Albion Online

Content update - Into the Fray - announced

Albion Online

05/18/2022 - Albion Online, the fantasy sandbox MMORPG from Sandbox Interactive, today announced the release of its next major content update - Into the Fray. The update brings a completely revamped weapon line - Magic Staffs, new 5 vs. 5 battle modes, varying daily events, and much more.

Key features:

  • New graphics, animations, and spells for Magical Wands
  • Portal Cities facilitate access to the Outlands
  • Castles receive improved graphics and gameplay mechanics
  • New 'Crystal Arena' and non-lethal Crystal League 5 vs. 5 modes
  • Daily Events provide short-lived bonuses
  • Victory Emotes and Twitch Drops
  • Numerous improvements to overall gameplay quality

REVISION OF MAGIC STAYS

Into the Fray brings a major overhaul of Magic Staves. Along with new and improved VFX, animations and sound, many staffs are getting completely revamped and even some brand new skills, for example:

  • Thorns: reworked to improve solo PvE for healers
  • Pyroexplosion: now a channeled skillshot with rewards for positioning and timing
  • Qualal Soul (Demonic Staff): Frightens enemies, based on Curse of Shame stacks
  • Rejuvenating Flower: a unique, multi-part spell

Each staff line has specific colors for better recognition, and numerous changes to mechanics have also been made to give mages more options while keeping combat dynamic and fair. Fire, Holy, Cursed, and Nature wands are getting a complete overhaul with this update, the Arcane and Frost wands are expecting the same program after the update is live.

PORTAL TOWNS

The update introduces Portal Towns, they replace the previous Portal Zones and serve as an extension of the Royal Towns in the Outlands. These cities make it much easier for new players to enter the Outlands, while also providing more convenience and time savings for the more experienced collectors and fighters.

Along with important buildings such as the Energy Handler and Repair Stations, each Portal City also shares its respective bank and marketplace with its associated Royal City, making buying, selling, and re-equipping much easier. With their visually redesigned invisibility shrines and protective bubbles upon re-entry, these cities also serve as convenient respawn points in the Outlands. Additionally, Portal Cities also reduce overpopulation in the Royal Cities and Hall of Conquerors, making it easier on both sides of the portal to complete their respective tasks.

IMPROVEMENTS TO CASTLES AND OUTPUTS

The update brings changes to Castles and Outposts . Improved layouts and graphics make battles more dynamic, fair and visually varied, while giving castle owners more ways to defend their castle. Different rarity levels and synchronized timers on chests challenge combat on multiple fronts simultaneously. Chests appear on the world map before they can be claimed, also showing their rarity level, giving smaller guilds a way to focus on these coveted targets.

In addition, castle chests spawn more frequently per day, providing occasions for large battles throughout the week. Castle chests now also bring strength, and season points are earned via a strength challenge, no longer via passive control. Overall, these changes bring more occasions to large battles, while at the same time giving smaller guilds more chances to earn lucrative winnings.

ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW AND DAILY EVENTS

An Activities Overview provides a summarized overview of active challenges, including the Adventurer Challenge, Faction Wars, and the Conqueror Challenge, allowing for easy monitoring of ongoing events. There are also a number of new Daily Events added to the game. They offer bonuses for a wide range of activities, from additional loot and glory in hell gates to additional faction points or bonuses for gathering specific resources.

Local production bonuses change daily, offering time-limited benefits for specific items, this brings additional earnings for crafters, collectors, and merchants. Overall, the new daily events incentivize players to try new themes and areas in the game, while providing clear benefits to players who already specialize in individual areas.

VICTORY EMOTES AND TWITCH DROPS

Victory Emotes are prestige spells that automatically trigger after PvP kills, allowing players to properly show off and celebrate their victory. They include various celebration gestures and challenges, from guild banners to vines, spirits, and tombstones. For those players who want to focus on the battle, the emotes can also be disabled, and there are limits to ensure that there is no emote inflation in a large battle.

The emotes are available via the new Twitch Drops, which players can get by watching Albion Content Creators on Twitch. Along with the emotes, the Twitch Drops also include skins and community tokens that can be traded in for items, providing a way to earn rewards while supporting the community.

