General News

Can you speedrun 120 levels of The Pit in Diablo 4 Season 14 and tank all the super bosses without Mythic gear? That sounds like a fantasy, but that's because you haven't witnessed the power of Season 14 Whirlwind Barbarian.

Yes, the biggest highlight of Whirlwind Barbarian is achieving a balance of damage, survivability, and mobility without Mythic gear, and its two variants offer great flexibility.

Core Skill Mechanics

The skills in this build are interconnected, but the core damage skill is Whirlwind: not only is it the source of massive damage, but it also generates two Dust Devils for additional strikes.

If you want to maximize Whirlwind's effectiveness, you can choose a modifier that consumes extra fury but increases damage, and you should also select Channel Damage Bonus node.

The support skill system comprehensively enhances Barbarian's combat capabilities: Rallying Cry provides movement speed, resource generation, and fortify; Iron Skin provides a barrier based on maximum life, an unstoppable status effect, and weakens attackers.

War Cry directly increases damage, while Challenging Shout is used to taunt enemies, gain damage reduction, and increase damage against taunted targets.

The ultimate skill, Wrath of the Berserker, is the core of Barbarian's burst phase, providing a massive damage boost and an unstoppable status effect.

If you find resource cycling difficult in Season 14, you can temporarily replace Challenging Shout with Lunging Strike to alleviate energy pressure.

Equipment Configuration

Equipment is the cornerstone of this Whirlwind Barbarian build; all Diablo 4 items used should be Masterworking to maximize their attributes.

Helmet

Tuskhelm of Joritz the Mighty is an excellent choice for Whirlwind Barbarian. It allows you to enter the enraged state when you regain Berserking while already in Berserking state, providing a 50% damage increase, 6 fury regeneration per second, and 10% cooldown reduction, making it the engine of your damage rotation.

Gloves

Using Gohr's Devastating Grips directly increases Whirlwind's damage by nearly 90% and pulls enemies towards us every 2 seconds, greatly improving output efficiency and crowd control.

Pants

Tibault's Will Unique Pants provide an 18% damage increase and 50% resource regeneration speed for Unstoppable state and the following five seconds.

If you're under high survivability pressure, you can replace it with legendary pants that provide a significant amount of maximum life.

Boots

You need to ensure your boots' core aspect is dealing 90% increased damage and continuously gaining Berserking when Primary Resource is above 50, ensuring high Berserking uptime.

Weapons

The two-handed blunt weapon aspect, which grants a 130% damage increase when using Fortify, combined with the permanent Fortify state, makes Whirlwind Barbarian extremely beneficial.

For one-handed weapons, one uses an aspect that provides up to 57% damage increase based on Primary Resource, while the other uses Ancestral Unique Sword Ramaladni's Magnum Opus to provide damage increase based on total fury.

Amulets

Whirlwind Barbarian amulet should use an aspect that increases Dust Devils' damage by 90%.

Runes

We need to socket Whirlwind Barbarian's helmet with Igni and Que rune combination to gain a barrier when casting non-basic abilities, enhancing survivability. The chest armor should be socketed with Cir and Gar rune combination, significantly increasing critical strike chance after casting five abilities.

Gems

The rest of the armor in this Whirlwind Barbarian build needs to be inlaid with rubies to increase power.

Weapons need to be socketed with a Skull Gem to increase the build's physical damage, while amulets need to be socketed with a Diamond Gem to supplement resistances, and rings should be chosen according to the specific single resistance gem required.

Paragon Board and Glyph Strategy

Whirlwind Barbarian's Paragon Board layout has been meticulously optimized to further enhance the build's damage and survivability. Below is a breakdown of the key nodes used in this build and their functions.

Carnage

Carnage provides Whirlwind Barbarian with a 15% attack speed and a 45% bonus to fire and physical damage. Players can also combine it with Glyph Challenger to enhance damage against elite monsters.

Warbringer

If you attack consecutively with the same weapon, Warbringer increases your critical hit chance by 5% and critical hit damage by 50%. Glyph Wrath further increases critical hit damage and restores energy on critical hits, which is crucial for Whirlwind Barbarian's energy regeneration mechanism.

Flawless Technique

Similarly, by continuously using the same weapon, this Flawless Technique node also increases your critical strike chance by 5% and critical strike damage by 50%. This, combined with Glyph Exploit, further enhances Whirlwind Barbarian's vulnerability damage and helps apply vulnerability.

The entire Paragon Board for this Whirlwind Barbarian build requires prioritizing nodes that provide maximum health, armor, and resistances to build a solid defensive foundation.

Two Variants

Tank Variant

This variation primarily adjusts the legendary aspect, changing the chest armor to use Juggernaut's Aspect for a significant armor increase; changing the pants to the Irrepressible Aspect; and using Aspect of Heavenly Strength on the amulet for damage reduction when wielding two-handed weapons.

Mythic Variant

If you already have Mythic Seals in Season 14, you can reduce the charm sets required for this Whirlwind Barbarian build and also allow multiple set effects to be activated simultaneously, taking attribute inflation to a new level.

With the equipment mentioned above ready, let Whirlwind Barbarian conquer all obstacles in your Diablo 4 Season 14!

With the release of Diablo 4 Season of Death Awakening, a series of new content and changes have reshaped every aspect of the game, but the rework of Mythic items has clearly become a focal point of community discussion.

While the arrival of Mythic Uniques 3.0 makes it possible for all players to collect a full set of BiS Mythic gear no longer a pipe dream, many veteran players have realized that what needs to be changed is not just Mythic items themselves, but also the long-standing flaws in the game's underlying itemization system.

The development team's initial intention was clearly to restore the glory of Mythics drops, but they inadvertently amplified the tedium of the game after the mid-to-late game builds were completed, putting the long-term character progression curve in an awkward position.

Late-Game Torment Difficulties Lead to a Stalled Progression Experience

For most fans, the most wonderful time of each Diablo 4 season is always concentrated in the early stages of the season. During that era, every piece of equipment dropped on the ground was full of unknowns and surprises, and players could intuitively feel the leap in power brought by replacing transitional gear.

However, this positive feedback abruptly ended once players reached higher Torment difficulties and completed their basic builds.

