Everything we know about the new MMORPG for LoL in 2026

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 4 minutes

The MMORPG of League of Legends is currently highly anticipated by our readers here at MeinMMO. However, Riot Games has been holding back on major announcements so far. What is clear, however, is that after three years, the development has been restarted.

What kind of game is this? An MMORPG set in the League of Legends universe has been on the wishlist of many players for years, especially after “EverQuest Next” and Blizzard’s planned game “Titan” were canceled. From that point on, Riot became one of the last Western studios that could implement an ambitious and successful MMORPG.

At the end of 2020, the LoL MMORPG was officially announced. Greg Ghostcrawler Street, the former lead designer of WoW, was the mastermind behind the game. However, he has since left the studio and is now working on his own game.

So far, there has not been a comprehensive overview of the game’s features. However, some pieces of content have made their way to Ghostcrawler’s Twitter account, which we summarized for you in this article. With the confirmed restart of development in March 2024, all this information may now be worthless.

[toc]

Update from January 13, 2026: We have updated the article to the current state.

The LoL MMORPG in 2025

After Greg Street left the Riot Games team in March 2023, there were evidently problems continuing the previous vision for the LoL MMORPG. A year later, the official confirmation followed: They had decided some time ago to restart the direction of the project.

The reason given by Marc “Tryndamere” Merrill, the head of Riot Games, was that the current version did not stand out enough from the competition.

We do not believe that you all want an MMO that is just a rehash of something you played before, only with a Runeterra twist: To truly honor the potential of Runeterra and to meet the extremely high expectations of players worldwide, we need to create something that feels like a significant evolution of the genre.

This is a significant challenge, but one that our team of passionate MMO players and experienced game developers will tackle with great motivation.

For the restart, they managed to recruit Fabrice Condominas, an industry veteran for the MMO team, who has previously served as a producer for BioWare (notably on Mass Effect 3).

What else is known? After the announcement of the restart, the next silence followed. This was only interrupted in October 2024 by open job postings at Riot, seeking experienced veterans for the MMO. They want to “excite millions of players around the world”.

In November 2024, the head himself provided a small update. Marc “Tryndamere” Merrill stated at the Worlds Finals:

We are working hard on it. It is the project that I am currently investing most of my time in. I believe that the team has now taken a great direction and has been able to build up a lot of momentum. We are well aware of the high expectations placed on us, and we are doing everything we can not to disappoint.

The next sign of life came in July 2025, when new job postings began circulating. According to these, the MMORPG was still in the prototype phase at the time.

A post by Riot CEO Marc Merrill made it clear that the project is still alive today. After the end of New World, he explained that they are always looking for S-tier developers for the current MMORPG.

How the LoL MMORPG was originally meant to be

Riot Games’ new MMORPG is still set to take place in the Runeterra universe. However, it is still unclear what the MMORPG’s combat system will be like and from which perspective it will be played. The following possibilities exist:

  • Tab-targeting like in WoW
  • Action battles like in ESO
  • A first-person perspective like in Mortal Online 2
  • Battles in an isometric perspective like in Lost Ark and LoL itself

However, Ghostcrawler made a statement indicating that there must be a really good reason to question the status quo of camera angles in MMORPGs (via Twitter). This suggests a third-person view similar to WoW.

LoL_Greg-Street-Ghostcrwaler
Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street was the head of the new LoL MMORPG. He is now working on the MMO project “Ghost”, which is being developed at his new studio Fantastic Pixel Castle.

Ghostcrawler has also made statements about the game’s content. The LoL MMORPG is supposed to focus on dungeons and raids in the endgame. Raids are even expected to become one of the most important factors in the game. Ghostcrawler revealed on Twitter that he would be crushed if his team did not implement the endgame battles well. He also wrote:

Anyone who knows me from my time as a developer on World of Warcraft knows that as a player, I love dungeons and raids.

While there is no definitive statement regarding the raids, Ghostcrawler himself is a fan of larger groups of 20 to 40 players.

However, the LoL MMORPG should not appeal to every player right from the start. The developers had a clear vision and wanted to make decisions that not every player would agree with. The head believes this is a good thing.

The social components of the game could have provided potential for conflict. Ghostcrawler expressed his puzzlement in a tweet about why someone would want to experience an MMO as a solo player. There should be enough single-player games for this type of player (via Twitter).

The LoL MMORPG is therefore expected to focus on group content. However, many of the newer MMORPGs, such as Guild Wars 2 or ESO, pay close attention to ensuring that solo players also have their fun.

More on the topic
Over 10,000 players engage in the largest battle ever in EVE Online, destroying over 40,000 € in 24 hours
von Cedric Holmeier
New MMORPG transforms your gaming room into one of the greatest animes of all time, even makes the best players sweat
von Cedric Holmeier

Release before 2027 considered unlikely

When will the LoL MMORPG be released? So far, there are no concrete details about the release. However, it is clear that the restart in early 2024 has had an impact on the development time. If the developers had to start from scratch, we could be in for another four, five, or six years of patience.

However, if they had a foundation to build on, it would still take at least two or three years until release. Unfortunately, developing an ambitious MMORPG takes a very long time. The following article discusses the 8 most exciting new releases from this year: MMORPGs 2026: The 8 most promising online role-playing games scheduled for release next year

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

German LoL professional from Sauercrowd is close to level 60 in WoW Classic Hardcore, risking everything in a duel to the death

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

As you approach level 60 in WoW Classic Hardcore, a three-digit number of hours lies behind you without dying even once. In the Sauercrowd project, a Twitch streamer has now risked everything, even though he already had this goal in sight.

Which streamer is it about? Philipp “Kutcher” Traub (also known as kutcherlol) is an esports professional currently playing for Eintracht Spandau Zwei’s LoL team. However, there is little time for League of Legends at the moment. After all, the Sauercrowd event of the German Twitch scene is currently happening in WoW Classic Hardcore.

Kutcher is among the players who made it through the leveling phase the best. After a deadly encounter with Murlocs at level 16 in late 2025 (Source: Twitch) and critical moments in Tanaris and the Un’Goro Crater, the streamer was close to the first important milestone: level 60. But then he chose to take an extremely risky action …

Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!

Mak’gora – the duel of life and death

What did Kutcher do? Although the player was just a bar of experience points short of reaching level 60, Kutcher agreed to a Mak’gora. This is a duel of life and death that both duelists must agree to.

Whoever loses the duel does not revive with one hit point, but actually dies on the Hardcore server. Papaplatte watched the action in disbelief and commented on the risk Kutcher took with the duel as follows:

If he dies, his character is gone. That’s so stupid. […] It’s like Ronaldo playing one-on-one against Messi in football, and the one with the fewest goals just dies in the end. […] There are only two possibilities. Either he goes back to zero or he becomes immortal. It’s a hundred percent that one of them will die. One of them has crashed against the wall for 180 hours.

Papaplatte on Tiktok

It is important to note that Kutcher is no newcomer to WoW or PvP. He brings some experience into the duel.

How does the duel end? Kutcher plays a mage with a frost specialization, while his opponent Schmudd is a level 60 rogue. These are two of the strongest duel classes in WoW Classic, with many factors determining who will ultimately emerge victorious.

