AMD has introduced new processors for mobile systems. This could also mean a significant upgrade for gaming handhelds in the future. Early benchmarks indicate about 30% more performance. But there are still questions unanswered.The presented ROG Ally X from ASUS does not yet rely on AMD’s new model.
Which graphics chip is coming? AMD presented details about its new mobile processors at the CES 2024. These chips will be used in the future in laptops, convertibles, and presumably in gaming handhelds.
With the new “Ryzen AI 300” series, AMD also introduced a new iGPU. These are graphics chips that sit on the processor. And AMD has given the iGPU a powerful update compared to the last generation.
Where does the new iGPU stand?
The new 890M follows the old 780M and is expected to be installed in all “Ryzen AI 300” products.
The new chip is said to have 16 RDNA 3.5 CUs and run at 2,900 MHz. The old 780M only offered 12 RDNA 3 CUs at 2,800 MHz.
Behind the abbreviation CU stands the term “Compute Units”. These are the computing units of a graphics chip, which consist of several components such as Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs), caches, floating-point units, or vector processors, registers, and a bit of memory to store thread information.
How much more performance is there? The British magazine PCGamer reports benchmarks of the 890M that look very positive so far. In initial comparative tests, the 890M is said to be 31% faster than the 780M. In direct comparison to the ROG Ally, performance is also expected to increase by 33%. In the ROG, the old 780M is installed.
When will Ryzen AI 300 be available in stores? The first laptops with AMD Strix Point (Ryzen AI 300) will be available in stores starting July 15, 2024.
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Check out the official trailer for the Steam Deck OLED
It is uncertain how good the battery life will be with the new chip
What questions remain? For now, it’s just a few benchmarks and a comparison test. It is also uncertain whether manufacturers will choose an AMD chip with 890M for the next generation of handhelds. For example, MSI chose Intel for the MSI Claw and took a different path. Valve (Steam Deck) and ASUS (ROG Ally) currently rely on AMD.
In the new ROG Ally X, which will be released on July 22, 2024, ASUS still relies on the “AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme” processor with a graphics chip that offers 12 CUs, clocking up to 2.7 GHz (8.6 Teraflops). Therefore, the new Ryzen AI 300 is not yet being used here.
Another question is how the battery life will look with new devices: Steam Deck and ROG Ally provide plenty of performance in their current versions, but especially with modern titles, battery life is no fun.
More on gaming handhelds: Gaming handhelds are on the rise, and since the Steam Deck, many new devices have been launched. MeinMMO introduces you to the most well-known and important gaming handhelds you should know: The 8 best gaming handhelds of 2024 that you should know
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new addon for Elden Ring is coming out in a few days, and the manufacturer Gunnir has introduced a graphics card designed after the game. Gunnir relies on a chip from Intel.But the chip has been controversial for a long time. Is the GPU even recommended in 2024?
What kind of GPU is this? The graphics card presented is an Intel Arc 750 with “Elden Ring” design. The graphics card features 3 fans and is therefore quite bulky.
While the front side of the GPU appears rather unspectacular in black and gold, the backplate of the graphics card is all the more impressive. Here, the manufacturer has incorporated symbols and an image from Elden Ring. By the way, RGB lighting is not used.
According to Videocardz.com, the performance of the special custom graphics card is 350 MHz above the standard design of Intel itself. In our table, you can see the data of the standard design, from which the new custom model does not really differ.
What will the graphics card cost? According to Videocardz.com, the graphics card is expected to be available for 219 US dollars. Theoretically, you could also order the graphics card in Germany, but you would need to account for import fees.
Intel Arc 750
GPU
Alchemist (Arc 7)
Shading Units
3,584
Clock Speed(in MHz)
2,050 2,400 (Boost)
Memory
8 GB GDDR6 256 Bit 16 Gbps 512 GB/s
Power Consumption
225 Watts
Price
219 US dollars (about 200 Euros)
Is Intel Arc 750 even recommended in 2024?
Should you buy the graphics card?Intel introduced its Arc graphics cards at the end of 2022. At their release in late 2022, Intel’s new mid-range products were a complete disaster. Many testers complained about the abysmal performance and advised against the graphics card. Especially the drivers were in a very poor state at the time of the GPU’s release.
However, Intel worked diligently on its graphics card and its poor drivers. By mid-2023, initial retests showed that the efforts had paid off. The Intel Arc 750 is now a quite recommendable graphics card, ranking at the performance level of a GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB or a Radeon RX 6700 XT.
Nevertheless, colleagues from PCGamesHardware recommend that the graphics card should only be purchased by enthusiasts and fans, as the drivers are still not perfect: “If you simply want to play without much thought, you would be better off choosing an AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce.”
Another downside of the graphics card: The Intel Arc 750 is only equipped with 8 GB of video memory. Especially with new games, this could become tight in the long term. Here, 12 or even 16 GB would be significantly more future-proof.
The next major patch of World of Warcraft is expected to start in a few weeks. It must be done by the end of July at the latest.
The next patch of World of Warcraft will already be the big pre-patch 11.0. This means WoW will finally transition from the Dragonflight era to the realm of The War Within. Now Blizzard has indirectly announced: The big pre-patch will already arrive in July.
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WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within
When will the pre-patch start? Patch 11.0 will be released by July 31, 2024, at the latest. This is the date when the pre-event will begin. It’s more likely that the update will arrive a week earlier, on July 24, 2024.
A release before the pre-event is usually the case, so that everyone already has the opportunity to get used to the new system changes.
What’s in the pre-patch? Every new expansion is preceded by a so-called pre-patch. This essentially already brings a large part of the game data and many mechanics of the new expansions, even if the addon hasn’t started yet. The pre-patch also includes the “pre-event”, the limited-time event that ultimately leads to the new expansion.
Features already included in the pre-patch are:
The overhaul of the talent trees of many classes. At the start of a new expansion, there are many adjustments that you can already get used to by the end of July.
The Warband becomes active. From then on, many unlocks are account-wide, such as farming transmog for all armor classes.
Dynamic flying for many mounts. A large number of mounts can be used like dragons in the future.
