Pandaren are a staple of World of Warcraft – but China has resisted. So much that instead, we got the Draenei.
Draenei and their lightforged brothers and sisters are among the more popular races in World of Warcraft. The characters lovingly referred to as “space goats” can be seen in nearly every group and have long become a staple of the story.
But that wasn’t always the case. The Draenei were actually a stopgap and a replacement for another race – the Pandaren.
Currently, Pandaren are popular again – because WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria is on the way:
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WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria – All Features at a Glance
What was Blizzard’s plan? When Blizzard wanted to present the new races at BlizzCon 2005, only Horde players got to see their new race – the Blood Elves. There was no in-game material available to show for the Alliance at that time.
The reason for this: Blizzard actually wanted to introduce the Pandaren as a new race for the Alliance, but this was not approved by China.
Where does the information come from? Concept artist Trent Kaniuga revealed this in a Reddit post some time ago. When he was asked for details, he said:
“It was kind of like this: We made concepts for the Pandaren cities and buildings and then China said: ‘Wait, you can’t use pandas.’ So we then made the Draenei.”
An early concept idea of the Pandaren.
What is the issue with pandas in China? In China, pandas have always held a very special status and are seen as a kind of “national treasure.” Therefore, the government closely monitors how and in what context pandas are portrayed in all media.
According to Kaniuga, the reason was that Blizzard did not take enough time for negotiations with Chinese authorities. Kaniuga believes that China would have agreed, but it simply required more time.
That the Chinese government ultimately did not stand in the way of Pandaren was then shown by “Mists of Pandaria” several years later – when the Pandaren became playable for both factions.
Has it harmed WoW in the long run? That’s probably hard to say. It is clear that some content was cut back then, after all, concept art and ideas for the pandaren culture already existed from the artists. However, the rejection from China, according to Kaniuga, came so early in development that Blizzard still had enough time to develop the Draenei and integrate them better into the entire story of World of Warcraft.
In fact, The Burning Crusade would likely have been an expansion with a very different feel if Pandaren had populated the game world back then. So the change to the Draenei may not have been the worst decision.
Or what do you think?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Sometimes the best moments in a movie are thanks to chance or a spontaneous idea. This was also the case with an iconic scene from Indiana Jones.
Which scene is it? Do you remember that moment in the first part of Indiana Jones, where Harrison Ford as Indy stands in a marketplace and is about to engage in a dramatic duel with a swordsman?
The two men are surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, and everyone is eagerly waiting for the moment when Indy duels the challenger with the saber.
But it turns out differently than expected. While the swordsman, wrapped in black robes, wildly swings his weapon, Indiana Jones quickly pulls out his revolver and shoots the poor guy down. He then turns to the camera. His face in that moment speaks volumes: He simply didn’t feel like an honorable duel.
Here you can see the scene:
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The resolution of the scene fits well with the character of the adventurer Indiana Jones. He does not want to waste time with this unwanted situation and takes the easy way out, which makes him appear tough and cool.
This scene was not in the script but was changed on set. The reason for this was a rampant illness that restricted the crew and actors in their work.
Indiana Jones will soon also be in a new video game. Here you can see the gameplay trailer:
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle shows first gameplay in the reveal trailer
The Sick Harrison Ford Did Not Want to Fight
What happened on set? Parts of the filming crew were infected with dysentery at that time. This is an inflammation of the intestines caused by bacteria. Those affected suffer from abdominal pain or diarrhea, among other symptoms (via flexikon.doccheck.com)
Harrison Ford was also affected. When the day came for the actor to face his adversary with a whip in hand, Ford turned to director Steven Spielberg, who has his own rituals during filming.
Ford asked for a change to the scene. CNN recalls the actor reminiscing about that time:
We were supposed to film a four-day whip and saber fight in a marketplace. And I was suffering from dysentery, just like many crew members. … So it was up to me to say: ‘Listen, I can’t stay outside the dressing room for long. Should we consider shortening the scene?’ And Steven said, ‘I was just thinking about that myself!’
So they decided to change it and let Indiana Jones resort to dishonorable means. The actor Terry Richards, who played the swordsman, probably wasn’t very pleased about this.
According to Harrison Ford, he had trained for about four months for the fight. All for nothing, as the circumstances required a change in the script.
Nevertheless, or precisely because of this change, the scene became very famous and has become one of the iconic moments of the Indiana Jones character. The casual way just suits him well, and it is questionable whether he would have had any chance against a seasoned swordsman in close combat, whip or not.
Thanks to Helldivers 2, more and more people are discovering Starship Troopers. However, the film is not received well by everyone as expected.
What kind of film is this? Starship Troopers is a science fiction film from 1997 that has developed into a cult classic over the years. It satirically addresses the fight of a military society against the threat of the “Bugs” and is quite violent in the process. This caused some issues at the time of its release, as not everyone could recognize the satirical approach.
A very similar approach is taken by the game Helldivers 2, which is clearly inspired by Starship Troopers. Due to the success of the game, the film has also gained a lot of attention again and found some new fans.
The star of the original film, Casper Van Dien, is currently out and about giving interviews about the film, the connection to Helldivers 2, and also a new game: Starship Troopers: Extermination.
You can see that in the trailer here:
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Starship Troopers: Extermination shows battle against bugs in new trailer
Casper Van Dien talks about satire in Starship Troopers
In one of these interviews, with Gamerant, Van Dien, who played the protagonist “Johnny Rico” at the time, commented on the development of the new game, the film, and how it is received.
He was clearly excited about developer Offworld, who is developing the new game, and emphasized: “It was really fun for me, because they really understood it. That wasn’t the case for everyone,” says Van Dien.
In England, Van Dien recalls, the audience fully understood Starship Troopers, for instance, because the humor matched. In America, it wasn’t that easy back then, but that has improved, the actor explains: “In America, we might have missed it back then, but now people are coming back,” says Van Dien.
What is it like today? There has been more audience engagement, also because people have played the new game, Helldivers 2 or Halo.
And today it is often said: “‘How could anyone overlook that this was satire?’ That’s what the young audience says. And I believe that’s because educated people show it to them, older people show it to them, and also the audience simply has more wisdom regarding this kind of thing nowadays. For some reason, it has changed a bit, the satire is much better understood.”
How has the press changed? Even in the press world, it is easier today. Back during a press conference, as Van Dien recalls, someone even asked him to show a military salute.
He refused: “I’m not an idiot, maybe I play one in the movie, but I won’t do something like that. For me, it was confusing, maybe they wanted to trick me, maybe they really didn’t understand the film.”
Does everyone understand Starship Troopers today? He finds it really difficult at times to comprehend when people still do not see what Starship Troopers is above all:
Namely a satire. “I always try to be friendly. And I try to explain and have compassion, because I don’t think it’s fair to mock someone just because they aren’t there yet,” explains Van Dien: “Maybe they didn’t pay enough attention.” One could despair over that: “Yes, because it seems so obvious.”
