When the new role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive was not only awarded Game of the Year at the 2025 Game Awards, but also recognized as Best Indie Game, many discussed: Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 really still an indie? One of the developers is now commenting on this.
What does the developer say? Nicholas Maxson-Francombe is the Art Director at Sandfall Interactive and has shaped the visual style of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with his work. It is also thanks to him that the role-playing game was able to win a record number of awards at the Game Awards.
These include: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best RPG, Best Performance (Jennifer English), Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game.
In an interview in the latest issue of Edge, he expresses whether the role-playing game can still be considered an indie project despite the support of a publisher, or if other games that are more clearly identifiable as indie should have won in the indie categories.
We feel like an independent company, but we get a lot of support from [Publisher] Kepler, much more than other indie games. It definitely feels like those games deserve it more, especially since we are nominated in so many categories. But at heart, we are indie.
We developed the game with an indie spirit, with a small team, with great creative freedom, and without a parent company or even a publisher giving us directions. We also consciously chose a publisher that has a true indie mentality and prioritizes creativity.
Nicholas Maxson-Francombe in an interview with Edge (via gamesradar.com)
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinterlässt bei den Spielern eine Leere
Indie or not Indie – the old discussion?
Is there a definition for indie? None that is universally applicable and recognized. The term indie (i.e., independent) primarily implies independence. But what does this refer to? To the creative process of development? To funding? To support with PR and marketing? Is one only indie if they do everything independently?
This could also apply to very large companies that own their own publishing, PR, and development departments. Some define the indie concept primarily based on the size of a developer. A team of 4 people? Indie! A team of 100 people? Not indie! Easy! But at what number is the line drawn? Is 10 just right or already too much?
In short: The definition of indie is still so vague after all these years that it can lead to wonderful discussions. But regardless of whether Clair Obscur comes from an indie studio or not: It is a fantastic game. Just like some other RPGs from last year: 2025 should go down in history as one of the best years for role-playing games.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Like many other Twitch streamers, Maximilian “Trymacs” Stemmler is participating in the large German WoW project Sauercrowd. However, while his colleagues continue to live and die in the dungeons of the MMO, he seems to be turning to another project.
What does Trymacs have in Sauercrowd? Although Trymacs is a complete newcomer to World of Warcraft, he has performed excellently alongside the other participants. So far, he cannot claim any deaths with his initially created hardcore character. That’s something many other newcomers to WoW cannot claim for themselves.
Trymacs has also invested a considerable amount of time: In the past 30 days, the Twitch streamer has spent over 91 hours in the MMO (Source: SullyGnome).
However, it seems that the air has gone out for the streamer in the WoW project, as Trymacs appears to want to focus on another game for the time being: ARK Survival Ascended.
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Vom Pizza-Lieferant zu einem der größten deutschen Twitch-Streamer – Leben und Karriere von Trymacs in 2 Minuten
Trymacs starts with his colleagues in ARK Survival Ascended
What is Trymacs playing now? Since Sunday, January 11, 2026, Trymacs has turned to another project: Together with his Twitch colleagues eliasn97, MontanaBlack, Niklas Wilson, Zarbex, and GTime, he has started in the survival game ARK Survival Ascended.
Trymacs played the game back in 2020, but then there was a break. Since then, his community has been wishing for the Twitch streamer to finally dig up the survival game again, and now it’s happening.
Viewers who still want to see Trymacs in WoW will have to be patient or expect breaks. He might even say a complete farewell to Azeroth soon. The Twitch streamer mentioned, that if he should die, he wants to stop with WoW Classic immediately. And even in the event of success (he reaches level 60), he does not see a long future for himself in the MMORPG: One raid, being immortal, and bye-bye!
Additionally, Trymacs is already planning the next games he wants to play: At the release, he is trying out Hytale, for example, and soon he wants to play Pokémon again.
Avengers: Doomsday is an upcoming Marvel-movie and the first appearance of the superhero team after Avengers: Endgame 2019. We at MeinMMO reveal everything we know so far about the upcoming event film.
Update from 13 January 2026: We have updated the article following the release of the fourth teaser.
What is Avengers: Doomsday? Avengers: Doomsday will be the upcoming Avengers movie, which will once again unite the superhero team against a new villain. As the name suggests, the superheroes must confront Dr. Doom.
Is there a trailer for Avengers: Doomsday? There is no official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday yet. However, Marvel has already released two short teasers featuring well-known characters. You can watch the teaser about the character Thor here:
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In the 2nd teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel showcases the iconic character Thor
Are there any more teasers? Before the Thor teaser, another teaser was released hinting at the return of a well-known character. To avoid spoilers, we won’t mention it here, but you can watch the teaser on YouTube.
On 13 January 2026, the fourth teaser for Avengers: Doomsday was released, showing the Fantastic Four’s first appearance in the regular universe. There they encounter the kingdom of Wakanda. You can watch this teaser on YouTube.
Avengers: Doomsday: Everything about the release and the trailers
When is the release of Avengers: Doomsday?
Avengers: Doomsday is now expected to be released on December 18, 2026, after a postponement. The film was originally scheduled to be released on May 1, 2026. The following Avengers film, Secret Wars, has also been postponed from May 7, 2027, to December 17, 2027.
Where can you watch Avengers: Doomsday?
Avengers: Doomsday will first be released in theaters. Based on experience, however, Marvel and Disney films can usually be streamed on Disney Plus a few months later, if you have a subscription.
Warning: The cast of Avengers: Doomsday might spoil possible appearances in the upcoming film.
Avengers: Doomsday: Everything about the cast and story
Who is in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday?
Among others, the following actors will be seen in the film:
Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom
Chris Evans as Capatin America
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards
Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman
Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing
Joseph Quinn as Human Torch
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Anthony Mackie as Captain America
Paul Rudd as Ant-Man
Letitia Wright as Black Panther
Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
Danny Ramirez as Falcon
Winston Duke as M’Baku
Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent
David Harbour as Red Guardian
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost
Lewis Pullman as Bob
Patrick Stewart as Professor X
Ian McKellen as Magneto
James Marsden as Cyclops
Rebecca Romjin as Mystique
Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler
Kelsey Grammer as Beast
Channing Tatum as Gambit
Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor
Well-known MCU characters who have not yet been officially confirmed but are still alive:
Dr. Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch
Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland
Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo
Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson
Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson
Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds (There are some rumours, but no official statement)
Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman
Daredevil, played by Charlie Cox
Moon Knight, played by Oscar Isaac
She-Hulk, played by Tatiana Maslany
Drax, played by Dave Bautista
Starlord, played by Chris Pratt
Rocket Raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper
Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel
Wong, played by Benedict Wong
Monica Rambeau, played by Teyonah Parris
Kamala Khan, played by Imani Vellani
What is the story of Avengers: Doomsday?
