General News

After the launch of Forza Horizon 6 Series 2 Horizon Decades, a wave of dissatisfaction has swept through the player base. On the surface, Festival Playlist seems to offer a decent haul of reward cars and various prizes, yet a closer look at those vehicles reveals that most of them are decidedly underwhelming.

However, the issues with Series 2 run deeper than just mediocre rewards. Beyond the lingering FOMO concerns, Series 2 content offers little excitement. Players essentially log in weekly, complete a few challenges, and unlock their cars, with many worrying that this pattern will persist in future updates.

New Cars in Series 2

The community's primary grievance right now is the meager number of free new cars. In this Festival Playlist, only three vehicles are brand-new additions available without extra cost: one Porsche as the overall seasonal reward, plus one car for each of Summer and Winter.

Among these, the Winter vehicle is a returning model from Forza Motorsport 4 that has never appeared in Horizon series, so it is not truly a fresh car either.

Another point of contention involves the weekly 40-point reward and the seasonal 160-point reward, both of which are repeat cars from Series 1 Playlist. Some players had hoped these slots would showcase new models, but from another perspective, these vehicles are Playlist-exclusive and fairly rare, with no normal means of acquiring them.

For those who missed Series 1, this return offers a welcome chance to complete their collections, so placing them as mid-tier rewards does make some sense.

On top of that, Car Pass introduces 4 more exclusive cars. While this follows series tradition, the problem is that in FH6 Series 2 update, the number of car pass vehicles actually exceeds that of free, fully new Forza Horizon 6 cars. This disparity has left quite a few players feeling let down.

FOMO

The developers explicitly mentioned in a past interview that they would investigate solutions to FOMO issue in FH6, and in theory, several feasible measures exist. However, since then, there has been no further word, and no concrete plans or progress have been announced to date.

Currently, the only way for players to obtain missed vehicles is either to wait for a future Playlist rerun or to keep refreshing Auction House page in hopes of spotting a rare car.

The former involves an uncertain and potentially long wait, while the latter offers a tedious experience that also requires a substantial stockpile of FH6 credits.

Players hope that Playlist rewards will stop being time-limited, or that some condition will be introduced to allow retrospective access to previous series' cars. From a technical standpoint, this would not be difficult to implement, yet the development team has not adopted it.

More perplexingly, despite the official promise to alleviate FOMO, the current seasonal update mechanism might actually intensify that anxiety. The weekly time-limited vehicles make players feel that if they do not log in, they will miss out forever.

Series 2 Update Content

Many players argue that Series 2 update is generally lackluster. Apart from Festival Playlist, very little new content is added. The only noticeable gameplay addition is a Car Meet held at Hokubu Time Attack Circuit, but that is part of Evolving World activity and will only exist during Series 2 before being removed afterwards.

Players generally look forward to richer themed updates. Each season ought to bring genuinely desirable new cars, fresh thematic challenges, and creative content. As things stand, Horizon Decades update clearly falls short of meeting those expectations.

That said, there is no need for excessive alarm. The early Festival Playlist rewards in Forza Horizon 5 were also quite poor, and it was only after Car Pass period ended that Playlist offerings began to improve. FH6's Playlist will likely follow a similar trajectory.

After all, Forza Horizon 6 is still a very new game, so the official team need not worry about player retention for now. They may well be focusing on promoting their Car Pass first, before introducing more crowd-pleasing vehicles into Playlist later.

The Trial

Another source of frustration for many players is the return of The Trial, a team-based race mode where players cooperate against high-difficulty AI opponents. However, because teammate collision damage is enabled, these events often degenerate into chaotic demolition derbies.

With no effective way to communicate, the matchmaking experience for solo players tends to be poor, which is why most veterans of the series dislike this mode. If you do decide to give it a try, it is strongly advised that you team up with friends beforehand.

Series 3

It is already known that Series 3 will adopt an Italian Exotics theme, though the exact number of vehicles has not been revealed. Notably, an Italian Passion Car Pack will arrive at that time, containing four exclusive cars. Combined with another four exclusive cars from Car Pass during the same update, the total number of exclusive vehicles in that release will reach 8.

Most players are unhappy about this and want to know how many of them will be free. They also wonder whether those free cars will be returning models from Horizon 5, entirely new additions, or a mix of both.

Despite the controversies surrounding Series 2 update, Horizon 6 has already surpassed ten million players, and its commercial success is beyond question. All fans hope that the game will continue to deliver exciting themed updates, unique vehicles, and engaging activities. It remains to be seen whether the development team will truly listen to community feedback and take concrete action.

Raiders, although ARC Raiders Expedition 4 departure window is now open, because of the eventual data reset, we need to quickly select our most valuable items and blueprints to add to our Expedition Vault.

Our choices should be carefully weighed and planned. With Expedition 4 departure window just opened, we still have time to make decisions. A well-designed gear setup can help us quickly restore our account's progress and rebuild our resource accumulation system.

Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) Blueprint

If you have many gear options, adding Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) blueprint to your Expedition Vault is almost undoubtedly a priority.

During the early game, having Safe Pockets, storage capacity, and medium shield provided by Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) gives us a significant advantage in terms of basic attributes.

A more crucial and unique mechanic is that even after being knocked down, your character can still crawl to Raider Hatch and successfully evacuate. This is particularly crucial in PvE, as it effectively reduces the probability of gear loss when exploring high-risk areas.

Considering these advantages, making Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) blueprint a fixed requirement in Expedition Vault is definitely a reasonable decision.

Obtaining Augment blueprints in ARC Raiders isn't as difficult as one might imagine, as they exhibit a clear tiered drop rate system.

Tactical Mk. 3 (Revival), Combat Mk. 3 (Flanking), and Tactical MK. 3 (Defensive) Augment blueprints appear frequently, while Tactical MK. 3 (Smoke), Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper), and Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) Augment blueprints are designated as rare drops.

One effective strategy is to continuously farm Augment blueprints at the preferred location Blue Gate in the near term, but the competition is fierce.

Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper)

Next, we can consider Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper), not its blueprint.

This is chosen because if our PvE lobbies are active, the core strategy should focus on quickly completing the workbench.