In the duel, the rogue manages to reach his first target first and stun Kutcher with a headbutt. However, from the subsequent opening, the mage can blink away and turn his opponent into a sheep.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from TikTok that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the TikTok content

After the subsequent attack, the rogue tries to sprint to close the distance to the mage. But he lands in a frost nova. The next frostbolt lands critically. The next two instant casts end the duel in favor of Kutcher. RIP, Schmudd.

The esports professional comments on the duel as follows: “I have never been so nervous in my life, I think.”

Many other members of Sauercrowd are also regularly risking their virtual hardcore lives unnecessarily, often due to their inexperience. Our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz has analyzed the most common causes of death for the Twitch streamers of Sauercrowd: Sauercrowd is desperate in Hardcore – 8 reasons why WoW Classic is so deadly for Twitch streamers

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

A developer deletes his AI game on Steam because his girlfriend showed him what it can do

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

A developer published his own game on Steam just a few months ago. Now he has decided to remove the title from the platform. His girlfriend made him realize how bad it actually is.

What kind of game is it? Since July 1, 2025, there is the “Rock-Paper-Scissors-Card-Game-Roguelike” Hardest on Steam. Here, players must duel with cards and decide the duel in a rock-paper-scissors principle.

The title currently has a positive rating of 54% and is thus merely balanced (as of January 13, 2026). According to users, the only positive aspect of the game is that it is free. Everything else seems underdeveloped and the use of AI is received negatively.

But the rating is currently irrelevant anyway. Because the developer reveals that he will remove the title from Steam starting January 30.

Start video
Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer

Developer realizes how evil AI is

What is the problem? The developer admits in a recent message that he used AI to develop the game. He only took a few months in the summer of 2025 to do so.

Only a girlfriend, whom he has been dating for a month, made him understand how bad it actually is. The university had brainwashed him and touted that such AI tools could be free and create endless images.

The developer has only now realized that they are not as free as they seem. He writes this in a message on Steam:

I have realized that AI is not really free and has significant impacts on the economy and environment. Some AI companies can use this game as a pretext to receive more investments for their AI companies, which benefit no one, but rather drain resources from the economy and hardworking people.

Therefore, it is the only logical consequence for him to remove the game from Steam. The developer reveals, however, that he created everything related to the code himself. Therefore, he can develop a new game with real assets in the future. But the game Hardest in its current form is a disgrace to all gamers and developers.

More games on Steam
Steam could soon receive one of the most useful features ever, so you won’t waste money on poorly performing games
von Dariusz Müller
A strategy game just won’t die even after 27 years, has over 27,000 players on Steam and tournaments with big prize money
von Ody
He created such a complex simulation that it keeps players occupied for hundreds of hours, revealing which game he himself spends the most time on
von Lydia

It happens from time to time that games disappear from the store. Valve itself removed nearly 250 games from a single developer two years ago. You can read the reason for that here: Valve deletes 248 games from a single studio from Steam, and there is a good reason for it

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PCGamer

Just before the 10th anniversary of The Division, a banner causes a stir, advertising an edition that has not even been announced yet

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

The online shooter series The Division is turning 10 years old this year. In a few months, the anniversary will take place, making a current discovery all the more exciting and promising.

What discovery are we talking about? Several posts have been shared on social media showing photos of banners for “The Division” in Japan. They include a text about the franchise and matching artwork, but with the exciting addition of “Definitive Edition”.

X-Post The Division Definitive Edition
Photos of the banners for a “Definitive Edition” of The Division (Source: @domen0204 on X)

This edition in question has not been announced yet, but fans of the series are speculating that an announcement could be forthcoming due to the upcoming anniversary on March 8, 2026.

Start video
The Division 2 zeigt seine neuen Outfits aus der Kollaboration mit Payday

The Division may bring a new edition – and that before a part that was announced years ago

What could this edition be about? Fans are speculating on social media what a “Definitive Edition” of The Division might include. Many hope for a revised version of the older titles with technical improvements, so the first two parts can be experienced on new consoles. Others hope for a port for the Nintendo Switch 2.

“The Division and Division 2 were the last really solid Ubisoft titles I played; that sounds really interesting,” writes @MissileMassacre on X, and @fiddyse7en is also hopeful: “If we get an improvement/remaster of The Division 1, I will cry.”

What about the project that has already been officially announced by the team? It has been two years since The Division 3 was announced. However, just because another edition could be announced before the release of the third part does not mean that the project has been curtailed – quite the opposite.

Just in the autumn of 2025, developers confirmed that the focus would remain on the franchise and that they would continue these projects with “strength, focus, and ambition.”

During this year’s “New Game+” showcase, Julian Gerighty, executive producer of the series, stated: “[The Division 3] is developing into a monster. I really can’t say more about it. But within these walls at Massive [Entertainment], we are working extremely hard on something that I believe will have just as big an impact as Division 1.” (Source: IGN)

More about The Division
Gamer plays ARC Raiders for about 400 hours, then understands through The Division 2 what the extraction shooter lacks
von Dariusz Müller
After 7 years, The Division 2 delivers even more powerful weapons with a new update, presenting veterans with a special challenge
von Ody
What is the status of The Division 3? Leading Ubisoft developers break the silence, stating: The team is in a “really great position”
von Dariusz Müller

Due to the upcoming round anniversary, it can be speculated that further information about the discovered Definitive Edition may come soon. If you want to pass the time with other strong shooters until then, you can find more inspiration here on MeinMMO. Our shooter expert Dariusz has summarized the 25 best shooters for 2026 for you: The 25 best shooters 2026 – These PvP and PvE games convince with their gameplay

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. X

Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar or Fantasy – Which setting is the best and why?

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

Warhammer consists of three separate universes that are only partially interconnected. However, they all have their own lore, games, series, and peculiarities. MeinMMO wants to know from you which of the three Warhammer worlds you find the most exciting and what you would like to read more about.

Originally, Warhammer started as a fantasy version and has developed over decades, often simply due to fan interest. Over time, various worlds have emerged from this idea:

  • Fantasy, the first world, which is now said to have been destroyed according to lore.
  • Age of Sigmar, which continues the story of Fantasy and was long regarded with skepticism.
  • Warhammer 40,000, the probably most well-known world of the Warhammer universe in the dark, dystopian future.

Additionally, creator Games Workshop has published some spin-offs that now represent something like their own worlds: The Horus Heresy is the prehistory of Warhammer 40,000 and takes place 10,000 years earlier, basically Warhammer 30k, and The Old World is the return to Warhammer Fantasy, but like The Horus Heresy, it serves as a sort of prequel.

Start video
The makers explain what Warhammer actually is

In the community, there are fans for each of these worlds, and most are interested in several of them. However, there are also purists who only stick to their version of Warhammer. Therefore, we want to know from you: Which Warhammer world do you actually like the most? Feel free to write in the comments what makes each world special for you.

You don’t have to commit entirely; you can choose multiple answers. After all, it’s perfectly fine to like multiple Warhammer worlds – both the Codex Astartes and the teachings of Sigmar, as well as the gods of Chaos, allow for that. We have asked.

If you want a little refresher on the worlds before voting, you can find a brief overview with peculiarities further down.

As a small additional survey – purely out of editorial interest to us – we would also be happy if you could briefly tell us which content interests you the most. After all, there are countless different areas around Warhammer, from the hobby with miniatures to books and video games to series and animations.

