A contrarian might suggest these companies are pushing out updates amid a pandemic strictly for the profits. That person might suggest developers are working because they’re afraid to lose their jobs in an uncertain climate. But if those concerns were the only thing driving these development teams, then what would stop the company executives from simply turning to bolder emphasis on microtransactions? Whether you love or hate these in-game monetization options, it's indisputable that microtransactions are sure-fire ways to get people to continue to spend money on ga
Let's take Apex Legends as an example. EA released a statement saying, " We’re contributing $1 million to organizations dedicated to the fight for racial justice in the U.S. and against discrimination around the world." They go on to say, "Beginning with the Equal Justice Initiative, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, and with more partners to come, we are deepening our support of organizations working to stop systemic racial injustice, fight discrimination and protect human rights in the U.S. and beyo
Apex Legends is already in its fifth season, and in Season 5 many things have changed via Respawn 's tweaks. The tier list for both legends and weapons has fluctuated a bit due to the numerous buffs, nerfs, and changes the latest update implemen
Big names in gaming like Apex Legends , FIFA , Fortnite , League of Legends , Valorant , Rainbow Six Siege , and more have a worldwide following with servers everywhere except Africa. As an African gamer, I find it insulting and hypocritical that these companies force us to read Black Lives Matter messages every time we start a game, yet most black people aren't allowed to get the best experience from
For those unfamiliar with the Battle Pass system, it is a one time purchase (usually around $10) that unlocks a ton of in-game cosmetic rewards. However, players have to level up or progress through the battle pass tier to unlock each reward. Games like Fortnite or Apex Legends reward players with new character skins, emotes, weapon skins, etc. Battle passes are also only available for a limited time which is usually referred to as a "season," and the items that are offered through the battle pass can only be obtained during this seasonal window. This encourages players to purchase the battle pass and grind through the tier before the season is over so they don't miss out on these exclusive sk
The same goes for Riot Games, Ubisoft, and most other publishers. They've all released statements claiming to support black people and end racism, yet Africa isn't part of their plans and isn't worthy of their services. They may bring up the old argument about a lack of players and lack of infrastructure, but that's simply untrue. Africa has a large, vibrant gaming community who have to suffer from constant connectivity issues to follow their passion. Both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Service also have functioning data centers in Africa to facilitate gaming serv
The Gauntlet looks strangely familiar to a skate park except it has a ring of fire and a ton of loot. It will be highly populated which means anyone coming into this area definitely needs their A-Game or it's going to be a quick match. There can be a great piece of loot in the fire ring by using the jump pads but the real attraction here is the easy access to multiple supply bins and the ability to move to the next looting locations right after. Most players will end up landing here and then going straight to the Market location right after or the Salvage area. It was designed with Octane in mind and if playing with him, take advantage of the open area and jump pads to speed up and get the drop on the oppone
Is it worth $10? Absolutely. The most recent battle pass included 6 new exclusive skins each with its own additional unlockable styles, and most have their own pickaxes and back bling, on top of a handful of emotes, loading screens, and player icons. If Fortnite does one thing right it is its cosmetics. The battle pass offers players a plethora of items to unlock that are each unique and worth the grind and the extra challenges extend the life of the game and give players a reason to hop back in every w
While known for it's more serious tone, PUBG's Star Wars Jedi Survivor pass for season 7 has taken a bit of a sillier twist. The survivor pass is a whopping $10 and it offers 100 tiers of rewards, 41 player customization options, 19 weapon skins, and 9 emotes. While in the past the rewards were lackluster, season 7 is dinosaur themed and a lot of the cosmetics are silly mascot outfits or exotic animal print jackets. PUBG allows the player to customize their character more than most games, and season 7's pass adds a lot of unique flair to the player's opti
As a result of the pandemic, my workload is significantly lighter. Even if there were more to do, thoughts about the crisis around me frequently zap my energy. But there are a few things that have kept me sane through the crisis, like cocktail delivery services and a friend's HBO Go passw