During the post-Expedition account progression rebuild, the collection and preparation of materials needed for workbench upgrades is the main obstacle. Whether crafting basic weapons like Renegade early on or requiring advanced materials like Advanced Mechanical Components, complete workbench support is essential.

This is where Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) comes in handy, as it provides a Max Loadout Weight of 65, eliminating concerns about the bumpy process of upgrading Workbench.

Of course, in the initial stages of the game, you can still use currency to unlock Looting Mk. 2 to collect basic lootable items like Rusted Tools, Power Cables, and Motors. If you need to carry heavier loads to move ARC parts, you should consider using Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) stored in the vault.

Jupiter

During account rebuilding, it often takes five or six hours to collect most of the basic parts, but the process becomes extremely slow when using Anvil or Renegade to fight ARC enemies and acquire parts like Bombardier Cells, Leaper Pulse Units, and Rocketeer Drivers.

However, if you have Jupiter available, eliminating ARC enemies in the early game will be a breeze.

In addition, with Jupiter's suppressive fire, we can obtain Energy Clips in Harvester map conditions simply by entering and picking them up, with no need to complete complex puzzles, thus gaining sufficient ammunition for combat against ARC enemies.

If the situation becomes dangerous or other players attempt an ambush, Jupiter can be placed in Safe Pocket provided by Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper), ensuring the weapon is preserved and usable again even in unforeseen circumstances.

Therefore, the combination of Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) and Jupiter allows players to efficiently upgrade their workbench very early in the game, laying a solid equipment foundation for later progress.

Heavy Gun Parts Blueprint and Bettina Blueprint

Finally, the two blueprints that can be placed into your Expedition Vault are Heavy Gun Parts blueprint and Bettina blueprint.

Bettina's performance in ARC Raiders is undeniable.

An even more important reason for choosing Bettina blueprint is its relatively low crafting cost compared to other epic weapons, requiring only three Canisters, three Advanced Mechanical Components, and three Heavy Gun Parts.

While Heavy Gun Parts blueprint and Bettina blueprint themselves aren't particularly rare, the pool of Raider-style blueprints is enormous, making the probability of obtaining both at the start of Expedition quite low.

Specifically, nine other blueprints share the same drop pool, making it difficult to precisely acquire Heavy Gun Parts and Bettina blueprints from such a large pool. Placing them in Expedition Vault is a wise choice.

Many players might consider keeping Anvil blueprint in Expedition Vault instead of Bettina, arguing that Anvil has lower ammo consumption and might be more practical in the early game.

However, a deeper analysis reveals that Anvil appears quite frequently on the map, and even without Anvil blueprint, it's easy to unlock Anvil weapon directly.

Compared to Anvil, Bettina blueprints are almost never dropped if we don't unlock Security Breach skill, making them quite rare in the early stage of ARC Raiders.

Therefore, carrying both Heavy Gun Parts blueprint and Bettina blueprint ensures you have an efficient farming weapon immediately after completing Gunsmith bench 3, avoiding delays because of unlocked blueprints.

If you save your equipment as suggested above during ARC Raiders Expedition 4 departure window, you should be able to restore your pre-expedition account status in a relatively short time!

The annual Midsummer Fire Festival arrived as scheduled this year, from June 21st to July 5th. Introduced in 2008, this festival has undergone several iterations and presents a completely different look in WoW this year compared to Vanilla WoW.

For adventurers still training in Outlands, 2026 Midsummer Fire Festival offers multiple benefits, from experience boosts to rare gear, far exceeding the value of earlier expansions.

This article will analyze, from a personal practical perspective, how to efficiently acquire Gold and loot in WoW Midsummer Fire Festival, while avoiding common pitfalls.

Core Buffs

The three buffs offered by WoW Midsummer Fire Festival form the basic motivation for participating.

Experience Boost

The method for gaining experience boosts in this WoW Midsummer Fire Festival is similar to Vanilla: click on Ribbon Pole in the main city and dance around it to accumulate a 10% experience boost, lasting up to one hour.

Actual testing shows that the dance takes approximately three to four minutes to fully stack the buff to its 60-minute duration.

Combat Buffs

Combat buffs come from two sources:

Throwing Burning Blossoms at bonfires grants a 3% critical strike chance bonus, covering both physical and spell attacks;

Directly interacting with bonfires has a chance to grant a bonfire blessing, triggering 700 fire damage when attacking or casting spells.

Burning Blossoms are an event currency, accumulated by completing quests. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize completing all onetime quests to accumulate enough currency to maintain full buff coverage.

Cross-Faction Fire Stealing Strategy

Quests involving stealing fire from the enemy faction's capital city are high-risk, high-reward.

Stealth classes like Rogues or Druids can complete this relatively easily, while Warriors, Paladins, and other classes need to rely on teammates for cover or choose off-peak hours on the server to infiltrate.

This quest can be completed once in each of the four enemy capital cities, rewarding you with WoW Gold, Burning Blossoms, and powerful Consumables each time.

Based on multiple attempts in WoW, when Alliance steals Orgrimmar's flame, the route from Cleft of Shadow towards Forge is relatively safe; for Horde infiltrating Stormwind City, it's recommended to detour through Canal District to Dwarven District.

Even if you fail, Soul Weakness status won't cause lasting damage, making it worth trying.

Quests and Rewards

Gold rewards from WoW Midsummer Fire Festival primarily come from the fire quests distributed throughout Outland and Old World.

Efficient Outland Route

There are 14 fire quests across seven zones in Outland, with one bonfire each for Alliance and Horde in each zone. Your own bonfire grants 6 Gold, while enemy bonfire grants 12 Gold, for 126 Gold.

With Flying Mounts, a well-planned circular route can complete all Outland quests within twenty minutes.

It's recommended to start from Hellfire Peninsula, passing through Zangarmarsh and Terokkar Forest, then turning towards Nagrand and Blade's Edge Mountains, finally completing Netherstorm and Shadowmoon Valley. This order minimizes round-trip flight time.

Old World Rewards Trade-offs

Old World also has similar fire quests, with individual quest rewards the same as in Outland. However, the lack of Flying Mounts significantly increases land travel time, especially given the vast north-south span of Kalimdor.

