• Unreal Engine 5.5 Released
    gamefromscratch.com
    A mere 5 weeks after the launch of Unreal Engine 5.5 preview and Seattle Unrealfest Epic Games have released Unreal Engine 5.5. Jam packed with new features including vastly improved animation tools, the marquee feature of Unreal Engine 5.5 is the new experimental MegaLights, which has been called the nanite for lighting.MegaLights is a whole new direct lighting path in Unreal Engine 5 enabling artists to place orders of magnitudes more dynamic and shadowed area lights than they could ever before.MegaLights is designed to support current generation consoles and leverages ray tracing to enable realistic soft shadows from various types of area lights.MegaLights not only reduces the cost of dynamic shadowing, it also reduces the cost of unshadowed light evaluation, making it possible to use expensive light sources, such as textured area lights, on consoles.MegaLights is considered an experimental feature and should not be used in a production project.Other features of Unreal Engine 5.5 include:Improved animation toolingModular control rig is now betaMetaHuman animator now has the ability to generation facial animations from just an audio performanceMutable character customization(beta)Lumen can now run at 60hz on supported platformsPath Tracer is now production readySubstrate material system now betaMobile rendering improvements and previewerMuch, much moreKey LinksUnreal Engine 5.5 BlogUnreal Engine 5.5 Full Release NotesYou can learn more about the Unreal Engine 5.5 release in the video below. Also note, this is the first version of Unreal Engine under the new pricing structure and you will need to approve of an updated EULA before you can update to UE 5.5.
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  • FineTuneBench: Evaluating LLMs Ability to Incorporate and Update Knowledge through Fine-Tuning
    www.marktechpost.com
    The demand for fine-tuning LLMs to incorporate new information and refresh existing knowledge is growing. While companies like OpenAI and Google offer fine-tuning APIs that allow LLM customization, their effectiveness for knowledge updating remains to be determined. LLMs used in fields like software and medicine need current, domain-specific informationsoftware developers need models updated with the latest code, while healthcare requires adherence to recent guidelines. Although fine-tuning services offer a way to adapt proprietary, closed-source models, they lack transparency regarding methods, and limited hyperparameter options may restrict knowledge infusion. No standardized benchmarks exist to evaluate these fine-tuning capabilities.Current methods to alter LLM behavior include SFT, RLHF, and continued pre-training. However, the effectiveness of these approaches for knowledge infusion is still being determined. Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) introduces knowledge in prompts, though models often ignore conflicting information, causing inaccuracies. Past research has explored knowledge injection in open-source LLMs using adapters or shallow layer fine-tuning, but more understanding is needed around fine-tuning larger commercial models. Prior studies have fine-tuned models for classification and summarization, yet this work uniquely focuses on knowledge infusion and compares multiple fine-tuning APIs on a shared dataset.Stanford University researchers have developed FineTuneBench, a comprehensive framework and dataset to evaluate how effectively commercial fine-tuning APIs allow LLMs to incorporate new and updated knowledge. Testing five advanced LLMs, including GPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro, in two scenariosintroducing new information (e.g., recent news) and updating existing knowledge (e.g., medical guidelines)the study found limited success across models. The models averaged only 37% accuracy for learning new information and 19% for updating knowledge. Among them, GPT-4o mini performed best, while Gemini models showed minimal capacity for knowledge updates, underscoring limitations in current fine-tuning services for reliable knowledge adaptation.To evaluate how well fine-tuning can enable models to learn new information, researchers created two unique datasets: a Latest News Dataset and a Fictional People Dataset, ensuring none of the data existed in the models training sets. The Latest News Dataset, generated from September 2024 Associated Press articles, was crafted into 277 question-answer pairs, which were further rephrased to test model robustness. The Fictional People Dataset included profile facts about fictional characters, producing direct and derived questions for knowledge testing. Models were trained on both datasets using various methods, such as masking answers in the prompt. Different configurations and epochs were explored to optimize performance.Fine-tuning OpenAI models shows high memorization but limited generalization for new knowledge tasks. While models like GPT-4o-mini excel in recalling trained QA pairs, they struggle with rephrased questions, especially in the Fictional People dataset, where responses to secondary or comparative questions remain weak. Updating knowledge is harder, notably in coding tasks, due to challenges in altering pre-existing information. Gemini models underperform across tasks and need help memorizing or generalizing effectively. Training methods like word masking and prompt completions also fail to enhance generalization, suggesting that standard training paradigms may not adequately improve adaptability.The study presents FineTuneBench, a dataset collection testing fine-tuned LLMs capacity to acquire knowledge in the news, fictional people, medical guidelines, and code libraries. Despite fine-tuning, models showed limited knowledge adaptation, with GPT-4o-mini outperforming others and Gemini underperforming. Relying on LLM fine-tuning remains challenging, as current methods and parameters from OpenAI and Google are limited. RAG approaches are also suboptimal due to cost and scaling issues. Limitations include testing only two LLM providers and using mostly default fine-tuning parameters. Future work will explore how question complexity impacts model generalization.Check out the Paper and GitHub Page. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. If you like our work, you will love ournewsletter.. Dont Forget to join our55k+ ML SubReddit. Sana Hassan+ postsSana Hassan, a consulting intern at Marktechpost and dual-degree student at IIT Madras, is passionate about applying technology and AI to address real-world challenges. With a keen interest in solving practical problems, he brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of AI and real-life solutions. Upcoming Live LinkedIn event, 'One Platform, Multimodal Possibilities,' where Encord CEO Eric Landau and Head of Product Engineering, Justin Sharps will talk how they are reinventing data development process to help teams build game-changing multimodal AI models, fast
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  • 10 Effective Strategies to Lower LLM Inference Costs
    towardsai.net
    10 Effective Strategies to Lower LLM Inference Costs 0 like November 13, 2024Share this postAuthor(s): Isuru Lakshan Ekanayaka Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.image sourceLarge Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 have transformed industries by enabling advanced natural language processing, content generation, and more. However, deploying these powerful models at scale presents significant challenges, particularly regarding inference costs. High operational expenses can hinder scalability, profitability, and sustainability, making it crucial to optimize LLM inference processes. This article explores ten proven strategies to reduce LLM inference costs, ensuring that AI applications remain efficient, scalable, and economically viable.Optimizing LLM inference costs isnt just a financial consideration it directly impacts several critical aspects of AI deployment:Scalability: Cost-efficient inference allows organizations to scale AI applications without prohibitive expenses, facilitating broader deployment across various use cases and markets.Profitability: Reducing operational costs directly enhances the bottom line, making AI solutions more financially viable and attractive to stakeholders.Sustainability: Optimizing inference processes can lead to reduced energy consumption, contributing to environmentally sustainable practices.Key Insight: Optimizing LLM costs is essential for scaling AI effectively and sustainably, ensuring organizations can deploy powerful AI solutions without compromising economic or environmental factors.With these considerations in mind, lets delve into ten strategies to significantly lower LLM inference costs.image sourceQuantization is a technique in machine learning Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post
