In the 2010s, YouTube was still a new platform, where it was harder to make money. Videos were mostly created for fun, without a monetary intention. However, that changed, and nowadays, advertising on YouTube in various forms is quite normal.
What was different about YouTube back then? The platform YouTube was created in 2005 and was still relatively new in the 2010s. Among the first YouTubers in the U.S. were the duo Smosh.
Even in Germany, YouTube took off, and the first German creators expanded on the platform. Pioneers here included Y-Titty, Gronkh, or iBlali, back then still known as Aligator1024.
One thing that wasn’t widespread back then was the opportunity to make big money on YouTube. In 2010, the German Let’s Player GermanLetsPlay found a way to earn money with his gaming videos. For this, he received a lot of criticism from the community at the time. The group Y-Titty was also in a similar situation when they were suspected of stealth advertising on YouTube in 2014.
Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute
When advertising was still stigmatized
What caused a stir with GermanLetsPlay? The Let’s Player GermanLetsPlay was one of the largest creators on YouTube in the 2010s. For Let’s Players, however, it was much harder to be accepted into the already existing YouTube Partner Program compared to channels with other content.
Although GermanLetsPlay was one of the first Let’s Players to be accepted into the Partner Program, he had another idea to monetize his videos. He created his own website where he uploaded his Let’s Plays and placed advertisements. He encouraged his viewers to watch his videos on his website instead, so he could earn more money.
This did not go over well in the YouTube community. In his YouTube video, the YouTuber Viktor “iBlali” talks about the negative sentiment surrounding GermanLetsPlay at the time. Other creators, in particular, criticized GermanLetsPlay for his actions.
For more detailed information and iBlali’s perspective, you can watch his YouTube video:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How did Y-Titty cause a stir back then? In 2014, product placements were not very widespread. Within the community, this was rather stigmatized, as the narrative quickly emerged that one would sell out for products.
The comedy trio Y-Titty was suspected of stealth advertising in 2014. Prominent products from companies like Samsung or McDonald’s allegedly kept being integrated into the videos without proper labeling. The regional media authorities took up the case at that time, as DER SPIEGEL reported at the time.
In the end, there was no major fine or anything similar, but a kind of turnaround occurred. YouTubers were required to label advertisements properly with “Supported by product placements” or “Advertising” in the future.
Advertising is now part of YouTube
What is it like today? Nowadays, it is quite normal to earn money with advertising on YouTube. Either content creators have their videos directly monetized on YouTube and receive the money from the platform, or they have placements in their videos.
Some creators even rely on regular sponsors in their videos due to their elaborate productions. For example, creators like Tomatolix and Simplicissimus always have at least one advertising partner in their videos.
In one of his videos, the YouTuber Tomatolix spends a day as a pilot (screenshot source: YouTube).
Many expenses for his documentaries flow in, which Tomatolix can often only finance with sponsors and not solely through ad revenue.
As you can see, a lot has changed in the YouTube community. What was once viewed with a critical eye, both from outside and within the communities on YouTube, is standard today.
If you don’t own the RPG hit Disco Elysium yet, now is the time to act. For a few hours, the game is still available for free.
If you don’t want to spend your Christmas money right away and still want to grab one or two new games, you should start the Epic Games Launcher now. Because today, the RPG “Disco Elysium” is completely free. The game is extremely popular – and rightly so. For those who enjoy immersive stories with great characters and profound dialogues, this game is a true gem (even if it’s free!).
Start video
DISCO ELYSIUM – Launch Trailer
What is Disco Elysium about? You step into the role of a detective and need to solve various cases within your neighborhood. Although saying you “need” to might be an exaggeration – as you can also choose to turn a blind eye.
Your decisions shape the story. Will you try to get to the bottom of every crime and put every villain behind bars – no matter how good or understandable their motivation might have been? Will you let yourself be bribed and throw your morals overboard? Depending on the choices you make, parts of the story can take entirely different paths.
Additionally, you possess 24 different character traits – and depending on what you focus on, certain opportunities will be available to you while others will not.
Disco Elysium for free – but only until 5 PM
How can you get Disco Elysium for free? The Epic Games Store is running a promotion during the holidays where every day a different game is offered for free. Even if you don’t buy anything, you can add the current game of the day to your library and own it – forever. So there are no costs involved, and you can enjoy some free games. Here is the link to Disco Elysium on the Epic Games Store.
Currently, “Disco Elysium” is available but only until December 26, 2026, at 5 PM – which is this afternoon. If you want the game, you should start the Epic Games Launcher and quickly grab Disco Elysium.
If you missed the offer and only noticed this article too late – don’t worry. If you’re interested in Disco Elysium, the game is also currently drastically reduced on Steam, by a whopping 90%. For just €4, you can still secure the RPG there until January 5, in case you missed your chance on the Epic Games Store.
Who is Disco Elysium suitable for? Disco Elysium is suitable for anyone who enjoys RPGs with immersive and detailed stories and likes to follow longer dialogues (voiced in English). Additionally, decisions have significant consequences in the game, and depending on which abilities you give your character, events in the game can unfold differently, leading to various paths to the goal. A bit of curiosity and a penchant for detective work should also be part of your skill set.
Who might not care for Disco Elysium? If you can’t deal with long texts and constantly seek action in the form of combat, you probably won’t enjoy Disco Elysium that much. Although it is an isometric RPG, combat is more of an exception, with social interactions taking center stage. While Disco Elysium has German text, the voices are only available in English.
Stranger Things is coming to a grand finale with Season 5 on Netflix. In this article, you will learn when the new episodes of the series will be released and how many there will be.
When will episode 8 of Stranger Things season 5 be released? The next episode of the popular Netflix series will premiere on January 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m.
Unlike previous seasons of Stranger Things, the new episodes will not be released in one go or in two parts. Instead, the streaming service has decided to split the final season into three parts.
How many episodes are there in total? Stranger Things Season 5 will consist of eight episodes.
How many episodes will be released on January 1, 2026? On this day, episode 8, the last episode of season 5, will be released. This is also the finale of Stranger Things.
What does this mean for the viewers? Primarily, that the final season cannot be watched all at once upon release. Unlike previous seasons, the last episode will be separated and released on its own date.
Here you can see the trailer for the final season of Stranger Things:
Start video
With Stranger Things Season 5, the popular hit series from Netflix comes to an end
The Plot of Stranger Things Season 5
Warning Spoilers: The following section will discuss the story of the final season of Stranger Things. You have been warned.
What is Stranger Things Season 5 about? The grand finale picks up the threads from Season 4 and aims to bring the story to a logical conclusion. It primarily focuses on taking down the main antagonist Vecna, who was introduced in Season 4.
He has already shown impressively how dangerous he can be when Max encountered him and barely survived. The group, now significantly older kids from Hawkins, wants to finally deal with the now weakened Vecna. The Upside Down is continuing to penetrate their world since the rift in between is completely open.