Overall, however, Van Dien sees mainly positive aspects in the revival of Starship Troopers, to which certainly the success of Helldivers 2 contributed. In another interview, the actor had also commented on the topic, but emphasized: One should feel free to train elsewhere, but then preferably with him to fight against the Bugs in the new game about Starship Troopers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Riot released a skin bundle for the legendary League of Legends player Faker. The problem: The skin bundle in the “Signature” variant costs 59,260 RP, which is about €514.27. Now, Game Director Pu “PuPuLasers” Liu has commented on the skins and the outrage of the players.
What does Riot have to say about the anger surrounding the skin? In an interview with PCGamesN, they discussed rare skins and how to proceed with them in the future. After all, the €500 skin was not the first skin that the League of Legends community had been upset about regarding its price.
Game Director Pu “PuPuLasers” Liu notes, “People were very upset about it, not just a little bit.” He further says, “I also think it is somewhat justified” that League of Legends is a “14-year-old product” and that players are “used to everything being below a certain price level.”
But alongside understanding the fans’ anger, he also explains why Riot still needs these skins.
Faker, to whom the skin is dedicated, is arguably one of the most legendary LoL players since:
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LoL – Hall of Legends: Faker Trailer
The skins are for showing off
Why does Riot need these skins? The Game Director clearly states why Riot has the skins in the game. A small number of players should be able to buy them and show them off.
“We need to have [these rare skins]. This kind of product is intended for a very small percentage of our players who can buy them and flex. […]” So those with the money should buy the skins and be able to show off.
He also mentions that the expensive skins only make up a very small portion of the skins that League of Legends received last year. He would also expect this to continue in the future, with expensive skins only making up a small part.
However, the Game Director is not finished yet. He thinks it’s important to let players know what situation League of Legends is in. It is a competitive game that only sells skins and does not want to do anything that resembles Pay2Win in any way. Therefore, the majority of players would receive all content for free.
Who are the skins intended for? Pu “PuPuLasers” Liu admits: “Most of our revenue comes from a small single-digit percentage of players; it’s simply the reality that casual players who spend a lot of money have an disproportionately large share of the profitability of the business.”
The Riot team has considered that there are players willing to spend $200 a month on their hobby, and Liu says, “God knows how much I’ve spent on Warhammer figures.”
“But it is really important that we capture this willingness and ability to spend money [for those who can afford it],” he says in the interview. So Riot also wants to offer something for players who want to spend more money on skins.
But they would also consider who would buy the skins: “It would look bad for us if a lot of people who hadn’t spent much on League suddenly bought the Signature bundle – we would say: ‘Oh God, what have we done?'”
How are the skins meant to help eSports? Riot involves teams in the skins dedicated to them. The Game Director states that 30 % of the revenue, not profit, would flow into eSports.
Moreover, Riot prefers to offer players who have already spent money on the game in the past, opportunities to spend money again, rather than targeting free players.
According to the Game Director, Riot believes that there may be too high a percentage of players who invest money in a free-to-play game. This would mean in reverse: “This means that the free-to-play experience isn’t good enough compared to the paid experience.”
A humorous find was made by the “League of Legends” community on Reddit: While Game Director Pu “PuPuLasers” Liu has probably spent a lot of money on his Warhammer figurines, the game figure of the €500 skin only costs about €242 in Korea.
So those who prefer collecting figurines instead of “League of Legends” skins would get it cheaper. In “League of Legends” eSports, it’s not only heated on the battlefield. A recent dispute between a player and a manager of a Chinese top team escalated quite a bit: World-class player in LoL wants to quit after dispute with manager escalated
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Currently, the Next Fest is happening on Steam, where you can discover a lot of new games and download demos. However, the demo of a survival game seems to be leading all others.
Which game is it? Once Human is a new survival game from the developer studio Starry Studio, which is set to be released on Steam on July 9, 2024. Especially after the survival flop of The Day Before, Once Human has quickly garnered attention among genre fans and became a hope for many players back then.
Once Human is a survival sandbox game.
With your fellow players, you try to survive in its post-apocalyptic world, where an alien substance called Stardust transforms living beings into monsters and grants them supernatural powers.
There will be PvE combat and PvP combat against other groups.
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Das Survival-Spiel Once Human erscheint im Juli auf Steam
How well is the demo received? Even before the Steam Next Fest, Once Human made it into the charts of the most wished-for games on Steam. Currently, the survival game has even earned the seventh place. It was expected that many players would at least try the current demo once.
However, after the first two days of the Steam Next Fest, it can already be said that Once Human definitely belongs to the top contenders among the showcased games.
If you look at the three categories of the game preview page, trending upcoming games, most wished-for upcoming games, and daily active demo players, you will find Once Human currently in first place on each list. This indicates that it is not only one of the demos that piques players’ curiosity the most, but also the demo that players want to return to again and again.
Why is it worth playing the demo? It’s not only because the free demo on Steam is so popular that it’s worth taking a look at. Especially if you are considering getting the game in July, you can already get an impression of what the world of Once Human feels like.
In the demo version, you can already play with other active players and form an opinion about the multiplayer aspect of the game. Since according to Steam there are also daily active players, you should be able to encounter fellow players at any time. Another survival hit from Steam has now also made it to the Playstation 5: The survival game V Rising is available on PS5 today, after it started as a hidden gem on Steam 2 years ago
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new class has been revealed for Path of Exile 2: The Witch. In an almost 10-minute gameplay video, developer Grinding Gear Games showcases her gameplay. They even do some things better than the Necromancer in Diablo 4.
What kind of class is the Witch? The Witch is a class you can already play in Path of Exile. There, she focuses on magic. In Path of Exile 2, she will be the counterpart to Diablo 4’s Necromancer as a minion class.
The developer Grinding Gear Games introduces her in a nearly 10-minute video in detail:
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The Witch is the new class in Path of Exile 2; shows in the gameplay trailer what she can do
How the Witch plays in Path of Exile 2
How does she play? The focus of the Witch in Path of Exile 2 is on summoning minions. However, she also has some standalone attacks. Your strategy here:
You summon your minions and send them into battle for you. While they rush forward for you, you support from the back with powerful magical attacks.
According to Game Director Jonathan Rogers, the summoning of your undead hordes has been adjusted for Path of Exile 2. Primarily based on experiences from the first part:
We completely changed the way summoning minions works. In POE 1, you had to summon all minions manually, which could be a bit cumbersome in different situations, but now all your minions regenerate simultaneously as long as none of them has died for a short period of time.
We found that it is much better for all minions to regenerate at once rather than one after another since the individual returning minion usually just dies again.