What will come later? Not included in the pre-patch are all features that can only be actively used with The War Within: the new areas, dungeons, delves, or the hero talents. In order for you to benefit from these and enjoy the new content, you have to wait until the release on August 27 – unless you pre-order the more expensive Epic Edition, then you can start with the new expansion on August 23.
Are you already looking forward to the pre-patch and the new expansion? Or does everything feel much too fast for you now?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The community of the Steam game Manor Lords has taken a special liking to an NPC. His name doesn’t sound very appropriate, but according to the developers Slavic Magic, it is historically correct. Players were able to vote on whether his name should be changed.
Which NPC is it about? The names of the peasants in Manor Lords are randomly generated from a pool. This can result in one of the NPCs having the name Cuntz. It could randomly be a oxherd, grave digger, or blacksmith.
The name seems offensive to some players. They derive it from the English word “cunt”, which is a term for the female genitalia. The NPC has thus become the target of many memes. In the following reddit post, you can find an example:
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What is the consequence? The community reached out to the developer and asked him to remove the name. Developer Grzegorz Styczeń assured, however, that it was not the vulgar word, but a historically accurate name. The name was taken from a census in the 14th century (via reddit).
Some fans explained that the name is an abbreviation of Konrad and therefore has its validity. But apparently, the explanation wasn’t enough for the critics, which is why a vote took place.
In the following video, you can take a closer look at the strategy game Manor Lords:
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Manor Lord Release Date Trailer
Offensive name from Manor Lords put to a vote
How did the voting go? The developer created a vote on the Manor Lords Discord. The fan community was to decide democratically whether Cuntz could keep his name. The alternative would be to change the name to Konrad.
Meanwhile, the poll has concluded. A total of 8,185 players decided on the existence of Cuntz. The following votes were cast during this time;
Cuntz may stay: 6,921 votes (85 %)
Cuntz is replaced by Konrad: 1,264 votes (15 %)
And the victory goes to: Cuntz! The development team will not remove the name from the game. It could be that the joke wears off over time and the community finds no joy in using Cuntz for memes.
What is Manor Lords? Manor Lords is a strategy game that was released on Steam in April. It is currently still in Early Access, but has already received 88 % positive ratings on Steam. At times, it was the most desired game on Steam.
Since the announcement of Star Wars: The Acolyte, the series has been criticized by fans. The first trailer caused mockery among fans. In the current episode, there is a scene that makes the series even worse for fans.
Beware of light spoilers: This article describes a scene from episode 3 of Star Wars: The Acolyte, so if you don’t want to be spoiled, you should come back after watching.
What is it about? In Star Wars: The Acolyte, a story is told that takes place before Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. At this time, there are officially no Sith remaining and the Jedi Order lives in peace and prosperity. However, someone is murdering Jedi Masters, threatening the established peace.
In the third episode of the series, we meet an almost extinct witch order that uses the Force, but differently than Jedi and Sith. The twins Osha and Mae were raised by this order, as they apparently have great significance for the Force. The witch order itself is not new; it has been known from the Clone Wars series or from the Jedi Survivor games in the form of Merrin.
You can watch the trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte here:
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The Acolyte takes place decades before the Star Wars films
A witch ritual causes mockery
What happens in this scene? In a flashback, we see the twins Osha and Mae as children during a ritual of the witch order. During the ritual, admittedly strange noises are made and it is repeatedly sung The Power of One. The Power of Two. The Power of Many.
Under a tweet on x.com, the scene is ridiculed. There are many sexist comments that have also been observed in many other posts about the series and many statements that Star Wars is dead.
@fau1in: It is so… so bad
@christianvanck: Star Wars died with Jar Jar Binks. […] Then he was briefly resurrected with The Mandalorian. RIP.
@MadamSavvy: They couldn’t even think of a cool song?
Users like @Hereforthetext also dislike the scene, but note that it is standard to use a witch trope. Despite this, he likes how the story is developing.
What is the status of Star Wars: The Acolyte? Even before its release, many fans were not enthusiastic about the series. Previous series had already garnered much criticism. Looking at the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, there is a significant discrepancy between critics and fans.
Critics have surprisingly rated it 84%, which is higher than the Obi-Wan or Boba Fett series. However, for viewers, it looks quite different. Currently, The Acolyte has a user rating of 14%. This is a catastrophic score, especially for a franchise with such a large fandom.
Whether the user ratings will change remains questionable. Although only 3 episodes have been released so far, The Acolyte has had a poor reputation from the outset. Especially the accusations of being woke plague the series and the Star Wars universe in general. A similar accusation was also directed at Warhammer 40,000: Fans accuse Warhammer 40,000 of trying to sell them out as “woke”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A legendary pistol is currently the most played weapon in PvE of Destiny 2 and even surpasses a popular exotic revolver.
Which weapon is it? The weapon is called “The Call” and is a legendary pistol of the damage type “Strand,” which was introduced with The Final Shape and can be obtained during the campaign.
Who is the expert? The English-speaking YouTuber Aztecross has presented the new “Number 1 Weapon” of Destiny 2 in a video.
On YouTube, Aztecross has 855,000 subscribers and regularly attracts over one hundred thousand viewers with his videos about Destiny 2. On Twitch, he has over 512,000 followers.
Aztecross is considered an expert on Destiny because he deeply engages with the loot shooter and its mechanics. He calculates damage numbers for different loadouts, introduces strong builds, and does not shy away from the hardest content in the game.
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer
Rocket Ammunition and Damage Boost
What does the expert say about the weapon? Aztecross refers to the pistol “The Call” as the current “No.1 Weapon” in Destiny 2 and says that pistols with rocket support are among the best weapons Bungie has ever given to players (via YouTube). Throughout the video, he concludes: “I can’t stop using it.”
What makes the weapon so good? “The Call” has a so-called “Rocket-Loaded Casing” and fires rocket ammunition, which explodes on impact and causes significant damage.
According to Aztecross, the rocket ammunition should also harmonize with the exotic Titan armor “Dangerous Drive,” which was also released with The Final Shape and temporarily increases the damage of the pistol.
