If you're looking to quickly find rare Blueprints and need a lot of crafting materials, then Hurricane area of ​​Buried City is your best bet.

Hurricane will expose buried supply crates. While the strong winds will reduce visibility and weaken your armor, the loot you can find here is far more plentiful than in other weather conditions. You can even find many rare Blueprints, such as Tempest Blueprint and Looting Mk.3.

1. Things to Know Before Entering

Before entering Buried City map, be aware that some areas in Hurricane assault zone are difficult to access. The hospital building is a good alternative.

With random spawn points, it's helpful to check the container spawn locations beforehand. This allows you to loot the entire building within minutes. There's an extraction point on the bottom floor of the hospital building, allowing for a quick evacuation after looting.

The bottom left corner of the hospital building is usually an easy looting spot. This doesn't mean other locations are difficult; the building itself isn't particularly challenging. Don't miss any red containers; the items inside won't disappoint. Just be aware of any other raiders nearby.

2. First Victory

Fortunately, my spawn point wasn't far from the hospital building, meaning I could gain an early advantage without worrying about being ambushed by enemy players.

Once inside the hospital building, we can immediately start looting. The first Blueprint I found was Extended Barrel Blueprint. With it, you can craft Extended Barrel, provided your Gunsmithing Workshop is level 3. Equipping it on your weapon will increase bullet velocity. Extended Barrel is excellent for close-quarters combat.

Of course, you can also choose to sell it for 5,000 Arc Raiders Coins.

I like to follow the distribution of red containers; there are many of these in this area, and besides Extended Barrel Blueprint, you'll find many other good items. For example, I've now found another Blueprint that can be used on weapons-Shotgun Silencer.

This is a high-end muzzle attachment designed specifically for shotguns. While shotguns have high damage output, they are also very loud when fired. Equipping a Shotgun Silencer reduces firing noise by at least 50%, making it ideal for close-range attacks without alerting distant enemies.

3. Ultimate Safekeeper Pocket Blueprint

Augments are easy to find in Buried City, especially during Hurricane raids.

After looting one floor, you can zip up to the upper floors, where there are many containers. I found Looting Mk.3 (Safekeeper) there, an epic looting enhancement. A regular safekeeper pocket can only hold high-level Arc Raiders Items, but Looting Mk.3 can hold anything, including your weapons.

With it, even if you die in the game, the equipment and weapons you brought with you when you entered the game won't be lost. When you find rare orange or purple weapons, you can also put them in Safekeeper and take them out regardless of whether you can successfully evacuate.

Furthermore, Looting Mk.3 can use heavy shields, another difference between it and ordinary safe pockets, offering high defensive capabilities. It's also more user-friendly when carrying high-value weapons in PvP mode, essentially putting your weapons in a safe.

After completing the first round of looting, you can choose to quickly start the second round. My second spawn point was twice as far as the first, but it didn't affect our looting; with the experience from the first round, we were only faster.

Be careful, though. If your spawn point is far, the hospital building might already be occupied when you arrive, so be vigilant before entering and remember to clear the area if necessary.

4. Rare Blueprint - Tempest Blueprint

Just as I feared, someone had already arrived before me. When I reached Town Hall, the doors were already open, and there was an abandoned radar on the ground.

While I hesitated to leave, I heard a hurricane cache beeping sound, meaning there was a Hurricane chest nearby. You need to pay special attention to this sound in Hurricane area; it usually means you'll find high-level loot, so I decided to stay.

As expected, Hurricane chest contained a Tempest Blueprint. This is an epic assault rifle crafting Blueprint, currently one of the most popular weapon crafting Blueprints among players. It features high stability, a fast rate of fire, and strong combat capabilities, making it suitable for both PvP and PvE modes.

Buried City has the highest drop rate for Tempest Blueprints.

In Hurricane areas, don't forget to check out easily overlooked spots like rooftops, safety bridges, and Key Room. Besides high-level Blueprints, you can also find crafting materials like fibers, chemicals, and durable cloth in these locations.

If you want to get more Blueprints, you can farm there multiple times if you have enough time. Be sure to pay attention to the changing weather conditions in Hurricane. After all, Hurricane's events are fleeting, and following my search methods and routes might help improve your search speed and efficiency.

In the popular mobile game Monopoly GO, Tycoon Club has become a hot topic among players.

