In MMORPGs, the rules for weapons are actually clear: Warriors fight with sword and shield, mages use a staff, clerics wield a mace, and rogues carry a dagger. But the new class in Black Desert has an unusual weapon combination: The Dosa uses a sword and a tobacco pipe, although smoking is not really acceptable nowadays. The Dosa will come to Black Desert on July 3rd.
What kind of class is it:
The Dosa is a warrior who fights with a sword and a pipe. It will be the 28th class in Black Desert.
The character is inspired by Korean folklore, or so it is said. “Dosa” actually refers to someone who practices the “Tao”, a Chinese worldview.
The new Dosa will arrive on July 3rd in Black Desert, at least for the PC version.
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Black Desert: New Class ‘Dosa’ in Trailer
Those who smoke always have friends … or fog slaves
What can the class do? The Dosa will use his sword in battle, but with the pipe, he can summon “Warriors of Fog”, fog warriors, who will fight by his side.
I used to smoke a pipe and no warriors ever appeared beside me – but what do I know?
This is what it looks like: In a trailer for Black Desert, you can see the Dosa in action and indeed, when he is battling, 4 warriors appear beside him, hammering down on the enemies together with him.
The Dosa seems to be creating quite a stir and appears to favor particularly vigorous sword attacks and lots of smoke.
However, the Dosa doesn’t really smoke in the trailer. Especially in the USA, public tobacco consumption is a sensitive topic and has largely disappeared from pop culture. The amount of smoking in “Mad Men” was hotly debated in the late 2000s, but the series was set in the 1960s when smoking was part of everyday life.
This is how the class is being discussed: In the comments on the Dosa on YouTube, there is a cheer through the community because after “feeling like 500 years”, there is finally a male class again. Moreover, it is fully voiced.
In the MMORPG Black Desert, there is a gender lock: Each class is automatically assigned to a race and gender.
The analyst Michael Pachter (67) has been dealing with video games for a long time. He explains Microsoft’s new strategy behind the three new console versions. For him, the goal is clear: Microsoft wants to get people who have been playing PlayStation for ages to buy the first Xbox. For Pachter, the Xbox Game Pass is the business model of the future. This is questioned on a panel.
This strategy is what Pachter sees at Microsoft: In a discussion format, Pachter explained the strategy behind the 3 new Xbox variants presented by Microsoft at the showcase (via gamepro):
He says Microsoft hasn’t presented the exact specifications yet. But a new Xbox has no drive and is purely digital, with a hard drive of one or two terabytes (Note: Pachter is referring to the Robot White Xbox Series X – It has 1 terabyte of storage and is supposed to cost around €500)
Pachter says: “This is clearly the console for the Game Pass.”
What Microsoft is trying to do is clear: They want to get a PlayStation user to buy the first Xbox and sign up for the Game Pass. That’s clever.
Start video
An old Xbox game could only be bought for 36 days – A pro wrestler has over 2,700 copies of it and wants more
Former PlayStation head views Game Pass critically
Are there counterarguments? A journalist from Gamesindustry.biz questioned the subscription model behind the Game Pass. Many gamers would only buy one or two games a year. He asks if they are willing to pay $17 for a subscription model that they hardly use. He remains unconvinced by the business model to this day.
Players are only renting access and not purchasing ownership. The question is whether people are willing to pay $17 for something that can be taken away from them at any time:
“When you pay money for the privilege of having access to content. But that access can be revoked at any time. Then you don’t own it, do you?”
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Analyst is convinced of Game Pass, sees opportunity for Xbox to dominate
What Pachter counters: Pachter presents possibilities for how the Game Pass could become even more attractive:
Microsoft could offer every free-to-play game for free access to the Game Pass – without taking platform fees, then all mobile games would come there and potentially bring 3.5 billion players with them
Microsoft could also include World of Warcraft in the Pass, for which players are already paying a subscription fee
Pachter seems to believe that Microsoft has the upper hand in the battle for players. Especially mobile gamers tend to play more than just one or two games, just not on console, but on their phones.
The possibility of WoW actually coming to the Game Pass and indirectly saving subscription fees or getting much more for your money has been discussed ever since it became clear that Microsoft planned to buy Activision Blizzard: Will WoW come to Xbox: “The dream exists,” say the developers
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The DLC of Elden Ring has now encountered negative feedback from players after a positive start. The bosses of Shadow of the Erdtree are at the center of the criticism.
What is the mood like? Shadow of the Erdtree was released on June 21, 2024, and received enthusiastic reviews from the press. The Metascore stands at 95 points.
On Steam, the sentiment also looked very positive on Friday. There were predominantly positive ratings and reviews praising the DLC. Additionally, the player count of Elden Ring skyrocketed, reaching a peak of over 550,000 players simultaneously shortly after the expansion’s launch.
On June 22, 2024, according to SteamDB, about 780,000 simultaneous players were recorded. The motivation is high, but the more people have played the DLC and the further they progressed, the more the overall sentiment changed.
This has led to Shadow of the Erdtree currently losing its “very positive” rating on Steam and now standing at “Mixed.” But what are players criticizing?
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
The biggest problem is the bosses
What do the ratings look like now? As of June 23, 2024, over 22,200 players have provided their rating on Steam. Only 63% of these are positive. Many of the negative voices have expressed themselves in detailed reviews explaining why they are giving the DLC a thumbs down.
One point that is repeatedly mentioned is the partly poor performance of the game. Especially in comparison to the main game, there are noticeable frame drops and even freezes, particularly during boss fights. This might be due to the fact that many of the battles are very effects-heavy, which puts significant strain on players’ PCs.
Regarding the bosses: they receive the most criticism. In the reviews, long-time fans of FromSoftware often voice their opinions. Players like the user Lars760 say: “It pains me to write this review, as I love the Souls games. But the boss fights are no longer what they used to be.”
FromSoftware has artificially made the bosses, in their opinion, more difficult. They act overly aggressively and have long combos that leave little time for players to attack.