“Dangerous Drive” fires Exodus rockets when you activate your class ability. If you deal damage to targets with these Exodus rockets, it temporarily increases the damage of all other rockets you fire – according to Aztecross, this includes the rocket ammunition from “The Call,” which you fire with each shot from the pistol.
How much is the weapon played? “The Call” has a usage rate of 9.35%, making it the currently most played weapon in PvE of Destiny 2 (via DestinyTracker). The pistol is thus significantly ahead of places 2 and 3, which are both occupied by exotic weapons.
In second place is the exotic revolver “Sunshot” with 4.24%
In third place is the exotic sniper rifle “Still Hunt,” known as the “Golden Gun Sniper,” with 2.75%.
In competitive PvP, however, “The Call” does not play a role. There, the exotic pulse rifle Red Death (improved) is leading, followed by the revolvers “Ace of Spades” and “Rose.”
On June 18, 2024, Pax Dei enters its Early Access phase. MeinMMO summarizes everything important about the early version of the sandbox MMORPG and the plans the developers from Mainframe Industries have for the coming months.
Since early June, it has been clear that the Early Access phase of Pax Dei on PC will start on June 18, 2024. Since June 4, 2024, interested parties can secure various founder packages to play the Early Access version without restrictions. Prices range from just under 40 to 100 euros. The more expensive versions offer more character slots, building land, and exclusive recipes.
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When exactly does the Early Access of Pax Dei start?
Access will be granted on June 18, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Here you can see the trailer for the start of the Early Access phase of Pax Dei:
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Pax Dei: Trailer for the Early Access launch shows beautiful medieval world
What founder packages are available for Pax Dei?
Founder Package Apprentice for 39.99 euros
Access to the game for the duration of Early Access
Founder role on Discord
1 plot of land
2 character slots
Exclusive guides for founder outfit
Founder Package Craftsman for 59.99 euros
Access to the game for the duration of Early Access
Founder role on Discord
2 plots of land
4 character slots
Exclusive guides for founder outfit
Exclusive guides for hunting lodge
Founder Package Master for 99.99 euros
Access to the game for the duration of Early Access
Founder role on Discord
4 plots of land
6 character slots
Exclusive guides for founder outfit
Exclusive guides for Lindwurm construction set
The different founder packages of Pax Dei.
Note that the developers have not yet decided on the final monetization model for the live version. What is clear is that they prefer a Buy2Play version. They are also toying with the idea of a monthly subscription. Therefore, purchasing the founder package guarantees full access to the game only during the EA phase.
Founders will not have to buy Pax Dei after leaving the Early Access phase. The acquired character slots and guides will remain permanently in their possession. However, a monthly subscription may be necessary to retain access to the game and the plots of land.
How long will the Early Access of Pax Dei last?
The developers at Mainframe Industries want to keep Pax Dei in Early Access for at least a year, meaning at least until June 2025. Until then, buyers of the founder packages will have complete access to Pax Dei.
The developers emphasize that the EA phase is not a marketing gimmick. You can expect an incomplete version of the MMORPG that still needs refinement across all aspects. During the testing phase, there may be server wipes and resets of progress.
Based on the scope of the last alpha testing phase, you can expect numerous expansive regions with plenty of building space, special locations, hidden dungeons, and useful resources. These starting regions form a kind of ring around the open PvP areas of the game.
With the available recipes and resources, you can build massive fortifications, individual huts, quaint villages, or convenient material storage facilities. Anyone wanting to see, unlock, and experience everything will likely be busy for weeks.
What does the roadmap for Pax Dei look like?
In our discussion, the developers of Pax Dei already confirmed that the to-do list has only grown longer since the last alpha testing phase. Specifically, the combat system could still use a lot of love. The specific list of planned improvements can be found below:
The roadmap for the Early Access phase of Pax Dei.
Here are the main improvements you can expect:
Improved onboarding with adjusted balance and optimized progression system.
Expanded crafting with new building elements.
Comprehensive improvements and expansions of the combat system.
More weapons, armor, enemies, and spells.
Indirect storytelling to gradually reveal the history and backgrounds of the game world.
Expansion of social features and clans to enhance the interaction between players.
Introduction of a marketplace and the currency gold to support trading between players.
In the best case, players unite in Pax Dei to form village communities.
Instead, you can expect a social sandbox MMO with a strong focus on resource gathering, building items and structures, and trading goods. Entire villages, cities, and fortresses can emerge from individual plots of land.
Additionally, there are dungeons that groups with tanks, healers, and damage dealers can explore, as well as areas where PvP will be enabled around the clock. It’s up to you to decide which aspect of the game you want to focus on personally.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Westerns are a film genre that has actually faded away. However, series like Yellowstone have given the genre a significant boost. A Western is set to hit theaters as a 4-part series, but the first outlooks are not promising.
Which film is it about? The film Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 will be released in theaters this summer. As the name suggests, the film is not a standalone movie, but the beginning of a 4-part film series that is set to end in the summer of 2025.
The unusual thing about the series is that the American release of Chapter 1 is in June, followed shortly by the release of Chapter 2 in August. Chapter 3 and 4 are expected to follow in the summer of 2025. According to movieweb.com, Chapter 3 is already being filmed.
Such planning carries a significant risk. If the first film flops, money has already been spent on the other parts. The initial reviews are also not particularly positive.
A trailer for the film series can be seen here:
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Horizon: An American Saga – Trailer for the new western with Kevin Costner
Big stars in the genre renaissance
What is Horizon about? The series Yellowstone has shown that the Western genre still has something to offer. The neo-Western was also able to attract countless viewers to the television. The lead role in the series is played by Kevin Costner. With Horizon, we can now expect a classic Western with Kevin Costner in the lead role.
Horizon seems to be a classic Western. The 4-part series is supposed to depict the time of the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. The expansion of America is an important part of the story. Alongside Costner, many great actors are represented, including Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, and Jena Malone.