Warhammer – A Tripartite Universe with Different Worlds

Even though both Age of Sigmar and Fantasy and 40,000 all carry the name Warhammer, they are all independent worlds. They are only connected through the Chaos, which is the same in all worlds – and in the case of Age of Sigmar and Fantasy, through the continuation of lore.

The original Warhammer Fantasy – as well as The Old World – is a classic fantasy world with magic and well-known races like elves, dwarfs, orcs (with a “k”!) and humans. There are numerous steampunk influences and a not so medieval touch due to huge land battleships, cannons, and combat zeppelins. Warhammer-style, everything here is turned up to 11 and exaggerated. The Old World basically tells the prehistory. Some of the longer-living characters reappear there, but the lore is more or less independent.

Here are some of the best games if you want to take a closer look at Warhammer Fantasy.

Age of Sigmar is then the continuation, for in the story the world of Warhammer Fantasy was completely destroyed by Chaos. Karl Franz, the Emperor of Men, along with other important figures, rescued some mortals from the Old World and reached a new world, the realms of mortals, with the help of a dragon. There, a war now reigns between the forces of Chaos, Order, Death, and Destruction. There is even a fifth Chaos God here.

Finally, Warhammer 40,000 is the detached sci-fi version and definitely not “Warhammer but 40,000 years later.” There are even more references to our real world, for instance, the Emperor was born in the area of today’s Turkey and it is suspected that important figures from our history were actually played by him. Compared to Fantasy, the world is (still) more dystopian and grimy, and of course, instead of sword and shield the well-known bolters or superweapons that can destroy entire worlds exist.

By now, Warhammer is long gone from being a niche topic, but is even subject to academic research – similar to Star Trek before.

The short summaries here are just little memory aids for the individual worlds or teasers if you want to learn more about them. A deeper insight into the differences and peculiarities of the various Warhammer versions can be found here: What is actually the difference between Warhammer 40,000, Fantasy and Age of Sigmar? The 3 worlds of Warhammer explained simply

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Sauercrowd is desperate about Hardcore – 8 reasons why WoW Classic is so deadly for Twitch streamers

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 8 minutes

No day goes by without numerous losses in WoW Classic Hardcore. Our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz analyzes the most common causes of death among the Twitch streamers from Sauercrowd.

It’s a double-edged sword to get to know World of Warcraft with the Classic version. On one hand, the original WoW was not yet overloaded with features and systems like the modern version. There was no story mess, but a straightforward leveling experience. This makes it relatively easy to orient oneself and get to know the game.

On the other hand, WoW Classic feels outdated. You get stuck in the slowed-down leveling phase for what feels like an eternity. The walking distances are long, and it takes a while to get your first mount. Those who only want to play solo cannot complete numerous quests. For some dungeon runs, you need to plan several hours. Those who only know modern games feel like they’re in the wrong movie.

Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert of MeinMMO. He has been dealing with the best genre in the world almost daily for 16 years. His first private contact was in 2005 with WoW. Since then, he has amassed several years of playtime in various online role-playing games and has played almost every relevant representative of the genre for at least a while over the past two decades.

In World of Warcraft, Karsten has accumulated by far the most playtime, both enjoying Vanilla WoW and WoW Classic. By the way, he has also been on the Sauercrowd server since January 10, 2026. His rogue reached level 14 after just over 8 hours of playtime. The death counter is still at zero.

Thanks to the Sauercrowd project of the German Twitch scene, many newcomers are currently getting to know World of Warcraft in this classic variant, and in the hardest version: Hardcore. Those who die here have to create a new character and start over. A punishment that has already been imposed countless times since the start of the Sauercrowd event.

The classic MMORPG is not really hard, but it has peculiarities that can quickly lead to a visit to the spirit healer. I have watched all the previous death clips from Sauercrowd in the past few days and will analyze why WoW Classic is so deadly for many streamers. Let’s go!

[toc]

Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!

The Caves of Wailing

Although there is indeed a dungeon in WoW called “The Caves of Wailing,” one could almost name any type of cave or mine like this in the context of WoW Classic. There are hardly any places more dangerous for hardcore characters, whether experienced or inexperienced.

The reason: In WoW Classic, many classes can only handle one or two enemies at a time for a long time (and even that can quickly become dangerous depending on level, available abilities, and character status).

Players should ideally pull single enemies carefully, pull them to a safe position, and always keep an eye on the respawn during combat (this refers to the appearance of previously defeated enemies).

Occasionally, things go wrong, which is perfectly normal: sometimes you pull more enemies than intended. Suddenly, foes appear nearby. The opponent hits harder than expected. A heavily injured enemy runs towards the next group of enemies (Isn’t that right, Neandi? Source: Twitch).

In the open world, you can relatively safely seek to escape in such situations.

However, in the narrow corridors of a cave, such an unplanned situation quickly ends at the spirit healer, as the potential escape route is often blocked by the respawn – feel free to ask Mowky about it, on Twitch – she also had issues escaping from a cave earlier, on Twitch.

Many experienced players therefore particularly avoid notorious underground locations in Hardcore, especially when playing alone or with certain classes. In contrast, inexperienced streamers die in droves in the “Caves of Wailing” in Azeroth.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

One of the best horror movies of the last few years exists only because an actor was supposed to talk about a pile of crap in a comedy

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

Jordan Peele is known today to many primarily as the director of horror films. However, he previously had a career as an actor and writer in comedy formats. A rather bad animated film made him rethink.

Nowadays, when people hear the name Jordan Peele, they probably think of one of his horror films. In particular, Get Out, Peele’s directorial debut from 2017, can already be considered a modern classic of the genre and has a loyal fan base – even for scaredy-cats, the film is suitable.

The exciting mix of horror film and black comedy with social commentary surprised not only due to its high quality upon release but also because few people believed the comedy talent Jordan Peele could shine so brightly in the horror genre.

However, he revealed what the exact reason for his exit from the comedy world and acting was. The answer: A rather terrible animated film and a role that seemed far too demoralizing.

Start video
Trailer for the horror satire ‘Get Out’

An Emoji leads to rethinking

What does Jordan Peele tell? During the DGA Awards, an award for directing, Peele reported, according to Vanity Fair, how he came to direct his own horror film. Previously, he was still working in comedy and was offered a very special voice acting role one day.

He was to voice the character Poop in Emoji – The Movie. This animated film, released in 2017, featured various well-known emojis as main characters in a colorful story. The film was poorly received and earned a meager 6% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 132 reviews. Audiences rated it slightly better, with over 25,000 users giving it a score of 36%.

Therefore, the film truly does not represent a highlight in animated cinema. However, even before it hit theaters, it plunged Jordan Peele into an identity crisis. He was offered the role of the poop emoji – a circumstance that made him question his entire acting career:

The Emoji Movie actually helped me quit acting […] That’s true. I wouldn’t make that up.

Jordan Peele (Source: Vanity Fair)

He took a day to decide whether he should accept the role. When he finally called his manager to find out what the salary was, he was told that Peele was already too late. The role of the poop emoji had already been given to someone else. That someone else was none other than the acting legend Sir Patrick Stewart.