Compared to the long-term excitement of loot drops maintained through high-level runes, powerful rare gear, and even top-tier charms in its classic predecessor, Diablo II, the endgame experience in Diablo 4 was limited to minor adjustments to stats.

Therefore, farming at this point was no longer a journey of anticipating exciting equipment drops, but rather a tedious accumulation of materials. To conquer the final, stat-inflated boss, players' sole objective became simply chasing specific Mythic equipment with Greater Affixes affix. The once-fun dungeon challenges quickly degenerated into an extremely mechanical stat-stacking process.

If you're also exhausted from the long farming process, you can buy Diablo 4 Mythic items directly from IGGM.com for an instant, incredible power boost.

The Crafting System Takes Center Stage, Making Mythic Drops Mundane

Due to the rework of Horadric Cube in Season 14, players' focus on acquiring Diablo 4 Mythic items to enhance their combat power has shifted entirely from dungeon drops to the crafting system.

Now, in addition to crafting Mythic at Blacksmith and Jeweler, you can also upgrade unique items with item power of 850 or higher to Mythic you desperately need using Horadric Cube. Furthermore, the resulting gear's affix values ​​will be reset to their maximum values. In short, pursuing top-tier Mythic Uniques with the strongest modifiers is no longer just about endless farming and relying on the reforging system!

Of course, the biggest drawback is the overabundance of Mythic gear drops. They no longer possess a sense of scarcity. Rather than gambling on Mythic drops, many players tend to hoard large quantities of identical unique items, hoping to craft a single item with the perfect affix combination in Horadric Cube.

Legendary Aspect: From Gear Customization to Numerical Shackles

Even more tragic is the situation with Legendary gear, which has now been reduced to mere aspect carriers. Players typically pick them up only for the extractable aspect effect, while the gear's texture and base stats become irrelevant.

This design largely inherits and amplifies the problems left over from Diablo 3. While the aspect system gives players more freedom in customizing gear slots, it also introduces new constraints.

Once a player locks into their core build's aspect combination, any gear without higher critical strike damage, core primary stats, or skill level bonuses will be mercilessly melted down into crafting materials. This black-and-white choice turns every drop without a desirable affix into pure frustration, rather than a reward for exploration.

By the way, if you desperately need more materials to aid your crafting and gear refinement journey, don't miss Diablo 4 Lair Keys giveaway on IGGM Discord! Join now for a chance to be one of the lucky winners! 

How to Break Itemization System Impasse?

Faced with this deeply ingrained issue in Diablo series' itemization system, how can we make it truly effective and revitalize the equipment system? Here are some suggestions for developers:

Restore Gear to a Support Role

First, from a classic perspective, perhaps we should redefine the role of equipment, shifting it from defining builds to simply enhancing them. The development team could reduce ineffective random drops by introducing a true built-in item filter, or reintroduce universal affixes from Diablo 2, allowing players to experience the joy of unexpectedly acquiring good gear.

Separate the Aspect Mechanism

Another issue to address is the relationship between Legendaries and Aspects. Otherwise, Legendary gear will remain largely ineffective.

Developers could abolish existing Legendary tier items, making sets the primary armor set, and repackage Aspect functionality into a separate mechanism similar to Charms, supplemented by truly independent equipment.

Rebalancing Affix Pool

However, simply addressing the aspect issue cannot solve the problems caused by affixes. The current equipment system revolves around Horadric Cube, rather than treating it as a simple power-enhancing mechanism. Once the endgame arrives, most players' first action upon picking up new gear is to drop it into the cube to gamble, rather than immediately equipping it!

Therefore, perhaps only by adding reforged gear as a loot drop, instead of only being obtainable through Horadric Cube re-rolling, can players truly rediscover the excitement of looting gear. Furthermore, returning to Sanctification affixes from Season 11 would be a good option, giving players the opportunity to farm extremely powerful gear.

Only when players instantly gain incredible power upon picking up gear can the core fun of itemization be brought back from scrolling through stats in the cube to intense dungeon combat.

Ultimately, the Mythic rework in Diablo 4 Season 14 exposes a core contradiction: the current item system does not truly support long-term character progression. Short-term numerical tweaks can only be a temporary fix. If the developers want this action role-playing game to be revitalized, they may have to overhaul the entire itemization and crafting system in future updates, restoring the sense of accomplishment players feel when they get Mythic, rather than the numbness of focusing solely on numerical values.

In Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, many players still struggle with crafting gear - and not merely the act of turning a normal item into a rare one with an Orb of Alchemy, but rather the process of adding the best possible affixes to a piece of equipment.

That raises another question, however: for each equipment slot, which affixes are worth chasing, and what combination turns an item into a truly top-tier piece?

Weapon

For attack-based builds, the three prefix affixes on a weapon are the most critical, and they should be rolled as close to their maximum values as possible, because they represent your primary source of base damage.

All damage scales from your weapon; every offensive modifier - whether increased damage, critical chance, or attack speed - is calculated using the weapon as the foundation.

Do not overemphasise suffix affixes. Suffixes are certainly nice to have, but in the early game, prefixes remain the absolute priority.

Caster Weapons

For casters, the desired affixes on a weapon are skill levels, cast speed, and critical strike chance. Overall, for caster equipment, you only need to secure a weapon with a few damage-related mods, and that suffices.

For players who are not running caster or minion builds, a crucial distinction is that attack critical chance is displayed directly on the weapon itself, whereas spell critical chance comes from the skill gem.

Rings

For attack builds, three flat damage prefixes (triple flats) are usually the ideal goal, but rolling all three is exceedingly difficult. Rings that have even two of these affixes command very high value.

Therefore, in many cases a ring with two flat damage mods plus a rarity affix is an acceptable option, and even a single flat damage roll can serve as a transitional piece in the early stages. For suffixes, you can look for resistances and item rarity.

Caster Rings

Because you can use essences to add some powerful modifiers, a six-affix, full-damage caster ring is not out of reach. That said, whether you craft it yourself or acquire it through trading, it will demand a vast amount of PoE 2 currency.

Gloves

For most attack builds, the affixes worth pursuing on gloves include projectile damage, projectile skill levels, melee skill levels, and attack speed - essentially any offensive attack-related mod.

