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Overwatch patch 1.15 is here – includes Mercy re-work and Junkertown

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Mercy mains rejoice, your time is finally here thanks to the latest Overwatch patch.

After weeks of testing on the PTR, Overwatch patch 1.15 has dropped and it’s made some huge changes.

DVA and Mercy are seeing the biggest changes, which have been detailed below.

DVA Re-Work

  • Defense Matrix
    • Energy drain doubled (uptime for this ability has been reduced to about two seconds)
    • Defence Matrix recharge rate increased by 25%.
  • Boosters
    • D.Va can now use her Primary Fire (Fusion Cannons) while flying.
  • New ability: Micro Missiles
    • D.Va launches a salvo of small missiles that explode on impact, dealing damage in a small radius around them.
    • Micro Missile damage reduced by 25%.

Mercy Re-Work

  • Resurrect (former Ultimate)
    • Ability now targets a single player, instead of all players in a certain radius
    • Radius reduced to 5 meters and cooldown is 30 seconds
    • Mercy is no longer invulnerable while Resurrect is active
  • Valkyrie (New Ultimate – Enhances Mercy’s weapons and abilities for 20 seconds and yup, she can fly)
    • Mercy’s healing and damage boost beams now affect all allies near the targeted teammate, and the staff’s effective range has been extended
    • Granted infinite ammo but as of a more recent nerf, no longer gains an increased fire rate or damage boost
    • Guardian Angel has increased range and movement speed
    • Resurrect cooldown is instantly reset when Valkyrie is activated
    • Mercy gains the ability to fly freely with increased movement speed
    • Regeneration passive is no longer interrupted when Mercy takes damage

The changes for DVA seem to be focused on making her a much more offensive character, able to move quickly and deliver better burst damage.

Mercy on the other hand is now less reliant on hiding and waiting for a 5-man rez, with an ultimate that encourages her to stay in the fight and continue to heal or deal ‘surprising amounts of damage’, depending on how you play.

These changes to the healer have now made her much more effective at pushing, allowing her to effectively bring a teammate back every 30 seconds or so.

Whether this will make her a ‘must-have meta pick in competitive is yet to be seen but early impressions would suggest so.

Aside from big changes to DVA and the Mercy re-work, this patch also sees the release of Junkertown.

Junkertown is an escort map set in the Austrailian Outback, recently seen in the animated short Blizzard released. Set in the ruins of an Omnic factory, the ‘town’ is the creation of a group of Mad-Max esque characters that includes Junkrat and Roadhog.

This patch comes prior to another free weekend of Overwatch for both console and PC players. Running from September 22 til September 26, players will be able to try all of the maps and game modes. Blizzard have said progress can also be carried over if free players buy the game, which is nice.

UK based gaming writer, raised on a diet of Street Fighter and Isometric RPG's. I enjoy playing every game I can get my grubby little hands on.

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Helldivers 2 Players Face Overwhelming Hordes of Factory Striders

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In the ongoing conflict against the Automaton invasion fleet, the Helldivers 2 players have successfully halted their advance. However, the situation has now reached a tiresome stalemate. Yet again, the machines refuse to take a break from their relentless pursuit of progress, with reports emerging of the Factory Striders being deployed in record-breaking quantities.

There have been reports of alleged machines that were supposedly encountered during Operation Swift Disassembly, which was just the beginning of a larger campaign. However, these accounts should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are unverified and seem to be more on the imaginative side. Factory Striders have gained a reputation as formidable weapons platforms that can produce more Automatons while enduring significant damage. If the machines are able to withstand such a relentless assault, it will be necessary to develop innovative strategies.

Have you come across groups of Factory Striders in Helldivers 2? Which strategies are proving to be the most effective in taking down these armored brutes? The Orbital Railcannon Strike will prove to be a valuable asset in the comments section below.

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Todd Howard affirms that the timeline of the Fallout series is coherent and well-constructed

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The recent release of Amazon’s adaptation of Fallout has ignited a renewed interest in the series and brought attention to the captivating alternate history that forms its foundation. Fans have expressed concern that the TV show’s events might be at odds with the plot of the Obsidian Entertainment video game New Vegas. Warning: Spoilers ahead for New Vegas and Amazon’s show!

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard and Fallout TV executive producer Jonathan Nolan recently sat down with IGN to discuss the timeline. Howard was taken aback when showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet presented him with the surprising concept of obliterating Shady Sands, the bustling capital of the New California Republic, in the aftermath of the events in New Vegas. Howard eventually warmed up to the idea: “After discussing it, we realized that this could be a significant story moment that many things hinge upon.”

It seems that they had to make some tough decisions to ensure everything fell into place, but Howard emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the Fallout timeline: “We take great care with the timeline. There seems to be some confusion in certain areas. However, all the events from the previous games, including New Vegas, did occur. We take great caution in that matter. We’re really pushing the limits here, but the explosions occur right after the events of New Vegas.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it up to par? Even though it may not have a significant impact on the overall quality of the games or show, it is comforting to know that those in charge are paying attention. We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Evaluating Fallout 76’s Value in 2024

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If you’ve been keeping up with the new Fallout show on Amazon Prime, chances are you’ve been relying on PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium to access and enjoy one of Bethesda’s legendary RPGs. We decided to bypass the highly acclaimed Fallout New Vegas and Fallout 3, opting instead to explore the vast landscapes of West Virginia in Fallout 76. Infamous for its initial reception, Todd Howard’s “Fallout with Friends” has evolved significantly over the past six years. However, does that imply the game is of high quality? Is it worth playing in 2024?

As we ventured out of Vault 76 for the very first time, we were determined to find the answers to those burning questions. Recalling our escapades on the Push Square YouTube channel, we encountered quest-giving NPCs—a feature that was surprisingly absent upon release—awe-inspiring bases built by fellow players—and an abundance of loot that could easily burden us 76 times over.

In the midst of the vast array of open-world online experiences, we found ourselves quite enthralled by the combination of 50s classics playing in the background as we obliterated the heads of ghouls. And to top it off, we were able to enjoy all of this with our friends. Exploring the wasteland in the company of a ragtag band of survivors adds a unique element to Fallout 76, setting it apart from other games in the series. However, does it manage to prevent us from uninstalling and transitioning to one of the mainline entries in the series? To discover more, be sure to watch the complete video!

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