That was the point at which Peele had enough. He decided to quit acting and direct his own dark horror film. The result was Get Out, and genre fans can be grateful that the Emoji Movie pushed the director to that decision.

More on the topic
More on the topic
The best Godzilla movie is getting a sequel in 2026, finally revealing the exact release date
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
The story of a new sci-fi series on Amazon is so secret that even the actors don’t know all the details
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
German war film about the Tiger crew conquers Prime Video and divides the audience – It is number 1 in Germany
von Niko Hernes

Get Out has an excellent score on Rotten Tomatoes. 403 reviews gave the film a score of 98%, and over 50,000 users rated it 86%. As a result, the horror film is among the best in its genre.

And Jordan Peele directed two more horror films, Us and Nope. Occasionally, despite his earlier decision, he can still be heard and seen as a voice actor or actor, such as in Big Mouth. He is also involved in the next project of legendary developer Hideo Kojima, which is already generating anticipation: Players mourn a horror game that never came out for 11 years, but a trailer is now fueling new hope

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. collider.com
  2. Titelbildquelle: Universal Pictures auf YouTube

Trainer launches a limited-time rescue mission for a Shiny in Pokémon GO under the most unfavorable conditions

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

A trainer gave it all to not miss out on a shiny in Pokémon GO. In the end, he was rewarded for that.

For many trainers, collecting rare monsters in Pokémon GO is highly valued. Particularly popular among many players are the sometimes very rare shiny specimens.

A trainer reports what problems he had with the chance of encountering a shiny monster. And how he spared no effort to successfully catch the monster in the end.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Load, run, catch

What problems did he face? As the trainer reports in his post on Reddit, he encountered a Galar Zigzagoon in its shiny form at home. The problem? He didn’t have a single ball to catch the monster.

And as if that wasn’t enough, shortly after spotting the monster, the battery of his smartphone also died. Since Pokémon spawns are only available for a limited time and disappear after a certain time, the trainer had to react quickly.

What did the trainer do? As the trainer writes, he first charged his smartphone battery a bit. Then he took off running as fast as he could to the nearest PokéStop.

Once there, he spun it and, according to his own statement, received a Hyper Ball and the dream that the endeavor could succeed. While he ran as quickly as possible back home towards the shiny, he stressed himself out, knowing he only had one ball to catch the shiny.

And? Once home, he threw the ball at the Galar Zigzagoon – successfully. The ball hit its target and caught the monster. The trainer was rewarded for his quick actions and the distance traveled and now enjoys a new shiny in his collection.

More on the topic
Winner of a Pokémon GO tournament is “wrongly” celebrating, causing him to lose the victory again
von Caroline Fuller
Mimikyu in Pokémon GO would be brutally strong but is not allowed to fight: What does Niantic say about it?
von Max Handwerk
Pokémon GO: All Events in April 2026 – Important Dates in the List
von Max Handwerk

One way to obtain rarer monsters is through events in the game. These regularly bring you new content, which can include rare monsters or an increased chance of shinies. If you want to know when which contents are active in the game, feel free to check out our overview featuring all events in January 2026 in Pokémon GO.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Player sneakily shoots at foreign raider, shows: You should never start a fight in the wrong lobby

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In ARC Raiders, a player behaved like a rat, but attracted the wrath of the other players.

What does rat mean? In extraction shooters like ARC Raiders or Escape from Tarkov, there is the so-called rat playstyle. Players camp at exits or popular spots in impossible places, waiting the whole round for another player to come so they can surprise and take them out.

This is exactly what happened to Reddit user Blanket7e in ARC Raiders. He was calling for the elevator when another player opened fire on him, taking him down just before extraction. He only survived the situation thanks to an attack from the ARC and help was not far away.

You can see another curious story about ARC Raiders here:

Start video
Spieler in Arc Raiders schreit so laut um Hilfe, dass der Nachbar die Tür aufbricht

No one likes rats

How did he survive the situation? Instead of being taken out by the “rat”, a whole group of players came to the player’s aid. While the “rat” was still hiding before the ARC’s attack, the rescuers helped the player back on his feet.

They further asked him who had attacked him, to which the player pointed out the house where the “rat” was holed up. The players stormed the house and took out the “rat” before more players arrived, who humiliatedly surrounded the downed “rat” and shot at the body.

Verbal taunts were also directed at the “rat” and music was played. The clip went viral on Reddit with the title “When the whole lobby wanted a rat gone” and garnered several comments.

You can see the full clip here:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Reddit content

What are players saying? Players who have seen the video praise the lobby for handling such players correctly. Helping the innocent and taking a stand against “rats” and PvP has been a significant trend in ARC Raiders since its release.

Players comment on Reddit:

  • buddhamunche: “Oh my God, whoever is playing ‘Fortunate Son’ on repeat is a legend.”
  • NotBreadyy: “You choose to shoot at the raider. Everyone disapproved of that. You are now an enemy of the state.”
  • keep-i: “Wow, this is incredible. He picked the wrong lobby for PvP.”
  • Twisted_Bristles: “Damn, you all crawled out of your holes for this one.”
More on the topic
ARC Raiders: Find Tester Matrix – Here’s how to collect them for the project
von Christos Tsogos
ARC Raiders: A Situation Description – Here you will find the Scanner
von Christos Tsogos
ARC Raiders: Patch Notes for Update 1.23.00 – These Errors Have Been Fixed
von Christos Tsogos

Especially in single-player lobbies, PvP and even worse “ratting” is frowned upon. Many players have been avoiding PvP in ARC Raiders since its release. To maintain law and order and punish PvPers, a dedicated group was even formed: ⁠“You can have the loot. My reward is justice”: Players of ARC Raiders call themselves sheriffs, hunting down crooks

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit

Does Pokémon GO: Is the Spotlight Hour worth it tomorrow?

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

On Pokémon GO, the second spotlight hour of 2026 is scheduled for January 13th. You can read about which Pokémon and what bonuses are active here.

When does the spotlight hour start? The spotlight hour starts on January 13th at 6:00 PM. For 60 minutes, the Pokémon of the day will appear, before the normal spawns of the event High Zaptitude return at 7:00 PM.

Which Pokémon will appear? Voltilamm is in the spotlight. This Electric-type Pokémon is a classic that can evolve into Waaty and Ampharos. Ampharos also has a Mega Evolution that is even stronger.

What bonus is active? Every evolution gives you double the amount of XP.

Is there a Shiny Voltilamm? Yes, you can also secure the Shiny. However, the chance is not increased, so you’ll need some luck.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Voltilamm in the Spotlight Hour of Pokémon GO

Is it worth catching? Generally, Voltilamm with its evolutions is not overly useful in battles. Neither in PvP nor in raids, Voltilamm, Waaty, and Ampharos are among the best Pokémon in the game.

One exception is Mega-Ampharos, which is among the best Electric attackers. So if you catch a good specimen of Voltilamm during the spotlight hour, it might be worth leveling it up and eventually pulling off the Mega Evolution when you have the necessary energies.

Is the bonus worth it? The evolution bonus is not bad if you still need XP on your way to level 80. It’s best to prepare before the hour and figure out which Pokémon you want to evolve to save time. Otherwise, there is also an evolution filter in the Pokémon collection that shows you all the Pokémon you can currently evolve – if you are only interested in the XP.

