Warhammer40,000: Dark Heresy introduces a new companion: Haymar Devos. He could just as well be named Rambo, as his home – a deadly jungle planet – made him a tough survival expert.
Who is this “Rambo”? Haymar Devos is one of your potential companions in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, the new RPG from the creators of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. During the show about FYNG Caggtus, the developers present him for the first time in more detail.
Devos is a survival expert, which is quite necessary considering where he comes from. For the companion’s home is the infamous death world Catachan.
You can get a first impression of the new companion in the trailer:
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Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy introduces Haymar Devos in the trailer, one of the new companions in the role-playing game
Survival expert from a planet full of “Rambos”
What are death worlds actually? That’s what the Imperium of Mankind calls planets that have extremely hostile flora and/or fauna. These worlds are some of the most dangerous places in the Imperial realm, and of these, Catachan is the most dangerous world.
The planet is almost entirely shrouded in a massive jungle, and even the plants within it are deadly: What isn’t poisonous emits corrosive spores or slime. The air is also filled with bacteria that turn the slightest scratch into a death sentence.
And then there are the wild animals of Catachan… you can learn more about them in this article:
It is all the more astonishing that humans actually live here. The harsh environment has made them particularly tough, making them outstanding soldiers. No wonder that the Catachan jungle fighters, to which Devos belongs, are an elite unit of the Imperial Army. Each one of them is practically a “Rambo”.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy has not yet been released, and a release date is still not set. However, you can still play the RPG – if you pay for it. Those who purchase the Developers Digital Pack or the Collector’s Edition from the official shop will gain access to an alpha version. This currently offers around 15 hours of gameplay.
What can the Rambo companion do? Haymar Devos is a fearless and highly versatile fighter, posing a threat to enemies both in close-quarters and ranged combat. From a distance, Devos fires at foes with a type of machine gun, and if an enemy gets too close, he draws his combat knife.
Moreover, Devos is better at perceiving his surroundings than other companions. This talent should be of great use to you as part of the Inquisition, as Dark Heresy involves not only fighting but also detective work.
The world of Windrose is vast, so that some weary sailors eventually wish for a fast travel option. Fortunately, it exists! We will show you how to unlock and use it.
How to unlock fast travel: As soon as you reach the point along the main missions where you are supposed to melt your first copper bar, you will receive your first fast travel bell and also the necessary recipe to craft more at your workbench.
For each additional bell you want to place, you need:
10 x Copper Bars
3 x Rope
To place them in the world, you also need 20 wood in your inventory. Bells can only be built near water and you can fast travel there. Currently, up to 10 freely placeable fast travel bells are possible.
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The pirate survival game Windrose finally has a release date, and it is already very close on the horizon
How to use fast travel bells properly in Windrose
How can one fast travel? To use fast travel, you must have at least 2 bells placed or some of the fixed points anchored in the world reached. Then you can either walk to a bell and teleport to other points from there – or you can simply call your boat to you, get in, and fast travel from anywhere.
You don’t even need to own a ship for this. The starter boat is more than enough. You should also try to place your first bell as close to your base as possible so you can easily return there.
How is that in Co-op? If you want to teleport in co-op, keep in mind that if you are on a ship, it will not automatically travel with you. Just call it back to you and the problem is solved.
Windrose is a game that is particularly fun in co-op. But what do you do if the one who created the world can’t play right now, but you absolutely need to move your ship? Don’t worry, there is a solution for that, and we will show you here: Windrose: How to dive into your friends’ world even without a host
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Although Season 0 of The Elder Scrolls Online has been live since April 2, 2026, the highlight of the season won’t arrive on the MMORPG’s servers until April 29. Behind the Night Market lies a region that has never been seen in Tamriel before.
What is behind the new zone of ESO? The Night Market is an event zone and the first of its kind. It will be open for the first time during the current Season 0 from April 29 to June 17, 2026. However, the feature could return in an adapted form in a later season.
The Night Market appears in Fargrave, a level in the realm of the Forgotten that ESO veterans might already know from the DLC Deadlands. The market itself is controlled by the three factions of Ruckus, Thousand Eyes, and Glorious Incentive.
You decide which faction you want to increase your reputation with. If your favor with your chosen faction is high enough, you unlock goods from the associated merchants and decorations for your tent (a new home you receive during the tutorial).
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Night Market – how to start your adventure in the event zone
While the event zone is active, you can simply travel to the local Starbright Plaza. This is the neutral zone of the Night Market, held by all three factions. There you’ll learn more about the factions and their goals, and you’ll also start the main storyline of the region here.
From there, you can head into one of the three districts of the Night Market: Worry Friend, the Scrambler’s Area, and the Drought. However, the developers warn against going alone. They compare the challenge to the dungeons of the MMORPG, except that you can encounter other groups everywhere.
The Night Market is comparable in difficulty to dungeons. So bring reinforcements.
When you embark on your adventure, parts of the districts will be inaccessible to you. In the Drought, for example, a sandstorm blocks some of the paths. Only when you collect the local relic shards and transform them into special relics will safe passages to previously blocked areas open. The relic Glimmering Lamp drives away the Unholy Darkness from the Worry Friend district.
But in the districts, you will not only encounter battles like in the dungeons or explore the zone to find relic shards. You will also have to master races, solve puzzles, and complete quests.
The tent will soon be your new home in ESO!
The rewards of the Night Market
The first exciting reward is already waiting for you when you complete the introduction quest at the Starbright Plaza: you will receive the tent as a home. Your new home features a treasure chamber that reflects your current prosperity. Through your progress in the districts, you can also unlock additional wings.
Many more rewards can be obtained when you defeat the bosses of the Night Market. They drop trade bars, style pages, furnishing plans, gold, and equipment. Through your favor progress with your chosen faction, you can also receive furnishing, style pages, curated set items, and more for gold from merchants.
The active time of the event zone is accompanied by a campaign of the Golden Endeavors, which promises further rewards. If you want to get the most out of the event, look for a group at the Starbright Plaza and dive into the many enemies, activities, and challenges of the event. More about the current and upcoming seasons can be found here: Elder Scrolls Online reshapes its future, but the most exciting innovation won’t come until the end of 2026
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Pokémon GO, the Hatch Day with Riolu starts on Saturday. What the event brings and how to make use of it, you can read here.
When does the Hatch Day start? The Hatch Day begins on April 18 at 11:00 AM. You will have six hours to take advantage of the bonuses until 5:00 PM.
What is the highlight? Clearly: Everything revolves around Riolu. The little Pokémon evolves into Lucario, which can then perform a Mega Evolution. Lucario is a very useful monster and generally a fan favorite.
The most exciting thing about the day is that you will have an increased shiny chance for Riolu that you hatch from eggs. Therefore, you have a very good opportunity to secure the shiny monster if you haven’t got it yet.