As an official benefit system designed for active and paying players, this exclusive system is not your average reward system. It provides players with a wealth of Monopoly GO stickers, dice, cash rewards, and exclusive privileges, and is a key system that helps players progress through the game faster.

This article will take you through the player's perspective, explaining what Tycoon Club is, its core content, the free rewards and exclusive benefits you can claim daily, and how to get an invitation to Tycoon Club.

What is Tycoon Club?

Simply put, Monopoly GO Tycoon Club is a built-in VIP system specifically for long-term active and dedicated players, providing exclusive privileges and benefits unavailable to regular players.

Unlike the standard gameplay, Tycoon Club system combines the features of a battle pass and spending rebates. Players can gradually unlock higher-quality rewards through daily activity and reasonable spending.

Core Content

Loyalty Points System Diamonds

Loyalty Points are the core currency of Tycoon Club and the key to this system.

Loyalty Points are primarily earned through spending in Tycoon Club store and can be directly redeemed for essential items such as dice and sticker packs. Essentially, it's a spending rebate system; the more you spend, the richer the rewards you unlock.

Tycoon Pass Milestone Rewards System

Tycoon Pass is a tiered reward system based on player progression. Players use Loyalty Points to level up and unlock corresponding milestone rewards; the higher the level, the better the rewards.

The beginner stage unlocks dice and sticker packs; the intermediate stage unlocks in-game cash and premium packs; the advanced stage unlocks rare stickers and a large number of dice; and the elite stage unlocks rare items such as Wild stickers and exclusive tokens.

Daily Free Spin Wheel Bonus

As a basic perk of Tycoon Club, players can participate in a free daily spin wheel lottery. The prize pool is quite generous, including up to 500 free dice, a large amount of in-game cash, various sticker packs, and occasionally event-exclusive tokens.

The spin wheel refreshes every 24 hours. Even without spending any money, players can reliably acquire daily resources. Over time, this can create a significant resource advantage, making it an important way for free players to improve their strength.

Exclusive Shop Discounts

Tycoon Club exclusive shop offers far better benefits than the regular game shop. It features exclusive discounted bundles, extra rewards with purchases, and additional Loyalty Points, offering excellent value.

Players can take advantage of special event periods to purchase bundles to maximize resource gains. Compared to the regular shop, this saves considerable costs while acquiring more in-game items.

Exclusive Events and Achievements System

Becoming a Tycoon Club exclusive player grants you exclusive privileges, including:

• Exclusive missions and achievements
• Special tournaments
• Enhanced profile with badges

These features not only enrich gameplay but also highlight your unique identity, enhancing your competitiveness and rewarding long-term commitment, fostering a stronger sense of belonging among active players.

How to Join Tycoon Club?

Currently, Tycoon Club is in a phased rollout and is by invitation only. There is no public registration portal. Official invitations will be randomly sent to eligible players, appearing as a blue envelope in-game. Players can accept the invitation by clicking it, and the feature will be permanently added to the game menu after activation.

Of course, free players will also receive official invitations and enjoy basic benefits, but paying players will receive more Loyalty Points.

While the official invitation criteria haven't been explicitly announced, player testing suggests the following behaviors significantly increase the chances of being invited:

Daily stable logins, account registration duration exceeding one month, board level reaching 10 or higher, active participation in various game events, and occasional small in-game purchases.

In short, the official team tends to favor players with long-term activity. However, invitations still have an element of randomness, and maintaining daily activity is the most crucial factor.

For players who frequently play Monopoly GO, Tycoon Club is highly recommended. It offers daily free resources, faster progression, exclusive rare items, and more cost-effective spending. The only drawback is that it's by invitation only, but as long as you remain active, you're almost guaranteed an invitation.

If you can't find Tycoon Club entry, it's likely that the feature isn't available in your region, your account wasn't selected, or your game version is outdated. Try updating the game, clearing your cache, or reinstalling. If the problem persists, simply wait for the official rollout to all servers.

Monopoly GO's Tycoon Club, an exclusive reward system, completely optimizes the player experience. With its exclusive benefits, tiered rewards, and rapid progression mechanism, it creates a unique advantage for active players.

Even though it's currently invitation-only, maintaining daily activity and actively participating in the game significantly increases the chances of being invited, easily unlocking this highly efficient reward system.

Go play Monopoly GO and try to unlock Tycoon Club as soon as possible!

