LoL’s new anti-cheat software is supposed to be destroying players’ gaming PCs – This is what Riot says about it

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

Riot has released Patch 14.9 for League of Legends. However, this seems to be causing significant problems for many players. Riot itself explains that it cannot be attributed to the game or the anti-cheat system.

What is currently happening in LoL? After the release of “League of Legends” Patch 14.9, parts of the community are loudly complaining about Riot and the MOBA: Players are accusing the anti-cheat software “Vanguard” of destroying players’ PCs or deleting important operating system data.

However, the developers at Riot stated that they have not yet “confirmed any cases where Vanguard has damaged hardware.” This is surprising because reports have been piling up on Reddit and Twitter about computers failing to start.

What is Vanguard? Vanguard is Riot’s new anti-cheat software and is currently being used to protect Valorant and LoL from cheats. After installation, Vanguard runs at Windows startup, unless it is uninstalled.

It is a kernel-mode driver: it checks other drivers and blocks them if it detects that they have a known vulnerability that could be exploited to compromise the anti-cheat client. The downside is that the software can intervene deeply into the system.

Players are complaining on social media about the anti-cheat software Vanguard

What are players saying? The colleagues at PCGamesN quote several players who report their problems:

  • One person explains that their laptop no longer starts and doesn’t draw any power from the charger.
  • Another explains that they had to remove the CMOS battery and reset the battery to access the BIOS and repair the PC running Vanguard.

Others speculate that the true number of cases is much higher than the figures Riot is currently using to argue for its software. Many would solve the problems themselves and therefore do not report them. And these numbers wouldn’t be counted either:

It’s hard to believe that the numbers are so low. Personally, I had issues that I resolved myself and never reported. I strongly suspect that most problems are not reported.

(via reddit.com)

Another affected person adds that these problems had already existed with Valorant. For many people, certain hardware no longer worked with Vanguard because it interfered with too many legitimate drivers, causing either the game or the PC to crash (via reddit.com):

There were many legitimate problems with Vanguard when Valorant launched. The official communication channels were quick to censor and shut down discussions about it.

Riot says: No cases of damaged hardware have been confirmed so far

What does Riot say about this? The operators of LoL have now spoken out and responded to players’ problems. Riot explained (via dotesports.com):

  • Most initial problems are related to “common error codes” or driver errors, and not something malicious.
  • In particular, the developers stated that they have “not yet confirmed any cases where Vanguard has damaged hardware.”
  • Riot added that some “confusing” BIOS issues have arisen, mainly related to switching the UEFI mode and the SecureBoot settings.
  • “Overall, the rollout has gone well, and we are already seeing that Vanguard is functioning as intended. We have already observed a significant decrease in bot accounts in the usual places and will continue to monitor this,” explained Matthew “K3o” Paoletti, Riot’s anti-cheat manager.

Are the complaints new? No, not really. When Riot implemented its anti-cheat program in Valorant, there were many complaints on social media from players stating that their computers would no longer start.

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At that time, Riot had also responded that it was neither the game nor Vanguard that was at fault (via pcgamer.com). Instead, they pointed out that other competitive games also use anti-cheat software that deeply intervenes in the system, such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, or Apex Legends.

The controversial anti-cheat tool Vanguard has also impacted streamers and other personalities. One was playing a Swiftplay match with other players when he was banned. The curious thing: The ban occurred right in the headquarters of developer Riot:

Valorant: The dreaded anti-cheat tool strikes and bans a streamer while he is playing in the Riot headquarters

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

Helldivers 2 receives thousands of negative reviews on Steam: Today only 10% are positive

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

This was previously unknown about Helldivers 2: The shooter was considered a favorite among many people in 2024 and received outstanding reviews on Steam, but that has changed abruptly. Since April 29th, negative reviews have been pouring in, with 4,310 negative reviews added just today, on May 3rd. The reason for the players’ anger is the developers’ demand that Steam players need a PSN account.

What do the reviews of Helldivers 2 look like?

  • Overall, the reviews are very good: They are rated “Very Positive”. 83% of the reviews for Helldivers 2 on Steam are positive.
  • In the last 30 days, 80% positive reviews still looks fine.
  • Things look different when looking only at May 3rd: Here, the positive reviews have fallen to 10%: Out of 4,751 reviews, only 441 are positive. The rest are negative.
Start video
Helldivers 2 shows its latest Warbond ‘Polar Patriots’ in the icy trailer

PSN Requirement for Steam Players Infuriates Everyone: Undemocratic

What is the cause? These negative reviews are concentrated on a single change: PC players of Helldivers 2 on Steam will soon need a PSN account to be able to play Helldivers.

We reported on this on MeinMMO. The change makes no sense to the players at all.

steam.-reviews-helldivers

“The Automatons Have Taken Over Sony”

What the negative reviews say: One review claims that the evil automatons have taken over Sony and made a decision to reduce the number of Helldivers. This is profoundly undemocratic. And this “tyranny” must come to an end.

Another user says he bought the game on Steam to play it on Steam. He does not have a PSN account and does not want one. The behavior is absurd and unacceptable, and he would refund the game if he could.

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What happens next? This seems to be a very tense situation that appears not only illogical but indeed highly undemocratic.

It remains to be seen whether Arrowhead will leave it as is or take action. So far, the game seemed to be able to do no wrong, but those times seem to be over.

A similar incomprehensible move was recently made by the also very popular shooter Escape from Tarkov: Escape from Tarkov responds to harsh criticism of the €250 package and makes it worse

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

Director of Final Fantasy XIV discusses comprehensive update for heavily criticized benchmark of Dawntrail

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In April, Naoki Yoshida announced a fundamental overhaul of the highly criticized benchmark software for the Dawntrail expansion of Final Fantasy XIV. Now the FFXIV head explained in detail what is happening and when we can expect the update.

Why was there criticism of the benchmark software? The tool has been in use for many years, allowing you to find out if your PC has enough performance for the MMORPG before launching a new expansion of Final Fantasy XIV. Additionally, it always provides a first look at some of the new content of the add-on.

However, the rather old technology of the benchmark software collided with the major graphics update that is supposed to come with Dawntrail. Thus, the program displayed the characters of many players incorrectly, raising concerns that the comprehensive visual improvements could adversely affect the appearance of the characters.