The studio should reconsider its design philosophy, especially in light of the negative feedback. User Crimson finds the expansion itself great but criticizes the poor execution of the bosses. They rely on cheap tricks and do not reach the quality of previous bosses like Lady Maria.
“This DLC only exacerbates the core issues of the base game. Inflated HP pools, attack cycles that never end, scaling that doesn’t seem to work properly,” writes PossumPally while also criticizing the new system surrounding the Scadubaum fragments. Read our guide on MeinMMO to make your life easier.
“Every boss must now be like Malenia,” criticizes ThomasOfAstora, after explaining that he has been playing and loving FromSoftware’s games for 12 years. With the DLC, however, the studio went too far.
Currently, the mood is quite mixed. Many positive opinions stand against negative ones. Therefore, we are curious about your opinion. Have you played the DLC yet? What do you think of it, especially the bosses? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you are looking for assistance, you can visit MeinMMO – here is our guide overview.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The DLC for Elden Ring introduces numerous new weapons to the game. But one stands out in particular. With it, you can beat your opponents according to all the rules of the art and look like a martial arts fighter while doing so.
What weapon is it? When FromSoftware announced a total of eight new weapon categories for the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, the excitement was high. What new additions would there be? In the first trailers for the expansion, alongside the obligatory swords, spears, and staves, there was also a fighting style that reminded many players of Bruce Lee kung fu movies.
In the now-released DLC, you can find this weapon called “Dry Leaf Art” and beat the crunchy opponents with it. In addition to punches, you can also kick with your feet and actually whirl through the air – both you and the opponents.
In practice, this fighting style is a lot of fun and lets you zip from enemy to enemy like a whirlwind. Also, because it is unusual for Elden Ring. FromSoftware manages to loosen up the established fighting styles of their games a bit and bring some fresh air into it.
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
You must defeat a master
How do you get the weapon? Dry Leaf Art cannot simply be found in the world of the DLC. You have to earn it.
At the grace “Cross at the High Road,” just after Castle Ensis in the Scadu Altus area, you will find the gesture “May the Best Win.” Collect it and run east to the grace “Ruins of Moorth.”
There, the NPC Dry Leaf Dane awaits you. He has nothing to say to you. Instead, use the gesture you just received, and you will be thrown into an arena where you must fight Dane.
The NPC does not withstand much, so he is not comparable to the big and difficult boss enemies of the expansion. After your victory, you return to the grace and find a drop from Dane there. Namely, his hat and the sought-after weapon Dry Leaf Art.
Equip it, preferably upgrade it, apply a war ash to it – then the joyful beating and kicking can begin. Your opponents won’t survive the day without a black eye.
Unfortunately, the weapon has one downside. Its range is not particularly large, and in combat against tower-high boss enemies that also move quickly, it may happen that you swing at empty space. Against smaller opponents, this problem is hardly noticeable. They end up in the afterlife and will tell their colleagues there about the cool guy with the hard kicks. Unless you die yourself – Lead developer Miyazaki has now explained why his game has to be so difficult.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On the night of Thursday to Friday, June 21, 2024, a massacre occurred on a server of World of Warcraft . On the US server “Defias Pillager”, a server lag claimed the lives of numerous WoW characters. Because in hardcore mode, everyone has only one life, and there is no mercy, not even in such a case.
This was posted by a concerned WoW player. In the official WoW forum, on June 21, a gnome warrior posted (via forums.blizzard):
A massive lag spike claimed hundreds of characters’ lives on the server “Defias Pillager”.
It was clearly a server lag, he was in Ironforge trying to buy something. But suddenly, nothing worked anymore, only the chat functioned, everything else was gone. The game just stopped responding.
He encourages people to share their experiences.
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WoW: Guild loses 30 characters on a hardcore server – And it wasn’t even a boss fight
“Thousands of play hours lost”
This is what the players say: One says thousands of play hours were lost here, and no player is to blame for that. He understands that Blizzard is tough, but the deaths are 100% the fault of the server – there should be an exception in such a case.
Another player says: He lost 20 guild members at that moment.
Another player adds: She has played for 50 days, invested money, and now everything has gone down the drain.
There was apparently a raid underway, and the lag cost many level-60 characters their only life. Image source: Mmorpg.org.pl
This would be a solution: Some players are demanding that Blizzard makes an exception and resorts to a rollback.
A rollback is one of the most drastic actions an MMORPG developer can take. A rollback reverts the server to a previous state. Everyone loses their progress made from that point until the moment the rollback occurs. MMORPG developers do this only in very few cases.
The nightmare for anyone who enjoys looting and leveling
This is what’s behind it: “Hardcore” is not for everyone. MMORPG players traditionally suffer from loss anxiety and enjoy building something in the game, collecting items and levels, and becoming stronger.
While the theory that in such a hardcore game everything “really” counts because you always risk everything is quite plausible. But such moments of losing everything through no fault of your own are the nightmare for every MMORPG player, and many seem to have experienced this on that night.
The thread in the official Blizzard forum has nearly 130 comments.
The action RPG Elden Ring is hard. The new DLC “Shadow of the Erdtree” is even harder. In an interview, the boss of Elden Ring explains why this has to be the case. Because even though compromises were made in Elden Ring to give players some breathing room – it is not meant to be a game for everyone. Only when it is really tough do players get that satisfying feeling of having achieved something.
That was the question: In an interview with “The Guardian” the head of Elden Ring, Hidetaka Miyazaki, is confronted with the difficulty level of Elden Ring. This may sound a bit cynical, given that the DLC is now so hard, but the interviewer asks Hidetaka Miyazaki:
Whether he believes Elden Ring is so successful because it is more accessible than other games from FromSoftware. Instead of repeatedly facing an unbeatable boss, you can go elsewhere.
In Elden Ring, at least you are not constantly having your face pushed into the dirt.
Whether the head believes Elden Ring is more successful than Sekiro because it is more accessible?
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
“The point is that it is so hard”
This is the answer: The head admits that Elden Ring gives players more freedom than other games from the developer.