Both new and veteran players have likely heard of Diablo 4's Butcher, but their understanding of him varies significantly, leading to vastly different attitudes towards him and adding a unique element of fun to the game.

This article will continue to provide a detailed introduction for players in the following sections.

Butcher Introduction

As a boss, Butcher isn't confined to specific quests; players can encounter him in any Dungeon. Note that the capricious Butcher will attack players at any time, constantly reminding players to be vigilant on the map.

The moment a player encounters him, his gaze instantly locks onto the player. The next second, the player will hear his greedy exclamation, Ah, fresh meat! followed by the heavy footsteps of Butcher charging towards the player.

Although his imposing physique is the first impression he gives players, players should not overlook his boss status; his rapid movement speed is also one of his strengths. His preferred weapon is Hook, which he uses to lock onto players, drag them over, and attack, often dealing massive damage.

Butcher has always been a unique spawn point, practically an integral part of Diablo 4 for a long time. Many players consider him aniconic character in the game. What's special is that players of different skill levels will take completely different approaches when dealing with Butcher, which has sparked a growing discussion.

In reality, experienced high-level players no longer consider Butcher a threat. However, for newcomers who haven't leveled up quickly enough and have limited experience, facing this sudden boss can be overwhelming, especially given the significant power disparity between them and Butcher.

Countermeasures

Recently, a player encountered Butcher at level 9, fighting desperately but still being instantly killed. Unaware of the situation, he initially thought Butcher was part of the mission he was supposed to complete, but it turned out to be just a surprise gift from the developers to the players.

For low-level players, the best solution in this situation is to run away immediately. Don't have any conquest mentality towards the currently powerful Butcher; the disastrous outcome will once again shock you. After all, how can a player equipped with only white or blue items like Butter Knife and Burlap Sack possibly cope?

Advice for New Players: Don't worry about being instantly killed by Butcher. His appearance is designed to create a tense and exciting first encounter. Of course, you'll soon experience frustration. New players should think of him as a stepping stone on their leveling journey. Once you're strong enough, you might even look back fondly on those innocent days.

To deal with Butcher, run around him in circles, whittling down his health as much as possible. Alternatively, you can inflict damage first, then constantly look for opportunities to change your position. The key to this method is to increase his movement speed and wear down his health. Be careful not to stray too far from him. Butcher's Hook is not to be underestimated.

Encountering Butcher is inherently random, and players will not only meet Butcher once. Therefore, players treat it as a practice opportunity and don't need to care too much about winning or losing. It's fair to say that every player will experience Butcher's relentless attacks in the early stages.

In the early game, new players should focus on the campaign mode, as this is essential for leveling up and will be indispensable in later battles. Spending about 8 hours should allow you to level up your first character of the season to level 60. Afterward, collect Diablo 4 items such as Tempering, Gems, and maxed Whisper Caches to help your subsequent characters level up.

Note that players should pay attention to the color-coded quests; purple quests are important and should be prioritized. As you level up, the amount of gear consumed will become increasingly noticeable, but as you defeat enemies, your gear level will gradually reach its maximum, making it incredibly easy to defeat enemies with a single blow.

Furthermore, since Season 12's theme is Slaughter, there will be two Butchers. These include the previously encountered Old Butcher and Relentless Butcher. With Butchers becoming stronger in the new season, their appearance frequency will also increase significantly, which is like adding insult to injury for novice players.

Old Butchers are relatively rare, and for low-level players, the chance of successfully killing him is extremely slim. However, it's not a guaranteed endeavor. By changing your mindset, you can understand that he won't spawn twice in a dungeon at the same time. Exploiting this loophole, players can simply die and respawn to avoid him.

Later, in Torment difficulty, the significant difference with Relentless Butcher is that he respawns, making the previous approach impossible. The good news is that his attack power is lower than Old Butcher's, so you can try to damage him. Ultimately, it's a thankless task, as players will gain zero experience and zero loot.

In general, there's no need to worry too much about Butcher's existence. The different experiences you have with them at each stage are part of the player's enjoyment. We look forward to seeing your brilliant performance in Diablo 4 Season 12, Season of Slaughter.

With the final week of March upon us, ARC Raiders Week 21 Trials are officially open, running from March 23rd to March 29th, 2026.

Combined with the upcoming Arc Raiders Flashpoint on March 31st, 2026, now is the perfect time to complete weekly challenges, accumulate resources, and farm powerful ARC Raiders blueprints.