The final trailer of Dawntrail sets the mood for the new expansion of Final Fantasy XIV:

Start video
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail – The Final Trailer

The benchmark is now a top priority

What new information did Yoshi-P provide? On the official Lodestone of Final Fantasy XIV, the producer and director explained that the re-release of the extensively revised benchmark software is planned for May 23 or later. The following actions are to be taken until then:

  • The initial review of the recent adjustments to the graphics update is currently ongoing, focusing on environmental parameters such as lighting, light source positioning, and weather. These will equally affect the benchmark software as well as version 7.0 of Final Fantasy XIV. Once the lead artists have completed their checks, a final review will be conducted by Naoki Yoshida himself.
  • Based on comprehensive feedback from the community, a variety of corrections and adjustments will be made in the next two weeks. This will be followed by several approval processes, such as by the QA team and again by the head.
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Due to the large number of feedback, screenshots, and data, many of the problem points could be quickly identified and potential solutions developed. Since the developers want to address as many potential problem areas of the graphics update as possible, it is currently unclear whether the May 23 date can actually be met for the benchmark re-release.

As for the development and completion of Dawntrail, the team is still said to be on schedule, according to Naoki Yoshida. If you want to learn more about the new chapter of FFXIV, check out our overview: Final Fantasy XIV brings new expansion Dawntrail – Release date and all information

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

Squad Busters: New game from the makers of ‘Brawl Stars’ coming in May – Almost 30 million fans are waiting for it

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

Whether in Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, or Brawl Stars, Squad Busters is being advertised everywhere – the new game from Supercell. But what is it about, when is its release in Germany, and can I download it already? We will clarify your questions today.

What is Squad Busters? The new free game from Supercell is called “Squad Busters.” In this group action game, you assemble a team of well-known characters from Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, Hay Day, and Boom Beach.

The goal is to build your team in a round, complete tasks, and make your squad strong enough to eliminate enemy troops. If you defeat other players, you will gain their loot. The team that generates or steals the most loot wins.

Squad-Busters-Squad-building
It is important to build your squad as quickly as possible

Also important are the characters you can assign to your team, as they bring various talents and effects that you can use to your advantage in a round. Currently, there are 25 Squad Busters that you can collect and level up. For each leveled-up stage of your characters, they become stronger and even change their appearance.

So far, almost 30 million fans have preregistered for the launch, but they still have to wait until the release. We will now show you when the release starts and whether you can download the game beforehand.

A short trailer for Squad Busters can be found here:

Start video
Squad Busters explains what you need to know

Squad Busters: Everything about release and download in Germany

When is the release? The release of Squad Busters is scheduled for May 29. The exact time is not yet known, but it should be available for download officially in Germany in the early morning hours.

Can you download Squad Busters? Officially, the new game from Supercell was originally supposed to remain in beta and only be playable in selected countries – Germany being excluded. However, the team changed their minds and now plans a global release.

So far, you cannot officially download the game in Germany, but there are methods to access the beta version.

Download at your own risk: Squad Busters is not yet active in Germany, so if you get banned following our listed steps, it is at your own risk. MeinMMO assumes no liability.

Depending on the platform, the procedure varies. However, you can take the following steps if you absolutely want to play the game before the global release:

  • Download on Android devices (instructions)
    • Download a VPN of your choice
    • Connect to Finland (or countries that are allowed in the beta)
    • Go to your phone settings
    • Force the “Google Play Store” app to close
    • Clear the data of your “Google Play Store” app
    • Log in to the “Google Play Store” with a new account
    • Search for “Squad Busters” and download the game
  • Download on iOS devices (instructions)
    • Open your App Store
    • Open your profile menu on the homepage at the top right
    • Now open your account settings
    • Click on “Country/Region” and change to Canada
    • Accept the new terms of service
    • Enter the following information for the payment methods:
      • None
      • Name can be any name
      • For street use “Street”
      • For city use “City”
      • For province use “Quebec”
      • For postal code use “G1A1A2”
      • For phone number use “123 1234567”
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That was all the important information regarding Squad Busters and the upcoming release of the mobile game. Are you excited about it and have you registered yet, or do you prefer to stay loyal to Brawl Stars and Clash of Clans? Let us know in the comments!

We have listed a tier list of the best brawlers in Brawl Stars here: Brawl Stars: Tier List of the Best Brawlers 2024 in German

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. youtube.com
  2. squadbusters.supercell.com

Twitch: Streamer spends 14,000 € for VR setup to experience Skyrim – Ends in a brawl

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

On Twitch there are all sorts of interesting livestreams. One of them comes from GingasVR, who built a VR setup for a mere €14,000 that can cause real pain.

What kind of VR setup is this? The VR setup from GingasVR on Twitch goes far beyond the usual home VR kit. For about €14,000, the person has assembled a set of various components to experience The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim as realistically as possible.

The set consists of 2 haptic vests. One of them vibrates and simulates touches, while the other vest causes pain when it occurs in the game. For this, small electric shock pads are embedded in the vest, which shock the user. Of course, the set also includes a VR headset.

To make it even more realistic, GingasVR has added several fans to the room to simulate wind and temperature. These can also be controlled by the in-game experiences. To top it off, the person has installed a modification that gives NPCs in Skyrim life through Chat-GPT.

The NPCs respond with real dialogues and one can converse with them.

Here you can watch the trailer for Skyrim, with which it all started.

Start video
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Official Trailer

A lot of money for a lot of pain

How does Skyrim play with the setup? Mostly painfully! GingasVR streams their experiences live on Twitch and shows how painful Skyrim actually is. When you feel pain, fights become really exhausting and you try to keep enemies at a distance. 

However, it does not always go so well for GingasVR. Throughout the run, the person gets beaten up repeatedly and even lands in dragon breath, which must have really hurt.

To give you an impression of how the whole game feels, you can check out the post on X (formerly Twitter) here

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Link to the Twitter content

No matter how hard the person tries, in the end, there are just so many ways to suffer pain in Skyrim that GingasVR always somehow ends up in a fight, and these do not always turn out in their favor.

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Is this the future for games? Whether the future of games lies in such experiences is rather questionable. When watching, you realize why no commercial developers have taken off with it so far. The pain that one constantly has to endure is simply not really something to look forward to – even if it is realistic. 