Monks may have slightly different preferences due to their ascendancy passives, so you should consult a build guide for specific recommendations.

Caster Gloves

Caster gloves typically combine offensive and defensive stats. Many casters opt for unique gloves, but in most cases you will also see affixes such as projectile skill levels and projectile damage.

Arcane Surge suffix is an excellent option, yet it appears with such a low chance that you can largely ignore it in practice.

Helmet

Helmets are a defensive slot. At present, the vast majority of players gravitate toward energy shield-based builds, because energy shield remains very strong in the current patch.

Notable affixes on helmets include:

• Resistances
• Energy Shield
• Critical Strike Chance
• Minion Skill Levels

One additional point: helmets can roll an accuracy modifier. When Huntress (especially Amazon ascendancy) was dominant, helmets with this affix commanded high value; however, in Runes of Aldur League, Amazon players are few, so this affix currently holds almost no value.

Body Armour

Body armour is the primary defensive piece. In the current meta, attack builds mostly stack evasion and resistances. The single most valuable mod is Deflection or Spirit Reservation Efficiency - Deflection alone can more than double the chest piece's worth.

For builds that stack strength or life, you should look for affixes that include armour and life instead.

Caster Body Armour

Casters generally want energy shield, sometimes also Spirit, while minion players specifically need Spirit on the prefix.

A caveat: the chest slot has heavy competition from numerous unique items. If, in Patch 0.5.0, most caster players are using Atziri's Splendour or a chest with a Soul Core socketed, then regular rare body armours will have little value.

Boots

Boots are more of a utility slot than a purely defensive one, though you can still roll defensive stats on them.

For boots, speed is the most important attribute; a 35% movement speed modifier is highly desirable. That said, some boots without any movement speed can still sell for a decent amount of currency, because certain builds rely on movement skills and thus do not need the movement speed stat.

Boots can also accommodate many utility affixes. Energy shield still dominates this slot, but variations abound. Useful modifiers to note include:

• Dodge Roll-related affixes
• Debuff effects
• Charge generation
• Movement Speed While Sprinting

Amulet

Amulets offer a flexible mix of offensive and defensive stats. As a general rule, any amulet without skill levels has little to no value.

The amulet is one of the few slots that can grant Spirit. The combination of Spirit and skill levels is the primary driver of an amulet's worth.

In Patch 0.5.0, an amulet can give up to 100 Spirit (50 from a prefix and 50 from a suffix) on top of its innate 50 Spirit - so you could obtain 150 Spirit from this single slot alone. That is clearly an extraordinary figure and will likely be adjusted in the future.

You May Like: Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 Expedition Best Strategy | Logbooks, Runes & Defenses

Jewels

Jewels can be socketed into various slots, but broadly speaking, valuable affixes on gear are equally valuable on jewels. You can target the following mods:

• Critical Strike Chance
• Critical Damage
• Maximum Energy Shield

Belt

In the early game, the belt slot is where you supplement extra life and patch up resistances. However, once Headhunter and Mageblood become widespread, the belt slot rapidly loses its relevance.

Most high-end players use these two unique belts, and those who cannot afford them have little influence on the market. Consequently, the belt slot is largely dominated by uniques. The window for crafting belts is very brief, so newer players need not invest too much thought into this slot.

New players may find it difficult to obtain these two unique belts, but you can join IGGM POE Facebook Group, where there are frequent Currency Giveaways. If you're lucky, you can get the gear you want.

That concludes the overview of the more important affixes for each slot in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0. If you wish to try crafting your own gear, you can start with simpler slots such as helmets or body armour.

With 2026 MLB All-Star Game fast approaching, MLB The Show 26 is launching an exclusive in-game All-Star update one week prior to the event.

As the most significant update of July, All-Star content could well determine the game's trajectory for the summer and the second half of the year, especially given that its performance over the past few months has been lackluster.

Below, we provide a detailed overview of MLB The Show 26 All-Star content and predict its potential impact on the game.

MLB The Show 26 All-Star schedule

The event spans approximately one week, dubbed All-Star Week, running from Thursday, July 9, through Tuesday, July 14 (the day of the actual MLB All-Star Game).

Throughout this period, MLB The Show 26 will roll out new programs and card packs every day or two, alongside a series of changes to Diamond Dynasty mode.

New events and card packs

On July 9, MLB The Show 26 will launch American League and National League 2026 All-Star Programs, as well as All-Star versions of standard modes like Diamond Quest and Mini Seasons.

During All-Star event, players can claim an All-Star Week Prediction Pack in-game. This pack allows you to make predictions about the upcoming MLB All-Star Game; correct predictions will earn you a larger haul of MLB 26 stubs.

Additionally, the 9th should see the release of more All-Star series players and All-Star card packs of varying rarities. If you currently have unopened packs, you might want to hold off on opening them until All-Star event begins.

New content related to 2026 MLB Draft is expected to launch on July 11. The in-game draft content will closely mirror real-world events; whoever is selected as the number one overall pick will be released in the game and added to card packs.

On July 13, MLB The Show 26 will introduce Home Run Derby and a new prediction event to build hype for the real-world competition.

A Home Run Derby program will also be included. It is worth noting that Home Run Derby format is changing; it will likely shift to a swing-count-based system. Additionally, more programs will launch on the 14th alongside MLB All-Star Game.

Notably, for all prediction-based activities, you receive a consolation participation prize even if you guess incorrectly, so there is no need to feel too much pressure.

New changes

Compared to last year's MLB 25 All-Star event, Team Affinity has been removed this year. Previously, the gameplay involved grinding Team Affinity missions to earn vouchers, which were then redeemed in the collections menu for specific teams' All-Star players.

In MLB 26, this has been replaced by the upcoming American League & National League 2026 All-Star Programs.

Of course, to ensure no team is left out, every team will still receive at least one All-Star player card.

This change avoids unnecessarily drawn-out gameplay loops; consuming excessive time on Team Affinity just to acquire a single All-Star card could be tedious, especially if you didn't use players from that specific team, leaving you with no real path to obtain it.

Impact on MLB 26

If you have been playing or following MLB 26 community in recent months, you know that, aside from the initial launch weeks, the game has faced constant player complaints regarding frequent bugs and questionable mechanic updates.