They did not want players to feel claustrophobic or constrained in their options. Elden Ring does not have the dark fantasy of other FromSoftware games, but the same coolness. However, they want to give players the feeling of being able to breathe. That is just part of the “High Fantasy” genre.
“If we wanted the whole world to play the game, we could reduce the difficulty”
According to the head, there is this discussion about the difficulty level with every new game from FromSoftware. Other developers would introduce an easy mode, some enemies would even be removed completely. But for a game like Elden Ring, that is out of the question. The fact that it is so challenging is exactly the point, and dialing back the difficulty would compromise it creatively:
If we really wanted the whole world to play the game, we could simply keep reducing the difficulty. But that wasn’t the right approach. If we had chosen that approach, I don’t think the game would have turned out the way it is, because the sense of achievement players have when overcoming these hurdles is such a fundamental part of the gaming experience. Reducing the difficulty would take that joy away from the game – which in my eyes would destroy the game itself.
The DLC of Elden Ring is out and many Tarnished are now fighting against the incredibly difficult bosses from the expansion. Streamers like Asmongold are also venturing into the Shadowlands, but he is so frustrated by one boss that he has to change his build – successfully.
Who is Asmongold? The streamer Asmongold is considered the biggest MMORPG streamer on Twitch. He gained fame with his WoW streams, but for some time now his content has consisted solely of reaction content where he reacts to things and lets his fans participate. Occasionally, he tries out new games like Elden Ring and proves how good he is at them.
With the release of the new Elden Ring DLC, the streamer didn’t want to miss out on the hype and thus dared to try it himself. The result: countless deaths and pure frustration. One boss even demoralized him so much that he had to resign.
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Career and life of Asmongold in 3 minutes – What makes him special?
To progress in the DLC, you must defeat him. Asmongold thus tried his hand at Messmer with his halberd build in Power Stance. Unfortunately, his failures frustrated him so much that he had to end his stream and gave up.
Messmer was simply too powerful for him, and so the streamer decided to try something new. He built a setup that was unfair but effective.
What was the solution? In his YouTube video, Asmongold first showed his frustration and then how he found his easy mode in the DLC. The solution was straightforward: he decided to forgo dodging from then on.
Paired with a lot of poise and the fingerprint stone shield, he fought a crucible knight, the rot knight, Romina, and even the dancing lion with ease. Asmongold employed the turtle tactic with counterattacks.
He blocked every attack and then always followed up with a counter. With this build, he was now ready to challenge the mighty Messmer.
The action starts at minute 00:53. His build is simple yet effective:
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How effective was the build against Messmer? Surprisingly effective, even though Asmongold had trouble withstanding all attacks. His first attempt brought him into the second phase of the boss, only to die impressed by the transformation of the boss. The second attempt brought him victory, but throughout the fight, it became apparent that the build still had its difficulties.
Messmer has many quick attacks that will melt your stamina bar. If you block every one of them, the boss can break your stance and then knock you off your feet. The turtle tactic can thus work, but Asmongold’s build still needs optimization to be perfect.
Could Pokémon GO change the way stories are told? That’s what we asked the heads of the game.
How much story does Pokémon GO have? There isn’t a large overarching story. Different stories are told for various research, events, or seasons, primarily in text form.
These texts mainly appear in the game as narratives from the professor. Willow usually gives a few sentences for each research – and those who follow along can often read interesting info about the key Pokémon of the research, or sometimes even quite interesting stories.
What is the problem? Many players have recently reported that they simply skip the professor in Pokémon GO. They don’t catch much of the stories that Pokémon GO wants to tell.
We asked the heads of the game about this.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
Developers want to offer players both options
What do the heads say about the story in Pokémon GO? During the Pokémon GO Fest in Madrid, we met Niantic CEO John Hanke and Live Game Director Michael Steranka in a roundtable interview. Besides various other topics, we also discussed the topic of story.
At the GO Fest in Madrid, it was noticeable that at least a few characters besides the professor talked to the trainers to advance the story of the event. That’s why we asked: Is it conceivable that Pokémon GO will change its storytelling in the future, especially since many players simply skip the professor?
“Our philosophy regarding this type of story design is: We know that some players are very interested and formulate theories about why things happen in the game Pokémon GO,” said Steranka: “And some players just want to catch Pokémon.”
So Pokémon GO has different target groups that it needs to serve. “I would love to do more in terms of storytelling,” admits Niantic chief Hanke: “But it is true, you have to maintain the balance. Some people are excited about that, others just want to be right in the action.”
The fact that some players just click through and thus miss out on the story is not a problem for now, according to Steranka: “We want to be able to offer players both. If you’re not that interested in the narrative aspect, you can just quickly tap through, and that’s okay. We want you to make the best use of your time,” said the director.
He also emphasizes: “But the team puts in a lot of thought and effort to build this world and this story. For the players who are interested in it, there is quite a bit to discover.”
As it stands, it doesn’t seem that too much will change in storytelling, at least in the near future – even if Hanke says he would like to do more in that direction. What do you think about the topic? Would you like to see more story elements, like in the Ultra Beast teasers? Or do you not care about the story in Pokémon GO anyway? Let us know in the comments! And what’s coming up next is shown in the overview of all Pokémon GO events in June 2024.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Through the Devil Fruits, the characters in One Piece gain special powers that turn them into strong fighters. However, there are also some figures who struggle through life without devil powers. MeinMMO introduces you to five characters who manage well without devil fruit.
Warning, this reflects the current state from manga and anime. Therefore, some locations and bounties may be spoilers for you.
What was the ranking based on? The following factors were considered when creating the list:
The fighters have not eaten a Devil Fruit or it is not yet known that they have eaten one.
The individuals are still alive. This excludes characters like Gol D. Roger and Kozuki Oden from the ranking.
The characters can belong to either the Marines or the Pirates or the Revolutionary Army.
The ranking was also created with personal preferences and is not 100% objective. If you see other characters in the ranking, please share your suggestions in the comments.
[toc]
Position 5: Silvers Rayleigh
The pirate is retired.