This means that when your army of minions dies, you only need to focus on surviving and dodging. After some time, your retinue is automatically revived.
A special spell now even lets you recruit your enemies for your followers. However, these have a limited lifespan. Certain types of minions could allegedly also infect enemies, making it possible to infect entire game levels.
You are also free to assign your minions to specific tasks, according to Rogers. For example, they could open doors for you, keep certain enemies in check, or search chests for loot.
Is the Witch fun? Gamesradar journalist Josh West had the chance to play the Witch for a few hours. He claims to have played the Necromancer in Diablo 4 for over 100 hours. He finds the Witch in Path of Exile 2 even slightly more enjoyable during his playtesting.
According to West, the class is fun because it has its own heavy attacks and its minions are simply stronger and have more influence on the battle. There are also many more of them than in Diablo 4. Overall, the retinue simply has a larger role in fights – precisely because they deal more damage.
That the Witch’s minions feel better than their counterpart in Diablo 4 is somewhat surprising. Recently, Jonathan Rogers mentioned that they were able to learn very little from Diablo 4. Presumably, the adjustments for the minions are among the few things: Head of Path of Exile talks about Diablo 4, says: “We couldn’t learn much from it”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
10 years ago, the story of Destiny began. Light and Darkness were in conflict, and we, the Guardians, were at the center. The Final Shape now concluded the battle and with it a long saga full of joy, sorrow, excitement, and loot. Our Destiny expert Christos Tsogos was finally able to close a significant chapter of his life, and he did so with relief but also confusion.
SPOILER WARNING: Our Destiny expert Christos Tsogos will discuss the different parts of the new DLC. If you haven’t played it yet, now is the time to turn back.
I immediately threw myself into the action and devoured the campaign. There is much that Bungie got right, but also some things that disappointed me. My journey through the Traveler began with excitement but ended with a questionable expression. But before I explain why my face was painfully contorted, let’s first take a detailed look at the expansion.
Who is speaking here? Christos Tsogos is the Destiny expert of MeinMMO. Since 2014, he has been a dedicated Guardian and has spent thousands of hours in Destiny 1 and 2. Besides raids, dungeons, the Crucible, and seasonal content, Christos has also absorbed all the lore of the loot shooter, trying to understand all the connections of the complex story. For him, the end of the saga is a significant event that he had to witness.
Heavenly atmosphere as far as the eye can see
My first praise goes to the Dreaming City. This destination is a feast for the eyes. Overgrown remnants of past memories mixed with the accurate linearity of darkness create a beautiful chaos.
Familiar elements like the Tree of Silver Wings or crystals from the Dreaming City meld with the pain-contorted sculptures of The Witness, creating a place that directly juxtaposes the elements of “Light” and “Darkness”.
Beautiful green spaces and a homely atmosphereGloomy surroundings and cold architecture
Grumpy Guardians might start yelling “recycling” at this point, but I found it fitting. Bungie chose the right time to bring back iconic locations and also created new sights like Zavala’s house or The Witness’ monolith. Each place is disconnected, yet they merge into something whole in the Traveler – just like the memories we have gathered over the last 10 years.
Creative missions from start to finish
In fact, the campaign of “The Final Shape” is one of the few in Destiny 2 that truly entertained me throughout. Jump sequences, exploration missions, battles against the new horrors as well as the use of Prismatic harmonized perfectly and ensured that there was never a dull moment.
The DLC also provided some laughs. One example is the mission where you had to visit Zavala in his old hideout. The Commander is known for his stubbornness and toughness, but when I saw him confront the forces of Darkness with a small barricade and his regular Vanguard rifle, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Zavala you are the Commander, please stand up!
It was somehow so inappropriate yet so funny. Here we were dealing with the fate of all living beings in the universe and you, Zavala, are hiding between two rocks and your little barricade – simply glorious.
However, the final battle with The Witness was also entertaining. The mechanics of soaking in darkness to avoid being burned by The Witness’ foul mist created tension at the right moments. Additionally, the act with the celestial sword and destroying the statue-prisons was magnificent and generated a feeling of unimaginable power.
Cinematic cutscenes that bring tears
If one had to name a strength of Bungie, it would definitely be the ability to create moving cutscenes and suspenseful animations. I can’t tell you how many times I got goosebumps when Bungie showcased the interactions between our Guardian, the Vanguard, and Zavala’s speech in the face of the impending battle.
Even the opening sequence of “The Final Shape” left me speechless for 3 minutes. Bungie chose the right moments to deliver either cutscenes or animated sequences between the missions that amazed and touched me. And although everything sounds great for a DLC right now, something negative also comes up, which haunted me until the end of the expansion and has not let me go yet.
Predictable end and no tangible consequences
Despite all the praise, I must also express criticism since it has followed me all the time and unfortunately still does.
The first is indeed the predictable end. I was excited to meet the good old Cayde, after he was coldly dealt with in Forsaken, but somehow I sensed that his existence was only temporary.
The way he spoke to Crow, the Vanguard, and us hinted that he simply didn’t want to play Guardian anymore and just wanted to find his peace. So it was clear that Cayde would die again at the end. I found it unfortunate and would have wished that the character stayed a little longer, but some things just aren’t meant to be.
The second point is the lack of consequences. I know everyone likes happy endings, and the ending of the Light and Darkness saga even has a somewhat nice ending, but it simply doesn’t fit the situation.
The new Vanguard has survived
I would truly have expected many losses. Losses that cannot be undone to underline the seriousness of the situation. But apart from Targe, Zavala’s Ghost, Cayde, and The Witness’s extras, no one had to pay the price.
It can’t be that way, especially when considering how recklessly the Commander interacted with Darkness. Personally, I really expected Bungie to at least give Zavala a noble end, but instead, they opted for a soft ending that, in my view, makes no sense.
The third and final point is the overall fight against The Witness. I enjoyed the final 12 missions against The Witness and thought the way Bungie set it up was great. But why was our Guardian all the time during the campaign left alone? At first, I could understand it, with Mara and her cosmic batteries that she has to recharge to reopen the portal. But I kept asking myself, “Where the hell is our reinforcement?”
We are fighting against the most powerful being in the universe that can even fillet Guardians with a finger gesture, who could crush our squad in the Dreaming City without effort, and yet we are left alone the whole time? Only at the end, when The Witness was already on the ground, does the entire Light Alliance come to kick the villain in his weakest phase? That just doesn’t make sense to me.
I would have expected that we, as Guardians, would have to tackle different missions together with the Alliance to force The Witness to his knees rather than handling everything alone like Rambo.