Fortunately, All-Star event could mark a turning point for the game's reputation. This is not only because the event is historically significant for MLB The Show series, but also because July marks a period of activity for other sports games.

In other words, if MLB 26 doesn't roll out more compelling initiatives during this window, the existing player base will probably drop off rapidly in favor of the upcoming full launch of CFB 27 or pre-order preparations for FC 27.

Consequently, once All-Star content goes live, at least for summer, MLB 26 should become a more relaxed and enjoyable experience, with long-standing issues likely seeing faster fixes.

More importantly, following the conclusion of MLB All-Star Game, MLB The Show 26 is certain to release additional cards and packs. To ensure you have ample opportunities to earn these rewards, the frequency of new events or programs will probably increase.

Furthermore, with the launch of All-Star content, player card ratings will begin to rise. Even if you don't secure All-Star collection reward card right away, the cards you earn along the way will still be excellent.

All-Star event should make MLB The Show 26 more engaging in the near term; however, for long-term success, the developers must remain committed to addressing and fixing the issues previously highlighted by the player community.

More tips

While MLB 26 will probably offer new ways to earn stubs during and after All-Star Week, it is not advisable to consume too heavily early on just to acquire new cards.

Unless there is a specific All-Star card you absolutely do not want to miss, you should acquire players selectively based on your current lineup's weaknesses, prioritizing overall team strength.

Additionally, keep a close eye on any American League or National League teams that have only a single All-Star representative; this scarcity could drive up the value of that player card.

MLB 26 All-Star event is just around the corner, it's time to get ready for the big occasion!

Hi Tycoon! The July sun burns fiercely, and Monopoly Go The Simpsons Album event is charging ahead with equal intensity. Following Sticker Drop, the next major special activity, Krustyland Adventures, is about to begin.

Krustyland Adventures shares a similar gameplay style with Adventure Club. You and your partners need to work together to explore the map, as collaboration is the most effective way to complete the objectives laid out across it.

Krustyland Adventures Date

Monopoly Go Krustyland Adventures event will start right after Sticker Drop ends. It will run for a total of 4 days. The dates are as follows:

• Start: July 8, 1:00 PM (ET)
• End: July 12, 03:59 PM (ET)

Krustyland Adventures Rewards

The rewards from Krustyland Adventures fall into two categories: map rewards and treasure rewards.

Map Completion Rewards

The main reward from Krustyland Adventures comes from completing the maps. Not only will you receive a reward for finishing each individual map, but completing all three maps also yields extra prizes, including Wild Stickers and tokens.

Monopoly Go × The Simpsons album contains quite a few gold cards, and the 2 Wild Stickers offered as Krustyland Adventures rewards can go a long way toward helping you complete that album.

The specific rewards are listed below:

Map 1

• 625 Dice Rolls
• Stars Sticker Pack
• Sticker Pack 1 Star
• Fire Card
• Number 15 Card
• Number 21 Card
• Team Boost Card
• Number 20 Card
• Number 15 Card

Map 2

• 4 Stars Sticker Pack
• Sideshow Bob Shield
• Fire Card
• Number 30 Card
• Number 30 Card
• Number 29 Card
• Number 31 Card
• Number 31 Card

Map 3

• Wild Sticker
• Krusty Token

Final Rewards

• 625 Dice Rolls
• 4 Stars Sticker Pack
• Wild Sticker
• Sideshow Bob Shield
• Krusty Token

Treasure Rewards

Treasures are scattered across the maps and come in two types: solo and team. Solo Treasures only offer a 10-branch Mega Heist, which might be somewhat useful for tournament events.

Team Treasures, on the other hand, include sticker packs of various star levels, team loot boxes, a 15-minute Wheel Boost, and more.

In most cases, you should simply ignore them, as their value does not justify using your precious Adventure Tokens on them. The only exception is when a team treasure chest contains a large number of compasses and a sizable amount of Dice - only then does it become worth your investment.

Krustyland Adventures Gameplay

Team Up

The gameplay of Krustyland Adventures is similar to that of Adventure Club. You have the option to play solo, but it is far better to form a team with your friends. Each team can have up to five players, and together you will take on three maps. A full team greatly improves your efficiency.

Activity Objectives

First, you need to collect Adventure Tokens through daily activities such as banner events and tournaments. Then, you use those tokens to draw cards, and finally, you use the cards to complete the objects on each map.

Cards and Card Meter

Each time you draw cards, you receive 2 cards. Ordinary cards have point values ranging from 7 to 10, while Power Cards come with special effects.

Card Meter has 49 reward slots. When your draw fails, the meter advances by 1 slot; when it succeeds, it does not advance. After 4 consecutive successes, your deck catches fire, allowing you to draw one extra card per turn.

Consecutive failures, however, make the deck grow cold, and each result then grants a bonus of up to +4. Certain Power Cards can instantly set the deck on fire or make it freezing cold.

How to Complete Objectives Smoothly?

The objectives on the first map are relatively straightforward, but those on the third map are often quite difficult. Only through close coordination with your teammates can you finish them successfully, which is why teaming up is strongly recommended over going solo.

Identifying Objectives

On the activity interface, you will see multiple objectives that require the whole team's effort. When faced with several optional targets, first check the participation level for each one. Below every objective, you can see each teammate's contribution.

If you find that you are the only one putting in work on a particular objective, stop investing further immediately. Without your teammates' support, you will struggle to complete it efficiently, and you cannot make the most of team boost cards. Instead, you should focus your tokens on objectives where at least two or more teammates are already collaborating.

That is because when you draw a Team Boost Card while working on an objective, that card provides you with a base point value. However, its real strength lies in the fact that this value is multiplied by the number of teammates currently contributing to that same objective.

Deck on Fire

Once your deck enters On Fire state, your next action will give you 1 extra card, making it easier for you to accumulate enough points. You can take advantage of this state to tackle some high-difficulty objectives, which will help you conserve your tokens.

Global Contribution

If you see that some teammates have already joined an objective, prioritize heading there to combine your efforts. If all highly-participated objectives have been temporarily completed, then use one contribution opportunity to activate all other newly appeared objectives, thus creating future advantages for yourself and the team.

