Game Balance
Ongoing coverage on Game Balance.
Latest coverage
Arc Raiders turns down electromagnetic storm lightning despite some players preferring the chaos, as Embark promises compensation for folks impacted by recent server issues
Embark Studios is providing compensation to Arc Raiders players affected by recent server issues that caused loss of rewards. The developers have also adjusted the frequency of the Electromagnetic Storm's lightning strikes, as some players found the previous intensity to be excessive.
Extraction Game Launches Today with Complete Save Wipe and Pioneer Rewards
An extraction game has launched its full release today, implementing a complete save wipe of all demo progress to maintain a level playing field and high stakes. To compensate early supporters, special 'Pioneer Rewards' themed around Chinese historical artifacts have been prepared, offering a balanced start without granting an unfair advantage.
Issues and Activism
Bungie has responded to player backlash regarding microtransactions in their upcoming game Marathon. The first patch will adjust the game to be slightly easier for players.
Bungie Responds Quickly to Marathon Microtransactions Backlash, First Patch Will Make the Game Slightly Easier - IGN
Bungie is addressing player backlash regarding Marathon's microtransactions and difficulty. An upcoming patch will adjust the in-game currency, Lux, and credit players who purchased bundles before the change. The update will also include balance adjustments to make the extraction shooter slightly easier, such as increasing the spawn rate of Med Cabinets and Munitions Crates.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
Marvel Rivals has implemented changes to address 'incentivised throwing,' a bounty system that allowed players to pay to intentionally ruin matches. These updates aim to improve the overall matchmaking experience for players.
Battlefield 6 devs talk hit-reg issues and planned fixes
DICE's Principal Game Designer Florian Le Bihan detailed ongoing efforts to improve Battlefield 6's netcode, hit registration, and Time Nudge synchronization. These technical improvements are being prioritized over new content, with Season 2's launch slightly delayed to address these core gameplay issues and enhance overall player experience.
Arc Raiders devs had to nerf the blueprint drop rate because players are too good at finding them: 'First Wave caches have been handing out a lot of blueprints'
Embark has nerfed the blueprint drop rate in Arc Raiders due to players finding them too easily, particularly from First Wave Caches. To compensate, the developers are increasing the drop rates for higher-tier materials within caches, making it easier to craft better gear.
Code Vein 2 Just Got a Lot Easier with Patch 1.0.5
Bandai Namco Entertainment has released patch 1.05 for Code Vein 2 on PlayStation 5, significantly adjusting combat mechanics to make the game easier. The update buffs core player actions like dodging and guarding, nerfs enemy attack frequency and stagger resistance, and adds more resurrection monuments. These changes aim to address player feedback and lukewarm reviews since the game's launch.
Battlefield Redsec Is Dumping Wildly Overpowered Marauder Marauder From Battle Royale
Battlefield Labs is removing the overpowered Marauder vehicle from Battlefield Redsec's Battle Royale mode due to player feedback and internal metrics. The team is exploring adjustments for its potential return in a future update. This comes after the launch of Season 2, which introduced numerous improvements and new content, though a producer acknowledged a delay between seasons impacted the game's momentum.
Arc Raiders once again nerfs generous blueprint drop rates, but its hurricanes are still worth braving
Embark Studios has reduced the drop rates for blueprints in Arc Raiders' new Hurricane map condition. Despite the nerf, the article suggests that braving the hurricanes remains a worthwhile activity for players.
New ARC Raiders patch nerfs the bejesus out of Hurricane caches – here’s what to expect
Embark Studios has released patch 1.18.0 for ARC Raiders, focusing on stability and balance adjustments. The update nerfs the drop rate of rare blueprints in Hurricane caches while increasing the drop rate of higher-tier materials. Additionally, the patch addresses several exploits, resolves quest progression blockers, and fixes performance issues.
Hot Take: Vessel of Hatred Made Diablo 4 Worse
The Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred expansion, while introducing a fun new Spiritborn class and a strong campaign, has introduced new issues with its loot system and game balance. The article argues that the second loot rework has made upgrades too rare, and the new class power creeps older classes, making higher difficulty tiers challenging for non-Spiritborn characters. Blizzard is advised to re-evaluate drop rates and class balance to improve the player experience.
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update Makes Wolfpack Grenades Rare and Valuable — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Embark Studios' latest Arc Raiders update, Shrouded Sky, has made Wolfpack Grenades significantly rarer by requiring Rocketeer Drivers for crafting. This change, along with nerfs to basic weapons like the Venator, Stitcher, and Kettle, has made the game more challenging and less forgiving, sparking player dissatisfaction. The update also introduces new ARC enemy types and map conditions.
Overwatch tier list - the best heroes in Season 2
This Overwatch tier list for Season 2 ranks all 51 heroes based on their effectiveness in the current meta. The list categorizes heroes into S, A, B, C, and D tiers, with S-tier representing the strongest picks. The article provides detailed explanations for each hero's placement, considering their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses in the Season 2 patch.
Battlefield 6 reverts Conquest ticket change one day after implementing it, so get ready for 45-minute matches
Battlefield Studios has reverted a recent change to Conquest ticket values in Battlefield 6, restoring the original 1,000 tickets per match and the 45-minute round timer in response to player feedback. The developer also announced upcoming increases to XP earn rates and reduced career rank requirements for weapon attachments, following similar feedback. Additionally, Electronic Arts reported that Battlefield 6 achieved the series' biggest launch, selling over 7 million copies in its first three days.
Battlefield 6 devs are finally doing something about its dreadful XP and attachment unlock rates, but you can say goodbye to Portal bot farms
Battlefield Studios is implementing changes to address player frustrations with the XP and weapon attachment unlock rates in Battlefield 6. The developer is increasing match XP and daily bonus XP, while significantly reducing the XP needed to unlock weapon attachments. Additionally, rank requirements for assignments are being lowered, and changes are coming to the Portal mode to diminish XP farming servers.