So far, it is not known what Avengers: Doomsday will be about and which films will influence the plot. The film is expected to kick off the event and the film Avengers: Secret Wars.
In the comics, Secret Wars is a major crossover event in which many heroes and villains had to fight each other. Whether Dr. Doom will continue to play an important role after Doomsday is unknown at this time.
Which movies come after and before Avengers: Doomsday?
The Fantastic Four: First Steps will kick off phase 6 of the MCU and will likely also herald the events of Avengers: Doomsday. Another Marvel film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will follow on July 31, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars is expected to continue on May 7, 2027. In the Marvel universe, Tony Stark is not always the great role model: 7 ruthless things reveal the dark side of Tony Stark in the Marvel universe.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In ARC Raiders you receive the mission “Straight Record” from NPC Celeste. We will show you where to find the necessary switches for the old EMP trap and how to complete the quest.
Update, March 16: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.
What do you have to do for the quest? When you receive the quest “Straight Record” from the merchant Celeste, you first need to locate the old EMP trap in Victory Ridge. Afterwards, you need to find 3 switches to get it running again.
We will show you where to find the old EMP trap and its associated switches.
[toc]
Start video
ARC Raiders shows new Hurricane condition and hints at a new enemy
Location of the old EMP trap at the Dam Battlegrounds
If you want to undertake the mission, you need to go to the Dam Battlegrounds map. Once there, you must first find the old EMP trap. Look for it in the northwest of the map, a bit southwest of the West Broken Ridge.
You recognize the trap by a yellow generator and a long pole around which a cable winds. Once there, you need to interact with it to determine that it is out of order. You then need to find and activate 3 switches to get the machine running again.
All switch locations for the old EMP trap
Fortunately, the switches are not far from your location and are easily recognizable due to their yellow color. While you might have to climb a bit and look closely, it shouldn’t be too difficult unless you run into hostile Raiders or ARCs. If you find them, just interact with them.
Here you can see all locations in circles, which we will discuss in more detail later:
You can find the necessary switches in the circles | Map: mapgenie.io
Location Switch 1 – North (blue)
Switch 1 can be found north of the old EMP trap on a small, cliff-like hill. You can simply go around the hill until you find an ascent.
Location Switch 2 – East (red)
Switch 2 can be found in the east, further up in a reddish ruin. For this, you need to climb to the upper floor. It is best to use the surroundings for this.
Location Switch 3 – South (yellow)
This switch is located a bit further south away from the old EMP trap. Walk towards the trees and keep an eye out for a cable that leads you directly to the switch. You will find it close to an old, fallen tree trunk.
How to complete the quest
Once you have activated all the switches, you just need to return to the old EMP trap and interact with it again. You will then have completed the quest and can decide whether to continue exploring or quickly head to the extraction point to avoid hostile attacks. For the latter, the extraction point at the North Complex is primarily suitable.
Pokémon and LEGO have finally revealed the new sets where Pikachu, Eevee, and the Kanto starters can be recreated as sets. Many builders find the prices steep, yet compared to others, they are not that expensive.
What are these sets?Pokémon and LEGO are releasing a total of 5 new sets that hobby builders can construct in their own four walls. These include:
Pikachu with a Pokéball
Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise as a gigantic statue
a cute Eevee
The badges from Kanto
The Poké Center in mini format
The three Pokémon are available for regular purchase, while the other two sets are only available as a pre-order bonus and in exchange for points from LEGO’s bonus program.
What do others think about it? On Reddit, many fans are shocked, especially due to the prices. Eevee starts at around €60, Pikachu is about €100, and the three Kanto starters cost a staggering €650. Many write that they are therefore looking for cheaper alternatives.
The prices of the sets may seem terrible at first glance, yet in comparison, the sets are actually relatively normally priced.
Start video
Why can Mauzi actually speak in the Pokémon series?
LEGO sets for Pokémon are off-putting in price, while they are normally priced
What does MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen think?I also own several LEGO sets, especially regarding video games, and have contemplated on the LEGO sets. A good measure to assess the price is the “Euro-per-brick ratio.” Nowadays, about 10 cents per brick is normal in the LEGO sector. The new sets also fall under this:
Looking at the current sets, they are in the same range:
The Pokémon trio costs about 9.5 cents per brick and is thus relatively the cheapest
Pikachu and the Pokéball are in the midfield with 9.8 cents per brick
Eevee is the most expensive at 10.2 cents, but still okay
For comparison: The Deku Tree from The Legend of Zelda costs about 12 cents per brick. Additionally, only about two-thirds of the bricks can be used since the tree comes with 2 alternative designs, in which not all bricks are utilized.
The Super Mario theme world is usually more expensive, here 11 to 14 cents are due. The price is somewhat justified by the fact that Super Mario includes special building mechanisms and bricks.
Another expensive candidate is the Death Star. The version from 2016 costs about 12.5 cents per brick, which means you get around 30% less value for your money compared to the Kanto starters.
Still, I can understand that some fans do not want to spend the money to bring the LEGO sets home. I also will probably not buy any of the sets, as I’ve already purchased other sets in the Pokémon area that are cheaper.
There is a lot to build with the Kanto starters.
What alternatives are there? A good and inexpensive alternative are the sets from MEGA. There are comparable sets for Eevee and Pikachu. Eevee costs about the same, while Pikachu is significantly cheaper – and in my opinion, also looks better. However, a comparable set to that of Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur is hard to find.
Another option is nanoblock. The figures here look a bit more pixelated since no smooth bricks are used for the figures. The figures are also smaller than those from MEGA and LEGO and do not click together as nicely as with the competition.
Personally, I find MEGA offers the best of all worlds. The LEGO sets are more suitable for those who want a prestige object in their home. Especially the set of the Kanto starters is unique in that regard. Nanoblock, on the other hand, is suitable for those who want to start with smaller figures first.