My conclusion: A good ending for a Destiny that is meant to continue
It has been 10 years since I was first revived in Destiny. Much has happened in that time. If you had told me back then that Oryx was just a little worm compared to the adversary we are supposed to defeat in “The Final Shape,” I would have laughed at you, yet here we are. We have now gone through many fun and emotional moments, and “The Final Shape” summarizes it well. Every end is also a new beginning, and although I am not satisfied with some aspects, I can leave the largest story chapter of Destiny behind with one last tear and look forward.
Every veteran who has experienced the story of Destiny, even if only in the background, should experience “The Final Shape” with their own eyes. It is definitely a great ending for a Destiny that is meant to continue, and Bungie has done everything to ensure that it is so. For my part, I will continue to serve as a Guardian, but this time not as a Warlock, but as a Titan. Eyes open, Guardians!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A strong game on Steam that excites tactical fans needs a new feature. But the developers say, “Sorry, we don’t know anything about that in real life.”
There are plenty of games on Steam, and some of them fly a bit under the radar. One hidden gem is “Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children” (Link to the Steam page). The game has a very positive rating of 94% and is considered a solid choice for those who enjoy Xcom while also liking the typical craziness of anime characters.
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TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children – Gameplay Trailer
What kind of game is it? In Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children, you take on the role of the titular troubleshooters. They are actually civilians who, however, have permission from the state to fight against criminals and reduce the crime rate in the country. As in Xcom, you control the heroes in tactical view and let them use special abilities – these can be weapon attacks, but also clearly magical abilities like fireballs.
In addition to the missions, there are also story elements and many dialogues between the characters, similar to what you would expect from the Persona series. The game constantly switches between combat scenes and social interactions. Because while criminals need to be dealt with at night, important conflicts arise during the day, such as adhering to house rules or discussing dinner.
It seems obvious that one thing is missing: a relationship system like in a dating simulation. But exactly that is absent – for a good reason.
What was said? In a review on Steam, a user writes:
“[The game] is more complex than Xcom. A really good game. I only have one criticism; there is no waifu dating system.”
For a game with an anime look and so many different characters, that would actually seem like a given – but not for the developers of Dandylion. They replied to the comment:
“A dating system… that’s a feature that a lot of people want, but my team members… they have no experience with that, not even in real life…”
On one hand, that is a somewhat sad but also a very honest answer.
By implication, it probably means that the developers, instead, have experience with people who throw fireballs, shoot chain lightning through dark alleys, or revive their comrades with healing sprays. That may be a nice balance since not everyone has that experience.
Have you checked out Troubleshooter yet?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is trouble in a top team of League of Legends. During the training of the Chinese LoL team FunPlus Phoenix (FPX), a dispute between the manager and top laner escalated to the point where the player wanted to quit.
Who is this about? The LPL player Ping Xiaolaohu Xiaohu, known for his outstanding skills on the top lane, almost left his team FunPlus Phoenix (FPX). Since 2020, he has been part of the Chinese super team FPX, which dominated the Worlds in 2019 and took the victory. Xiaolaohu has won the LPL multiple times with FPX, the highest professional league for LoL in China.
However, during training, Xiaohu recently got into a dispute with his assistant coach and manager, which even escalated to physical confrontations.
Start video
LoL: Chinese pro streams after bitter defeat – Wants people to roast him
Dispute between Xiaolaohu and manager escalates to physical confrontations
What was the dispute about? During training, Xiaohu had a disagreement with the assistant coach of his team, Chen Mouse Yuhao, after he questioned one of his actions in the game. The discussion escalated when the team manager, Cao Denny Feng, intervened.
According to Xiaohuh (via Dexerto), Denny intervened when Xiaoluhu told him to shut up. Denny supposedly pushed him and yelled at him. Denny is said to have pointed a finger at his face and told him to leave.
Here you can see the shared and translated Weibo post (Weibo is a popular social media platform in China) from Xiaolaohu on X:
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I was afraid he might hit me, so I warned him to watch his hand. He then dropped his hand but started yelling at my face, repeating, ‘Who do you demand to shut up?’ and ordered me to leave. Xiaoluhu then left the FPX building and requested to terminate his contract.
What happened next? The management of FPX contacted the rest of the team to clarify the incident. A teammate of Xiaolaohu made serious accusations, claiming that the management had tried to manipulate them emotionally. It was even alleged that the management wanted to take legal action against Xiaolaohu for breach of contract.
Amidst these tensions, two of his teammates, Yang Care Jie and Cai Milkyway Zijun, showed solidarity with Xiaolaohu. Milkyway even emphasized that Xiaolaohu would not play if he were punished, offering him his full support.
Here you can see an X post that compiled the whole situation:
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Hours later, FPX finally released an official statement (via X), stating that the matter between Xiaolaohu and Denny had been resolved. Xiaolaohu remains with the team. It is emphasized that Xiaolaohu, as a player, should not have insulted his direct superiors, while Denny, as a manager, should not have used physical violence and that the decision to send the player home was also inappropriate. Did you already know? The face of the most important e-sport award in gaming is throwing everything away: “I am so disappointed in the people above”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the latest episode of Henke’s Corner, Twitch streamer Mahluna reveals her reasons for making her relationship public and openly shares her experiences and challenges with it.
Who is the streamer? Mahluna is one of the most well-known gaming streamers in Germany. In her streams, she has an average of around 2,000 viewers, placing her on par with other famous streamers like Gnu (via Twitchtracker).
Whether on Madeira or at the mixing console – These are 5 of the biggest German Twitch streamers
Recently, Mahluna was a guest on the podcast “Henke’s Corner.” During the episode, she talked about her law studies, her successful streaming career, and about her special talent for perfectly imitating a seagull. However, her relationship with the streamer Mango was also discussed.
Accusations that she “slept her way up”
What are her experiences with public relationships? Henke asks Mahluna how intense the debate was about whether the relationship should be made public or kept secret.
Mahluna says it was a longer discussion and they both thought about it extensively. After all, according to her account, she did not have the best experiences.
What experiences has she had with viewers on this topic? After the relationship, which became public, Mahluna was single for a while, which was also known to her viewers. The streamer recounts that during this time, some strange situations occurred between relationships.
In one of her streams, she was asked if she could imagine having a relationship with a viewer. She initially rejected this in general, arguing that she did not know the people at all.
Subsequently, one of these viewers wrote her a private message on Instagram – according to her, a “three-page letter.” In it, he apparently expressed his dissatisfaction with what she had said and was quite upset.
Mahluna adds that she felt almost compelled to make the relationship public so that such people would no longer message her. “When you are in a relationship, it creates a distance for some of these people – which is good,” adds the streamer.
“It makes many things easier,” explains Mahluna
How is her current relationship going? In the meantime, Lukas came into her life, as Mahluna reveals. She describes that they have had a wonderful dynamic from the beginning, which is why it would have felt strange to hide it.
She further reports that it became difficult to keep their relationship a secret, especially since she often streamed from his home and many viewers recognized the background and asked about it.