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  • Google Launches New AI Learning Companion Tool
    towardsai.net
    Google Launches New AI Learning Companion Tool 0 like November 13, 2024Share this postLast Updated on November 13, 2024 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Get The Gist Originally published on Towards AI. Plus: Amazon Develops Its Own Custom AI ChipsThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Welcome to Get The Gist, where every weekday we share an easy-to-read summary of the latest and greatest developments in AI news, innovations, and trends all delivered in under 5 minutes! In todays edition:Google Launches New AI Learning Companion ToolAmazon Develops Its Own Custom AI ChipsGoogle DeepMind Open-Sources AlphaFold 3Baidu Launches AI-Powered Smart GlassesAnd more AI news.Image by: GoogleThe Gist: Googles Learn About AI tool, powered by the LearnLM model, provides educational-style responses that go beyond typical chatbot answers, adding context, visuals, and interactive learning elements.Key Details:Unlike traditional chatbots, Learn About uses educational formatting with features like vocabulary builders and why it matters sections to deepen understanding.Responses are visual and interactive, using educational sources and offering related topics for further exploration.The tool successfully interprets even tricky questions, showing promise for refining AIs role in learning and answering common misconceptions.Image by: BloombergThe Gist: Amazon is advancing its in-house AI chips to decrease reliance on NVIDIAs powerful GPUs, leveraging its custom processors to cut costs and boost AI capabilities for cloud and AI partner applications.Key Details:Amazons Annapurna Labs, which previously developed the Graviton and Trainium processors, is now creating Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post
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  • Save 20% Off the Ghost Cipher Limited Edition Xbox Controller for Black Friday
    www.ign.com
    Lenovo didn't wait around until Black Friday to drop the price of the Ghost Cipher Limited Edition Xbox Series X|S wireless controller to the lowest we've seen. Right now you can get it for just $54.99 after a 21% off discount. Although Xbox controllers in standard colors are likely to be discounted further for Black Friday (we expect they'll be $39.99 each), it's less probable that the Ghost Cipher edition will follow the trend, since it was only just released on October 21. This is an official Microsoft controller that's compatible with Xbox Series X and S consoles as well as your PC.21% Off Xbox Controller Ghost Cipher EditionXbox Wireless Controller Ghost Cipher EditionThe Ghost Cipher Edition is an absolutely gorgeous controller, with a translucent clear top case, rubberized ash gray grips, metallic bronze triggers and D-pad, and a solid white back. The interior components are colored silver to match the overall theme. Aesthetics aside, this Xbox wireless controller is identical to the one that's bundled with the Xbox Series X and S console. Standard features include textured grips, hybrid D-pad, button mapping with the Xbox app, a 3.5mm audio jack that works with any wired headset, and a Share button to upload screenshots and video.The controller supports both Xbox wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can use it for your PC or mobile device. In fact, we think this is the the best PC controller you can get. If your PC doesn't have Bluetooth, you can still use it in wired mode with a USB Type-C cable or go out and buy a Bluetooth or Xbox wireless adapter.Get the Sky Cipher Controller as Part of a Bundle DiscountSky Cipher EditionAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Xbox Controller, and Game Pass Ultimate BundleA similar looking edition is the Sky Cipher controller, which features the same trasparent casing but in blue instead of clear. It's available on Amazon as part of an Xbox Cloud Gaming Bundle, which includes the controller, an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, all for only $79.99. Better yet, this bundle will allow you to play Game Pass games without having to own an Xbox console.Xbox Gift Cards Are on Sale at Amazon10% Off PlayStation Store Gift CardsAmazon Prime member exclusive deal10% Off Xbox Gift CardsAmazon Prime member exclusive dealAmazon Prime members can get 10% off Xbox gift cards and PlayStation Store gift cards. We only see this deal come around a few times a year and it's usually only for smaller denominations. This time around you can get up to a $100 Xbox gift card or $250 PlayStation gift card and still get the discount.3 Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $36.493 Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate MembershipMultiple digital codes can be stackedWoot! (which is owned by Amazon) is offering the best deal on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Right now you can get a 3 month code for only $36.49. Earlier this year, Microsoft raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $19.99 per month, so now you're saving 40% off a 3 month membership. Note that you can purchase multiple codes and apply them to your account, up to a maximum of 36 months. If you're an Xbox gamer, this is a great way to save a lot of money in the long run since you won't have to buy new release games individually to play them.When Is Black Friday 2024?The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals season will begin a lot sooner than that. Leading up to the big event, retailers will begin to open deals online. This usually starts in the last week of October, just before Halloween. Each week leading up to the event will slowly roll out more deals, which ultimately leads to massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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  • This $7 Micro SD USB Card Reader Works With Nearly Every PC and Laptop on the Market
    www.ign.com
    Need a quick way to transfer files and images from your SD or Micro SD cards to your PC? Right now Amazon is offering the Sabrent USB 3.0 OTG Card Reader for only $6.99 after you apply coupon code "135WAWRG" during checkout. This tiny little stick features both USB 3.0 Type C and USB Type-A ports for maximum compatibility and up to 5Gb/s bandwidth.Sabrent USB 3.0 OTG Card Reader for $6.99Sabrent USB 3.0 OTG Card Reader (USB Type-C and USB Type-A)This Sabrent OTG card reader is no bigger than a standard USB flash drive. One end has a USB 3.0 Type-C port and the other end has a USB 3.0 Type A port. Both sides include caps so they're protected when not being used. The USB 3.0 interface boasts theoretical speeds of up to 5Gb/s or 625MB/s (actual performance is determined by the speed of your card). The card reader has slots for both Micro SD/SDXC and full-sized SD/SDXC cards.Using the card reader is as simple as inserting it into one of your spare USB ports. It requires no new drivers, so it's literally plug and play. Because it can plug into both USB Type-A and Type-C ports, it will work with pretty much any laptop or PC built in the past decade. I've owned this exact card reader for a few years now and often transfer images and videos from my DSLR to my PC, and I've never experienced any issues with it. With a practically throwaway price, Amazon's 30-day easy return policy, and over 12,000 positive reviews, there's really no risk.When Is Black Friday 2024?The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals season will begin a lot sooner than that. Leading up to the big event, retailers will begin to open deals online. This usually starts in the last week of October, just before Halloween. Each week leading up to the event will slowly roll out more deals, which ultimately leads to massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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  • Shetland Series 9 Episode 2 Review: the Annie Bett Muhduh Mystery Thickens
    www.denofgeek.com
