General News

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.

ARC Raiders saw a dip in popularity after it was announced that, before Frozen Trail update in October, no other major updates would be released for the time being. However, the upcoming opening of Expedition 4 departure window could help improve the situation.

In ARC Raiders, an Expedition is a process spanning nearly two months, divided into Preparation and Departure phases; all requirements for each phase must be completed in order to trigger the reset and earn permanent rewards.

With Expedition 4 departure window opening soon, we'll cover how long it will last and what you need to do to earn the new permanent rewards.

Expedition 4 departure window duration

Expedition 4 departure window opens once the preparation phase concludes on June 22. Typically, ARC Raiders Expedition departure window lasts one week.

However, during Expedition 3, the window was extended to two weeks to ensure players could meet the requirements following the introduction of new mechanics.

The duration for Expedition 4 departure window is currently unconfirmed. If no new changes are introduced, it may revert to the standard one-week duration, closing around June 30.

However, there is another possibility: if players generally felt that one week was insufficient to complete the new Expedition requirements during Expedition 3 window, the duration might be extended by another week this time as well, ending around July 7.

How to enter the new window?

First, you must complete the material collection tasks across the five stages of Expedition 4 preparation phase. Then, you must actively sign up to participate in the departure window, which serves as Stage 6.

With the window opening soon, if you haven't finished the preparation work yet, you should buy ARC Raiders Expedition Materials on IGGM hurry, or you risk missing this reset opportunity.

Of course, expedition reset is not mandatory. If you feel your skills aren't quite ready or you lack the time to start over from scratch, you can simply skip Expedition 4 and continue with your regular gameplay.

How to complete Expedition 4 departure window?

During Expedition 1 & 2 departure windows, the game assessed your Expedition level based on the total value of the items in your inventory and the coins you held, determining which rewards to award you.

After players criticized the previous mechanism for lacking re-playability, several changes were suddenly implemented just before Expedition 3 window opened; Expedition 4 naturally adopts these revised requirements.

Therefore, to meet the requirements for ARC Raiders Expedition 4 launch window and unlock all permanent rewards and temporary boosts, your primary goal is to deal sufficient damage during the event period.

Meeting this requirement can unlock up to five permanent skill point rewards, allowing you to customize your character more quickly once Expedition 5 begins. If you also completed Expeditions 1 and 2, you stand to gain even more permanent skill points!

The projected damage thresholds and corresponding skill point unlocks are as follows:

• 1 SP: 5,000 damage
• 2 SP: 10,000 damage
• 3 SP: 30,000 damage
• 4 SP: 50,000 damage
• 5 SP: 100,000 damage

Please note that the damage requirement is cumulative; dealing a total of 100,000 damage unlocks all skill points, you do not need to stack them separately.

Other anticipated permanent rewards include at least 12 additional inventory slots and various ARC Raiders cosmetics, all of which are granted simply by participating in Expedition 4.

As for temporary rewards, specifically those earned through participation, these take the form of XP boosts, Scrappy material boosts, and increased repair values.

These bonuses activate upon your first participation in an expedition. With each subsequent expedition, the three boosts stack cumulatively by a certain percentage. However, missing even a single expedition resets them to their base values.

Additional tips

Among the changes introduced during Expedition 3 window is a new feature called Last Call. This feature assists players who completed the preparatory work for an expedition but missed the final launch window because they forgot to sign up.

If you fall into this category, you can use this feature to obtain expedition rewards, excluding skill points. To recover the missed skill points, a new catch-up mechanism assesses your inventory value (based on the criteria from Expeditions 1 and 2) and awards you the corresponding number of skill points.

It is worth noting that this catch-up mechanism was introduced during Expedition 3 window, and the method for earning skill points differs between Expeditions 1 & 2 and Expedition 3. Consequently, the system might undergo some changes this time around.

Is it worth participating in this expedition launch window?

If you have taken part in previous Expeditions or meet the catch-up requirements, Expedition 4 window is not to be missed; otherwise, your bonus streak will be interrupted and reset.

On the other hand, if ARC Raiders does not release any other updates over the next four months, the reset associated with Expedition will be your only opportunity to get more enjoyment out of the game.

Therefore, unless you have barely played during Expedition 4 preparation phase, this launch window is definitely worth participating in.

Once this window closes, the preparation phase for Expedition 5 will probably begin soon, at which point you'll dive into a new round of material farming! Keep up the momentum and keep pushing forward!

Hero Siege, a 2D pixel-style ARPG, has remained popular for nine seasons since its release, thanks to its random loot system and simple objectives that reduce stress. New players shouldn't miss this gold farming guide, and experienced players can also check if they've missed anything.

In-Game Economic System Changes

Recently, Hero Siege has made several changes to its game mechanics. The old method of mindlessly farming Chaos Pillars is no longer the only option. Now, you can customize your farming route using the new Ether Tree, making the game less monotonous. At the same time, game performance has been optimized, and item data is now stored on the server side, effectively combating item duplication and real-money trading, making the economic system healthier. This also provides a fair and transparent platform for farming gold. Next, I'll show you some methods for farming gold:

1. Auction House Flipping
2. Vendoring Items
3. Mining
4. Key Farming
5. Gems Crafting
6. Chaos Tower / Rift Farming
7. Misc Items and Runeword Bases
8. Other Stable Income Sources

Detailed Explanation of Gold Farming Methods

1. Auction House Flipping

This method is completely independent of equipment and can be started from the very beginning of the game. In short, it involves players buying undervalued items at low prices from the auction house and then reselling them at higher prices. This requires a good understanding of the general prices of popular items, being able to spot items significantly below market value. Pay close attention to novice sellers; their pricing is often unfounded. With good luck, even with limited initial capital, you can quickly accumulate wealth.