If all Old World quests are included in the plan, the total gold reward can reach approximately 500 WoW Gold. However, for players with limited time, it's recommended to prioritize completing Outland portion, then selectively tackle concentrated areas of Eastern Kingdoms or Kalimdor depending on remaining time.

Quest completion conditions include talking to your own NPCs or clicking on enemy bonfires. Using a quest addon can clearly identify the status of each area. 

Boss Challenge

Lord Ahune's summoning process begins with a quest chain in the major city, requiring players to travel to the old world to investigate the plot of Twilight's Hammer members, and then enter Slave Pens instance.

This boss can only be summoned once per day, a limitation that has become the most contentious aspect of team coordination.

Experience shows that most teams, after forming, default to a five-kill streak, with each member taking turns using their daily summoning privileges.

Joining a team after consuming one's personal summoning privileges, or leaving the team before someone else has contributed a summon, will be considered a breach of the team contract. It is recommended to proactively state your summoning status before joining a team, or form a team yourself and clearly define the rules.

Rewards and Shops

The stats of cloaks dropped from WoW are improved compared to cloaks dropped from Vanilla, by approximately 10%. Whether other equipment has been adjusted accordingly requires further verification with more samples.

Lord Ahune's loot list includes Caster Cloak, Physical Cloak, and Tank Cloak, all optional supplements for their respective slots.

Burning Blossoms shop offers Transmog, Consumerables, and a pet. Consumerables are useful in Arena or Battleground.

Considering the event lasts two weeks, consistently killing bosses and completing daily quests daily is sufficient to obtain the necessary items.

The core value of WoW Midsummer Fire Festival lies in three areas: the rapid gold gain from Outland Fire quests, the increased efficiency of leveling and mob farming because of buffs, and the enhanced gear from Lord Ahune's drops.

Pay close attention to the raid rules regarding the summoning mechanics to avoid wasting daily attempts because of misunderstandings. It's recommended to prioritize completing Outland route before expanding to Old World as needed. The two-week event window is sufficient for every player to reap substantial rewards.

If you enjoy medieval-themed MMORPGs, you surely remember Gloria Victis. This ill-fated game once shut down less than a year after its 1.0 launch due to various constraints, but now it's back!

Thanks to a new developer, Gloria Victis relaunched as a free-to-play title on June 18, 2026. If you remember your old account details, you can pick up right where you left off! However, only your skins carry over; your economic progress starts from scratch.

If you've forgotten how to farm currency in Gloria Victis, especially the rarest type, Gold Crown, don't worry; we've got a dedicated guide for you!

Gold Crowns in the economy system

Set against a medieval, low-fantasy backdrop, Gloria Victis features combat ranging from faction-based PvP castle sieges to team-oriented PvE dungeons and open-world boss battles.

To tackle this content, you need to regularly acquire and repair gear, as well as stock up on various consumables to aid in battle. All of this requires in-game currency.

The currency system in Gloria Victis is based on Crowns, ranked from Copper and Iron to Silver and Gold; 100 lower-tier Crowns can be exchanged for one of the next tier up.

Theoretically, any Copper, Iron, or Silver Crowns you earn can eventually be converted into Gold Crowns. You can consume Gold Crowns directly through NPC and shop trades, tax payments, or use them for player-to-player transactions at the auction house.

Selling raw materials

When first returning to Gloria Victis, tackling high-difficulty combat is challenging. Even if you manage to complete some objectives with the help of teammates, any gear you acquire will probably be prioritized for your own gear. Consequently, the best way to farm gold is by selling raw materials.

These materials, such as ores and crops, can be found through non-combat exploration. While higher-value materials are usually found further away from your home capital, venturing there also increases the risk of danger.

Additionally, you should monitor market trends via the market administrator and prioritize gathering materials that are in high demand or short supply. This allows you to capitalize on opportunities and earn more Gold Crowns with less effort.

However, relying on such basic methods makes farming progress quite slow. If you want to level up your character and gear faster and reach the endgame sooner, the best option is to buy Gloria Victis Gold Crowns on IGGM!

Craft and sell high-level items

After initially boosting your character through basic farming and combat, you can choose a profession. While different professions allow you to craft different items, most of these can be sold for Crowns.

To craft items, you need to increase your profession level (enabling you to craft more valuable goods) and acquire crafting recipes, either by trading with vendors or obtaining them as combat drops. Naturally, you will also need the necessary raw materials.

This system is quite similar to the profession mechanics in World of Warcraft; however, Gloria Victis places greater emphasis on non-fantasy elements, meaning you can often earn more gold through crafting in this game.

Complete quests

Before diving into free-roaming exploration, we recommend completing the various quests issued by the game. These not only familiarize you with deeper mechanics but also reward you with XP or Gold Crowns.

Quests generally fall into categories such as tutorials, tasks picked up from quest boards, and faction-specific missions (for Midland, Ismir, or Sangmar). You can progress through them gradually based on difficulty.

Complete PvE activities

Here, PvE activities refer to dungeons or other open-world events. Completing them grants not only XP and Gold Crowns but also special points used to increase your guild's level.

Among all PvE activities in Gloria Victis, Catacombs Dungeon is arguably the most valuable and popular. To access it, you must first complete an initial stage to unlock three different entrances, each leading to a distinct interior area.

Note that most PvE activities are best tackled in a group, provided your character meets the level requirements.

This is not only because the activities themselves are dangerous but also because you might encounter players from hostile factions at any moment, triggering PvP combat, and if you are alone, you will almost certainly face defeat!

Capture and upgrade structures

Gloria Victis features three major factions, each striving to capture more structures and territory. Once your character is sufficiently powered up, you can engage in combat on the world map to capture structures and upgrade them.

Throughout this process, you will earn various rewards, including Gloria Victis Gold Crowns, and more importantly, expand your faction's territory.

Additionally, any structures or strongholds captured by you or your fellow faction members become available respawn points. The more respawn points you control, the greater the advantage you will have in large-scale PvP battles.