Faction: Retired Vice Captain, Roger Pirates
Bounty: unknown
Silvers Rayleigh may have had his best days behind him, but he is still a formidable fighter. He masters all three types of Haki and has trained Luffy in mastering the three types of Haki.
Despite his age, he has proven what he is capable of. He was able to effortlessly keep up with the light speed of Marine Admiral Kizaru to protect Luffy and his crew from him. Presumably, he would have moved up a few spots in the ranking back when he was the right-hand man of Gol D. Roger.
Start video
One Piece – The 26th Opening for the Egghead Island Arc has been released
Position 4: Ben Backman
He always keeps a cool head.
Faction: Vice Captain, Red-Haired Pirates
Bounty: unknown
Ben Backman is also now at an advanced age, although not as old as Rayleigh. He landed in 4th place in the ranking, even though he has not shown himself in a single battle yet. However, the fact that he is the vice captain of one of the Four Emperors speaks for itself. Marine officer Brannew also revealed that he has a high bounty.
Backman himself claims that it would take a whole warship to stop him. He uses his rifle as a weapon and can enhance the fired bullets with Haki. Even Vice Admiral Kizaru has great respect for him. Although we have to speculate a bit here, we believe he has a lot to offer.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Final Fantasy XIV there are so-called Ultimates – these are really tough fights. MyMMO author Fabienne Kissel has finally succeeded in one of the hardest Ultimates but made a really dumb mistake that still haunts her today.
I am a huge fan of Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV). In Eorzea, I feel at home. Especially in battles, I am very ambitious. I have successfully mastered the current raid at the hardest level (Savage).
Next, I dreamed of successfully completing one of the Ultimate fights. For me, it would be a personal milestone to master such a fight.
Ultimates are the hardest fights in Final Fantasy XIV. They require immense skill, knowledge, patience, and a strong team. The fights consist of a series of boss battles, where teams of 8 players fight against several intermediates before they must defeat the final boss.
Ultimate raids offer titles and shiny weapons. These rewards primarily serve as status symbols that show that one has mastered the hardest content in the game – and are popular glamour pieces (i.e. transmog).
The new expansion Dawntrail is just around the corner, and I am really looking forward to it:
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural
My Journey to Ultimate – A Dream Comes True
Since I started playing FFXIV, I dreamed of successfully mastering at least one of the hardest Ultimates. I am talking about the two Ultimates from the Endwalker expansion: The Omega Protocol (TOP) and Dragonsong’s Reprise (DSR).
I absolutely wanted to do one of them, as these are the only Ultimates so far that have a weapon for my job (the Sage). However, in my friend’s raid group (Static), there had not been a spot for a shield healer, so I waited.
The thought of diving into this adventure with strangers through Party Finder stressed me out too much. The endless waiting for a group, the lack of coordination, and the constant need to get used to new players – that was not an option for me in a fight of this class.
Moreover, I preferred to raid with my friend and guild members.
Finally, a Spot Opened Up for Me
In February of this year, it finally happened: A healer spot for the Ultimate Dragonsong’s Reprise (DSR) opened up in my friend’s Static. Awesome! The group had already reached the 6th phase of the fight, but they decided to rehearse the fight with me from the beginning.
The joy was immense, but I knew that a long road lay ahead of me.
What is Dragonsong’s Reprise (DSR)?
Dragonsong is one of the most challenging fights in FFXIV. The Ultimate raid challenges you with complex mechanics that require precise coordination, speed, and perfect timing.
It consists of several phases (a total of 7), which are tied to the events of the Heavensward expansion. The fight lasts about 18 minutes, and mistakes are almost unforgivable. A single error can mean the end for the entire group.
Therefore, it is crucial that everyone plays their role well and knows the mechanics inside out. There are, of course, damage and heal checks as well.
Anyone who has ever tackled an Ultimate knows that this is no walk in the park. It was my very first Ultimate raid. Until then, I had managed the current Savage tier, but I had never encountered content this difficult before.
To prepare myself, I watched guides on Dragonsong on YouTube . My mitigation plan (according to LPDU) was also ready. A mitigation plan is a guideline for the fight that specifies exactly when and which shields, healing spells, and damage-reducing abilities must be used.
Everything had to fit perfectly, or the group would die from the damage.
Dragonsong is a great fight that is incredibly fun – but also damn hard.
It was hard. I was the only one in our group who had to relearn the fight up to phase 6. Many mistakes happened while the others played well. Sometimes I forgot a shield or wasn’t always in the right position for mechanics that needed to be solved. Here and there, I lost my orientation and concentration.
The entire group must be extremely consistent to return to the prog point where progress was made.
The pressure was high, but my ambition was just as strong.
After Over 400 Pulls, the Moment Finally Arrived…
After over 400 pulls, countless hours, and massive efforts we did it! In the last phase, I was shaking with excitement and breathing heavily. I even forgot to give our dear tank a shield at the end! So he died at the end, but we defeated Dragon King Thordan.
The moment of triumph was overwhelming. I was so proud and happy.
A picture of our Static in Dragonsong – right after our Clear.
…but the high didn’t last long
Because I made a really dumb mistake: My inventory was full.
ARGH!! How can one be so stupid, I thought to myself.
And so the inevitable happened – I missed the totem for the weapon. After successfully completing the Ultimates, everyone receives an item that can be exchanged for a weapon of their choice.
The weapon I so desperately wanted and fought so hard for, I unfortunately forgot.
To be honest… I somehow deserved it.
This MMORPG sin I have been committing for years – sometimes I am just too lazy, don’t feel like it, procrastinate, or simply forget to clean up my own inventory.While I always made sure during Dragonsong that I had at least two slots free for the totem – but of course not on that evening.
My totem was gone. It did not appear in the mailbox. Even the FFXIV support could not help me. So I walked around with my new awesome title The Heaven’s Legend – without my shiny weapon that I wanted so much.
Since then, we have tried to complete Dragonsong again, but so far without success. I felt really bad.
The frustration ran deep and I decided to bravely dive into Party Finder. Definitely a challenge for me. I had gotten so used to our Static; to the calls of our reliable raid leader. They have always helped me a lot. Although, of course, one has to know and see all the mechanics themselves.