Remember that only if you have contributed to a given obstacle objective will you receive its corresponding personal reward when the team finally completes it. Otherwise, even if the team clears it, you will not get that reward.

Additionally, once you finish the current main objective, if you have already contributed to the next one, the team can move forward immediately without waiting for you or other members to start from scratch.

Monopoly Go Krustyland Adventures event also heavily tests teamwork. Find your familiar partners and work together to solve the challenges on the map!

As EA Sports FC 27 draws ever closer, discussions among players regarding stadium licensing continue to heat up. Even though the game includes some great stadiums, we always remember some classic stadiums that are a real shame - we don't know when they'll be back in the game.

Which stadiums are likely to see the light of day in the upcoming FC 27? Which might remain absent because of real-world reasons? Let's take a look at the stadiums that have garnered the most attention from players and speculate on their possible return this year.

San Siro Stadium

When people mention San Siro Stadium, the first thing that comes to mind is that it may be demolished and rebuilt in a few years. So for FC 27, even if they have the license for the stadium, they may not bother to renovate it.

However, San Siro is currently still usable - if the development team can complete the scanning and modeling before its demolition, the new game has the potential to be the last football game to include the original San Siro.

Players in the community are generally urging the development team not to abandon the stadium prematurely because of future changes. After all, this stadium carries not only the memories of AC Milan and Inter Milan fans, but also the symbol of Serie A and even European football.

If EA FC 27 can retain the sacred San Siro stadium, it will undoubtedly add a strong sense of history to this installment in the second half of 2026.

Camp Nou

What players have been paying close attention to is that Barcelona's Camp Nou is currently undergoing renovations, and the licensing agreement between the development team and the club has been uncertain, resulting in Camp Nou not being included in this year's game.

However, last year the development team successfully integrated Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena into FC Frostbite with stunning visuals, giving players great confidence.

Everyone is hoping that as long as the contract is finalized, Camp Nou can also be reborn in FIFA 27.

Considering Barcelona's global appeal and their momentum to return to the top this season, if FIFA 27 can bring back Camp Nou, it will greatly enhance the realism of the La Liga experience for players. Even using a large number of FC 27 coins to personalize the stadium would be worthwhile.

Although the current leaked information isn't optimistic, fans still hold on to a glimmer of hope that the development team can finalize the contract before September.

Rome Stadio Olimpico

Stadio Olimpico, shared by Lazio and Roma, completely disappeared after FIFA 22, likely because the exclusive rights were acquired by another game development company.

In fact, whether this stadium can return depends entirely on whether FC 27 development team is willing to invest more in the licensing battle.

If this stadium can be successfully brought back this year, it will not only signify that FC 27 has won a victory in the licensing negotiations, but also fulfill the wishes of Serie A fans: to make Rome derby more authentic!

Atatürk Olympic Stadium

Turkey's Atatürk Olympic Stadium only briefly appeared in the game in 2023 because of the Champions League final licensing, and was removed after the Champions League ended.

However, FC 26 has already added some Turkish club stadiums, indicating that the development team is increasing its focus on Turkish market.

Therefore, this grand stadium, which once hosted the Champions League final, has every reason to return this year as a surprise - especially since Turkish league has seen the emergence of many new football stars in recent years, and the local fan base is growing.

It is believed that as long as the development team continues to expand licensing for smaller leagues, the return of this stadium will not be a pipe dream.

Estadio Azteca

In player polls over the years, Mexico's Estadio Azteca has consistently been a top contender for a return, even topping the list multiple times.

While some European players might not care, FC series is a global market, and the number of users in North America and Latin America is not to be underestimated.

If FUT 27 could heed public opinion and re-include this stadium with its unique high-altitude atmosphere, it would not only be a positive response to years of calls from the community but also a great way to significantly increase the appeal of this football game in the Americas.

Given that the development team has increasingly valued player feedback online in recent years, the probability of Estadio Azteca's return may be higher than many people think.

Fritz Walter Stadium

German fans have been asking every year: When will Fritz Walter Stadium finally be officially included in the game?

League tier is not the decisive hurdle for a stadium to be included in the game, because the real bottleneck has always been the details of licensing.

Fritz Walter Stadium should always be on the development team's target list, as the German football market continues to expand and there is no reason for the development team to ignore it.

Perhaps this year will be the year the legendary Fritz Walter Stadium officially launches - and of course, it's also the simplest and strongest expectation that countless Bundesliga fans have for FC 27.

Because players hope to see more elements related to the real world in football games, they naturally crave even more in FC 27. We look forward to these stadiums coming back to life in the game!

In ARC Raiders, many powerful weapons can handle most missions on their own, but attachments become crucial to ensure you can defeat the more powerful ARC or secure victory in PvP.

Kinetic Converter is a top choice for weapon modification because it increases the rate of fire. Many players, after obtaining this attachment, simply equip it to their most comfortable weapon, feeling a significant increase in firepower.

However, this is not the case. Extensive testing shows that Kinetic Converter provides a negligible improvement on most fully automatic weapons, and equipping it on certain specific weapons is a complete waste. This article will use test data to show you how to use this top-tier attachment to maximize its value.

What Exactly is Kinetic Converter?

Kinetic Converter is a legendary weapon attachment in ARC Raiders. Its core effect is a 15% increase in rate of fire, but this comes at the cost of a 20% increase in both horizontal and vertical recoil.

Simply put, this is a typical attachment that trades stability for burst damage. In the game, it primarily works with fully automatic weapons, and is also compatible with some shotguns. However, compatibility doesn't guarantee optimal performance. A 15% increase in rate of fire sounds enticing, but how much faster is it actually in-game? The answer is far less than the provided figures, and we'll demonstrate this through real-world testing.

Real Performance on Different Weapons

To control for variables, all tests below are based on mag dumps, which compare the time from trigger pull to emptying the entire magazine. Our data may contain a 0.01-0.02 second human error, but it's sufficient for comparing overall trends.

Fully Automatic Weapons

We primarily tested standard fully automatic weapons such as submachine guns and assault rifles, including the Stitcher, Rattler, Bobcat, and Canto. The test results show:

• Stitcher: With and without Kinetic Converter, the time difference in emptying the magazine is approximately 0.2 seconds.
• Rattler: The difference is between 0.1 and 0.2 seconds, which translates to almost only a 1-frame difference in ARC Raiders' frame rate display.
• Bobcat: As a top choice for many PvP players, the improvement after equipping Kinetic Converter is also only 1-2 frames.
• Canto: Like the three above, the difference is still negligible.