Participate in the server events

These events spawn automatically and regularly on the server. They essentially combine faction-based territorial struggles with large-scale, high-reward PvE activities, encouraging players from all factions to actively participate and earn rewards.

Summary

As you have likely noticed, the methods outlined above were introduced in a progressive manner that aligns with your character's leveling journey in Gloria Victis. Take it one step at a time, and you will eventually become a key asset to your faction.

It is truly remarkable for an MMORPG to make a comeback after three years. So, if you have played Gloria Victis in the past or are interested in it now, why not jump in, show your support, and begin your farming journey?

Diablo series has always been built upon a deep and captivating lore, one that the developers have steadily expanded from Diablo I all the way through Diablo IV. And when a story grows rich enough, it inevitably invites hidden layers - secrets woven into its fabric for the keen-eyed to uncover.

Players have already unearthed plenty of mysteries within Lord of Hatred expansion, including the ever-elusive Secret Cow Level. Yet according to the development team, at least one major secret still lies completely undiscovered, and the player base hasn't even come close to it.

That proclamation is bound to pique the curiosity of any dedicated explorer. One can only speculate on what that secret might be, then follow the breadcrumbs wherever they lead.

Cow God

For starters, Secret Cow Level is not the end of the bovine-related thread. After defeating Cow King, players can obtain a quest item called Prime Rib. Unlike most such items, Prime Rib can be stacked and will drop from Cow King multiple times.

Its flavour text remarks that this cut is worthy of being offered to anyone - even a deity. If that line carries any weight beyond humour, it suggests that Prime Rib might actually be a sacrificial offering to some divine being.

One possibility is that it points to another god hidden somewhere within Sanctuary. In Diablo IV, the only strange NPC with whom players have directly interacted is the enigmatic fishing merchant, Shi Yugong. His tone and mannerisms bear a striking resemblance to Covetous Shen from Diablo III - even sharing the same voice actor. Should that connection hold true, then Shi Yugong would be the sole divine figure players have ever encountered.

Even more intriguing is the world map itself, which depicts two colossal creatures: one resembling a leviathan fish, and another a sea monster sporting horns and multiple hooves of varying sizes. Moreover, developers have been spotted wearing T-shirts bearing these very motifs during their live streams. Unless they are deliberately misleading the audience, those designs likely carry some significance.

Still, the more probable explanation is that the studio does intend to continue this storyline, but simply has not yet implemented that content. Despite the many hints, players have already exhaustively scoured Secret Cow Level. If the secret truly exists, they are probably very close to revealing it, even if they have not quite managed it yet.

Zoltun Kulle

Another line of speculation ties into a much larger enigma within Diablo IV. For years, the community has accepted that Zoltun Kulle met his end at the hands of Nephalem during Act II of Diablo III. However, hidden within lore manuscripts obtained through Artificer's Stash, a startling revelation surfaces: Zoltun Kulle is in fact the creator of both The Pit and Tower. In other words, he never truly died.

This discovery grows all the more bizarre when players delve into the hidden quest chain surrounding Chorons within The Pit. Scattered across various tiers of The Pit, one can find writings left by Chorons, an ancient Horadrim who once pursued Zoltun Kulle. After failing in that hunt, he somehow became trapped within The Pit, enduring countless ages. His tragic tale culminates in Chorons himself appearing as a hidden boss within those depths.

If Zoltun Kulle indeed fashioned The Pit and Tower, then could the final undiscovered secret involve tracking him down directly? He might be lurking somewhere out of sight, yet players may simply be searching from the wrong angle.

Luckiest Coin

Diablo IV already contains a covert quest line that spans both the base game and the Vessel of Hatred expansion, and it revolves around a lucky coin. In the main campaign, players can initiate a quest to find a Lucky Coin.

During a certain NPC event, if a player loots a fallen enemy while under the effect of a Greed Shrine, that drop will yield a Lucky Coin. Taking that coin to a wishing well east of Cerrigar then rewards the player with Well-Wisher title.

Yet that is not the end. When five players, each using a different class, offer their coins together at the well, a hidden unique ring - Ring of Misfortune - materialises.

Later, in Vessel of Hatred, players discovered Luckier Coin. The process involves heading to the Nahantu region and destroying highlighted containers while under a Blast Wave Shrine. Doing so summons an invincible rat.

One must follow that rat for exactly seven minutes and nine seconds until it randomly explodes, dropping Luckier Coin. Taking this coin to a moss-covered tomb in the town of Samuk, within Nahantu, yields another hidden unique ring: Ring of the Jinx.

The base game has one coin quest line, and Vessel of Hatred has a second. By that logic, Lord of Hatred ought to contain a third, which would guide players toward obtaining Luckiest Coin.

Indeed, data miners have already uncovered Luckiest Coin in the game files, though no one has yet found how to acquire it in practice. Most likely, it will be found in Skovos Isles, and its acquisition will involve some shrine-related mechanic.

Given that both the wishing well in the base game and the tomb in Vessel of Hatred bear inscriptions, players should keep an eye out for any strange, interactive areas that seem out of place.

Those are the leading theories regarding the hidden secrets of Lord of Hatred expansion. Luckiest Coin very well could be the major secret the developers alluded to. Players already know it lies just behind the wall - they simply have not yet found the door.

As the 2026 World Cup progresses, the launch of pre-orders for FIFA 27 draws nearer. Recent reports suggest this will happen shortly after the World Cup concludes, around July 19, aligning perfectly with this game series' traditional pre-order window.

Naturally, beyond following the ongoing contests, you are likely eager to learn about the new changes coming to FUT 27. Perhaps the most significant gameplay addition is the introduction of The Grounds.

Drawing on both confirmed details and leaks, we'll introduce this feature and speculate on whether it will truly resonate with players.

How does The Grounds work?

In current EA Sports FC titles, whether in the highly competitive Ultimate Team mode or the development-focused Career mode, settings are largely confined to stadiums or locker rooms; over time, this can lead to visual monotony.

The Grounds aims to break this mold by introducing a brand-new open-world environment. It features not only football pitches and related facilities but also casual urban neighborhoods.

These public areas boast meticulously crafted visuals, ranging from dynamic weather and seasonal changes to football-themed street art.