Skyrim is not the only RPG that can be experienced with a VR headset. World of Warcraft can now also be played this way: World of Warcraft is now playable in VR: You’ve never seen Azeroth like this

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. vg247
  2. Gamesradar
  3. X (ehemals Twitter)

A new television for gamers and movie fans is so bright that you might need to wear sunglasses

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Hisense has introduced a new television. It not only offers plenty of screen space but also very high brightness.

The Chinese company Hisense presented four different series of mini-LED televisions at CES 2024. Among other things, they introduced a new product group with the U9N series, aiming to offer “premium features” at a lower price.

One can argue about “lower,” as the televisions start at well over $2,000 for the smallest model presented.

Start video
All known features of the PS5 in the official trailer from Sony

New television is said by the manufacturer to deliver up to 5,000 nits

What kind of television is that? Hisense states the peak brightness of the U9N series at 5,000 nits. High brightness is especially advantageous when you want to use the television during the day: reflections or sunlight are less disturbing then. However, high brightness also consumes a significant amount of power.

What are nits? Nits is a unit for the luminance of displays and stands for candela per square meter (cd/m²). The higher the number, the brighter the screens. One nit indicates how much light is emitted over a square meter. In Europe, this specification is legally required for displays.

Otherwise, Hisense incorporates its “Hi-View Engine X image processing” and mini-LED backlighting with up to 5,300 local dimming zones in its U8N series. Additionally, it includes Google’s TV “Smart Platform,” Wi-Fi 6E wireless, and an integrated ATSC 3.0 tuner for receiving digital TV channels.

Gaming features of the U9N series include a native refresh rate of 144 Hz for PC gaming, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, Dolby Vision Gaming, Auto Game Mode, and a so-called “Game Bar” function with customization options for the user. What exactly this entails is not yet known.

How much does the television cost? The U9N series is expected to be available from summer 2024 at various retailers. Prices start at $2,999 for the 75-inch model and are $3,999 for the 85-inch version. If you still want to go for it, the devices are definitely not bargains.

However, it must be clarified that Samsung or Sony do not charge any less for their devices in this range. For the Samsung GQ65QN90D with QLED, you will also pay at least 2,800 euros (via geizhals.de).

Is 5,000 nits a lot? Yes, ordinary TV devices usually range between 1,000 and 1,500 nits, with some models, such as the Samsung QN90D, achieving up to 2,000 nits. This is reported by colleagues from Techradar.com. Extremely strong brightness is nowadays more commonly used in advertising displays or promotional display units rather than in gaming or entertainment settings.

5,000 nits are therefore already a remarkable claim. Whether the television can sustain this over time is another question and will likely have to be proven in independent tests.

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Another Chinese manufacturer has also introduced an exciting television: the manufacturer TCL presented a huge television with 115 inches at CES 2024 with the 115QM89. This is primarily intended to compete with the other major manufacturers: One of the most exciting televisions at CES 2024 does not come from Samsung or LG, but from China

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

Trading expert in FC 24 loses 45 million coins in one blow, plagued by bad luck

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 3 minutes

In FC 24 a German Twitch streamer actually wanted to buy the most expensive players for the Team of the Season and test them for his viewers. He had saved up a thick coin account for Ultimate Team. However, after his holiday in Mallorca, nothing was left of his 45 million coins. The next act of what seems to be a unique streak of bad luck.

Who is it about? Chris Schneider is known in the FIFA scene under the name “Smexy” (here you can find his Twitch account). The content creator has been producing new videos weekly for years, where he examines the latest content in Ultimate Team for his viewers. This includes the latest Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) and players.

To provide good content for his fans, he needs a lot of coins because he forgoes the investment of real money. It fits well that Smexy is considered one of the best traders in FC 24 and regularly appears in the top list of players with the highest transfer income.

Recently, he saved up 45 million coins again for the Team of the Season (TOTS) to test as many players as possible for his community. But while he was on holiday in Mallorca to prepare for the upcoming TOTS period, his account fell victim to an internet crime that cost him all his coins. And this was not the first time.

Start video
EA Sports FC 24: Update teaser for the UEFA Euro 2024

“45 million coins gone”: Twitch streamer with a lot of bad luck

Where did Smexy’s money go? In one of his latest videos on YouTube, the streamer reports how he has fallen victim to hackers once again. His account was completely emptied by the foreign attackers. According to his own statements, he is now left without coins for the TOTS, which visibly affects him.

You can watch the first few minutes of the video again to find out what Smexy has to say about the hack attack:

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Link to the YouTube content

This continues a sad series: As the streamer emphasizes, this is already the fourth year in a row that he has become a victim of hackers. Two things are particularly frustrating about this:

  1. He was hacked even though he had activated all necessary security precautions, such as two-factor authentication when logging in. In the video, he explains that one would even need his ID for a login attempt from foreign devices. The hackers once again managed to overcome this hurdle.
  2. The invested effort of several thousand hours of gameplay was rendered completely useless.

What’s next for Smexy? Like all other FC-24 players, the streamer had to contact EA customer support. Whether, when, and how he will recover his lost coins is still completely open. At the moment, he cannot even log into his hacked account.

Especially for his planned content, the latest bankruptcy poses a great challenge, as he needs many coins to test the hottest cards.

He can at least comfort his fans and himself a little. He is trying to compensate as much as possible through his second account, his Road-to-Glory.

One of the largest YouTubers in Germany also started a RTG a few months ago to relive the feeling of his beginnings.

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How does such a hacker attack occur? The process in such a hacker attack is usually always the same. After the hackers log into the foreign account, they empty the coin account and additionally sell all tradable cards on the transfer market to gain even more in-game money.

How exactly the hackers transfer the coins to foreign accounts is not known to us. One possible scenario is that they use the stolen coins to buy excessively overpriced cards that they themselves have listed on the transfer market.

An overpriced purchase of cards is usually monitored by EA. However, the hackers seem to have found a loophole for several years. Much to the chagrin of the unlucky Smexy.

But other streamers complained of cybercrime as early as the beginning of FC 24: Another hacker attack hits German Twitch streamers, one is near tears

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

Emilia Clarke didn’t dare to go into comic stores as a child, later wrote comics herself through ‘Game of Thrones’

Fabienne Kissel Fabienne Kissel Reading time 3 minutes

Game of Thrones-star Emilia Clarke felt uncomfortable in comic book stores during her youth. Later, she discovered her love for comics and even wrote some herself.

Emilia Clarke, globally known as Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen from the hit series Game of Thrones, is also active in other industries. The actress born in England has established herself as a celebrated performer and has also discovered her creative side as a comic book writer.