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Pokémon GO Fest 2026 comes with Mewtwo and Zeraora
How to make use of the Hatch Day? Run, run, run
Basically, there are some bonuses available that make hatching worthwhile. You will receive double the amount of hatch candies and XP from hatching eggs, and during the event, you only need half the hatch distance.
This means: In a regular incubator, a 2-km egg will hatch after just one kilometer.
Important: The distance bonus only applies to eggs that are placed in the incubator during the event. Therefore, you should make sure that your incubator is empty at the start of the event. It would be very unfortunate if you start the event at 11:00 AM and find out that you are still hatching an active 10-km egg and still have to walk 9 kilometers.
Equally important: Riolu hatches more frequently from 2-km eggs that you collect during the event. You have an increased chance to collect these from PokéStops between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM. So follow these steps.
Start the Hatch Day at 11:00 AM with empty incubators and as many free slots for eggs as possible
Collect each PokéStop during your walk
Run as much as possible
If you are hatching eggs in the background via the egg widget while the game is closed, open them as soon as they are done
The crucial factor is running. The Hatch Day is not an event that you can play from home in any way.
Timed Research: During the event, there is a timed research that provides you with an additional incubator. But it also ends at 5:00 PM, so you should complete it by then.
Additionally, there is the option to purchase a paid ticket for the event. Then the hatch distance is quartered, and you receive a star piece and two super incubators in another timed research. However, this is optional.
Is Riolu worth it? The exciting thing about Riolu is its evolution Lucario. If you evolve it to Mega Evolution, you will have the strongest fighter type attacker in the entire game in your collection. And even the normal Lucario is already among the top attackers. Both impress as Fighting and Steel attackers.
In Pokémon GO, the weekend is all about hatching eggs, but we are already in the middle of April, and May is approaching rapidly. However, there are still a few events to take advantage of before then. What they are, we will show you in our list of all events in Pokémon GO in April 2026.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Crimson Desert you need the rare Aeserion scales for the final upgrade of your equipment, but to find them, you must check a specific location. We will show you where the location is.
Where can I find Aeserion scales? You can obtain these special scales from the huge serpent Aeserion, located on an island southwest of Delesyia. However, you do not have to fight the beast; it is sufficient to look for the scales of the serpent near the Serpent Shrine, as they are scattered on the ground.
The red circle marks the location of the Serpent Shrine (Source: mapgenie.io)
It is important that you have unlocked the Kuku Iron Pot by then, as the scales can only be picked up and secured this way. Use your Axiom power near a scale and place the scale in your Iron Pot. Then open the menu for your Iron Pot so you can draw the scales into your inventory. After that, take them to a blacksmith to upgrade your equipment.
What do I need Aeserion scales for? The Aeserion scales are an endgame material needed for the maximum upgrade of your items regarding weapons and armor. Almost all items require these scales, and the problem is that only a limited number of scales are scattered on Aeserion’s island – they currently do not respawn according to the latest knowledge. However, there is also a way to continually stock your supplies with Aeserion scales.
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Crimson Desert: How to unlock the fast travel point in your camp
How can I farm the scales? You can send your comrades in the Graymanes camp to find some of the scales with a bit of luck. The prerequisite is to have a comrade with the perk “Explorer” and the mission “Delesyia: Serpent Shrine Exploration” available. Send your comrades out and after about 3 in-game days they will return with a lot of loot. Keep in mind that you will also need to provide them with resources for the journey – it is not exactly cheap.
If you know whether the scales respawn, feel free to let us know in the comments. Besides the scales, there is also silver that many players want to obtain. You can find out how to get it easily in our guide: Crimson Desert: Finding gold bars – How to easily get 500 silver
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The book series Dungeon Crawler Carl pulls you into its deadly game so much that you almost feel like you’re playing along. Is there anything similar on the PS5? MyMMO author Max Handwerk is on the hunt.
I love reading. However, I must admit that it has lately become rarer for a book, let alone a book series, to truly grab me. Now it has finally happened again: Dungeon Crawler Carl ensures that I sometimes stay up way too late reading about what happens next with the main character Carl and his cat Princess Donut.
What is Dungeon Crawler Carl about? When Princess Donut, the cat of his ex-girlfriend Beatrice, jumps out the window one night, the sleepy Carl has to run after her in his underwear to catch the fleeing pet. As soon as he steps outside, the world suddenly comes crashing down: All structures, houses, cars, and similar things are pressed onto the surface of the planet. Those who were inside at that moment die. Those who were outside live.
The starting situation is not much better: gates suddenly open to the interior of the earth. Those who enter become part of the game Dungeon World. The task of the people who enter there: to orient themselves, survive, and descend deeper into the dungeon while entertaining the viewers – preferably by creatively fighting the dungeon monsters, bosses, and other players. Every few days, a level collapses – and whoever hasn’t managed to go further down by then dies.
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Borderlands 4: Cineastischer Launch-Trailer zelebriert den Release
Carl and Princess Donut play Dungeon World to save their lives
What makes Dungeon Crawler Carl special: It reads like a video game. Carl gets stats like those found in D&D or Baldur’s Gate 3 and now has to try to improve them to survive. This happens through:
The right equipment
Experience points
Rewards for achievements
Effectively, Dungeon Crawler Carl is the book version of Looting & Leveling.
Every few pages, there are new equipment, new abilities, new circumstances that change the game. And this makes the book extremely diverse.
The twist: Donut, the cat, not only learns to talk but quickly becomes a master player of the game. She evolves from a simple pet to a pretty ruthless, confident, and sassy player who is clearly superior to Carl at the beginning of the game.
No wonder she immediately becomes the leader of the party, which is henceforth called Royal Court of Princess Donut, and appoints Carl as the Royal Bodyguard.
The duo punches, shoots, and bites their way through a pretty insane world from minute one, which does everything to kill them. From the first encounter with goblins to battles against lava-spitting llamas to the first boss fight: it gets intense in Dungeon World.
I am now on the third book in the series, it remains exciting. In total, there are seven, but only the first has been released in German so far.
Despite all the madness, the book does not forget to bring a lot of heart. You empathize with Carl, who has been thrown into a crazier version of games like Baldur’s Gate 3 as one of the only few million survivors, mainly for the entertainment of an overwhelming threat.
It deals with themes like rebellion, resistance, and personal moral understanding: Where do you draw the line to become stronger yourself?
A scene in the first book I found very striking is when Carl and Donut encounter a group of seniors who wander through the game world almost alone and completely underlevelled. Helping them means exposing oneself to great danger – especially in light of the fact that the dungeon is only getting worse and more dangerous. At the same time, there are other ruthless players who would use the group as a practical XP farm to progress themselves. How it all ends, I will leave open here.