2. Vendoring Items

This is a very stable source of early-game income. Players simply drag Superior, Rare, Mythic, or Satanic Items they find directly into the trading window of the town's NPC merchant to exchange for gold. There are no transaction fees, and the gold is credited instantly. However, it's best to compare auction house prices before each sale, as NPCs don't adjust prices based on market conditions.

3. Mining

Mining, while tedious, is extremely profitable, especially at the beginning of the season when raw material demand is high. Furthermore, Ether Tree significantly enhances the in-game mining gameplay, directly improving your mining efficiency, yield quality, and the density of ore veins on the map. Players can easily mine desired items by selectively unlocking corresponding nodes in Ether Tree.

Ores, Gems, and rare materials like Jadenium Powder and Tarethium Ore mined in Hero Siege are always in high demand. Besides selling them directly to other players in Marketplace, you can also craft high-level equipment to sell. While it takes some time, the profits are doubled.

4. Key Farming

Keys are in extremely high demand in Hero Siege. Even if you never fight bosses, you can make a fortune selling keys. Angelic Keys, Ruby Keys, and Bifröst Keys are all highly sought after. In Hell difficulty and above, Chaos Pillars may contain modifiers that increase key drop rates, so investing in keys can still yield substantial returns.

5. Gems Crafting

High-level gems are incredibly valuable, so upgrading gems to the highest level and selling them is an excellent way to earn gold. However, it's important to note that you should keep the gems you absolutely need for your own class for personal use, and don't sacrifice your character's progress for short-term gold gains.

6. Chaos Tower / Rift Farming

Chaos Tower and Unstable Rift have high monster density and drop rates, and the quality of the loot is excellent, making it one of the most profitable methods in Hero Siege overall. However, it's best paired with a build that clears maps quickly and deals high damage; otherwise, the time investment won't match the gold gained, making it completely unnecessary.

7. Misc Items and Runeword Bases

Misc Items include various crafting materials, often overlooked by players, leading to shortages. Remember to check your stash regularly; many seemingly insignificant materials can sell for surprisingly high prices. Runewords, on the other hand, are special items that require socketing runes into common rarity items to craft.

This requires a certain level of game understanding, including precise numbers and order of sockets. While somewhat tedious, a base with perfect bonuses and the correct number of sockets, even if of low quality, can often sell for an exorbitant price.

8. Other Stable Income Sources

• Destiny Shards: Obtained by dismantling Mythic Items, used to upgrade equipment; high demand.
• Satanic Crystals: Obtained by dismantling useless Satanics, used to forge stats or increase star rating; their value increases significantly later in the game.
• Runes: Runes are rarer in Season 9; Angelic and Heroic are top-tier. Sell high-value runes obtained early on.
• Scrolls of Ra: Used to craft Eggs/Ankh of Eternal Life and advance quests; everyone needs them; demand is stable.
• Boss Materials: Collect materials from story bosses to craft the Key of Terror required to enter Fallen Inoya, then sell them.

There are many ways to farm gold, but beginners are advised to start by selling equipment to NPCs and mining to accumulate capital before engaging in Auction House Flipping or farming Chaos Tower; this is more efficient. Experienced players should remember to utilize Ether Tree to customize their gold farming routes; the returns will be significantly higher. In short, don't stick to one method; switch flexibly based on Hero Siege market prices.

While the methods listed above offer many options, they all require a time investment and sometimes rely heavily on luck. If you want to quickly accumulate wealth to get high-level equipment and become a top player, you can buy Hero Siege gold from IGGM, allowing you to say goodbye to the tedious grinding process.

IGGM offers you the most cost-effective and highest quality service. We use the most authoritative SSL encryption mechanism, so you don't need to worry about your personal information being leaked. If you have any dissatisfaction or questions, our professional customer service team will provide you with 7/24 support. We look forward to your visit!

Path of Exile 3.29 remains roughly a month away, yet the official team has already hinted at a special event to bridge the gap before the next League. That event has now been revealed as Trial of the Ancestors.

Even if you are solely focused on Path of Exile 2 and have no intention of playing the original game, this news still warrants your close attention. Not only does it introduce an entirely new gameplay mechanic, but it also carries far-reaching implications for the future direction of the entire series, along with substantial in-game rewards.

Trial of the Ancestors Date

Trial of the Ancestors event has not started yet, and it will run for a full three weeks. Players can join on both console and PC platforms, though you will need to create a fresh character to participate. The approximate schedule is as follows:

• Start: June 25, 2026, 3:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM CDT
• End: July 16, 2026, 3:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM CDT

After Trial of the Ancestors concludes, your character, gear, and PoE currency will not vanish; instead, they will be transferred into Mirage League. However, certain exclusive rewards from Trial of the Ancestors League will not carry over.

What Is Trial of the Ancestors?

This activity first debuted back in PoE 3.22 Trial of the Ancestors League in 2023. You take the field as your own side's unit in a head-to-head battle. Alongside you, you command a number of allied units, and you must face an opposing team.