Together with writer Marguerite Bennett (known for Batwoman and DC Bombshells) and illustrator Leila Leiz (known for Horde), she created her own comic that turns the superhero world upside down.

Start video
Trailer for the first season of the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’

She didn’t dare to go to comic book stores as a child

What led her to comics? For Clarke, the path to comics was not that easy. As a child, she avoided comic book stores, as she admits (via Carlsen). Emilia Clarke recalls that her brother was a big comic fan, but she wasn’t allowed to go with him to the stores because she was the little loser sister. Whenever she did get to go into the store, she hardly saw any female characters on the comic covers. This made her feel insecure (via Entertainment Weekly).

However, through her experiences with among others Game of Thrones and the numerous conventions she attended – that changed. Meeting fans and the atmosphere sparked her interest in comics and superheroes.

She says the following about it:

Well, as a child I didn’t dare to follow my brother into the comic book stores, so I discovered comics late, actually only through Daenerys, Sarah, and Qi’ra. When you constantly go to ComicCons, you inevitably start reading the great comics there, and that’s where I saw all my favorite movie characters (I’m a superhero fangirl), and suddenly it dawned on me: THIS IS COOL. […]

Emilia Clarke (Source: Carlsen)

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Clarke’s first comic: M.OM.: Mother of Madness

Through other comic works, she came to the core theme of her first comic. While browsing the featured works, I also noticed that the ratio of women to men was slightly… unbalanced, and thus the seed of M.O.M was born (Carlsen). M.O.M is a three-part miniseries from Image Comics.

What is the comic about? M.O.M. tells the story of Maya Kuyper, a 29-year-old single mother and chemical engineer. Maya unexpectedly develops superpowers that relate to her hormones and menstrual cycle. She struggles against evil in a dystopian vision of New York, shaped by her own tragic past and the challenges of life as a single mother.

What is behind it? The story, which Clarke describes as a combination of Deadpool, a lot of silliness, and ironic humor, conveys a strong feminist message.

We always call mothers superheroes, and I wonder: What if they were? What if they rightfully were superheroes?, Clarke says to Entertainment Weekly. “Maya had a very hard life and is at a place where she hates and is ashamed of everything that makes her unique. It is only upon discovering her powers that she finds her true acceptance of who she is.”

The idea was to turn the narrative around things that women often dislike about themselves. Emilia felt excluded during her youth when she wasn’t allowed to go to comic book stores with her brother and hardly saw any female characters there. She wanted to create a female protagonist that women could identify with.

Game of Thrones ended after eight seasons with a conclusion that disappointed many fans. The author was far from satisfied as well: The makers of the Game of Thrones series ignored the ideas of the original creator and ultimately disappointed all fans

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Carlsen
  2. Metro
  3. Entertainment Weekly

Change PS5 Background – is that even possible?

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Can you change the background of the PS5? And what options are there at all? MeinMMO explains what you need to know.

On the PlayStation 4, there were various options to personalize the console significantly. Because there were special themes that you could use on the PS4. This gave the console’s interface a special look and it was very well received by players at the time.

MeinMMO explains which options are available on the PS5, what you can currently change, and what you cannot.

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Changing the background on the PS5 – These options are available

Can you change the background of the PS5? On the PS5, the background is set automatically. The background depends on which game you have selected in the menu.

These automatic backgrounds cannot be changed and change depending on the selected menu item.

What can I change? You can change the background and the title image of your PS5 profile. However, the downside is that this image will not be shown as the background on your console. If you want to see your image, you have to switch to your PS5 profile.

Changing the background on PS5 profile:

  • To edit the profile, go to the PS5 home screen and select your avatar in the upper right corner. In the following dropdown menu, select the Profile option.
  • On your profile page, go to the pencil icon on the right side. This will take you to a menu where you can select what you want to change.
  • Here you can also change the background of your profile.
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Can you use themes on the PS5 like on the PS4?

Are there themes on the PS5? No, there are currently no “themes” on the PS5. Here, you can only hope that Sony will someday deliver such themes or customizations for the PS5 as a free update for the console. This is the current state as of early May 2024.

Therefore, the customization options for your PS5 are still very limited.

Is the PS5 still worth it? The PS5 is now over 3 years old. But is it still worth buying a PS5 in 2024? MeinMMO discusses the pros and cons of the Sony console and explains what you need to consider if you should think about a purchase: Is it still worth buying a PS5 in 2024?

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

Fallout 76: The best power armor for every situation – Top 3 Power Armors

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

Power armor is among the strongest equipment in Fallout 76, but not all are really good. MeinMMO shows you the best armors in the tier list and explains what makes them so good.

Which is the best power armor? After years of playing and information from the community and experts, we come to the following tier list for power armors:

  • S-Tier: Hellcat, T-65, Excavator
  • A-Tier: Union, X-01, Choking Heart Power Armor
  • B-Tier: Ultracite, Raider, T-51b
  • C-Tier: T-45, T-60
  • D-Tier: Union

S-Tier is the best rating. We will introduce the top armors in detail here.

Where can I get a power armor? First, you need a chassis, to which you can attach the components of the individual power armors. Depending on the type, you can get the parts either through crafting, quests, or you can find them. Recipes usually have to be purchased first.

Start video
Everything you need to know about Fallout 76 – in 2 minutes

Power Armor Tier List – S-Tier: Hellcat Power Armor

These are the values of the power armor:

  • Max. Level: 50
  • Damage Resistance: 436
  • Energy Resistance: 320
  • Radiation Protection: 320

What makes the power armor so strong? Unlike all other power armors, ballistic damage is reduced percentage-wise with the Hellcat armor before defensive values are deducted. This means: Even with less damage resistance on paper, you take less damage overall.

Here you can find the power armor: The Hellcat power armor was introduced with the “Steel Reign” update. You get the blueprints after completing the associated quest “The Catalyst,” the last quest in the series. The first quest in the series is “Welcome to the Neighborhood” and starts automatically at level 20.

Fallout 76 Hellcat Power Armor

Power Armor Tier List – S-Tier: T-65

These are the values of the power armor:

  • Max. Level: 50
  • Damage Resistance: 565
  • Energy Resistance: 470
  • Radiation Protection: 470

What makes the power armor so strong? The T-65 is the best all-rounder in the entire game. It has the highest damage and energy resistance of all power armors, making it ideal for PvP and fighting most opponents.