Dungeon Crawler Carl brings everything a good video game needs as a book. Loot, level, exciting abilities, crazy enemies, unusual game locations, interesting side quests, and a story that takes unexpected turns again and again. And I realize about myself: I would really like to play this on a console.
Dungeon Crawler Carl suddenly makes me crave games I rarely play
The whole reading about the gear, the new abilities, and the progress of Carl and Donut almost replaces gaming for me right now. Primarily because I can hardly find a game that satisfies this need as well as the book does. And I have tried!
First, I fired up Baldur’s Gate 3 again. This is quite similar to the game in Dungeon World, logically, since both are based in some form on Dungeons & Dragons. Baldur’s Gate probably offers the feeling of free decisions that define Dungeon World best. My main problem: I’ve already completed BG3 three times, plus a few started runs. (Yes, I know, you still find something new in BG3).
The alternative to the Carl-Donut duo?
My next attempt was Borderlands 4. I had shelved it after the release, and it actually turns out to be a pretty good choice for comparison with Carl. Borderlands is also (in a good way) crazy, offers loot, offers level. However, it lacks the narrative depth that the book has and primarily links battles one after another.
Divinity: Original Sin II is my next candidate. My only issue here is that I still exactly remember why I stopped playing last time. My last save file is stuck in the middle of a fight that, I fear, I cannot win because I either misbuilt my character or am just too dumb. We’ll see, maybe it’s still worth a try.
And Diablo 4 is still in my repertoire. It was once available on PS Plus for the PS5 and currently rests unplayed on my home screen. However, based on my experiences with Diablo 2 and 3, I assume that while the game is perfect for loot and leveling, it’s just not fun. And that’s also something that defines my current favorite book.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a Dungeon Crawler Carl game in this form. But hey, at least a series has already been announced recently. That’s not bad either, even if I can hardly imagine how it is supposed to be adapted for screen. But: I thought the same about Live-Action One Piece, and that works well too. I still have a few books from the series ahead of me; I’m currently only on book 3. But: Do you have any tips for me on which game I should try again? Write it in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Witchspire, you take on the role of a good witch and, together with your friends, get to save the world from darkness on Steam.
What kind of game is this? Witchspire is a cooperative open-world adventure on Steam that you can experience alone or with your friends. You will become aspiring witches and wizards facing a great challenge.
Instead of using pickaxes and swords, you will accomplish the typical tasks of life with magic. Magical pickaxes, chopping down trees with spells, and moving around the world through teleportation are all part of the daily life of witches.
Here you can watch the trailer:
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Witchspire on Steam shows in the trailer what life as a witch looks like
The Spell for Success
What makes Witchspire so special? Witchspire has exactly what games need nowadays. For example, you can team up with a cute guardian spirit that fights alongside you as a pet. However, you must first tame them.
Not only your character but also the guardian spirits are expected to grow stronger over time and always accompany you in battle.
Another important feature is the construction of your own witch house. Here, the developers also let you play with magic, and you can float as a spirit around the house to build it. As if by magic, you can create spooky castles, little huts, and also magnificent structures.
What is the goal? In Witchspire, several dangers lurk. Meteors fall from the sky repeatedly, spreading knowledge but also bringing evil with them. Additionally, you will encounter ancient beings that stand in your way on your journey.
Your goal, however, is to uncover the secrets that lie beneath the earth. There, the abominable corruption hides and continues to spread. How you can stop it, you will have to find out for yourself.
Witchspire combines open-world adventure with survival fun and brings all the necessary features that the genre requires. Whether the title performs well in early access will be revealed on June 10, 2026, at the launch on Steam. Until then, you can take a look into a nearly forgotten genre: Imagine Dragons fulfill a childhood dream, releasing their first game on Steam today
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
AMD allegedly brings back its best gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 5800x3D. To this day, it is the best CPU for the old AM4 socket. MeinMMO editor would buy the CPU immediately for his old system if the prices are right in the end and the CPU is indeed supposed to come to Germany.
AMD currently relies on two sockets for its processors: AM4 and AM5. AM4 is now 10 years old and AM5 is considered the better successor.
But the sharply rising prices in the RAM and SSD sector lead to a rethink and even the old socket AM4 suddenly becomes interesting again. Currently, there are also speculations that AMD might bring back the Ryzen 7 5800x3D, which was its best gaming CPU at the time. This is reported somewhat by the English-language magazine Videocardz.com.
If it really becomes available in Germany at a fair price, buying the CPU would definitely be worth it.
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Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes
The best upgrade option for old PC systems still using AM4
What kind of CPU is it? AMD’s new AM4 architecture came onto the market in 2016, sparking a resurgence of AMD processors. With the Ryzen 7 5800x3D, AMD raised the bar even higher: The x3D architecture was considered a milestone and complete architectural leap (via Computerbase.de). To this day, there is no better CPU for the old AM4 platform and Intel still has difficulties catching up.
Is upgrading still worth it? The 5800X3D is still considered a very strong gaming CPU for AM4, and especially on an existing AM4 base, you save the additional costs for a motherboard and DDR5 that would arise from a complete platform change.
I personally still have two old AM4 systems at home, both using an older CPU (Ryzen 5 2600X and Ryzen 5 5600G). If I were to upgrade the system with the Ryzen 5 5600G, that would mean an increase in performance of 50 to 60%. Since the computer is used solely for gaming and gaming particularly benefits from the x3D architecture, it would definitely be worth it in the long run, as prices for a complete new purchase are currently unaffordable.
Another option could be the smaller Ryzen 7 5700x3D, but this CPU is no longer really available and according to Geizhals.de is only available in pre-built systems. You still pay around 350 to 400 Euros for the processor used.
If you are generally wondering which socket for processors is still worth it, check out the following article on MeinMMO. Here we explain in detail where the differences lie and which socket is best suited for whom: AMD: Is AM4 still worth it or should you buy AM5 right away?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The streamer Félix “xQc” Lengyel hosted an IRL stream on Twitch to train for an upcoming football charity event. But after less than an hour, it was over because the former e-sports pro had no stamina left.
What was xQc training for? On April 16, 2026, the streamer held an outdoor livestream. His goal for the stream: to get fit for the upcoming Sideman charity match. Sidemen has been a recurring charity event since 2016, featuring various English-speaking YouTubers and streamers.
Ticket sales and donations directly support the charity organization Bright Side. The organization aids other organizations that provide young people with a better future, for example, by improving access to education.
This year, the event will take place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 18, 2026. In the stadium, FC Sidemen will compete against the YouTube Allstars team, meaning content creators against content creators. Participants include KSI, Jynxzi, and xQc.