Those units spawn from structures you have arranged beforehand, and the gameplay bears some resemblance to Teamfight Tactics or Dota Auto Chess. Before each match, you can position your units and assign tactical roles. For instance, you might set Center units to charge directly into the fray and sow chaos, while Flank units attempt to break through quickly and destroy enemy buildings to halt their unit production. Defense units, on the other hand, are tasked with protecting your own structures.

In addition, two of the largest units on the board are you, the player, and the enemy chieftain. To be honest, some enemy chieftains are quite overpowered, and they can even eliminate you in a single blow.

One uniquely distinctive design of the trial is that you never truly die within this mechanic. Even if you are defeated during the trial, you will resurrect inside the system. This means that, theoretically, a dedicated player could remain within the trial indefinitely by continuously acquiring entry tokens from other players, and they could grind all the way to maximum level, even reaching level 100 in Hardcore mode, because there is no permanent death here. Lore-wise, you are not present in your physical body but rather as a spectral projection, so losing a fight does not cost you your character.

Tournament

The overall framework of Trial revolves around a tournament. In the first round, you choose one opponent from several available options. You can inspect what types of units they possess and what rewards you will obtain for defeating them.

This actually introduces a great deal of strategic depth. You have to weigh the rewards and capabilities offered by each opponent, and you can even deliberately allow certain powerful foes to advance to later rounds so that you can claim their exclusive rare rewards in the later stages. It will take several attempts to fully grasp the nuances.

Rating System

As a player, you have your own Rating. This is not a ranking relative to other players; rather, it is a performance score within the tournament itself. The higher your Rating, the better the rewards you receive, but simultaneously the difficulty of the trial escalates significantly.

At high ratings, the numerical scaling becomes extreme, and many top-tier players opt to abandon direct combat in favor of focusing on destroying enemy structures as quickly as possible. Destroying a building requires a channeling action, and you must avoid being interrupted during that process.

Tattoos System

Trial of the Ancestors introduces a major system that has a profound impact on endgame character optimization: Tattoos. While casual players may rarely engage with them, hardcore min-maxers absolutely adore these modifications.

Tattoos allow you to alter the small passive nodes on Passive Skill Tree that typically provide only basic attributes. Red tattoos can convert Strength nodes into Fire Resistance or Life Regeneration, while blue tattoos can transform Intelligence nodes into Lightning Resistance or Energy Shield Recovery Rate, among other options.

The variety of tattoos is extensive, and some are extremely rare and powerful. Certain tattoos, for instance, can grant you an additional projectile, which is an incredibly potent effect.

In Trial of the Ancestors event of Mirage League, many brand-new tattoos will also be introduced that replaces an original Ascendancy Notable (not Phrecian Ascendancies Notable). Additionally, during the event, tattoos will not be obtainable through Kingsmarch shipping system.

Phrecian Ascendancy Classes

During the event, the original 19 Ascendancy classes in Path of Exile 1 will each have an Alternate Ascendancy version. Among them, Reliquarian Ascendancy does not have a corresponding Phrecian Ascendancy, so it will be temporarily disabled in Trial of the Ancestors.

Scavenger Ascendancy has received minor adjustments in relation to the tattoo system: its Tabula Rasa Notable node allows you to apply one additional tattoo, though the node itself does not provide any inherent bonus.

Trial of the Ancestors Rewards

During the event, players will automatically receive a Return of the Ancients Mystery Box upon completing the final boss of Act 10, Kitava, meaning they have finished the entire campaign. This reward is guaranteed, but each account can claim it only once during this event. Completing the campaign with multiple characters will not award additional Mystery Boxes.

PoE Mirage Trial of the Ancestors also incorporates elements from Legacy of Phrecia activity, so the experience will be quite distinctive. Moreover, the official team has a tendency to port well-received mechanics from PoE 1 over to PoE 2, so we might well see a similar system appear in Patch 1.0 for the sequel.

Following the initial four-season rotation of Series 1, and as the real world enters summer, Forza Horizon 6 launched Series 2, themed Horizon Decades, on June 18th, and also kicking off with summer.

Series 2 continues the format of a new season update every Thursday, spanning a total of four seasons. Each season features its own exclusive seasonal and daily challenges and events, alongside tasks that can be progressed throughout the entire Series 2 run.

Here, we focus on Series 2 Week 1, specifically all the activities available until June 25th that directly reward you with credits.

Weekly challenge: Blast from the Past

Each season within Series 2, meaning every week the series runs, features an exclusive Weekly Challenge. These challenges almost always consist of four steps that must be completed in sequence.

This week's challenge is Blast from the Past. Completing it in full not only earns you Series 2 points to unlock new cars but also nets you up to 25,000 credits! Best of all, the steps aren't difficult, so it's one you definitely shouldn't miss!

Step 1: Acquire 1982 DeLorean DMC-12

Currently, the only way to unlock this car is to unlock it from Autoshow for 72,000 credits; switching the category to DeLorean makes it easier to find.

You likely earned plenty of credits during the previous series, but if you use them all on other cars and forgot to save some for the new weekly challenge, don't worry, you can buy FH6 credits on IGGM to solve the problem!

Once you've unlocked 1982 DeLorean DMC-12, simply take it for a drive anywhere to complete this step.

Step 2: Drive the car and maintain the specified speed

More specifically, this step requires you to drive 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 on any track while maintaining a speed of at least 88 mph for ten seconds.