As you explore The Grounds, you can engage in new football-related mini-games and interact with structures or NPCs at any time based on open-world prompts.

In essence, The Grounds is an open-world exploration mode built around a football theme. It allows you to unwind or try different gameplay styles without ever leaving FIFA 27 for another title.

What are the feature's other highlights?

While this is a novel addition to FC series, similar concepts have appeared in other sports games, such as The City in NBA 2K MyCAREER mode.

However, The Grounds in FUT 27 brings its own unique flair; otherwise, the mechanic might have faced ridicule from players when it was first leaked.

One standout feature is the ability to join friends for informal, casual football matches. You can earn FC 27 coins in a more relaxed environment and reinvest them into modes that require more capital, such as Ultimate Team.

The value of this mode lies more in fostering social interaction than in pure competition; furthermore, given that FC 27 will be available on multiple platforms, this feature will probably support cross-platform play.

Additionally, The Grounds in FC 27 might feature holiday-themed events, incorporating decorations that match real-world celebrations to create an immersive experience within this virtual football neighborhood.

Leaked information also suggests that The Grounds could include a unique narrative system. Special Points of Interest (POIs) would be scattered throughout the open world, allowing players to trigger distinct story segments through interaction.

Are players looking forward to The Grounds?

Generally, new features tend to be popular in the short term, provided there are no fundamental flaws. And The Grounds is also not merely a single feature but rather a comprehensive system rich in content.

The awkward reality, judging by current community sentiment, is that players do not seem particularly excited about The Grounds. This isn't necessarily due to issues with the system itself, but rather because the developer's track record is eroding player trust.

A poor imitation of The City?

While we have highlighted the unique characteristics of The Grounds in FC 27, its design philosophy bears a striking resemblance to The City from NBA 2K, a mode introduced back in 2020.

Consequently, you may encounter harsh opinions in FC 27 community dismissing The Grounds as nothing more than a clumsy copy of The City.

To be fair, sports simulation games with strong real-world ties are well-suited for open-world gameplay. However, since there are no clear copyrights or patents covering this specific concept, the situation remains somewhat awkward.

Ultimately, everything hinges on the experience of The Grounds when FC 27 launches this September, a prospect that has sparked another concern among players.

Unreasonable demands for points or coins?

In most EA FC titles, coins and points are essential resources for acquiring new players or unlocking specific mechanics.

If you played FC 25, which concluded last year, or are currently playing FC 26, you have likely noticed that the game demands an increasingly high investment of these resources.

This leads to another perspective on The Grounds: developers might require you to consume coins or points for any interactive element, even for interactions that seem completely mundane.

That said, it is premature, and perhaps too pessimistic, to draw such a conclusion right now. Since the developers are willing to introduce such a revolutionary system for FIFA 27, it is entirely possible that the goal is to provide a better experience for the player.

Lessons from VOLTA Mode

FIFA 20 introduced VOLTA mode, which featured flashy street, cage, and futsal-style gameplay along with narrative elements, making it something of a precursor to The Grounds.

Unfortunately, the mode lacked proper planning and development; it was eventually removed from the game and completely replaced by the new Rush mode in FIFA 25.

Given this history, you might be skeptical about the future prospects of The Grounds in FC 27. However, it is worth noting that VOLTA actually predated NBA 2K The City, so it is hard to say definitively who copied whom.

That covers everything in this overview and analysis. Regardless, any assessment of this new feature should wait until the closed beta concludes; for now, it is all just speculation. Here's hoping FUT 27 doesn't disappoint!

Players, Summer Series for MLB The Show 26 officially launched a couple of days ago. Furthermore, it includes some very powerful cards that players might immediately want to complete the mission and acquire as soon as they see them. However, there are some cards that we don't need to rush to collect just yet.

We've selected fifteen decent players from this Summer Series roster, in the Tier list below:

• S Tier: Willi Castro, Tarik Skubal, Chase Headley, Ceddanne Rafaela, Hunter Greene
• A Tier: Ted Williams, Kyle Tucker, Corey Seager, George Brett, Hank Greenberg
• B Tier: Corey Kluber, Grant Taylor, Cal Raleigh, Rob Dibble, Gregory Soto

S Tier

Willi Castro

Willi Castro is undoubtedly considered the strongest card in the entire Summer Series roster. He's an extremely versatile player, capable of playing almost any field except catcher, including the newly added first base ability.

His Vision is indeed slightly low, but as an ambidextrous hitter, this weakness is significantly mitigated. 

Ceddanne Rafaela

Ceddanne Rafaela is also ranked in the S tier, which may spark some controversy.

The key to his S tier ranking lies in his top-tier flexibility, capable of playing center field, second base, and shortstop - a rare quality in the current MLB The Show 26.

Ceddanne Rafaela excels in both speed and base-stealing ability, so we don't need to invest mod resources in his speed or field. 

Chase Headley

Chase Headley also deserves an S tier rating. His new left field ability in this Summer Series significantly enhances his utility, making him very reliable in left field.

Furthermore, Chase Headley's swing rhythm has always been his signature strength. Combined with his excellent contact and vision stats, his overall performance fully deserves an S tier.

Tarik Skubal

At first glance, Tarik Skubal's stats might not seem impressive, but closer analysis reveals his exceptional control as his most outstanding strength.

Furthermore, his clutch performance and stamina are excellent. Crucially, his pitching motion has become remarkably unpredictable and difficult to read. Previously, Tarik Skubal's pitching was easily recognizable in MLB 26, but now it has been adjusted to become deceptive.

Hunter Greene

S tier also includes Hunter Greene. He's slightly better than Chase Headley, and even slightly better than Ceddanne Rafaela.

Hunter Greene possesses an exceptionally fastball and a pitching repertoire of five different pitches. While his control is slightly lower, this pitching depth completely compensates for this weakness.

Moreover, his fastball has an exaggerated effect similar to Nolan Ryan's, combined with his outstanding forkball, making it very difficult for batters to find their rhythm.

A Tier

Ted Williams

Placing Ted Williams in A Tier instead of S Tier might surprise many players. Even though Ted Williams' swing rhythm is highly praised, he can only play one position: designated batting. 