More on the topic
Team Rocket returns with a powerful legendary Crypto monster and new Shiny in Pokémon GO
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon GO brings rare Shiny and also a new monster
von Paul Kutzner
Mimikyu in Pokémon GO would be brutally strong but is not allowed to fight: What does Niantic say about it?
von Max Handwerk

What’s next in Pokémon GO? First, High Zaptitude is on the schedule, where you can secure Voltrel and Shiny Blipp. After that, there are more interesting dates coming up. We have summarized the entire overview for you in our list. Here you can find all events in Pokémon GO in January 2026.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

User puts himself in danger for a fan – shows why some hardware should preferably remain closed

jan hartmayer jan hartmayer Reading time 2 minutes

A Redditor wants to remove a fan from a part of his old PC. However, he does not consider that some parts are not suitable for recycling. He later receives criticism for his actions in a post. 

What is the problem? The builder Turbulent_Mine25 writes in a Reddit post from January 11, 2026, that an old PC of his would not turn on. As a result, he wanted to remove the power supply fan.

To do this, he removed the device from the power source and, according to his own account, unscrewed a few screws to access the inside of the component. While doing so, he touched something on the circuit board. 

Although nothing happened, he asked in his post if he was an idiot and whether he nearly electrocuted himself or if the hardware components discharge quickly enough to prevent such incidents. 

In response, TheKitler explains to him in the current top comment (as of January 12, 2026) that he could have seriously injured himself or, in the worst case, could have died. This is not the first time that someone has been reprimanded by the community for the same mistake. 

If you also hate opening power supplies and prefer installing graphics cards, then check out the GPUs from Intel: 

Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video

Power supplies not only transmit current to hardware

Why is this component so dangerous? The component contains so-called capacitors, which convert current from the socket and subsequently transmit it to your PC. Here lies the problem: Even when turned off and after a long time, capacitors and other components of the power supply can still hold an electrical charge. 

This is extremely dangerous, and this charge can discharge onto a person upon contact and cause serious harm or, in extreme cases, lead to death. Therefore, we strongly recommend: Do not open power supplies, even if you are confident that you know what you are doing. The risk is not worth it! 

Manufacturers even warn on their own websites against opening them, such as Corsair. They write: “While it’s all possible, and you only need a screwdriver to open your power supply, it can be incredibly dangerous.” 

They also recommend using compressed air and a dry cloth to clean the component. How important it is to clean computers is shown by another builder, who complains about a PC that he needs to clean. 

Utilize the extended warranty from manufacturers 

What can I do if a power supply is defective? In this case, you have two options: 

  • You can claim the warranty depending on the period of use. In the EU, you have at least two years of warranty entitlement for hardware products, but many manufacturers, such as Seasonic, offer three to twelve years on their websites depending on the product line. Ensure that the warranty terms are met, which vary by manufacturer.
  • Replace the power supply. If you suspect that your power supply is defective, you should replace it. Because in the worst case, it could damage your hardware or even cause fires. 
More on the topic
A transitional solution was so good that it is still found on many of your laptops 32 years later
von Claudio Niggenkemper
Tech YouTuber wants to know how much distance the gaming PC should really have from the wall, gets help from NASA
von jan hartmayer
User finds a rare AMD graphics card for 15 euros in the thrift store, connects it at home and it actually works
von Claudio Niggenkemper

Therefore, we once again explicitly point out that you should not open power supplies. They can be extremely dangerous and can cause you great harm or destroy your PC. Also, make sure that you only use original manufacturer cables, as a gamer warns that with a tiny mistake you can set your expensive PC hardware on fire.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit

A solo developer releases a whole MMORPG on Steam, becomes a surprise hit, only one weakness becomes evident

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The new MMORPG Dreadmyst launched over the weekend on Steam and achieved a surprising success. Only the technology is not functioning as it should so far.

What kind of MMORPG is this? Dreadmyst is a new tab-target MMORPG that is played from an isometric perspective. In the game, there are four classes: the Paladin, the Mage, the Ranger, and the Cleric, which you can develop into a unique character using a deep build-making system.

Typically, you play this MMORPG in an old-school style best in a group with up to three other players, to have a tank, a healer, and two damage dealers who can progress through the quests together.

Dreadmyst also features a PvP mode. This allows players to showcase their skills in an arena. The release of the new MMORPG was successful, but the technology became a problem.

Here you can watch the trailer for Dreadmyst:

Start video
MMORPG Dreadmyst shows action-packed battles in the release trailer

Surprising success despite warnings

How did the launch go? The launch of Dreadmyst was a typical MMORPG launch – it did not go as smoothly as planned. Just an hour before the release, the server for account creation was down, which meant that new users could no longer register.

This was quickly resolved by the developers, but it caused the first negative reviews on Steam. Server crashes and small rollbacks occurred frequently, which frustrated players despite the solo developer’s efforts.

Numerically, the release weekend was a great success. While some voices from the community warned against the solo developer before the release, Dreadmyst, although graphically quite simple, impressed with its gameplay.

According to SteamDB, the indie MMORPG reached a peak player count of 7904. An impressive achievement for a project with only one developer. However, due to technical difficulties, the MMORPG only has 72% positive ratings on Steam.

What’s next for Dreadmyst? The solo developer is currently working full-time to keep the technology of his MMORPG running smoothly. The announcement channel on Discord states that the highest priority is currently to eliminate the server crashes and related rollbacks.

Currently, the MMORPG has only one server, and another server is only planned once the current issues are resolved. Also, a queue is currently missing, which requires players to repeatedly try their luck to get onto the server.

More on the topic
“Are you running out of ideas?”: No Mans Sky brings unexpected update, even Palword is puzzled
von Nico Scheibel
A fan of Crimson Desert frees you from the generic cliff, lets you create your own protagonist who doesn’t even have to be male
von Caroline Fuller
ARC Raiders: Find Tester Matrix – Here’s how to collect them for the project
von Christos Tsogos

That despite the warnings, some players achieve the first MMORPG success of 2026 with Dreadmyst was perhaps unexpected by most players. Maybe the criticism also contributed to making the MMORPG known. After all, Dreadmyst is available for everyone to try out for free. Another MMORPG, however, has already failed in 2026: First MMORPG of 2026 fails spectacularly, player says: “The worst MMO in 20 years”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Steam

Despite a big red flag, a player gets involved with a character from Cyberpunk 2077 and now needs help with the breakup

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 4 minutes

Cyberpunk 2077 is full of charming characters who impact V’s life, whether platonically or romantically. A player, however, had to realize why the community is quickly turned off by a potential romance – and wants to get rid of him again quickly, despite feeling sorry for him.

Which character is being talked about? It is the former NCPD detective River Ward from Cyberpunk 2077, whom V meets during the course of the game. He is one of the four possible romances in the game with whom V can have a purely physical but also romantic relationship if the player wishes.

River is heterosexual and therefore only wants to pursue a relationship with a female-presenting V – provided that she is also interested in him.

Compared to the other romances in the game, River is less frequently considered a romantic choice, with many players justifying this by saying that Judy is simply much more popular as an option for a female V. 

A player who felt sorry for the former cop ultimately engaged in the relationship… and now regrets that decision, as she tells the Cyberpunk community on Reddit: “I regret it every time I shower and he looks at me like that… it gives me chills, lol. By the way, I find him clingy and annoying; that’s what I get for feeling sorry for him.”