If you are skilled at Forza Horizon 6, you can complete this step quickly. However, to ensure you can maintain the required speed, it is best to choose a track that is relatively straight and narrow right from the start.

Step 3: Take a photo of 1982 DeLorean DMC-12

There are no extra requirements for this step, such as parking the car in a specific spot; you simply need to ensure 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 is in the frame.

Step 4: Win a road race using the car

Since the game doesn't require you to complete a specific race, you can choose one you are familiar with or have previously won. Alternatively, you can create a custom race with a lower difficulty level and a fun theme to get the job done.

Once you win, Blast from the Past challenge is complete, and all rewards are yours! If you are familiar with Forza Horizon 6, the entire process takes just over ten minutes.

All daily challenges for this week

From June 18 to 25, a new Daily Challenge unlocks at 7:30 AM Pacific Time each day (this applies to future seasons as well). Completing each one earns you 5,000 credits and 1 Series 2 point.

More importantly, each task remains available for a full week rather than just one day. This means that even after Series 2 Week 2 begins, you still have time to complete the challenges from Week 1 (except for the very first one).

Therefore, as of this writing, all currently active Series 2 Week 1 daily challenges are still available to play.

1. Sweet Car O'Mine

This challenge requires you to drive any car manufactured in the 1980s into Evolving World Car Meet and park it there.

Don't worry if you aren't an expert on cars; almost all FH6 cars have their model year listed in their name, which you can use for identification. 1982 DeLorean DMC-12, which you need to unlock for this week's Weekly Challenge, is one such example.

As for Evolving World Car Meet: first, travel to Hokubu Region; you can find the location right next to the coastline, just east of Hokubu Circuit.

2. Take on Me

This challenge requires you to complete a head-to-head race in The Eliminator mode. This mode is essentially a battle royale featuring 72 players, but the actual races are one-on-one; you must keep winning these duels to be the last one standing.

If your goal is simply to complete the challenge, you can just go through the motions after winning one race so you can exit the mode as quickly as possible.

3. Temple of Zoom

Find any 1980s Ford in your garage and drive it to Temple of Nachi Falls to take a photo and complete the challenge. This location is in the western part of Takashiro region; once you find the waterfall, head south and you'll spot it quickly.

4. Be Excellent to Each Other

This is likely the easiest challenge of the week; simply send a Gift Drop to another player. Gift Drops usually contain cars, so if your garage isn't well-stocked, just pick an entry-level model!

5. Short Circuit

This challenge requires a 1980s vehicle, so you can keep using 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 or Ford car from the third challenge, and win a race at Shimanoyama Circuit.

6. Ghostbuster

Again, drive any 1980s car and beat a Ghost driver in Rivals mode. This mode doesn't involve actual players; you simply need to ensure your lap time is faster than the virtual Ghost driver's.

7. Life Moves Pretty Fast

First, locate any Ferrari in your garage; if you don't have one, pick one up at Autoshow. Then, drive it on any track and reach a speed of 150 mph to complete the challenge.

As of now, only the first three tasks are available; the remaining four will go live one by one over the next four days. Keep an eye on the schedule.

That covers everything for this update. If you don't want to miss out on new car rewards, remember to set aside time for the seasonal solo and online events and Series events! Good luck!

Since the collaboration between Monopoly Go and The Simpsons began, there has been a flood of reviews, mostly positive, praising the collaboration as lively, fun, and phenomenal. However, as the core of the game, the voices of the players deserve more attention and a stronger connection.

Especially now that The Simpsons Album has been running for over two weeks, as the initial novelty of Springfield wears off, various issues within the game are gradually surfacing through player feedback.

Polarized Player Reviews

From an emotional perspective, Monopoly Go's collaboration with The Simpsons was undoubtedly a successful nostalgia marketing campaign. However, in terms of gameplay experience, players' evaluations of The Simpsons Album are still very divided.

Many The Simpsons fans feel that this collaboration is like a shot in the arm, reigniting players' interest in Monopoly Go. Some players even felt that this collaboration event made them get back into the habit of logging into Monopoly Go every day.

The familiar characters and settings from The Simpsons will make players feel a sense of familiarity when playing the actual Monopoly Go game.

However, there are certainly some players who are not interested in The Simpsons' cartoonish aesthetics.

They showed no interest in collecting all Monopoly Go stickers in the album and sharply criticized the collaboration as essentially a meticulously designed microtransaction monopoly, arguing that the core fun of Monopoly Go had been diluted by the constant barrage of ad prompts.

Unlike the enthusiastic fanbase, these players are offering rational comments on this collaboration.

The Core Gameplay Issues

From the core gameplay mechanics, we can indeed see that Monopoly Go is trying to break the mold and add many interesting new elements from The Simpsons.

For example, the new The Simpsons Run minigame in The Simpsons Album features a mechanism that, when Free Parking tile is triggered, switches the player to a sprint level where they need to dodge obstacles and sprint to the finish line, adding a temporary sense of novelty to the otherwise monotonous dice-rolling process.

The inclusion of Go to Jail mode in Bribe Wiggum added a touch of strategic choice to the otherwise tedious jail phase.

However, these highlights were quickly overshadowed by the blatant laziness in the level design of Monopoly Go The Simpsons Album, which is precisely the core pain point that players are currently complaining about most.

Despite The Simpsons boasting a vast collection of classic landmarks, players are forced to repeatedly play through Springfield and 742 Evergreen Terrace themed levels during actual gameplay.