But it was doable.
I threw myself as a healer into Party Finder, spent countless hours again, and finally managed to get my totem. Originally, I wanted to use my first totem to get the weapon for the Sage, but my plans changed.
Because in my guild’s Static, a permanent spot for the Physical Ranged Damage Dealer became available, which I got. With this group, I will also raid the Savage tier in Dawntrail and hopefully also the upcoming new Ultimate Futures Rewritten (Eden).
So I treated myself to the dancer’s weapon, because I won’t be playing the healer in Dawntrail for now.
There is the infamous totem.
I Am Looking Forward to the Dancer
I have been playing only healers or supporters for years, whether in LoL, Baldur’s Gate 3, or in FFXIV.The last time I played a DPS (damage dealer) was back in the Burning Crusade days in WoW. Back then, I played a warlock.
Finally my shiny weapon! Dawntrail can come.
But I am feeling positive. I am already constantly practicing my rotation on the training dummy in front of our guild house and running various content so that I can deal proper damage in Dawntrail.
And I have to say: Wow! The dancer feels really great in terms of gameplay. We don’t even have to talk about the aesthetics of the job.
Now it’s your turn: Has something like this ever happened to you? What MMORPG sins do you commit? Feel free to write it in the comments. If you’re unsure what else you should do before the new expansion Dawntrail is released in Final Fantasy XIV, we have a checklist for you: 10 important things you should do.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The first and last DLC of Elden Ring will be released on June 21, 2024. What you should know about the release, the trailer, preparations, the preload, its price, and the content is summarized in our overview.
Update, June 21: We have updated our overview. We explain to you under “Start” how you can access the new DLC.
When is the release of the Elden Ring DLC? The release of “Shadow of the Erdtree” will take place on June 21, 2024. Players can already pre-order the DLC to secure a bonus in the form of an emote.
We have now listed all the information in our overview. If you only want to read individual points, you can jump to your desired location using our directory.
Where can I find the start of the DLC? The start of the DLC can be found in Mohgwyn’s Palace at the cocoon of Miquella. Interact with his hand to teleport to the new area.
Elden Ring DLC: Preload – Start, Time, and Download
When does the preload start? Elden Ring comes with a preload before the official start, but it is only available for PlayStation. It is scheduled to start on June 19 at 00:00 German time. PC and Xbox players can only download the DLC after the release on June 21.
How large is the download? There is no official information yet, but unofficially the X account “PlaystationSize” (source: x.com) has revealed that the preload will be 16.502 GB. We will only find out how large the file will actually be on the official release.
Can the DLC be played earlier? There is a trick for various releases where players can change their region to New Zealand to get earlier access to the games and expansions.
Players on Reddit particularly recommend this trick for Xbox and PS4 players. It apparently does not work on PS5 and PC.
Elden Ring DLC: All about Price and Editions
How much does the DLC cost? Shadow of the Erdtree will offer four editions for purchase. Depending on the platform, you have the option to buy all or only one of them. They differ in price and the content you receive. The following editions are available:
Standard Edition
Price: €39.99
Content
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Premium Edition
Premium Edition
Price: €49.99
Content
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Digital Artbook of the DLC
Original Soundtrack of the DLC
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Deluxe Edition
Deluxe Edition
Price: €99.99
Content
Base game “Elden Ring”
Digital Artbook of the base game
Original Soundtrack of the base game
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Digital Artbook of the DLC
Original Soundtrack of the DLC
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Collector’s Edition
Collector’s Edition
Price: €249.99
Content
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Figure of Messmer the Impaler
Exclusive Hardcover Artbook
Digital Soundtrack Download Code
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Elden Ring DLC: Content, Bosses, and Locations at a Glance
Elden Ring DLC – What content is available? In Shadow of the Erdtree, you enter the Shadow Realm of the Earth Tree – a new dimension where Messmer, one of the main antagonists of the DLC resides. You will access this world through a portal and must figure out what schemes the god is up to in this world.
In the DLC, you will also explore new areas such as a swamp or a massive castle. The world remains open and can be explored by you with Torrent, your faithful steed.
The CastleThe Forest
New bosses as well as armor and weapons are among the content players can expect at release. Even new abilities, such as throwing large jars or darting through enemies like a porcupine, will soon be available for players.
Ninja Kicks against enemiesA new bossThe Porcupine Ability
Lastly, Messmer, the chief of this dimension, makes his stance clear. He has no regard for the Tarnished and will do everything he can to destroy you.
Miquella, the sleeping god in Mohgwyn’s Palace, will most likely be the key to the portal into the new Shadow Realm. He will also guide you through the DLC via his footprints.
These were all the important details regarding the DLC of Elden Ring. If more information becomes available, this article will of course be updated. Are you excited about the Shadow of the Earth Tree, or is Elden Ring enough for you without the expansion? Let us know in the comments!
A professor who plays a major role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is despised by many fans. The actress talks about what it was like for her to play this role.
Who is it about? The British actress Imelda Staunton is particularly known for her portrayal of Dolores Jane Umbridge, one of the most hated and cruelest characters from Harry Potter.
In the Order of the Phoenix, she is sent to Hogwarts as the new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts to solidify the Ministry of Magic’s control over the school. She stops at nothing and punishes students in sadistic ways to suppress them and reinforce her power.
The actress has spoken in interviews about how challenging it was for her to play the damn monster Umbridge.
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German trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
What does the actress say about her role as Umbridge? Imelda Staunton spoke in an interview with Entertainment Weekly about how much she detests Umbridge’s insidious nature. Even though she enjoyed playing the character.
She said the following about Dolores Jane Umbridge:
I think she is a damn monster and should be played that way. I don’t need to understand what she does, but in her character, she believes she is doing absolutely the best for this school. Once again, I have completely and utterly embraced a blind woman.
