Lego introduces a surprising innovation to its building sets after 50 years: a smart Lego brick with intelligent functions. First sets have already been presented.
Lego introduces a completely unexpected innovation to its bricks after many years: a smart brick that is said to have various abilities and bring entirely new functions to Lego products.
According to the magazine TheVerge, the company Lego describes these new smart bricks as “the most significant development in the Lego System-in-Play since the introduction of the Lego minifigure in 1978.”
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A new smart brick from Lego is meant to make sets “come alive”
What can the “Smart Brick” do? The “Smart Brick” contains an NFC chip that is supposed to detect other bricks and tags nearby. If this “Smart Brick” detects a Smart Tag nearby, it will, according to the company’s information, bring entire Lego sets to life: music will play, you will hear the hum of lightsabers, or other features will be activated. You can also find some initial information on the official German page of Lego.
Which sets are being launched first? Initially, there will be three Lego sets for Star Wars that are to be equipped with the corresponding smart bricks:
A TIE Fighter with Darth Vader for 70 US dollars.
Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing for 100 US dollars
The throne room with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and the Emperor, including an A-Wing. Price: 160 US dollars.
According to the German page, the first sets can be pre-ordered in about 2 days, as a countdown is running. However, there are still no German prices available, but at first glance, the sets do not seem much more expensive than the regular sets on the “Star Wars” theme. The regular sets have also not been particularly cheap and Star Wars has long been among the high-priced sets.
In the future, more sets are likely to follow, as otherwise the company would not simply call these bricks the most significant development in recent years.
The gaming manufacturer Razer is showcasing the advancement of AI technology. The new device is supposed to assist players during gaming and even go beyond that.
What kind of gadget is this? The Project Ava, as Razer calls it, is an AI companion in a round, real vessel that you can place on your desk. It is designed to help you play better. In addition to coaching features, a hologram of a pre-made figure, such as Faker, can be seen within the device. The well-known League player is supposed to be able to troll you via voice function. Whether this lives up to the original, as fans claim, remains to be seen.
As early as the beginning of 2025, Razer had experimented with an AI for esports coaching. Project Ava is the further development of this initiative and is not supposed to be limited to the gaming sector.
The device was recently presented at CES 2026 and can already be pre-ordered on the official Razer site. For this, you need a website account and must pay a fee of 20 US dollars for a reservation. The amount of approximately 17 euros (as of January 7, 2026) will then be deducted from the order.
The device is expected to be available in the second half of 2026. Currently, it is not possible to pre-order the gadget on the German Razer site. A price has not yet been announced.
Razer uses AI to help you, while students have started using artificial intelligence and a camera to steal sensitive data from others. You can find out more about it in the following video:
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
An Alexa that also helps you while gaming
What can the gadget do? In addition to the holograms of pre-made avatars or companions, as the manufacturer calls them, the device is also supposed to be able to see your screen and flexibly respond to its content.
This is particularly supposed to help you with tips from the famous LoL pro Faker on how to play more effectively and die less often. Depending on the settings, sarcastic comments during losses and praise during wins are also possible. How good the pro is, his home country Korea already knows. There he is even honored as an athlete and lands in the Hall of Fame for athletes.
According to the manufacturer, Project Ava is also supposed to serve as a daily planner, wellness and routine coach, brainstorming partner at work, translator, and gaming companion. Thus, the device is not only intended for gaming.
Possible classification as cheating
Does this count as cheating? The question of whether such a device counts as an attempt to cheat in games is pertinent. After all, you receive assistance from outside through software. Many games like Counter Strike 2, League of Legends, or Battlefield have strict rules regarding external software that provides you with an advantage while playing.
In its own FAQs, Razer states that AVA is designed only as a coach and trainer, not as a tool for winning. They are working on ensuring that all features comply with the terms of use of games.
The goal is to sharpen the skills of buyers, improve their mechanics, and learn new strategies. It is not supposed to provide any unfair advantage over other players.
Working your way up from the clumsy farmer to the noble knight was likely a dream that many people held hundreds of years ago. In the new MMORPG Past Fate, you can replay it today on Steam.
What kind of MMORPG is this? With Past Fate, a new Kickstarter MMORPG enters the scene, which at first does not sound extraordinary in terms of setting: medieval, knights, castles, and of course various monsters that also appear in typical medieval fantasy adventures.
However, the new MMORPG consciously opts for a simplified version that primarily rewards exploration, thereby clearly placing itself in the old-school MMORPG category. The trailer already makes it clear: it will not be colorful and loud here:
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Past Fate shows in the trailer what an old-school MMORPG looks like in 2026
Old School, but 2026
What makes this MMORPG stand out? Past Fate aims to appeal primarily to those in 2026 who are tired of the effect-laden MMOs like Blue Protocol: Star Resonance or the dopamine roller coasters like Where Winds Meet.
Past Fate feels almost like the exact opposite. There is an open world where players first learn the basics before diving into the familiar grind. Even the developer’s gameplay introduction on YouTube showcases typical quests such as “Defeat 8 living dead.” The quest design remains consistent throughout the game.
The MMORPG deliberately does without a minimap and only displays a compass with quest markers for orientation. The developer also reveals in the video that treasures have been hidden all over the world that players can find when they explore off the beaten paths.
Instead of a rigid class system, the new MMORPG employs a skill system based on the weapons. A warrior becomes a necromancer as soon as the weapon is swapped. The appropriate equipment is, however, crucial.