Therefore, she decided to be transparent with the people to avoid misunderstandings. She adds: “Because he is a content creator and I am a content creator and we produce a lot of joint content, many things become easier.”
“People always think they know better than you do”
What are her negative experiences with public relationships? Mahluna shares that it annoyed her greatly when people wrote or spoke badly about her relationship. Henke adds: “Yes, exactly, because people always think they know better than you do.”
Mahluna further explains that she reacted angrily in the beginning about three years ago. At that time, she still had trouble dealing with negative comments, as she had just started streaming and took it to heart.
However, she quickly learned that these comments were unimportant and that the relationship was even strengthened because of it. She regrets nothing about this decision. Nevertheless, she can completely understand if other people would decide against it.
Johnny Depp is one of the most well-known actors of his generation. However, he himself had little confidence in himself, especially in the past, which is why he was surprised when he managed to land a coveted role.
Which role is it? During his career, Johnny Depp has played many different roles, just think of Captain Jack Sparrow, the Mad Hatter, or Willy Wonka. Often, they are quirky, eccentric characters.
Some of these roles Depp played in films by Tim Burton, with whom he has collaborated eight times. The stories that the director focuses on often tell of outsiders with a penchant for eccentricity – perfect for Johnny Depp.
One of his most famous roles is that of the title character in Edward Scissorhands. The film, which was released in 1990, tells the story of Edward, a human who was assembled by a scientist and who has scissors instead of hands.
The film is a successful mix of tragicomedy and fantasy and resonated well with the audience. On IMDb, it has a rating of 7.9 based on 526,020 ratings.
Today, it is hard to imagine anyone other than Johnny Depp in the lead role. However, initially, other actors were considered for it.
Start video
Trailer for the Tim Burton classic ‘Edward Scissorhands’
Johnny Depp stood out against big names
Who was supposed to play Edward? Several big Hollywood stars were in the running for the role. According to people.com, Depp says that Tom Cruise was very close to getting the role. Tom Hanks and even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, also auditioned for it.
Johnny Depp received the script and read it. He was immediately thrilled and says today that it corresponded exactly to what he was:
The text was beautiful. The character was beautiful. I think what attracted me emotionally was that Edward was me. It is exactly what I should do.
In the early 90s, Depp had the image of a teen idol attached to him, and he wanted to change that. The dark role of Edward seemed to offer an opportunity to do so. However, there was a problem for him:
Tim Burton was just on his way to becoming a directing star. He had directed Beetlejuice and Batman and celebrated successes, even if the film about DC’s dark hero was not understood by everyone. Then Edward Scissorhands was on his agenda. Johnny Depp thought Burton would not cast him at all since “everyone in Hollywood is after the role.”
Depp also had little confidence in his own abilities and even wanted to cancel the meeting with Burton. His agent reportedly asked in disbelief, “Are you crazy?”
How did the story end? In the end, Depp was persuaded to give the meeting a chance. It went so well that Tim Burton agreed to cast him for the role.
It was worth it: the film was made, and Johnny Depp experienced his first major success. He received a Golden Globe nomination and went on to make seven more films with Tim Burton in the following years. Among them was Ed Wood, a lesser-known film by the director, which managed to win some Oscars.
What the film would have looked like with Tom Cruise or Michael Jackson in the lead role can only be speculated. Ultimately, the character and Johnny Depp fit perfectly together and gave the actor the opportunity to express his eccentricity on screen. Have you developed an interest in films with him? On MeinMMO, we have 7 creepy recommendations for you – not only recommended at Halloween.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Amazon Games probably envisioned something entirely different: On the occasion of the Summer Game Fest, the head of New World, Scott Lane, gave two interviews in which he raved about New World: Aeternum. The new version of New World, as an action RPG for PS5, PC, and Xbox, is said to be the “ultimate” experience. But shortly after the interviews went live, they were taken down.
What is going on with New World? Amazon announced for 6 months that there would be no new expansion for their MMORPG New World in June 2024, but a “fantastic news”. Now this news has been revealed:
New World is transitioning from an MMORPG to an action RPG with an improved combat system and a focus on solo play
The game will be released as New World: Aeternum on PS5 and Xbox
Start video
Trailer for New World Aeternum announces console version
Hype interviews for New World: Aeternum went live but disappeared
What was said in the interviews? Last night around 8 PM, two previously conducted interviews went live. One with PCGamesN, the other with wccftech. Both interviews were quickly taken down. However, one can still be viewed via cache (via archive.org), while the other was streamed live by a Twitch streamer.
At PCGamesN, the developers of New World: Aeternum raved that it is the “ultimate experience” and the “spiritual successor to New World”. They had developed the game based on player feedback, and the 3 years of experience and partnership with players had led to the new outcome.
The key improvements include the revamped combat system. Additionally, they offer controller support, a new interface, keyboard shortcuts, and much more.
PC players are encouraged to return to New World: Aeternum to experience a new 10-player raid, solo endgame trials, and a new PvP zone. Amazon will not take anything away from the game, but only add new content.
New World: Aeternum now has less grind but still offers a challenge. Some grind is still included, as it is part of the experience, but much less than before.
A screenshot of the 2nd interview that didn’t stay online for long.
Less grind than before, only half the time to max level
In the 2nd interview with wccftech, Lane echoes similar sentiments and emphasizes the many advantages of New World: Aeternum.
The game now features close-up dialogues and in-game cinematics. The path to max level is much clearer and faster, as console players prefer. And it can be played solo from start to finish. But ultimately, it is still an MMO that has had a lot of work put into it to make it feel and play more like an action RPG.
The new New World is intended to be a game that players can casually hop into. It should only take about half as long to reach max level as it did before, but once at max level, the game truly opens up, offering “lots of fun, crazy things” to do.
Interviews disappeared quickly – Was an embargo broken too early?
Why have the interviews disappeared by now? Current knowledge does not provide an answer. There are speculations on reddit that Amazon could have retracted the interviews for “damage control”.
The most likely assumption is that the embargo was broken too early, causing the articles to be taken down.
How can such an embargo breach happen? With major announcements, it is common and typical for press representatives to be informed in advance about the publisher’s plans and to have time to prepare an article that contains further information beyond the actual announcement:
it can be a preview or even a review
it may include interviews with the developers
or other details that draw attention to the topic
These articles, which occur after the agreement, are subject to a general embargo and may only be released once the embargo period has expired. Especially when time zones are involved, it can occasionally happen that such an embargo is broken, that articles appear accidentally too early and then need to be taken down.
The best RPGs on Steam have been collected for you in this list. You will find 14 different games here, which we have compiled as recommendations for you.
What kind of games are they? The listed games all belong to the RPG genre. The order of the titles is purely random and does not indicate the rating of the games.
