RabidRebel

No, it hasn't, but it's a major uptick with the early access only about halfway over. If you do try it again, I recommend the Smolensk map. It isnt as well optimized as say Warsaw, but the map is one of the most interesting I've seen in awhile. They've also wildly scaled back the max players on a map which has really helped. It's now 30 total on most conquest maps. Give the thermal scope a try on a sniper too. The biggest news about this patch is really that vast improvements are still occurring and heading in the right direction. We're also seeing player feedback actually make it in the game (helicopters were never planned but now they exist). Hell, even the server browser is working correctly now. Just know that not everything is fixed or optimized.

With a massive new patch, two new maps, helicopters and more, WW3 seems to get a second wind. Player base is climbing with the release of this patch coinciding with a 40% off sale for the weekend (~$16 thru today). If you already have the game, you may want to pop in just to see what has changed. The graphics look better, the movement feels a lot better, the TTK feels /good/. It isn't wholesale better. There are still a few lingering bugs (I had some interesting respawns in Smolensk which were not game breaking) and sometimes that weapon switch just isn't when you need it. That being said, I actually had fun. You can spawn on any team member now AND there is a mobile respawn vehicle you can drive around to let your team respawn on a given location. A video below goes over some of the substantial changes with more on the way. The dev team has indicated that they are focusing more on fixing bugs/making the game feel good compared to adding new content. So, I wouldn't expect the steady stream of new things like they promised at the start, but the effort change has paid off in a playable experience. Hell, even I managed a quick scope head shot at close range which would have been a stuttered impossible mess before. Patch notes Link: https://forum.worldwar3.com/index.php?/topic/8951-update-06-patch-notes/ Video Link: -Dan

If you still have Ghost Recon Wildlands installed still, the newest patch released the Oracle mission in PvE. This mission provides a prelude to Ghost Recon Breakpoint with the introduction of characters and backstory for the game. The first mission is lengthy with an all new area showing off some of the new drone/tank tech. The second mission rehashes old areas but throws in some good story and difficult stealth. You'll be glad to have the invisibility suit from the Future Soldier mission. Completing both missions will earn you a pair of gloves that will let you perform some of the brutal takedowns from the most recent Breakpoint trailer. Melees from the front produce one animation and melees from behind show another. Would not reinstall for this mission, but a solid little run for those on the release news high.

All, Don't forget to register for the Beta and news associated to it. This screen will be popping up on the Ubisoft launcher. Look for it.

I would add on that it looks like they finally added a decent "lean" mechanism to the movement. It showed up in a couple of peaks in the videos. I couldnt quite tell for sure if this was from an actual lean or the usual 3rd-Person peak with the camera. Granted, I recognize this is a highly polished demo video which probably won't entirely look like the actual game play. I was excited, like you, to see smoke revives and the ability to carry a wounded teammate to safety. Critical features for PvP for sure. Seems like the TTK/TTD will be rather short, but again, in a video this polished, the damaged phases may have just been triggered by single high calibur bullets rather than being reality. I feel like you might be able to take a few more hits than 3 under machine gun fire... I hope. It looks like this is everything we wanted out of Wildlands and Division mashed into an epic masterpiece. This may be the game we've been looking to get as a group. Just watch out for that bastard Axlerod hiding in some mud in the bush... he's a real asshole in that terrain.

Looks like the hammer is coming for loot boxes. New legislation is out to ban loot boxes on games targeted at kids under 18. This includes pay to win mechanics as well. Video game ‘loot boxes’ would be outlawed in many games under forthcoming federal bill - The Washington Post WWW.WASHINGTONPOST.COM Video games popular among kids would be prohibited from offering "loot boxes," or randomized assortments of digital weapons, clothing and other items that can be purchased for a fee, under new federal legislation previewed by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.

Two things here. EA didn't seemingly want this game to launch, let alone against BF V's battle royale. I can't imagine it is getting all the resources it deserves to maintain its growth curve because of it. The other thing is the continued and significant influence of streamers on gaming companies. I realize their coverage plays a role in players going to a game, but I feel like they get treated like an unofficial elected representative of the community as a whole now. They move on or cry about a feature and companies trip on themselves to implement it. Still not sure how I feel about this.