    Warning: this review contains spoilers forShetlandseries nine, episode one.Shetland isnt all sheep farming, ceilidhs, and charming gift shops selling hand-poured scented candles. They also havespies. Well, they did, until Annie Bett was killed by a single shot to the chest from an automatic pistol. Now they have a mystery to solve who shot Annie the spy and fellow victim Anton Bergen, and why?DI Calder had put the spy angle together by the end of episode two. Something about a maths genius so brainy that shed gone to Oxford aged 15 but now spent her time doing tax returns for the local Chinese takeaway just didnt add up.Of courseAnnie had been recruited to the British intelligence service. Thats what happens to those beautiful mind kids. Aged nine, theres a picture of them holding up their GCSE certificates in the local paper, and by the time theyre legally old enough to drive a scooter, theyre passing cyphers to their man in Berlin under cover of a German exchange tour of the Reichstag.Accountancy had been Annies cover story until it was blown by her death. That, and the sudden arrival in her extremely remote hometown of the man who is presumably her handler. If Professor Rossi hadnt pitched up and forgotten to disguise his familiarity with Police Scotland acronyms in front of Ruth, then perhaps she wouldnt have put two and two together, and Annie Betts would have gone down as a Honda-driving mum instead of a double-life-leading spy.Not thatShetlanddoesnt have time for Honda-driving mums; theyre some of its best people. Tosh will solve her friend Annies murder, just you see if she doesnt. It wont come without a personal cost though. Thats the trouble with policing a small community; youve probably borrowed Tupperware from the murder victims.Toshs response to Annies death was commendable. While visibly shaken, she stuck to the books and kept a cool head. A cooler head, at least, than Ruth, who approached the interrogation of Annies husband Ian with all the control of a child trying to shake a pound coin out of a piggy bank. Ruth was certain that Ians guilt was in there and, red-faced, she was going to get it out. Their It felt like we were arguing, from your body language/I get that a lot exchange in the car afterwards was a top bit of character work, incidentally. Were still getting to know Ruth Calder, and lines like that tug us closer towards her.The same can be said for Ruths interactions with young Noah Bett (a chip off the old block if his primes-recital is anything to go by). Compare Tosh warmly hugging the boy at the party, with Ruths arms-length response to his panic attack at the hospital. Her bedside manner may need work, but when it came to his mums death, Noah seemed to respond to Ruths honesty. It doesnt seem as though hes grown up with a lot of that.Read more Noahs dad didnt kill his mum, but Ruth was right about Ians guilt. Despite sending Annie a slew of texts straight out of the Andrew Tate school of misogynist correspondence, he turned out to be having it off with one of her mates on the night she died. Classy stuff.Speaking of romance, we discovered in episode two that the other victim Anton Bergen had summarily dumped his boyfriend just before he was killed. One phone conversation from a mystery caller and it was goodbye to Nathan Huang. Perhaps Bergen knew that he was in danger and wanted to protect Nate?Theres deffo something fishy about the family Anton was working for, and not just because theyre Scandinavian. The beautiful Jakobsons in their stunning magazine-spread house, with their ill, melancholic daughter, are more than a bit sus. Are they spies too, or might they have something to do with the Nesting facility that conspiracy theorist Campervan Angus is surveilling? Are both things connected? And where do the mussel-farming Harris family fit in? One things for certain: Angus tin foil hat blog is going to come in useful one of these episodes.More useful than Lisa Friels shopping trip into Lerwick, at least. Rev. Calders latest project was so spooked by mention of the murders on BBC Radio Shetland that the sight of harmless PC Grant had her ducking into a fridge to hide faster than Boris Johnson on the campaign trail. Lisas argument with Annie on the day that she died must have been of consequence. A pity though. All that effort and she still didnt get her Pot Noodle.Pot Noodle feels out of place in this picturesque crime show, which feels more like a homemade preserves and organic loaves kind of place. From the windswept views to the lovely knitted scarves, this is a drama straight out of the pages ofCountry Livingmagazine. Its so artisanal that even the police station evidence board is slate and chalk like the specials menu at a farm-to-fork bistro. No dry-erase markers for this lot, their coroners reports probably come cross-stitched into locally woven linen.It all makes for a great contrast with the espionage storyline, which usually plays out against more steel-and-concrete urban backdrops than this. Spies on Shetland, whatever next? County lines drug-dealing? UFOs?Shetland series nine continues next Wednesday November 20 on BBC One and iPlayer.
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  • Link Tank: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior Screening at London Action Festival 2024
    www.denofgeek.com
    As part of the British Film Institute (BFI) Art of Action season, a high-octane nationwide celebration of the genre, the team behind the London Action Festival are delighted to be collaborating with the BFI Southbank on events for the season which runs through to December 2024.Events to be jointly presented have been announced with more in the works include Bottom of Formthis years edition of the London Action Festivals The Worlds Greatest Screening Ever (Probably!) series a special night built around a screening of a celebrated feature film.On Nov. 21. Director George Millers acclaimed masterpiece Max Max 2: The Road Warrior is to be honoured with a special contribution by Miller himself and a look at how the 1982 classic was a game-changer for the vibrant franchise. Other segments have also been announced including an in-person interview with Iain Smith OBE, BAFTA-winning Producer of Mad Max: Fury Road where hell look at what it takes to produce for George Miller and his involvement in bringing the franchise back.There will also be a live performance of Mad Max music from The McBain Quartet led by Patrick Savage with multi-award winning singer-songwriter Zara McFarlane PLUS prizes and surprises!Find out more hereThe World of Warcraft games are expanding in an unexpected way.For two decades, World of Warcraft players have lived their digital lives in the lands of Azeroth and beyond. But have they truly lived them? After many years of requesting and being shot down by Blizzard, they are about to finally be allowed to do so. As part of a livestreamed event celebrating both 30 years of the wider Warcraft franchise and 20 years of World of Warcraft specifically today, Blizzard announced that the long-running MMORPG will finally allow players to put down roots and step away from the world-saving heroics to sit back, relax, and have a nice cuppa in their very own housing system. Read more at GizmodoHalloween and Christmas are full of movies, but what about Thanksgiving? Here are the perfect films to watch in preparation for the upcoming holiday.What makes a Thanksgiving movie isnt always clear-cutsome are conceived around the holiday, and others feature one memorable scene with a turkey on the table. Like the holiday itself, Thanksgiving movies are the offbeat, sometimes melodramatic stepsiblings to their Christmas counterparts. If youre looking for something other than football or parade coverage to watch on the holiday, check out the Thanksgiving (or Thanksgiving-ish) films below.Read more at Mental FlossTaco Bells latest specialty menu will have you nostalgic for an earlier time.Taco Bell is bringing back fan-favorite menu items in its new Decades Menu, offering a nostalgic taste of the brands history. Starting October 31, fans can order iconic dishes from the 60s through the early 2000s, all priced under $3 USD for a limited time. The Decades Menu kicks off with the 60s Tostada, 70s Green Sauce Burrito, 80s Meximelt and 90s Gordita Supreme, with the 00s Caramel Apple Empanada joining on November 21. This revival aims to unite generations of Taco Bell fans, with each item representing a different era of the brands menu innovation.Read more at HypeBeastThirty years after its release, the Interview with The Vampire movie still stands tall amongst a crowded genre.Vampires never die. Not even sunlight and garlic can quash the enduring appeal of one of the most famous supernatural creatures in our mythological lore, especially when it comes to pop culture. For as long as cinema has existed, vampire movies have swarmed the screen, each offering a different representation of the mythic bloodsucker. The malleability of their mythos has allowed them a kind of thematic flexibility not afforded to, say, zombies (sorry, The Walking Dead). Vampires represent anything and everything, often absorbing the ideas and ills of their given era. Just when it seems as though the cultural backlash may be forming against vampires, they become relevant once again.Read more at The A.V. Club