To qualify for S tier, Ted Williams needs to become more well-rounded to justify his designated hitter position.

Kyle Tucker

A viable strategy for Kyle Tucker is to focus on a defensive mod to compensate for his slightly lower speed, thereby gaining greater arm strength and right field defense.

Alternatively, a speed mod can be chosen, allowing Kyle Tucker to not only have good right field defense but also create threats between bases.

In recent years, Kyle Tucker's card attributes have often been less than ideal, but his swing has consistently been excellent.

Corey Seager

Corey Seager ranks ahead of Ted Williams because his defensive value makes his overall contribution higher.

Corey Seager is perfectly capable of playing shortstop, and he could also handle designated hitter without much trouble.

George Brett

George Brett has always been an A-tier player and will probably continue to be so.

Additionally, George Brett's overall stats are quite comprehensive, and he's slightly better than Kyle Tucker mentioned earlier.

Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg also deserves an A tier rating because of his outstanding hitting ability and his acceptable defense at first base. After a few upgrades, Hank Greenberg may reach an even higher level.

Furthermore, Hank Greenberg's swing speed will be very impressive in actual gameplay; we can try to add this card to our collection.

B Tier

Corey Kluber

Although Corey Kluber is in Tier B, his slider is still very reliable.

Don't specifically pursue this card, but if you own Corey Kluber, try his slider; it might be much more fun than his sweeper.

Grant Taylor

Grant Taylor's pitching motion and angle are very deceptive, but overall his statistics are quite average.

However, his low hit allow per nine innings against right-handed hitters is significant in a game dominated by ambidextrous hitters, as many top players are right-handed, making this weakness very real.

Cal Raleigh

Cal Raleigh is also placed in B tier because he contributes almost entirely power and lacks other contributions. His contact stats are decent, but his vision is only in the 50s.

Any card that requires a significant investment in MLB 26 stubs will always be problematic if his vision, even with mods, doesn't break 70.

Rob Dibble

Rob Dibble is perhaps one of the most monotonous pitchers in MLB 26. As a pitcher with only three pitches, Rob Dibble would be helpless in the current Switch hitter-dominated gaming environment if batters could identify the fastball.

Gregory Soto

Gregory Soto's ball combination is pretty good, but he didn't have a Sinker this time, which reduced the card's value.

The S tier cards in this MLB The Show 26 Summer Series are indeed excellent, promising a top-tier baseball experience, but some designs are disappointing. Refer to this list and collect cautiously!

Monopoly Go Deluxe Drop has returned, and this time the rewards once again include token skins. More importantly, dice skins are also on the table, so you likely will not want to miss out on what is on offer.

Let us take a closer look at the full reward list for this Deluxe Drop of The Simpsons Album and the best strategies to approach it. Even if your dice reserves are modest, you can still walk away with some fairly decent prizes.

Deluxe Drop Event Date

This iteration of Deluxe Drop runs for a total of two days, with the exact start and end times as follows:

• Start: June 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET
• End: June 23, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET

Some players like to hoard their tokens and then play at high multipliers, which is a sound tactic. However, be sure to set a reminder so that you do not accidentally let the entire event slip by.

Deluxe Drop Rewards

Deluxe Drop features two pages of milestone rewards. This time around, there are no Monopoly Go stickers or dice prizes to be found; instead, every single reward is cosmetic in nature. That makes this an event you definitely should not overlook.

Page One:

Page Two:

Deluxe Drop Strategy

Deluxe Drop gameplay just like normal Prize Drop, in that you first need to gather Peg-E tokens and then drop them into one of five slots, watching where they land to earn points. The main difference between the two events lies solely in the rewards they offer.

Completing both milestone pages requires a total of 22,000 points. Unless your luck is extraordinarily poor, roughly 1,000 Peg-E tokens should be enough to claim everything. Even if your dice supply is limited, you still have a realistic shot at obtaining some of the cosmetic rewards.

Playing Deluxe Drop effectively breaks down into two broad phases: accumulating tokens and then using them - unless you simply forget to use them at all. The best approach will depend on your available resources.

Accumulating Tokens

If you have few dice

If you are the type of player who tends to run your dice count down to zero, this event may prove challenging, especially given that Deluxe Drop rewards do not include any dice. You can maintain your usual gameplay rhythm and pick up free tokens from sources like Quick Wins and Free Gift.

Tournaments and banner events also offer a fair number of tokens as rewards, but if you have only 200 dice to work with, you may not be able to gather many Peg-E tokens effectively.

A safer route is to save your dice and play Deluxe Drop exclusively with free tokens. This approach will likely net you only some cash rewards, but you will not lose anything in the process. If you find yourself in need of dice, one free option is to complete sticker set collections, especially the limited-time Monopoly Go Bonus Episode stickers from The Simpsons album.

Most of those stickers are one- to three-star rarity, which makes them relatively easy to collect, and they are only available for a limited window. You can prioritise finishing Bonus set first.

If you have a moderate dice reserve

If you know how to plan your dice usage and have built up a reasonable stockpile, then Deluxe Drop is worth going all out for. This event offers an abundance of Simpsons-themed cosmetics, and few other special events are this generous. Tournaments and banner events become your main targets; you need to accumulate around 700 to 800 Peg-E tokens, which should at least allow you to complete page one.

However, bear in mind that you will hardly replenish your dice from this event, and it is easy to burn through a large number without realising it. Ask yourself honestly whether you can accept ending up with zero dice.

If you have a massive dice reserve

If you are a high-roller player, then none of this should trouble you, because the challenge simply does not faze you. You can easily claim all the tokens from tournaments and banner events, and unlocking both pages of Deluxe Drop is all but certain. The only thing you need to watch out for is the event timer, so that you do not miss the cutoff.

Using Tokens

Because the landing positions are so random, trying to aim precisely for the central jackpot slot is not a reliable tactic. As a result, the community consensus favours focusing on the bumpers, which are easier to control.

Now that hitting bumpers also contributes milestone points, this strategy has become even more rewarding. It is advisable to save at least 200 to 400 tokens before you start dropping, and wait until the final day of the event to use them in a single session.