Especially Eleven will be in focus, as her powers give her the best chances against the main villain. The final season is expected to clarify many open questions, such as what the Upside Down actually is. This was confirmed by the two showrunners, Matt and Ross Duffer, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
When talking about the best video game protagonists, one quickly lands on Kratos, Geralt, or Arthur Morgan. But for MeinMMO editor Niko, it can be no one less than the ex-gangster of an action RPG series, who experiences completely absurd adventures.
There are many great protagonists in video games. With Kratos, you feel quite powerful, especially since the soft reboot in 2018, and with Geralt from The Witcher, you have a cool witcher who always has the right line on his lips (at least if you choose the right answer).
But for me, these two and many other well-known protagonists are only secondary. Because the best protagonist I have ever played is Kazuma Kiryu from the Yakuza or Like-a-Dragon series.
You can play his younger self in Yakuza 0:
Start video
Yakuza 0 – Trailer for the prequel of the Japanese gangster series by SEGA
He helps everyone, even if he doesn’t look like it
Who is Kazuma Kiryu anyway? For 20 years, the now 55-year-old has been causing trouble, not just in Tokyo. Even in the first part of the Yakuza series, which was released in 2005 on the PlayStation 2, you played as the Japanese ex-gangster who is released from prison after a long time. He went to jail for a friend whose sister was sick in the hospital.
And that describes Kiryu quite well. Even though he looks like someone who wants to hit anyone on the street, he mostly does good. He even founds an orphanage within the series. He has a rather atypical code for Yakuza standards: He does not kill (even if many of his actions should actually end fatally).
Even though he would never say it himself: He is an unconditional hero, almost the romantic idea behind the Yakuza as folk heroes (via University of California Press). He specifically stands in the series as a contrast to the other Yakuza, who are mostly nasty criminals willing to do anything for money.
I really like this theme, it shows an ideal idea and how it does not work in reality, because Kiryu is no longer a Yakuza even in the first part. His unconditional heroism can stand out especially in one aspect, namely in the side quests.
No matter what absurd things happen to him, he always stays cool
What is so special about the side quests? In the game series, you encounter countless absurd people and situations in various side quests, also called substories. Most of the time, Kiryu helps them by beating up a few gangsters or playing one of the countless mini-games, such as karaoke.
Kiryu is often not entirely neutral. He sees someone who may not conform to the common norm, and in his thoughts, he thinks of a fitting stereotype. Yet he helps nevertheless and often returns as a naive ex-gangster with a life lesson.
He does not understand many things or cannot grasp them, but he never judges them. Like in a classic RPG, he is the shining knight who helps the people who have a quest for him.
I grew fond of him especially because of the absurd stories. Often he seems completely overwhelmed, just like one does when in a social interaction not knowing how to react. This makes him human despite his few words.
This is also the reason why the few emotional moments work for me. I have rarely been so sad in a game as I was in a moment from Like a Dragon Gaiden The Man Who Erased His Name (terrible name, I know). Without giving too much away: Kiryu is shown a video of the children from his orphanage, and he starts to cry bitterly.
And to be honest: There are only very few video game scenes that, in my opinion, are so well synchronized. I can’t even think of games where people cry so realistically.
This is not just a sad moment but also a beautiful one, because you see how Kiryu has helped the children and how he inspires them to become better people. And that is exactly what the series and Kiryu mean to me: One should try to do good, no matter in what situation one finds oneself.
Kiryu is not the best written, but he doesn’t have to be
Characters like Geralt in Witcher 3 are better written characters on paper. They have more nuances than Kiryu, more character. But for me, this is not always relevant for a protagonist that I am playing myself. Kiryu is like Superman. He shows how people should be. I simply always feel comfortable when I control him.
In Yakuza 0 and 1, it is often mentioned that Kiryu had the greatest potential to lead his own department of the Yakuza clan. But he is not the person for it. He simply cannot look away when someone needs help.
Yes, beating up gangsters is fun, and Kiryu also has very versatile moves for that, but the best moments are those in which Kiryu is a hero. Sometimes he saves a dog, sometimes a homeless person from nasty guys. And exactly then, the punches you throw as a player are the most fun. Besides the protagonist, I also fell in love with the open world: Ubisoft has destroyed open worlds, but the world of a great action RPG still captivates me to this day
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Those who start with Warhammer 40,000 are initially faced with the choice of which faction to actually play – at least in tabletop. A user has chosen Chaos but is now looking at the Adepta Sororitas and wants to know what makes them so great. The community of the Sisters of Battle has a clear opinion.
Unlike Space Marines, the Sororitas do not draw their strength from genetic breeding for super soldiers, but from their religious zeal alone. They have no extra organs like the Astartes.
Since only men can become Space Marines, promising female candidates are often entrusted to the Adepta Sororitas to become sisters – either for combat or for diplomacy, research, and healing.
So how does the heretic come to that? On Reddit, a Warhammer player posts who has succumbed to the whispers of the dark gods of Chaos. He writes: Actually, he is into Chaos, but keeps glancing over at the Sororitas.
He particularly likes the minis. For comparison: In Warhammer 40,000 (the tabletop) you build and paint figures yourself and let them engage in battles on tables. Compared to other factions, the Sororitas have:
Mech suits and walkers, sometimes with a sinner who is strapped naked and defenseless in front of the vehicle to do penance.
Armor with gothic embellishments and women who wear heavy tanks and do not have “level 100 fantasy armor” (a.k.a. plate bikini).
Flamethrowers up to the hilt and – at least in the lore – assault cathedrals that are just thrown onto a planet.
The user writes that he simply wants to have an army that looks cool and now wants to know why Sororitas players chose their faction. The answers range from the simple coolness factor to deep into Warhammer feelings.
Start video
Die Adepta Sororitas aus Warhammer 40.000 sind ein Orden von Kampf-Priesterinnen mit Superkräften
“Demons and Sisters are the most ‘On Brand'”
In the dozens of comments, fans rave about their Sisters of Battle. The most frequently mentioned are the elaborate weapons and the portrayal of the warrior nuns: “Nuns. With guns. Do I need to say more?” One thing particularly stands out: the Exorcist.
Every faction has vehicles, but the Sororitas have a completely unique weapon in the Exorcist. Exorcists are modified Rhino tanks with an organ on top that fires rockets (and of course plays organ music).
In keeping with the Sororitas flair, some models also have little angels (“Cherubim”) flying around the tank, it glows and shines and actually looks more like a lavish altar in a church… like almost everything with the Sisters. One user says succinctly: “I like to pretend my thought process is deeper than [the Exorcist], but it’s really not.”
In comments deeper in the thread, the discussion goes much deeper into the lore. There it is stated, for instance: A fanatical order of women that is absolutely messed up fits perfectly into the picture of the “Grimdark” Warhammer 40,000. Others go even further:
For me, chaos demons and sisters are the most “On Brand” things in 40k. Space Marines are the poster boys, bugs, orcs, elves, and dwarves are somewhat general for fantasy and don’t feel especially 40k.”
But something about the demons as opponents carries the essence of human struggle in the setting, and the Sororitas seem like the most iconic representation of what humanity must do to survive.