Looks like 1,200 players got the ban hammer in the Fortnite world cup for everything from cheating software to circumventing region locks. Most players caught got a 2 week ban and lost their winnings. Sadly, while the award money will be redistributed, the in-game leaderboards for the others wont reflect their new standings after the DQs. More than 1,200 accounts banned for cheating in Fortnite World Cup WWW.POLYGON.COM And more than 200 players forfeited prize money

The FTC will be holding a public workshop on loot boxes and other in-game transactions on August 7. In the mean time, the public can submit comments and suggested topics directly to the FTC thru June. Please see the link below for details. I would encourage anyone who feels strongly on this topic (for or against) to comment. FTC workshop looks into loot boxes WWW.FTC.GOV Gamers call them loot boxes – in-game rewards players can buy that contain a random assortment of virtual items.

The New York Times published an opinion piece of game makers unionizing in the wake of recent layoffs at major studios and articles about working conditions. The CEO salaries were pointed out to be 300+ times the median worker. Opinion | Making Video Games Is Not a Dream Job - The New York Times WWW.NYTIMES.COM The workers behind hits like Fortnite and Call of Duty need unions to protect them from exploitation.

Interesting they are waiting for World Tier 5 for true balancing. I kind of agree with that approach. I hope they dont wait too long.

Well, I dont think Div 2 was ever going to have the "golly gee whiz" factor in it being a sequel as redemption for Div 1. On the flip side, it gave direction and purpose to the new game which I think resulted in a better product. It still has its issues, but less than we keep seeing from new games out of EA. I'm not sure what the right answer is for game development, but things like Anthem certainly point to what is wrong. All we can do is demand outcomes that hopefully lead to better practices. Even if they are as minimal as stable at launch with community support.

Ya, I had no idea on frost bite being an issue. It sounds like a case of an engine built for a purpose being jury rigged into another. This is not good news with EA driving its use for all of its games.

This is a full blown and lengthy look at happened with Anthem. Multiple interviews are included. The issues are a lot more complex and deep rooted than we were speculating. The pressure on staff was so high some went on stress leave for months - some never came back. How BioWare's Anthem Went Wrong KOTAKU.COM It wasn’t even supposed to be called Anthem. Just days before the annual E3 convention in June of 2017, when the storied studio BioWare would reveal its newest game, the plan had been to go with a different title: Beyond. They’d even printed out Beyond T-shirts for the staff.

It should have come with a lifetime ban on social media and online gaming too.

I believe you can only have one. Division one didn't have clans like this, so it's new territory. We're not doing too bad. Ranked in the top 20-25 percent. Great for not having 50 players in it.

More accurate if you were on fire for half of the video

Um. I'd say it is improved. There are certainly bullet sponge enemies but they are rare guys with full body armor you have to break off. You can expedite it with hitting weak points and skills. Most can be taken down fairly quick. There is still the gear grind like any game of the genre, but the loot drops have been frequent enough and meaningful enough to not feel super grindy. I'm sure end game min/max will feel that way. They do have options to recalibrate items from the get go to limit this.

I think it is new territory for these hacks when price is no question. You dont even have a price pain point to levy against hackers. I agree with the article that Apex will likely have to resort to suing people in court. They will also have to take aggressive action on folks outside of countries with reasonable laws to enforce on this front. Until people face real world consequences for their online actions, it's going to continue down this path. I'm all about open free speech on the internet, but gaming hackers/trolls are now ruining my investment in time/money. It's theft from the community and they need a good smack.

I usually like keeping things in my control on my PC, but server side running of games is going to be the only way to limit hacking in games in the future.

We have reached clan level 2 and soon 3. The extra vendor in the clan hall is a nice bonus for those of us still leveling up.

Well, it doesn't have a lot for me yet, but it does prove I'm a maniac with a shotgun. Not really news though. Itll be interesting to see where this ends up in a couple weeks for stats. R6tab is also branching out to pick up Division stats too. Surprising for a mainly PvE experience.

The clan went fully active today in Division 2. The more the merrier. Some of the weekly projects and clan leveling requirements are substantial. The more help we can get the better. Clan leveling is provided by your in game actions -- nothing special. You have to have Grace Larsen recruited on one character to join. This is a fairly early unlock.

For anyone who pre-ordered the Division 2. The link below is where you can login and redeem your free game offer. Just in case you missed it. https://thedivision2-freegameoffer.ubi.com/#/en-US

All, I have set up The Armory Clan in Division 2. If you were on, I sent you an invite. Apparently, I can't send them without you being on the Ubisoft launcher. You can search for the clan at the clan room. Our 3 letter callsign is TAC and the name is TheArmoryClan. Let me know if you need an invite too. We need at least 4 to start getting the weekly assignments going. -RabidRebel