Among the tested fully automatic weapons, the rate of fire improvement brought by Kinetic Converter is generally maintained at 0.1 to 0.2 seconds. In a 60fps game, 0.2 seconds is roughly a 1-2 frame difference - it's hard to imagine that this is the actual performance of a 15% rate of fire increase on most fully automatic weapons.

Large Magazine Weapons

Next, we placed our hopes on weapons with large magazines, but the tests showed that the larger the magazine, the less noticeable the improvement from Kinetic Converter. Taking Tomahawk, which has the largest magazine capacity in ARC Raiders, as an example:

In actual testing, the Tomahawk with and without Kinetic Converter emptied its magazine in exactly the same time - both fired simultaneously, finished simultaneously, and the timer showed the same time. This could be a testing error or a problem with the game mechanics itself, but the conclusion is clear: Kinetic Converter is basically useless on Tomahawk.

PvE Weapons

Next, let's look at a few weapons known for their PvE capabilities:

• Renegade: Also only a 1 to 2 frame improvement.
• Vulcano: The difference is very small, about one bullet faster.
• Hullcracker: This is a weapon that many players strongly recommend using with Kinetic Converter, and actual testing shows that it is indeed one bullet faster. As a grenade launcher, this extra bullet is quite valuable when facing high-difficulty enemies like Queen, because in such situations, every second counts in dismantling ARC corpses for loot.

A truly noteworthy exception - Bettina

Of all the weapons tested, Bettina stood out. With Kinetic Converter equipped, Bettina's magazine emptying time was almost a full second faster, the most significant difference among all the weapons tested.

Why was Bettina so effective? One possible explanation is that Bettina itself has a relatively slow rate of fire but extremely high single-shot damage. A 15% increase in rate of fire on a weapon with a low base rate of fire translates to a more substantial difference in absolute time. This also suggests an important pattern - the Kinetic Converter's actual benefit is more pronounced on fully automatic weapons with slower base rates of fire.

Properly Equipping Kinetic Converter

Kinetic Converter only provides a 1-2 frame improvement on most fully automatic weapons. This difference is almost meaningless in PvE. However, in PvP, a 1-frame difference can indeed be a matter of life and death.

Therefore, for PvP players who are aiming for the ultimate performance, Kinetic Converter can be equipped on weapons like the Bettina or Bobcat. That 1-2 frame difference can indeed be a game-changer in high-level matches.

However, this attachment cannot currently be crafted using blueprints; it can only be obtained through loot. If you haven't found it on the map yet, you can buy ARC Raiders Kinetic Converter from IGGM.com to increase your gun's firing rate.

For PvE players, this attachment is largely unnecessary. Unless you're playing Queen and need to dismantle ARCs with maximum efficiency, the negligible increase in rate of fire is completely outweighed by the increased recoil.

In short, this legendary Kinetic Converter attachment needs to be paired with suitable targets to maximize its effectiveness. Due to its recoil-for-rate-of-fire tradeoff, focus on weapons with low base rate of fire but high stability when equipping it.

The Season 4 of CoD Black Ops 7 is expected to wrap up by the end of July, and immediately after that, we will start hearing about Season 5 and the promotional rollout for Modern Warfare 4.

Following the usual pattern, Season 6 tends to revolve around Halloween themes and various crossover events, which effectively makes Season 5 the last regular season for Black Ops 7. Let us take a closer look at its projected release timeline and what it will bring.

Black Ops 7 Season 5 Release Date

Based on the in-game Battle Pass timer, the season is scheduled to go live on Thursday, July 23, at 9:00 AM PT (11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET). The pre-load for Season 5 should become available no later than July 21.

Looking back at the marketing rhythm of previous seasons, the studio typically puts out a blog post and a roadmap about one week ahead of the launch, which would place that around July 16.

In addition, Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 will take place from July 16 through July 19 at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Modern Warfare 4 will offer public playable demos there, so players might get an early look at gameplay demonstrations of the new mechanics.

Also, Call of Duty League Championship Weekend falls on the same dates - July 16 to 19. The studio could choose to overlap all these events and synchronise Season 5 promotion within that same week, or it might follow the approach from Season 4, where the blog and roadmap only appeared a few days before the season went live.

Multiplayer Content

During a developer interview in Season 3, the studio confirmed that either Arsenal or Frequency would be returning to Black Ops 7.

Since neither map showed up in Season 4, they will most likely arrive in Season 5. After all, the final season of a Call of Duty title usually introduces only one or two new maps, and those are often reskinned Halloween variants rather than pure remasters. Thus, Season 5 represents the last window for these two classics to make their comeback.

Beyond the returning maps, we can expect one or two permanent modes and a large number of LTMs either in Season 5 or during Season 5 Reloaded update.

Endgame

Story

The end-of-season cinematic for Season 4 will bring the entire story of CoD BO7 to a close. The studio has confirmed that the final Endgame sequence, together with Season 4 opening cutscene, marks the beginning of the end for Black Ops 7 story.

From Season 5 onward, there will be no further narrative content. Usually, post-launch storylines extend through the final season, but this time they have concluded at the end of Season 4. That means Season 5 is unlikely to offer any new story developments.

While Season 6 will feature plenty of cutscenes and crossover promos, those typically do not carry substantive narrative weight. CoD Black Ops Cold War was an exception, as it successfully wove six seasons of post-launch storytelling together, but Black Ops 7 clearly is not taking that route.

Therefore, any new operator included in Season 5 Battle Pass will probably be an original character unrelated to the plot, or it might follow the approach seen late in Vanguard's lifecycle, where a random character was inserted just to drive pass sales.

Endgame Mode

Season 5 will not add any new Campaign Missions, story chapters, or Glitch Fracture content. However, Endgame mode still has plenty of other material to offer. Season 5 is set to end around mid-September, so you will be able to enjoy Endgame for free throughout the entire summer. After that, accessing it will require owning the base Black Ops 7 game.