Below is a guide to this week's five trials, helping you quickly grasp the characteristics of each trial and the best methods for completing them.

Notably, completing trials during major map conditions will double your points. This mechanism significantly reduces the time needed to achieve three stars. Missions that previously required multiple runs can often be completed in a single run with the double points bonus.

Harvest Plants

In this non-violent trial, you only need to gather plants, without engaging in any combat. Avoiding direct confrontations with ARC enemies, this is the most relaxing trial of the week for players who want a relaxed experience and don't want intense battles.

Once you reach the ground, you need to look for and harvest plants like Mushrooms, Great Mullein, and Agave.

It's best to gather plants in Lush Blooms mode for the best rewards. Lush Blooms mode rotates approximately every two hours.

Note that any fruit you can gather, such as lemons, pears, or others, will not contribute to your trial progress. Because some plants don't count towards the trial, you'll need to focus on specific plants.

Destroy Ticks, Fireballs, and Pops

Ticks, Fireballs, and Pops are the most basic and easiest ARC enemies to defeat in ARC Raiders; they can be found in abundance on any map.

The Blue Gate and Stella Montis are the two locations with the highest numbers of Ticks, Fireballs, and Pops. The best way to eliminate them is to enter buildings or enclosed areas. These areas have narrow terrain, which restricts their movement and prevents them from scattering, making it easier for players to clear them in one go.

Any weapon type can deal with these ARC enemies; aiming for their weak points will be more efficient. However, when they gather in large numbers, things can get tricky, so it's best to ensure they don't cluster together.

Once you've eliminated enough Ticks, Fireballs, and Pops to reach three stars, you can successfully extract.

Damage ground-based ARC enemies

This trial requires you to deal damage to all ground-based ARC enemies. There are a wide variety of countable enemy types, providing you with multiple options, and it can be run concurrently with other trials, greatly saving trial time.

Currently, there are 13 types of ground-based ARC enemies that meet the requirements:

• Tick
• Pop
• Fireball
• Comet
• Turret
• Surveyor
• Sentinel
• Shredder
• Leaper
• Bastion
• Grenadier
• Matriarch
• Queen

Different enemies offer different points. For example, killing a Pop grants 400 points, while killing a Bastion grants over 2000 points.

This means that during the major map condition, you only need to kill one Bastion to achieve a three-star rating. This is the most efficient speedrun method this week, suitable for players who want to complete the trial quickly.   

For a more stable and easier completion, it is recommended to enter Stella Montis in Night Raid mode and focus on clearing out Pops. Killing about five Pops will easily complete the trial and allow for a successful extraction.

Search containers in the Medical Research wing

This trial should be easy to complete. Just follow the steps below.

First, you need to go to Stella Montis. It's best to load the map during Night Raid to increase your chances of getting three stars.

After reaching the summit, head to the west side of the map and go to Medical Research Wing. Once inside, simply search around, looting all the containers you can find, and then successfully evacuate.

Disable mines during Locked Gate

This trial requires The Blue Gate to be loaded under Locked Gate map condition.

You need to find Explosive Mines on the surface; they are scattered throughout the map. Two good concentrations of Explosive Mines are on the slopes of Pilgrim's Peak and around Reinforced Reception, each providing 300 points. You need to disable 14 Explosive Mines to achieve three stars in this trial.

When you approach an Explosive Mine, you'll hear a beeping noise and see a red indicator light. Then you can slowly approach until you can disable it and repeat this process. It's recommended to carry plenty of Healings to prevent accidental explosions.

ARC Raiders Week 21 Trials are generally not very difficult. Utilizing map conditions effectively will earn you double points, significantly saving time. This week doesn't have any particularly challenging trials like "Get Hit by Lightning"; all trials are relatively simple and easy to complete. Whether you're a veteran player or a newcomer, you can easily complete all three-star challenges.

After achieving full stars, you'll not only receive a large amount of loot but also have a chance to earn blueprints, preparing for the upcoming Flashpoint update.

MLB The Show 26 Full Version was officially released on March 17, 2026, for multiple platforms including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. This year's version features many significant upgrades in gameplay, while retaining some long-standing issues.

MLB 26 focuses on improving the on-field control experience and updating core modes such as Road to Show and Diamond Dynasty. Most players who have tried it feel that the game's controls are better than ever before, but other aspects haven't kept pace.