Even the radiation protection is enormous; only the Choking Heart armor is minimally better here. If you want to wear just one armor with which to handle expeditions, PvP, and contaminated areas, the T-65 is your best choice.

Here you can find the power armor: You can get the blueprints for the armor from Regs in Vault 79. However, you need a total of 6,900 gold bars for that:

  • Helmet: 1,650 gold bars
  • Torso: 1,250 gold bars
  • Arms: 1,000 gold bars each
  • Legs: 1,000 gold bars each

At Regs, you will also receive the recipes for modifications. In the guide, we explain how to farm gold bars in Fallout 76.

You can see the T-65 in the title image.

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Power Armor Tier List – S-Tier: Excavator Power Armor

These are the values of the power armor:

  • Max. Level: 45
  • Damage Resistance: 240
  • Energy Resistance: 240
  • Radiation Protection: 366

What makes the power armor so strong? The values for the Excavator power armor are quite poor, but it has a significant advantage over all other power armors: More carrying capacity.

The armor inherently increases your maximum carrying weight by 100, and you receive 4 times the yield when mining ores. The carrying capacity can be further increased through modifications. There is no better armor for farming.

Here you can find the power armor: You can easily download the blueprints for the Excavator power armor from a terminal at Garrahan Mining. The side quest “Miner Miracles” leads you there for this reason. To start, simply examine a poster of the Garrahan Mining Corporation. One of them can be found at the entrance of Rusty Pick, where the legendary merchant has her shop.

Fallout 76 Raider Skin for Excavator Power Armor
The Excavator PA has pretty cool skins for it.

Keep in mind that the power armors listed here are especially strong in the endgame and are sometimes only obtainable there. If you want to wear a good power armor while leveling up, it’s best to take a Raider model. The Raider Power Armor is easy to find and offers decent protection. However, you should replace it with better parts as soon as possible. Here you will find tips for getting started in Fallout 76.

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

In Manor Lords, players become rich too quickly, making half of the game redundant – the boss reacts too harshly and backtracks

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

In Manor Lords, the economy system caused trouble. But the solution also seemed to be not quite right. Now the boss is reacting again.

This is the situation: The historical city-building game Manor Lords started as a great success on Steam and attracted plenty of attention.

However, while there was overall a lot of praise and strong reviews for the detail-oriented game, there were also criticisms. One of the biggest was the economy system: it allowed some players to become very rich very quickly by specializing in certain productions and then exporting them.

This led to a lot of money being made, which these players could then use to import a large amount of goods – but at the same time, they had no need to create their own production chains for these goods. This meant that they might have missed or deliberately ignored various game mechanics.

Start video
Manor Lord Release Date Trailer

Developer solves problem too heavily, is changing it again – patch coming

Here’s how Manor Lords reacted: The game’s developer, Greg Styczen, who appears under the name “Slavic Magic” and also interacts with the community on Discord under this title, made a quick solution – although the developer stated that such “trade cities” were indeed intended (via Twitter).

Overall, the feature was too powerful, which is why Slavic Magic tried to implement a “quick fix”.

On Discord, the developer explains: The new mechanic stipulates that the price decreases when certain types of goods are sold in excessive quantities. So, there will be less money coming in over time.

At the same time, goods that were imported in large quantities became increasingly expensive. Thus, more money had to be spent.

A realistic solution, but one that led to dissatisfaction, because now players who relied on this system had significant problems. This, in turn, led to further reactions.

The new direction: Slavic Magic had players vote on Discord about how to proceed with the “solution”.

  • Option A was to simply keep the solution
  • Option B proposed to keep it but dial it back a bit because it was too strict
  • And Option C would be to remove it and restore the old status

As of now, Option B is the clear frontrunner with 18,544 votes, while A (3,194) and C (585) are significantly behind. It was accordingly also announced on X that the patch will readjust the trade mechanics (via X.com).

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When the patch will be released is currently still unknown. However, it is clearly visible that the developer is engaging with suggestions from the community and is trying to find quick solutions.

Recently, a player also suggested adding monuments or statues, as he wanted to honor his brave guards. Since these do not yet exist, the player found another way: he documented the epic course of his battle in Manor Lords through a Wikipedia article.

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

Influencers want to boycott gamescom because they can no longer get in for free – Gronkh shakes his head

jacquelinek jacquelinek Reading time 2 minutes

The Twitch streamer Gronkh expresses his negative reaction to influencers who do not want to go to gamescom because they cannot be accredited.

Why do influencers want to boycott gamescom? In a reaction video by Gronkh on YouTube, the topic arises that the accreditation policies of the fair have become stricter. This has led to some larger creators reportedly not receiving accreditation anymore.

As a result, the mentioned influencers reportedly decided that they do not want to go to gamescom accordingly. Gronkh seems to have little understanding for this.

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

I would also buy a ticket

What bothers Gronkh about the outcry of the influencers? Gronkh describes that he only partially understands the outcry because creators still have the option to buy tickets. He says that he too would buy a ticket, but is not allowed to due to his size.

As the discussion continues, Gronkh tries to think about the benefits of possible accreditation, and he seems to only come up with the creator area.

The video describes this place as a retreat for influencers, which Gronkh seems to scoff at. He further states that it seems as if this area is only interesting for making connections and not primarily as a retreat.

Gronkh’s criticism here seems to be that gamescom is about video games and not about making contacts.

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Reactions from the community: In his video on YouTube, most of his viewers agree with him. Many also show confusion as to why a lack of accreditation would lead to not attending gamescom. Some users write:

  • ilki9718 writes: If there was a GC without influencers, where the fans don’t clog everything, I would go again. The last few years it should have been called InfluencerCon 🙁
  • Satostelamanderfanz comments: I’ve always wanted to go to Games, but now the desire is fading … especially since I have to drive for 7 hours …
  • seven3057 notes: I was at gamescom in 2014, 15 and 17 on press day, and they were always nice, but the visitor days got worse year by year

This is not the first time Gronkh has criticized gamescom in connection with influencers. He already noted last year that influencers should be completely excluded from the fair. You can read more about it here: Gronkh is concerned about gamescom: Would exclude himself and all other creators from the gaming fair

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

The head behind Elden Ring talks about the future of the franchise, sparks hope for a successor

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

Many players can hardly wait to uncover the secrets of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, but did you know that this DLC will be the last for the RPG? A sad news, but the head behind Elden Ring gives hope for a successor.