But what is the problem? On Rotten Tomatoes, the first part of the series has a mediocre critic score of 43%. Many critics are bothered by the slow pace of the 3-hour film, which, despite the many characters, does not tell much and feels more like the introduction to the series.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that the box office forecasts are also not looking better. The projections for the first weekend are only 12 million dollars. With a budget of over 50 million, this is a bad sign. However, Chapter 2 will be hit even harder, as it only starts 2 months later.
Competition is also not resting. A Quiet Place: Day One will be released on the same day, and in July, the financially promising Deadpool and Wolverine will come out. When looking at films like The Fall Guy or Furiosa, it becomes clear that this year other big films also flopped at the box office.
The frustrating thing about a flop would be that the film has been financed independently. Costner himself invested a lot in his passion project. Warner Brothers is only acting as a distributor in this case. In Germany, Chapter 1 of Horizon will only be released on August 22, 2024. Until then, we will know how the film performed in the USA. A Western legend recommends this film: Clint Eastwood raves about the best Western he has ever seen – But hardly anyone knows the film
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Great weather, parks full of trainers, and plenty of Pokémon: The Pokémon GO festival in Madrid seemed to put the whole city into a Pokémon frenzy. MyMMO author Max Handwerk was on site.
Even on my way to the event in Madrid, I realize: This weekend is going to be different from anything I’ve experienced in Pokémon GO before.
I’ve been playing Pokémon GO since 2018 and quite intensively at that. But I was only a spectator during the great hype in 2016: My smartphone back then simply couldn’t handle Pokémon GO.
So while I’m used to meeting groups of players at larger events like the global GO Fest or playing with a few people during Community Day, I’ve never experienced a situation where it felt like everyone and everything around me was playing Pokémon GO.
Until the GO Fest 2024 in Madrid.
Thousands of Trainers Roaming Madrid
It’s just before 09:00 on Friday morning and the sun is already blazing down from the sky. I’m on my way to the “Parque Juan Carlos Primero” – just like thousands of other trainers who want to catch as many Pokémon as possible this weekend.
It’s a sight reminiscent of the game’s release: Groups are standing at every corner, throwing Poké Balls at the monsters that are around in the park and the city this weekend.
They’ve come from all corners of the world: Over 80% of the players traveled from outside Spain to participate in the GO Fest, explained Philipp Marz, Director Regional Marketing at Niantic.
The GO Fest enticed with various Pokémon and bonuses, many of which will also be available at the global GO Fest in summer 2024. The special thing about the local GO Fest was precisely that: the location. So many players gathered at once that it felt like being back in 2016.
The gameplay that weekend was divided into two sections: One half of the day was spent in the park, while the second half took place in the city itself, Madrid.
The park was divided into four different habitats, each containing different monsters that players were supposed to explore during the event quest. There were plenty of stops, gyms, and spawns. On the contrary, it seemed almost too generous – with so many Pokémon on the screen, it was a challenge not to accidentally tap the wrong one.
This is what it looked like in the game – not so easy to manage
Additionally, the park presented itself as a true Pokémon world with various decorative elements.
For instance, there were:
Real PokéStops where you could take a break and charge your phone
A real gym on site
A small PvP section where mini-tournaments were held for small prizes
An avenue made up of loading screens from previous years
Good Vibes Despite the Heat
The players on site contributed to the atmosphere: Short conversations arose while walking around, raids were completed together, or people simply chatted a bit. There was a lot going on, but it wasn’t overcrowded.
Many dressed up nicely for the event, sporting fan shirts or full cosplays. You could often see trainers with lists on their backs showing which monsters they were looking to trade or which ones they could offer.
A few impressions:
People played in large groupsYou could recharge at the PokéStopMany were looking for any shade around noonShady spots were very popularThere were also activities in tents
When it comes to outfits, caps, hats, or similar were also in high demand, because as nice as the good weather was: The sun in Madrid is intense.
This unfortunately affected the gameplay, when phones got too hot and batteries drained almost twice as fast. Additionally, the game became choppy as the phone tried to compete with Charmander in terms of heat. No wonder then that during lunchtime, people scurried from shade to shade to avoid burning.
All in all, however, the weather was rather a plus point, which also factored into Madrid being chosen as the event location, as Philipp Marz explained. Clearly: Pokémon GO is simply more fun in warm temperatures and blue skies than in rain, snow, or storm.
Otherwise, Madrid proved to be a great place for such an event. I headed to Retiro Park. A lot of trainers showed up there to enjoy the second half of the day. However, a large part of the city was usable for the event, and players could explore it while playing – a fantastic experience for a newcomer like me in Madrid.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
However, it was sometimes difficult to get internet access within the city. While the park contained network masts that ensured a good connection at all times, there were occasional issues in the city.
But this did not significantly dampen the mood. The main reason: You were simply always surrounded by other players. Raids that were barely possible at home due to a lack of teammates were quickly defeated here. To make a new friend, you didn’t need to search for codes online – you could simply ask someone.
The overall atmosphere was simply something very special. Everyone was peaceful, in a good mood, and eager to go on a Pokémon hunt together. Regardless of age, family, or solo players: everyone was somehow in the right place.
I will always keep the weekend in my memory as a very positive experience, though it also comes with a bit of nostalgia. Because: Just like at such events, Pokémon GO is unfortunately only rarely a part of daily life. Returning to play “normally” after the GO Fest will be an adjustment. If you want to know what’s happening in the game soon: Here you will find all events for June 2024 related to Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the anime and manga of One Piece, the Straw Hat crew is still on Egghead Island. But soon, they will head towards Elbaf. The upcoming island could be of great significance for two Straw Hat pirates, as they will be reunited with important people.
Beware of spoilers! In the following article, we will discuss the upcoming island Elbaf. If you don’t want to know anything about this island yet, you can come back at a later time.
Which two Straw Hat pirates could it be important for? Especially Luffy and Usopp are looking forward to the upcoming island. In chapter 1076, there was a showdown between Shanks’ pirate crew and the Kid pirates. At that time, Shanks and his members, who are among the strongest pirate crews, were on Elbaf and celebrating with the Giant Warrior pirate crew in a bar.
If Shanks’ pirate crew is still on Elbaf, it could lead to two emotional reunions:
Luffy and Shanks have not seen each other since his childhood. Shanks had passed on his straw hat to Luffy and then sailed the Grand Line. Luffy followed him a few years later and would now be ready to look his comrade in the eye.