The developers of Path of Exile have talked about their schedule for the next season, but fans remain skeptical. They fear that the new seasons will suffer under the time pressure.
What’s the status of the next season of Path of Exile? In a new forum post on pathofexile.com, the developers discussed their schedule. Currently, they are following a model where a season of Path of Exile and its successor alternates every two months. Recently, an expansion for Part 2 titled “The Last of the Druids” was released, so next up is again the classic Path of Exile.
In the forum post, the developers announced that they will stick to the schedule and that the upcoming update 3.28 is set to release in early March. As usual, there will be a livestream for the announcement, showcasing what the developers have been working on and what features there will be to experience this time.
This also fulfills their big promise. The developers announced in 2025 that they would release a season of Path of Exile and its successor every two months. However, this very promise is now causing trouble.
Here you can see the trailer for the current season of Path of Exile:
Start video
Path of Exile 2 shows features, bosses and trading system of “Keepers of the Flame” in the trailer
Skepticism among players
Why are players skeptical? Players of Path of Exile are pleased on Reddit and in the comments in the forum that the developers will meet the deadline and thus their promise, yet there are also concerns.
Some argue that due to the self-imposed time pressure and the promise to release a new season of Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 every 2 months, bigger issues and updates are less likely to be addressed. Instead, the focus tends to be much stronger on the development of Path of Exile 2.
At the same time, Path of Exile benefits from its successor and recently received a huge update to its trading system. Nonetheless, the current season of Path of Exile has performed slightly worse than previous ones. Comparing the player numbers of the seasons, the current season started with more players, but lost them more quickly. A month in, the current season was already about 20,000 players behind the previous one, according to SteamDB.
However, it cannot be determined whether this is really due to the quality of the updates or simply the players’ taste and enjoyment of the current season mechanics.
There are hobbies that require their own space to provide utensils and a workspace. Painting miniatures for TTRPGs like Warhammer or Dungeons & Dragons is definitely easier when you have the right place for paints, brushes, and of course the figures. A fan on Reddit proves that with a bit of creativity and craftsmanship, you don’t need to sacrifice an entire room for it.
What does the miniature fan show the community? The user Loopy257 showcases on Reddit his self-built hobby room, where his workspace for painting miniatures is located. Underlay, lighting, paints, and other utensils can be seen, all neatly organized.
The surprise, however, lies behind his second picture. He can comfortably hide the desk along with everything he needs for his hobby behind two doors. His hobby room is simply nothing more than a storage closet.
The hidden hobby room of Loopy257 (Source: Reddit)
The hobbyist proudly explains that he has just finished his hidden hobby cabinet, which makes other enthusiastic miniature fans envious in a short time and is dubbed “Hobby Harry Potter”.
In the trailer for the fourth campaign of Critical Role, you can also see some miniatures of the heroes:
Start video
The 4th Campaign of Critical Role starts now and is bigger than ever
Clever workspace inspires envy, but also inspiration
What do other fans say about the hidden workspace? The community on Reddit is not even trying to hide their envy. They seem to have rarely seen such a workspace as that of the poster:
“When you open both doors at the same time, does golden light accompanied by the singing of a choir of angels flow out?” asks the enthusiastic williarya1323
Belisarius writes impressed: “Have you ever seen something like this on the internet and thought: Man, some people are so cool? This is such a cool project!”
Other users see this hobby cabinet as a way to maintain better harmony at home. “If I had something like that, my wife might invite people over to our house,” writes PriceysRight, and the author of the post confirms that his wife is happy that it can be hidden in seconds. She has no problem with the hobby, but both are glad that their home does not have to suffer from the clutter of a hobby.
What disadvantages does a workspace in a closet have? Really, there aren’t many disadvantages mentioned in the conversation on Reddit. However, the community has concerns about the equipment around the air compressor that the miniature fan needs for airbrushing, as well as the airbrushing itself.
Airbrushing is a technique where a uniform layer of paint can be applied using compressed air and thin paint.
He is pointed out that it is not safe to spray in a room without ventilation and a mask, even if the paints are water-based. However, the author of the post explains that he always wears a respirator for airbrushing, which can also be seen on the wall in the photo.
Also, space or storage shortage is not a problem. There is another storage room that looks significantly messier than the one photographed. Only the vacuum cleaner is allowed to continue living in the small hobby room.
Painting miniatures is a calming hobby for many fans, with which you can really achieve nice results with a bit of practice. MeinMMO editor Caro also started this hobby last year and immediately fell in love with the work. How she discovered the hobby for herself, how she proceeds when painting, and what she has learned as a beginner is reported here: My new hobby is even nerdier than Dungeons & Dragons, and both can be combined wonderfully
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A country relies on a fleet of autonomous vehicles for the transportation of goods. However, it doesn’t always work smoothly. Videos featuring autonomous vehicles causing chaos are going viral.
Driverless vehicles inside the cars. For many people, this still sounds like something from the future. In China, they are already taking a step further and are relying on self-driving delivery vehicles without people who could intervene during the ride.
And this causes plenty of chaos and destruction, as seen in a video that the magazine Dexerto shared on X.com.
Start video
Slate Auto presents new truck with electric motor
What can be seen in the video? In the shared video, you can see small AI-controlled vehicles making their way through the streets, showing no regard for their surroundings whatsoever: They drive over high curbs, through mud, through thick oil spills, and ignore even construction sites and freshly poured concrete roads.
In China, driverless delivery vans have become an absolute meme. They plow their way through crumbling roads, fresh concrete, motorcycles, just about everything.
Nothing can stop them.
The vehicles seen in the clips are part of the rapidly growing autonomous delivery network in China. Large logistics companies have introduced self-driving vans in urban and rural areas to automate last-mile delivery, thereby saving time and resources.
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According to the magazine Dexerto, these vans are usually deployed on fixed routes between delivery centers and drop-off points, but are monitored by humans from a distance. However, as these videos show, it doesn’t always seem to function without issues.
And these delivery systems with autonomous robotic vehicles continue to grow. Neolix, a Chinese company specializing in autonomous vehicles, recently introduced the X1 model at CES 2026, designed for so-called “last mile” deliveries: The vehicle is built to navigate even on sidewalks, use elevators, and drive right into offices.