Some players even complained of completing the same themed board up to four times. Those hoping to unlock iconic locations like Moe's Tavern, Kwik-E-Mart, or Nuclear Power Plant ultimately only experienced deep aesthetic fatigue.

While some players mentioned Nuclear Meltdown themed board in Monopoly Go The Simpsons Album, this couldn't fundamentally break the monotony caused by the repetitive gameplay.

Sticker Collection and Resource Consumption

The sticker collection in The Simpsons Album revealed a particularly brutal reality, as the difficulty of obtaining stickers and the resource consumption were severely imbalanced.

In the initial stages of the album, filling the gaps with ordinary Monopoly Go stickers was relatively easy, but players gradually found themselves soon entering a period of anxious waiting for the rare gold stickers.

These gold stickers were almost never obtainable through regular Monopoly Go trading; the only trading window was the infrequently available Golden Blitz.

This extreme scarcity of stickers not only created immense psychological pressure on players but also forced them to maintain a high level of activity in Monopoly Go.

Meanwhile, this album is widely regarded as a dice black hole, constantly devouring dice. Some players have shared their heartbreaking experiences of seeing their dice reserves plummet from 17,000 to just over 7,000 in just three days while trying to complete Partners Event.

When players redeem their painstakingly collected stickers for reward packs, they often find themselves receiving duplicates.

The stickers in The Simpsons Album are already quite difficult to collect, and the consumption of resources such as dice is also very high, which gradually leads to players becoming physically and mentally exhausted.

Too Much Commercial Promotion

From Monopoly Go's commercial operation perspective, this collaboration also exhibited a very aggressive promotional approach.

Many players complained about the excessive frequency and ubiquity of Monopoly Go The Simpsons Album ads while browsing the internet.

While this ubiquitous advertising did increase The Simpsons Album's buzz, it also quickly eroded the patience of ordinary players.

Another controversial aspect is the limited-time Episode Set launched for this album. Because those stickers were permanently unavailable after their expiration, players felt this design was intended to exploit players' fear of missing out, forcing them to log in daily.

Faced with these controversies, The Simpsons development team emphasized that the goal of this collaboration was to achieve disruption, not simply to pander to commercial interests; Monopoly Go team even planned to showcase the IP's narrative appeal through a story-driven narrative.

However, many players felt that these explanations from both sides seemed designed to divert attention from Monopoly Go The Simpsons Album's meager content, failing to address the real problems within the game.

In short, this collaboration between Monopoly Go and The Simpsons was both a carefully prepared feast for fans and a severe test of the patience and resources of ordinary players. If players are constantly trapped in repetitive themed game boards, even the most engaging The Simpsons won't be able to retain them.

As the release date for WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 is still vaguely set for this summer, speculating on the exact date has become a hot topic in the community.

There was a three-month gap between Phase 1 and 2, leading some to believe the same applies to Phase 3, placing its launch in mid-August.

However, others argue that the overall progression of BCC Anniversary is faster, suggesting it might arrive earlier, sometime in July.

Regardless of which theory holds more weight, if you've been playing actively, you've likely fully explored the content of Phase 2. Instead of aimlessly wandering Outland, why not start preparing for Phase 3 right now?

Here, we'll introduce a few items that are likely to play a crucial role in Phase 3, and which you can start farming immediately!

TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 Overview

Like Phase 2, the core new content for Phase 3 consists of two new raids: Mount Hyjal and Black Temple. Additional content may also be announced upon the official launch.

It is also worth noting that starting in Phase 3, the attunement requirements for Phase 2 raids will be relaxed, and the reputation threshold for unlocking Heroic versions will drop from Revered to Honored.

However, if you haven't completed or even entered Phase 2 raids by the time Phase 3 arrives, it is generally better to tackle them once your character is stronger. Otherwise, even if you manage to participate, you risk dying quickly during the encounters.

Free Action Potion

The first item we'll highlight, one likely to be highly valuable in Phase 3, is Free Action Potion (FAP). It grants immunity to stun and movement-impairing effects for 30 seconds, without removing any existing effects already on your character.

While you might rarely have considered using it during Phase 1 or 2 unless in open-world PvP battles, this potion is incredibly useful for melee DPS and tanks in specific PvE encounters, such as Mount Hyjal raid in Phase 3.

This is because the raid features frequent waves of trash mobs, some of which deal massive explosive damage. Free Action Potions can prevent death and ensure a much smoother clearing process.

If you are a tank or a DPS player, make sure to stock up on four or five stacks (5 potions per stack) of Free Action Potions before Phase 3 of Mount Hyjal arrives.

Also, you can buy WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold and trade for them in bulk from the auction house. Alternatively, if you have Alchemy profession and a skill level of at least 150, you can gather the following materials to craft them yourself:

• Blackmouth Oil
• Stranglekelp
• Leaded Vial

Elixir of Demonslaying

This elixir increases your attack power against demons by 265 for 5 minutes. You may have already used it in Magtheridon's Lair raid, and it is set to become a popular consumable again in Phase 3.

Crafting this item requires an Alchemy skill of 250 and the following materials: Ghost Mushroom, Dreamfoil, and Leaded Vial. You can also obtain it as a drop from Cenarion Hold Infantry.

Stratholme Holy Water

Using this item deals 438-562 AoE damage to Undead enemies; the primary way to obtain it is by farming Stratholme dungeon.