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From Overwatch professional to number 1 on Twitch to 100 million $ – Who is xQc?
xQc can’t make it through an hour of football training
Why did xQc have to end the stream? Together with Jynxzi, xQc went onto the football field in his Twitch stream to prepare for the upcoming match with simple football exercises. The first break came already after 15 minutes, during which both were already panting heavily.
After 30 minutes in the stream or training, xQc had to really pull himself together. When asked how much water he normally drinks, he replied: None at all (Source: Twitch from minute 36:46). He mainly drinks lemonade, and later he added that in a week he drinks half a bottle of water.
After this, Jynxzi provided xQc with electrolytes, but that didn’t help either. After a total of 45 minutes, xQc finally ended the training. Goalkeeper exercises pushed the streamer completely to his limit. Afterward, Jynxzi continued the stream for the full hour, but xQc himself was no longer seen until the stream was eventually ended.
On Reddit, some users amused themselves about the streamer. However, many other comments expressed concerns about xQc’s health. After all, he seems to have neglected his fitness significantly over the past few years.
The streamer fulfills a stereotype that many streamers face, namely that they just sit at the PC and harm their health through unhealthy eating and lack of exercise.
Airplanes take us to various places every day. Meanwhile, pilots must communicate with each other to carry out their job. Now, two pilots have gone viral after communicating with barking and meowing.
What is happening in the pilots’ cockpit? A video has surfaced on Youtube showing excerpts of the radio communication between the pilots and the air traffic controller. While the pilots communicate with simple “Meow” sounds, the air traffic controller intervenes.
He mildly admonishes: “You need to behave like professional pilots.” This is promptly met with several meows in response. Shortly after, one of the pilots barks at the air traffic controller over the radio. You can watch the video here:
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What exactly is being reviewed? The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is the national aviation authority of the United States. According to their regulations, pilots are prohibited from conducting unnecessary conversations below 3,000 meters altitude.
A barking and meowing could certainly count as unnecessary conversations. The agency also states that “Conversations must relate to the safe operation of the aircraft.” Additionally, the radio communication is said to have taken place on an emergency frequency. The FAA reports that it is reviewing all situations in which pilots may have violated regulations (via economictimes.com).
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RealFlight Evolution RC Flight Simulator prepares hobby pilots for their own aircraft
What are the reactions to the incident? Many users under the video on Youtube are rather amused by the absurd incident. Many comments consist of puns with “Meow,” which mostly only make sense in English.
Several opinions about the seriousness of the situation can also be found under the video. For example, it is stated: “Don’t we have more important things to deal with?” or “This is not as serious as it has been portrayed.”
The Division is now an established loot shooter, but as the developers revealed, it almost became a completely different game.
In an official video on YouTube two developers from Massive Entertainment – Drew Rechner (Creative Director) and Fredrik Thylader (Game Director) – talked about the development and origins of The Division and played the loot shooter.
During the video, the two developers discuss the combat system of the game, and Drew Rechner explains that The Division was a completely different game in its early days.
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Ubisoft shows the new DLC of The Division 2 in the trailer
The Division originally omitted shooter aspects
What exactly do the developers say? Rechner explains that they had a principle for the fights that they called “OPE”. It stands for “Observe, Plan, Execute”.
“OPE” describes the moment when you enter a large hall in The Division for example, filled with enemies and first analyze the opponents and the room itself from cover, briefly consider how to proceed, and then initiate the actual fight against the previously unalerted enemies.
However, Rechner points out that it took a while for them to reach this combat loop. The Division was originally very different: “When we started working on The Division, it was still an MMO like World of Warcraft. The skill component did not exist at that time. There were no traditional shooter aspects.”
Fredrik Thylander adds that The Division used to even have a so-called hotbar (also: “action bar”). A hotbar is the center of control in many MMORPGs and is usually displayed as a bar at the edge of the screen. It serves the purpose of using abilities and items.
Today, the “The Division” series is among the best loot shooters on the market and has been captivating countless players for many years. The developers managed to successfully combine the MMO principle of looting and leveling with shooter gameplay. Some gamers believe that even current successful titles can learn a thing or two from Ubisoft’s loot shooter: Gamer plays ARC Raiders for about 400 hours, then understands through The Division 2 what the extraction shooter lacks
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Steam Machine is set to release sometime in 2026, but many players are waiting for another product: The new Steam Controller. When it will be released is not known, but for many it is already a must-buy.
Officially, Valve presented three new devices for 2026, but the high prices for RAM and SSDs are delaying many plans. For many players, the Steam Machine does not seem that exciting. Instead, many are hoping for a soon release of the also announced Steam Controller.
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Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer
The Steam Controller could become a must-buy for many players upon release
Why is the Steam Controller so exciting? Many players report on Reddit that they already have fast, powerful hardware at home. Therefore, the Steam Machine is not that relevant for many, especially if they already own a powerful PC. Some add that they are not the target audience for the new Steam Machine. One person explained that they recently bought a gaming PC and therefore do not need a Steam Machine.
But the situation is different with the also announced Steam Controller. The first Steam Controller was released in November 2015 and already included configurations for many popular games at launch. One advantage that many users are emphasizing again now compared to other controllers:
The best thing about the Steam Controller? There are already countless configurations to play your favorite game on it.
That’s why many say that the Steam Machine isn’t that exciting; instead, the new controller is much more interesting. And it would be an instant buy as soon as it could be ordered. Price and release date are currently still unknown. One person stated on Reddit:
I never intended to buy a Steam Machine, but the controller has been and is a must for me from day one. Yes, please bring it to market.
Valve has introduced the Steam Machine as new hardware. But what exactly can we expect? A console, a gaming PC, or something completely different? And can I even play all my games? MeinMMO has collected the most important questions for you and tried to answer them: Steam Machine: The most important questions and answers
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the shovel, you can find a bunch of valuable treasures in Windrose. We show you how to get one as quickly as possible and how to use it to find treasures.
When do you get a shovel? You receive the recipe for your shovel as soon as you interact with copper ore in the tutorial and smelt it into copper bars. Once you have that, you can get started and secure your shovel.
Here in the guide, we explain how to craft the shovel and how to find the most important treasures.
[toc]
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The pirate survival game Windrose finally has a release date, and it is already very close on the horizon
How to craft the shovel in Windrose
For your shovel, you need to craft copper bars. You need exactly 3 of them. Since you had to mine ore for the tutorial quest, you know where to find the necessary material. If you forgot: You can find suitable ore in a cave nearly in the center of the starting island.
Additionally, you need 10 wood, which you can obtain from trees. Gather a bit more, as you also need wood to craft coal for the bars. Then go to your workbench and craft the shovel. Once that’s done, you’re ready to start digging.