Yasopp is a member of Shanks’ pirate crew and the father of Usopp. The long-nosed pirate has not seen his father since his childhood. Since Usopp’s mother has long since passed away, the father figure could play an important role in his life.
Even if Shanks’ pirate crew has long since sailed on, the island of Elbaf would still hold great significance for Usopp. The Straw Hat crew had already landed on Little Garden 25 years ago in the manga and encountered two giants. Back then, Usopp made a decision.
Start video
One Piece – The 26th Opening for the Egghead Island Arc has been released
Usopp wants to become a great warrior
Why is Usopp looking forward to Elbaf? In chapter 117, they encountered Boogey and Woogey, who are currently helping the Straw Hats escape from Egghead Island. The two giants, who come from Elbaf, have been at war with each other there for over 100 years.
Usopp watched the two and admired their pride. He vowed to one day become a fearless warrior like the two giants. Since there is said to be a whole village full of such warriors, Usopp decided to visit the homeland of the two one day. So he teased 25 years ago that Elbaf exists.
What do we already know about Elbaf? The existence of Elbaf has been mentioned several times in One Piece. So far, we know the following information about the island:
Elbaf (read backwards Fable) is the homeland of the giants and is located in the New World, the second part of the Grand Line.
On Elbaf, there are supposed to be gigantic beasts. The island itself is colossal and has large mountains as well as a gigantic tree in the middle.
Big Mom lived here during her childhood and destroyed one of the villages. It has since been rebuilt.
The theme of the island is Norse mythology. The wooden huts look like they are from the Viking Age, and there is a tradition where the giants celebrate the winter solstice.
When will the Straw Hat crew arrive at Elbaf? As our colleagues from GamePro reported, the Straw Hat crew will arrive at Elbaf by November 2024 at the latest. At that time, merchandise related to the island of giants is set to be released.
This gives at most five months for mangaka Eiichiro Oda to send Luffy and his crew to Elbaf. However, the end of One Piece seems to be a long way off. There are still some mysteries that need to be resolved. MeinMMO has taken a look into the crystal ball and revealed when One Piece might end: When will the story of One Piece end?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Thanks to the new Equinox expansion, a record number of adventurers are currently exploring the universe of EVE Online. Even the servers struggled with the unexpected influx.
What kind of expansion is this? The Equinox update was released on June 11, 2024, for EVE Online, bringing the following highlight features:
Corporation and alliance leaders have access to new Upwell structures. The orbital Skyhook enables the promotion of new colonization resources (energy, workforce, and reagents). The structures are tempting for criminal elements, thereby creating a regular risk of a pirate orbital blockade.
Solar systems undergo significant changes, with planets now playing a vital role in the function of each system and determining their strategic importance.
Pilots gain access to four new defensible cargo ships. Each ship is equipped with an infrastructure hangar capable of storing items for the possession and enhancement of sovereign space.
Equinox introduces monthly rewards to provide more incentives for completing daily activities across all careers. This new addition includes a 12-level progress system, where rewards are given at every third step.
Creative capsuleers can design their own ship skins for themselves or their organization.
There are seven free days of Omega for all capsuleers who visit the New Eden Store by June 20, 2024. Omega gives you access to double training speed, advanced skills, a wide selection of the best EVE ships, the contract system for trading, and more.
The corporation window receives a comprehensive update to be more user-friendly and modern. With losses of ships, acquiring loyalty points, and salvage, three new corporation projects are introduced.
New expansions regularly come for EVE Online. Here is the trailer for Havoc:
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EVE Online lets you finally be truly evil – Trailer for the new expansion Havoc
New expansion sets yearly record and causes problems
What kind of player record is this? The new update was able to attract more space adventurers to the Tranquility server cluster of EVE Online than ever before over the weekend. Tranquility runs the live instance of the space MMORPG, where the global community (except for China) operates.
According to Eve-Offline.net, on June 11, 2024, there were 36,918 players online at the same time on Tranquility. This has never happened in 2024. The last peak was in November 2023, with 40,165 players online simultaneously. By the way, the current all-time record is from May 5, 2013, when 65,303 players were online at the same time.
The recent influx not only led to a noticeably livelier space but also caused server problems. EVE Status reported on X about login issues that prevented players from accessing the servers.
Meanwhile, the developers celebrated the first creative works from the community:
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What kind of game is EVE Online? EVE Online is a sandbox MMORPG for PC that was released in June 2003. It has now adopted a free-to-play model and revolves around exploring the vastness of space with your own ship.
You start with a simple spaceship, but your goal is to acquire a larger and better one. You can either craft it yourself or buy it from other players.
In EVE Online, almost all ships and items are created by players and their guilds (corporations). Other players are also important to tap into the full potential of the MMORPG.
The heads of Amazon Games and NCSoft have surprisingly announced the release date of the western version of Throne and Liberty! The MMORPG is indeed set to launch in 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC.
What have Amazon Games and NCSoft announced?The insiders from the South Korean business site MTN were right! According to an official press release, Throne and Liberty is set to be released on September 17, 2024, for PC, PS5, and Xbox, operating under a free-to-play model.
Even earlier, from July 18 to 23, 2024, an open beta phase is to take place on PC and consoles – with crossplay functionality enabled.
Here is the new trailer for Throne and Liberty, which went live alongside the announcement:
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Throne and Liberty: New trailer reveals release date, introduces the fantasy world of Solisium
Between Hope and Skepticism
What do I need to know about Throne and Liberty? T&L was originally announced as Lineage 3 or Lineage Eternal and was initially supposed to adopt an isometric perspective, similar to Lost Ark. However, it was completely revamped in 2017 to become a “true next-gen MMORPG.”
The new version is intended to appeal to a wide audience. It offers action-packed combat in third-person view, removes annoying features like autoplay, and promises an interesting mix of PvE and PvP.
Here are the key features of the MMORPG:
Mass Battles: Experience epic PvP and PvE battles, including dungeons and fortress sieges in a persistent open world of vastness and diversity.