Whether you solo the dungeon or run it with a group, you can collect a significant amount of Holy Water with each clear. However, note that in BCC Anniversary, the damage dealt by this item does not scale with your spell power.

Therefore, you cannot use it to push for ultimate stat optimization. Nevertheless, in terms of pure combat effectiveness, it is definitely worth using.

Rocket Boots Xtreme

The value of this gear lies primarily in a specific boss encounter: Mother Shahraz in Black Temple. This boss possesses an ability called Fatal Attraction, which randomly teleports up to three players to different locations within the room while dealing continuous Shadow damage.

Consequently, stacking Shadow Resistance is generally crucial for this fight. However, if you are aiming for a speedrun or higher DPS parses, Rocket Boots offer an effective tactical advantage.

Equipping this item immediately boosts your attack power by 80, and activating it increases your movement speed, allowing you to break Fatal Attraction effect, the ability ceases to function once you are more than 25 yards away from other players.

Nightmare Seeds

This item temporarily boosts your health by 2,000 points for 30 seconds, making it ideal for progression raiding or particularly grueling boss encounters.

Although it shares a cooldown with other health-boosting items like Healthstones or Demonic Runes, Nightmare Seeds are generally more useful for most Phase 3 raid bosses.

It is also worth noting that this item isn't just for tanks; it serves as a tactical tool for the entire raid, especially if your guild is tackling new content or is still in the progression phase.

Other notable consumables

You should aim to stock up on the aforementioned TBC Classic Anniversary items for Phase 3 if possible. If you have the resources to acquire even more, consider the following consumables as well:

For instance, using Arcane Bombs in Mount Hyjal raid can force mobs to cluster around your raid's Paladins, allowing you to eliminate larger groups at once.

Additionally, consuming the alcoholic beverage Sulfron Slammer allows you to break free from certain boss-inflicted crowd control effects at the cost of taking some self-damage. It is particularly useful against mechanics like Sleep skill used by the boss Anetheron in Mount Hyjal.

While it is certainly not too late to acquire these items once BCC Anniversary Phase 3 launches, it is always best to start preparing early if you have already largely wrapped up your Phase 2 objectives!

Not only can you stockpile more, but these items may also become much more sought on the auction house after Phase 3 release! So, get out there and start farming!

The summer heat is bearing down on the diamond, and Summer Program for MLB The Show 26 has also arrived in full force. This event brings with it a wealth of Diamond-tier player cards and a generous number of complimentary packs. For those building a roster without spending a dime, this update also includes a complimentary Chase Pack as a special bonus.

You will find that a series of undemanding tasks is all that stands between you and these rewards. Alongside these, Summer Program features a collection mission whose ultimate prize is 98 OVR Tarik Skubal. Let us take a closer look at how you can secure every last one of these items.

Summer Program Reward Path

Brent Rooker Summer card does not boast exceptional Vision, yet its Contact and Power ratings are solid. All things considered, this card actually appears to be a more effective option than Aaron Judge's Spotlight Card.

94 OVR Grant Taylor card comes with Outlier II Quirk, a trait that many players actively seek out. With the ability to throw at 99 miles per hour, he makes for a fine choice as a Relief Pitcher to slot into the bullpen.

Corey Kluber card features a repertoire that includes 4-Seam Fastball, Sinker, Cutter, 12-6 Curve, and Circle Change. His effectiveness against right-handed hitters is particularly pronounced, making him an underrated and practical pitcher.

Corey Seager card offers excellent batting contact, formidable power, and Gold Shield-level defensive capabilities. He is capable of handling corner outfield duties and, more importantly, is a switch hitter, which gives him significant tactical value.

How to Complete the Tasks?

Moments (4 points each)

• Pool Party Power
• Summer School
• Kluber Cabana
• Chase the Sun
• Hot Seager Summer

Completing every Moment will net you 20 Points, which, aside from MLB The Show 26 stubs and packs, will directly secure your first Summer player card, 94 OVR Brent Rooker. From there, you can turn your attention to PXP Missions.

PXP Missions

• 10 Points: Accumulate 2,000 PXP with Summer Series players
• 10 Points: Accumulate 4,000 PXP with Summer Series players
• 10 Points: Accumulate 6,000 PXP with any players

You can complete these PXP Missions simply by playing with any Summer Series cards you have. Slot Brent Rooker card you received into your lineup and make sure to bat with him to build up the required experience.

Missions

Getting five strikeouts will not take an hour, and you can accomplish that task within a single game. The pitching missions can be progressed simultaneously, meaning the tasks for Starting Pitchers, Relief Pitchers, and Closing Pitchers can all be worked on at the same time. Since these missions do not require online play, they are not particularly difficult.

Game Modes

The event features two primary game modes: Mini Season and Conquest. It is advisable to prioritize Mini Season, as it represents an effective avenue for acquiring additional Summer Series cards.

Conquest mode includes 14 teams on the map, which is not a huge number, yet the rewards are remarkably generous, featuring multiple Deluxe Packs and a Premier Pack.

Collection Missions

• 96 OVR Summer Rob Dibble: 13 Summer Players
• 97 OVR Summer Ted Williams: 21 Summer Players
• 98 OVR Summer Tarik Skubal: 29 Summer Players

You will need to collect 29 Summer series cards to unlock 98 OVR Tarik Skubal, and since this series contains only 30 cards in total, you will have to acquire nearly all of them to claim him.