By what criteria was the selection made? The games were selected based on the following factors:
The games must be available on Steam.
All games have the tag “RPG” on Steam.
We also oriented ourselves towards the ratings on Steam.
The personal opinion and expertise of the MeinMMO editorial team also play a role.
For each featured RPG, there is a description as well as a trailer that provides you with an insight into the game. We also provide you with an overview in a pros and cons comparison and explain for whom the game might be worthwhile. Additionally, there will be a personal opinion on each game.
This list was originally published in February 2023. We updated it in June 2024, replacing Kingdom of Amalur: Re-Reckoning with Hogwarts Legacy. Additionally, we have included Elden Ring, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
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1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer: CD PROJEKT RED | Release date: May 18, 2015 | Steam page: Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
What is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? In the game, the player takes on the role of the famous witcher and mercenary Geralt of Rivia. Before you lies an open world inviting exploration: ruins, heights, and shipwrecks are all waiting to be discovered.
The setting is a dark fantasy world and places you in combat against various monsters. You have various weapons as well as potions and combat magic at your disposal. Improve your skills and equipment with the rewards you receive on your journey.
In your free time, you can also spend your hard-earned money on card games, horse racing, or fistfights.
Your decisions also have consequences in the game, and there are multiple endings. Plan each step thoughtfully. Furthermore, you can carry over your save from the second part of the series, which also impacts the story.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Killing Monsters Cinematic Trailer
Pros
Huge game world with extensive options
Exciting story
High replay value due to various decisions
Great atmosphere
Import of a save game from Witcher 2
Cons
Scope may be overwhelming at first
MeinMMO author’s opinion from Cortyn: The Witcher III is one of the great milestones of RPGs for me. Even though the open world may be overwhelming at first, and you look puzzled when a level-20 giant suddenly knocks you down at level 5, it fits perfectly into the world.
The game is carried by its grand story with different paths. Witcher III can be quite brutal and unforgiving, and it does not shy away from dark themes – this is definitely not for people who prefer soft RPG entertainment. You might find a resurrected stillborn with demon eyes wandering in the front yard or a witch dripping with pus devouring children’s fingers. And sex on stuffed unicorns is also part of it.
This harmonizes well with the varied combat system. Great freedom in choosing “spells” and equipment ensures that each witcher Geralt plays a little differently.
You don’t need to have played the predecessors, by the way. The first hours summarize quite well what happened and ensure that you can lose yourself in the world without hours of reading summaries.
Who is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt worth it for? Fantasy fans will definitely find value in the game. With the gripping story and extensive options that the game offers, you can spend numerous hours as Geralt without getting bored.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In early June, the German studio behind the successful title Tibia presented a new PC MMORPG called Persist Online. As part of Find Your Next Game, we were able to talk to two developers from CipSoft about the new project.
Benjamin Zuckerer, Managing Director of Cipsoft and Lead Product Manager for Persist Online, as well as Stefan Lindenberg, also Lead Product Manager for Persist Online, took the time to talk with MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz about the new project.
Persist Online is the new MMORPG from the developers of Tibia, showcasing zombie action in the trailer
The Roots of Persist Online
Early in the conversation, I told Ben and Stefan that the first screenshots and some scenes from the trailer strongly reminded me of Fortnite: Save the World – in terms of the third-person perspective, the zombie theme, and the design of models and game world.
However, Persist Online relies heavily on what CipSoft has been doing with Tibia for many years, just located in a 3D engine and in a new setting. Another strong source of inspiration was DayZ, particularly regarding the constant danger posed by players you encounter in the open game world. Later, games like Escape from Tarkov were added as sources of inspiration.
In combat against zombies, you must always keep an eye on your surroundings. Aggressive players are eager to strike at your back to access the contents of your inventory.
Persist Online offers a rather hardcore gaming experience: Outside the safe bunker, you can attack other players at any time or be attacked by them. There is no mini-map. Thanks to enabled “Friendly Fire,” even group members can accidentally harm you. It was an accident, right? Tim? Why are you still aiming at me? Ahhhh!
If you are defeated and end up in the dirt, you quickly lose all the items in your inventory. However, you keep your hard-earned and upgraded equipment. Typical survival elements like hunger and exhaustion do not exist. Ultimately, Persist Online wants to be more MMO than survival shooter.
Here you will find an approximately eleven-minute excerpt from the approximately 45-minute conversation with Benjamin Zuckerer and Stefan Lindenberg:
Start video
Persist Online: MyMMO in an interview about the new MMORPG by CipSoft
How Much MMO is in Persist Online?
In the game world of Persist Online, many other players are lurking around. The further you move away from the safe bunker, the more dangerous the zombies you encounter become. However, in the more remote areas, you can find more valuable resources and loot. The day-night cycle is also said to affect the strength and density of enemies.
While exploring, you will find nodes that can be captured to activate benefits for yourself and your guild. For example, a sawmill efficiently supplies the group with wood. Or by claiming a captured claim, you can unlock a useful map section for a limited time, revealing valuable information about the area.
Those who are part of a guild can conquer nodes that are difficult for solo players to access. Additionally, the community, which can be leveled up, offers special guild quests. And in PvP encounters, it certainly doesn’t hurt if your group is larger than that of your opponent.
Persist Online should also be fun for players who venture into adventure alone. There are even nodes in the world or challenges aimed at solo players. By the way: Some areas of the game world can only be accessed during low or high tide.
In Persist Online, there is no fixed class system. Instead, according to Stefan, up to 25 skills can be leveled and improved through corresponding skill trees. Each ranged and melee weapon has a tree, as do professions, armor types, first aid, and the stamina area.
When you do things, such as using a weapon, fishing, healing yourself, and so on, you automatically level up the corresponding skill tree. Leveling a tree gives you access to new passive and active enhancements.
However, only five of the 25 skill trees can be fully developed to the ultimate ability, so you have to set priorities and create a build from a combination of several skill trees.
In this regard, professions are also meant to offer advantages for combat. As a master angler, you not only hunt fish particularly efficiently, but you can also entangle your opponent’s legs with a fishing net or shoot them with a blowgun to trigger the stunning poison of a fish.
Felling trees not only gives you wood for crafting, but also increases the corresponding skill tree.
Release, Payment Model, Platforms
Persist Online is set to enter the Early Access phase on Steam soon and will also be released for macOS and Linux. There is currently no specific date. However, it is clear that the developers want to implement a Free2Play model. The final monetization, however, is not yet set in stone.
There may eventually be skins for the mounts of Persist Online in the in-game shop. You can explore the game world not only on foot but also on horseback. They fit perfectly into the zombie apocalypse, where no one has access to fuel, according to Ben.
Bungie revealed new weapons and armor in a recently released stream about Destiny 2 that you will earn in the upcoming episodes. What they are and whether Exotics are among them, we will show you now.