Robust Social Life: Interactions in guilds and alliances are a core component of the game.
A dynamic, interactive environment: Day and night cycles have a significant impact on gameplay, and unpredictable weather effects alter gameplay, terrain, and access points.
A fresh approach to exploration and mobility: To move quickly, players can transform into flying or swimming creatures – or even take on the form of a defeated boss to influence the outcome of a battle. Use grappling points to reach platforms and gain an advantage in combat.
Two-Weapon Combat: Customize your playstyle by equipping a weapon in each hand, such as a sword and shield, longbow, crossbows, greatsword, staff, daggers, or wand and spellbook.
What has the community feedback been so far? A major focus of Throne and Liberty lies on group content and PvP battles with many participants. Many players have expressed enthusiasm about how smoothly the battles play out. Frame rate drops have reportedly been minimal, even with 1,000 and more participants.
The flexibility of the class system is also praised, as players can freely switch weapons and easily take on different roles, along with the large world, with its dynamic weather effects and day-night cycles, and the wide range of content.
In Korea, Throne and Liberty has already been released but initially failed to meet expectations. Subsequently, the leadership of the team changed. Ahn Jong-ok is reported to have stepped down. Executive Director Choi Moonyoung is now setting the direction and is thought to be considering a mobile port.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Uber Unique “Andariel’s Visage” was supposed to be enhanced with Patch 1.4.3 during the Mid-Season in Diablo 4 – and it certainly seems that way. However, the powerful effect is currently only visual.
The update also introduced some buffs for the five classes – as well as for several Uniques and Uber Uniques. This opened up new possibilities for strong builds. In particular, the Uber Unique “Andariel’s Visage” was in the spotlight. The effect of the Uber Unique helmet received an adjustment.
What is this item? Andariel’s Visage is an Uber Unique, which means an ultra-unique item in Diablo 4. You can get it as a drop from the bosses Duriel and Andariel, and in rare cases outside of that. The helmet increases the following stats:
all attributes
attack speed
life steal
poison resistance
Additionally, there is a chance with the lucky hit to trigger a poison nova that inflicts poison damage on enemies. After the patch, this should be quite visible to them, and the damage of the poison nova should be increased as well. But the effect animation is misleading.
Update: On June 20, Community Manager Adam Fletcher wrote in the forum that the bug was fixed with a hotfix: “A problem was fixed where the poison nova of Andariel’s Visage caused damage around the player, even though the visual effect was around enemies. A problem was fixed where the poison nova of Andariel’s Visage dealt less damage than intended.”
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Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
Enemies in a large poison nova – but only visually
According to Patch 1.4.3, the following changes were to be made to Andariel’s Visage:
“Poison nova” now appears on the enemy instead of the player.
Damage of “Poison nova” increased by 50%.
This means that not only is the damage of the poison nova effect higher. The area of effect can now also reach over a greater distance and is no longer limited to the immediate vicinity of the player character. However, players are now noting that the change to the helmet seems to be faulty.
Why is the change misleading?On Reddit, “zopikl0n” writes on June 17: “Andariel’s Visage is bugged. Only the visual part of the [poison] nova triggers on enemies. It still deals damage around your character, but the visual part is triggered on the enemy.”
And “SamGoingHam” writes in the comments: “Damn. I was looking forward to playing the Andariel build.” Since the Mid-Season Patch, the Andariel build for huntresses is at the top of the tier list for endgame builds in Season 4.
This is Blizzard’s response: Under a post from Community Manager Adam Fletcher on X, which is actually about the “Holy Bolt” elixir, users address the issue with Andariel’s Visage. Fletcher responded: “The problem with Andariel has been identified internally, and we will provide a future hotfix to address this issue.”
What do experts say? The Diablo expert wudijo explains the problem with the Uber Unique in his YouTube video as follows: One can clearly see the poison explosions on the enemies based on the green poison areas. So it really looks like the effect is working.
However, what is actually happening is that the effect still occurs around the character instead of on the enemies, as described in the patch – and as visually recognizable. However, this is a “fake animation.” Tests have shown that the damage is higher. Essentially, nothing is different than before the patch.
With the buff for the Uber Unique, further builds might emerge in Diablo 4 – if the effect works correctly. According to wudijo, sorceresses could also benefit from the helmet. The Mid-Season Patch brought several buffs for the classes in Diablo 4. However, players of two classes have been particularly disappointed and believe: They deserve much more love.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new week begins in Destiny 2, which also means a new patch. Bungie is taking down its servers for update 8.0.0.4 to refresh its loot shooter a bit. Here’s what you need to know about the downtime.
Update, 21:50: The servers are back online and you can finally log in. Enjoy and have a nice evening!
What you need to know today: Today, Bungie is releasing a tougher version of the 12-player mission “Excision.” In this one, players fight against the weakened Witness to eliminate him once and for all.
Bungie promises good loot, and to ensure the servers can handle it, they will be taken down for a standard maintenance. We will keep you updated on the downtime and any issues that arise.
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Destiny 2 shows the launch trailer for The Final Shape
Maintenance on 18.06. – All times for server downtime
These times are important today: Bungie informs its players about the exact downtime via x.com (formerly Twitter). It’s planned that the servers will be unreachable for 3:15 hours today.
Here’s what the maintenance schedule looks like:
At 15:00, background maintenance will start on all platforms.
At around 15:45, the servers will go offline. Players will be automatically kicked from the game.
At 19:00, the shooter is expected to be back online and you can log in again.
The maintenance will continue in the background until 21:00.
What to consider during downtimes: As long as the background maintenance is running, there may be connectivity issues in the game. Additionally, there may occasionally be queues during login because Bungie releases access to the servers gradually to avoid problems caused by high server load. Therefore, you may have to wait longer until you’re back in the game.