This scene haunted the actress for days afterwards
What scene is it about? One of the worst scenes in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix particularly affected Imelda Staunton. In the scene, Umbridge forces Harry Potter to write I must not tell lies with a magic quill, which painfully engraves itself into his hand.
About the scene, she said the following in the interview:
It touched something in me that made me think: ‘God, we are all capable of great cruelty.’ It was a horrible, terrible feeling. She doesn’t just twirl her mustache and say ‘Muahahaha’, but it is the absolute and unwavering belief that it will actually help, and that is, of course, much more terrifying.
The Twitch streamer Dantes primarily showcases League of Legends and has fully committed to the grind. He even sacrificed his relationship for it.
What kind of streamer is he? Dantes, also known as Doaenel, is one of the larger League of Legends streamers on Twitch. His channel regularly ranks among the 20 most-watched for the game, with an average of 2,000 to 3,000 viewers (via SullyGnome).
Dantes is known for his dedication to the grind: he streams an average of 6 times a week for about 8.5 hours each time (via TwitchTracker). In August 2023, he drew attention when he streamed for 194 hours in just 10 days and reached the Challenger rank on the notoriously tough South Korean servers.
Now, this dedication has apparently cost him his relationship.
Start video
A 67-year-old grandfather becomes a legend in LoL and a nightmare for Riot Games
Streamer says he is not ready for a relationship
What is behind the breakup? In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Dantes announced the end of his relationship with Twitch streamer Laura “Laurinchhhe”. The streamer explained that he is simply not ready for a relationship.
He told his partner from the beginning that his career was his top priority, Dantes said. She also supported him in everything and was “everything [he] ever wanted.” However, relationships are about compromises.
The streamer explains that it was mentally taxing for him to see his girlfriend putting her own life and career on hold to support him while he couldn’t do the same for her.
“I have come to the realization that the foundation of what relationships are was nothing that I could/wanted to do, and that is why I made the decision to end things.”
The post was seen by more than 73 million users. In the comments, many cannot understand why he would give up his relationship for a video game.
Ex-girlfriend cries on stream
On the same day, Laurinchhhe appeared distraught in a stream on her Twitch channel. In tears, she shared how she experienced the breakup. Fortunately, the streamer said, they were currently visiting Berlin, where her family lives. However, her belongings are still with Dantes in Canada.
She is currently trying to organize her move. Since then, Laurinchhhe has not been live. Dantes, on the other hand, is already back on Twitch and grinding in LoL.
Even though this case might be extreme, many gamers have probably experienced that excessive gaming can negatively impact romantic relationships. In other cases, however, League of Legends can also bring people together and playing together can strengthen the relationship. Twitch streamer shares how her boyfriend won her heart: “He carried me in LoL”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With Season 5, some changes are coming to Diablo 4, including “Quality of Life” improvements. One of them seems to excite many players the most at the moment.
Some changes affect the bosses in the endgame of Diablo 4, and players already see this as a “big win.” The community shares their joy in a post on Reddit, with some players stating: This has been long overdue.
Season 5 will run until the release of “Vessel of Hatred,” the first expansion for Diablo 4, which starts on October 8. Here you can see the bloody cinematic trailer:
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Trailer for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred provides insight into the story of the expansion
“Quality of Life” Changes to the Bosses
What is Blizzard changing? The developers of Diablo 4 are changing a few mechanics related to bosses in the endgame in Season 5:
Currently, it is necessary to leave the dungeon and reset after the boss fight. This costs time and is cumbersome, especially in group play. With Season 5, this will change, and you can summon the boss again immediately. The altar is supposed to spawn after you defeat the boss.
To summon “The Beast in Ice,” you currently need to craft and activate a Nightmare Seal for the “Glacier Chasm.” Due to the setting of the Nightmare Dungeon, you can respawn a maximum of four times, which can be particularly tight in the “Tormented” version at level 200. However, starting with Season 5, you should be able to summon the beast with mats like the other bosses.
Currently, you need four body parts to summon Varshan in his Malignant form. From Season 5, you will only need one.
Specifically, the fundamental change to boss fights and leaving the dungeons seems to please players. During a YouTube livestream on June 21, the developers noted that they had often been asked about this feature.
“It didn’t respect my time”
What does the community say about it? On Reddit, “vagrantwade” writes on June 21: “Bosses can be resummoned after being killed in Season 5! We have won!” The post has already gathered over 1,000 upvotes (as of June 22, 5 PM). Various users express their thoughts on the topic in the comments.
The top comment, with over 360 upvotes, comes from “InfectiousPineapple.” He writes: “This is a damn big win and probably what I’m most looking forward to in the next season.” And “Cranked78” believes it is “long overdue; the old system was pointless.
“This and the fact that the beast in ice will then function like the other bosses is so satisfying,” writes “N8CCRG.” And “SerWulf” adds: “It should have been added mid-season, but better late than never.”
User “Nelwyn420” notes that he will grind the bosses next season. He never manages more than 20 runs because his time is not respected here. “Amelaclya1” agrees, writing: “This is such a big ‘Quality of Life’ change […]. Right now, I’m bored after 5 runs.”
The changes to the bosses are expected to be available on the PTR (Public Test Realm). In the last “Campfire Chat” livestream on June 21, the developers already provided important information about the features coming with Season 5 in Diablo 4. Many of them can be tested on the test server. The patch notes for the PTR are also already available. We have summarized the highlights for you: Diablo 4: With patch 1.5.0, many of you will be able to test Season 5 on the PTR in a few days
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Raph Koster (Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies) has been working with other veterans on a sandbox-MMO for years. Now, there’s a sign of life in the form of a countdown and a teaser for an upcoming community Q&A.
What kind of sandbox MMO is this?Playable Worlds was first introduced in 2019. The studio of the same name has been around since 2018. With this project, the team aims to create a digital, dynamic world that feels alive and where the community is at the center of everything.
Imagine Ultima Online, just significantly more challenging, modern, and engaging – that’s the promise. Powered by complex simulations and AI tools. Sounds rather cryptic, right? Well, that’s because nothing tangible has been shown to the public over the years.