Other players can relate to the feeling of the player and share their own experiences with ex-policemen, and why they just can’t stand the romance.

Here you can see the trailer for the city of dreams in Cyberpunk 2077:

Start video
Cyberpunk 2077: The Ultimate Edition trailer shows a ‘City of Dreams’

Different ideas to end a relationship (as gently as possible)

What ideas does the community have for the player’s situation? To save the player from the unwanted partnership in Cyberpunk 2077, the community has some ideas on Reddit to somehow get rid of River. Sometimes more ethically justifiable, sometimes a bit less:

  • “Tell him to meet you in the apartment you like the least, and never go there for the rest of the game,” writes Tylenol187ForDogs (with a “Team Judy” banner), which is actually a solid idea to avoid him for the rest of the game.
  • “… Shall we meet in Dogtown?”, suggests jessiah284, the place where policemen get shot at first sight.
  • sailrwhale simply presents a piece of advice from Johnny Silverhand himself, which, however, sounds quite final:
Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Reddit content

Other players who find River not so bad but quite lovable cannot understand the player:

“I think River should present the ‘family route’, and some of his lines are really sweet…” writes LoFiMagic and Spookiiwookii also finds: “Why do people act like River is holding a gun to their head and forcing them to start a romance with him? If you don’t like him, then for goodness’ sake, don’t start a romance with him.”

The answer to this question is gladly provided by MeinMMO editor Caro from her own experiences with Cyberpunk 2077, in which she has already invested hundreds of gameplay hours: 

I want to make it clear: I have nothing against River Ward and his questline, which I really enjoyed. It is also fair to say that I prefer to choose potential romances that reflect my own sexuality and personal immersion. That’s why I always go Team Judy in every playthrough.

River as a character is likable to me, and getting to know his background and family was very exciting. However, even the disturbing mission arc surrounding River’s kidnapped nephew cannot compare to the uncomfortable feeling that the game gave me with his advances. 

Ending his quest line with a shared dinner was very enjoyable for me. However, his potential romance not only interested me, I simply found it really – to express it best like Susanne Daubner – cringe.

During the dinner with his family, the topic uncomfortably shifts too often to a potential romantic relationship between the mercenary and the former cop, without ever having any hints of an existing interest. You absolutely ruin dinner for his sister and the little children you previously played with because you don’t want to be a couple with their uncle.

Joss Cyberpunk
“And my brother likes you.”
Rivers niece Cyberpunk
“Who also thinks that V and Uncle River make a good couple?”

This invitation felt to me like the kind of action where a marriage proposal must absolutely take place in public and in front of many others, making one feel more or less forced by conscience to say yes. And that he still asks afterwards, despite all of this, “not to be kept waiting any longer” really took the cake for me.

River is a good guy; you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But uff… This final mission turns River from a “good guy” into a “Nice Guy”, and it’s no wonder that many female players feel their toenails curling.

More about Cyberpunk 2077
More on the topic
The most dangerous gangs from Cyberpunk 2077 and why you shouldn’t encounter them in Night City
von Caroline Fuller
More on the topic
The smallest gang from Cyberpunk 2077 is known by every player, but few know what really lies behind the Mox
von Caroline Fuller
More on the topic
von Caroline Fuller

As can be seen from the Reddit thread, River still has enough fans who like him just the way he is. And those Vs who are less inclined towards the former policeman can still try it with a talented braindance artist, just like MeinMMO author Johanna: Judy in Cyberpunk 2077 breaks my heart – and I want more of it [MeinMMO Classic]

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit

Manufacturer shows monitor with integrated cheat tool, players complain: “Online gaming is doomed”

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

MSI has introduced a new monitor. Integrating some AI features, it aims to make gaming easier. However, many players are not enthusiastic about it and fear long-term consequences for fair online gaming.

The manufacturer MSI unveiled the 5th generation of its OLED gaming monitors at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The YouTube channel Paul’s Hardware has showcased the monitor in more detail in a YouTube video.

However, the new AI features integrated into the monitor are causing quite a stir:

  • With the new so-called “AI Tracker,” you can automatically highlight characters, such as opponents, using AI.
  • Thanks to AI Goggle, you recover faster from flashbangs as the effect is reduced by the monitor.
  • AI Vision+ is supposed to improve the monitor’s brightness settings, allowing you to spot your opponents even in complete darkness.

Such features make it significantly easier to target and eliminate an opponent. While MSI states that this is “Recommended for Singleplayer Gameplay,” many fear that such features could have entirely different implications.

Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds

“If this becomes the norm, online gaming is doomed.”

What do the players say? In a post on Reddit, a heated discussion about the new monitor feature is already underway, and many players are less than enthusiastic. Many fear that such AI tools could significantly influence fair gameplay. No one can prevent such tools from being used in competitive online games.

And one user explains in his post on Reddit what many are likely thinking:

If this becomes the norm, online gaming is doomed.

Are such functions unusual? No, some monitors already rely on special aids, such as displaying a crosshair over the monitor settings. Some users already consider a crosshair to be cheating because some games intentionally do without a crosshair.

MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller has tested three functions of a monitor as examples and is sure that at least one monitor function should be banned for cheating.

More on the topic
A transitional solution was so good that it is still found on many of your laptops 32 years later
von Claudio Niggenkemper
Tech YouTuber wants to know how much distance the gaming PC should really have from the wall, gets help from NASA
von jan hartmayer
User finds a rare AMD graphics card for 15 euros in the thrift store, connects it at home and it actually works
von Claudio Niggenkemper

Spending a lot of time in front of a screen is not exactly good for our eyes. There are now several tricks to reduce strain. However, 17-year-old Louis Huang has now developed a monitor that surprisingly addresses the problems well: A 17-year-old invents a revolutionary new PC monitor for gaming and office – costs only 500 euros

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

German WoW event Sauercrowd is judged by the OnlyFangs founder from the USA: “Is everyone here just a complete noob?”

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The German WoW project Sauercrowd has also reached the international Twitch streamers. The founder of the US-based WoW guild OnlyFangs Thomas “Sodapoppin” Morris has also heard about the project and reacted to the deaths of some of the participants.

What does Sodapoppin have to do with Sauercrowd? Sodapoppin is a US streamer who founded the guild OnlyFangs in WoW. OnlyFangs was considered a role model for the German WoW Twitch project Sauercrowd.

Sodapoppin already became aware of the German branch in November 2025 and announced there that he would partly watch the event. Sodapoppin fulfilled this announcement by reacting to the death clips of the German Twitch streamers in one of his live streams. He had clear words for the performances of the participants.

Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!

“Is this a huge learning curve for new players that I don’t understand?”

What does Sodapoppin criticize? Sodapoppin clicked through the death clips and seemed incredulous about the ways in which the German Twitch streamers died in WoW. Above all, Sodapoppin frequently wondered whether only “complete noobs” would participate in Sauercrowd, as he noticed basic gameplay mistakes.

Some have no proper overview of all the possibilities of the game, such as health pots or abilities. It should be mentioned: It is not clear whether Sodapoppin is aware that beginners in WoW are also involved in the project.