What changes with the new update in Episode: Echos
The following issues are known: There are many issues in The Final Shape that players are complaining about. Bungie is aware of some of them, but it is not known which of these will be fixed (via bungie.net). However, the following bugs could be addressed:
PC players with 3D audio enabled cannot hear any sound
The popup “Leaving for The Final Shape” has the wrong key art
When prismatically gifted hunters activate their new ultimate while wall-running, they fall
The hunter aspect that boosts your blade of flames ultimate doesn’t work
The description of the arc staff ultimate for hunters does not mention a blind effect after a three-combo or slam attack
What’s in the patch notes? A complete overview of all fixed issues and improvements will be available only this evening or afternoon after the update goes live.
We will update our article and provide you with the link to the patch notes. It is possible that the patch notes will be changed or corrected by Bungie afterward.
Next month, players in League of Legends can look forward to the new Anima Squad. A trailer now suggests who will be included. The community is particularly excited about two champions.
League of Legends’ big summer event is approaching, and in this context, some leaks regarding new skins have recently surfaced. A new teaser trailer reveals more information.
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League of Legends teases champions for new skins
What kind of squad is this? The new Anima Squad 2024 is set to be released on July 17, 2024, in League of Legends. In the past, several champions have already received an animal-themed look. Among others, there have been Battle Wolf Sylas, Battle Bat Vayne, Battle Bunny Riven, or Battle Cat Jinx skins.
While it is not yet officially known who will make it into the Anima Squad this time and thus receive a new skin, a teaser trailer now gives hints about the champions. In the trailer, you can hear several voices of the squad members.
Two members already mention their names in the teaser, which is why we can be sure that Illaoi and Seraphine will be part of the squad.
What does the community say? The community is discussing in the comments (via YouTube) and on Reddit which champions are likely being heard. Most users agree that besides Illaoi and Seraphine, they also hear Yuumi and Aatrox.
Other users are discussing on Reddit whether a voice belongs to Sett or Yasuo, with most betting on Yasuo. “He was also in the leaks,” emphasizes a user in this discussion.
“Yuumi AND Seraphine? This sub will go crazy,” writes a Reddit user in their comment. Indeed, many players are expressing their immense excitement about these two champions.
In many YouTube comments, the choice is often referred to as “legendary” precisely because of these two. “My queen,” writes a user in their YouTube comment about Seraphine. “I love that Yuumi is literally a cat on a keyboard,” states another comment.
What do you think of the suspected lineup of the Anima Squad 2024? Which characters would you have liked to see get an animal look? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. We don’t yet know how much the skins will cost. Of course, we hope it won’t be a fortune: Riot explains why they made the skin for €500 and that they would do it again
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This month, a new ArcheAge MMORPG is launching. Everything we know can be found here.
What kind of successor is this? ArcheAge War is the new MMORPG from publisher Kakao Games. It is supposed to be based on ArcheAge. A recently announced official release date has been set.
ArcheAge War is set to launch on June 27, 2024. On the same day, you will have to say goodbye to the MMORPG ArcheAge. It will be shutting down its servers, and we reported back in May that some private servers are already trying to attract players to continue playing there after the shutdown.
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The MMORPG ArcheAge War is starting this month
What information is available? The ArcheAge War MMORPG is set to launch in the English version for PC and mobile. There should not be any region locks or other restrictions. In addition to SEA servers, there will also be international servers.
Through the official website (via teaser-aaw.kakaogames.com/SEA), players in some countries can already register early for the game. For pre-registration, there will also be bonuses and items available, including the “Ring of Promise.”
You will also be able to secure a username through the website until June 23, 2024, which you can then use to start in the MMORPG later.
What can you expect? ArcheAge War is supposed to offer you more PvE and story content than the original. There have been mentions of dungeons and a campaign mode in advance. The PvP content in the new MMORPG will focus on smaller groups, while large-scale PvP from the predecessor will be omitted.
The official website is already presenting the 6 different races you can choose from:
Nuian: A very humanoid race that fights honorably and believes in Nui, the god of death.
Warborn: A race with powerful horns that were once brutally slaughtered as minions of the demons.
Elves: After losing their leader, the elves became fierce fighters.
Harani: The Harani are said to be the descendants of the hawks.
Dwarves: The dwarves have found their fortune in Archeum and are determined to defend it against the intruders.
Firran: The Firran are a cat-like race and are known as “wind warriors.”
Additionally, you will be able to choose from nearly 40 class combinations to prepare for exciting battles on land, water, and in the air. If you’re still looking for a good MMORPG, this list could be helpful for you: The 5 MMORPGs with the best housing in 2024
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As part of the Summer Game Fest 2024, Pocketpair presented a new free update for their game Palworld titled Sakurajima. MeinMMO reveals what the new update has in store for you.
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Palworld Update: Content and Release Date
When will the update be released? The new update won’t keep you waiting long, as it will be released this month, on June 27.
What kind of update is this? The free update for Palworld is titled “Sakurajima.” The update includes a new, Japan-inspired island – fitting for the title. There will also be additional new features that may be particularly interesting for those who prefer multiplayer gameplay.
You can watch the trailer for the new update here:
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Trailer for the new Palworld update ‘Sakurajima’
Palworld Update: New Island & New Pals
Is there a new island? The new update brings a new island into the game, which, alongside a giant house surrounded by cherry blossom trees, apparently has even more to offer. Furthermore, the trailer shows that there will be a kind of bamboo forest and a swamp area.
In addition to the new island, another location has also been announced: the Stronghold Oil Rig. It looks like players will face exciting battles here.
Are there new Pals? Along with this, new Pals will be introduced, as well as new subspecies of existing Pals. As an example, we see a new form of Quivern in the trailer.
Are there new boss fights? What may also be of interest to many is the new raid boss. With the last update, the demand for endgame content was addressed by introducing Bellanoire as a raid boss. The new raid boss promises another challenge after watching the trailer.
In addition to the new raid boss, there will also be a tower with a new boss fight. We do not yet know where the new tower will be located.
Palworld Update: New Features
What can players expect in multiplayer? A pleasing news, especially for Xbox and Game Pass users, is that there will also be dedicated servers for these players. Additionally, the trailer announced an arena where you can compete against other players.
What other features are there? However, the changes mentioned are not everything: there will apparently be new buildings and a new level cap. However, the exact level cap has not yet been disclosed.