A multiplier between x10 and x30 is generally recommended, as it allows you to earn rewards efficiently without depleting your tokens too quickly.

When the bumper rewards are dice or extra tokens, you can raise the multiplier higher (for example, x20 to x30). When the bumper rewards are less appealing, you can use a low multiplier like x1 or x5 to clear out unfavourable bumper combinations without wasting many tokens.

If your token supply is already limited, you should target bumpers that offer dice rather than extra tokens, since that will help you earn back some dice along the way. If you have no shortage of tokens at all, you might try gambling with a high multiplier such as x50 to chase the central jackpot.

Even if you do not land dead centre, as long as you avoid the outermost slots, you can still score a significant number of points. It is wise to set a stopping point for yourself, so that you can step away when results turn sour and avoid getting carried away.

Many players recommend dropping from the far left or far right slot, believing that this gives the token a higher chance of bouncing off multiple bumpers along the way. Others prefer the second or fourth slot, arguing that these positions strike a better balance between chasing high rewards and steering clear of the lowest-value zones on both edges.

Monopoly Go Deluxe Drop event does not last very long, but its rewards are excellent. Some players dismiss it simply because it resembles Prize Drop, yet in doing so, they overlook an event that truly offers great value.

Although Path of Exile 2 is essentially a standalone game with little narrative connection to the original, it incorporates several excellent features from PoE 1. In PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0, one of the most notable additions is Mageblood utility belt.

Having been highly sought-after in Path of Exile 1, this item quickly established itself as an essential piece of gear following its introduction in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0.

So, what exactly does it do, what is its value in PoE 2, and how can you obtain it? Let's take a look.

What does Mageblood belt do?

This item features four random modifiers collectively known as Mage's Legacy. These four modifiers draw from a shared pool of 14 options, and duplicates are allowed.

• Legacy of Amethyst
• Legacy of Basalt
• Legacy of Bismuth
• Legacy of Diamond
• Legacy of Gold
• Legacy of Granite
• Legacy of Jade
• Legacy of Quicksilver
• Legacy of Ruby
• Legacy of Sapphire
• Legacy of Silver
• Legacy of Stibnite
• Legacy of Sulphur
• Legacy of Topaz

However, each specific Mage's Legacy modifier only applies its base effect once. If a duplicate Mage's Legacy modifier appears, the second instance boosts that effect by 25-50%.

Among the 14 possible Mage's Legacy modifiers, five provide massive bonuses to specific elemental resistances, specifically, +60% resistance and +5% to the maximum resistance cap. The maximum resistance cap is a crucial stat in PoE 2.

Given the vast number of possible modifier combinations, the game allows you to consume Divine Orbs to reroll all Mage's Legacy modifiers on the belt to ensure you get the ones you want most.

Beyond resistance-related stats, you can roll modifiers for armor or evasion, as well as offensive modifiers that are rarely found on other belts.

If you manage to roll an ideal combination of Mage's Legacy modifiers, such as substantial resistances, you can free up gear slots previously dedicated to stacking resistances.

This allows you to equip items with different modifiers, thereby enriching your character and build-crafting options.

In addition to the core Mage's Legacy functionality, equipping PoE 2 Mageblood Utility Belt grants you 1-3 charm slots and a 20% bonus to flask recovery. With such powerful and diverse effects, it is no wonder this belt has become so popular recently.

How to obtain Mageblood belt?

There is no restricted farming method for Mageblood in Path of Exile 2; it has a chance to drop after you defeat any boss or a rare enemy with special modifiers.

That said, simply wandering aimlessly around Wraeclast is certainly not a good strategy. Currently, the most common way to acquire this item is by farming Rituals.

This mechanic is a type of PoE 2 endgame event; having been optimized and revamped in Patch 0.5.0, it serves as a reliable method for farming various items and currency.

How to farm Rituals?

The basic mechanic involves encountering special altars, signaling a Ritual encounter, whenever a map has Ritual mechanic modifier.

Monsters are scattered around these altars, and killing them activates the altars. Clicking an activated altar triggers a confined arena where the slain monsters respawn; you must defeat them again to earn tribute, a special currency.

Once Ritual encounter concludes, the favours window appears, allowing you to consume tribute on specific rewards, such as currency, specific gear like Mageblood, or Ritual-exclusive rewards known as Omens.

How to increase the chance of Mageblood appearing?

The more Ritual encounters you complete in a single map, and the tougher the enemies within them, the higher the probability of Mageblood appearing in the favours window.

Naturally, redeeming the belt requires a significant amount of tribute, so slaying many enemies is essential.

To achieve this, you should first unlock relevant nodes in Ritual Atlas tree; for instance, He Approaches node increases the chance of altars spawning rare or magic monsters by 40%.

Additionally, it is best to prioritize clearing city maps, maps with modifiers indicating an urban biome. Thanks to the new Atlas tree, you can utilize four tablets simultaneously and use Divine Orbs to further modify maps, thereby maximizing your returns.

Freedom of Faith tablet is indispensable, as it provides a modifier that doubles the number of Ritual Altars appearing on the map. You will also need two tablets that grant you three additional tribute redemption opportunities.

Next, you need to acquire three specific passive modifiers: one that reduces the tribute cost for re-rolling the altar, one that increases tribute gained from encounters, and one that boosts the odds of rolling Omens.

Without these modifiers, you might struggle to gather enough tribute, or find the re-roll cost prohibitively high, potentially leading to a scenario where a Mageblood appears in the favor window, but you lack the tribute to claim it.

As for Omens you collect, you can use them to craft your gear; alternatively, selling them can generate a substantial amount of currency.

Additionally, defeating Ritual boss increases both the tribute earned and the likelihood of a Mageblood appearing in the favor window.

Once you have offered enough tribute at the favor window, return to Wildwood and locate Aoife; she will open a path to The King in the Mists boss encounter, featuring various Ritual enemies to defeat along the way.

Defeating this boss grants an extra reward: The Head of the King. This item serves as the key to unlocking Rite of the Nameless, a massive, multi-map Ritual encounter.