The studio might introduce limited-time world events into Endgame through some crossover activity, or add bosses and events on the map that are not tied to Black Ops 7 storyline.

Zombies Mode

Survival Maps: Lighthouse and Castle

According to leaks, Season 5 will include two survival maps: one is Lighthouse from Totenreich, and the other is Castle from Kawakujo. Both areas have distinctive features - Lighthouse offers ample holding spots and a Vending Machine, while Castle's vertical terrain makes for engaging gameplay.

That said, these are still only leaks, and there is no guarantee they will appear in Season 5. The studio might also hold them back.

DLC 5

DLC 5 represents the final chapter for Black Ops 7 Zombies, featuring the last large round-based map. The studio has already confirmed that it will arrive with Season 5 Reloaded update, expected around the end of August.

Since Modern Warfare 4 will not include a Zombies mode, this final map in Black Ops 7 will be the last brand-new Zombies experience that players will see for the next one to two years.

At the same time, fans may finally see Widow's Wine Perk-a-Cola make its appearance. This perk has been leaked for over a year, and DLC 5 is its final opportunity to appear within the game's lifecycle.

Rogue Run

The studio has confirmed that Rogue Run in Black Ops 7 Zombies will be added as a permanent feature. If the player data for Rogue Run debut in Season 4 proves strong, the developers might add more maps, explorable areas, bosses, and rewards for it in the future.

Warzone

On Warzone side, we can expect the usual batch of new Ranked Play rewards and fresh win streak camos. Overall, however, Season 5 will not focus heavily on Warzone; it may not introduce any new permanent modes, though you can look forward to more in Season 6.

These are all the known details so far regarding Season 5 content update for Black Ops 7. Keep in mind that the season is actually not far off, given that Season 4 itself is relatively short. The studio will release more information throughout July, so let us stay tuned for further announcements.

If your character cannot complete the progress and obtain the respective camouflage rewards before the end of CoD Black Ops 7 Season 4, you can buy CoD Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies from IGGM. This will help you complete various challenges more easily and claim the rewards.

With the official release of College Football 27 just a day away, even if you aren't an early-access player, it's time to prepare for the new game, starting with finding the right offensive playbook!

Your offensive playbook's style and content dictate how you compete against opposing teams across various CFB 27 modes. While customization is an option, wouldn't it be better to choose a playbook with the right built-in tactics that suit your skill level?

Here, we recommend offensive playbooks tailored to different skill levels, ranging from beginner to advanced, helping you find the perfect match and hit the ground running when the game launches.

Tier 3: West Virginia, Colorado, and Fresno State

It is worth noting that while these NCAA 27 offensive playbooks fall into a lower tier, that doesn't mean they aren't worth using.

Instead, they are less complex to master and somewhat unconventional, making them excellent choices for beginners or players looking to try something new.

West Virginia

A standout feature of West Virginia offensive playbook is its Gun Power Eye Tight formation. Not only is this formation fun to play, but if mastered, it allows you to effectively counter opponents using specific tactics like quarterback runs and blast plays.

If you enjoy a three-wide-receiver setup, this playbook is a great choice; it ranks among the best Trips playbooks in the game, offering a rich variety of tactical options in that category.

Of course, winning isn't just about the playbook, it's also about the players. Only players who are both powerful and suited to your style can truly maximize the effectiveness of your chosen playbook.

To unlock the players you want and add them to your team, it's time to buy NCAA 27 coins on IGGM! You can also use these coins to upgrade your players and boost your team's overall strength at any time.

Colorado

This offensive playbook offers a wide range of formations, such as Go-Go option, capable of countering mainstream tactics, and the versatile two-back shotgun, which allows you to field two running backs simultaneously.

Additionally, Colorado playbook features excellent Trips sets, Cluster Halfback Strong formation, and the often-underrated Pistol sets.

Given the strong ground game mechanics in EA CFB 27, running plays from Pistol sets, especially formations like Pistol Bunch that balance rushing with effective passing, can be highly impactful.

Fresno State

Fresno State playbook offers a wide variety of plays, but Tight Doubles formation stands out as a reliable option in College Football 27. It provides plays like Mesh Spot and Cross Wheels that allow for a quick snap without requiring complex hot route adjustments.

Furthermore, this offensive playbook features an extensive range of Trips and Pistol formations, offering a wealth of choices for both the run and pass games.

Tier 2: Notre Dame and Oregon

The offensive playbooks in this tier are established, well-rounded options. They serve as reliable tools for elevating your competitive play once you've mastered the game's mechanics, all while maintaining an authentic and enjoyable experience.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame offensive playbook has consistently performed well in past NCAA titles, offering immense tactical diversity through a range of excellent formations.

In CFB 27, Bunch Strong Offset formation is expected to be a favorite; it includes plays such as Dagger, Wide Trail, and various pass-run options and Halfback runs.

It is also worth noting that Cluster formation is highly effective against both man and zone coverage, an excellent choice if you want a playbook that strikes a great balance between offensive versatility and defensive adaptability.

Oregon

As one of the most reliable and classic playbooks in CFB 27, Oregon playbook boasts a diverse array of Shotgun formations capable of handling both rushing and passing attacks.

Additionally, Normal Y Off Close formation allows you to easily control the game with smart passing concepts while remaining accessible to players of all skill levels, from competitive veterans to newcomers.

The playbook also includes numerous Trips formations, such as Trips Tight End Offset Weak (ideal for quick snaps) and Bunch Offset (great for spreading the ball around).

If you prefer heavy sets, Oregon playbook even includes I-Formation, which is particularly effective for short-yardage situations in College Football 27.

Tier 1: Bowling Green and Florida International

As we wrap up our look at the top CFB 27 offensive playbooks, the options in this tier are defined by their potent offensive capabilities, designed entirely to dismantle the opposition quickly.

Of course, high reward often comes with high risk; using these playbooks without mastering them could lead to costly mistakes.

Bowling Green

Building on its already impressive showing in CFB 26, Bowling Green offensive playbook looks even more formidable this year. It offers a mix of heavy Shotgun formations, perfect for creative, high-risk, high-reward plays, and more stable, standard sets like Y Off Close.

The playbook also features top-tier Bunch variations, such as Bunch Offset, Bunch Strong Offset, and Bunch TE, that rank among the best in the game.