The YouTuber JP Performance GmbH took a look at a special electric car from the German company Audi in a new video, which cannot even be bought in Germany. The Audi E5 Sportback is currently only available in China and is intended to be sold there for the time being: Audi sells a luxury car in China with 700 hp for 30,000 euros, twice the price in Germany
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Star Trek Starfleet Academy is a new series from the renowned science fiction franchise. Everything you need to know about the release, the cast, and the storyline is available here.
What is Star Trek Starfleet Academy? It is a new production from the Star Trek franchise and represents the ninth live-action series of the brand.
It tells the story of a group of young cadets being trained to become officers at Starfleet Academy.
When is the release of Star Trek Starfleet Academy? The series launches on January 15, 2026. Initially, two episodes will be released simultaneously, with the remaining episodes following on a weekly basis. The finale will take place on March 12.
Is there a trailer? Alongside a teaser, there are already several trailers that set the tone for the series and introduce the characters. You can get a glimpse of it here:
Start video
In Star Trek Starfleet Academy, aspiring officers have to attend classes – Watch the trailer here
Star Trek Starfleet Academy: Episodes, Stream, and Cast
How many episodes will Star Trek Starfleet Academy have? The first season consists of 10 episodes. A second season has already been announced.
Who is streaming Star Trek Starfleet Academy? As the franchise belongs to Paramount, the series is exclusively available on its own streaming service, Paramount+.
Cast: Who is in Star Trek Starfleet Academy? The series features well-known names like Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, alongside newcomers:
What is known about the storyline of Star Trek Starfleet Academy? The series is set in the future of the 32nd century, taking place after the events of Star Trek Discovery. After the catastrophe known as “The Burn,” large parts of the universe are in ruins.
The Federation needs to be rebuilt, and generally, dystopian conditions prevail. Amid this chaos, the series depicts a class of cadets being trained to become officers at Starfleet Academy.
We see them growing older and more experienced, facing challenges, and dealing with the hardships of their time. Personal fates also play an important role, as in the case of young Caleb, who is searching for his mother.
A seemingly good deal is currently circulating on Amazon. A high-end graphics card is being sold below market price. However, customers should steer clear of the seller.
What is this offer? On Amazon, the brand fitters niche is currently selling a Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 5090 Master significantly below the MSRP of €2,329. The Gigabyte variant of the RTX 5090 is being offered in the USA for $999 or in Germany for €856.18 plus €181.19 import and shipping costs from the seller (as of 01/13/2026).
However, the alleged bargain turns out to be disappointing for many: Customers are said to have received not a graphics card but only a fanny pack or worthless junk.
The conspicuous offer is also available in Germany
Judging by the recent reviews on the seller’s Amazon page, at least 40 people are reported to have received a different product instead of a graphics card since December 28, 2025. This is not the first time users have reported receiving incorrect items in Amazon packages.
If you are looking for an alternative instead of an NVIDIA GPU, you should take a look at Intel’s graphics cards:
Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video
Buyers can still breathe easy
Will buyers get their money back? Since this seller ships the products through Amazon itself and handles shipping, they are obligated to refund buyers if they do not receive the correct item.
This is also visible in the shop’s reviews: All negative reviews, where customers claim not to have received graphics cards, have been directly addressed by Amazon.
The company writes: “This item was shipped by Amazon and we take responsibility for the shipping process.” Thus, in the worst case, customers of the seller can get their money back. Another user received a similar shock when he opened the package of his brand new graphics card.
Tips to detect scams early
How can I protect myself from fraud? There are some guidelines to follow to minimize the chance of a scam happening:
If an offer seems too good to be true, then a scam is quite likely: It’s best to compare the official prices of a product before purchasing, as if an item is substantially cheaper than everywhere else, you should be cautious. Usually, these offers are designed to lure in as many people as possible to make the maximum profit from a scam.
Check reviews of a shop. Before buying an expensive product, you should take a look at the reviews of a shop. On Amazon, for example, you can do this on the product page by clicking on the blue name of the seller on the right side of the screen next to “Seller”.
Even though he was let go by Blizzard, he took with him a memory that no one can take away. A rare relic of the past.
Working at Blizzard was a long-held dream for a whole generation of developers and designers. Even though that dream has been significantly tarnished over the past decade due to major scandals and allegations of exploitation, there are still many people who feel inspired by the “big names” at Blizzard.
One who made it to Blizzard now recounts his memento that will forever remind and inspire him: The nameplate of a legendary Blizzard artist.
The trailer for the now “dead” Warcraft Rumble:
Start video
Warcraft Rumble: Cinematic for the Game Launch
What was the developer working on? According to his own statements, Motatopotato worked on Warcraft Rumble in the WoW subreddit. It was the mobile game for Warcraft that was initially well-received, but its development was halted less than 2 years after release – a large part of the team was let go and only a few were reassigned to other positions.
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How did he get the nameplate? He describes this in a comment under the picture. There he recounts:
At the end of the COVID pandemic, we were given the opportunity to test the hybrid work model that [Blizzard] wanted to implement. I lived within walking distance to the campus and volunteered. By chance, I got the same desk that Samwise [Didier] had. I found his name card in one of the drawers and have kept it ever since.
On the name card is the name of Sam Didier, along with one of his favorite sayings: “Always Be Creating.” That’s what Didier always tells all artists, and it’s also a motto he lives by: One should always be working on something, as it’s the only way to improve.
That Samwise Didier also has a special meaning for the new owner of the name card is also evident afterwards:
The art of Sam was what inspired me to try my hand at being an artist after I had previously worked in clinical sciences as a technologist for seven years.
After I was let go in 2024 (as was ultimately the entire team from Rumble), I didn’t have the strength to open the boxes – until today, where I came across this relic of personal history.
I just wanted to share this with the community because Sam basically defined the art style that so many around the world have fallen in love with.
How the community responds: They are pleased with this quite personal find and the beautiful memory. Didier is also quite popular in the Blizzard community. After all, his works have accompanied many since childhood, as some remember:
“I remember painting people with stylized anatomy by looking at his art in the Warcraft III manual … Samwise is a legend.” – voodootroll
“Sam is a really nice guy. I remember when TBC came out, I was about 15 and super excited because I thought Draenei looked so cool. Sam lived on the same street as me, so I took my TBC box to his house and asked him if he would sign it. He was more than happy about it and wrote ‘FOR THE HORDE’ across the face of the male Draenei on the cover, lol” – uiemad
“One of the saints of what Warcraft used to be. His and Chris [Metzen]’s art is irreplaceable.” – PoshDiggory
“Literally my favorite person at Blizzard. I still remember watching his livestream where he drew Samuro for the announcement of Heroes [of the Storm].” – Croakie89
Samwise Didier drew a large part of the original art at Blizzard, including many of the images for the StarCraft universe. We could see a new game related to that soon, as all signs point to BlizzCon 2026 revealing a new StarCraft game.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A true monster collection alternative to Pokémon and Palworld is set to be released with Aniimo. In a second closed beta, you can get a first impression. How you can participate is explained here.
When will the beta take place? Aniimo is expected to be available for Steam and iOS as well as Android for free later this year, but when exactly remains unknown. Therefore, you can dive into an early version in a closed beta starting January 23, 2026. How long it is intended to last has not yet been announced.
How can I participate? To participate in the beta, you must be selected. You can apply via a form on the official homepage until January 20 at 4:59 PM CET and will find out on January 21 whether you may participate in the beta. It is currently unknown whether further players will be gradually admitted afterward.
What to expect in the beta is also shown in a new trailer:
Start video
Aniimo shows in the trailer for the closed beta how good the monster collector looks
All important information about the second beta of Aniimo
What is playable in the beta? In the now second beta of Aniimo, you can play all the content from the first round as well as the following new features:
Additional Aniimo monsters that were not in the previous one
New developments, with new behaviors and animations
A new boss fight
New areas
The “Homeland” system
Operation “Egg Heist”, a type of 3-player dungeon in PvE/PvP mode
Moods of Aniimos that affect the environment
Can you transfer your progress to the full version? No, all progress will be deleted after the beta and you will have to start anew upon release.
Is there a reward for participation? Currently, nothing is known about a potential reward for the full version for participating in the beta. However, you can secure a “Susuta” egg if you pre-register for the game on the homepage.
When did the first beta take place? A first closed beta took place from July 4 – 10, 2025 (see aniimo.com). You can also play all content from this beta again in the second one.
Just under two months before the release of the second live-action season of One Piece, it seems Netflix has finally woken up from its winter slumber and released a stylish trailer featuring the new villains. And MeinMMO author Sophia Weiß can’t get enough of it.
The live-action version of One Piece is one of the best live-action adaptations of an anime I have seen so far. In terms of quality, it is on par with the Kenshin films for me. Consequently, I was so hyped in 2023 after the release of the first season and would have gladly taken the next season as soon as possible, or simply received new episodes weekly, just like in the anime.
Unfortunately, we had to wait over two years for the announcement of the next episodes. Although there’s still a while to go until March 10, at least there are now regular new insights. Freshly served, the streaming provider offers us a stylish teaser in which we see the new villains of the season in action for the first time: the agents of the Baroque Works.
And I think they look really good – especially my absolute favorite character, Nico Robin. But maybe you should check out the trailer yourself first:
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One Piece: Netflix shows new trailer for season 2 with Nico Robin
Warning, Spoiler: In the following, we will discuss events from the early volumes of One Piece, but we may also go a bit ahead, up to Skypia at most. Anyone who wants to enter the second season blind should exchange this article for another one.
The Baroque Works – From Mister 13 to Miss All Sunday
Season 2 will likely pick up directly where the first left off: Luffy’s crew is heading full speed towards the Grand Line. First, they make a final stop in Loguetown before continuing their journey over the Rivers Mountain. After a short stop due to a giant whale, the first island the crew reaches is Whisky Peak.
Whisky Peak resembles the Wild West and is the first major nest of the Baroque Works and some of their best agents. They always operate in pairs – he is always Mister and a number, she is Miss and a holiday. The smaller the number and the more significant the holiday, the closer the agents are to the boss, Mister 0, and the more powerful they are.
In the trailer, Netflix shows Mister 5 and his partner Miss Valentine, Mister 3 and Miss Goldenweek, but also the otter in a onesie, Mister 13, and his partner Miss Friday, a vulture armed with a machine gun.
We do not get to see the ominous Mister 0 aka Sir Crocodile, but at least we see his partner: Miss All Sunday aka Miss Bloody Sunday aka Demon Child Nico Robin. Lera Abova takes on this role and at least from the trailer, she seems to be the perfect casting.
She not only convincingly portrays Robin visually but also captures her absolute ruthlessness. For example, when she, using her Devil Fruit powers, forces Marines to commit suicide and simply walks past them. Or her warning to Luffy and his crew that not all of them are made of rubber, which might (or might not) be serious. It’s fantastic.
Here are some comparisons between the characters in the anime and live-action versions:
The Unlucky Ones – Mister 13 and Miss FridayMiss GoldenweekMiss All Sunday
The Bodyguard and His Princess
Alongside the really evil characters, Miss Wednesday and Mister 8 also get their first spotlight. The two are special: Miss Wednesday’s real name is Vivi, and she is the princess of the desert kingdom Alabasta. Mister 8 is her bodyguard, Igaram.
The two have mingled among the mafiosos to learn more about their mysterious leader. They suspect that this leader wants to cause trouble in their homeland.
Vivi is played by Charithra Chandran (e.g. Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton). In the trailer, we see her only as Miss Wednesday, not yet as Vivi without her alter ego. She fights with her two peacock eyes, the Kujacky Slasher, and showcases her irresistible dance in action, which is supposed to hypnotize and put opponents to sleep. Miss Wednesday performs this role quite well.
Not much has been seen yet of Igaram aka Mister 8. Other than his magnificent curly hair and the machine gun barrels protruding from it. But even that is pretty spectacular.
Nico Robin is my absolute favorite character from One Piece. She is incredibly cool, mysterious, smart, and loves history. Additionally, she can read the most important language in the entire One Piece universe: the script on the Poneglyphs. Many of these traits Lera Abova has already displayed in the trailer. And of course, everything visually fits here as well.
The remaining Baroque agents impress me even more. Just like in season 1, the cast and costume department have managed to translate the characters from the manga almost 1:1 into reality.
This is a remarkable achievement to keep in mind, considering that the character designs become ever more fantastic from the Grand Line onwards. Think of the wings of the Skypia inhabitants, the onion-like design of Gecko Moria, or the Longarm people.
Season 1 of the live-action version of One Piece even captivated people in my circle who have nothing to do with anime or manga. Whether season 2 can maintain this, we will have to wait and see: Similar to the character designs, the fights and abilities of the characters also become crazier from here on. In the trailer, Zoro’s swords can be seen glowing for the first time.
The German YouTuber Entenburg has been dealing with MMORPGs for many years. In a new tier list, he ranks online role-playing games that are currently in development.
Who is Entenburg? The German YouTuber (almost 77,000 subscribers on the main channel) and streamer (36,350 followers on Twitch) has made a name for himself in recent years primarily with his MMORPG expertise.
In his new video on the second channel Entenburch, Entenburg looks at many of the MMORPGs that are currently in development and ranks them in a tier list. The games fall into the following categories:
Will be a success
Could work
More for a niche
Don’t believe in it / Flop
Will never be released
As a basis for the tier list, Entenburg uses a 4-month-old YouTube video from dear Alex, who managed the MMORPG genre at MeinMMO for a long time and now produces content for his YouTube channel MMO News.
Here you can see our outlook on the new MMORPG year 2026:
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Which MMORPGs does Entenburg see the highest chance of success? Although there are currently zero infos about Guild Wars 3 besides the crude announcement, Entenburg considers the sequel to be one of the two biggest hopeful candidates that could eventually meet expectations.
Entenburg’s argument: If the game is released, it will be a success because the experienced developers from ArenaNet are behind Guild Wars 3. However, the question is intriguing, what kind of game we can expect. After all, Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 differ significantly.
It looks similar with the LoL-MMORPG from Riot. Hardly anything has been known since the restart of development. Is it coming? If so, then success is comparatively certain – due to the enormously popular Runeterra universe.
According to Entenburg, this is the one online role-playing game that can provide the long-awaited impulse for the genre to break out of the stagnation of the past decade. Riot certainly has enough money and developer expertise. It just needs to get off the ground.
You can watch the nearly 100-minute video from Entenburg on YouTube or below:
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Which well-known MMORPGs is Entenburg skeptical about? Entenburg has already played Aion 2 for about 50 hours. He had fun and praises the combat as well as the mount system, among other things. At the same time, he criticizes the currently very clear Pay2Win monetization model.
Looking ahead to the release in the West, it is crucial from his perspective what adjustments the developers will make here. Due to the question marks, Aion 2 lands in “Could work,” and in the magnitude of a Throne and Liberty. However, NCsoft would need to make extensive adjustments to the payment model, according to Entenburg.
Entenburg is also skeptical about Ashes of Creation. He has been able to check in several times since the early alpha phases and sees potential. However, there are still massive issues, especially regarding duplication, hacks, and real-money trading (which is depressingly reminiscent of New World). Moreover, the early access version launched without some of the key features.
Will the developers have the time to improve all of this and ultimately celebrate a truly completed version with the final release? Due to the enormous dollar amount that the studio burns every month, this is anything but certain. Entenburg tends to lean towards “Don’t believe in it / Flop”.
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ArcheAge Chronicles: Trailer shows for the first time the successor to ArcheAge
What about ArcheAge Chronicles? Entenburg emphasizes that Chronicles will have little to do with the original ArcheAge. Furthermore, he sees it as a bad sign that the creator of ArcheAge has since left the studio.
Entenburg even assumes it will be a certain flop and categorizes it as “Don’t believe in it / Flop”. His prediction: ArcheAge fans will not like it because it’s not a true sequel. Meanwhile, fans of story and PvE MMORPGs will have better alternatives. Therefore, the streamer sees no suitable target audience for ArcheAge Chronicles, not even in a niche.
What about Chrono Odyssey? The new AAA MMORPG for PC and consoles revealed unbelievable issues during the beta test in 2025. The good news: The developers have postponed the release to late 2026 to address these problems.
But will that be enough? Currently, it’s only a “Could work” in Entenburg’s tier list. The streamer hopes that the Chrono Studio team gives themselves enough time, even if that would mean another delay.
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Chrono Odyssey: Trailer from Summer Game Fest 2025 shows action-packed battles and a dark world
What’s also noteworthy? In the mass of indie games, there is a title for the niche that Entenburg is particularly looking forward to: Apogea. This medieval fantasy MMORPG possesses certain qualities, especially regarding the old-school player experience reminiscent of classic WoW. Interested parties can currently sign up for a playtest on Steam and check it out.
The new EverQuest project also lands in the tier list niche, despite the bigger name, because it is supposed to be “only” a modernized version of the first part. Meanwhile, regarding the Amazon Games MMORPG for The Lord of the Rings, Entenburg no longer believes in a release, for reasons. It’s a shame, as Entenburg sees potential with it at “Will be a success” should it still see the light of day.
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz rate the tier list? I agree with Entenburg on most games, although there is a lot of hope behind the strong classification of the LoL MMORPG and Guild Wars 3. It would be sooooo important for the genre and the MMORPG community…
That I’m also worried about Ashes of Creation after the Steam release, I have already addressed in a separate article. However, I believe that the MMORPG from Intrepid can be the perfect game for a niche. The question is only whether it will ultimately be too expensive for the niche (and thus become a flop).
What I see completely differently, however, is the classification of ArcheAge Chronicles. I am pleased that the series aims to appeal more to PvE and story fans with the new installment, and what I have seen and heard so far gives me hope for a good to very good MMORPG – even ahead of Aion 2 or Chrono Odyssey, the other two major MMORPGs from Asia. More about this: The successor to ArcheAge is not a traditional MMORPG – XL Games explains the peculiarities to MeinMMO
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Actually, Hytale was supposed to be released in 2021, but the game, which many call the “Minecraft killer”, is finally coming out – just not on Steam. Nevertheless, the title is selling so well that the developers are not worried about the future.
What kind of game is this? Hytale is a new sandbox RPG being developed by Hypixel Studios. At first glance, it’s clear that the team has taken heavy inspiration from Minecraft – Hytale aims to do everything better than its predecessor.
In recent years, Hytale has been referred to by many as the “Minecraft killer” – the game that could succeed the classic after it remained virtually unchallenged for so long. Similar to how the first Cities: Skylines did with the SimCity series.
The announcement trailer for the game was already released in December 2018, and the release was planned for 2021. However, things changed and Hytale was even put on hold in the meantime. A few months later, the creator of the game announced: “Hytale is saved”
Here you can see gameplay from the new game:
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Hytale shows 16 minutes of gameplay with the state from 2025, clarifying how exploring and fighting looks
Pre-sales secure the next two years, even without Steam
Hytale is now entering early access: On January 13, 2026, it will be finally released – albeit initially only in an early access version. Thus, the development of Hytale is still not quite complete, but fans can at least play the game now and provide feedback.
Although Hytale is currently not on Steam and thus not reaching as many players as possible, the financial future of the game seems to be secured. One of the creators of Hytale, Simon Collins-Laflamme, proudly announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they have “officially secured the next two years of development costs through pre-purchases”.
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According to Simon, the team behind Hytale now consists of 50 people or more. Moreover, access to early access won’t hit the wallet too hard: There is a costly Founders Edition currently priced at $83.29 (about €71.39), while the Standard Edition costs only $23.79 (about €20.39).
The prices are as of the release of this article (January 13, 12:00 PM) and may change. Initially, the price of the Standard Edition was set at $19.99 at the announcement.
About 7 years after the announcement trailer, Hytale is finally in the hands of players. Many will be eager to dive into the game. However, the developers themselves warn against approaching the matter with overly high expectations: Hytale developers reveal launch date, simultaneously warn against purchasing
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Division 2 is done with bullet sponge enemies and will bring a limited-time mode in 2026 that offers a completely new gameplay experience.
What is this new mode? Ubisoft introduced a so-called “Realism Mode” for The Division 2 during the FPSDay in Japan, which players on-site were able to try out. This is supposed to be a new game mode where the loot shooter plays fundamentally differently (Ubisoft via YouTube).
In this Realism Mode, everything is designed for realism, as the name suggests. This means the game is more oriented towards hardcore shooters like Escape from Tarkov or Squad and moves away from the old loot shooter existence.
Select a MMO video…
Goodbye bullet sponges, hello realism
What characterizes the mode? In the new Realism Mode, you’ll play the expansion campaign “Warlords of New York” under changed conditions: Everything is supposed to be more realistic and immersive.
Instead of a high time-to-kill (TTK), enemies in Realism Mode will go down after just a few hits. The TTK is significantly lower and also depends on the caliber of your weapon. The classic bullet sponges that you know from The Division will not be present.
However, survival is supposed to be more difficult not only for your enemies but also for you. There is no health regeneration, you have severely limited ammunition, and longer skill cooldowns.
Additionally, the HUD in the mode is limited. In gameplay footage from Japan, it can be seen that the mini-map, enemy outlines and names, health bars, and similar features are missing (via YouTube). Ubisoft describes the mode as “rough and merciless”.
When can you play the mode? The Realism Mode will be released in March 2026 for owners of the “Warlords of New York” DLC and will only be playable during the anniversary season of The Division. If you miss this, you won’t have a chance to check out the mode later.
The well-known and highly controversial developer Peter Molyneux is currently working on the pinnacle of his life’s work, and it is now clear what it will look like and when it will be released on Steam.
Who is it about? Peter Molyneux is the creator of the god simulation genre such as Black & White. He is also known for the Fable series and is regarded as a visionary who has helped shape the gaming industry. He did this primarily by taking risks and focusing on new ideas and innovations instead of sticking to proven concepts.
Now his latest project has been presented in a new trailer, showcasing exactly whose handwriting it carries.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new game:
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Masters of Albion shows in the trailer how creative strategy games can be
A worthy god simulation
What kind of game is this? With Masters of Albion, Peter Molyneux’s last game is expected to become a real success once again. The concept sounds well-thought-out and quite exciting. One again takes on the role of an all-powerful figure resembling a god, helping people build a city.
During the day, products must be designed and manufactured. The people need food, the lord needs new clothes, and weapons and armor would also be good. The earned money can then be reinvested into the city’s infrastructure to expand it using a modular system.
Over time, new product parts, blocks for building houses, and magical powers are gradually unlocked. This way, the city can continuously be upgraded and customized.
What happens at night? When the sun sets, all work within the city walls should be done, because then the beasts come out. Zombies, werewolves, and trolls are after the inhabitants of the city.
While weapons and armor are a good investment, the magical abilities of a deity help significantly more in defending against enemies. Over time, however, the enemies also grow stronger, and the city must devise new tricks such as armed guard towers with special ammunition.
Heroes defend the city better than regular citizens. As a player, you can customize the appearance of the heroes and must also invent and build their weapons and armor.
Of course, as a deity, you can also take on the role of the city’s inhabitants to explore locations with them, solve puzzles, or fight. The creature doesn’t even have to be human. In the trailer, you can even take on the role of a dog.
Star Trek will receive its next series on January 15, 2026, this time focusing on a group of young people. They deliberately have to deal with problems that are also familiar to today’s Gen Z.
What kind of series is it? Star Trek Starfleet Academy is already the ninth live-action series in the franchise and will premiere on Paramount+ starting January 15, 2026. The first season is expected to have a total of 10 episodes. Even before the actual premiere, Paramount announced that a second season will follow.
Starfleet Academy is set in the distant 32nd century, after the events of the series Discovery. The story centers on a first class at Starfleet Academy. Young people are trained to become officers – both on the ground in San Francisco and on the spaceship USS Athena.
Showrunner Alex Kurtzman has now revealed what lies behind the decision to feature such young protagonists – and why they live in the dystopian 32nd century.
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In Star Trek Starfleet Academy, aspiring officers have to attend classes – Watch the trailer here
The future looks bleak
What does the showrunner say? Alex Kurtzman explained in an interview with Series Business what led to the decision to set the series in the 32nd century. For context: This timeframe was introduced in Star Trek Discovery and is significantly darker than, for example, the time of the Federation (The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine).
The universe has been shaken by a catastrophe known as the “Burn.” During this event, the substance dilithium became unstable – it powers the warp reactors of starships and caused numerous warp cores to explode. In the wake of this event, countless beings died, large parts of the universe were destroyed, and the Federation came to an end and must now be rebuilt.
Alex Kurtzman justifies the decision like this:
The idea of setting the story in the 32nd century was a conscious choice because I firmly believed that if it were set in the happy days of the Federation – where everything is fine and the cadets face no particular challenges from their environment aside from the respective weekly storylines – it would not hit the pulse of the times.
Alex Kurtzman
The pulse of the times – with this, Kurtzman wants to particularly address today’s young people. This is understandable, as especially Gen Z faces a world that, in light of climate change, wars, and political crises, can sometimes seem dystopian – and needs a substantial dose of hope. Kurtzman further explains:
If it is instead set in the 32nd century with kids who inherit a completely broken universe for which they are responsible for rebuilding and maintaining optimism, then that is something else. That is a beautiful reinforcement of Roddenberry’s fundamental vision of hope. It seemed to me a great way to underscore Star Trek and reach people who have no connection to Star Trek.
Whether the endeavor will succeed and if Star Trek can truly appeal to Gen Z will be revealed starting January 18, 2026, when the series premieres. What are your thoughts on this? Are you looking forward to Star Trek Starfleet Academy? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. MeinMMO editor Niko Hernes has long struggled with the franchise: I always thought Star Trek was the cheap Star Wars, but a certain episode convinced me otherwise
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Update 1.11.0 for ARC Raiders is out now and brings adjustments for the game, a new skin, and a limited-time reward to celebrate a milestone. We will show you the patch notes.
What is this update? On January 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM German time, update 1.11.0 for ARC Raiders was released. This includes only minor adjustments for game balance and is approximately 1.4 GB on Steam. In the current blog post, no new game content has been communicated, so it is possible that you can expect this in a future update.
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Spieler in Arc Raiders schreit so laut um Hilfe, dass der Nachbar die Tür aufbricht
ARC Raiders: Patch notes for update 1.11.0
What do the patch notes say? We have translated the English patch notes for you. You can expect the following changes after downloading update 1.11.0:
Kettle
Developer Note: The fire rate has been reduced from 600 to 450. The previous fire rate was realistically only achievable by players using macros. This created an unfair dynamic that favored the use of third-party software.
Trigger Grenade
Developer Note: The trigger grenade currently dominates PVP encounters, and players prefer it over all our other grenades. This nerf aims to make it less effective as an “in-air detonator” grenade while maintaining its utility as a sticky bomb. The damage drop has been rebalanced to concentrate damage closer to the center of the explosion and cause less damage at range. The delay between grenade activation and detonation has been increased from 0.7s to 1.5s. This gives players more time to react and makes it more difficult to time the detonation in the air.
A keycard exploit has been fixed that allowed players to retain keycards after use.
The lighting in some areas of Stella Montis Night Raid has been reduced to make flashlights and hearing (listening) more relevant.
With the launch of HBO Max, there is a new streaming service with many series and movies. Especially a gangster series should be seen by anyone who loves series like Breaking Bad or Mad Men.
Every week, new series are released on various platforms. With HBO Max, a new streamer has also launched in Germany, offering some movies and series. But the first thing you should watch is a classic series: The Sopranos.
Originally, the series aired between 1999 and 2007 and has 86 episodes spread over 6 seasons. The series follows Tony Soprano, who as the new boss of the Mafia family not only has to solve business problems. His own family and health also present him with challenges.
Though this sounds quite familiar, The Sopranos tackles the gangster theme so well that it still feels fresh today. Not only is it the best series of all time for me, it also had a significant impact on television as a whole.
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Die Sopranos feiert im Promo-Trailer ihr 25-jähriges Jubiläum
The themes still feel modern
Although the series is almost as old as I am and ended over 18 years ago, it can still easily compete with many of today’s series, and even surpass them. At first glance, it appears to be a classic mafia story. It’s about intrigues within the family and other gangs that need to be dealt with.
The Sopranos has a great sense of balance. There are moments that are so funny that it almost feels like a comedy series. Yet this never detracts from the tragic moments; they actually feel more effective because we get to know multiple facets of the many characters.
All of them are well portrayed by the actors, especially Tony Soprano played by the late James Gandolfini. He shows why series with antagonists can be so popular: You know he does terrible things and is just a bad person, yet he has such charm that you can’t look away and you still root for him.
Over the 6 seasons, relationships develop that feel realistic without the series constantly having to force-feed the audience how the characters are connected. But the true strength of The Sopranos lies in the different layers of the story.
The mafia elements are just the surface of The Sopranos. At its core, the series deals with many social issues that are still relevant today. The common thread is Tony’s psyche. He suffers from panic attacks, to the extent that he has to see a psychiatrist. In doing so, it addresses the taboo nature of the topic in such an environment, but also does so elegantly and ironically with sensitivity.
It utilizes the prevailing toxic masculinity of such a mafia clan to address mental illness, false role models, and even the relationship with parents, without spoon-feeding it to the audience. For those who want it, they get a well-acted and strongly staged mafia series, but for those looking to delve deeper into the consequences, they also receive social critique.
It does not point fingers at the viewers; instead, it shows the effect of the characters’ behavior on others. And the escalation that all of this can lead to. Even here, it doesn’t package everything in dramatic or emotional scenes. The Sopranos shows all facets: grief, anger, joy, or despair.
As a result, The Sopranos is never too heavy fare that you can’t just watch it during your downtime. The series respects that the viewers can think for themselves about what they have seen.
Sopranos is an important milestone and likely one of the reasons why the television landscape is as it is today.
Tony Soprano with psychiatrist Dr. Melfi
The villain as a charming protagonist
Not only because of its quality is The Sopranos considered one of the most important series of all time. It placed a complex anti-hero at the forefront and established a then-rare television format. Life.com described the series in 2021 based on critics Matt Zoller Seitz (New York Magazine) and Alan Sepinwall (Rolling Stone) as follows:
Many of the most innovative features of the series have now become common conventions of television – anti-heroic or even outright villainous main characters, ongoing storylines instead of individual episodes, and the recognition that real life includes moral gray areas and unresolved storylines.
Tony was one of the first television protagonists who, as an anti-hero, was clearly a bad person but had multiple facets. A characteristic that can later be seen in many series such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, or Mad Men.
Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, even said in an interview with Daily Beast:
Our series owes a lot to The Sopranos, like all other series that have a flawed or somewhat antagonistic protagonist at the center […] Without The Sopranos, Breaking Bad would have been, in my opinion, not only harder to sell—it would have been absolutely impossible to sell.
So it is worth watching The Sopranos, not only for the quality of the series but also to see how a milestone in television history paved the way for today’s productions back in 1999.
In addition to the new streaming service HBO Max, there are of course also the old familiar ones in Germany. In 2025, Netflix will again release countless series. Keeping track of them is not always easy. Here are 5 of the most exciting: 5 Netflix series from 2025 that no one should miss
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