On one hand, the game's upgrades make every hit and pitch more accurate and controllable, giving players a greater sense of accomplishment; on the other hand, some long-standing problems remain, especially in terms of graphics and mode depth.

Therefore, this article will provide a detailed analysis of this year's MLB and whether the game is still worth playing.

Graphics and Presentation

MLB The Show 26's graphics did not meet the expectations of many players. First, the player models appear somewhat outdated, and their movements are stiff. The detail and lighting effects of the court environment are also below expectations for this game. The gap is more pronounced compared to titles like NBA 2K and WWE 2K series, especially in player detail, facial animation, and overall visual presentation.

Second, compared to previous years, MLB 26 shows almost no improvement in overall visual presentation; the difference is negligible. Audience reactions, cutscenes, and highlight moments lack significant dynamism compared to previous years. This stagnation is particularly noticeable for such a consistent series.

However, the game does have a bright spot this year - the soundtrack. Especially in Storylines, the retro tunes add atmosphere for players to delve deeper into the archives of legendary players.

Gameplay 

If MLB has made any significant progress, it's undoubtedly in gameplay. This is thanks to a key adjustment: a more responsive hit feel. This change eliminates PCI suddenly bouncing back to center, thus removing one of the most frustrating mechanics from previous installments. While this is a small change, it brings a significant impact, especially for players who rely on precise hitting.

Furthermore, new Big Zone hitting option simplifies the controls. It no longer requires precise control, but instead divides Strike Zone into multiple areas, making it easier for players to hit the ball without completely sacrificing control. This is one of the most popular updates among players.

In addition, Pitch recognition has been improved thanks to the expanded pitching history system. Players no longer need to reset the record for every hit; instead, they can track longer pitching sequences, allowing for better identification of pitching tendencies and patterns. This adds a layer of strategy to the game, rewarding players who pay attention to detail.

On Mound, a new feature is Bear Down Pitching, designed specifically for high-pressure moments. It helps players filter out distractions and focus the camera on the strike zone, making the game more immersive.

However, not all the new additions are satisfactory. For example, Automated Ball-Strike system. This update sounds good, but the actual experience is not very good. Because AI-controlled teams rarely make mistakes, what should be a strategic feature becomes unfair.

This is a good concept, but it may need adjustments, as its detrimental effect on immersion currently outweighs any improvements it brings.

Diamond Dynasty

Diamond Dynasty continues to expand in MLB 26, focusing more on customization and progression systems. The mode now boasts a refreshed interface, simpler menus, and deeper collection tracking, allowing players to more clearly understand their progress.

new Red Diamond rarity and the improved Parallel XP system give players better control over their roster development, enabling more targeted upgrades that are easily achieved with enough Stubs.

Meanwhile, the return of World Baseball Classic is a major highlight. Players can participate in WBC-themed Mini Seasons to earn international player cards and then easily upgrade their lineup and stay competitive using MLB The Show 26 Stubs.

The customizable team development path and flexible Mini Season options make Diamond Dynasty more open and challenging.

Road to the Show

MLB The Show 26 has received significant improvements over Road to the Show. It extends Amateur Years, giving players more options to develop their skills from high school to college and then to the pros. Promising players will face crucial choices, such as whether to accept offers from top universities or wait for their dream school.

Once you enter Majors mode, this mode gives you even more control over your career development. You can request trades, change positions, and track milestones more closely, giving you more say in making major decisions. Furthermore, an improved goal-setting system and updated benefits add more layers to your progression.

This summarizes the basic content of this update. For new players, the game is quite appealing and worth trying; for veteran players, the update isn't particularly significant. If you have better options, you can put it aside for now and wait for the next MLB update.

Overall, this MLB 26 update is a positive step, offering richer gameplay and a stronger sense of control that will keep you immersed and attract new players. However, some of the demo footage still has shortcomings, which hopefully will be improved in the next update.

Hey everyone! In ARC Raiders, I entered Spaceport during Electromagnetic Storm event and successfully scored 34,414 points in Damage Bombardiers challenge.

Below, I'll show you my entire process of collecting loot, earning Trial Points, and climbing Leaderboard. I hope my experience will be helpful to you. Give it a try!

Gear and Locations

To achieve this goal, I use a full set of Wolfpacks to ensure I could reach the damage required in Damage Bombardiers and earn all Trials Points from every kill.