Compared to the previous collection, which required 27 cards, this threshold has been raised. Fifteen of the players are obtainable through packs, while the other 14 can be earned via the program, Mini Season, Diamond Quest, and other avenues.

Tarik Skubalcard is decent, featuring Outlier II Quirk on his 4-Seam Fastball, but the development team adjusted his pitch selection in a way that slightly diminishes his overall effectiveness. It is worth noting that his previous cards relied on Circle Change as a primary offering, and with a Break rating of 99, that pitch was exceptionally dominant. The changes to his repertoire this time are somewhat disappointing.

Ted Williams is a legendary hitter whose defensive skills are merely average. He may not become a mainstay in every lineup, but players who are fond of his swing animation will undoubtedly find a way to include him on their rosters.

Rob Dibble also arrives with this collection. Featuring Outlier I Quirk alongside his 4-Seam Fastball, Slider, and Cutter, he is a tremendously overpowering pitcher whom many players are likely to struggle against.

Those are all the tasks and rewards MLB 26 Summer Program has to offer. Corey Seager, despite being a no-cost player, possesses a swing that is remarkably user-friendly, making him one of the most valuable cards in this update. Strive to complete every task and claim him for your squad.

On June 19th, EA Sports FC 26 launched an event called "Greats of the Game", featuring a large number of discounted player cards. These cards are diverse, varying in position and attributes, including some with an overall rating of 97 or higher.

While the overall strength of the player cards in this event is solid and the prices are more affordable than expected, making it a good time to strengthen your lineup, based on player experience, some cards are exceptionally useful, while others may fall short.

To help you quickly figure out which cards you should prioritize collecting, I've ranked these player cards based on their performance and cost-effectiveness:

S-Tier

• Ronaldo
• Patrick Vieira
• Gareth Bale
• Andrea Pirlo
• Emmanuel Petit

A-Tier

• Luís Figo
• Michael Owen

B-Tier

• Diego Forlán
• Hidetoshi Nakata
• Wesley Sneijder
• Rudi Völler
• Roberto Carlos

S-Tier

First, let's introduce the most worthwhile and unmissable cards in FIFA 26's Greats of the Game. Some can be randomly obtained from card packs, while others can be acquired using Coins.

Ronaldo

Previously, you could find a Ronaldo card with an overall rating of 94 in game, but Greats of the Game releases a card with an overall rating of 97 - a very high score. His 97 overall rating version boasts four gold PlayStyles: Finesse Shot, Technical, Low Driven Shot, and Quick Step, allowing him to dominate opponents on pitch.

In fact, many players consider him one of the top five forwards in game: both the base 94 overall rating version and 97 overall rating Greats of the Game version are impeccable in FC 26.

Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira's Greats of the Game card has an overall rating of 95, making him one of the strongest defensive midfielders (CDM).

This card has four gold PlayStyles: Intercept, Anticipate, Bruiser, and Jockey. It's also one of the most worthwhile cards to acquire in this event.

Gareth Bale

Next is FC 26 Greats of the Game event version of Welsh star Gareth Bale. This card has an overall rating of 95 and is positioned as a right winger.

This card also boasts four gold PlayStyles, with top-tier configurations including Finesse Shot, Rapid, Incisive Pass, and Quick Step.

Furthermore, it features 98 Acceleration and Sprint Speed, and 96 Shooting, giving it almost everything a perfect winger needs. And you can acquire it for around 1 million Coins, without the hassle of opening card packs.

Andrea Pirlo

This is a midfielder card with an overall rating of 96. He possesses multiple gold passing PlayStyles, such as Incisive Pass, making him ideal as a team's core player, controlling the tempo in midfield.

Emmanuel Petit

Also rated 96, this card is a defensive powerhouse: it has four gold PlayStyles covering both defensive and passing abilities, perfectly suited to CDM role, making it arguably the most worthwhile card in this batch of SBC cards. Moreover, this card can also be obtained directly in SBC using Coins.

A-Tier

These FC 26 Greats of the Game cards are placed in Tier A not because they are weak, but because they all have certain obvious weaknesses. Therefore, players need a certain level of skill to fully utilize their strengths.

Luís Figo

This card is Greats of the Game event version of Portuguese legend Luís Figo, with an overall rating of 96. He plays as a right winger.

It's a very strong card, possessing 5-star Skill Moves and 4-star Weak Foot, giving him excellent one-on-one ability on the wing. It also boasts four gold PlayStyles: Rapid, Technical, Low Driven, and Incisive Pass.

It's placed in Tier A because its Defending is only 54, and it only supports medium-tier builds. However, overall, it's still a very worthwhile card to acquire.

Michael Owen

This is FUT 26 Greats of the Game event version of England striker Michael Owen, with an overall rating of 96. He plays as a center forward (ST).

He possesses powerful golden PlayStyles and boasts 5-star Weak Foot and 5-star Skill Moves. However, his 173cm height and 88 Physical rating might leave him vulnerable against taller, stronger center-backs.

Both cards can be obtained with Coins in SBC, making them quite cost-effective. If you have plenty of Coins, consider acquiring them.

If you're short on Coins, you can participate in FC 26 Greats of the Game giveaways on IGGM Discord. We'll be drawing ten lucky participants to share 10 million Coins.

B-Tier

FIFA 26 Greats of the Game cards, placed in Tier B, are relatively weaker and not recommended as a priority acquisition. Therefore, only a brief overview is provided here.