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  • Introducing the Season 01 New Battle Pass System, BlackCell, and New Store Bundles for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone
    www.callofduty.com
    As Rogue Black Ops attempt to topple the Luttazzi Crime Family and drive Crimson One forces out of Avalon, Operators in the field are going to need the finest gear and weapons for the battles ahead. Ready up with the Season 01 Battle Pass, BlackCell, and Store content dropping into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone on November 14, and throughout the first part of the season.An all-new Battle Pass System grants you the opportunity to earn 100+ rewards, including free base weapons, numerous Weapon Blueprints, Equipment Skins, Operator Skins, and much more. There are three ways to obtain some or all of this content:Earn 20+ free rewards, including cosmetic content and base weapons.Purchase the premium Battle Pass and earn up to 1,100 COD Points as you progress through the Battle Pass Pages.Or purchase BlackCell for the ultimate seasonal experience, including a variety of molten hot Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, COD points, and other rewards.The Season 01 Black Ops 6 Battle Pass is brimming over with content, which is both showcased and unlocked in a brand new Page system. Think of the Battle Pass as a book, with 17 total pages. The first Page displays BlackCell Instant Rewards and the second Page shows premium Battle Pass Instant Rewards, followed by 100 in-game Battle Pass rewards across 14 Pages and a Completion Page that is instantly unlocked once all other Pages are completed. Pages include Free and Paid content. As always, all Base Weapons are free to unlock.Purchase the premium Battle Pass for 1,100 COD Points for the ability to earn all Battle Pass rewards. For a head start on the season, grab the Battle Pass Bundle for 2,400 COD Points, including 20+ Tier Skips.Starting Your Battle Pass Journey: Page 1The Season 01 Battle Pass Instant Rewards PageAs you start your new Battle Pass journey, the Instant Reward Page and Page 1 are unlocked by default. All the other Pages are locked but can be previewed. Your goal is to complete the Battle Pass and access the 100 percent Completion Page at the end of the Battle Pass.The Season 01 Battle Pass Page 1Each Page contains a slight variation on the following:Around six item rewards (known as Tiers) that are unlocked in any order you wish within the Page. Each requires an earned Battle Pass Token to unlock.Each Page (except for the BlackCell, Instant, and Completion Pages) contains up to two free Tier rewards. The rest are unlocked via purchasing the premium Battle Pass, BlackCell, or the Vault EditionAn HVT (High Value Target) Tier reward is unlocked once all the previous items on that page are unlocked. This is usually an Operator Skin or Weapon Blueprint, and sometimes theres a BlackCell variant.When both the regular and HVT Tiers are unlocked, the Page is complete.Use the Auto Claim feature to automatically unlock rewards as you play. Or turn it off to earn Battle Pass Tokens used to manually claim rewards.Battle Tokens: Unlocking a PageThe Season 01 Battle Pass Page 6, with Tiers needed to unlock (from Page 1).Battle Pass Tokens make their return to the Battle Pass and work in a similar way to those in previous Battle Passes. A Token Bank is displayed in the top-right corner of your Battle Pass. These are used to unlock the l reward Tiers across all 14 Pages.Premium Battle Pass and BlackCell owners can spend these Tokens on any available Tier reward on an unlocked Page. Tiers can also be automatically unlocked by turning on the Auto Claim feature; with this feature, Tokens are spent as they are earned and not deposited in a Token Bank.Players who do not own the premium Battle Pass earn free rewards in a linear order and do not have access to Tokens.Unlocking Later PagesThe Season 01 Battle Pass Page 7.If there is a reward in a later Page that catches your eye, you simply need to earn enough Battle Tokens to unlock that Page and its Tier content.BlackCell owners get the bonus of unlocking a single Battle Pass Page at any point, regardless of whether the Pages before it are unlocked. Begin unlocking Tier Rewards on that Page immediately.Each new Page requires reaching a certain threshold of claimed Tiers before it unlocks; you dont have to complete an entire Page to access the next one.BlackCell Season 01: Goliath Operator (Rogue Black Ops)BlackCell Instant Rewards Page, HVTJoin the molten, crystalized skull-headed Goliath as he stalks the epic Season 01 BlackCell content. Featuring the Goliath Operator Skin with writhing flames across his onyx carapace armor, this orange-hued demon favors fiery combat and swift deaths. Goliath is part of an impressive BlackCell offering that brings the heat, delivering Operators clad in true Black Ops style with deep blacks and fiery orange accent hues.Additional BlackCell Instant Rewards ContentUpgrade your Battle Pass Experience: Purchase BlackCell to gain complete access to all the amazing rewards offered in the Season 01 Battle Pass. Owners will gain immediate access to the BlackCell Instant Rewards page, acquiring the following items:20 Battle Pass Tier Skips1,100 COD PointsThe Boiling Point Mastercraft Weapon Blueprint for the Goblin Mk2 (Assault Rifle) thats literally dripping with molten heat including a first-of-its-kind unique weapon inspect animation.The Whos Laughing Now Finishing Move with Companion Hyena.The BlackCell Clan Tag (showcased in Lobbies and Winners Circles).The Goliath New Operator.Additionally, BlackCell owners can expect to access page after page of additional rewards within the Season 01 Battle Pass. These include:Seven BlackCell-exclusive Operator Skins for: Sev (two Skins), Bayan, Bailey, Carver, Alvarez, and Stone.Six BlackCell-exclusive Weapon Blueprints for the XM4 (Assault Rifle), Marine SP (Shotgun), Tsarkov 7.62 (Marksman Rifle), GPMG-7 (LMG), Saug (SMG), Krig C (Assault Rifle).The ability to unlock any single Page from the Battle Pass, ignoring the usual minimum Tier requirements. From here, you can unlock the Tiers within that Page, and progress forwards (or backwards) from the Page provided the subsequent Tier unlock criteria is met.NEW: Access to BlackCell-themed rewards throughout Season 01, offering earnable content throughout the Season.Over 130 Rewards (Battle Pass and BlackCell related) for those who fully complete the Season 01 BlackCell Battle Pass.As usual, players who upgrade to BlackCell after purchasing the Battle Pass will also receive 1,100 COD Points back.If youre considering an upgrade to the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition, this is the time to do it! For the same price as the BlackCell offering ($30 or your regional equivalent), the Vault Edition entitles you to the very same Season 01 BlackCell offering, along with the following:The Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack featuring Operator Skins for Adler, Park, Brutus, and Klaus.The Mastercraft Weapon Collection (five weapons).The GobbleGum Pack (12 single-use consumables).Woods Operator PackNote for Prestige Players: Any Weapon Blueprint and Equipment Skin you unlock in the Battle Pass is permanently unlocked and does not re-lock when you subsequently Prestige.When you purchase the premium Battle Pass or BlackCell, you immediately unlock the Battle Pass Instant Rewards Page, including the following items:10% Battle Pass XP Boost.The Superbloom Frag Grenade Skin.The Thorn Legendary Blueprint for the Tanto .22 SMG.The Rose Goes Legendary Weapon Sticker.The new Sev Operator and Sev Skin, along with the Sev BlackCell Operator Skin for BlackCell owners.Sevati Sev Dumas (Rogue Black Ops)Battle Pass Instant Reward Page, HVTA main player in the Rogue Team after the conclusion of the Campaign, Sev is ready to make a deal with the untrustworthy French Syndicate and is gearing up to take down the rival Luttazzi family to prove it. Sporting two different Skins, depending on the infiltration mission at hand, shes more than ready to lead the charge.Complete Battle Pass Pages and choose content to unlock, including a variety of Operator Skins, many paired with an molten hot Animated BlackCell variants:Bayan: Drifter SkinsOperator Skins, Battle Pass and BlackCell, HVT, Page 2Bayan is clad for dark ops with dark gray and black tactical attire, including a black balaclava, gloves, and pouches. His alternate BlackCell form features cracked lava, embers and smoke rising from his jacket, and a featureless mask with glowing eye sockets.Maya: Underground SkinOperator Skin, Battle Pass, Page 3Maya lets her hair down and travels light, dropping her jacket in favor of a burgundy tank top, braces and a pair of camo pants.Bailey: Anarchist SkinsOperator Skins, Battle Pass and BlackCell, HVT, Page 4Dropping her mask and going for a clean tactical look, top-knot, face tattoo and a light combat jacket in black and white with red piping. Her BlackCell variant changes the outfit to a black and molten orange, burning flecks of fire emanating from her, and a glowing hand tattoo.Carver: Tarnished SkinsOperator Skins, Battle Pass and BlackCell, HVT, Page 7Mac is on the hunt and comes prepped with a camo vest with numerous pouches, a snakeskin-sheathed hunting knife, a shock of white hair and neck gaiter. In his BlackCell form, Carver goes molten, smoking with fire while his face-covering sports a pair of tactical goggles reflecting an inferno inside.Alvarez: Flight Path SkinsOperator Skins, Battle Pass and BlackCell, HVT, Page 9Clad in fighter pilot combat gear with front pouches, a comms radio and large helmet with reflective visor and purple accents, Alvarez sports a rust and black BlackCell variant with animated flames scorching across her helmet visor.Nazir: Slick Style SkinOperator Skin, Battle Pass, Page 11Clad for rappelling maneuvers in a swift and sleek manner, Nazir goes with a combat jacket and decides on red gloves, matching crimson tactical joggers, and lower torso buckles.Stone: Zip Tie SkinsOperator Skins, Battle Pass and BlackCell, HVT, Page 12Stone changes his usual combat plans and aims to take prisoners as his deep gray combat fatigues and camo pouches that also come with a set of zip ties. Under his hood, Stone wears a set of cyclopean vision goggles. His BlackCell variant switches up the outfit to black, and the augmentations to glowing orange.Rossi: Mean Streets SkinOperator Skin, Battle Pass, Page 13Channeling a more dapper style from a bygone era, Rossis hair is slicked back with a cowlick, a neck scarf, shirt and braces, and suit trousers, with room to pack a pistol and comms radio.Niran: Big Slick SkinOperator Skin, Battle Pass, Page 14While pinstripe pants and a bikers jacket might not work on some Operators, Niran pulls off the look with badass aplomb, including sporty shades with tactical side shields.Perhaps the two most important Battle Pass Pages are the ones containing a new Base Weapon. All players can access these for free (as always) at Season 01 Launch.Saug Submachine GunBattle Pass, HVT, Page 3Levels: 39MAGS: 4MAG SIZE: 36Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: Optic, Muzzle, Barrel, Underbarrel, Magazine, Rear Grip, Stock, Laser, Fire ModsCustomize Options: Skins, Reticle Unlocks (MP, ZM, WZ), Accessories (1), Decals (1), Stickers 3).Military Camos: 21 (MP, ZM, WZ)Special Camos: 6 (MP, ZM, WZ)Mastery Camos: 12 (MP, ZM, WZ)Fully automatic submachine gun. Excellent mobility and good handling. Great rate of fire. High recoil.Pepper your enemies with a hailstorm of lead using this rapid-fire SMG thats perfect for breaching and clearing small spaces. Pull down when aiming down sights to counter the Saugs recoil, or better yet, improve the weapons already great hip-fire capabilities with the appropriate attachments, including the Tactical Laser for a killer combo of mobility and accuracy via Tactical Stance. Or go all out on hip-fire with the Akimbo Saug Stock for unmatched SMG firepower.Krig C Assault RifleBattle Pass, HVT, Page 6Levels: 43MAGS: 3MAG SIZE: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: Optic, Muzzle, Barrel, Underbarrel, Magazine, Rear Grip, Stock, Laser, Fire ModsCustomize Options: Skins, Reticle Unlocks (MP, ZM, WZ), Accessories (1), Decals (1), Stickers 3).Military Camos: 21 (MP, ZM, WZ)Special Camos: 6 (MP, ZM, WZ)Mastery Camos: 12 (MP, ZM, WZ)Full-auto assault rifle. High damage and average handling. Recoil pattern starts very controllable before ramping up.For a hard-hitting, versatile Assault Rifle that performs well across multiple ranges, look no further than the Krig C. The weapon inflicts moderate damage across the whole body with a four-shot elimination within its effective range, three when accounting for headshots. Recoil control becomes shakier through sustained fire, so burst fire to retain accuracy or consider attachments offering improved control to help counter the ramped-up movement.With 30 Weapon Blueprints to earn across the Season 01 Battle Pass and BlackCell, lets first check out the armaments with a single, unique Blueprint design:Thorn Tanto .22 Submachine Gun, Instant RewardTurmoil ASG-89 Shotgun, Page 1Idle Hands XMG Light Machine Gun, Page 2Batter Up Melee Baseball Bat, Page 4Tattered AK-74 Assault Rifle, Page 4Tip the Scales Goblin Mk 2 Assault Rifle, Page 5Omert Grekova Pistol, Page 6Eviscerator Melee Knife, Page 7Forced Retreat SVD Sniper Rifle, Page 8Tide Turner GS45 Pistol, Page 8Strained PP-919 Submachine Gun, Page 9Psycho Snake Model L Assault Rifle, Page 10Coroner GPR 91 Assault Rifle, Page 11Butchers Friend Melee Knife, Page 12 (not shown)Liars Gambit C9 Submachine Gun, Page 12Reconciliation AEK-973 Marksman Rifle, Page 13Crack Shot LW3A1 Frostline Sniper Rifle, Page 13Now lets focus on all the HVT Weapon Blueprints that have molten BlackCell variants. Note that all BlackCell variants are Animated with Magma Tracers and Molten Death FX.Boiling Point Goblin Mk2 Assault Rifle, BlackCell Instant Reward. Mastercraft, Animated, with Magma Tracers and Molten Death FX.Wild Mannered and Wild Mannered BlackCell XM4 Assault Rifle, HVT, Page 1.Boomslang and Boomslang BlackCell Marine SP Shotgun, HVT, Page 5.Furious and Furious BlackCell Tsarkov 7.62 Marksman Rifle, HVT, Page 8.Hither Slither and Hither Slither BlackCell GPMG-7 Light Machine Gun, HVT, Page 10.Animated Salutations (with Red & White Tracers) and Salutations BlackCell Saug Submachine Gun, HVT, Page 11.Animated, Reactive Bad Beat with Violet Darkness Tracers and Animted, Reactive Bad Beat BlackCell with Violet Heat Tracers and Violet Molten Death FX Krig C Assault Rifle, HVT, Page 14.Black Ops 6 introduces a larger variety of Equipment Skins than ever before, whichonce youve earned the itemyou access and equip in the Loadout menu. Heres what to expect:Superboom Frag Grenade Skin (Lethal), Battle Pass Instant Reward (shown)La Petite Concussion Grenade Skin (Tactical), Page 3 (shown)Clamped View Reticle (Optic Attachment), Page 4Inside Shot Reticle (Optic Attachment), Page 612 Gauge Dragons Breath (Fire Mod Attachment), Page 7 (shown)Snake Charmer RC-XD (Scorestreak), Page 9Bracketed Reticle (Optic Attachment), Page 10Viperfire Sentry Turret Skin (Scorestreak), Page 10 (shown)New Emotes, Finishing Moves, and SpraysEquipped in the Customize Menu of your Barracks, theres a selection of new Emotes, Finishing Moves and Sprays to bring your personal flavor to the fight. Showcase these rewards during matches or (with Emotes) during the Winners Circle. Heres what to expect:Whos Laughing Now Finishing Move (with Hyena Companion), BC IRHeadache Finishing Move, Page 2Hit Run Hitman Finishing Move, Page 9Good Point Finishing Move, Page 14Sore Throat Emote, Page 7I Oughta! Emote, Page 9Move Set Emote, Page 14Royal Rage Spray, Page 1 (shown)Sliced Spray, Page 6To A Flame Spray, Page 8 (shown)Grim Shadow Spray, Page 11 (shown)Spinal Rat Spray, Page 12 (shown)The Black Ops 6 Battle Pass offers a wealth of content, including item highlights (shown above) from the following additional categories:COD PointsWeapon Charms (example shown above)Weapon Large Decals (example shown above)Weapon Stickers (example shown above)GobbleGums (example shown above, 13 total, various rarities and powers)Finishing MovesEmblems (example shown above)Calling Cards (some Animated)Loading ScreensClan Tags (BlackCell only)Consumable 2XP & 2WXP TokensSeason 01 Battle Pass Weapon Blueprints TrackerTo ascertain which weapons the Battle Pass gives you earnable Blueprints for, heres a table listing every Season 01 Battle Pass Weapon Blueprint. Note that when you unlock a Weapon Blueprint, it becomes permanently unlocked during Prestige leveling. Battle Pass Weapon Blueprints Tracker:ASSAULT RIFLES::::TypeXM4AK-74GPR 91 Model LGoblin Mk2Goblin Mk2Krig C:Blueprint NameWild ManneredTatteredCoronerPsycho SnakeBoiling Point Tip the Scales Bad Beat:BlackCellYesNoNoNoYesNoYes:Page141110BC IR514:SUBMACHINE GUNS::::TypeC9Tanto .22PP-919Saug:Blueprint NameLiars GambitThorn StrainedSalutations:BlackCellNoNoNoYes:Page12BP911:SHOTGUNS::::TypeMarine SPASG-89:Blueprint NameBoomslangTurmoil:BlackCellYesNo:Page51:LIGHT MACHINE GUNS::::TypeXMGGPMG-7:Blueprint NameIdle HandsHither Slither :BlackCellNoYes:Page210:MARKSMAN RIFLES::::TypeTsarkov 7.62AKE-973:Blueprint NameFuriousReconciliation:BlackCellYesNo:Page813:SNIPER RIFLES::::TypeLW3A1 FrostlineSVD:Blueprint NameCrack ShotForced Retreat:BlackCellNoNo:Page138:PISTOLS::::TypeGrekovaGS45:Blueprint NameOmertTide Turner:BlackCellNoNo:Page68:MELEE::::TypeKnifeKnifeBaseball Bat:Blueprint NameButchers FriendEvisceratorBatter Up:BlackCellNoNoNo:Page1274Complete all the Battle Pass Pages and youre automatically rewarded with a final Completion Page filled with exciting content. This includes the following:200 COD PointsWonderbar! Ultra GobbleGumSeason 01 EmblemCrasher Calling CardOpulent Ultra Skin with a BlackCell variant awarded to BlackCell OwnersSev: Opulent SkinsOperator Skins, Battle Pass and BlackCell, HVT, Completion PageSev sports a silver and black carapace plate and face mask, leather jacket and shorts, gun garter, and exposed tats. Her BlackCell alter egos ink is seared into her skin, glowing with a fiery orange hue.The Season 01 Announcement Blog detailed some exciting in-store Bundles coming to the game during the Launch Window. Check out this recap along with additional reveals.Look out for Ultra Skins, Reactives, and Mastercraft Weapon Blueprints across this seasons Bundles.Ultra Skins are highly detailed, themed, and often include VFX.Reactive Skins and Weapons feature a visual effect that intensifies as you land more eliminations.Mastercraft Weapon Blueprints include custom animations, unique weapon inspects, and much more.We are excited to announce the all-new Locked Visuals Feature exclusive to Mastercrafts. Now players can change Barrel, Stock, and other attachments while maintaining the weapons signature look.Tracer Pack: The ReplacerThe Replacer voiced by Peter StormareYour services are no longer needed; sub in The Replacer and become undeniable! Replace both yourself and your enemies with the Tracer Pack: The Replacer Bundle. The Bundle comes with a new Operator sporting two Operator Skins: The Replacer and a molten The Replacer BlackCell*, along with the Quick Wit Animated AS Val and Ramifications Animated PU-21 Blueprints, the Aura +5000 Animated Calling Card, Many Hats Animated Emblem, Replacement Killer Finishing Move, and a vehicular Weapon Charm.*BlackCell Owners: For BlackCell Season 01 owners, expect to receive the bonus The Replacer BlackCell skin in addition to all the regular bundle content. Note you must have obtained BlackCell prior to purchasing this Bundle; the skin will not be available if you purchase S01 BlackCell after purchasing this bundle.Competitor CDL Home and Away Operator BundlesNote that this Bundle includes the Weapon Camo for the shown weapons, not these weapons as BlueprintsRep your favorite pro team just in time for the arrival of Ranked Play and the 2025 Call of Duty: League season.Look for a variety of CDL Bundles themed around your favorite teams featuring a Home and Away variant of the Competitor Operator alongside other team-themed items like Weapon Camos, Large Decals, Calling Cards, Emblems, and Sprays.Tracer Pack: Parasite Warrior Ultra SkinLet the parasite take over with the gruesome and bloody Host Ultra Skin for Carver. Wield the infected Idiopathic Krig C Assault Rifle and Exo-Organism GPMG-7 LMG Weapon Blueprints. Get under your opponents skin with the Parasite Feast Companion Finishing Move. For a messier finish, deploy the Flesh Tangle Equipment Skin for the Zombie favorite Kazamir Device.Gross out your enemies with the Pest Control Emote, Back Spasm Animated Calling Card, Fearwood Loading Screen, Caustic Flight Weapon Sticker, and the Idle Eyes Legendary GobbleGum for Zombies.Tracer Pack: Cascade Failure ReactiveFollow your programming and eliminate the enemy with the cybernetic Attrition Skin for Marshall. Shut them down with the Reactive Kill Switch C9 SMG and Feedback Loop Tsarkov 7.62 Marksman Rifle Blueprints. Up close, dispatch enemies using the Acro-Badass Finishing Move.Lockdown the competition with the Big Guns Calling Card, Fully Jacked Large Decal, Brainjacked Loading Screen, and Machine Heart Weapon Charm.Tracer Pack: Steer ClearKick the tires and give em the horns with The Bull Skin for Caine, paired with the buck wild Yeehaw AK-74 Assault Rifle and Axel SVD Sniper Rifle Weapon Blueprints. Charge up close and finish off enemies with a devastating Finishing Move and keep the party going with the Mecha Bull Calling Card, Draw Emote, Steer Wrangler Spray, and Fire Breather Animated Emblem.Tracer Pack: Eternal Hunter Ultra SkinHunt the damned with the Volatile Ultra Skin for Rossi armed with three Legendary Weapon Blueprints: Vile Tribute XM4 Assault Rifle, Blood Draw Jackal PDW SMG, and Severer ASG-89 Shotgun. Stalk the night with the purple Hunters Mark Reticle, Stakeout Finishing Move, Bloodstalker Calling Card, Family Heirloom Weapon Charm, and Moonlit Emblem.Tracer Pack: Cash Bandit ReactiveSwap trash for cash as the Raccoon Goon Skin for Niran, a mischievous Operator ready to do damage with the Debt Collector Reactive Weapon Skin for the all new Sirin 9mm Special Weapon. Make sure you are backed up with the Vault Security GPR 91 Assault Rifle Blueprint.Cash in on your eliminations with the Cash Flow Reticle plus the Disarmed Finishing Move, Cash Eater Large Decal, and Raccoon Robber Weapon Charm. To help with the grind, this Bundle also includes a 1-hour Double XP Token.Tracer Pack: GDay BaitBounce them or bite them with the Bloke Biter Ultra Skin for Carver. This shark takes the ocean with him in the form of two Weapon Blueprints: overwhelm the enemy with the Bloody Water XMG LMG and race in for the bite with the Fair Dinkum KSV SMG.Share your soft side for the sea with the It Bites Emote, the Mechano-Shark Weapon Charm, Aussie Forever Large Decal, Making Waves Spray, and the Perfection Calling Card.Tracer Pack: Kick Some Brass Mastercraft Ultra SkinElectrocute enemies with the Chainblade Mastercraft Melee Blueprint wielded by the steam-powered Merciless Skin for Nazir. For ranged combat, eliminate targets with the Razor Burn XM4 Assault Rifle and Riptear Tanto .22 SMG Blueprints. Steam the punk out of them with the Akimbo Assassin Finishing Move.Activate the Show Off Emote in the Winners Circle and equip the Gearcrest Emblem, Synchsight Reticle, and Universal Weapon Charm.Plus, GobbleGum Packs and More!This is just a preview of the new content arriving in the Season 01 Store! Also keep an eye out for GobbleGum Packs, a new Store item that once purchased provides a collection of delicious and powerful single-use GobbleGums to consume during your future Zombies deployments.Other Bundles on the way include those predominantly featuring Weapon Blueprints; which include Hells Cleaner (with blueprints for the Power Drill and GPMG-7), Death Rattle (with a blueprint for the XMG), and Doom and Boom (with blueprints for the Cigma 2B, PU-21, and ARC-XD).Black Ops 6 is available now, and theres never been a better time to experience the spy action thriller Campaign, the in-depth tactical chaos of best-in-class Multiplayer, and soak in the gory glory of an incredible round-based Zombies experience! Click here to Purchase Black Ops 6. 2024 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, CALL OF DUTY LEAGUE, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE, and CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. The Call of Duty League names are the properties of their respective team owners. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.For more information, please visitwww.callofduty.comandwww.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow@Activisionand@CallofDutyon X, Instagram, and Facebook. For Call of Duty Updates, follow@CODUpdateson X.
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  • Catch Up on the Announcements from the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct
    news.blizzard.com
    Its a big year for the Warcraft universe, and whether youre a Hearthstone fan, youve joined the chaos in Warcraft Rumble, ventured into the world of Azeroth for the first time in Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, or youre a World of Warcraft player, theres something for everyone in our Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct stream. Join us for a celebration as we dip into the mana pool of nostalgia and cast far sight on the future of all things Warcraft.Get the Drop on New RewardsViewers can watch on any Warcraft, Hearthstone, or Warcraft Rumble stream on Twitch or TikTok to earn rewards during the giveaway period from November 13 at 10:00 am PST through December 11 at 10:00 am PST. Learn more in our previously published article.Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct News Round-UpWeve rounded up everything you need to know from the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct here. Jump directly to each section to learn more: Warcraft RTS, Hearthstone, Warcraft Rumble, World of Warcraft, World of Warcraft Classic, World of Warcraft: The War Within.Rediscover 30 Years of the Warcraft RTSIts been 30 years since Warcraft: Orcs and Humans made its debut, setting the path for so many stories and adventures that have come after. To continue these adventures in the Warcraft series, weve released Patch 2.0 now available for all Warcraft III: Reforged players.The patch overhauls environments, lighting, and the user interface. It also introduces uprezzed classic Warcraft III assets to HD, allowing players to choose and customize their graphical experience. Mix and match assets as you wish. There are also new quality-of-life improvements such as in-game hotkey customization, updated ladder, and much much more.Beyond the update for Warcraft III: Reforged, were happy to announce the release of fully remastered versions of Warcraft I and Warcraft II, taking you beyond Orcs and Humans, the Tides of Darkness, and the Dark Portal for the first time, again. Players will be able to switch between the original graphics and the remastered versions in real time. Weve also added more modern controls to Warcraft I, such as right-click move, band box select, and faster game speed.Both Warcraft I and II also have UI and UX improvements, such as tooltips and health bars, a mission select screen, and increased unit selection.Warcraft II will continue to have multiplayer functionality, and all legacy custom maps will remain fully compatible and playable.Travel back in time to experience each of these titles once more or for the very first time by visiting the shop: Warcraft I: Remastered, Warcraft II: Remastered, Warcraft III: Reforged.Youll never forget the first time you hear zug zug.Introducing the Warcraft Battle ChestWeve also brought back the Battle Chest, allowing players to purchase all three games in one bundle. For those who already purchased Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft: II Battle.net edition, or Warcraft III: Reforged from the Battle.net shop, the bundle will be available at a discount.Add the Battle Chest to your Collection NowHearthstoneHearthstone: Heroes of StarCraft The Great Dark Beyond Mini-Set Early next year, Hearthstone is going beyond Warcraft and into... Heroes of StarCraft!This special Mini-Set will have a whopping 49 new cards across three themed factions, which show what the StarCraft universe would look like in the Hearthstone Tavern. Each faction is made up of cards that can be used across multiple classes, including an iconic Hero card.ZergDeath Knight, Demon Hunter, Hunter, and Warlock have joined the Zerg! Led by the formidable Sarah Kerrigan, they will have aggressive cards that win the game by swarming the board.ProtossDruid, Mage, Priest, and Rogue fight for the Protoss Empire. Led by the High Templar Artanis, they will have powerful, high-cost cards that are made cheaper throughout the game.TerranPaladin, Shaman, and Warrior make up the Terran forces, lead by the one and only Jim Raynor. They will command Battlecruisersa special take on the Starship mechanic from The Great Dark Beyond.The Mini-Set will feature a slew of StarCraft units which are sure to invoke nostalgia, as well as the Terran-armored Murloc, Grunty, and new, thematic music. You can chart a course for the Heroes of StarCraft Mini-Set, launching in January 2025! More announcements, details, and card reveals are coming closer to launch.Major Arena UpdatesThen, for the first time in 10 years, Arena Mode is getting a major overhaul. With that update, there will be two kinds of Arena to choose from. Normal Arena will be shorter form, allowing you to complete your runs more quickly. Competitive Arena players will be able to play in the higher-stakes Underground Arena, with longer runs and a new feature: Re-Draft on Loss. Re-Draft on Loss means that, after you lose, youll have the option to re-draft cards, edit your deck, and keep your run alive.Ratings will also be added to both Normal and Underground Arena. Normal, skill-based matchmaking will be used for Normal Arena. Underground Arena throws caution to the wind and lets you face off against opponents of all skill levels.This major Arena revamp is coming in the first half of next year. Look out for more details about this update closer to when it goes live.A Preview of the Year Ahead: The Year of the Raptor!On top of those updates, Hearthstone has an exciting year of expansions ahead, with much-requested themes, locations, and familiar faces across Azeroth.In the first expansion of the year, enter the Emerald Dream and join the battle between the Old Gods and the Druids of the Emerald Dream for the fate of the World Tree. Things will heat up even more when the Druids of the Flame light up the Mini-Set (releasing earlier than normal this year, during the 32.2 Patch).The second expansion of the year will be Hearthstones first-ever sequel: the return to UnGoro Crater! Join Elise on a hunt for a mythical, lost Tortollan city. When you find it, join the Tortollans in a festival to celebrate the mighty dinosaurs of the crater in the 33.4 Mini-Set.In the third expansion of the year, travel with Chromie through alternate realities to recruit Legendary Warcraft heroes like youve never seen them before. Leading to the 34.4 Mini-Set: an epic showdown against Murozond at the end of time!Celebrate One-Year of Warcraft RumbleIts been one year since Warcraft Rumble went live. To celebrate, players can log in to Warcraft Rumble today and join the one-year anniversary celebration in game. Players can collect daily rewards, including new avatars and cosmetics!Introducing Split LeadersThe Warcraft universe is built on rich and diverse characters that may not fit into any singular family, and because of this, were introducing split Leaders! In Season 10, we reintroduce Sylvanas Windrunner as the first playable split Leader, honoring her allegiance to both the Horde and Undead families. Later, we will introduce Malfurion Stormrage as Alliance and Cenarion, Orgrim Doomhammer as Horde and Blackrock, and last but not least, Anubarak as Undead and Beast.Get Ready to Rumble from Your PCWarcraft Rumble is coming to PC! The PC beta will launch on December 10, 2024; stay tuned for more information!World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft celebrates 20 years of adventure in Azeroth, bringing together players of all ages and abilities from all over the world, making connections both in the game and out.Inspired by the incredible story captured in The Remarkable Life of Ibelin documentary about Mats Ibelin Steennow live on Netflix a Norwegian WoW player who suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, you can add the Reven Pack to your collection and support CureDuchenne, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and