In addition to the 12 Wolfpacks I carried, I also brought a Hullcracker with five stacks of ammo, a Renegade with one stack of ammo, a Light Shield to increase movement speed, four sets of Adrenaline Shots, several sets of Healing items, an Electro-Invisibility Cloak, and a Mk. 3 (Survivor) to prevent being knocked down by my own Wolfpacks. It's worth mentioning that I also brought Ziplines and Snap Hooks for faster movement, but I didn't use them this time.

If you want to use the same method, you need to farm a lot of Rocketeers. I found the best farming location is Dam Battlegrounds. Go to Dam Battlegrounds during Night Raids or Electromagnetic Storms, and bring a Jupiter, Snap Hook, or Zipline.

Farming Rocketeers and Collecting Drivers

When you climb to the pipeline tower, you can see almost all Rocketeer spawn points from there. Lure them over, build up damage with Jupiter, and kill them when they fly over the top of the pipeline tower. This way, you can safely loot supplies without worrying about raiders attacking you from behind without warning, like with Ziplines or Snap Hooks.

Also, remember to loot every part of Rocketeers. This will give you the epic, recyclable item- Rocketeer Driver. While you'll usually only get one Rocketeer Driver, it's not uncommon to get two from killing enemies. So be sure to loot all parts carefully and collect as many Drivers as possible, as they can be used to upgrade Explosives Station, unlocking more craftable items to prepare for farming Bombardies.

Farm Bombardiers for Loot

Once you enter Spaceport, you have two Bombardier spawn points to visit. The first spawn point is near the trench towers, and the second is near the control tower. Use Adrenaline Shots to quickly dash to the closer spawn point. Once you're close to the Bombardier, prepare your Wolfpacks.

When deploying Wolfpacks, remember they often scatter to attack other enemies, so taking a second or two to check for threats like Rocketeers is well worth it.

While ideally Rocketeers can kill a Bombardier in two shots, in my experience, they usually spread their fire to other targets, leaving Bombardier alive even after two volleys. I took it down in a few shots with Hullcracker shots, but that initially put me in some dangerous situations. After eliminating the first Bombardier, I headed straight for the second target.

On the way, I was walking on the zipline at the bottom of the launch tower, unaware that a raider was already there, and I fell to my death. Luckily, I was equipped with a Mk. 3 (Survivor), so I decided to climb over—until I heard someone approaching behind me. It was the raider I'd just fallen from Zipline; he saved me and my entire mission.

Because of this, I missed the second Bombardier in that round. So I returned to the first spawn point and waited for it to respawn. Bombardier takes about 7 minutes to respawn, and it always appears in the same location, so just stay nearby and watch for the smoke rising from the sky.

Once Bombardier appears, throw two Wolfpacks and kill it with a Hullcracker if necessary.

Quickly head to the second spawn point again. I was lucky this time; the second Bombardier appeared almost as soon as I arrived in the area. If timed correctly, you can arrive the instant it respawns, preventing other raiders from attacking you and taking your Trail Points.

With two Wolfpacks, I easily killed it before anyone else, then returned to the first spawn point and repeated the above steps until the end of the match.

When the match reached 10 minutes, I carefully considered how much risk I was willing to take with my Wolfpacks depleted. Fighting Bombardier with only a Hullcracker would be longer and more dangerous. So I decided to end my kill spree around the 5-minute mark, killing the last Bombardier and then using the remaining time to loot the remaining uncollected Bombardier corpses.

Ultimately, I acquired a huge amount of loot, which gave me a significant advantage and allowed me to score over 34,000 points.

Once you've eliminated enough Bombardiers and are satisfied with your score, return to Speranza, collect any remaining loot, watch your score climb on Leaderboards, and earn your exclusive ARC Raiders blueprints.

That's the guide to soloing ARC Raiders Damage Bombardiers for 34k+ points! Go play!

As ARC Raiders continues its steady development, Embark Studios, a mainstay of the shoot-and-escape game genre, is constantly refining the game's details, aiming to maintain mainstream industry tastes while developing its own unique style.

A week ago, Embark Studios announced changes to the game's voice acting, advocating for the replacement of the original AI-generated voices with real-life voice actors. CEO Patrick Söderlund believes this is crucial for enhancing the overall quality and player immersion.

To learn more, follow along as I continue.