All important treasures and how to find them
With your new shovel, you can now find valuable and useful treasures at suitable locations in the world. However, there are a few you definitely shouldn’t miss. We will show you which.
Side Quest “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest”
You can complete this side quest directly on the starting island. Head east to the marker “Pirate Remains” and look at the boat you find there for a chest. A sketch inside starts the side quest.
Then head northwest and look for a mound with 4 skeletons. Warning: If you dig here, the skeletons will rise, and you will have to fight them first. So make sure to bring enough healing items if you are still at the beginning of the game.
Once you’ve done that, you will receive 5 Guineas and 4 silver bars from the chest.
You should start looking for these maps as soon as you have completed the first island. If you clear out Blackbeard pirate camps, you might come across treasure maps as loot. While both the loot and the locations of the islands are randomly generated, the markers on them remain the same. So there are some clues you can look out for:
Map 1: You can find it in a chest in a camp in the northwest of the 3rd island
You will also pass by here during the main mission “Rescuing the Crew”
Map 2: You can find it at the Blackbeard outpost in the Ancient Ruins
You will pass by here during the quest “Revenge Is Best Served Cold”
Here, you will need to defeat lieutenants and musketeers to obtain keys for the chests
Map 3: You can find it in a chest in a tent in the Blackbeard camp near the shipwreck
You will pass by here during the quest “Revenge Is Best Served Cold”
Map 4: You will receive this map when you have eliminated the local threat at the jungle
You will pass by here during the quest “Revenge Is Best Served Cold”
Map 5: You will find this in the Foothills Region at a camp with an Alpha Wolf in a chest
You will pass by here during the quest “Needle in a Haystack”
On the maps, you will find locations marked with an X – you will also find them on the world map. Search for them and keep an eye out for mounds with skeletons or graves.
The chests are particularly rewarding because you can find valuable resources for higher-tier crafting and Blackbeard Style books to customize your ships.
Exquemelin’s Treasures and Their Locations
Sooner or later, you will come across notes from the traveler Alexandre Exquemelin that lead you to special treasures. You can recognize the right locations where you need to dig by the red flags you find on trees.
Treasure 1: You can find the note in the southwest of the first island in the traveler’s camp in a chest. Look to the west from the camp and search for the suitable tree. Then dig on the southwestern side of the tree until it starts to sparkle. The chest should appear soon.
Treasure 2: You can find the note on a smaller island near the Ancient Ruins in the chest by the tent. Then head southwest to search for the suitable tree. Dig on the western side of the tree until it sparkles, and secure the chest.
Treasure 3: You can find this camp with the note on the island with the fisherman’s hut. Visit the camp there and secure the note. Then head north and search for the tree. Dig on the northern side of the tree – you know the drill – until it sparkles and you can retrieve the chest.
Building a computer as a hobby is a passion of our Tech author Jan Hartmayer. Everyone around him turns to him, and he has already built over a dozen gaming PCs for various people. However, he had to learn firsthand what it’s like when everything goes wrong.
The task was actually simple: It was supposed to be pink. I had long planned to build my girlfriend the gaming PC of her dreams, and when the time came, I received this clear directive. It was important to both of us that performance matched aesthetics. However, I never thought that this particular PC would cost me so much time and nerves.
Maybe I should have waited for the Steam Machine to save myself some troubleduring the assembly.
Start video
Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer
50 Shades of Pink: How the Case Selection Became a Nightmare
The first problem: Finding a case in pastel pink and the right size was nearly impossible. Especially since I didn’t even know before researching HOW many different shades of pink there actually are.
It wasn’t that the requested color was unfindable or that my partner had special requests. It was just that I absolutely had to overdo it and wanted to cram a 35-centimeter long RTX 4090 into the smallest case possible.
Because in my ambition, I wanted to make no compromises in gaming performance. My partner should also have as much performance while gaming with her absolute desired aesthetics as I do.
Once we clarified our expectations for the case, I set out to find the perfect case. I found several different models, but they all had the same problems:
The graphics card simply didn’t have enough space.
The shade didn’t match the one requested.
I even considered painting a differently colored case myself and applying a coat of lacquer. However, initial attempts showed: I can paint a surface, but it won’t have the perfect finish if I do it myself.
After several days of research, I finally found the holy grail of pink PC cases. The Thermaltake The Tower 300 Case in Bubble Pink. It had everything I could wish for. The aesthetics were right, there was enough space for the mega GPU, and all that in a relatively compact footprint.
I’ve Never Broken So Many Parts
Once I received all the components, I could finally start assembling. For me, it was the first PC where I didn’t install the motherboard and graphics card horizontally as usual, but vertically instead.
This resulted in me having to install and uninstall parts multiple times because I placed them in the wrong order. That’s annoying, but manageable. The first frustration hit me when I wanted to start the computer.
I experienced a moment that all PC builders fear the most. I pressed the power button and puff, nothing happened. No startup, no lights, just silence. This led me to troubleshoot, and it turned out that my power supply was defective. Well, that can happen, I told myself. After being sent back and exchanged with the manufacturer, the PC finally turned on.
This is what the good piece looks like now
But with the startup came small clouds of smoke from inside the pink dream. Once noticed, I quickly unplugged the computer and resumed troubleshooting. It turned out that my water cooling had a broken power cable. Great, another part was defective.
By this point, I was almost desperate and wondered if I had damaged the parts myself. But I didn’t give up and tried again with different water cooling. This time there were no smoke clouds, but the pump still wouldn’t turn on. That meant the computer wasn’t cooled and crashed after a few minutes due to overheating.
Two Water Coolings and a Power Supply Later
After several hours of troubleshooting and on the brink of madness, I finally found the problem. The pump cable of the water cooling was connected to the wrong slot on the motherboard.
That’s a simple mistake that has never happened to me before, and I completely overlooked it. Had I checked the motherboard manual earlier, the problem would have been resolved in minutes. Today, I remember every time I see water cooling, and hopefully, I will never make such a beginner’s mistake again. So learn from my mistakes and take a look at the manual, even if you’ve performed the same step dozens of times. If anyone needs more help, they can also refer to our five beginner mistakes in PC building that should be avoided.
But in the end, I was at my limits both mentally and was close to just giving up. But honestly, I really wanted to finish the project and fulfill my girlfriend’s wish. In the end, we were both very satisfied with the result, and I was able to provide her with an appealing pink computer with plenty of power. Furthermore, my partner is happy every time she powers up the gaming rig, and that alone is thanks enough for me. Just like I wanted, our author Jasmin wanted to build a stylish gaming PC some time ago and shares her experience: With my gaming PC, I only focused on aesthetics because I have no idea about hardware.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There has been a running joke in the community for a while now that Toei Animation, the production team behind the anime of One Piece, hates Sanji. Now they would have found the ultimate proof that they proudly present on Reddit.