Some of the participants also give the impression to the OnlyFangs founder that they do not know about keybindings. Sodapoppin is shocked by how many of the streamers click their abilities with the mouse: “Not a single keybinding on the screen, by the way. Not one. This guy clicks violently.” (Source: YouTube from minute 02:41).

And even in a death clip of the German Twitch streamer Henke, Sodapoppin wonders: “Are keybindings that hard? Is this just a huge learning curve for new players that I don’t understand?” (Source: YouTube from minute 14:02).

Overall, Sodapoppin seems amused by Sauercrowd. The project seems to him to be extremely tough and loss-heavy. The numerous losses are likely also due to the fact that some of the participants are playing WoW for the first time.

Although Sodapoppin has many tips for the German streamers, he has also had problems in World of Warcraft in the past. You can read more about this here on MeinMMO: MMORPG Streamer of the Year has been playing WoW since 2008, loses duel to Twitch guild against noob who has only been playing for 2 months

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Sodapoppin

A group is making their campaign in Dungeons & Dragons 10 times harder because they ignore one of the most important commandments

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 3 minutes

In Dungeons & Dragons there are some unwritten rules that establish themselves sooner or later in every group. One action can ruin a campaign for a group. Therefore, the party’s cleric seeks advice from the community.

How did the group make the campaign harder? Reddit user Miserable_Yoghurt160 shares his tale of suffering in his thread. He plays a cleric who is primarily pacifistic and has a problem. His group was faced with an NPC who appeared helpless under the influence of red smoke and got involved in a fight.

He suggested disabling the machine that the supposedly guilty smoke was coming from with water – but this was not to be. His companions did not heed his plan. Instead, they continued to beat on the opponent, causing him to die before Miserable_Yoghurt160 even got a turn with his cleric.

Days later, their game master told him that this NPC was one of the most important in the entire campaign and that the party had made everything ten times harder with his death. He would have provided assistance with important puzzles and moved the story forward. If the group had planned ahead and communicated properly, instead of acting immediately and entering into conflict, this could have been avoided – a rule that quickly establishes itself in most groups.

However, the community sees another problem in the whole situation that weighs far heavier than the simple “think first, then act”.

Start video
The dark action-adventure WARLOCK in the trailer – set in a world inspired by Dungeons & Dragons

“If the NPC hasn’t done anything, he’s not the most important NPC”

Where does the community see the problem? Under the thread are nearly 500 comments discussing the situation (as of: 12.01.2026, 11:15 AM). Most users do not primarily see the problem in the behavior of the group, even though that certainly plays a role.

The much bigger problem is that the game master likely made several cardinal mistakes:

  • The group wasn’t clear that this NPC was so important; otherwise, they probably would have acted differently in the story.
  • The game master should have indicated to the group that their actions would have such far-reaching consequences so that they would have the chance to change it if they wanted.
  • Instead of “punishing” the group with such a drastic increase in difficulty, the game master should have enabled the group to return to the “normal” difficulty level with some kind of substitute NPC.

Commentators point out that the game master literally has the course in his hands. He has all the tools and options to direct the events and influence the gameplay or adjust the difficulty fluidly. Instead of punishing the group for something they likely weren’t fully aware of, the game master should look for alternatives that he can offer them.

He can also learn from this that he should let NPCs, who are supposed to play an important role, be more active and react more agilely to situations, as yesat explains in his comment: “If the NPC hasn’t done anything, he’s not the most important NPC. First rule of being a DM. If the PC really needs help, the DM can simply add another NPC that fulfills all requirements. This is not a video game where the developers have to plan everything in advance.”

More on the topic
What do I need to start with D&D? 8 things that are important for getting started
von Sophia Weiss

That the game master has a really important role outside of storytelling is shown repeatedly in various situations. He must also act as a diplomat and rules enforcer and find solutions for difficult situations, as the following story shows. Because in another group, the players also took out a character, but he belonged to their own party: New player is so mean in Dungeons & Dragons that his own group takes him out in the first session, even though they didn’t intend to

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

New competitor makes Pokémon and Palworld look old, shows in the new trailer how good a monster collector can look in 2026

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The success of Palworld has already shown that Pokémon is no longer the sole market leader in the monster collecting genre. A new competitor has now presented a trailer that not only looks stunning but also shows what the gameplay has to offer.

What kind of game is this? Aniimo is a monster collector like Palworld or Pokémon and is currently still in development. While the exact release date is not yet known, it is already clear that the open-world RPG will be free to play on Steam and mobile.

As is common in monster collectors, it’s all about catching different creatures and adding them to your team. You can see how cute the little monsters look in the new trailer:

Start video
Aniimo shows in the trailer for the closed beta how good the monster collector looks

More than just collecting

What does the trailer show? In Aniimo, it is about more than just collecting Aniimos. The trailer already shows that the companions can also be used for crafting products, similar to Palworld. The Aniimos operate machines or take care of farming.

Instead of just watching the battles, players can transform into any collected Aniimo to overcome puzzles, challenges, and even battles, including boss fights, using the monster’s abilities.

During battles, it’s always possible to switch between different monsters to apply and attack enemies with various elements. The combat system is reminiscent of Genshin Impact and is based on the combined attacks of your Aniimos.

The focus in the trailer is clearly on the graphics. These are impressive even in the in-game scenes and look more high-quality and colorful compared to Palworld and especially in comparison to Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The Aniimos really seem to shine. Even the fur textures of the monsters look much more realistic than those of the competition.

When can players play? Soon there will be an opportunity to take a look at the new monster collector. The developers have opened registrations for the second closed beta on the website Aniimo.com, where an unknown number of participants will be able to check out the game.

The applications for the closed beta will remain open until January 20, 2026. On January 21, it will be announced who gets to participate in the game. The beta is set to start on January 23.

More on the topic
“Are you running out of ideas?”: No Mans Sky brings unexpected update, even Palword is puzzled
von Nico Scheibel
A fan of Crimson Desert frees you from the generic cliff, lets you create your own protagonist who doesn’t even have to be male
von Caroline Fuller
ARC Raiders: Find Tester Matrix – Here’s how to collect them for the project
von Christos Tsogos

With Aniimo, a new serious competitor is entering the market against Pokémon and Palworld. However, it is still unclear how the game intends to earn money, especially since it will be released for free. So far, only costumes are known that are likely to be purchasable for real money. Although Palworld is deeply embroiled in a legal dispute with Nintendo, the developers are celebrating a successful year: “Not bad for a dead game” – Palworld developers counter their haters while celebrating a successful year

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. YouTube
  2. aniimo.com
  3. Steam

A new character in One Piece uses two Devil Fruits, didn’t even have to eat one

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

So far, Blackbeard has been the only character in One Piece to use two Devil Fruits in battle. As the manga reveals in the current chapter, there is now another person who uses two different Devil Fruits.

Warning, Spoiler! Here you will find information about a character from Chapter 1170 of the One Piece manga.

What kind of character is this? On the island of giants, the Straw Hat crew encounters Loki. He is the prince of Elban and the son of King Harald. The giant is forced to stop his father and uses the power of two Devil Fruits to do so.

What are these Devil Fruits? On one hand, the giants have been guarding their national treasure for many years, which is a Devil Fruit. In the chapter, Loki manages to eat this Devil Fruit, which is no easy task.