For the Summer Game Fest, there was new information about Monster Hunter Wilds. According to some reports, the game looks fantastic so far. It might even be better than Monster Hunter World.
What is Monster Hunter Wilds? Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest installment in Capcom’s popular Monster Hunter game series. Following the highly popular Monster Hunter World and its successor Monster Hunter Rise, it continues to develop the game franchise.
For the Summer Game Fest 2024, there was a completely new trailer showcasing new monsters. You can watch it here:
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New trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds shows captivating battles
These features make Monster Hunter Wilds better than World
What’s new in the game? The colleagues at Dualshockers were able to see a presentation from Capcom at the Summer Game Fest regarding the game. They summarized it in a preview, focusing mainly on the open world and weather system.
In its predecessor World, players often had to deal with loading screens and long treks through the camp. This is no longer the case. In Wilds, you start in an open world and can set up your own base camp at any location, which becomes a fast travel point on the map.
Additionally, after completing a hunt, you will no longer be automatically teleported back to camp. You can loot freely and just keep walking. Overall, the game feels less disjointed, even though it still definitely looks like Monster Hunter.
The new dynamic weather also surprised the colleagues: While this feature has been around for a long time in other games, according to Dualshockers, not with the intensity that Monster Hunter Wilds brings. The weather affects the open world to such an extent that entire regions and their fauna change.
A sandstorm was supposedly shown in the presentation, causing new monsters to appear and others to disappear. There were also suddenly appearing fires, and the monsters became generally more aggressive. Moreover, it was noted that the Apex Monster of the area only appeared with the storm. The Apex Monster even had a spectacular battle with another monster.
The weather change turned a known region into a completely different one.
What else do we know about it? Initial information and rumors have been around for a long time. We reported about it in March, among other things. The open world, for example, had been predicted for a while. Here are more details:
The entire game is supposed to take place in the open world
The game has been in development since 2019
The boss of Monster Hunter World, Yuya Tokuda, is leading the development – this has now been confirmed (via X.com)
Additionally, the colleagues from IGN had the opportunity to speak with the developers at the Summer Game Fest about the game. The discussion mainly focused on the cooperative mode: In Monster Hunter World, it was very cumbersome, which is something players fear in Wilds as well.
However, the developers reassure: They want to simplify the coop and make it seamless.
So far, the news about Monster Hunter Wilds sounds positive. We will only know if and how it will actually turn out at release. Currently, there is no precise information about it, but it will likely not go online before 2025. Until then, you can engage with other games, for example, the MMORPG Tarisland is launching soon: On Friday, the largest MMORPG for PC since Lost Ark is being released, so you should take a look.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Tests reveal important insights for the energy transition. Not all solar panels are equally robust, but a trend is recognizable.
What kind of modules are we talking about?As our colleagues from Xataka report, the charity Hespul installed a series of small 1kW modules in Lyon in 1992 and connected them to the grid – a premiere. They were the first solar modules in France. Their name: Phébus 1. In 2023, the solar panels were dismantled and brought to the lab. After 31 years of operation in wind and weather, are they still usable?
Less relevant for the future, but definitely an exciting art project:
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In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
Beyond the Guarantee
What were the results of the tests? On average, the mini power plant achieved an efficiency of 80 percent. Some degraded by about 34 percent, while others lost only 13 percent of their output. The manufacturers guaranteed significantly less: they promised only 80 percent efficiency across all modules after 25 years. The modules from Phébus 1 would still be usable today without any issues.
Where does the difference between the panels come from? The variance can be explained by the smallest differences in materials and manufacturing – especially considering the age of the products themselves. Back then, the solar industry was still in its infancy, nowadays lesser differences and likely also a higher performance retention can be expected. You can read more about this, for example at Gruenes Haus with references to the Fraunhofer Institute.
How is a solar panel tested? In a completely darkened room, the solar panel is exposed to a bright, standardized flash of light. Subsequently, it is measured how much electrical energy the panel gains from it. If this is done at different points in time – for example, with a 31-year gap – it can be traced how the performance of the panel has decreased.
So roughly 80 percent of the incoming sunlight is converted into electricity? No, the laboratory’s statements do not indicate the efficiency. It quantifies the energy converted into usable electricity. And this value is likely to be poor for these old solar cells from France compared to today, probably under 20 percent.
High-tech and clever ideas are also the focus of another article with us. However, the plan of this applicant turned out to be far less sustainable than solar cells: Because what a candidate for a university career tried during a state examination in Turkey is likely to accompany him for the rest of his life: His cheating attempt with a camera, phone, and AI failed, but the police are quite impressed.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new Zelda game titled The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is set to be released in 2024, breaking with the gameplay principles of the series.
What kind of game is this? On June 18, 2024, Nintendo announced a new game in the beloved Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
Unlike in previous main games of the Zelda series, you won’t take on the role of the brave hero Link, who rescues the missing Princess Zelda. Instead, you will play as Princess Zelda, who is searching for the disappeared Link.
Strange fissures appearing throughout the kingdom are responsible for the disappearance of Link and the other inhabitants of Hyrule.
When is the new Zelda coming? The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is expected to be released later this year, with the release date planned for September 26, 2024.
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Nintendo has introduced The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
What makes the new Zelda special? As Eiji Aonuma, the producer of the Zelda games, revealed, Echoes of Wisdom breaks with the previous gameplay principles of the series. You will not be wandering through the game world with sword and shield, but will receive a so-called Tri-Stick from a fairy named “Tri,” which allows you to create echoes.
Echoes are imitations of objects you find in your surroundings. For example, you can create a copy of a chair to climb on it to overcome an obstacle. You can also create echoes of stones and throw them at enemies or copy monsters that will then fight alongside you.
Solving puzzles using the Tri-Stick is an important part of Echoes of Wisdom – whether you are building bridges, throwing stones, or using the stick to reach higher areas.
Perhaps Nintendo can celebrate a smooth Zelda release with Echoes of Wisdom. At the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there was a leak of the game, which was even playable on PC via emulators. One of those emulators was sued by Nintendo in February 2024: Nintendo sues emulator for Switch games – Wants money for what they did to Zelda
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