However, various investors who have poured millions of US dollars into the project during the development process probably know more. In April 2022, a whopping 25 million US dollars was raised in one shot. Additionally, there were scattered quotes such as the one from Mark Laursen, founder and CEO of Bright Star Studios (via X): “Epic presentation. This is truly next-level material.”
Free MMORPGs that you can play right now:
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3 MMORPGs that you can play for free
Playable Worlds remains cryptic
What news is there? For a few days now, a kind of countdown has been ticking down on the studio’s social channels (e.g., via X) in the form of questions meant to illustrate how the world of Playable Worlds could function:
What if … you could actually invent new things in an MMO?
What if … there were a way to discover secrets in an MMO – and no simple wiki provides you with all the answers?
What if … it rained and puddles formed that freeze overnight?
What if … the game would reward you for peaceful gameplay?
What if … you could be admired and become famous in an MMO for more than just your character level or raid skills?
What if … you could simply change your opinion about who your character is?
What if … you could walk through grass to leave a trace if you did it often enough?
What if … exploring in an MMO actually mattered (for you and others)?
What if … MMOs actually fulfilled the dreams we once had for them?
What if … an MMO actually allowed you to reshape the landscape?
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What’s behind the countdown? On June 21, 2024, there was an announcement on the studio’s official website (via playableworlds.com) that an Ask-Me-Anything session in the MMORPG section of Reddit is planned for June 28, 2024.
Who’s behind Playable Worlds? None other than studio founder and CEO Raph Koster is expected to provide the answers during the AMA session. You might already know Koster; after all, he was the lead designer of Ultima Online (1997) and the creative director of Star Wars Galaxies (2003).
The team also includes Executive Producer and Chief Product Officer Gordon Walton, who previously worked at Maxis (The Sims), BioWare (Star Wars), and Sony Online Entertainment.
It’s time for our MeinMMO format “MMORPG news in two minutes” again. We summarize the most important news about the best genre in the world. Look forward tothe start of the hot MMORPG summer 2024, with many releases and announcements.
The life simulation “Growing Up” is currently on sale on Steam for €8.87. MeinMMO author Schuhmann spent six hours with the game yesterday, on June 20, 2024, and was fascinated. He says: If life were really as hard as in that damn game, we would all be total losers.
This is Growing Up:
In Growing Up, you steer the fate of a newborn until graduation. It is a life simulation.
You decide which skills you learn and the direction your life takes.
You encounter classmates in classic RPG scenes and can experience their story.
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In Growing Up, you control the story of a newborn until their graduation – Trailer
Cool life simulation with exciting gameplay loop
What fascinates me about the game? I am a fan of life simulations, but there are few offers besides the overwhelming The Sims. I always fondly remember Kudos, where you start as a young adult with your own apartment and where a visit to the dentist is the worst thing that can happen to you.
Growing Up is essentially a kind of thinking game that follows a fixed sequence:
On a “Brain Map,” you have to see in which order to press icons to collect the maximum number of skill points. With that, you unlock skills in different areas that correspond to the skills:
This Brain Map becomes increasingly complex from round to round, with numerous bonus icons that you definitely want to collect. There are ways to earn bonus turns and even move to the “next round,” so you collect more skill points and become more successful in life the better you get at this brain map game. It’s like a puzzle to solve.
The Brain Map becomes more complicated as you get older.
In addition, there are other systems through which you acquire skills, shop in the city, work, or engage in leisure activities.
It is a great feeling of constant guided progress. It has something of “The Sims,” as you advance so clearly in life. First, you learn to spell, then to write, and eventually engage with literature. Or you buy a skateboard with your first money to spend your free time and get a bit fitter. You then want to collect enough points to become better at football.
Here’s the catch: “Growing Up” is truly ruthless. Because there are 2 parameters: your own mental health and your parents’ reputation.
If you only work and play too little, you become “Overworked” and nothing works anymore.
But the parents totally hate it when you do anything that even remotely looks like fun. With every time watching TV or even riding a bike, your parents’ reputation decreases.
They then make sometimes absurd demands, like I should perform a completely stupid skill 10 times that brings me nothing – out of sheer whim, because I supposedly “needed to spend more time with my parents.”
When I disappointed my parents twice, they just kicked me out and sent me to military school, even though I was so close to becoming a celebrated sports star.
After playing, you can really understand why teenagers go crazy during puberty. It’s clearly because of the parents.
Reviews on Steam are 88% positive, rave about the game
What do the Steam reviews say? The reviews are 88% positive. Growing Up is seen as a refreshing life simulation that has a lot of originality and is fun to play. Many reviews emphasize that they simply enjoy the game and feel good while playing it. Many also praise the music and the satisfying feeling of understanding the game.
The RPG scenes are criticized – they repeat too much and the dialogues are long.
How is the game doing on Steam? Growing Up was released in October 2021 and for almost 3 years after the launch hardly anyone was interested. Only now in June 2024 do more players seem to be discovering the game. The game is currently experiencing a small renaissance (via steam). This may be due to the sale, which runs until June 27. During this time, Growing Up is 40% cheaper and hopefully finds many more players. The game deserves it, even though the parents are truly cruel tyrants.
During the filming of a scene in The Return of the King, an actor was injured so severely by a prop that he even had to go to the hospital. MeinMMO reveals what it’s all about.
Who is it about? Almost everyone has heard about Viggo Mortensen’s (Aragorn) injury during the filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The story has practically become legendary. In a scene, Aragorn believes that Merry and Pippin have been brutally killed by Orcs. In his rage, he kicks the helmet of an Uruk-hai and breaks two toes. Orlando Bloom also got injured when he fell off a horse and broke several ribs.
But these two were far from the only ones on the set of The Lord of the Rings who got injured. During the filming of The Return of the King, Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins) was also not spared.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Trailer (German)
Elijah Wood was injured during the spider scene
How did Elijah Wood get injured? In the third part, Frodo is hit by Shelob’s sting (the creepy giant spider), which severely wounds him and brings him close to death. However, during the filming of this key scene, Elijah Wood suffered a real injury from a prop object that represented the sting. This information was later revealed in the Extended Edition DVD. There, Wood and his colleague Sean Astin (who plays Sam) discuss the background of this scene.
