are highlighted in bold
Nationality
countries marked with an asterisk (*) still have chances for upgrades
Matches played
after one match, Chemistry+ is unlocked, and after 5 matches played, there is +1 OVR
Goals/Assists for forwards or games without conceding for defenders and goalkeepers
some players can play in both defense and midfield, the primary position of the player counts for the tracker
When do the upgrades appear in the game? During the EURO and Copa América, upgrades for Make Your Mark players usually appear just one day later. The same applies to the upgrades of the dynamic Path-to-Glory cards. To keep you updated, we have also created a tracker for the Path to Glory on MeinMMO: Path to Glory Tracker in FC 24: An overview of all players and upgrades for EURO 2024
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The YouTube streamer DrDisrespect currently has his own character and storyline in the basketball game NBA 2K24. However, following the latest developments regarding his ban on Twitch, that will soon come to an end: On June 28, both will be removed from the game.
Here’s what 2k says: The developers of NBA 2K have confirmed to the U.S. site Dexerto :
The name DrDisrespect and all his animations will be completely removed from the game.
Currently, he is in “MyCareer” mode, with his own jump shots and dunks.
Additionally, 2k will no longer work with DrDisrespect.
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DrDisrespect was a celebrity on Twitch – His ban remains a big mystery to this day
Streamer loses all deals he has built up
Have other companies distanced themselves from him? Yes, his football career is also over. The San Francisco 49ers no longer want anything to do with him. Just a few months ago, he was able to make a draft pick for them.
His connection with “Mountain Dew,” where he had his own drink, has also been cut off.
What was that collaboration with NBA2k4 like? DrDisrespect is 2.03 m tall and played basketball during his college years in the NCAA. Therefore, a collaboration with the basketball franchise made sense.
He entered the game series at the end of 2022 in NBA 2K23. Back then, you had to meet DrDisrespect in a quest centered around “Mountain Dew” and defeat him in a game of H.O.R.S.E.
Why is he being removed from the game now? In recent days, it was revealed why DrDisrespect was banned from Twitch in 2020 – something that no one outside a small circle at Twitch knew for a long time.
It is alleged that DrDisrespect sent sexually explicit messages to a minor in 2017.
DrDisrespect eventually partially admitted to the allegations but denied the implication that he is a pedophile.
Update June 28, 10:46 AM: By now, YouTube has also become active and published a statement on how they will handle DrDisrespect in the future: YouTube cuts off DrDisrespect’s revenue – due to 7-year-old messages on Twitch.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