Key Dialogues Re-recorded by Humans

Today, it's undeniable that ARC Raiders has achieved a significant market share, boasting sales and approximately one million weekly active players. This growing audience constantly puts the game in the spotlight. Therefore, the somewhat stiff AI voice acting is no longer suitable.

Early on, some players complained about AI dialogue sounding out of place in the beautifully designed world-building. This shows that the voice acting issues were already emerging. Embark Studios believes that actors imbue their recorded voices with rich emotion and experience. Subtle differences lie hidden within this.

Of course, Söderlund further clarifies that this doesn't mean replacing all AI lines with humans. He argues that for certain scenes in the game, such as those emphasizing emotional expression, crucial moments, and scenes involving subtext, human actors are clearly more suitable.

For the already well-received AI-generated clips, an upgraded approach will be adopted. This choice between human actors and AI demonstrates the developers' efforts to balance the daily workload and costs of game voice acting.

Embark continues to emphasize that the game's primary visual presentation is unrelated to generative AI. This clearly demonstrates the studio's firm stance and principles, conveying a clear boundary between intelligent tools and game style. It effectively answers previous controversies surrounding the alleged involvement of AI in the game's development process.

With the voice changes in ARC Raiders, the game's monthly sales reached 14 million, and weekly active users exceeded 6 million, which seems to reflect the players' attitude. The voice changes may seem like a minor step, but as a creative means of retaining players, they appear to be very successful. Voice is a companion for players in the game, and a human touch becomes key.

Voice acting quality consistently outweighs cost

With AI dialogue developing rapidly and becoming increasingly sophisticated, more and more game developers are choosing to abandon voice actors. However, it's not without flaws; the core issue is the lack of human emotional expression. This can be seen in easily overlooked pauses, subtle breathing sounds, and noticeably different tones of voice.

The shortcomings of AI dialogue are precisely where the professional skills of voice actors shine. It's worth mentioning that large-scale narrative games like Baldur's Gate 3 still use real actors, with a cast exceeding one hundred. This undoubtedly represents a significant investment of time, experience, and valuable effort from Larian Studios.

In fact, the economic benefits of the changes cannot be measured solely by the lower cost of AI; it's a crucial aspect of game strategy. Synthetic voices can adapt to the rapid pace of technological change, as frequent updates to game storylines necessitate quick selection of live-action voice actors.

However, it's important to consider the substantial number of game users. The existence of placeholder ships would force rework, undoubtedly eroding player trust and immersion.

Embark opted for a hybrid approach, combining AI and live actors. On one hand, AI ensures timely updates to the game's voice packs, improving operational speed. On the other hand, live actors primarily enrich emotional expression, providing nuance and complement.

This combination achieves the optimal voice solution to the greatest extent possible. Inevitably, the ever-expanding user base will lead to increasing costs, continuously posing new challenges for Embark Studios.

Outlook for AI Voice in Gaming Industry

The development of ARC Raiders is no longer as modest as it once was and comes at a critical time when the entire gaming industry is being forced to rethink AI. According to the latest gaming industry survey released by GDC, many game developers are beginning to use generative AI, which is a dangerous sign.

Fortunately, most developers remain concerned about the negative impacts of AI on games, and consequently, on employment, ethics, and quality. Convenience often leads to significant problems. This issue has attracted the attention of SAG-AFTRA and UK Equity, both of which strongly advocate for the need for permission to use synthesized voices in interactive media. Compensation and protection are also essential.

Currently, many studios are making moves in the field of AI voice synthesis. For example, using AI to simulate casual conversations and NPC dialogues, and using AI learning to complete dialogue for a deceased actor. It is worth noting that AI's capabilities are growing stronger and cannot be ignored.

Based on market feedback and analysis of diverse audience opinions, it's generally believed that while AI can compensate for shortcomings, it shouldn't be used to replace live-action performances. Tools must be used appropriately to fulfill their intended purpose.

Embark will also be making minor tweaks to the voice acting and some ARC Raiders Items; players can look forward to it. Knowing that ARC Raiders is focusing on live-action voice acting, do you have any thoughts on other aspects of the game?

Path of Exile Mirage League launched on March 6th. This League allows for some very powerful defensive builds, primarily due to the addition of Keepers of Flame in League 3.28, including the Genesis tree and all Foulborn unique items.

In addition, the new League introduces Volatile Vaal Orbs, granting players previously unattainable Legendary item attributes. This guide will detail some of the powerful defensive builds in League 3.28, aiming to deepen players' understanding of the game.

Damage Taken As League Changes

First, we need to understand the core mechanic of PoE, Breach 2.0, and its impact on damage-taking builds, especially how to achieve 100% physical damage conversion. In League 3.25, many methods for converting physical damage to other damage types were significantly weakened or even removed. This has resulted in many builds no longer achieving the 100% damage conversion rate that was popular across multiple Leagues.

Then, in League 3.26, a new unique jewel, Bound By Destiny, was added, which could convert up to 10% of physical damage into elemental damage based on Conqueror Modifiers. However, this was still insufficient to compensate for the impact of previous League nerfs.

In League 3.27, Keepers of Flame, new Filthy gear was introduced, some of which once again unlocked the potential to convert 100% of physical damage into other types of damage. At that league, it was uncertain whether Filthy gear would be added to core gear, but it has now been officially added to core gameplay in League 3.28, with eight pieces.

Reaching 100% Physical Damage Shift

After League 3.28, these defensive setups are now usable in core gameplay. To convert 100% of physical damage received into elemental damage, you need to combine some unique items with Eldritch Implicit Modifier. It's worth noting that you can also use Lightning Coil to convert 50% of physical damage received into lightning damage.

In addition, there's the unique shield from Dawn Breaker, which converts up to 20% of physical damage received into fire damage. This brings your physical damage conversion rate up to 70%.

Then there's the unique jewel Bound By Destiny, which converts up to 10% of physical damage received into elemental damage. However, note that this jewel requires you to equip four specific Warlord-influenced items to activate.

Remember, you should avoid exceeding 100% of your damage conversion rate, as this attribute, unlike damage conversion, is not normalized to 100%. This means that if your conversion rate is significantly higher than 100%, you will take more damage than you would have originally received as physical damage.

Therefore, attributes like armor offer no real benefit beyond auxiliary mechanics like Molten Shell. With 75% base resistance, this means that regardless of how high the physical attack damage is, you will only take a quarter of the damage.

In PoE Mirage League, players must consider base resistance because many physical attacks deal significantly less damage than elemental attacks.

Regarding damage reduction itself, you can further enhance your damage reduction capabilities through Fortification, Endurance Charge, or Maximum Resistance if you wish.

This mechanism is very powerful, but it also has a significant drawback. It severely restricts your build choices, as you need to use specific gear to complement multiple gear slots.

In Path of Exile 3.28 League, the introduction of Volatile Vaal Orbs will increase your modifier cap by up to 22%. This means you may need to invest heavily in Path of Exile Currency on your gear; if your budget allows, you can quickly reach your desired modifier goals.

100% Shift with Corruptions

Lightning Coil can be corrupted with Volatile Vaal Orbs, increasing the percentage of physical damage received converted to lightning damage to 61%. This equates to an additional 11% damage conversion. Dawn Breaker does the same, increasing the percentage of physical damage received converted to fire damage to 24%.

This means that by equipping just two pieces of gear, you can achieve a damage conversion rate of up to 85%. After that, you can achieve 100% conversion by using Bound By Destiny with Eldrich helmet implicit.

Full Fire Taken Setup

Thanks to Volatile Vaal Orbs, you have another option. Converting 100% of physical damage to fire damage is especially important when using Sublime-Vision builds, as it converts all frost and lightning damage to fire damage. However, this setup is also very expensive.

Cloak of Flame can convert 49% of physical damage to fire damage through Volatile Vaal Orbs corruption effect. Then, Darnaw provides a 20% bonus. Eldrich helmet can convert up to 8% of physical damage to fire damage. Finally, using a Bound By Destiny jewel with four Warlord-influenced items can convert up to 10% of physical damage to fire damage.

Taken As Chaos Setups

Let's take a look at the last defensive setup for League 3.28. You can use Volatile Vaal Orb from Incandescent Heart Armor to convert up to 30% of elemental damage into Chaos damage. Meanwhile, Bound By Destiny, combined with four Warlord-influenced items, can convert up to 10% of elemental damage into Chaos damage.

This means you can convert up to 90% of the damage you take into Chaos damage. In addition, Fugitive Ring base introduced in Path of Exile League provides 2% maximum chaos resistance.

That concludes this article. Volatile Vaal Orb enables insane defensive setups in League 3.28, hopefully improving your gaming experience.