In highly competitive CFB 27 matches, Bunch formations are essential for creating optimal spacing and attacking lanes.

If you want to devastate opponents using quick-snap tactics, Bowling Green playbook also includes plays like Double Post.

Florida International

This playbook is packed with highlights, particularly a wide array of RPO (Run-Pass Option) plays and motion options that help you easily counter defensive schemes. You also get access to Trips Tight End and various Bunch formations.

These are staples of elite offensive playbooks and consistently deliver excellent results in-game. Additionally, Florida International playbook includes Pistol formation plays, which are highly effective in CFB 27.

Summary

The above list represents our top picks for reliable offensive playbooks based on the current CFB 27 meta. Feel free to adjust your specific strategies as you progress and your skill level improves. It's all about securing more wins!

Unlike most games where seasons are strictly defined, the seasonal turnover in ARC Raiders isn't the primary form of content update; instead, it is closely linked to the expedition mechanic, a gameplay loop that resets periodically.

That said, seasons in ARC Raiders are certainly significant. Weekly Trials generally operate on a seasonal cycle, and the arrival of a new season marks the final tallying of rewards from the previous season's Weekly Trials.

The launch window for Expedition 4 is now open, coinciding with the debut of Trials Season 5. Here is an overview of the changes this new season brings to ARC Raiders and how you can work towards unlocking new trials rewards over the coming two-plus months.

Season 5 duration

The season began at 12:00 UTC on July 7, 2026, alongside the opening of Expedition 4 launch window. Until July 21, you can earn permanent Raider Tokens and a random blueprint that remains available for use throughout Season 5.

Season 5 itself runs until September 30, at which point the launch window for Expedition 5 is expected to open. However, given that a major official update is anticipated in October, the timing for future season or expedition updates may be subject to change.

Trials Season 4 final rewards

ARC Raiders introduces new Weekly Trials almost every week, with each set comprising five tasks that have distinct requirements. The higher the rating you achieve on an individual task, the better your rewards, potentially including brand-new ARC Raiders blueprints.

At the end of a Trials Season, your performance across all Weekly Trials during that cycle determines your standing on the global player leaderboard, and you are awarded outfit rewards based on that rank.

There are six ranks in total: the top two are Hotshot and Cantina Legend, while the other four ranks each feature three sub-ranks. The final reward for Trials Season 4 is Blindspot Set; the higher your rank, the more variants of the set you can unlock:

• Tryhard II: Blindspot Outfit Navy Blue color
• Tryhard III: Hat Outfit Variant
• Wildcard I: Padding Outfit Variant
• Wildcard II: Jacket Outfit Variant
• Wildcard III: Mask Outfit Variant
• Hotshot: Blindspot Outfit Green color
• Cantina Legend: Blindspot Outfit Beige Black color

How to participate in Season 5?

As previously mentioned, a seasonal update in ARC Raiders simply signals the start of a new Trials cycle and the finalization of rewards from the previous one. Essentially, participating in the new season means taking the new expedition and every Weekly Trial seriously.

Season 5 starting trial rank

When the new season begins, your rank on the trials leaderboard won't simply reset to the lowest tier (Rookie I); instead, it is re-evaluated based on your Season 4 rank. Your initial Season 5 rank will likely be two tiers lower than your final Season 4 rank.

In other words, performing well in the previous season gives you a head start in the new ARC Raiders season, helping you reach the top Cantina Legend rank faster than others.

Complete every weekly trial

Starting with Trials Season 4, ARC Raiders allows Weekly Trials to be undertaken during the active Expedition window. Consequently, with Season 5 launched this Tuesday, July 7th, the first trial of the new cycle began immediately.

Season 5 Week 1 trial runs until next Tuesday, July 13th. Subsequent Season 5 Weekly Trials are expected to update on Tuesdays as well, so make sure to check that you've completed all your trial objectives by Monday.

Complete Expedition 4 Window

This deployment window lasts for two weeks; during this time, you must deal a sufficient amount of damage to unlock new permanent rewards. Of course, some rewards are granted simply for participating in the window.

It is worth noting that most Weekly Trial objectives require you to fight ARCs; the more enemies you destroy, the better your rating. You can therefore combine Expedition 4 requirements with your Weekly Trials over these two weeks.

For instance, three of this week's five trial objectives require you to destroy specific types of ARCs. To maximize damage output, you should either target large groups of small enemies or focus on large, high-health ARCs.

Prepare for Expedition 5

Expedition 5 is expected to launch once Expedition 4 window concludes. Expeditions typically consist of a preparation phase and an active window phase. The preparation phase is further divided into 4–5 stages, each requiring you to gather specific materials.

You must meet these collection requirements to qualify for Expedition 5 window, which opens in a few months, thereby gaining a significant boost for your future progression in the game.

Most of these materials aren't difficult to find; simply search for high-frequency spawn locations based on the material type. Some items can also be obtained by trading with NPCs.

Trials Season 5 final rewards

Just like in previous ARC Raiders seasons, rewards for Season 5 will be awarded after the season ends on September 30, based on the trial rank you achieved. To give you something to strive for, these rewards have been revealed in advance!

In addition to Scorta set and its various variants, Trials Season 5 rewards include:

• Backpack Green Bruiser
• Backpack Charm Pressure Gauge
• Backpack attachment Hydraulic Pump
• Emote Come at me

Other new content in Update 1.36.0

Expedition 4 Window and Season 5 were added to the game yesterday via Update 1.36.0, which also introduced other upcoming content to look forward to.

You can now experience independent and more precise matchmaking algorithms for Solo, Duo, and Trio modes in ARC Raiders. Your playstyle in one mode will no longer affect your matchmaking experience in the others.

Previously, if you enjoyed both casual solo play and aggressive team-based gameplay, the former could result in being matched with friendly players, making it difficult to get the intense PvP experience you wanted in Duos or Trios. Now, these modes operate independently.

Additionally, Update 1.36.0 brings a crossover event with THE FINALS, running from July 9 to July 30. During this period, you can earn exclusive outfit rewards just by playing the game!

That covers all the key information you need to know about ARC Raiders Trials Season 5. Go ahead and tackle the new trials and expedition window! Rich spoils await the bravest Raiders!