How serious was it? Wood describes how the sting from the prop object was not only extremely painful but actually led to a serious injury that required medical treatment. The injury was so serious that Wood had to spend several days in the hospital recovering before he could return to the set.
Wood and Astin even joked during this time about using an appendicitis as an excuse for the hospital stay. The irony was that they speculated whether this incident might have actually led to Elijah Wood’s real appendicitis in 2003. Sean Astin was also not spared from injuries on set. At the end of the first film, he ran into a river and stepped on a glass shard. Ouch! Did you know? One of the most epic images in the Lord of the Rings film was not makeup, but a real injury.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On June 21, the developers of Diablo 4 announced that there will be a test server for Season 5 next week. MeinMMO summarizes the highlights of the patch notes for 1.5.0 for the PTR.
The highlights from the stream:
Next week, there will be a PTR (Public Test Realm) for the new features in Season 5.
Season 5 starts on August 6 and will last until the release of the expansion “Vessel of Hatred” – specifically until October 8. Season 6 will start simultaneously.
There will be a new endgame activity at World Tier 3 and 4 – the “Infernal Hordes”. At the end of the activity, you can even choose the type of your reward. The summoning of bosses in Diablo 4 will also be adjusted.
Items will be revised again, with many new Legendaries and Uniques added. There will also be some “Quality of Life” changes.
In the “Campfire Chat” livestream on YouTube, the developers of Diablo 4 announced on June 21 that there will be a PTR for Season 5 next week. All players with a Battle.net account on PC can participate.
The detailed patch notes for the PTR can be found on page two. A little warning: They are VERY long.
Season 5 will run until the launch of the expansion. Here you can see the cinematic trailer for Vessel of Hatred:
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Trailer for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred provides insight into the story of the expansion
New Features from Season 5 on the PTR
What can I test on the PTR? In the livestream, the developers of Diablo 4 stated that you can test most features coming in Season 5. These include:
New Activity “Infernal Hordes“: Here you activate a “Hell Compass” and then fight against waves of monsters and a boss. This allows you to earn various rewards. You obtain Hell Compasses through various endgame activities.
After completing it, you can choose a reward chest that contains either gear, gold, or materials.
Items: According to the developers, the items will be revised again. There will also be 50 new Uniques and Legendaries. Uniques and Uber Uniques can also be farmed at the Curiosity Vendor, in Hellfire Chests, and at the Tree of Whispers.
Mythical Uniques: Uber Uniques will become Mythical Uniques – they will be purple and have a new sound when dropping. The drop chance for Mythical Uniques in areas outside of bosses will be increased.
Class Updates: There will be further buffs for the classes. Furthermore, classes will have more options for equipping weapons. For example, Necromancers will be able to wield axes.
Bosses: The Beast in Ice can now be summoned like other bosses using materials instead of a Nightmare Sigil. Varshan now requires only one body part to summon instead of four. And you no longer need to leave and reset dungeons, you can resummon the bosses immediately after the fight.
“Quality of Life” Updates: The time needed to complete Whisper tasks will be reduced. The number of tasks in Hellfire will be increased. The loot drops from the Treasure Goblin will be improved.
PTR – Boost or Transfer Character
There will be three options for how you play your character on the PTR:
You take one of your current characters and play with it on the PTR
You level a completely new character
You boost yourself in Zarbinzet at the “PTR Boost” NPC directly to Level 100
After the boost, you receive: all new Legendaries, 1 new Unique, 100 million Gold, 1,000 Obolusses, potions, two equipment sets, all Paragon Glyphs, up to 10 Hardening recipes, a few mats
When does the PTR start? The PTR starts on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. We suspect it will go live again in the evening and be available for a week.
How do I participate in the PTR? You can install the PTR directly through your Battle.net launcher, just like the PTR for Season 4. If you play Diablo 4 through the “PC Game Pass” or “Game Pass Ultimate”, you can access it that way as well. You open the Battle.net launcher in the Xbox app and install the PTR.
The developers emphasized at the end of the stream that they are very satisfied with the current Season 4. The PTR has helped them a lot, especially for the balance in Diablo 4. They are particularly satisfied with how the item system has developed. Many players are also thrilled with the current season. And some are even so much that they let other things go.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fortnite will shut down its servers for maintenance on Saturday, June 22. You can find out about the server status and what leaks and patch notes you can expect in our overview.
Update, 6:00 PM: The new Reload mode is scheduled to start today, June 22, at 8 PM German time, according to Epic Games. So get ready. (Source: epicgames.com)
All leaks for Patch 30.20
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What happens during an update? On June 22, Epic Games will shut down the servers for maintenance. You will not be able to play Fortnite during the downtime, so be prepared.
This time, a new mode is expected in Fortnite. Fortnite: Reload is said to bring back a smaller map with familiar POIs like Tilted Towers, Pleasant Park, and Loot Lake. You will find out what the update includes and how long the downtime is with us.
Start video
Fortnite: Chapter 5 Season 3 – Trailer for gameplay with ruthless wasteland
Fortnite: Start and duration of the server downtime
Server down in the morning – What you need to know: Epic Games has announced the server downtime for Fortnite and set it for 6:00 AM German time. Matchmaking will be disabled 30 minutes before the servers shut down – so you won’t be able to start new rounds during this time.
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When will the servers be back online? This depends on the size and scope of the update. If there are no complications, you can expect a two-hour downtime. However, it could also be that the server downtime will not be resolved until around 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM. We will keep you updated in that case.
When will the patch notes be released? Epic Games is currently only sporadically releasing its patch notes for the “Battle Royale” mode. If they are available, they will only be released after the downtime. We will list the patch notes as soon as Epic Games has published them.
What contents could be released with update 30.20?
Some information about new collaborations has already leaked, and it is believed that “Pirates of the Caribbean” will join Fortnite. However, what you can expect exactly is listed here (via x.com):