The entire idea of the Sororitas is, by the way, a perfect example of the Imperium itself, because they only exist to circumvent a law. For after the great brother war, the church was not allowed to have “men at arms” – there was never any mention of women.
Christmas is also celebrated in World of Warcraft. But you only have a few days to pick up your gift.
While we celebrate Christmas in the real world, the Feast of Winter Veil takes place in World of Warcraft. Everything is festively decorated, and there are various repeatable quests. However, the highlight every year is the new gift that can be found under the Winter Veil tree. If you want your gift, you should pick it up now – before it disappears.
Start video
So gestaltet ihr in WoW einen Weihnachtsbaum für die Feiertage
Snowmen as Gifts
Where can you pick up the gifts? This depends on your faction:
As a member of the Alliance, you travel to Ironforge and find the large tree with Greatfather Winter and the gifts in front of the bank.
As a follower of the Horde, you travel to Orgrimmar in the Valley of Strength. The Winter Veil tree stands in front of the (former) war chief’s hut.
From December 25th – so today – the gifts are available under the Winter Veil trees.
Both the pet and the toy are a snowman.
What is the new gift for 2025? For the year 2025, there are these 2 new gifts:
Tiny Snow Buddy: A small pet in the form of a snowman. The pet also acts as a battle pet and can therefore be used for the various pet battle challenges.
Jubilant Snowman Costume: A toy that allows you to transform yourself into a snowman. During the transformation, you can throw gifts that chase other characters and attack with snowballs. You can also throw snowballs yourself – which can then even be looted as an item.
Until when do you have time? If you can’t play in the next few hours, don’t worry. The Feast of Winter Veil lasts until January 1, 2026. So you have about a week to make a short stop at the Winter Veil tree and grab the gift.
If that doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. Because all gifts can still be obtained in subsequent years – although it may involve some farming effort and a lot of luck. Those who can seize the opportunity should act soon. But there’s also another thing you can farm only for a short time – at least effectively: This housing resource will soon be harder to obtain.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Mexican government has enacted new taxes as part of an economic package, including one for “violent video games.” However, a week before it was supposed to go into effect, the tax was repealed as it would simply have been unenforceable, explained the president.
What was that tax? Originally, Mexico planned an 8% tax on “violent games,” which was set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The idea was compared to “sin taxes” on certain luxury goods such as tobacco and soft drinks.
“The general sale of video games that contain violent, extreme, or adult content and are not suitable for persons under 18 years of age, as well as all commissions for digital services that provide access to such games or offer downloads […] shall fall under the IEPS at a rate of 8%.”
Why was the tax repealed? The Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum Pedro stated in a press conference (via GameReactor) that it is very difficult to “distinguish between video games that involve violence and those that do not.”
The bill faced problems earlier because services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus would need special regulations here. The president explained that the law had too many complications – so it would be completely scrapped, and instead, a culture of peace would be promoted.
The irrational fear of games is ancient:
Start video
A German video shows us how frightening video games were perceived 42 years ago select
“It’s almost 2026 and people still think that”
Critics had already expressed their thoughts about the idea earlier. After all, no one has become a criminal through The Last of Us, claimed the opposition (via GameReactor). On Reddit, there is often skepticism about the idea itself.
Others chime in: Even if you could travel back to the year 5025 with a time machine, you’d still find people in the nuclear wasteland who would believe such things.
MyMMO editor Dariusz once tried to complete everything in GTA, but ended up failing miserably.
When I was about in fourth grade, I played GTA San Andreas for the first time way too early at a friend’s house on the PlayStation 2. Back then, we had little interest in completing the game’s story. Instead, we just messed around and crashed a lot of cars. Of course, cheat codes were also a must, which you could enter in GTA since forever through key combinations. We had infinite ammunition, spawned powerful war machines, and could fly cars through the night.
Start video
GTA San Andreas – Trailer
Years later, I found GTA San Andreas in a bargain bin at the supermarket and recognized it immediately. However, since I owned neither a console nor a gaming PC, I could only play it when I visited my older sister and her boyfriend during the holidays.
But that didn’t stop me from playing San Andreas multiple times. Often I used some smaller cheat codes:
a stylish sports car for the long drive to Las Venturas
new martial arts for CJ that you would normally learn in a martial arts school
ammunition and weapons, in case the pocket arsenal runs out
driving in slow motion, during that one damned race at the arse end of the world that I simply couldn’t win as a noob
For the most part, I played the game “normally”, especially after the first playthrough. But eventually, the spirit of an achievement hunter grabbed me – at least for a short time.
From Noob to Achievement Hunter, back to Noob
During another playthrough, I felt the urge to complete the game at 100%. In GTA San Andreas, this means: complete all missions, pass tests, challenges and races, find all collectibles, and much more.
Additionally, the game warns you: using cheats may risk you not being able to reach 100%. So I completely abstained from cheats for the first time.
Playing San Andreas without cheats was not a problem and I made good progress on my 100% hunt. But on one fateful day, I was inattentive.
I started San Andreas and saw CJ standing there without any muscle mass, staring blankly into the world. His skinny arms hung like spaghetti from the tank top. A skeleton would have more meat on its bones than the protagonist of the action game.
How muscular dear Carl is depends on how much exercise he gets. There are actual gyms where he can train and pump up his muscles – of course, controlled by the player. Alternatively, he can also gain weight if he eats too much.
Like in real life, I also never wanted to go to the gym in GTA San Andreas. However, since Carl had no time for visits to the local fast-food chains, he remained scrawny all the time. And then it happened.
Without thinking, I entered a cheat code. CJ suddenly turned into a true muscle powerhouse. Then I completed a few missions, advanced the businesses and did what I had to do for the 100%. Of course, I saved in between.
Hours later, it hit me like a lightning bolt: “Crap, I cheated muscles earlier.” I hadn’t even thought of that. Damn… and then I had already saved multiple times.”
My attempt to achieve 100% has died, buried under mountains of muscles. That was the last time I actively tried to achieve 100% in a game and collect special achievements.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Minecrafthas categorically labeled its solo players as “lonely” – only to promote its own servers in the same breath. The outrage over this is significant.
How did Minecraft insult its solo players? The controversy was sparked by an in-game notification that begins with the phrase “One is the loneliest number” – a reference to the opening line of Harry Nilsson’s song One.
“Stop playing Realms alone like a sad, wandering merchant,” it continues. “Invite your friends!”
Start video
Minecraft: Launch trailer shows DLC for Dragon Ball Z with Goku
Minecraft wants to sell Realms Plus-servers, insults players
What’s the point? The real reason for this notification: Minecraft wants to encourage players to subscribe. Minecraft Realms are special multiplayer servers that allow cross-platform play with players of the same version. There are separate servers for Bedrock and Java.
The subscription for Minecraft Realms costs $3.99 (€3.39) per month and allows you to play with up to two additional friends. Minecraft Realms Plus, which is being promoted here, allows you to play with up to 10 additional players for $7.99 (€6.78) per month.