CRISTAL ARENA

A new crystal arena with its own leaderboard is being added to the old arena. It takes place on the Crystal League map and has non-lethal match rules, giving newer 5 vs. 5 players a way to practice and earn rewards without having to risk and spend vast amounts of silver on new equipment. Players can sign up individually or with friends and will automatically be matched into teams of five.

Players earn Arena Rank points for their victories, which they can use to climb the leaderboards and earn new rewards, including silver, fame, seals, and tokens. The original arena queue has also now been merged into a single signup for single players and groups, which will then automatically create teams of 5.

NON-LETTLESS CRISTAL LEAGUE

With this update also comes a 5 vs. 5 crystal league with non-lethalrules, which will coexist with the existing league. It otherwise uses the rules of the existing league, but since equipment is kept after each death, it thus allows easier access for new players. The rewards are below the "full-loot" level, but they are still good incentives to improve and move up the ranks, and the higher level matches offer lucrative prize money. Matches take place on different dates than the full-loot league, so players can participate in both leagues, and the non-lethal league also offers qualifying opportunities for the prestigious Crystal League Championship during the off-season, though this will still be in the full-loot rulebook.

UPDATED GRAPHICS FOR RESOURCES

The graphics for static resources (stone, ore, wood, fiber) and their treasures have been revised and improved for better recognizability, making it easier for newer players to see the different levels of resources, and easier for veterans to see resources in more dangerous areas. The new graphics and enchantment effects reinforce the individual identity of each resource, making them easier to recognize and more fun to collect. The increasing value of different levels is more clearly displayed, and treasure-sized resource reservoirs now have updated graphics that pay more attention to the larger scale of this resource supply.

GENERAL GAME QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS

"Into the Fray" brings numerous improvements to overall game quality to the world of Albion. Equipment Lost allows for easy re-purchase / re-equipping after death, allowing for a quick return to the world. Crafting UIs now include search and filter fields to more quickly find a desired recipe. A new Silenced Player UI gives an overview of silences (mutes) with options for managing them, while the Individual Match UI allows for quickly setting up a risk-free practice match, and an improved Group UI gives more options for group management. The Return Journey skill and collection folios reduce long travel and level up times. And there are also numerous improvements and fixes to controller support, it is now available for mobile devices.

ADDITIONAL CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS

In addition to the above, this update includes many more changes and improvements, such as:

  • Training dummies on islands
  • New tooltips for the map describing adjacent zones
  • Automatic use of demolition hammers on enemy buildings
  • Improved low-level zones for new players
  • 12 new icons for skills and 5 new Achievements
  • Numerous balancing changes and UI fixes
.
  • Source: Official website

Short info

Trailer

World of Tanks

Battle Pass Vikings: Legendary heroes conquer World of Tanks

Today - The Battle Pass Special: Vikings brings epic characters and exclusive rewards to World of Tanks. From November 7 to 21, players can immerse themselves in the world of the Vikings and unlock iconic heroes and the new Felice tank for two weeks. Read more

STALCRAFT: X

New Black Raid event now available

Yesterday - The online game STALCRAFT: X launched the new Black Raid event on October 30, which is available until December 4. Players take on the role of a black market mercenary and have to steal secret technologies. Read more

Deutscher Entwicklerpreis

Best Games 2024 honored at the German Developer Award in Cologne

Yesterday - On December 3, 2024, the German Developer Award will be presented in Cologne's Gürzenich. Outstanding computer games from 14 categories will be honored and the best German game of the year will be chosen. Read more

World of Warships

New Star Trek content: Three operations for World of Warships

10/31/2024 - World of Warships invites players into a new intergalactic battle, this time inspired by the Star Trek franchise. Three new operations and iconic captains await players. Read more

Destiny 2

Festival of the Lost returns after Destiny 2 with new treats

10/30/2024 - The annual Festival of the Lost is back in Destiny 2. Players can unlock new rewards, exotic items and the popular Super Black Shader as they complete challenges. Read more

Armored Warfare

Shockwave: The biggest update yet for Armored Warfare is here!