What kind of DLC is this? Elden Ring will initially conclude its story with the DLC “Shadow of the Erdtree”. Players will be drawn into the shadow world of the Lands Between and must explore the world there, uncover secrets, and defeat plenty of bosses.

There should be no shortage of new weapons and armor, and the size of the DLC is said to be considerable. Although everything sounds great, the head of Elden Ring made it clear in an interview that “Shadow of the Erdtree” will be the last DLC for the open-world game.

A sad news, but the story around the Lands Between should not end. There is still hope for a possible successor, at least that’s what Hidetaka Miyazaki suggests.

Did you miss the trailer for “Shadow of the Erdtree”? Then we have the right video for you:

Start video
Elden Ring shows first trailer for the new DLC ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’

Elden Ring 2? Hidetaka Miyazaki gives hope

What was revealed? Hidetaka Miyazaki, the head of FromSoftware and someone who defined the Souls genre, was asked in an interview with the Chinese gaming site zhuanlan.zhihu.com about Elden Ring, the future of the franchise, and the DLC.

While many questions were already answered in previous interviews, there was one that should be of interest to many fans: “Is Shadow of the Erdtree the only DLC for Elden Ring? If not, are there further plans that can be disclosed?”.

And Hidetaka Miyazaki responded as follows: “It is the first and last DLC. We do not plan to add further content to ‘Elden Ring’. […] The approach of FromSoftware is that the future of an IP generally cannot simply be blocked, but it is better to leave some possibilities open. But as for ‘Shadow of the Golden Tree’, it is the only DLC.”

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What does Hidetaka Miyazaki want to say by this? In the past, FromSoftware has developed its games in a way that they are not complete. Many of their titles have one or more endings for the narrative, yet they are structured in such a way that they can easily receive a sequel.

So Hidetaka Miyazaki wants to keep the door open for an Elden Ring 2, not close it. So it is not a sure confirmation that a successor might come out in the coming years, but with Armored Core 6, FromSoftware has shown that they can also provide a sequel to older titles after 11 years and not forget them.

Are these exciting news or would you rather jump into the DLC and defeat Messmer? Let us know in the comments!

Elden Ring: Who is Messmer? Fans discuss the new main boss of the upcoming DLC

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

Whoever bought Redfall for 100 € is still waiting a year later for what they paid for

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The vampire shooter Redfall (Steam, Xbox) was supposed to be one of those games that lasts for ten years, as we always hear. But Redfall flopped at its release in May 2023. Reviews were low, and player numbers plummeted. A bad aftertaste: a promise was not kept. The “Bite Back Edition” for €100 promised 2 heroes, who are still missing today.

What was the promise?

  • Redfall sold a Deluxe Edition for over €100. To this day, the “Bite Back Edition” is available for €110 in the Xbox Store. On Steam, the edition costs €100.
  • Part of the edition was the promise of two heroes who would be released as DLCs after launch.
  • But even a year after the release, there is no sign of the two DLC heroes. On the contrary, it seems that the studio Arkane has stopped working on the shooter.
Start video
Redfall – Official Launch Trailer

Edition for €100 promises 2 DLC heroes, but the game flops

What heroes are supposed to come? No one knows. The edition included the “Redfall Hero Pass” which promised “Two future heroes” – who exactly they would be is unknown.

Currently, this “Redfall Hero Pass” is completely empty of content.

redfall-bite-back

Studio is silent

What is the status? Arkane wrote in November 2023 that they are working on the Hero Pass and look forward to introducing new heroes and updates in 2024.

However, nothing has happened with Redfall in the last 6 months. The anniversary of the game, on May 2, passed completely without any signs of life. The Twitter account has been silent for 30 days.

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When games intended to last 10 years barely last 10 days

What’s behind it: Redfall was planned as a “service game” that was supposed to be supported with content for years – but the release was so weak and the interest in the game was so low that the further development of the game apparently wasn’t worth it.

Currently, Redfall has only 35 players on Steam. The sad thing is: even at release, there were hardly more. Those who played Redfall apparently did so through the Game Pass.

As it was later revealed, even the developers themselves didn’t believe in the success of the game.

Now it will be interesting to see if Arkane is really still working on the total flop to fulfill their promise to the buyers.

Redfall was part of a whole series of games that wanted to benefit from the live service game hype but apparently released at exactly the wrong time: 3 new games from famous studios that were supposed to be like Destiny but flopped and died in 2023

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

Whoever plays Helldivers 2 on Steam will soon need a PSN account: Even if they don’t have a PS5

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Helldivers 2 it is about saving freedom, but exactly one freedom is now being restricted by the developers.

Why do you need a PSN account now? The developers of Arrowhead Game Studios recently announced that all players must link their Steam account with a “PlayStation Network” account. The linking will become mandatory for all players, even if they are not playing crossplay with PlayStation players. Anyone who does not link their account will not be allowed to participate.

The reason for the linking is described by the developers as follows:

„The account linking plays a crucial role in protecting our players and maintaining the security values of PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games. This is our most important means of protecting players from griefing and abuse by allowing the banning of players who display this kind of behavior. Additionally, players who have been banned have the right to appeal.”

Here you can see the new war bond “Polar Patriots” in the trailer:

Start video
Helldivers 2 shows its latest Warbond ‘Polar Patriots’ in the icy trailer

In just a month, it won’t be possible without it

When do you need the PSN account? The deadline to link your account with a PSN account is only one month, until June 0, 2024. New players must link their account from May 06 onward to start playing. From May 30, players will be notified in-game that they must register and from June 4, it won’t be possible without it.

You can of course create a “PlayStation Network” account without a PS5. How to do that can be found in this help article on the PlayStation website.

Why is this measure coming months after the release? Helldivers 2 had a surprisingly good start this year and initially suffered a lot from player congestion. Many Helldivers likely still remember the server problems that existed back then.

The explosive start is probably also the reason why players are only now being forced by Sony to get a PSN account. 

The developers likely wanted to save Sony’s servers somewhat from the rush and temporarily suspended the linking. This transition period, during which the linking was only optional, is now about to end. 

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How do players feel about the obligation? The Helldivers have started a small shitstorm on Steam with over 700 comments already gathered under the developers’ announcement, the majority of which show no understanding. Many see it as an attempt by Sony to gather more data.