What do players say about it? Many players feel that Minecraft developer Mojang has clearly crossed the line here. A Reddit post by user Cautious-Surround340 on r/Minecraft has already garnered 23,000 upvotes and 1,000 comments (as of December 25, 10:45 AM).
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In his post, the user criticizes the insulting tone of the message and receives a lot of support from the community in the comments:
“This should definitely be phrased better or removed altogether,” says The-Chromosome on Reddit. “Mocking paying customers for how they play your game – especially for playing alone – is definitely not the kind of demeanor Minecraft should convey.”
“That a video game literally shames children by pointing at them and laughing that they don’t have friends is honestly one of the most uncomfortable things I’ve seen in a long time,” writes Shatterfish on Reddit.
“I have played so many hours alone. We are definitely their biggest target audience. Are we not good enough?” asks lobster_claus on Reddit
The Reddit user Halfiplier notes in a comment that this bashing would be entirely unnecessary – Realms is also interesting for solo players. “Realms is literally the easiest way to play your world cross-platform,” he writes on Reddit. “For a game that’s all about ‘playing your way,’ this feels strangely malicious for completely unnecessary reasons”
The cold season may deter some trainers from Pokémon GO. MeinMMO has gathered some variations for you on what you can still accomplish in the game during cold days.
One of the main aspects of Pokémon GO is undoubtedly the walking around. However, especially in the cold season, trainers may feel less motivated to face the cold to catch monsters, spin PokéStops, or hatch eggs.
Fortunately, there are some options for you to enjoy the game without freezing your fingers. We have put together 4 for you.
Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
1. Visit the Battle League
While most activities in the game require you to be on the move, there is one activity that you can easily do from the comfort of your warm home: the Battle League. If no suitable event is currently running, you can compete in 5 battle sets with 5 battles each day.
If you haven’t participated in the Battle League yet and don’t have suitable teams, then the Great League may be the best option for you to get a taste of the PvP mode of Pokémon GO. Creating teams is relatively inexpensive here, provided you have the right Pokémon. Here we have some recommendations for you.
You can participate in raids and Dynamax raids not only on-site. You can also do this conveniently from home. However, you will need Remote Raid Passes for this.
While these were relatively inexpensive during the Corona times and sometimes available for just 1 PokéCoin, this is unfortunately no longer the case today. If you want to buy a Remote Raid Pass in the in-game shop, you need 195 PokéCoins for it. The 3-pack is available for 525 coins.
There are sometimes bundles where you can get Remote Raid Passes for a bit cheaper. However, you will still need some coins for that.
If you want to participate in Remote Raids from home, you should plan for some PokéCoins.
3. Clean out and organize your PokéBox
Most trainers are familiar with the issue of their PokéBox getting fuller and fuller. While you might limit sorting out during ordinary gameplay to the minimum to continue catching monsters, the cold days are a perfect time to do some thorough cleaning.
You can send any excess monsters that you have in large numbers and don’t really need to the professor. You can also take this time to organize your raid teams using battle teams and tags.
If you still want to go outside to play Pokémon GO, you should be adequately equipped. Your hands can play an important role here in being able to operate the smartphone while playing.
For this, you should opt for gloves. However, not all gloves are suitable for operating a smartphone. It is important that you choose gloves whose fingertips are made of a material suitable for operating a smartphone.
If you have such gloves, you can also go out for a round of Pokémon GO in the cold days without fearing that your fingers will freeze. Of course, also remember to dress warmly overall.
Below you will find some gloves that are suitable:
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
MeinMMO demon Cortyn is immersed in the housing of World of Warcraft. The Mage Tower is finally finished – at least for now.
Anyone who knows me or reads my articles already knows that I have spent the last few weeks extensively focusing on housing in World of Warcraft. In the first 7 days after the patch, I mostly traveled through the world, collecting materials and resources to create various decorations and furniture or purchase hidden items.
After that, I completely shut myself off from the (real) outside world for a few days and worked on my small house that I would like to introduce to you today.
Start video
WoW: Early access to housing has started
Therefore, I would like to show you today how I built my house in the game and also talk a bit about the details. Perhaps you will get inspired for your own house if so far you haven’t felt motivated. Or perhaps you have creative improvement ideas on how to make various things a bit prettier.
A Mage Tower for Old Elves
The “idea” behind my house: a Mage Tower of a highborn Night Elf from the time of Queen Azshara. So traditionally, night elf and slightly chaotic elements like plants and nature should merge with the tidiness, order, and visual sterility of a learned mage.
The Entrance Area
As it befits a proper Mage Tower, it is entered through a large portal. For this, I simply turned the Lightwell from the Epic Edition of Midnight on its side and repurposed it. A door behind it and it looks like the portal can be used as an entrance and exit.
Naturally, you enter the tower through a portal.
The flowerbeds consist of simple white columns as a border and green-colored carpets that make it look like there is actually soil or grass covering the ground. The carpet is, in fact, one of the most versatile items in housing. Right at the entrance, a scroll hovers with a quill and inkwell – so visitors can register directly. We’d rather keep quiet about the demonic contract printed on the back.
Many plants, but clearly separated from the rest – order is a must.
A few slate cobblestone paths colored black create a lovely path that leads past the flowerbeds to a seating area as a waiting area and finally through the first door into the stairwell – the heart of the Mage Tower.
The Stairwell – Up the Tower
In the middle stands the large spiral staircase, which leads up through a total of three floors. The staircase consists of many “round platforms from Silvermoon.” Visually quite simple and elegant, even though you can surely imagine how much fine-tuning went into the staircase to ensure that each step has the same distance to the next, is angled correctly, and at the same time, the ascent is so “perfect” that after exactly one turn, you arrive on the next level.
The staircase goes from the ground floor through the first and second floors.
At the end of every third step, a “delicate moon lamp” hovers, which not only looks visually appealing but also functions as a railing and softly lights everything in blue.
Small lamps serve as railings, lighting, and decoration.
Within the stairwell, small paths lead to side niches on the floors, each serving different functions. A small elevation serves as a kitchen (which my mage doesn’t care much about). There you find mostly ordinary night elf furniture that can be purchased in Val’sharah. An empty barrel can appear full if you scale a “autumn leaf pile” down to a minimal size and move it to the top edge of the barrel.
Food is conjured. Therefore, the cooking area is a bit neglected.
Another floor serves simply for relaxation when one has to study a dark romance novel important arcane documents.
Chilling under magical light with the latest installment of “Novices of Sin” – banned by the priesthood of Elune.
On the otherwise empty walls, you can often see large flowerbeds that I made from several “elegantly curved tables” – three of them each create a perfect semicircle. Together with a trellis, some plants, and one elven relic (such as a “grill pan of Elune”), there is both mystical glow and natural beauty in harmony.
You can create a beautiful bed from tables when arranged properly.
Study of the Ambitious Mage…
On the first floor awaits the study of a busy mage. Quite tidy, only on the large desk prevails chaos. All sorts of books, magical objects, and of course, floating, rotating texts. On the left and right, there are larger flower boxes, similar to those in the hallway. But this time there is a special twist.