extending the lives of those affected by this disease.Live now in modern World of Warcraft, players can join the World of Warcraft 20th Anniversary Celebration to collect updated Tier 2 armor appearance sets, undertake Classic Timewalking, engage with others to defeat iconic world bosses, head to the Trading post, and earn iconic new rewards, and more.The War Within has taken the leap into the first chapter of the Worldsoul Saga and adventures continue in WoW Classic, but this is only the beginning of what we have planned.Season of DiscoveryCurrently, in Season of Discovery, players are exploring new adventures with new class abilities, all-new level-up raids, finding secrets, and teaming up to defeat Ragnaros and Nefarian. It wont be long until everyone can join the War Effort and open the gates to AhnQiraj, where theyll get to plunder the depths for new rewards and face new challenges.After AhnQiraj, players in Season of Discovery can look forward to one more phase, in which theyll face the dangers of Naxxramas, along with new instanced content featuring the Scarlet Crusade as well as adventures in Deadwind Pass!Cataclysm ClassicIn Cataclysm Classic, Ragnaros has risen in the Firelands once more, and players are working toward adding the Dragonwrath Staff to their collection. In the final phase of Cataclysm Classic, players will experience the Hour of Twilight patch and Dragon Soul raid dungeon early next year.And thats not all we have in store for Classic World of Warcraft.Revisit the Mists of PandariaWere pleased to announce that Mists of Pandaria Classic will be arriving in the summer of 2025, taking players back to the shores of Pandaria and bringing its legendary class design, incredible raids and dungeons, stunning environments, and (of course) an unforgettable soundtrack.WoW Classic 20th Anniversary EditionRelive the World of Warcraft Classic experience with all-new fresh realms in the WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Edition arriving November 21. Join players on a whole new journey to level 60, with the first raid dungeon, Molten Core, becoming available a few weeks after launch. Choose to play on a PvP realm, a Normal PvE realm, or (for the very first time) a Hardcore realm progressing through content with the other realms all from the beginning, with fresh economies, on very large realms.These realms will launch with some of the quality-of-life features that came later in the WoW Classic cycle, such as the Chronoboon Displacer to save your world buffs and the improved PvP Honor Ranking system. The PvP and Normal PvE realms will also progress into Burning Crusade Classic!It's never too late to go back and re-experience World of Warcraft anewjust in time to celebrate 20 years of adventures in Azeroth!World of Warcraft: The War WithinThe first chapter of the Worldsoul Saga kicked off in August with the launch of The War Within, bringing with it myriad new experiences with a new raid, dungeons, delves, PvP, new appearances and rewards, pets, mounts and much more.Siren IsleOn the horizon, our next content update, Siren Isle, is currently available on the Public Test Realms (PTR), and the update will go live next month with a little something for everyone. This update also includes the epilogue questline for Dalaran and the Kirin Tor. No spoilers, but the storyline will feature the mysterious haranir, who also starred in the expansion release cinematic.The Siren Isle introduces a new outdoor environment to explore, full of mysteries to uncover and rewards to help catch your alternate characters up and prepare for the next War Within season ahead.Plunderstorm ReturnsPlunderstorm is returning with a new Plunderstore to provide more flexibility for earning rewards instead of a linear Renown track. There are also some quality-of-life changes to spell interactions, the UI and more ahead.The Siren Isle content update also brings with it Turbulent Timeways once more and additional updates to the Feast of Winter Veil in-game holiday event.New The War Within Novella: HeartlandsWere introducing a new novella that explores more of the story behind the scenes. Find out what happened with Jaina and Thrall after the Fall of Dalaran as they seek out reinforcements in this five-chapter special available today and as read by Chris Metzen!Listen and read here.Up Next Undermined!Xalataths trail leads adventurers to a location in our next major content update that has long been known about but, as yet, remained unexploredthe Undermine.Players will travel deep into the goblin city of Undermine, the capital of the goblins trade empire! It is a city like none other seen before in World of Warcraft and stands as a testament to goblin intelligence and creativity as experts in both technology and alchemy. As our adventures continue, well learn more about goblin culture and society that we have never been able to see before. Well learn whats important to them, the problems they are trying to solve everything that makes them truly unique, and what theyre capable of as a society. Well dig a bit deeper beyond just their humor and explosions, though there will still be explosions and a LOT of mayhem to be found.Youll arrive in an Undermine thats in conflict between the four major goblin cartels: Steamwheedle, Blackwater, Bilgewater, and the Venture Company. Each cartel is run by notorious goblins like Monte Gazlowe, Renzik The Shiv, Baron Revilgaz, Marin Noggenfogger, and more. Which one you align yourself with is up to you.Youll want to make sure you have a sweet ride to roll around town in players can earn a customizable vehicle early on thats designed just for use in Undermine. Youll push the boundaries of locomotion on the roads of Undermine and speed through its causeways and byways at a higher rate than a ground mount can.Players can adjust the cars driving characteristics by adding a little extra grip to hug the roads or adjust to slide and glide as they drift around corners. Want to accelerate faster? Then, you may have to sacrifice a little speed. How you customize your cars characteristics is up to you.New Dungeon- Operation: FloodgateThe new dungeon, Operation: Floodgate, builds on the narrative of Undermine as players race to stop a group of goblins from blowing a dam that will bring ruin to the Ringing Deeps.This new dungeon will be available immediately as a part of the new The War Within Season 2 dungeon pool on Heroic, Mythic, and Mythic+, alongside the four other launch dungeons and three legacy dungeons. Well share more information on the full slate of dungeons at a later point, but we would be remiss if we didnt include MOTHERLODE from Battle for Azeroth in the rotation.Players will also experience two new Delves and variations of existing Delves in the content update. Seasonal updates are also being introduced to Brann Bronzebeard, a new adversary to follow, Zekvir, and a new set of goblin-inspired Curios.New Raid- Liberation of UndermineExperience a new 8-boss raid dungeon that takes you through the city streets and into the magnificent Gallagio brimming with color and extravagance, it houses the dark secrets of its owner Gallywix.Theres more at play here than it first seems, and goblin politics are treacherous and fraught with the underpinnings of something more where Xalatath is concerned.Theres even more ahead in 2025, and we have the roadmaps to help guide you on what you can look forward to in World of Warcraft and WoW Classic.Thank you for making Azeroth your home over these last two decades. Speaking of home, the World of Warcraft team has one last thing to share with youAnd yes, in World of Warcraft: Midnight, your next adventure begins at home. A house to call your very own. Stay tuned!Wherever your gaming experience takes you, we cant wait to continue on this journey with you all.Loktar ogar! Well see you at the Inn, in Azeroth, and wherever the road takes us all next!
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