What can be seen in the endgame? The idea of rising from a farmer to a noble knight reflects the journey from the beginning of the game to the endgame. Once there, Past Fate offers a theme park with dungeons for up to five players and raids that can involve up to 25 players.
World bosses also spawn across the world, differing in difficulty and requiring up to 25 players to defeat.
When does Past Fate launch? Past Fate will enter Early Access on Steam on January 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The title will be Buy2Play and cost €20 during the pre-release phase on Steam. The MMORPG was funded through Kickstarter and welcomes player feedback for its development.
According to the trailers, Past Fate is still early in development and is expected to go live in its first truly playable version at the Early Access launch. Nevertheless, the medieval setting and old-school character could make the MMORPG special. How well the MMORPG is already will be revealed after its release. In the meantime, another MMORPG has launched with significant hype and aims to regain it: Anime MMORPG on Steam lost 97% of players in just 3 months, now aims to shine again with a new season
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is one decision the lead game designer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 regrets to this day. It led to a somewhat disappointing finale for some players.
Where does this information come from? The info comes from an interview conducted by the lead game designer of the game, Michel Nohra, and the lead programmer Tom Guillermin with the English-speaking Edge Magazine (via gamesradar+).
In this interview, the two developers explained that the team at Sandfall Interactive did not anticipate such great success for the game. However, this resulted in an unexpected problem – players spent too much time with all the side content too early.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinterlässt bei den Spielern eine Leere
Many players were too strong for the final boss
What is the issue? Besides the main story, which also earned the game the award for “Best Narrative” at the Game Awards, the game offers numerous side activities – including optional bosses and Gestral games.
However, the developers did not anticipate that players would want to complete all these side quests before facing the final boss. This caused many players to achieve a higher level before the final battle than expected – making the fight potentially too easy.
the only thing I regret is not making it clearer that if you want the intended difficulty for the boss, you have to go beat it now
Michel Nohra, Lead Game Designer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
“Often, people don’t want to finish the game, so they do all the side content before finishing it, because once the story is over, you’re usually less motivated to do the side content,” Nohra explains. However, he underestimated this.
People who wanted a challenging final boss were somewhat disappointed when they had completed all the side content beforehand. “I don’t regret doing it the way we did it,” he says, “but [we could have] had more explanation about your choice [in Act 3].”
Developers did not expect players to want to experience everything
What does the lead programmer have to say about it? Guillermin believes that this decision is also partly due to the “humility” of the developers at Sandfall Interactive. They really did not expect the game to be such a hit and for people to want to spend so much time in it:
“We weren’t sure if our game was going to be that good. And if it’s not, people may just want to see the story, and go directly to the end of the story. So it was a surprise for us [that] people were doing every single thing there is to do in the game before going to the final dungeon. We’re happy about that, but we didn’t see it coming.”
Since January 27, 2025, over 200 German-speaking Twitch streamers are playing Hardcore WoW Classic together. The so-called Sauercrowd guild is very popular in the community and more content creators want to join. Applications are now open, and one is particularly creative.
Therefore, applications were reopened on January 4, 2026, as Metashi, one of the three founders of the project, announced on X. Under the hashtag #SauercrowdBewerbung, content creators of all sizes are posting their applications and reasons for wanting to join.
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WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
“You must be accepted!”
Who is the creator? In 48 hours, the content creator Max Osterholz took it upon himself on TikTok to create a short stop-motion film. For this, he first built a small Metashi out of silicone. He also tried to recreate the small details as accurately as possible and carefully painted the guild logo onto the elaborate costume.
He also added an opponent in the form of a skeleton and a background for a short scene. After 5 hours of recording, Max Osterholz edited the material and was able to present a clip that lasted 21 seconds.
You can watch the result here on TikTok:
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The CEO of ARC Raiders explains that the developers do not want to deliberately promote PvP, as it is not primarily about battles between the Raiders.
What system does ARC Raiders want to do without? ARC Raiders might do without PvP leaderboards in the future, at least that is what Patrick Söderlund, CEO and co-founder of Embark, indicates in an interview with GamesBeat on YouTube. Similar applies, according to him, to the introduction of some kind of “archenemy system”.
The mentioned PvP leaderboards were about a classic ranking system that shows which players have shot down the most Raiders or stolen the most loot from other players.
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ARC Raiders zeigt im Launch-Trailer, wie der Kampf Mensch gegen Maschine aussieht
“It was never the idea of the game to shoot other players”
What exactly does he say? Söderlund explained in the interview that he does not know how the team currently feels about the potential introduction of leaderboards. However, he believes that one of the appeals of the game is that there are no leaderboards or anything similar, and ARC Raiders is not competitive.
Söderlund elaborates that the team does not want to deliberately promote PvP, even though it is part of the game: “In this game, it is not about shooting other players. You can do that if you want, but it was never the idea of the game to shoot other players.”
Internally, many discussions on this topic have already taken place, but PvP is rather something they want in ARC Raiders up to a certain point, to create excitement in the rounds – and not to create a purely competitive PvP landscape. And such a leaderboard would encourage players to shoot at other players.
What else does Söderlund say? He then talks about how the possibility of PvP contributes to excitement in the raids. The sound design of the shooter plays a significant role in this, as you hear shots, nearby footsteps, and feel that something is happening on the maps, indicating that other players and thus potential threats are nearby.
Söderlund recounts that during a test, the flares that Raiders shoot into the air when they are shot down were not in the game anymore. He demanded that they be brought back because they are an iconic part of the game and signal to other players that something has happened there.
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.
Start video
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.
Start video
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:
Start video
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.
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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.
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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.”
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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…
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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.”