A large study room should not be missed.
For in one of the flower boxes hides a secret passage. While building, I noticed that “stepping stone from Suramar” consists only of texture but has no collision. This means you can simply “walk through” the stepping stones – allowing you to hide a path behind them.
A few objects are still missing, but chaos is already present.
If you walk through the flowerbed, a path awaits behind it, which is already greenish swirling. This is the “scout map of the demon hammer,” which I pushed so far into the wall that only the magical effect is visible. The ground is uneven – I simply scaled rocks to the maximum and covered the walls with them to create the impression of a cave.
If this isn’t inviting, then I don’t know what is.
… and that of the Evil Witch
The small passage leads into a (forbidden!) ritual room. Here, demonic magic is practiced and everything basically screams “warlock” – but what else would you expect from an elf from the time of Azshara?
Here you can find all sorts of objects from Legion Remix or the warlock class hall. A cage made of felsteel hovering over a well of fel blood. Additionally, a large portal (with a built-in door as an “emergency exit”) and of course a small desk to come up with new, nasty demon summonings.
I’m a bit proud of the “blood” on the chalice.
On a large sacrificial altar lies an overturned chalice, whose bloody contents have spread across the altar. That it is just red-colored slate cobblestone, nobody needs to know.
The walls consist of rocks that are speckled with slate cobblestone paths, which have received a toxic green color. This reinforces the impression of dark fel magic and makes the walls not appear so bare at the same time.
Every good warlock lab needs an emergency exit.
The Sleeping Area
On the upper floor is the sleeping area, both for guests and for the tower owner herself.
The guest rooms are still a bit sparsely furnished and have little uniqueness – they are mostly unused rooms that exist simply “for emergencies.”
Much more elaborate is the bedroom, which is heavily inspired by the video by the YouTuber Elyonart Gaming – in many parts, it is an almost exact replica that I would not want to take credit for. The floor consists of turned carpets that have been dyed black.
Watching Elune with binoculars. You have to know what the goddess wants.
Through the blue “Goldhain windows,” you can see the large moon – also an inverted carpet, only dyed bright white-yellow. Most items are dyed black to create a dark look.
And yes: The Mage Tower is still not completely finished. A large library is still pending, as well as a somewhat too decadent bathing area. But for that, the expansion Midnight needs to be released first, as I have already exhausted the maximum number of decorations. In the library, I could perhaps lay the floors and put up a few walls before space completely runs out. So I’m waiting – to then put even more energy into housing.
The passage is still closed – because only with Midnight can I continue to build.
Because through new unlocks in Midnight, there will not only be more space for decorations but also completely new design possibilities. You will soon be able to give rooms their own lighting effects and there should also be outdoor spaces – perfect for building a beautiful panorama.
Perhaps I could provide you with a bit of inspiration to finally tackle your own houses in World of Warcraft. Tricks and tips can also be found all over the game world, which is now much livelier again. Have you created a nice home in Azeroth for yourself? Or does creativity stop after designing the garden? Let me know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Diablo 4 awaits a hidden boss fight that you can only enter after gathering certain materials. You can find out where to get the Purified Essences and where to find the corresponding altars here.
What kind of boss fight is this? The new Season 11 has not been live for long, and players have already found mysterious items in Diablo 4 – the Purified Essences. With them, you can summon secret bosses that drop really strong loot. To avoid spoilers, we won’t go into the specifics of the boss fight here. It’s clear, though: You should be well-prepared and make sure that your toughness is high enough because you won’t be fighting just a minor evil there.
Where do I get Purified Essences? To open the portal to the secret boss fight, you need so-called Purified Essences, which come from the lesser evils. The Purified Essences are essentially the unique variant of the Corrupted Essences.
A total of four Purified Essences are needed, which you can obtain from various sources (source: maxroll.gg):
Purified Tongue of Azmodan:
Fight against Azmodan as a world boss
Event in Hawezar.
Purified Claw of Andariel:
Boss fight against Andariel
Under City, when you fight Andariel there.
Purified Eye of Belial:
Boss fight against Belial
Pit, when you fight Belial there.
Purified Horn of Duriel:
Boss fight against Duriel
Hell Flood, when you fight Duriel there instead of against the Blood Maiden.
Diablo 4 showcases its new features from Season 11 in the gameplay trailer
Purified Essences: Locations of all Altars
Where can I find the altars? The four altars where you need to sacrifice the Purified Essences are spread across the entire map. You can find them in Hawezar, Nahantu, in the Shattered Peaks, and in Kehjistan. Our screenshots show you the exact locations:
You can find the Altar of Sin (Azmodan) in Hawezar, northeast of Zarbinzet.You can find the Altar of Torment (Andariel) in Nahantu, southwest of the docks of Kurast.You can find the Altar of Lies (Belial) in the Shattered Peaks, east of Kyovashad.You can find the Altar of Pain (Duriel) in Kehjistan, south of the Imperial Library.
Activate and use the portal to the boss fight
This is how you open the portal to the boss fight: Once you have sacrificed all four Purified Essences at the respective altars, a portal labeled “??????” opens, leading you directly to the secret boss fight. You can sacrifice the essences either right after obtaining them or wait until you have collected all four.
If you successfully complete the fight, a chest with strong loot will spawn. In it, you will find, among other things:
To be well-prepared for the secret boss fight, you should prepare carefully. Pay attention to sufficient toughness – in the overview of difficulty levels at the statues, you will find recommended values for that. Additionally, you need strong gear and a solid build. The best builds for all classes in Season 11 of Diablo 4 can be found in our tier list.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Cool items for housing in World of Warcraft are only available for a short time very easily – so you should grab them now.
In order to have a large selection of items for housing in World of Warcraft, you need to farm a lot of currencies. Depending on which currency it is, this can take many hours of time – or it may also depend on luck, which quests are currently active.
There is one of the more annoying currencies being thrown around right now. “The blame” is on Legion Remix – even if you are not playing Remix at all.
Start video
So gestaltet ihr in WoW einen Weihnachtsbaum für die Feiertage
Order resources bring cool rewards
What resource is it about? We are talking about order resources (Order Resources). You primarily obtain these resources through world quests in the Legion expansion – so the actual Legion, not the Remix variant. Whether a quest offers order resources is entirely up to chance, but you can already see it as a reward when you hover over the corresponding quest.
You can already see which quests give a lot of order resources.
What can be bought with order resources? Each of the individual order halls has its own vendor who sells exclusive items offered for order resources. These are housing items that usually match particularly iconically to a class – for instance, demon-corrupted items for warlocks or tomes with holy light for paladins.
A part of these items can be purchased outright, while for others, you need to achieve certain successes.
But one thing is always the same: They consume large amounts of order resources and can easily cost 2,500 resources per item.
In the order halls, there are many rewards that can be earned – for order resources.
Why can so much be earned now? This is because the normal “Legion” behaves differently as long as Remix is active. World bosses do not rotate weekly but every day. These world boss world quests have a high chance of offering 1,000 order resources as a reward – a substantial sum that is already enough for some decorations. The world bosses can be defeated at level 80 with one attack.
More tips for order resources: Keep in mind that you can also further increase your gain of order resources:
Activating the War Mode increases the amount of resources you get from quests by an additional 10%.
You can select followers from the order hall as companions and give them equipment that grants additional resources upon quest completion.
Always check the world quests on Argus. They often provide particularly many resources.
If you still need order resources, you should make a detour to the Broken Isles in the coming days, as Legion Remix ends on January 19. With that, the quests will also be generated normally again. On the world map, you can set the filter for world quests to only show missions that yield order resources – then you will be perfectly prepared.
Legion has a lot of great housing items to offer that are perfect for making great accents or giving your home a thematic touch. If you still have no idea how to design your house – take a look at what a great house we stumbled upon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
An action RPG on Steamdoes one thing better than the big names Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 – and this is despite being in Early Access. It’s worth getting into it now.
Which game is being referred to? We’re talking about Titan Quest 2 – the long-awaited sequel to the action RPG from 2006. This is being developed by the studio Grimlore Games in Munich, and it was released on August 1, 2025, on Steam and in the Epic Games Store. Versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S have been announced.
Titan Quest 2 takes you back to ancient Greece. This time, however, you must escape from a vengeful goddess and thwart her dark plans. Against a picturesque backdrop, you will slash through mythical creatures and bosses.
Although the game is still in Early Access, it already does one important thing better than the big contenders in the genre, namely Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 – at least when it comes to having as much freedom as possible in building your own character.
Here you can see Titan Quest 2 in the launch trailer:
Start video
Der Trailer zum Early Access von Titan Quest 2 auf Steam
Not just one, but two classes per character
What makes Titan Quest 2 better? While in most other action RPGs you can only choose one class, Titan Quest 2 (like the original) lets you take two. You can freely combine them. Want to play a powerful melee fighter that hurls lightning at enemies? No problem.
Currently, the Early Access mainly sets limits on build diversity. As of now, there are only 5 classes in Titan Quest 2. More will be added for free during Early Access.
The classes already included, called “masteries” in the game, are:
Warfare: For those who want to charge into melee combat heavily armored
Rogue: Focuses on poison damage and fast, precise attacks
Earth: Lets you shake the ground and set enemies ablaze
Storm: Includes lightning attacks and lets you freeze enemies with frost attacks
Forge: The first mastery added after release; provides access to blade traps and turns you into a living tank
Titan Quest 2 also does away with mandatory multiplayer, battle passes, and a shop where you have to spend real money on cosmetic content. You can play the title in cooperative mode, but you’re never forced to.
Those who enter early get a better deal
Why is now the best time to get in? Currently, you can get Titan Quest 2 on Steam and in the Epic Games Store with a 20% discount. The game currently costs €27.99 and offers a lot of content for that price.
While you shouldn’t expect to be supplied for hundreds of hours right away, if you want to try every mastery and explore every corner of the world, you’ll still get your money’s worth.
Furthermore, the developers have announced that the game is set to become more expensive as content grows. There was already a small price increase in November 2025. If you’re interested in the game, it’s worth getting in early. In the end, you’ll get the complete package anyway.
What’s next for Titan Quest 2? On December 22, 2025, the developers announced a new chapter in the story. This will first send you to the homeland of the Greek gods. Then your journey will take you to the open fields of Arcadia and to the city of Tegea.
In the new area, you will also finally encounter a fresh type of foe: The centaurs – half human, half horse. So you no longer have to deal with the fish people. The developers haven’t revealed when exactly the new chapter will come.
Path of Exile 2 has shown how complex action RPGs can be, and Titan Quest 2 finds a middle ground between complexity and challenge. One player found the entire genre of hardcore games too much – and Diablo 4 saved his hobby. More on this can be found here: Player “burnt out” from gaming, finds Skyrim boring – Diablo 4 saves his hobby
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Dungeons & Dragons offers the potential for long-term campaigns where the story continues over multiple sessions, just like a series. MeinMMO editor Alex has been regularly playing his favorite campaign for years, with a lot of passion. How his group manages this and how you can do it too, he tells you here.
Dungeons & Dragons is a group game that requires a lot of creativity but also people skills and aims for collaborative storytelling. It is highly social and, correspondingly, prone to conflicts and differing expectations. This often makes it hard to play long-term campaigns truly long-term without the group losing interest for various reasons or breaking apart—especially when those campaigns extend over several years.
I have also had numerous groups and attempts behind me and have been playing for several years in a stable group of 6 people, with whom I indulge in the passion for our favorite tabletop role-playing game at least twice a month for a whole day. We usually play 11 – 14 hours and primarily move within the setting of the Forgotten Realms and the Feywild. While we use (multiple) official campaign books, we weave them into a framework created by our game master.
And this is really done on a regular basis with very few exceptions, playing the same campaign without major drama, serious disputes, or stretches of boredom, and with the same characters. But it hasn’t always been this easy, and getting to this point was a process that took some time.
Start video
The trailer for Critical Role’s The Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime shows the first conflicts that the “heroes” have to struggle with
The reason this works so well now is due to some unwritten rules and behaviors that I want to share with you so that you too can find the perfect group for yourselves and create long, epic campaigns together. I have also been able to carry these rules over and successfully implement them in other groups and systems. Therefore, I present our success concept, with which we have been writing the same story for years.
[toc]
In this sense, I would also like to dedicate this contribution to my group, which has accompanied me through my adventures in Faerûn and the Crystal Spheres for so long: My dear Selûnatics – this contribution is also for you, because without you, I could not fully embrace this incredibly enriching hobby as it is now possible. Thank you for being there!
Who is writing here? MeinMMO editor Alexander Mehrwald has been immersed in various pen-and-paper role-playing games for over 15 years. From Dungeons & Dragons to Pathfinder, Shadowrun, The Dark Eye, and Call of Cthulhu to The Black Cat, hardly any system is safe from him. His greatest passion lies within Faerûn in Dungeons & Dragons, where he has been experiencing adventures for years.
In the title image, you see the characters from his long-standing group, drawn by his lovely—uhm, mysterious favorite rogue (@kiriiartworks).
Questioning Expectations and Player Types
One of the biggest reasons our campaign started off so well was that we established specific focal points from the beginning, which we did not perceive as set in stone. The start of a long-term campaign lays one of the cornerstones for how it can develop over time.
For this purpose, our game master (who, mind you, is doing this for the first time – he had only played 2 sessions of Dungeons & Dragons as a player before) held a so-called Session 0 with each of our 5 players, where he discussed our character ideas and our expectations for the campaign.
Did we prefer a greater focus on combat? Exploring complex dungeons? Or a high role-playing component? All of this he gathered as orientation for the start. By doing this, you also ensure that the group members generally fit together and avoid many potential conflicts within the group.