What is this proof? In the very first episode after the long break that the anime had, the Straw Hats are joyfully celebrating. After all, they are soon anchoring off the island Elban, the land of giants.
During this, Luffy instructs his musician Brook to start singing a song. Each of the 9 members of the Straw Hat crew is shown celebrating joyfully. Wait, 9 members? Aren’t there actually ten pirates?
Exactly, because in this joyful and emotional scene, Sanji was simply forgotten. He is only shown at the beginning, before the song is started. But while Brook sings, he is not even shown.
For the fans, this is just another proof that Toei Animation would hate Sanji, as they write on Reddit. This running joke has built up over the years.
Start video
One Piece receives a LEGO variant from Lysop’s perspective
Sanji is the most hated member of the Straw Hat crew, fans say.
Where does this running joke come from? As some explain in the comments, there has been a persistent rumor for years that one of the directors at Toei Animation cannot stand Sanji.
They attribute this to the fact that a Japanese director cannot bear to see a Frenchman surpassing a Japanese samurai swordsman with his Western fighting skills. They refer to the rivalry between Sanji and Zoro.
Additionally, there are certain moments in the anime that do not appear in the manga and make Sanji seem weaker than he actually is. One example in the comments on Reddit is that Sanji is often tossed around in fights more than he would be in the original version.
Many Dungeon Masters often seem like gods sending their players on an adventure through the creation of their imagination in Dungeons & Dragons. However, behind these gods is just a human doing their best – and that best is not always what you expect.
What secrets do your Game Masters keep? Even though your Dungeon Masters know more about your D&D campaigns than you do as players, many of them hold secrets that “destroy the magic when seeing behind the scenes,” as one Game Master stated on Reddit.
In response to a query from an interested new DM on Reddit about what tips experienced Game Masters could offer and what potential secrets they would never tell their players, many Dungeon Masters replied with a fairly similar sentiment: They let themselves be guided more by their players than the other way around.
Start video
Official D&D campaign brings stars from Baldur’s Gate 3 to Ravenloft
“I have no idea what I’m doing here.”
What do Game Masters keep secret from their players? On Reddit, many Dungeon Masters share their own kept secrets that they can finally admit to. In their confessions, it becomes clear that you really don’t have to overthink your decisions, as more improvisation happens than one might think:
“The economy doesn’t matter at all – I determine your income and the prices. Some decisions have the same consequences. Sometimes I adjust the difficulty on the fly. The major plot I only came up with halfway through the campaign…”, lists thegooddoktorjones without a guilty conscience.
“I design puzzles or tasks for which I don’t have a solution myself, and let the players solve them for me,” admits aNomadicPenguin.
“Sometimes they encounter the same encounter, no matter whether they go left or right,” reveals man0rmachine.
And the probably biggest secret that many players would find hard to believe comes from A_Vinegar_Taster: “I secretly want my players to win.”
How do Game Masters deal with their role? On one hand, they have a lot of freedom since no one but them knows what the actual “plan” was. On the other hand, the role also comes with a lot of responsibility, as many feel responsible for the campaign and the enjoyment of others:
“I have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m always on the verge of panicking,” confesses thepetoctopus, “I love it, but damn.”
Another Game Master offers them hope, explaining that this state of panic will initially turn into fun and finally into “controlled chaos.” To do so, they offer a tip from Game Master icon Matt Mercer from Critical Role.
He battled anxiety before a session as well and explains that it’s okay to take a break when players turn the plan upside down. It is perfectly fine to say, “I wasn’t prepared for that, let’s take a 15-minute break while I adjust the session.”
This is a tabletop role-playing game. Your Game Masters are not a pre-programmed gaming engine, but human beings.
In Crimson Desert you can easily gain skill points without really having to do anything. We’ll tell you how that works and what you need to pay attention to.
How do you get the free skill points? To get the free skill points, you just need to reset your skills in the game. This might sound strange at first, but it is the key to gaining more skill points in Crimson Desert.
This way, you learn new abilities while playing, not only through the skill tree, but also when you observe an enemy. This happens whenever an enemy makes an attack, and time slows down, and the enemy turns blue.
You will not forget these skills when resetting your abilities. When you reset your skills, you will get back the skill point for an ability you learned earlier through the talent tree, but you won’t lose it because you have learned it through observation in the meantime.
Do you already know Rokade?
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A trick with drawbacks
What do you need for the trick? To get the skill points, you only need faded Abyss artifacts with which you can reset your abilities. You should have received these several times during your gameplay.
If you haven’t reset your skills extremely often, you should have about a dozen in your inventory. If you have reset your skills frequently, you have already received your free points with those.
Is there a catch? Yes, there is a catch that you should keep in mind. When resetting your skills, you will not get any materials back. This mainly affects players who have already reached high values in their stats for health, stamina, and spirit.
The items needed here, such as Abyss spheres, are lost through the reset and must be farmed again. You need to weigh whether this plan is worth it.
It is conceivable that the developers will replace this method in the future, so that you receive a skill point immediately when learning a skill through observation. Until then, the mentioned method for free points is all that remains. Another feature was briefly in the game but was removed again: A feature from GTA was once in Crimson Desert, it would have completely changed the game
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Windrose, you can explore the seas together with your friends in co-op mode, but if the host of your round is not active, you have to wait until they are online. However, there is a method that lets you completely forget this problem. We will show you how to continue playing without a host.
What is the problem? When you play in co-op with your friends, you can experience adventures together, but if the host of your round has to go offline, you face a problem: you cannot join the world as long as they are not actively playing in Windrose. For many, this is an annoying issue, but there is a way to bypass it with just a few clicks.
Start video
The pirate survival game Windrose finally has a release date, and it is already very close on the horizon
How to access the shared game save
What do I need to do? To bypass the need for a host, you need to access the save file of your former host. There are two ways to do this – either you use the manual method and zip the files to send to each other, or you use software like “SaveSync” that automates the process. We will now show you the manual version:
Copy %USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local/R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/ into the search bar of your file browser
Open the folder with your Steam ID, then open the folder RocksDB .10.0Worlds
Now you will see a list of all your created worlds
The world folders contain GUIDs. To find a world, open each folder and then the file “WorldDescription.json”. There you will find the world name.
Then convert the folder with your desired world into a zip file and send it to the new host
Do this every time you want to switch hosts.