Diego Forlán and Hidetoshi Nakata

Diego Forlán has an overall rating of 93, while Hidetoshi Nakata has an overall rating of 92. These cards have mediocre attributes, lacking any highlights, and may even be less useful than player cards obtained through Evo upgrades.

Wesley Sneijder and Rudi Völler

Both cards have an overall rating of 94. Their attributes are slightly better than Diego Forlán and Hidetoshi Nakata, but only "decent", far from S-tier or A-tier.

Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos's card has an overall rating of 95. He's a left-back, and his attributes look good.

However, the problem is: the design philosophy of this card is completely off - FUT 26 gave him a ton of attacking PlayStyles, but almost none of the crucial defensive PlayStyles. In other words, this card doesn't know he's a defender; he's more like a winger.

The above is a review of Greats of the Game event cards in FC 26, many of which are powerful cards that can be obtained directly with Coins.

Greats of the Game event will last for eight days, so whatever player cards you like, you'll need to make the most of these eight days to acquire them. Good luck!

ARC Raiders has been stagnant since its last major content update, and the next major update, Frozen Trail, won't be released until October. There's still a long time in between, and studio clearly recognizes this and is trying to win back player goodwill through targeted game quality improvements.

In response to calls from ARC Raiders community since 2025, Embark Studios has officially banned free loadouts in Night Raid and Close Scrutiny. This change went live with Update 1.33.0 released a few days ago, marking a fundamental shift in how players engage in these high-value scenarios.

This article will explain the related content of disabling free loadouts in ARC Raiders Night Raid and Close Scrutiny. Let's take a look.

Specific Content

This restriction is not permanent but a three-week limited-time test, with the evaluation period ending around July 7, 2026. Embark has explicitly stated that this restriction may be extended to more map types in the future, but only after observing its impact and analyzing player feedback.

This experimental approach demonstrates the official team's willingness to make bold changes while maintaining the flexibility to adjust direction based on community feedback.

Underlying Reasons

This decision regarding ARC Raiders stems from the core risk-reward philosophy of extraction shooters. The official statement reads: "We are prohibiting the use of free loadouts in Night Raid and Close Scrutiny to raise the barrier to entry, requiring players to bear the corresponding risks and rewards in these more rewarding scenarios."

For the past few months, the player community has been dissatisfied with the imbalance caused by free loadouts. When players invest their hard-earned equipment in high-risk raids, only to find themselves competing against opponents with no risk, it is undoubtedly a frustrating and pointless situation for those who have truly accumulated resources.

Item duplication vulnerabilities in the game have further exacerbated this problem. Some cheaters can obtain duplicate legendary items at minimal cost.

While the official team has promised stricter measures and stronger anti-cheat support, the proliferation of cheat equipment in the game lobby, coupled with a slow update pace, has frustrated some players. Steam reviews have also fluctuated significantly in recent weeks.

What This Means for Night Raid?

Night Raid has always been a high-risk PvP map condition in ARC Raiders, darker, more intense, and with richer loot than other conditions. The problem is that once a player enters Night Raid on free loadouts, the tension instantly vanishes.

After this update, every player in Night Raid lobby invests their equipment. Kills now have real significance, and loot is truly worth fighting for. The map condition finally delivers the tense and exciting experience it was designed for.

What This Means for Close Scrutiny?

Close Scrutiny is one of the most aggressive map conditions in ARC Raiders. It abandons the traditional looting cycle, instead setting a high-pressure objective around Assessor. Under this condition, the amount of loot scattered across the map is significantly reduced, locked key rooms are disabled, and the density of ARC patrols increases dramatically.

Players must first overcome all threats surrounding Assessor, including the powerful Vaporizer, a high-speed aerial unit equipped with a devastating fire weapon capable of quickly destroying any exposed raiders.

Therefore, the high difficulty of Close Scrutiny map condition is extremely challenging for players using elite weapons, but for those using free loadouts, they can enter ARC Raiders without risk. These players typically have no intention of cooperating against the massive ARC raiders, but instead focus on stealing powerful weapons from those who have invested heavily in building loadouts.

Embark has ensured a fairer lobby environment and more meaningful encounters by banning free loadouts in Close Scrutiny, ensuring every player contributes to the fight.

Gameplay Changes

Players preparing for Night Raid and Close Scrutiny must now bring their own items. This change has been long-awaited by those who have been diligently farming items. It makes Night Raid and Close Scrutiny more competitive, as everyone in the lobby experiences wins and losses.

However, no minimum requirement has been set. Theoretically, players could enter with only a pistol, but this would likely make it difficult to survive against better-equipped opponents and the large ARC enemies common in these map conditions.

If you lack a weapon sufficient for survival, you can buy ARC Raiders Blueprints from IGGM.com and combine them with other materials to craft powerful weapons. This provides the fastest and safest way, giving you an advantage in the game.

Disabling free loadouts in Night Raid and Close Scrutiny lets players know that each opponent has invested real equipment, which will change the way players play: less reckless charging, more cautious positioning, and higher risk per engagement.

It's worth noting that the free loadout option will not be removed from standard raids for the time being. Embark cautiously describes this as a targeted experimental change rather than a complete nerf to the playability of ARC Raiders. New and casual players can still easily participate.

That concludes this article about the official disabling of free loadouts in ARC Raiders Night Raid and Close Scrutiny. The game is currently in a relatively quiet period; it remains to be seen whether this experimental change will be able to retain players who have grown tired of the existing content.