Some also think that the way the linking is made mandatory is silly. Various players would have preferred rewards such as credits or skins for a successful connection instead of a duty that enforces it.

So far, communication with the developers of Helldivers 2 has always been quite open, as they have implemented your idea, for example: You were right about the bugs in Helldivers 2 and now you have to live with the consequences

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. steamdb.info
  2. Diskussion auf Steam

Pokémon GO: New update is being received poorly, studio is now laying off employees

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, there was a recent update that was anything but well received by the community. The studio that developed it now has to lay off people. Is there a connection here?

Which update is it about? Recently, a large update with four features for Pokémon GO was announced. It primarily involves graphical adjustments and improvements in the game.

One of these features is the avatar update, which was introduced to the game on April 17th. The update has been received so poorly by the community that it has been referred to as the worst update in the history of updates.

Now there are reports that the studio responsible for the update has to lay off people.

Start video
Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!

Long-time employees laid off

What studio is it? The studio that now has to lay off employees is called Very Very Spaceship, or VVS for short. They have developed and contributed features for Pokémon GO, including the new avatar system, which was unlocked in Pokémon GO in April.

Now there are reports, including on gamedeveloper.com, that the studio is laying off staff. This involves an undisclosed number of employees from production, recruitment, and artists. All employees had been with VVS for between three and five years.

Are the layoffs related to the update? It is unknown whether the layoffs are directly related to the avatar update in Pokémon GO. Although the timing suggests this assumption, there is no concrete evidence or statements from the responsible parties.

What does the community say about it? The community blames less the studio for the avatar update and more Niantic itself. Some of the comments are:

  • Remember that people in leadership positions at Niantic had to approve the designs; they could have rejected what was presented to them, says a trainer on Reddit
  • I am less upset that they did a poor job than that Niantic carried out the update and ignored the feedback, says another comment on Reddit
  • Okay, I don’t like the avatars, but it’s always sad to hear about layoffs. The problem is, why did the management push for this update when the feedback wasn’t good, asks another trainer on Reddit
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What do you think about it? Do you think that the layoffs are related to the update? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and discuss with other trainers here.

Want to know what to expect in Pokémon GO soon? Then take a look at our overview of the events in May 2024 in Pokémon GO.

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

Call of Duty sells expensive Dune skin for 40 euros, doesn’t even show the star’s face

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone there is currently a Dune skin. For this, you have to reach deep into your pockets and you won’t even see which character it is.

After there was recently a crossover in Call of Duty with Kong x Godzilla, where the fans were upset about gloves for 80 €, there is now a collaboration with Dune. Different bundles can be purchased.

This includes the Paul Atreides Operator Bundle as well as the Harkonnen Tracer Pack. Each costs 2,400 Call of Duty Points, which is about 20 €. If you purchase both bundles, you will also receive the Paul Atreides Fedaykin Stealthsuit Skin as a reward.

Start video
Cheech & Chong appear in the trailer for Call of Duty

Faceless Hero in Camouflage Suit

What kind of skin is this? The skin, for which you have to pay almost 40 €, is based on Paul Atreides, one of the protagonists from the Dune movies. He is portrayed by actor Timothée Chalamet.

With this skin, you will get Paul Atreides in a camouflage suit. However, you can only guess that this is Paul Atreides: his face is also covered by the camouflage suit.

Whether this is a hero from the Dune universe or just a random soldier from the Call of Duty universe, you cannot say for sure in the end.

Here you can see what the skin looks like:

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Community Criticizes Price of Bundles and Skins

What does the community say about this? Besides the fact that Paul Atreides’ face is covered with the skin, the pricing is also criticized by the community.

Considering that the base price of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is $69.99 (approximately 70 €), the price of about 40 € for a few cosmetic updates is relatively high.

Some voices from the community are:

  • Don’t buy packages for 2800 points, that’s 28 euros/dollars, that’s 1 third of the complete game. No bundle is worth 1 third of a complete game, writes a player on Reddit
  • The whole point of buying Paul Atreides is to play as a direct twin of the popular Timothee Chalamet. Covering his face doesn’t do much, is another comment on Reddit
  • Hopefully, the whole ‘buy 2 and get this crap for free’ thing doesn’t become the norm, writes another commentator on Reddit
  • And people are buying the whole collection just to show that they have the most expensive skin, even though it looks like an antique cockroach, says another player on Reddit
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What do you think about the skin? What do you think about cosmetic items in Call of Duty overall? And what do you think about the practice of needing to purchase other bundles to unlock a special skin? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.

By the way, on May 1st, there was the Midseason Update Season 3 Reloaded for CoD MW3 and Warzone.

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

Destiny 2 radically changes how players obtain the best items

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

Bungie has now introduced a radical change for Destiny 2 regarding how players will obtain exotic armor, the best items in the game. With the DLC “The Final Shape”, exotic armor will only be available from the vendor Rahool and will no longer drop randomly in the game. The armors will be linked to a reputation grind, and specific rare resources will be required.

How can one obtain exotic armor with “The Final Shape”?

  • Bungie clearly states in the new blog post (via Bungie): With The Final Shape, Rahool will be the source for all new exotic armors that will be introduced into the game.
  • The idea is: The more engrams you decode at Rahool, the more reputation points you earn with him. Once you have completed a career path, you will gain access to the “Engram Ensiders” (a bad pun on Insiders).
  • Once you have this special access, you can purchase any exotic armor for any character, paying with one Exotic Engram and one Exotic Code (Cipher).

Every Guardian can only wear one exotic armor piece at a time: The armor pieces grant them special powers that break the normally applied rules in the game. They are especially powerful and define an equipment build.

Start video
Destiny 2: The Final Shape – Gameplay trailer for the new talents

The different ways to find loot: Lottery or work

What is this idea? This idea of “reputation grinding for items” is known from MMORPGs like WoW:

Normally, in loot games, you find particularly strong items randomly. Luck and misfortune play a big role: One person finds an item the first time they defeat a boss. Another has no luck even after 3 months. This is exciting but can lead to frustration. Planning a build is difficult this way.

destiny-2-rahool

With a “reputation grind”, it’s much more bureaucratic: You know exactly what you still need to collect and do to obtain the item you want. The excitement is removed, but so is much of the frustration. It feels more like work and less like playing the lottery.