Apart from that, as mentioned, you can also use SaveSync, which can be purchased on Steam for €5.89. If you want to use the software, you need to proceed as follows:
Once you have installed the software, click on Windrose in the menu of SaveSync on the left side
Now click on the ” + New Save” button
A window will now open with all your available worlds
Press the world you want to share and then click on “Create Save”
The game save will now be synchronized
Now wait until the synchronization is complete
Click on the “Share” icon of your game save and then select the name of your Steam friend
Now click on the “Share” button
From now on they should be able to see and use the game world
Now ask your friends to press the “Activate” button so that all your progress is always synchronized
The great thing about SaveSync is that you can also view and restore old versions of the game saves. This way, you can restore broken game saves without having completely lost them.
These were all the important details on how you can access the game world of your co-op group even without the host. Together, pirate life is easier, but even in a crew, the choice of your weapons is important. Therefore, we will also show you which weapon categories are currently among the best: Windrose: Weapons in the Tier List – These are the ones you should take with you
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With Marathon, Bungie has stepped into the genre of extraction shooters. How is the latest game from the Destiny studio doing one month after release?
About 1.5 months ago, Bungie released a new game titled Marathon. It is an extraction shooter where you can play classes with different abilities and try to collect loot or complete quests while fighting against other players and NPCs.
Marathon had a rough start, even though the shooter has some gameplay qualities. For MeinMMO editor Dariusz, it is even one of the best shooters we will get in 2026.
While Marathon has a small community that speaks very positively about the game, the large player numbers were missing even at release. For weeks, the Steam charts and development costs have been a hot topic of discussion. Early on, it was said that the game cost over 250 million USD, and it appears that Bungie expert Paul Tassi has learned from internal sources at the developer studio that these figures are allegedly accurate (via Forbes).
A month after release, the question arises: How is Marathon doing and can the game survive?
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Bungie presents Marathon in the launch trailer
Bungie surprises with strong post-launch support
Before we look at the raw numbers, let’s take a look at the work done by the developers since the release. Bungie reveals a strength here that many fans long missed in Destiny 2:
Quick and effective response to player feedback.
Bungie shows that they are willing to deliver the best possible game to the Marathon community and address issues or points of criticism. The team around Creative Director Joe Ziegler communicates transparently with the player base and actually makes changes quickly.
Players want a duo mode → Bungie tests a duo mode → Bungie announces that they will implement a duo mode
The UI is heavily criticized → Bungie makes improvements, such as in the display of items, and now better indicates whether a weapon mod fits a weapon
The “Recon” runner shell is too weak → is buffed
A weapon that the endgame boss drops is too strong → is nerfed
The battle pass offers too few rewarding contents → Bungie adds more content, including runner skins
The biggest criticism of the game continues to be the difficulty. Marathon is aimed more at hardcore gamers and is not very casual-friendly. This is also shown by the endgame map “Kryo-Archiv” released after launch, which not only demands the best equipment from players but also requires a certain skill in a 3-man team. The problem is clear: There are contents in Marathon that some players will never see.
However, anyone who enjoys the gameplay loop and has no problem with endgame content being truly for players who reach the endgame, and these contents not being completed on the first attempt, can still have fun with the game a month after release. The casual-friendliness of Kryo-Archiv is comparable to the raids in Destiny.
The numbers – full disaster or reason for hope?
A month after release, a picture of Marathon emerges that gives a better impression of whether the extraction shooter is a financial success for Bungie and Sony or not – and recent findings suggest more of a failure.
According to the market research company “Alinea Analytics”, Marathon sold around 1.2 million copies cross-platform in the first two weeks after release, generating a revenue of around 55 million USD. The strongest platform was Steam with 800,000 copies sold (via X). Paul Tassi from Forbes reported, however, that these numbers seem to match according to his sources at Bungie.
Moreover, Marathon offers microtransactions in the form of skins, battle passes, and in-game currencies. However, this requires a loyal player base. On Steam, Marathon’s strongest platform, the downward trend continues:
In the past week, the 24-hour peak fluctuated between 22,000 and 28,000 concurrent players.
For comparison: Even years-old games like DayZ, Dead by Daylight, and Warframe have a peak of over 55,000 every day.
The core community of Marathon is estimated to be primarily in the USA. This is also reflected in the player numbers. When Americans are offline, the numbers drop to as low as 6,000 to 7,000 players.
Even after content-rich patches or the introduction of Kryo-Archiv, there was no noticeable increase in player numbers, and the downward trend continued shortly afterward.
Even if each of the estimated 1.2 million players had purchased around 35 Euros worth of in-game currency to buy the battle pass and a skin for their favorite class, the total revenue of Marathon would still be below 100 million Euros – however, this calculation is not 100% representative, as we took the European price of in-game currency, which is usually higher than in other regions.
It is clear: Marathon is not a financial disaster like Concord, but is still far from recouping the estimated development costs of over 250 million Euros.
Marathon is futuristic and uses vibrant colors. The story takes place on the alien planet Tau Ceti, and you play as a cybernetic mercenary wandering the planet in 3D-printed runner shells while your consciousness is at a distant, unknown location. Everything on Tau Ceti looks somewhat 3D-printed because a colony was attempted to be established there with simple resources.
The game is not classically colorful and can be quite dark in some places, but many buildings are in bold colors. The color design of the game is likely inspired by real companies or similar entities, where colors are used for department division and orientation.
The green line leads to the area with the green walls, where the goods are produced.
The yellow line leads to the yellow walls, where the product is packaged.
In Marathon, on the map “Düstermoor”, there is, for example, the greenhouse that comes from the outside in a striking color combination of blue and neon green, or the bio-research laboratory that is painted in a striking turquoise. Many shooter fans find that too colorful. Especially in the extraction shooter genre, bright colors have so far been a rarity. Even the futuristic, post-apocalyptic ARC Raiders relies on a more subdued color palette, with plenty of gray, brown, and green plants.
No successful extraction shooter is colorfully striking. Escape from Tarkov, Hunt: Showdown, Arena Breakout: Infinite, Gray Zone Warfare… all games that – similar to ARC Raiders – have a comparatively realistic, muddy color scheme. With The Cycle: Frontier, we have also seen a rather colorful extraction shooter die in recent years.
The combination of hardcore gameplay with a PvP focus and the relatively colorful map design likely has a very small target audience and so it is difficult to imagine that Marathon can attract large numbers of new players despite its gameplay quality in the future.
Marathon is performing mixed. While the core community enjoys the game, continues to have fun, and appreciates the developers’ work since release, the already weak numbers of the shooter are declining. For Sony and Bungie, there are essentially only two options for how to proceed with Marathon:
Stop development and minimize losses
Continue to support Marathon, accept ongoing development costs, and try to recoup expenses through new game sales and microtransactions in the long run
Option 2, however, is a balancing act because a balance must be found between costs and revenues. Not too many developers should work on Marathon to keep ongoing costs as low as possible. However, there should not be too few employees, because a lack of content, inadequate response to player feedback, or inconsistent quality in new content could drive paying players away or at least reduce their interest in spending their existing purchasing power.