Completing Rite of the Nameless and returning to Wildwood unlocks a new Pinnacle Boss, The Bodach. Defeating him yields rewards and allows you to start farming Rituals all over again.

Of course, these methods only theoretically increase the odds of Mageblood Utility Belt appearing; they cannot guarantee a 100% drop rate. Ultimately, the more currency you invest in tablets and map modifications, the better your results will be.

In short, I hope that with sufficient time and currency investment, you manage to farm your own Mageblood soon and use it to craft the perfect build for your character! Good luck!

Following a mysterious catastrophe, the ancient Roman Empire lay in ruins, and you, as one of the few survivors, must join forces with the gods to rebuild Rome amid the wasteland and wilderness. That is the premise of Romestead.

Although the game has only just entered early access, it is unmistakably ambitious. It falls into the same survival-crafting genre as Terraria, Minecraft, or Don't Starve. You can raise a city in the wild, recruit settlers, fend off monster incursions, and delve into dungeons to challenge bosses.

Because the development team has packed so much content into it, new players often feel overwhelmed at first. The following early-game tips should help you secure a smoother start.

What should you do at the very beginning?

Once you step into Romestead, you enjoy near-total freedom - you can roam wherever you like, but that will most likely lead to your first death. What you actually need to do, as in any other survival game, is to scout the area around your spawn point and gather resources.

Wood, stone, and basic food form your entire foundation. Without those Romestead items, you cannot construct anything, cannot feed yourself, and will not last long.

Wood deserves your foremost attention. Collect as much of it as you can to build your base. Do not worry about having too much; in truth, you will almost always find yourself short of it.

Next, gather stone to craft your first set of tools, and collect food at the same time so that you do not starve while working. If you happen to spot metal ore, you can mark its location on your map and then carry on with your current tasks, since you cannot process it in the early stages.

How to handle your resources?

Wood, stone, and food are the pillars of your early growth, so you can never have too many. But do not squander them on pretty yet useless structures - that will only slow you down. Reserve them for what you truly need; if you have no immediate use for them, stockpile them, and they will come in handy when you craft other things later.

Rare resources demand a higher degree of caution. Do not waste them on trivial matters, nor attempt to test new buildings before you have a solid reserve. Keep them stored away until you are more established.

As for items that seem useless at the outset - a particular plant, an odd pebble, a strange fragment - they might be key components for an upgrade or for unlocking important content. Keep every single one of them.

If you manage wood, stone, food, and rare resources wisely from the beginning, your progress will flow much more smoothly. If you casually discard something that appears worthless, you could miss an opportunity to advance the game.

Base and Buildings

Some players choose to set up their base right next to the spawn point - convenient, yes, but not necessarily wise. The location of your first base is critical; you need a spot rich in resources. Ideally, choose flat terrain with access to water and plenty of trees nearby.

Building on uneven ground will cause major headaches for later expansion. If you are playing with friends, select a central position that is easy for everyone to reach.

The order in which you construct buildings has a huge impact on your development pace. In the opening phase, do not try to erect a beautiful or fully fledged base. Your top priority is to secure survival and basic production capacity as quickly as possible, because that accelerates every other aspect of the game.

You should first build a simple shelter, a campfire or similar facility, and a basic crafting station - these let you gather resources, prepare food, and forge tools, establishing a stable cycle from the outset. You can then upgrade your structures step by step.

In the early game, build only the facilities you will use immediately. Do not place multiple unnecessary workshops, nor expand your base without a clear reason. Another common mistake is frequently relocating already-built structures, which also consumes resources and time.

Choosing a God

Picking the right deity makes a significant difference, because it can either speed up your growth or leave you struggling to climb. The available gods differ quite markedly from one another, so do not choose one just because its name sounds cooler.

At the start, you need a choice that helps solve your most pressing problems. Each god has its own inclination, and they broadly fall into categories such as:

• Agriculture and production
• Combat
• Hunting and gathering
• Foraging and crafting

It is advisable to select the god that most benefits your base growth and daily resource acquisition. I tend to favour the option that helps stabilise everything first, because that reduces pressure and gives you room to learn the rest of the game without constantly fighting for survival.

If you are playing solo, choose a god that aids survival and efficiency, since you will be handling almost everything by yourself and every second counts.

In co-op mode, the best choice is one that complements your team's division of labour. If someone focuses on combat, another on gathering, and another on building, then allocating divine blessings according to each player's role makes more sense.

How to survive the first night safely?

The first night is a defining moment - if you are not well prepared by dusk, your game may end much sooner than you expect. The minutes just before darkness falls are the most crucial.

Ensure you have enough food to avoid starvation, sufficient wood and stone for quick construction, and at least one basic tool for self-defence.

Do not wait until night arrives to start preparing. Get everything done while there is still light. Base placement before the first night is also key. You can set up a simple, functional camp near your spawn point and avoid venturing too far; that way, if things spiral out of control or you encounter enemies, you can fall back quickly.

Remember to place campfires or basic light sources around your base before dusk. Light not only helps you see, but also deters certain creatures from approaching. It also gives you more confidence to move around.

The survival pressure of the first night is not overwhelming. A crude fence, a closed door, and a basic weapon are enough to handle it. The priority is to keep enemies out rather than eliminate them all at once. If you can withstand the initial assault and keep your base safe, you have already won that first night. Afterwards, with more time and resources, you can upgrade your defences.

Exploring the map and developing your town

Once you have a rudimentary shelter, ample food reserves, decent tools, and some basic defensive measures, you can consider exploring the surrounding areas.

Outside your base, prioritise things that can speed up your progress without introducing unnecessary risk - for instance, nearby wooded zones, visible stone deposits, and edible plants. If you pick up something valuable, do not be greedy and keep gathering; it is better to head back.

To develop your town faster, you first need to expand resource production, then increase storage capacity, and only afterwards make your buildings look attractive. To boost production, upgrade your tools first, and then you can construct the corresponding facilities.

Romestead is not yet polished and still has many bugs, but the process of building an automated town is genuinely enjoyable - and that is where it outshines Terraria. If you like similar gameplay, it is worth giving a try.