There are also intermediate ways: In MMOs or MMORPGs, it is possible to tell the game which item you want to farm and thus increase the chance for that specific drop. Or there are “protection mechanisms” that protect players from too much bad luck.

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Players are very skeptical, want more details first

How are players reacting? On Reddit , there is a sense of skepticism in the comments, and generally an aversion to the idea.

One user says: He doesn’t know how the system will turn out in the end. Reputation grinding is one of the dullest aspects in Destiny and it’s so annoying to get exotic codes. If they were easier to obtain, it wouldn’t be so bad, but …

Another user says it depends on how quickly you gather reputation with Rahool, but overall the system sounds a bit bleak.

Overall, the mood is still uncertain. Most say they want to see first how easily they can obtain the required resources before making a judgment. The new system could lead to a significantly slower acquisition of exotics.

Something is happening in Destiny 2 in recent months, just recently a new mode went live: In the new mode of Destiny 2, you only beat bosses for strong loot

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

26-year-old book explains why you find strong loot in old chests in Baldur’s Gate 3

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

In Baldur’s Gate 3 powerful items are hidden everywhere, sometimes in dusty shelves, sometimes in boxes somewhere in the void. Most RPG players have accepted that the loot is just placed there for gameplay reasons. However, in the case of Dungeons & Dragons, there is an actual lore explanation for this.

Who is the benefactor?

  • Elminster is somewhat of the “Gandalf” of the D&D universe. You meet him in Baldur’s Gate 3 when you travel with Gale and learn a bit more about him, if you engage in a romance with Gale.
  • The wizard is considered one of the most powerful mortals on this plane and follows the goddess Mystra, the mistress of magic. Like Gale, Elminster was once her lover.
  • In Baldur’s Gate 3, he primarily appears to deliver a message to Gale – much to his doom, as some players kill him for his sweet XP.

Why does Elminster hide loot? As described in the book “The Temptation of Elminster” by Ed Greenwood from 1998, Elminster has been given a task by Mystra. He is to scatter magical items throughout the world. A user discovered this on Reddit. One section translates to:

This task took up much of his time in Mystra’s service. These days, Elminster travels Faerûn at her request, visiting ruins and the graves of dead wizards, placing “old” scrolls, spell books, smaller enchanted items, and even the occasional staff so that people can find them later… and all these items were actually those that he had just finished and made to look old.

Mystra, the goddess of magic, is said to have given the task so that magic is distributed in the world. After the incident with Nesseril, when too many powerful wizards hoarded magical items and sorcery for themselves, magic should be more accessible to more people.

According to the book, Elminster finds this task very entertaining and even uses lights and other effects to lure adventurers to the loot.

A dungeon with particularly rich and powerful loot is the Temple of Shar:

Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 Temple of Shar Runthrough

“So he is officially our Santa Claus”

The explanation for the loot, whether it is true or not, excites the fans. They compare Elminster to Santa Claus: he already wears a red robe and has a bushy beard, so it fits extraordinarily well.

Others speculate: Elminster has already completed the game and is now rotating through side quests. Or he is simply at such an epic level that he is now practically playing janitor for the whole world.

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Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
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Baldur’s Gate 3: Decipher the ancient book – How to find and open the necromancy of Thay
von Fabienne Kissel
Baldur’s Gate 3: Recruiting Minthara – How to Get the Powerful Companion
von Benedict Grothaus

“The Temptation of Elminster” is an officially licensed book by Wizards of the Coast – whether it still conforms to the canon, we cannot say for certain. However, one user claims that quite all books about Elminster in the last 20 years mention this.

It is definitely canon. Moreover, it fits perfectly with Elminster. In fact, hiding loot is even the task of all chosen of Mystra – except for Gale, apparently, who prefers to munch magical items with some salt.

Elminster scatters the items so that more people can use magic. The fans say: So you better not tell him that really every one of you has a whole bag full of scrolls that you never use because they might still be important. And seriously – use your loot: One item type is rotting in almost everyone’s pockets in Baldur’s Gate 3, although it is really strong

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

Counter-Strike 2 now bans cheaters using AI

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In recent weeks, cheaters in Counter-Strike 2 have had the upper hand, but the tide seems to have turned now.

How did the bans come about? Anyone who has played Counter-Strike 2 in recent weeks has most likely encountered a cheater. The problem has grown so large lately that even prominent members of the CS2 community announced on YouTube that they would no longer play the game.

Now, however, Valve has seemingly flipped the switch overnight and banned a large number of cheaters, allegedly using artificial intelligence.

If you want to reminisce, we have the trailer for you that started CS:GO:

Start video
Counter Strike: Global Offensive Trailer

Valve flips the switch and clears the lobbies

What has Valve done? Without much announcement, Valve seems to have flipped the switch and swung the ban-hammer. In videos on X (formerly Twitter), you can see lobbies with up to 9 banned players – only one is left. Since April 26, the bans have been rising rapidly.

The changes to the anti-cheat system were only briefly mentioned in the patch notes from April 25. It states: “Overwatch system added to allow demo analyses of games by trusted partners.”

So far, however, no one in the community has been found who has access to the system. But in the following video on X (formerly Twitter), you can see how the system removes 9 cheaters at once.

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Where do the bans come from? That’s basically the “million Euro” question. The CS2 YouTuber Gabe Follower went on a search for clues regarding the ban wave in his video and found some interesting evidence.

According to his research, players who clearly cheated were primarily banned. So those who used aimbots, spinbots, or other cheats that are obviously recognizable as cheating. Players who only cheat a little, for example with wallhacks or radar hacks, would not be affected.

The YouTuber concludes from his research that Valve has now launched the first version of their anti-cheat based on artificial intelligence. This is supported by the fact that cheaters did not receive VAC bans but rather an in-game ban. This suggests that Valve’s normal anti-cheat system is not being used here.

Another point is the obvious cheating, which could be recognized more easily by the AI and Valve would have higher confidence in the accuracy of those affected. After all, they wouldn’t want to ban innocents.

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Counter-Strike 2: At one of the most important tournaments, a spectator ran onto the stage and destroyed the trophy
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Whether artificial intelligence is truly behind the bans is known to no one but the developers 100%. The legitimate players are just glad that the cheaters are being banned. In the shooter The Finals, a player outsmarted a cheater: Player defeats cheater in The Finals with an unusual weapon – “I was invincible to him”

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