Sony and Bungie must now essentially dream of a comeback, similar to what No Man’s Sky demonstrates to the entire gaming industry. The survival game received a lot of criticism at launch, but today it is mainly known for exemplary support with strong free content. Just recently, they introduced a kind of Pokémon update: No Man’s Sky brings unexpected “Pokémon-update”, even Palword reacts to it
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After almost two years in Early Access, the survival game Soulmask has now launched in full version. With a mix of sandbox, survival crafting, and colony building simulation, the game attracted over 44,000 players at launch on Steam. MeinMMO author and genre enthusiast Linda Baumgartl was also captivated by the magical masks and was strangely reminded of Pokémon.
When Soulmask first appeared on my radar, I was immediately intrigued. The Aztec masks and jungle setting looked really cool. However, I hesitated at first. The game was still in Early Access at that time and had to compete with my ever-growing Steam library. There haven’t been any shortages of survival titles in recent years. So, naturally, you think twice about which one to give a chance.
Eventually, though, curiosity won out and I dove into the world of giant saber-toothed tigers and ancient ruins. And what can I say? The game struck a chord with me like no survival game has in a long time. For Soulmask is not only very extensive; it also dares to take on new ideas that set it apart from the survival crowd.
Start video
Soulmask: The survival game on Steam exits early access after almost 2 years
Suddenly I am the leader of a tribe
The beginning of Soulmask follows a rather classic path. I learn a bit about the backstory before being dropped into the jungle, where I first have to deal with the basics: gathering resources, crafting equipment, setting up a sleeping place. So far, so familiar.
As a real enthusiast for building bases, I seek out a nice spot early on to establish a more permanent dwelling. However, that proves to be more challenging than initially thought. You need a tremendous amount of material and also have to process it at various workbenches. For the timer to be running, my character has to actually stand at the workbench. And that can take a really long time, especially for larger projects.
I’m already cursing the unnecessary grind of the game – when I realize that the game doesn’t actually want me to do everything myself.
In Soulmask, you can actually found a clan. This is not referring to the tribe you form with your friends in multiplayer, but your personal entourage of NPCs. Almost every human enemy in the game can be recruited by you.
To do this, you just have to give them a good whack, use your magical mask powers, and suddenly you have a loyal slave … I mean, of course, a new roommate. At least after you’ve nursed them back to health with some tasty broth.
Over time, a bustling anthill of NPCs emerges, who not only stand at workbenches for you but can also gather resources or defend your camp. Especially cool: With cable cars, you can set up transport routes to automatically carry resources to your base.
Things are really getting crowded.The cable car can also conveniently be used as a means of transport – whee.Of course, the base for the workers must not be missing.
Say goodbye to your character
The newly recruited villagers are more than just cheap labor. Behind them lies the greatest peculiarity of Soulmask, which is not so obvious at first. This is mainly because, genre-typical, you start with a self-created character. This somehow implies that you should be playing with this character. But that’s not necessarily the case.
In Soulmask, you can control any of your tribe members and turn them into a full-fledged player character. You don’t play a single figure, but a consciousness that jumps from body to body.
This becomes especially relevant at higher levels. Every character in the game has a range of abilities that they level up as they use them. This includes combat abilities as well. Each ability has a maximum level, which varies from character to character.
A good character is recognized when the desired ability has a maximum value as high as possible.
Here lies also the problem with your starter character. Although he is solid in everything, he is not really good at anything. In the long term, you should really replace him.
With a maximum level of 124, Vayne is a real beast with the dual blades. With this, she can receive all four additional bonuses (bottom right). Combat abilities also require a certain level
Admittedly, this concept feels a bit alien at first. I was also attached to my starter character, whom I created and leveled with so much love. But the further I progressed in the game, the more I enjoyed this new freedom:
I can have characters with different builds on hand and use them appropriately according to the situation. This is especially handy when enemies are susceptible to certain types of damage.
If I manage to subdue an opponent of a higher level, it actually advances me. I simply take over their body and skip a few levels this way.
“Outdated” characters can still remain useful. For example, as craftsmen in the base or as NPC companions in combat.
For those who are still attached to their starter character, I can at least offer a little bit of reassurance. The developer has since added the ability to transfer the appearance of one tribe member to another. So even if you want to switch to another character eventually, you can at least keep your desired appearance.
My village is like a Pokédex
The hunt for the best tribe members quickly turns into a wild grind-fest. In addition to the various level values, each character has a special class ability – depending on their origin – as well as some innate talents and preferences. These come with different advantages and disadvantages, such as more damage with certain weapons or a special aversion to feces. The selection here is truly enormous and includes over 800 possibilities according to the developer.
Nevertheless, I want to find the perfect tribe member for every job. So I set out to catch villagers like Pokémon. My village is the Pokédex that needs to be filled. I need each one at least once. Ideally in the super perfect shiny variant.
Of course, this type of grind is not for everyone. For me personally, this fills a gap that has been left by Conan Exiles. There was also the possibility to farm “thralls” and use them as workers. Soulmask takes this concept and elevates it to the next level. Especially because now I am not only farming workers, but also my own character.
The Pokédex of Soulmask. Here I not only give my tribe members funny names but also assign them their tasks.
Soulmask offers a lot of content – maybe too much?
What more could a game named “Soulmask” need? Of course, the masks! During the game, you unlock various masks that specialize in different areas and can be switched at any time. In a separate skill tree, you can unlock suitable abilities, such as becoming a better tank or learning cool new attacks.
In addition, there is of course the classic technology tree with which you can learn new building recipes. In another window, you’ll find the “hunting progress,” through which you can unlock general bonuses by defeating beasts. Additionally, a lot of animals can be tamed, bosses can be defeated, and dungeons explored.
You can already tell – Soulmask is not lacking in content. Quite the opposite. Especially at the beginning, all the menus and systems can be a bit overwhelming. Therefore, my advice is: Follow the quests at the beginning and actually read the tutorials. The game does a good job of gradually teaching you everything, but you just need to give it enough time.
Conclusion? Soulmask may not be the most accessible survival game on the market. However, for those who want to engage with a comprehensive and somewhat more complex game, it offers a solid survival adventure with some interesting ideas. It particularly excels in settlement management and fully controllable NPCs. Anyone who finds these points intriguing should definitely take a look (through the mask).
Even in Early Access, I felt like I had just scratched the surface of Soulmask after 150 hours of gameplay. Since then, the developers have not only continuously improved the game but have also expanded it even more. With the release of the full version, the first DLC was already released, which you can still receive for free. On a completely new Egypt-style map, you can now even build airships: One of the best survival games on Steam is giving away its biggest DLC yet, but you don’t have forever
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