10/29/2024 - The free Shockwave update for Armored Warfare brings numerous new features to the game, including a new mode, drones and gameplay improvements. It is the biggest update in the last three years. Read more

Palia

Autumnal innovations in Palia: Patch 0.185 brings camping decorations and more

10/25/2024 - Patch 0.185 marks the arrival of autumn in Palia: new trading opportunities, camping decor, the return of the Maji market and much more await you. A breath of fresh air for your homes and numerous opportunities to collect and decorate. Read more

Metin 2

Balathor's Revenge update brings new dragon raid

10/23/2024 - The new update "Balathor's Revenge" for the medieval MMORPG Metin2 brings an epic dragon raid, numerous gameplay improvements and exciting seasonal events. Gameforge is celebrating the launch of the free expansion with new challenges for experienced players. Read more

GigraWars

Universum 5 starts on Friday

10/23/2024 - On October 25 from 8 p.m., GigraWars will launch a new universe with a runtime of two years. Read more

Deutscher Entwicklerpreis

The nominations for the best games 2024

10/22/2024 - On December 3, 2024, the best computer games of the year will be honored with the German Developer Award (DEP) in Cologne. Following the selection by the expert juries, the nominations in 13 of 14 categories have now been finalized. The nominees in the most important category "Best German Game" are still open. This is where the 160-strong "Grand Jury", which is now starting its work, is in demand. Read more

Star Wars: The old Republic

New content in update 7.6 on the PTS

10/21/2024 - Star Wars: The Old Republic brings two exciting new features to the Public Test Server (PTS) with Update 7.6. Players can now explore the dynamic encounters on the planets Hoth and Tatooine as well as the new boss fight against the Propagator Core XR-53. Read more

OGame

Mega update for the 22nd birthday: New profile functions and achievements in OGame

10/17/2024 - Gameforge is celebrating OGame's 22nd birthday with a new update that brings customizable profiles, seasonal achievements and a global ranking system. The update "Profile & Achievements" is now live and offers players new customization options. Read more

Armored Warfare

Fall update Shockwave brings new game mode and map overhaul

10/16/2024 - Armored Warfare is releasing the extensive Shockwave update for the fall. This brings with it a new PvE endgame mode, map revisions and numerous improvements. Read more

MyFreeFarm

New farm brings exotic spices into play

10/15/2024 - With the introduction of the tenth farm in My Free Farm, upjers opens up exciting possibilities for players from level 52. The farm offers exotic spices such as cinnamon and cardamom, which open up new production and sales opportunities. Read more

Torchlight: Infinite

New Season 6 reveals fresh hero and gameplay

10/11/2024 - Torchlight: Infinite enters its sixth season in October 2024. Players can expect a new hero class, expanded gameplay mechanics and an icy world full of challenges and rewards. Read more

Overwatch 2

Witchcraft and horror in the new season 13

10/11/2024 - The 13th season of Overwatch 2 is all about witchcraft and horror. With new skins, modes and an exciting My Hero Academia collaboration, players can expect a magical experience to match the Halloween season. Read more

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

Uniting regions - Update 32.1 with new features

10/10/2024 - The latest update to PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, patch 32.1, brings important changes to the game. In addition to a global region merge, which should reduce waiting times, there are new game modes, weapon adjustments and improvements to the recall system. Read more

EVE Online

Revenant - New expansion continues the Deathless saga

10/10/2024 - EVE Online reveals the new expansion "Revenant", which will be released on November 12. The Deathless saga continues as the Drifters form up in Zarzakh and present the capsuleers of New Eden with new challenges. Read more

Tarisland

Season 1 Blight Dragon Elegy - Everything about the upcoming expansion

10/09/2024 - October sees the start of the first official season in Tarisland: "Blight Dragon Elegy". With new challenges, dungeons and talents, character development will be taken to the next level. The developers have now released important details on the rule changes and content that players can expect. Read more

eSport

Elevate wins the Call of Duty: Mobile World Cup 2024 and new map Krai unveiled

10/08/2024 - The Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship 2024 ended with Elevate's victory over the Qing Jiu Club. At the same time, the new Battle Royale map Krai was presented, which will be released for Season 10. Read more

Star Wars: The old Republic

New round of the Best View in SWTOR competition launched

10/07/2024 - The popular "Best View in SWTOR" contest returns in 2024! Players can submit their best screenshots from five selected locations for a chance to have their shots immortalized as in-game decorations. Read more