He also ensured that the strengths and weaknesses of our characters complemented each other well, but we did not find out who or what we were playing before the first session. This way, we could authentically get to know each other in-game during the first session and showed genuine interest in each other.
But that was not enough, as expectations can change based on experience, and what one wishes for might not be what one really enjoys in practice. Which brings us to point 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A type of construction game has particularly impressed MeinMMO author Ody this year: Parkbuilder. At the end of October, it was still Jurassic World Evolution 3 that he would crown as his personal game of the year. However, by the end of the year, the competition on Steam strikes back.
When Jurassic World Evolution 3 (JWE3) was released on October 21, 2025, I could hardly put it down: I played the game for a straight 8 hours on release night. Since then, I’ve been checking in every now and then. However, I am currently sinking hours into another parkbuilder.
This game, which competes for my time with JWE3, is Prehistoric Kingdom (PK). It was released on April 27, 2022, and is currently in Early Access. However, I’ve only been playing PK since early 2024, and I do so occasionally. I’ve really gotten active again in the past weeks and months, as it’s becoming quite exciting around the game again.
On December 23, Update 16 was released, packed with cool new content:
10 new animal species from various eras of earth history that you can place in vivariums (small designated enclosures that you can customize)
Your animals can now get sick or sustain injuries, requiring veterinarians to take care of them
With the Ferris wheel and observation tower, there are two new attractions that give visitors an even better view of the park
Here is the trailer for the new update:
Start video
Prehistoric Kingdom auf Steam schenkt euch 10 neue Tiere für euren Park, darunter die größte Schlange aller Zeiten
The Dream Come True for Dino Nerds (like me)
Prehistoric Kingdom is the wet dream of every dino nerd. The animals in the game are living paleo art and are at the forefront of research. This makes PK stand out significantly from Jurassic World Evolution 3. While it has many very accurate designs, it also has many in the now outdated Jurassic Park/World aesthetic.
And it’s not just dinosaurs here: Mammoths and saber-toothed cats also have their place. Just like the Titanoboa, the largest snake of all time, or Tiktaalik – one of the first animals to leave the water (which ultimately led to us sitting here now having to deal with things like taxes). Unfortunately, only the large flying and sea reptiles are still completely missing.
Currently, it feels like the developers Blue Meridian are delivering one huge update after another. Since I started with PK, the AI of the animals has been fundamentally improved and expanded with new behaviors. Animals can have babies that you can actually watch growing up. Moreover, there are always new free animals.
Currently, you can get Prehistoric Kingdom on Steam for €17.49. Considering what the game already offers, that’s a really good deal. However, keep in mind that PK is in Early Access. So, some areas still lack polish.
Despite classic Early Access complaints, I have already had a lot of fun with the game. And when I look at the developers’ roadmap (on trello.com), it seems that a lot of cool stuff is still ahead of us. I cannot say for sure whether Prehistoric Kingdom is my unexpected game of the year 2025.
Warhammer 40.000 is not just a dystopian vision of the future; the universe is also a sharp satire of our real world. Of course, there are certain parallels that must not be absent – but one is absurd even for Warhammer: Da Red Gobbo!
This also applies to Warhammer Fantasy, where Wood Elves are very similar to the fairy realm from Celtic mythology – the leaders even have almost the same names, Oberon and Orion. And of course, Warhammer aims to establish a certain connection with the similarity, solely for the critical social aspect of the world.
However, Games Workshop has created a character who has become, more or less by accident, the counterpart of one of the most famous mythological figures of our world, Santa Claus. Behind “Red Gobbo” lies actually a completely different idea, one that fits more with socialist caricatures.
This little green guy in a red coat loves to deliver gifts (of course in a Warhammer way) and has a list of “naughty children,” only missing the white beard. And it all started with a revolution among the belligerent Orks.
Start video
The makers explain what Warhammer actually is
Da Boss von da Revolushun!
“Da Red Gobbo” is, as the name suggests, actually a Goblin – or rather, his counterpart in Warhammer 40,000, a Grot. Grots, Gretchin, and Co. are a subspecies of Orks from the 41st millennium, but significantly smaller and weaker.
Accordingly, Gobbos hold a lower status in a society defined by strength and martial presence. They are more or less a slave caste, used for labor, livestock breeding, or as ammunition (both in manufacturing and as actual ammunition). Nevertheless, Gobbos believe in the power of the Ork gods Gork and Mork, which is why they simply accept their status. Most of the time at least.
The first Red Gobbo is actually the leader of a revolution on Gorkamorka, a planet where Orks (unwillingly) landed. To escape from there and return to the ongoing WAAAGH!, they needed a ship and the help of the Gobbos to build it.
However, as the ship did not have enough room for the entire population – and Grots are considered “inferior” for Orks – badges were distributed for those who would be able to get a place.
Outraged by the discrimination, some Gobbos demanded equality, especially since they worked harder than the Orks. This led to a revolution under the “Gretchin Revolution Committee” and their leader, the Red Gobbo.
Kein einzelne Gobbo, sondern eine Sagenfigur
The Red Gobbo is not a single person, but a legend. Any Grot can become the Red Gobbo right where they are needed. If a Red Gobbo dies, the mantle is figuratively and sometimes literally passed on to the next Gobbo.
The idea behind this is that the identity of the mantle bearer is not important, but only that the legend of the Red Gobbo continues to be carried on, both among Grots and Gretchin and among the Orks.
Accordingly, there are several Red Gobbos in the history of Warhammer, by the way in both the worlds of Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar. The death of a Red Gobbo is part of its legend, for: the Orks can kill the Gobbo, but never the idea.
That the Red Gobbo has become the Warhammer version of Santa Claus at some point was originally just an idea from Games Workshop because it somehow fit. A new collectible figure was released in 2019, and fitting to Santa Claus and his clothing, there was a Red Gobbo.
However, in 2021, the idea solidified through the novel “Da Gobbo’s Revenge” by Mike Brooks. In it, the Gretchin Fingwit becomes the Red Gobbo, and throughout the book there are many parallels to Santa Claus:
The leader of the Grots is an Ork named “Klaws,” pronounced similarly to “Claus” from Santa Claus.
Klaws was said to have worn a red armor and had a white beard.
Fingwit and his colleagues are the “fingers” of Klaws and take care of everything… like Christmas elves.
During the revolution against Klaws, Fingwit has a list of “naughty boys” that he checks twice, of course.
Additionally, the actual model of the Red Gobbo, which you can use in tabletop play, has a special rule called: “Has You Been a Good Little Grot This Year?” with which Da Red Gobbo can hand a Grot from his unit a grenade that… either causes a lot of damage or explodes immediately. However, there are different datasheets, so the rule is not found everywhere. You can find one of these datasheets, for example, in Wahapedia.
One of the newer figures of the Red Gobbo.
Not just Santa Claus – There’s also Christmas!
Things get a bit strange here. Da Red Gobbo is not the only mythological figure for Christmas; he also has an opponent: Da Black Gobbo. According to legend, both race against each other for Squigmas to see who can steal the most gifts.