What kind of stream was it? On June 10, Bungie released a short stream where the developers talked about the future of Destiny 2 after the release of “The Final Shape.” During the stream, Bungie discussed the individual themes of the episodes and also showcased new items like armor and weapons that guardians will be able to earn in the coming months.
For this reason, we have gathered all the new items and listed them episode by episode. With our directory, you can jump to the respective episodes:
[toc]
You can find the stream with German subtitles in full length here:
Start video
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer
Episode: Revenant – All Weapons and Armor
New armor for the WarlockA second set for the WarlockNew armor for the TitanA shotgunA spear-like weapon – Perhaps an Exotic
What items will there be? Just like in Episode: Echoes, there will also be two new armor sets in Episode Revenant. One is inspired by the Splicers of the Eliksni, while the other leans towards mockery. Additionally, two new weapons were revealed:
A shotgun
Perhaps a grenade launcher due to the foregrip
Exotics always look extravagant, so these might be two Exotics. More details about their functions are not yet known.
Episode: Heresy – All Weapons and Armor
What items will there be? Once again, Bungie blesses the Guardians with two new armor sets. The first set is heavily inspired by Eris. Her dark look spreads out, with silver studs and green-brown fabrics.
The second set leans more towards a captain’s style. Bones adorn most of the armor, but the Warlock and Hunter even come with some fabrics. One might think that the guardians have transformed the remains of the burial ship into armor.
A linear fusion rifleA glaiveA fusion rifleA linear fusion rifle and bow
Bungie also briefly presents weapons. These weapons are familiar models that are revived with new designs. The coverings of the guns decay and it seems as if they are of organic origin. The decay is so advanced that one can literally see the bones of the weapons.
These were all the items and armors that Bungie presented in its latest stream. Which ones do you find cool and what do you think of the armors? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. While Bungie has new announcements, the guardians indulge in nostalgia. They can hardly believe that the 10-year-old saga now comes to an end: After 10 years, Destiny 2 ends its longest story, fans share their memories: “It was an incredible journey”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Set 11 of Teamfight Tactics, players discovered a cheat that gives them a significant advantage. Riot Games quickly responded to the incidents and announced strict measures against the cheaters.
What is it about? In Set 11 of TFT, some players discovered a way to cheat to gain a significant advantage in the game. The cheat is a swapping script that automatically rearranges the champions on the board perfectly just before the next battle round begins.
Now Riot itself has also commented on the incidents.
Start video
Teamfight Tactics: Gameplay Trailer – League of Legends
Good way to get banned
What is Riot’s response? Through a post by the user Frodan on X, the lead designer for Teamfight Tactics, Mortdog, was made aware of a video featuring the cheat.
You can watch the video on X here:
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During his stream on Twitch, he reviews it and notes that this is a good way to get banned quickly. Furthermore, he emphasizes that it is not difficult to recognize when a player uses this method to achieve a positive game outcome.
Also, Matt Paoletti, who is responsible for the anti-cheat system at Riot, commented on Frodan’s post on X.
In his statement, he says that using this cheat violates the Terms of Service and will lead to a two-week ban. If players are then found to continue using this tool, it could even result in a permanent ban, as Paoletti stated.
How does the community react to the cheat? After content creator Frodan expressed his outrage over the cheating video in his post on X, users under his post agree with him. However, some criticize that Vanguard, Riot’s anti-cheat system, should not allow such things to happen at all.
Some users write:
kekrofler points out on X: Shouldn’t Vanguard prevent this nonsense or doesn’t it check any TFT lobbies?
justmenacing writes on X: Since it is an actual script, I hope these accounts will be banned.
VanillaHellen comments on X: I thought the whole idea behind Vanguard is to disallow scripts and hacks?
Cheating is a significant problem in many online multiplayer games. Even in Counter-Strike 2, many players have complained about cheaters in the game, especially in recent months. Statistics show that a total of 15% of players have received a VAC ban. How this came about can be read here: The largest game on Steam allegedly permanently bans 15% of its players
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is now a GeoGuessr version about League of Legends. In this mini-game, you can put your knowledge to the test. Are you a true veteran?
League of Legends (LoL) is one of the games where players can get lost for years. A new mini-game inspired by GeoGuessr is now testing your knowledge of the classic map of LoL (Summoner’s Rift).
Did you already know these facts?
Start video
7 Facts about LoL that only true veterans know
LoL Guessr – What is it?
What can you expect in the mini-game? LoL Guessr is a mini-game from LoL DodgeGame that is modeled after the popular GeoGuessr. While GeoGuessr challenges players to identify locations on a world map, LoL Guessr shows you small snippets of the map Summoner’s Rift and asks you to locate them precisely.
You will see a small snippet of the map and then you have to determine the exact location on the overview map of Summoner’s Rift, which is not so easy. To succeed in the game, you need to know the map almost by heart.
You need a good eye for detail. It’s all about the individual bushes, stones, creatures, other small details, and the terrain itself – basically every corner of the map.
How do the players react? Many in the community have already tested their knowledge and are excited about the GeoGuessr in LoL. Here are some of the comments summarized:
waffle-spouse on reddit: I feel like Rainbolt now. Trevor Rainbolt is an American YouTuber known for his impressive GeoGuessr skills.
Another writes on reddit: Oh, I know this bush. The one where my team always ints
liokale emphasizes on reddit: It’s a lot of fun and harder than I thought
Shpaan on reddit: I just totally failed ten times in a row. I swear, every top lane is somehow a bot lane.
In LoL Guessr, you can achieve your own high score. You get a point if your guess is close to the actual location on the map. If your guess is far off, the round is over. You then have to start over to build your high score. Have you tried LoL Guessr and what do you think of the mini-game? Feel free to let us know in the comments. Did you already know? One of the biggest fantasy authors in the world is getting into LoL – sponsoring a team
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Those who paid more money were able to play Diablo 4 a few days before the release. This is different with the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, because there is no early access here. This seems to be well received.
Recently, the editions for the first expansion of Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, were made available for pre-order. Again, there are Deluxe and Ultimate Editions, but this time they apparently come without early access. This means that players only receive cosmetic items and a token for the Battle Pass when they pre-order, for instance, the Deluxe Edition. And this seems to please many players.
If you missed the dark and bloody trailer for Vessel of Hatred, you can watch it here:
Start video
Trailer for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred provides insight into the story of the expansion
“No Early Access, but a more expensive release”
Why is the advantage controversial? Essentially, a game is already finished before the general release but is only available to those willing to pay more. This means: They can play the new content earlier, while others can only do so at the “normal” release date.
In the case of Diablo 4, the release was on June 6, 2023, a Tuesday. With early access, it was possible to play from Friday and use the weekend for it.