Because the Devil Fruit is essentially guarded by a second Devil Fruit. This is the hammer Ragnir, which can transform into a squirrel hybrid creature. It is not known whether the hammer ate a squirrel fruit or a squirrel that ate a hammer fruit.

However, after Loki proves how strong he is, the hammer recognizes him as its new owner. So Loki has the powers of the Devil Fruit he ate and the hammer as a weapon. His eaten Devil Fruit has also not been revealed yet. However, it can be seen how he transforms into a large, black entity.

Start video
One Piece Film: Red – The Official Trailer for the Anime Film in English

Such a special character has only appeared once in One Piece so far

Why is this so special? So far, only Blackbeard uses the power of two Devil Fruits in battle. On one hand, he uses the powers of the Darkness Fruit, which allows him to essentially create a black hole that absorbs other powers.

On the other hand, he has stolen the powers of the Quake Fruit from Whitebeard. Unfortunately, how exactly this occurred was not shown. It could be that he acquired the power of the Quake Fruit just like Loki, not by eating it but through some other trick.

Actually, it is not even possible to eat two Devil Fruits. A specific case of this has never been seen in One Piece. However, Bruno, an agent of CP9, believes that the body dissolves when one eats two Devil Fruits.

More about One Piece
The Netflix series about One Piece already hints at Luffy’s strongest form in season 2, which only appears in episode 1071 of the anime
von Niko Hernes
One Piece announces a new series with Lego, giving me a brief scare that luckily subsided
von Jasmin Beverungen
One Piece Anime Remake auf Netflix: Release, Trailer, and More in the Overview
von Jasmin Beverungen

Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that another person will appear who can use two Devil powers in a battle. Blackbeard actually wouldn’t have needed a second fruit, as he already possesses the strongest Devil Fruit of the Logia type. You can see the other rankings on MeinMMO: The strongest Devil Fruits of the Logia type from One Piece, where users fight with the elements

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. CBR

After the shutdown of one of the most popular mods in Final Fantasy XIV, the boss is now talking about official alternatives

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 2 minutes

In September 2025, one of the most popular mods for Final Fantasy XIV went offline. Apparently, the development team is now trying to officially introduce the features that were previously possible through the mod, as a recent Ask-Me-Anything with producer Naoki Yoshida shows.

What was that mod? In September 2025, the mod Mare Synchronos was released. It allowed players to make their mods, which were only visible locally on their own client, visible to other players. This enabled better role-playing with shared emotes and glamours.

However, mods in Final Fantasy XIV are fundamentally prohibited. Additionally, Mare also shared problematic and partly illegal mods.

What features are expected? With the December release of patch 7.4, the MMORPG already implemented complete glamour freedom. In an Ask-Me-Anything on a Japanese server of the game, Naoki Yoshida, the director and producer, stated that there will be further changes: Currently, the team is planning customization options for emotes. This could officially replace external emote mods and the functionality of Mare.

Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Rocking trailer for “Into the Mist” sets the stage for patch 7.4

Personalized emotes as an alternative to modding?

What exactly is supposed to happen with the emotes? Overall, the discussion about customization options for emotes is very vague. In the original chat excerpt, Yoshi-P is specifically asked what motion-related systems are planned. The response from the director and producer is: In the area of movements, we are currently planning to offer players some form of customization options.

This statement could refer to the emotes in the game, but also to the different idle, walking, and running animations depending on race and class.

More on the topic
Is Final Fantasy XIV worth it in 2026? MeinMMO reveals it to you in the video
von Karsten Scholz
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz
The most successful MMORPG from Germany since Tibia is not only becoming more beautiful but also conquering new platforms
von Karsten Scholz

Were there any other updates in the AMA? In addition to the question regarding motion adjustments, there was also talk of a version of the game for Nintendo Switch. This was confirmed by Naoki Yoshida. Other topics included:

  • New information about the new class Beastmaster is expected in the next live letter
  • More space in the glamour wardrobe
  • More space for housing decorations
  • The next ultimate will be Meta
  • Updates for character skin tones
  • Regional FATEs and events

When the mentioned features are expected to be released is still unclear. The Beastmaster is set to go live with patch 7.5, which is likely to be released in April 2026. Recently, there were also initial theories from the community. In a base-game region, an unnamed level 1 mob has appeared, which many consider to belong to the new class: In just two days, a cult has formed around a new, mysterious creature in Final Fantasy XIV.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Livedoor

Player wants to send his gaming PC securely, chooses an unusual method

jan hartmayer jan hartmayer Reading time 2 minutes

A user is unsure how to best prepare their PC for shipping. Their solution is interesting, and Reddit informs them that there was a much easier way.

What happened? The user Holiday-Ad3427 asks for help in their Reddit post from 06.01.2026. They want to pack their PC securely for shipping and share a picture of the computer. They then ask the community for their advice on whether their transport protection is sufficient.

The player has stuffed their entire PC with laundry, cloths, and towel packages. Every corner is full, and even the graphics card and CPU cooler are enclosed.

On Reddit, the community upvotes an important tip over 7,000 times, which simply and elegantly addresses one of the biggest problems: According to SuperHooligan (via Reddit), Holiday-Ad3427 should simply remove the graphics card before shipping and send it packed separately.

If you are currently looking for a gaming PC, then check out the video of the upcoming Steam Machine:

Start video
Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer

Graphics cards are prone to damage during transport

Why is the solution so important? GPUs are installed on the PCI port of a motherboard and are usually secured by one or more screws at the back of the computer. This is often sufficient for normal operation as a mount, but it is unsafe for transport.

Due to sudden pressure effects, such as when braking during a car ride or carrying inside a box, the slot where the graphics card sits is heavily stressed. Depending on the intensity of the load, it can happen that the GPU or other components are damaged by the GPU.

To avoid this, the tip from Reddit is ideally suited. Removing the graphics card protects the PC from unnecessary damage caused by the GPU. If still available, the graphics card could then be placed in its original packaging to ensure the best possible protection.

But even with the correct transport protection, a PC can suffer serious damage during transport if not handled carefully, as a player had to find out disappointingly.

Community points out potential risks

Meanwhile, the player’s post has garnered 4,400 upvotes and over 500 comments (as of 12.01.2026), and Reddit users comment eagerly:

  • mikopsid007 explains (via Reddit): “Great advice, plus the power supply looks like it could explode at any moment.”
  • Cutlass_Stallion advises (via Reddit): “Also remove the RAM, in case a postal worker still has to pay off their car.”
  • BoSknight writes (via Reddit): “Take the laundry out; there are these expanding foam packages.”
More on the topic
A transitional solution was so good that it is still found on many of your laptops 32 years later
von Claudio Niggenkemper
Tech YouTuber wants to know how much distance the gaming PC should really have from the wall, gets help from NASA
von jan hartmayer
User finds a rare AMD graphics card for 15 euros in the thrift store, connects it at home and it actually works
von Claudio Niggenkemper

Overall, it seems to have been a good idea to have the transport protection reevaluated on Reddit. With all the tips, the PC should be even safer – if the owner follows the advice. Because without protection, you should not send a computer. If you find the mail for your gaming PC too insecure, a player has found an unusual solution: Player really wants to travel with his gaming PC: Will his PC survive the journey by plane?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit