VIVA was one of the few German TV channels that showed various animes in the early 2000s. Usually, music videos from singers were played here, but in the evenings, the music channel transformed into an anime channel. MeinMMO presents you the best of these animes in a list.
Besides the TV channel MTV, which had more mature animes in its program, there was also VIVA. The channel primarily played music videos. However, some animes were also aired that were cleared for ages 12 or 16. This meant that the series were still generally aimed at an older audience compared to the animes on RTL2.
Nevertheless, the animes on VIVA usually aired in the evening block from 10 PM or on weekends. Therefore, you probably only watched them if you could stay awake long enough. MeinMMO presents you the best classics that you could have watched at that time.
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3 Animes that you should know as Harry Potter fans
Hellsing
Genre: Horror, Action, Vampire
Rated: 16 years
When did the anime air? From August 2003
What is it about? The Hellsing Organization has secretly formed in Great Britain. It is named after the vampire hunter Abraham van Helsing and protects the kingdom from supernatural threats. This includes ghouls, but also vampires.
Alucard is an extremely powerful vampire bound to the Hellsing family by a spell. He fights for humans and hunts his own kind. He often uses huge pistols. He saves the young police officer Seras Victoria from death and takes her on as his apprentice.
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Why should you watch it? Alucard is the big star of the anime. The anti-hero is from the beginning the most powerful being in the anime and it is fun to watch how superior he is to his opponents. And the vampire knows it: He is arrogant and cynical.
Continue on page 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On January 6, 2026, the hardcore Savage variant of the current Arkadion raid started in Final Fantasy XIV. However, due to a persistent problem, many players had little joy with the fresh challenge.
What is the problem? The servers of Final Fantasy XIV have been suffering from repeated DDoS attacks for months now. DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. In such a case, a target is attacked with a massive flood of requests to overload it and make it inaccessible to others.
In the case of Final Fantasy XIV, this means: players lose connection to the server, get kicked out of the game, and find themselves in very long queues when trying to log back in. The servers in the North America and Oceania regions have been suffering from such DDoS attacks for months.
Recently, according to some affected players, the attacks have been particularly severe… it is reported on Reddit that there were more than 15 DDoS attacks in a single day. This is currently doubly frustrating because a crucial piece of content for many players recently premiered.
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Rocking trailer for “Into the Mist” sets the stage for patch 7.4
Since January 6, 2026, all experienced players can try their hand at the even tougher Savage variant of the Arkadion raid. It offers better rewards but requires players to have precise reactions, coordination, and maneuvering. The smallest mistakes can lead to a wipe. It doesn’t help if the servers are struggling and constantly kicking players out of the game.
What is the community saying? Many current reports highlight the frustration within the community:
DragonEmperor complains on Reddit: “Since 2 PM, there have been DDoS attacks approximately every hour, since the Savage raid tier was released. […] The game was largely unplayable when the raid started, and it happened as soon as people entered the raids.”
Macho-Fantastico explains on Reddit: “One of the reasons why I decided against a return over Christmas was the DDoS attacks. I have friends who play, and for them it’s a nightmare. These attacks have been ongoing for months now.”
CyanYoh got kicked out of the game in the middle of the raid and took it with humor on Reddit: “Happy Savage Day!”
This is just the tip of the iceberg from countless posts on the subject, each with hundreds of comments and thousands of upvotes. The problem affects a very large part of the FFXIV community. However, there is good news for you: the EU servers have not been affected so far.
This is also underscored by a report from the developers on the official Lodestone, which reports DDoS attacks on the North American data center. We hope that the EU data center remains spared and that the developers can get the problem under control soon.
007: First Light has presented its system requirements, and they are quite demanding: A whopping 32 GB of RAM is required even for Full HD. Players in the community are less than thrilled.
The action game and shooter 007: First Light is set to release on May 27, 2026, and just days ago, the official system requirements for the new James Bond game were revealed. However, these very requirements are causing players to raise their eyebrows.
Especially the requirements for RAM are surprisingly high. This has sparked plenty of criticism among players.
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007 First Light – Announcement Trailer of the new game by the Hitman developers
First Light requires 32 GB of RAM for Full HD at 60 FPS
What has been presented exactly? 007: First Light has now revealed the official specifications for PC, and they are causing disbelief among players: While the requirements for the processor and graphics card are rather moderate, First Light requires 32 GB of RAM for Full HD. This is in a current climate where RAM has become almost unaffordable.
Specifically, the requirements are as follows:
Minimum
Recommended
Target Resolution
1080p at 30 FPS
1080p at 60 FPS
Processor
Intel Core i5 9500K or AMD Ryzen 5 3500
Intel Core i5 13500 or Ryzen 6 7600
Graphics Card
Nvidia GTX 1660, AMD RX 5700
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or AMD RX 6700 XT
RAM
16 GB
32 GB
Video Memory
8 GB
12 GB
Storage
80 GB
80 GB
Operating System
Windows 10/11, 64-Bit
Windows 10/11, 64-Bit
How are the reactions? In a thread on Reddit, users are complaining about the presented requirements and demanding better optimization from the developers for their new action game. Recommending 32 GB of RAM for Full HD is almost ridicule given the current high prices. One user on Reddit states:
I think they [the developers] want us to go back and play all the games we’ve hoarded in our Steam library. 32 GB for 1080p is just too much.
Others are also surprised how the game will run on the Nintendo Switch 2, for which First Light has also been officially announced. The Switch 2 does not have 32 GB of RAM internally, but only 12 GB LPDDR5X.
The PC specifications for First Light
Furthermore, the presented system requirements only cover the data for Full HD, with data for higher resolutions like WQHD or 4K completely missing so far. Some fear that the requirements here could be even higher.
In Pokémon GO there are some limited-time content. One of them currently offers you quite easy rewards.
For some time now, Pokémon GO has had the so-called weekly challenges. You can team up with up to 3 friends to complete a task together. As the name suggests, you have a week to do this.
You shouldn’t miss the current weekly challenge. It is one of the simpler ones and brings you some additional rewards fairly easily.
Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
Spin and earn
What is the current weekly challenge? Currently, to complete the current task, you need to spin 150 PokéStops or Gyms. As usual in the weekly challenges, it doesn’t matter who among you spins how many Stops or Gyms.
So if you have trainers in your group who are a bit less active in the coming days, the activity can be balanced out by other trainers in your group.
If you’re missing the right teammates, you can also tackle the weekly challenge alone. Even this is relatively easy to achieve with the current task.
What rewards are there? If you successfully complete the challenge, you can look forward to the following rewards:
20,000 experience points
6,000 stardust
7 hearts at friendship level
Especially the 7 hearts for the friendship level will interest many players, as it gives you a 7-day head start. This allows you to reach the new friendship level of best friends faster.
You need to reach this level to perform the new remote trades. If that’s your goal, you shouldn’t miss the challenge.
If you complete the challenge alone, you can at least look forward to the small boost in experience points and stardust.
How long does the challenge run? You have until Tuesday at 1:00 AM to spin the required number of Stops and Gyms. After that, the task ends and the next one begins.
The new year 2026 starts as usual with some events and content that await you in Pokémon GO. If you want to know which ones there are, when they take place, and what content they bring, feel free to take a look at our overview with all events in January 2026 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Anime MMORPG Blue Protocol: Star Resonance was able to have a good start on Steam in 2025. However, player numbers quickly dropped again, and there was criticism. Now the new season is coming up, and the players are sure that it has to deliver.
What is this new season about? The developers of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance have released a new teaser trailer for Season 2 of the Anime MMORPG on YouTube. The new season is titled “Dreambloom – Echoes of Lost Nightmares” and will start on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Here you can watch the teaser trailer for the new season:
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Anime MMORPG Blue Protocol: Star Resonance shows Season 2 in the teaser trailer
Continuation Instead of New Beginning
What should change with Season 2? The teaser trailer already shows some of the main innovations from Season 2. The update expands the story of the MMORPG with new chapters and again offers new quests for players to experience.
There are also some content updates. The current six dungeons will be replaced by six new dungeons coming with the new season. The same applies to the raids, which are to be completely replaced.
However, according to the Chinese version, the fundamental structures of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, which are primarily focused on short adventures and mobile play, remain unchanged.
What new features are there? A significant new feature is the new season mechanic, which replaces the well-known “Void Eblem” system. Instead, there is the “Deep Sleep Affinity” system, which transforms fixed attribute values into variable attribute values.
Skills in the game will also be modified, and there will be changes. Additionally, there are new Imagines, bosses that you can equip as battle companions in the game. Here, some new ones are added that can prove to be useful.
How do fans react to the update? After the strong launch of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance on Steam in October 2025 with over 94,000 players, player numbers have plummeted. Currently, according to SteamDB, only about 3,000 players are currently logging in via Steam. However, the Anime MMORPG also has players who are playing through the own launcher or on mobile.
Accordingly, the expectations of players for Season 2 are also high. It is clear to them that with the new season, players must be won back; otherwise, the MMORPG could soon be at an end.
As YouTube user @XZeroKPS writes: “I think this is crucial for me. If there aren’t the changes I want in this season, then for me it is basically just a countdown to the release of Arknights Endfield.”
Things look a bit darker for Reddit user Thrionic, who writes: “The game needs a complete overhaul; otherwise, nobody will come back, and no new players will waste their time when so many better games are about to be released.”
The Sauercrowd project from WoW Classic Hardcore brings not only big names like HandOfBlood and Trymacs to the spotlight but also smaller Twitch streamers. A certain Brudivoeller_TV is currently leaving a particularly lasting impression in the streams.
Who is Brudivoeller_TV? The streamer’s real name is Matthias, he is in his 20s, and is still one of the smaller content creators from Germany. On Twitch, Brudivoeller_TV has just over 17,260 followers. On Instagram, there are nearly 1,050. On YouTube, the oldest video went live 5 years ago, but only 24 more works have been added since then.
For the Sauercrowd project, the streamer recently created a human warrior, who is currently at level 36 (his first warrior died because Matthias carelessly switched to the browser in the middle of leveling in the wilderness and didn’t realize he was being attacked – you can check out the fun on Twitch).
Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
Brudi has a close relationship with an apple strudel
What else do we learn about the streamer? Currently, Brudivoeller_TV is usually roaming through Azeroth with HandOfBlood’s group. Recently, he revealed a culinary crime of a very wild kind (Source: tiktok.com). During a dungeon run, he presented his fellow players and viewers with a grandma’s apple strudel that has surely seen better days.
The strudel is in a glass bowl, hermetically sealed with a firm foil. And that is good. Under the foil, an ecosystem of fluff and mold has already formed. It has probably been sitting in Matthias’s apartment for quite a while.
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The streamer’s concern: “I think when I open it, it’ll be like in 28 Days Later. Then I’ll unleash something.” HandOfBlood is visibly shaken and implores his teammate: “Throw the whole package in the trash and burn the bin. […] That’s how Corona started.”
The problem: Brudivoeller_TV would like to return the glass bowl to his grandmother. However, this can only be done in a germ-free state.
It’s not the first time that food has developed a life of its own at Matthias’s place. In the stream, he reveals: “I once had a pot on a balcony for two and a half years, with spaghetti bolognese in it. It was called Topfi. […] Until my ex-girlfriend eventually disposed of it when she cleaned up the apartment.”
In January 2026, numerous anime sequels are launching, which fans have been eagerly anticipating for months. However, one new release is currently receiving all the hype.
What series is it? Many viewers are currently celebrating the anime Sentenced to Be a Hero, despite other strong sequels like Jujutsu Kaisen and Hell’s Paradise being released. The uniqueness of the anime lies in its subversion of classic heroism. The title of “hero” is not a reward, but rather the hardest possible punishment for serious criminals.
As a hero, they must fight against an overwhelming army and do so at the front lines. Additionally, a hero is resurrected after death to continue fighting. Death is thus not a release, as one continues to fight forever and loses a piece of their memory with each resurrection.
This is why heroes are so despised in the anime’s world. The main character, Xylo, is such a hero who claims to be a victim of a conspiracy. His goal is to take revenge on those who condemned him to this fate. One day, he encounters a goddess who bestows upon him immeasurable powers. This brings unwanted problems.
The anime breaks with classic clichés: gods are weapons of mass destruction, fairies are ugly monsters, and heroes are serious criminals.
Start video
Sentenced to Be a Hero: Trailer for the anime shows heroism as punishment
Doomed as a hero, celebrated for the action
How well is the anime doing? Currently, only one episode of the anime, which runs for about an hour, has been released on Crunchyroll. However, it has already thrilled the first viewers. On IMDb, the first episode has a rating of 8.9/10 based on 1,111 votes.
Also on MyAnimeList, where a bit more votes have been cast, the anime holds a decent rating of 8.53/10 with 12,184 users.
What is behind this? In a new video, the YouTuber penguinz0 mentions that he heard about the hype surrounding Sentenced to Be a Hero and watched the anime himself to see what the hype is about.
He was particularly impressed by the animation quality and the visual effects of the anime. They are incredibly visual and beautifully animated, reminding him of an anime film. Moreover, there is constant action that “hits hard”. It feels to him more like a strong finale than like an episode one.
Moreover, he fears a drop in quality and that the entire budget may have only been invested into the first hour of the anime. He makes an explicit comparison to Ninja Kamui, whose quality suffered significantly after the first episode.
Additionally, he finds the superpowers creatively chosen. The protagonist doesn’t just have a special power but uses sacred seals through which he throws swords as projectiles and can make them explode with fire and light.
What does Jasmin, the anime expert at MeinMMO, think? I also watched the first episode of Sentenced to Be a Hero and immediately fell in love with the art style. There are no clear, hard outlines, which ensures a fresh animation style. I agree with penguinz0’s praise: the action is massive and all clichés have been creatively broken. Even the enemies, who are the ugliest fairies I’ve ever seen, totally fascinated me!
Is there any criticism? However, the YouTuber also expresses concerns about the future of the series. So far, the story is not very deep and still needs to show its full potential.
Moreover, he fears a drop in quality and that the entire budget may have only been invested into the first hour of the anime. He makes an explicit comparison to Ninja Kamui, whose quality suffered significantly after the first episode.
Stranger Things has been concluded after 9 years and 5 seasons. With a grand finale, Netflix celebrated the end of the series, which began in 2016. A significant inspiration in the final battle was Baldur’s Gate 3.
On January 1, 2026, the Netflix series Stranger Things came to an end with the 8th episode of the 5th season. Since 2016, fans have been following the adventures of Eleven, Will, and the other residents of Hawkins. In the over 2-hour-long finale, the Duffer brothers aimed to stage not only emotional scenes but also a lavish final battle.
If you felt like you were in a video game, that’s no coincidence. As the directors revealed in an interview, the battle was inspired by Baldur’s Gate 3.
Start video
With Stranger Things Season 5, the popular hit series from Netflix comes to an end
How to Defeat These Monsters
Warning: The following section contains minor spoilers.
What does the final battle have to do with Baldur’s Gate 3? In an interview with Variety, the Duffer brothers discussed various aspects of the series in light of the finale. They were asked whether they could talk about the finale with the Mindflayer and Vecna and how they wanted to portray it.
Ross Duffer first explains that a large battlefield was needed for the monster. The size was not precisely planned. They first built the interior set and based the exterior around it. Matt Duffer answers the question more conceptually and names Baldur’s Gate 3 as an inspiration:
We thought about D&D, and at that time, I was playing Baldur’s Gate 3, and we found it very important that they could only win if the whole group worked together. Everyone realized – either through self-acceptance or because they had resolved their different issues – that they were absolutely ready for the final battle.
He describes them as the ultimate team, working together to defeat the thing. This aspect comes from Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur’s Gate 3, as for him, that’s an important point of the battle: For that is the only way to defeat these monsters that otherwise seem unstoppable.
According to Matt Duffer, many references to video games were implemented in the final battle.
Do the video game influences stand out? If you’ve faced several boss battles before, this feels like one you would expect in the finale of games like Resident Evil or Lost Planet. The party vibe from RPGs is also present. You see several characters playing different roles in the battle and having different weapons or even abilities. If you’re interested in the monsters from Stranger Things, we have a list for you: Stranger Things: The 5 Most Dangerous Monsters of the Netflix Series Ranked
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
One of the many highlights starting in the Winter season 2026 is the 2nd season of Hell’s Paradise. MeinMMO editor Jasmin was able to watch the first episode in advance and is particularly looking forward to the hellish paradise.
Hell’s Paradise is an anime that I completely read as a manga even before its anime debut. I loved the exciting story, the interesting characters, and the combat principle, which is explained in more detail later in the anime.
Content-wise, it’s about the shinobi Gabimaru, who, like many other criminals, is sent to a special island. The Shogun suspects that the elixir of life is there and wants to claim it for himself. So he sends criminals to the island to retrieve this elixir for him – and to receive absolution for all their misdeeds.
Who is writing here? Jasmin Beverungen is the anime editor at MeinMMO and is involved in numerous series. She feels most at home in the Shonen area, which is why she is also excitedly following Hell’s Paradise. She had already finished the manga when the anime wasn’t even running yet. Has she mentioned that One Piece is her favorite anime?
But the island, which initially seems like paradise, harbors numerous dangers. Strangely disfigured beings roam the island, as well as some gods. Over time, you learn what lies behind them and whether the elixir of life actually exists.
The story completely captivated me in the manga. However, I spent more time studying some images and imagining them in the anime. I was able to watch episode 1 of season 2 of Hell’s Paradise and was convinced that the animation team even exceeded my expectations.
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Hell’s Paradise: Trailer for Season 2 shows the creepy flower island
Colorful Paradise with Numerous Bloodstains
Hell’s Paradise reveals in its name that it thrives on contrast. The idyllic paradise, which I can’t get enough of, stands in stark contrast to the brutality of the battles.
My biggest highlight in both the manga and season 1 of the anime was every time the plant life of the island or the temple of the gods was shown. You can tell that the mangaka took a lot of time to draw his world. Individual seas of flowers can be seen and various plant species can be admired.
Sometimes I spent a whole minute studying an image in the manga, just because I liked the surroundings so much. I skipped the conversations faster, as there were no pretty flowers here.
I was even more pleased when I saw how beautifully the abode of the gods was implemented in the anime, even in season 2. In episode 1, the deities are seen as they dedicate themselves to their, well, “training”. Everything looks like a colorful spa where the gods can have fun.
I particularly liked the bright colors and the drawing style in this regard. The gods and their abode thus appear as a special world and a higher level that sets them apart from normal humans.
Thanks to the manga, I already know that there will be even more to see of the abode of the gods in the future. I am looking forward to it, as I expect colorful spectacles here as well.
Walking over such a beautiful island, I would also tolerate deadly butterflies.
In contrast, however, is how violent Hell’s Paradise is. A scene from episode 1 particularly stuck in my mind: Two of the gods are “training” in bed, everywhere there is exuberance and colorful sheets. But the act takes a bloody end, and the colorful sheets that I just admired are suddenly full of red stains.
The fight between Gabimaru and his opponent, whom he encounters in episode 1, is also extremely brutal. There is a lot of blood visible, and Gabimaru intentionally targets the body’s weak points. But there was also something exciting to see for my color-loving heart: Gabimaru is once again using his fire attacks, which are really beautifully animated with their colors.
The flames are not only in red or yellow, but also have a purple tint. You have to watch the scenes yourself to see how aesthetically a fight for life and death can look.
Even though I personally didn’t need the brutality, it effectively illustrates the contrast between the beautiful paradise and the deadly danger lurking around every corner. It’s not a big problem, as the anime distracts me in any case with its colorful palette and action-packed battles.
I also enjoy such colorful animations in other animes. In One Piece, I also found the experiments that started during the final battles in Wano Kuni really worth watching. By now, almost every fight is a feast for the eyes.
If you want to watch season 2 of Hell’s Paradise yourself,you can start in the coming days. The anime is set to premiere soon on Crunchyroll.
James Cameron’s Avatar is currently the highest-grossing movie of all time. However, at first, the project was a risk. The director invested a lot of money to convince the producers in Hollywood – among other things, with a short scene that left an impression.
Only in December 2025 did Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third part of James Cameron’s saga, hit theaters. The film, which has so far elicited mixed opinions, follows in large footsteps, as its predecessors achieved top results at the box office.
The first part, with over 2.4 billion €, still ranks at the top of the list, while part 2 is currently in third place and generated around 1.9 billion € (via boxofficemojo.com). Just a few days ago, it was announced that the third installment has also crossed the magical threshold of one billion US dollars (via variety.com).
In the beginning, it was uncertain whether Avatar could even be realized. The project was a risk for Hollywood, among other reasons due to the high costs and the unusual production process.
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Avatar: Fire and Ash – The trailer for the third part of the Na’vi story
A Test as Expensive as Some Movies
How did Cameron convince the producers? A film that takes place entirely on an alien planet, inhabited by blue aliens played by actors filmed using motion capture – Avatar was from the beginning an experiment that could have failed.
Cameron knew he had to present strong arguments to secure the necessary budget of around 202 million €. To do this, he shot a scene that was supposed to showcase the intended look of Avatar. What costs several hundred thousand euros for other productions was significantly more expensive in the case of Avatar.
As revealed by the film’s official account on x.com, Cameron spent 10 million US dollars, approximately 8.5 million euros, to shoot the scene. That’s an amount that is otherwise sufficient for complete feature films. In the end, the scene lasted only 38 seconds and shows a brief dialogue between a Na’vi and an Avatar – presumably placeholders for Jake Sully and Neytiri.
You can see the complete scene here:
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Although the scene is short, it convinced the producers, who subsequently agreed to cover the high production costs of 202 million €. So rounded up, that’s about 24 times what the pitch video cost.
Mythic Uniques are among the most powerful items in Diablo 4 and can have a huge impact on your builds. Those who farm them specifically should definitely not overlook a certain currency.
On December 12, 2025, Season 11 started in Diablo 4 and has brought fresh content to the ARPG. With the new season, many also start the grind anew, which includes farming Mythic Uniques that are a real boost for many builds.
But there is another way: You can also draw Mythic Uniques at the Curiosities Merchant with a bit of luck. A player even received a Mythic in the best possible variant from the so-called “Gambler” and reminds the community not to underestimate the Obols in Diablo 4.
Start video
Diablo 4 showcases its new features from Season 11 in the gameplay trailer
Mythic Unique with 4GA from the Gambler
Which merchant shouldn’t you underestimate?On Reddit, a player shows an item he got from the Curiosities Merchant: the Mythic Unique “Ring of the Starless Sky”, which all seven classes can wear. The effect of the ring lowers the resource costs of your skills and simultaneously increases your damage as soon as you spend your primary resource.
Additionally, the ring comes with the following stats:
Attack Speed
Critical Hit Chance
Lucky Hit Chance
Ranks on Core Skills
As if that wasn’t strong enough, the player was also lucky enough to receive the ring with four large affixes, so in the best possible version:
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What do other players say about it? In the comments under the Reddit post, many users are happy for the player. Others also report strong loot drops they made at the Gambler. Some also point out that you should regularly check in with the Curiosities Merchant anyway, as there is a cap for Obols. To continue collecting new ones, you have to spend them.
The last step in the crafting process, even with Mythics, is sanctification. However, the creator of the post writes that he is somewhat concerned about sanctifying the item with the new crafting system. But he is quickly reassured in the comments: Several users remind him that you cannot “brick” inherited Mythics.
“You can add something that isn’t useful, but it doesn’t replace any of the base affixes,” explains nbd789. And Tk-Delicaxy adds: “It only gets better. Even if you get a less helpful aspect, it may still be useful in some way.”
The year 2025 seems to have been quite successful for Palworld despite a dispute with Nintendo.One of the developers of Palworld thanks the community for the success of the game in 2025.
How does Palworld celebrate its success?On X Palworld shared its success from 2025. The game has made it to the top spots on four overall top lists on Steam: 2nd place in Most Played; 2nd place in Most Played on the Steamdeck, 3rd place in Controller Games, and 3rd place in Top Sellers.
One of the developers, Bucky, thanked on X for the community’s support:
Two years later, we are still grateful for the endless support and kindness of our community. Thank you very much, dear Palworld players.
In conclusion, Bucky added: “Not bad for a dead game!!” taking a stand against the game’s haters. In the past, it has been repeatedly claimed that the game would become less popular after its grand launch.
Start video
Update 0.5.0 for Palworld finally lets you play with friends on other platforms
Palworld remains very popular despite Early Access
How is Palworld doing right now? Palworld was already a hit with its Early Access release in January 2024, as the gameplay strongly resembled Pokémon but with guns, and the developers combined this style with building mechanics. Since then, there have been several updates and innovations.
When Benjyfishy left school to become a Fortnite star, he was 15. A similar path is now being pursued by a Japanese boy who is even younger.
Which boy is being talked about? Tarou is from Japan and is 12 years old. He has been playing since he was 3. By the 2nd grade, he was already competing against professional players. His social media channel, which he started in 2020, where the boy mainly posts Fortnite content, already has 230,000 subscribers.
This is not where it ends. According to a report on scmp.com, Tarou wants to become an esports star and compete in the Fortnite World Cup. In order to have a chance there, the boy must expand his training program: “The top players in these competitions are constantly improving. If I want to catch up or surpass them, it’s not enough to train less than 10 hours a day.”
Therefore, Tarou announced on his channel that he does not want to attend further school: “I want to create a lifestyle that allows me to pursue esports seriously while having enough time for sleep, exercise, and learning.”
Start video
Fortnite: Shows Chapter 7 “Pacific Break” in its new cinematic trailer
Training > School
How do his parents react? They support his decision and are convinced that he has the potential to reach the top of the world. His father is quoted as follows:
“Traditional athletes train about five hours a day, but in gaming, players can train 13 to 14 hours. The top contenders on the Asian server typically practice 10 to 12 hours a day, consistently over five or six years. If he had to go to school every day, he would be exhausted after classes. It would be impossible to guarantee the focused training time he needs.”
According to scmp.com, Japan actually has a nine-year compulsory education. However, it is not known whether Tarou will receive any form of homeschooling. Tarou’s school is said to have agreed to the plan after a year-long discussion.
Don’t forget your surroundings during a round of ARC Raiders and refrain from loud cries for help. Otherwise, you might find a concerned neighbor standing next to you.
What exactly happened? On Reddit, user dreamthorp explains that a few days ago he was watching his friend’s house and passed the time by playing ARC Raiders. During a nighttime raid on a dam, an exciting situation occurred.
When dreamthorp tried to extract using an elevator, suddenly a Leaper (a four-legged ARC with great jumping ability) landed on his character. Panic set in immediately. dreamthorp shouted for help in voice chat. He just wanted to get back on his feet and limp to safety…
Start video
ARC Raiders zeigt im Launch-Trailer, wie der Kampf Mensch gegen Maschine aussieht
The appearance of a concerned citizen: A passing neighbor heard the cry for help in the hallway and approached the door. He knocked, but only received another cry for help in response. “Is everything okay with you?” Another Help! Determined, the young man backed up to kick the door with full force.
A camera recorded the scene in front of the door up to the kicking motion, and dreamthorp posted the clip on Reddit:
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Unfortunately, the kick itself isn’t visible. According to dreamthorp, the force of the kick caused the recording to stop. He describes the moment as follows: “My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I saw the door bulging inward as if there was an explosion behind it.”
“Hopefully, he brought a defibrillator for you”
How does the community react? Some are skeptical because the kick cannot be seen, and believe it’s a hoax. Many others praise the neighbor’s effort or dreamthorp’s loud gameplay. The post has nearly 9,000 thumbs up and over 675 comments.
Miserable_Candle_763 writes on Reddit: “The bro is out there playing rescue raider. Hopefully, he brought a defibrillator for you.”
StavrosZhekhov is apparently one of “those raiders,” he writes on Reddit: “He kicked down the door, shouted ‘I’m a friend’ and then knocked dreamthorp out to steal all his stuff.”
MoneyPresentation807 suggested on Reddit: “This is killing me, but honestly he’s a good person. I would definitely buy him something and tell him I appreciate that he was willing to help you. Maybe you can give him a key next time once you get to know him better.”
CockpitEnthusiast explains on Reddit: “This is honestly why I told my neighbors I’m a gamer. Every now and then they hear me yelling at ARC or Rocket League or something. They know I’m having fun, and they’re okay with that.”
On Steam, a new indie game has been announced where players can inherit a house in a village and build it with the animal residents. But what seems to be a cute life simulator has a dark side.
What kind of game is this? The game Critterville Goes Bankrupt has been announced. It is being developed by the studio Penniless Games. However, there is no release date for the cute life simulator yet.
In Critterville Goes Bankrupt, you inherit a house in a village full of various animal residents. The village seems to be quite run down, and you are supposed to rebuild it together with the resident raccoons, ducks, and foxes. You must, of course, keep an eye on the finances, but also start the occasional romance.
You’ll get a first impression of the game with the official trailer:
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In Critterville Goes Bankrupt baut ihr ein Dorf mit der Hilfe von tierischen Bewohnern auf
Animal Crossing with useful neighbors
What makes the game so interesting? At the end of the trailer, there is a scene that is completely out of sync with the otherwise harmonious vibe of the rest of the impression: three of the animal residents team up and beat up a poor fox in the dark.
The scene suggests that there will be a mechanic revolving around the relationships of the animals – which can apparently take a very negative turn in some cases.
How is the community reacting? The reactions, both to a post on X and to the trailer on YouTube, are interested and amused:
Darylchurc writes on YouTube: “That took a dark turn. lol”
sainttan sees similarities to a Nintendo game on YouTube: “Animal Crossing, but you can hire your neighbors to be useful.”
The user dxreaper120 has the same impression on X: “I didn’t even know I needed a mix of Animal Crossing, Minecraft, and Peaky Blinders.”
What do you think of the game? Could you imagine playing it at release? Let us know in the comments! If you’re looking for something to play for the new year, we can recommend our Steam list of games developed by a single person: The 10 best games on Steam developed by a single person
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Marvel has blessed fans with a new teaser for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The new video showcases the return of a supervillain who will appear in the MCU for the first time.
Which two legendary actors are featured in the teaser? Since December 23, 2025, Marvel has released 2 teasers for the upcoming event film Avengers Doomsday, set to premiere in Germany on December 16, 2026.
While the first two teasers focused on 2 well-known MCU characters, a fresh teaser now shows the return of 2 legendary actors reprising their Marvel roles.
As was previously known, Patrick Stewart returns as Professor X and Ian McKellen as Magneto. McKellen was last seen in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014. Patrick Stewart last played his role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The two faced off as Magneto and Professor X in the first X-Men film in 2002. The new teaser shows a new encounter between the two:
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In the 3rd teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel shows the return of two legendary mutants
What can be seen in the teaser? The teaser doesn’t reveal much, but it does show 2 of the most important mutants in the Marvel universe. In a destroyed version of Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, we hear him speaking. He says: “Death is coming for us all. That’s all I know for sure. The question isn’t whether you’re ready to die. The question is: Who will you be when you close your eyes?”
After that, we see him rolling over to a visibly aged Magneto and shaking his hand. It can be assumed that the legendary villain will be on the side of the heroes this time.
Finally, there’s a first glimpse of Cyclops and his powerful ability. He will once again be portrayed by James Marsden. In the end, the only line is: The X-Men will return in Avengers: Doomsday.
How does the community react? Under the YouTube teaser, fans are excited about the return of the actors. @mareomftydeys writes that Stewart and McKellen are absolute legends.
The brief look at Cyclops also seems to excite anticipation. Users like @redwind4948 write: Cyclops is finally getting the respect he deserves. @Astral_thee_God feels similarly: The scene with Cyclops looked absolutely crazy. And these teasers are going to get even better? Cyclops is one of the most important X-Men: 2026, the leader of the X-Men returns: Marvel finally has the chance to get it right
Are you excited for the movie, or are you done with the MCU? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. In the upcoming film, Dr. Doom will be the main villain. Find out why that is so impressive here: 5 reasons why Dr. Doom is more terrifying than Thanos in Marvel
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With HBO Max, a new streaming service will launch in Germany on January 13, 2026. MeinMMO will tell you everything you need to know about it and which movies and series are worth it at launch.
When does HBO Max launch in Germany? It will be on January 13, 2026, when HBO Max launches as a new streaming service in Germany. The service has been available in the USA since May 27, 2020.
What is the price of HBO Max in Germany? At launch, there will be various subscription options that you can choose from based on your preference.
Basic subscription with ads: For €5.99 (€6.99 from January 1, 2027), you can stream in Full HD on 2 devices, but there will be ad interruptions.
Standard subscription: For €11.99 (€12.99 from January 1, 2027), you can stream in Full HD on 2 devices and have 30 downloads. There are no ads here.
Premium subscription: If you want the best quality, you get 4k Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos for €16.99 (€17.99 from January 1, 2027). Additionally, there are 100 downloads, and you can stream on 4 devices simultaneously.
Sports package: For €3 a month, you can add a sports package to your existing subscription. This includes ads. Notable sports content includes the upcoming Winter Olympics, all matches of the Australian Open, and more than 300 days of live cycling. Additionally, there are premium contents from Eurosport.
On which platforms can you stream HBO Max in Germany? HBO Max is expected to be available on smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, streaming players, set-top boxes, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
HBO Max does not specify which exact devices and device versions will be supported. We will update the article as soon as more information is available. You can pre-register the apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
What new series will premiere on HBO Max? The following series have already been announced with a release date on HBO Max:
On January 13, 2026, the French series The Seduction will also debut. It is based on the novel Dangerous Liaisons, which was already adapted into a film in 1988 starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Also available at launch are seasons 1 and 2 of The Pitt. The new episodes of season 2 will be released simultaneously with the US release. In The Pitt, the daily hospital life is shown in one shift per season. The focus is on the stress and pressure of the profession.
4 Blocks Zero is also expected to appear on HBO Max. However, the exact start date for the prequel to the German gangster series is still unknown.
At launch, HBO Max, of course, comes with several movies and series that have already been available on other platforms or in theaters. You can find out which highlights you should watch after the video.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows in the final trailer that one can expect more humor than in Game of Thrones
5 Movie and Series Highlights Worth Watching on HBO Max
Which movies and series does MeinMMO film editor Nikolas Hernes recommend on HBO Max? Thanks to the HBO and Warner catalog, some strong series and movies will be available right from the start that you should catch up on or even watch again. Here are 5 of them:
Superman
In 2025, Superman by James Gunn was released in theaters and is the first film of the new DC universe, which will continue in 2026 with Supergirl and Lanterns. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you should do it. Superman is a truly hopeful film that embodies the well-known hero quite well.
The White Lotus
The White Lotus has received 3 seasons since its debut in 2021. Each season tells a different story about the fictional hotel chain White Lotus. At its core, it is a social satire that thrives on strong performances. If you can’t get enough of Walton Goggins after Fallout, you should definitely watch season 3.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
If you want to switch off your brain and watch some brutal monster action, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a must-see. The plot is pretty ridiculous, but that’s part of the fun. The most important element is present: big monsters beating up other big monsters. You can find out more about it here: The new Godzilla film shows why good movies don’t necessarily need a story
Dune 1 and 2
Another visual treat can be found in Denis Villeneuve’s two Dune films. The films are wonderfully shot, look fantastic, and the story by Frank Herbert works well even in the new adaptation. Since the third part is coming out at the end of the year, a rewatch of both sci-fi films is also worth it.
IT: Welcome to Derry
There’s no escaping Stephen King adaptations, but IT: Welcome to Derry is not an adaptation of the novel but rather the prequel to the horror novel featuring the killer clown. The series doesn’t hold back on bloody effects and horror elements, providing more background on the clown and the town, which is especially worthwhile if you have seen the previous films. The series has creative ideas, and the child actors deliver convincing performances.
From three screens to one. With the new, double-foldable phone, the Korean manufacturer aims to impress and enhance the productivity and workflow of its users. Samsung Dex is designed to assist in this and enable PC use on the go.
What was announced? Samsung announced the new Z-Trifold smartphone on December 2, 2025, on its own news website. The device then appeared at CES 2026 tech fair in Las Vegas, and more information is now available.
The flagship feature of the device is the double-foldable screen, which is expected to measure about 10 inches when unfolded – roughly the size of a tablet with average screen sizes of 10-12 inches. Folded, the size of the Samsung Z-Trifold is expected to resemble standard smartphone dimensions of about 6.5 inches. This is expected to significantly enhance the productivity and versatility of the device.
How does the folding work? The phone is designed to fold from outside to inside to protect the main screen. If an error occurs during the folding process, the user is supposed to be alerted by an alarm. Such alarm sounds have existed for various applications for a while and they can even save lives at the right moment.
According to the manufacturer, the product has been folded internally 200,000 times in tests, which corresponds to about 100 folds per day for five years (via YouTube). This is intended to prevent damage during folding and unfolding.
A rather unknown feature is the so-called N-symbol or NFC on your smartphone. What it does and where the name comes from is explained in the following video:
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What does the N symbol on your phone mean?
Those who want to fold twice must reach deep into their pockets
When will the device be released? The high-end smartphone has been available in South Korea since December 12, 2025, according to Samsung. A launch in the USA, Taiwan, Singapore, China, and the United Arab Emirates is expected to follow in early 2026. A European or German release has not yet been announced.
The price in Korea is reportedly 3,594,000 South Korean won, equivalent to about 2,119 euros (as of January 6, 2026).
For this, the consumer should receive a variant with 16 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of internal storage. The phone is equipped with a 5,600 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, also installed in the Galaxy S25. A detailed overview of the naming of Samsung smartphones is available on MeinMMO.
What is Samsung Dex? This is software on Samsung phones and tablets that aims to provide a desktop experience on the go. External devices like mice, keyboards, and screens can be added, allowing for multitasking with several programs simultaneously.
Up to five applications can be used simultaneously. Starting at the sixth, the first application will be minimized. Combined with the 10-inch display, the manufacturer claims productivity will increase.
The innovative device could especially interest people who watch many videos on their phones and require multitasking on their smartphones. How practical the device is in reality remains to be seen. A competitor of Samsung, on the other hand, is trying to win over an entire generation: A 36-year-old explains how his company attracts Gen Z to compete with Apple and Samsung
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new war film from Germany has been released on Amazon Prime Video. Although the film has reached number 1 in the charts, kicking Fallout Season 2 off the throne, it is not well received by everyone.
Which film is it about? On January 2, 2026, the German-Czech war film The Tiger by director Dennis Gansel, known for films like The Wave or Napola – Elite for the Führer, premiered on Prime Video.
The film follows the crew of a German Tiger tank during World War II. The 5-member crew is on a secret mission to find and bring back Colonel Paul von Hardenburg, played by Tilman Strauss. By the time the film is set, Germany has already lost at Stalingrad and is in retreat.
The film depicts not only soldiers fighting against others but also the psychological strain and pressure in the cramped tank, combined with methamphetamine, adding another layer to the film.
You can watch a trailer for the film here:
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The trailer for The Tiger shows the crew of the German team in the war film on Amazon Prime
A hit on Amazon, but not with all viewers
How is the film received?The Tiger was released on January 2 and is currently number 1 on Amazon Prime (as of: January 6, 2026). This allowed the film to dethrone the second season of the hit series Fallout. However, audience reviews are not so enthusiastic.
With over 50 user reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the film only has a score of 57%. The actors and the action are praised, and users like @Cinema49 even call the film brilliant. Despite some good reviews, there are also many mediocre or even bad ratings. The film’s ending seems to divide audiences. @Hoops666 even writes: An incredibly bad ending for a very good film. It undermines all the good work of the rest of the film.
On IMDb, the film is similarly divided. With over 3400 reviews, the film currently has a rating of 6.6 out of 10 stars. While 7.8% give the film the highest rating, 3.0% of users rate it 1 out of 10 stars. Most ratings are more in the middle, with the majority of 29.4% giving a score of 7 out of 10.
On Amazon itself, the film has a rating of 3 out of 5 stars with 458 reviews (as of: January 6, 2026).
Oliver Kube from Filmstarts has mainly positive words for The Tiger. He gives it 4 out of 5 stars and states about the twist that it is constructed in such a way that it may seem predictable in hindsight, but is surprising when first watching. In his conclusion, he calls it an entertainment film that, with its focus on action and suspense, is not like All Quiet on the Western Front, but is worth seeing due to its visual presentation.
The film critic Robert Hofmann gives the film an 8.5/10 on his YouTube channel and says: Watch The Tiger. I think it is very good, not flawless, but definitely better than I hoped. And even when watching it a second time, I was immediately back into it and noticed how much I still remembered.
The German-speaking Twitch has been dominated by the WoW event Sauercrowd since December 27, 2025. A participant who is playing WoW for the first time can particularly impress one of the founders of the event.
With over 74,000 followers on Twitch, she is not among the biggest female streamers on the platform. Most of her content is gaming, but she also takes her viewers along in IRL streams from time to time.
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WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
“Just Can’t Handle It”
What makes Felikah so special? Although Felikah has just started in WoW, she is still very dedicated to improving. Looking at her streams since December 13, 2025, the streamer plays WoW in every one of her streams. Since December 18, 2025, WoW has even become the only game that Felikah plays (Source: SullyGnome).
Overall, the Twitch streamer has put in over 216 hours into the MMO in the last 30 days. Metashi expressed his admiration in his own stream:
I gushed about Felikah yesterday in bed. My girlfriend looked at me strangely because I just can’t comprehend how one person can be so insane in WoW. […] I swear to God, I sometimes can’t believe how someone with so little prior experience can be so crazy in WoW.
Furthermore, Metashi stated that at one point he saw Felikah still online after more than 15 hours of Twitch streaming. She had been diligently completing quests in the zone Desolace to reach a higher level. All of this was to get on approximately the same level as her teammates so that she wouldn’t fall behind in dungeons.
The WoW event provides a lot of entertainment thanks to the numerous participants. Both newcomers and experts in the game have fun and create many clips to entertain the viewers. One of the participants was finally able to reach the long-awaited level 50: WoW: First streamer from Sauercrowd reaches level 50, is immediately too greedy
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