What does the community say about it? The well-known German streamer Gronkh watched the Summer Game Fest in his Twitch streams together with his community and his streamer colleague PhunkRoyal. The streamer Maurice Weber, who followed the shows on-site in LA, was also live connected.
Maurice Weber commented on June 10 during Gronkh’s Twitch stream about “Vessel of Hatred” as follows:
[They interestingly have not done the early access this time. It was available at the launch of Diablo 4 and it was also a bit cheeky because […] the actual launch is a Tuesday and the early access is conveniently a few days earlier on Friday. […]
I believe it is not early access. The moment from which the game is finished and you can buy it, that is the release. You do not have early access; you just say, “We are releasing today for 90 euros, and in three days the price drops.” […] Because this is not an “early access” version that is still being patched or anything, no feedback is being collected; this is not early access, this is just the release that is simply more expensive.
Maurice is part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO, GameStar, and GamePro.
Diablo expert and Twitch streamer wudijo also addresses the editions of Vessel of Hatred in his YouTube video. There he notes that this time there is no “early access” access and thus “no pay-to-win” (Source: YouTube with timestamp).
On Reddit, the topic is also addressed. There, the creator of the post writes on June 9: “Obviously, there is no early access advantage between the versions this time! Big W (Win).” The post currently has over 1,230 upvotes (as of June 12, 01:30 AM).
When will Vessel of Hatred be released? At the Xbox Showcase 2024, Blizzard released the intro cinematic for the 1st expansion for Diablo 4 and announced a release date for Vessel of Hatred. It will start on October 8. There will be a new class as well as a new area along with a continuing story. Additionally, there will be a PvE co-op activity and new skills, among other things. More on this: Diablo 4: All about Vessel of Hatred – Release, new class, and content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard has first shown what the gameplay of the role-playing game looks like. However, a crossbow steals the show from the combat system.
What a reveal! With Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the latest installment in the popular RPG series is set to be released in Fall 2024 after 10 years. The last main series game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, was released in November 2014.
For the first time, the gameplay of Dragon Age: The Veilguard was revealed in a 20-minute video. What we mainly saw was the combat system, which ultimately does not appear to be like a hero shooter – as some fans feared.
On Sunday, June 9, we already saw the reveal trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard during the Summer Game Fest 2024. It received a mixed response from much of the community for various reasons, and also MeinMMO author Linda lost her good mood.
What does the video show?
We see the player character and the dialogue menu, which presents us with various response options during conversations
We see some of the possible companions, including the dwarf Varric Tethras, Lace Harding, and Neve Gallus
Fights against demons – we fight with swords and bows
The combat movement – we can dodge with acrobatic jumps or perform jumping attacks
Our companions support us in battle, while the enemies seem to focus on the player character
Here you can watch the gameplay reveal of Dragon Age: Veilguard:
Start video
Dragon Age: The Veilguard shows 20 minutes of gameplay from the new fantasy adventure
“Okay, now it’s Dragon Age: Revenge for Bianca”
What’s the deal with the crossbow? In the gameplay clip, we see Varric, who acts alongside the player character and was also a companion in Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition. Varric has a crossbow named Bianca, to which he is very attached.
However, in the new gameplay reveal, an unforeseen event occurs: during a video sequence, the crossbow Bianca is destroyed by the elf Solas. Solas was also a potential companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
In the comments on YouTube, the destruction of Bianca is a much-discussed topic which, it seems, steals the show from the actual gameplay:
“Mofo really betrayed me, stole my equipment, took my hand, and now he killed Bianca?”
“Brave of them to pack the death of such an important character into a teaser. RIP Bianca”
“Okay, now it’s Dragon Age: Revenge for Bianca”
Overall, the interaction between Solas and Varric is being heavily discussed. Some players believe based on the scene that Varric might die – possibly at the hands of Solas (via Reddit).
Are there also opinions on the gameplay? Of course! The shown gameplay is received quite well by the community. Many fans believe that the game looks better now than they feared from the reveal trailer.
A point of discussion remains the combat system. Some enjoy that it is action-packed, while others wish for more tactics:
“Oh man, the combat system will definitely be controversial. But as someone whose least favorite part of Dragon Age has always been the combat system, I think it looks like a lot of fun.” – via Reddit
“Please tell me there’s more tactical gameplay with your companions. I know the series has gotten more and more button-mashing with each title, but please tell me there’s still the option to give commands to your team.” – via YouTube
“I had hoped to see a return to the CRPG combat systems of DA:O. This looks simplified, more like a ‘hack and slash’ game than an RPG. Hopefully, the combat system is deeper than it appears at first glance.” – via Reddit
However, some players also say that the combat system has never been a strength of Dragon Age in their opinion, and therefore they are not bothered that it appeared action-heavy and less tactical in the gameplay reveal video.
In Helldivers 2 there is a new general command that is quite something. You have to liberate one of two planets. But the choice should be well considered.
What is this general command about? The new general command instructs the Helldivers to liberate one of two planets. Players must choose between the planet Vernen Wells and Marfark.
On Vernen Wells, there is an emergency signal from a hospital for very ill children. Liberating the planet would save the children.
An intercepted message from the robots revealed a large explosive storage on Marfark. Bringing the planet under Over-Earth’s control would most likely provide the crucial resources needed for the deployment of “MD-17 anti-tank mines”.
Only the first planet that is liberated is likely to be saved. The choice now lies with the Helldivers. They must decide whether to save the sick children or to obtain new anti-tank mines.
Here you can see the trailer for the current Warbond “Viper Commandos”:
Start video
Helldivers 2 sends you into the jungle with the new Warbond „Viper Commandos“
The mines are not up for selection for the first time
What is the story with the mines? This is not the first time that the Helldivers have the opportunity to secure the mines. At the end of April, the Helldivers had to choose between two planets. One planet offered the “RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher,” while the other had the “MD-17 anti-tank mines.” Back then, the choice fell on the rocket launcher.
A second time the Helldivers could have obtained the mines in early May. At that time, they had to eliminate 2 billion robots, but that failed.
However, now that the mines are available for selection again, the Helldivers joke on Reddit that it could become a running gag.
One user wrote on Reddit: “At this point, I would be laughing my head off if the constant failures/delays of any anti-tank mine stuff became some kind of running gag.”
On Reddit, the rescue of the children is even referred to as a mystery box since you don’t even know what rewards there are for it. The general opinion is very divided. However, a look at the player distribution on the planets in the game presents a clearer picture.
What does the majority choose? As of the current status at 7:40 PM on June 11, 2024, over 33,000 players are on their way to the planet Vernen Wells, while only just over 3,000 players are headed to Marfark. The actual planets are still blocked because the Helldivers have not yet fought a path to them.
The majority of Helldivers would rather save the sick children than secure the new anti-tank mines. Whether this decision will hold remains to be seen.