Originally, this comes from the fact that the Black Gobbo has stolen packages from under the trees on Squigmas – a holiday of the Orks when they distribute gifts – that the Red Gobbo wanted to steal.
A shootout occurs between the two, during which the pile of stolen gifts explodes and spreads all over the city, prompting the Orks present to celebrate:
Start video
Da Red Gobbo enthüllt die Identität des Black Gobbo in Warhammer: Age of Sigmar und verteilt versehentlich Geschenke an die Orks
The Sanguinala, during which the sacrifice of the “Blood Angels” Primarch Sanguinius is celebrated, is considered by some fans as Warhammer’s Christmas, but likely aligns more with Easter in thought.
The official marketing designation that Games Workshop uses to market Warhammer products during Christmas is called Grotmas, or in German: Grotnachten.
No matter how cool the story of the Red Gobbo sounds, all of it is still a legend even within the world of Warhammer. What actually happened and what merely serves propaganda and the “idea” is impossible to say.
Battlefield 6 is still being played a lot months after release and has already received several updates. Now a player has taken a closer look at the Battlefield shop and claims to have discovered AI art.
Why is Battlefield 6 the most successful game of 2025? In just the first three days, Battlefield 6 sold over 7 million copies and became the strongest launch in the franchise (ea.com). According to gamespot.com, Battlefield 6 is ranked 1 among the best-selling games of 2025.
What did the player find? While Battlefield 6 is celebrated as the most successful game of 2025, Reddit user J_Productions made a discovery in the Battlefield shop. In the shop, a bundle is offered for 900 Battlefield coins, which includes an emblem that seems to have been created by AI.
The necessary coins can be purchased for 9.99 euros (1,100 coins in total) in the official Battlefield store (store.ea.com).
Start video
Neuer Modus in Battlefield 6 bietet entspannte Runden und viel XP
What does the emblem show? At first glance, the emblem shows a simple weapon. However, upon closer inspection, some discrepancies become apparent:
The trigger of the weapon appears to be missing
An additional dust cover is positioned directly over the actual dust cover
The weapon has two barrels
J_Productions has marked the locations in his post with a red arrow.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What are the players’ reactions? Under the Reddit post, some players are mocking it, but there are also many negative comments.
The Reddit user ZeusHatesTrees finds humor in the dual mechanisms of the weapon and writes: “Sometimes it’s so dusty out there that you need a dust cover for your dust cover. And two barrels are extra.”
However, the top comment is from Reddit user theludeguy and has received almost 8,000 upvotes: “Not surprising at all.”
Why does the use of AI seem unsurprising? Not only in Battlefield 6 does it seem that AI is at work; other major studios have also been associated with AI content in recent months:
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly present not only in video games. Amazon has released two animes for their streaming platform that rely on AI for English dubbing. However, it is surprising that there are already professional dubbing versions available in part, but they are not offered on Amazon: Amazon releases several anime with AI voices, which are so bad that they horrify fans
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some games lure you in with so many distractions that you never finish them. MyMMO author Paul Kutzner knows this too.
There are games where you can sink in for hundreds of hours without tackling the tasks the game offers. This happened to me, for example, in Skyrim, where I spent endless hours in the vast open world, or also Fallout 4, where I unexpectedly spent a lot of time expanding the settlements. However, I eventually managed to finish both games successfully.
Another game keeps drawing me in and captivating me for many hours. It offers so many possibilities that I have never defeated the final boss of the game to this day – let alone even seen it in the game.
Start video
Minecraft shows in the video how the graphics of the game will improve
4 Corners and Endless Possibilities
What game is it about? It is Minecraft. When a friend showed me the game in 2011, I was immediately interested. The possibilities the game hinted at were overwhelming. While I may not be the most creative builder in Minecraft, it captivated me immediately.
I really enjoy coming up with concepts for farms or getting inspired by others who continually simplify the gameplay and make it easier for me to obtain masses of items. Whether it’s about wheat, iron, or EXP farms.
But that is both a curse and a blessing.
Why is this a problem? In Minecraft, there is fundamentally a fairly concrete goal that you receive in survival mode: to defeat the Ender Dragon. However, due to the countless possibilities the game offers, I have never managed to reach this goal, now 14 years after discovering the game.
Every few months or years there is a phase where I log into my old account, create a new world, and start playing. Often this happens because I see what new content has found its way to Minecraft (I’m looking at you, Copper Golem).
And here we go again: a big warehouse to stash all items in good old hoarder fashion. A wheat farm to easily breed animals and secure experience points and important drops from the animals in mass. A trading hall with villagers? Of course! And of course, countless enchantments must be available here; otherwise, it wouldn’t be a proper trading hall.
All these projects ultimately require many hours of gameplay again. And while my equipment and my base get better and larger, there comes a point where I gradually lose interest in the game. Until I don’t touch it for several months or even years.
Eventually, the desire returns. And of course, then a new save with a new world is created. And the misery starts over.
Who knows, maybe someday I will finally manage to encounter the Ender Dragon. I should be experienced enough for the fight by now. But no matter how often I create new saves and don’t encounter the dragon: I’m having a lot of fun with it. And that’s what it should be about in the end, right?
Fans of Hollow Knight should be quick today. A genre classic is available for free – those who act can keep it forever.
Fans of the “Metroidvania” genre have received a real highlight this year with Hollow Knight: Silksong, which they have been waiting for years. However, some have only started to enjoy Hollow Knight and are now wondering: Are there other highlights in this genre? If you belong to this group: You can currently get a true classic for free, as the Epic Games Store is giving away “Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night” for a few hours.
Start video
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night – a legendary Metroidvania with a cool look
What is Bloodstained about? In Bloodstained, you take on the role of Miriam and must fight your way through a gigantic castle full of demons – not just for fun, but because the fate of humanity rests on your shoulders. Miriam has a personal interest in this as she has been cursed, causing her body to gradually crystallize.
As is common in the Metroidvania genre, the game is quite large and is played in a “side-scrolling” manner – you explore the gigantic castle while unlocking new abilities and fighting your way through all sorts of scenarios.
While the graphics may be a bit dated, this often adds to the charm of these titles – and the gameplay still holds up today. If you are looking for enjoyable entertainment between holidays (and likely beyond), Bloodstained is a great fit.
If you are interested in the game, you can add it for free to your Epic Games Store account for a few more hours.
Why is the game free? Since its launch, the Epic Games Store has regularly held various promotions where games are offered completely for free – usually for a limited time. If you add the corresponding games to your library during this promotion, you can keep them permanently and play them whenever you want.
Until when can you get the game for free? This is possible until today at 4:59 PM, after which another unknown game will be available for free in the Epic Games Store.
If you don’t want to use the Epic Games Launcher for some reason or missed the offer, Bloodstained is also available on Steam. Here, the title is currently significantly discounted until January 5th and costs only €9.99 – which is still a pretty strong offer. If you want to know why games like Bloodstained are even called Metroidvania, then check out our special that explains exactly this (and other!) genre terms.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
