Fallout 76 expands its map, brings a fan favorite of the series into play, doubles its players on Steam

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Bethesda has given its survival MMO Fallout 76 the biggest update in years. Because of this, over 20,000 players are currently playing on Steam, and fans are sure that even more will join once Season 2 of the series is released.

This is the current status of Fallout 76:

  • On December 2, 2025, Burning Springs, the latest and biggest update in 5 years was released.
  • According to SteamDB, the update has brought in over 20,000 peak players – almost double compared to the 12,000 shortly before. The last time the game had this many players was during the Skyline Valley update in June 2024.
  • With 71% positive reviews, Fallout 76 is currently rated slightly lower than its overall rating (78%), but it is still well received (on Steam).

What’s included in the new update: The highlight of the update is the second map expansion of the game. You can now leave Appalachia via the “Point Pleasant” bridge and visit the rural regions of Ohio. For the first time, the map was expanded with Skyline Valley in June 2024 – also back then with a ghoul gimmick.

Especially interesting for fans of the series is the ghoul from the Fallout show on Amazon, who can now be found as an NPC in Fallout 76. You can take on bounty hunts as a new activity with him, where you must eliminate a strong target in a random area to obtain new items with legendary effects (1-3 stars).

Additionally, there is a new story as well as a new season, new events, and a RAD Rover as a pet for your base. The season mainly offers cosmetic skins for your gear and components for your camp.

Start video
Fallout 76 zeigt den Ghul aus der Serie im neuen Trailer zum Update Burning Springs

“We’ll definitely get a boost when Season 2 drops”

The season and the “Burning Springs” update are set to be released shortly after the appearance of TV spots for Season 2 of the series, which likely created a bit of hype on its own.

On Reddit, fans are certain that the Fallout series will lead to an influx of players. Already at the launch of the series, nearly 40,000 players were playing solely on Steam, and shortly after that, the number even exceeded 70,000 (according to SteamDB). Additional players are joining from PS5 and Xbox as well as from the older Fallout games. The series apparently has a certain appeal:

“This literally got me into Fallout. I played Vegas, 3, and 4 for the first time this year. Now I’m into Fallout 76. It’s been all Fallout for me this year.”

Nu_Eden on Reddit
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The second season of the series starts on December 17, 2025, with the first episode on Amazon Prime. You can find our overview with all info on release, cast, and the episodes of Fallout Season 2.

Even though Fallout 76 is apparently benefiting from the hype surrounding the series and even players who previously had no interest in the series are now wandering around Appalachia, the guy who is literally “in the game” is not part of this new player base: The coolest guy from Fallout Season 2 has never played the games and wants to “catch up in a few years” for a good reason.

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

The player no longer wants to be the eternal healer in D&D: “I just want to roll many dice and deal damage”

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 3 minutes

A player could get to know the game as a newcomer thanks to her healing cleric Dungeons & Dragons for the first time. But now her “friends” forbid her paladin from doing anything other than supporting.

What is the player reporting? The player AccomplishedEvent672 reaches out with a post to the D&D community on Reddit, as she no longer knows how to deal with her problem. She has been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over a year now with the same fate of having to be the designated support character.

At the beginning, she learned how the game works as a cleric, but all the characters that followed had the same task: a wizard of divination magic, a druid, or an artificer who took care of buffs and debuffs and occasionally got to heal.

Now she plays a paladin in the hope that her gaming experience will offer something new besides just support. They are playing in a campaign that involves many undead and she hopes that she can deal a lot of damage with her radiant damage. But her group sees it differently.

She is supposed to stay in the background, buff the group, and not risk going down in combat. That is her task, and the optimal way to play the paladin as a support class, while she would love to just “roll a lot of dice and deal plenty of damage.” The bard of the group, who is also able to learn support spells, has coincidentally also chosen not to, which is why this task now falls to her.

And slowly but surely, she is getting tired of it.

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How does the community react to the assumption that her paladin should only be support? The community cannot understand why the paladin of the player is forced into this role, when the paladin can be so much more versatile and can really deal damage. The Player’s Handbook from 2024 describes this ability to deal damage a bit more elegantly as follows:

[The Oath of a Paladin] is a powerful bond. It is a source of power that allows a devoted warrior to become a blessed champion. Paladins practice the skills of combat and master numerous weapons and armors. Nevertheless, their combat skills are surpassed by the magical power they wield: power to heal the wounded, to strike down foes, and to protect the helpless as well as their combat companions. […] Every paladin fights in the cosmic battle against annihilation at the front lines.

– Player’s Handbook, page 132

And this “front line” should not be taken away from the player’s paladin, as other users share on Reddit:

  • “Just as the bard has the right not to choose healing spells, you as a paladin have the right to stand at the front line,” writes physiX_VG.
  • “Paladin is the class of striking down! If there is a wrong way to play this class, it is to use it as a healer in the back row! (Although I don’t believe in ‘wrong ways’ to play classes, that’s nonsense),” thinks blauenfir.
  • “D&D is not an MMO. You do not have to fit into the trio of tank, DPS, and support. The only wrong way to play is to tell other people that they are playing incorrectly,” comments DreadPirate777

What problem does the player have with this task distribution? Supporting the group is not the issue for the player, as she explains to the community: 

“I actually enjoy playing support characters! I loved playing a cleric and a wizard. But I’m just tired of being pushed into this role. I want to be a ‘support’ character when I want to, not when others want me to.“

She adds that she does not know if it is relevant, but that she is the only female member of the group. And with this information, the community recognized another problem, which is not only relevant in Dungeons & Dragons but also widespread in many other games: the stereotype of the female player as support, as this role is often seen as easier and less stressful rather than being the shining damage dealer in the spotlight. MeinMMO author Fabienne also shares her own experience with this assumption.

“I started in the late 80s and had to deal with a lot of crap at the gaming table, mostly that my breasts somehow impaired my ability to do math and roll dice,” writes Voice-of-Aeona, another player, “You are not the problem.”

The player shares that she has talked to her group, but the outcome has been rather unsatisfactory. Apologies were made as they didn’t want to force anyone into a role, but the loudest player held firmly to the opinion that her paladin provides the most benefit in the backline.

However, she thanks everyone for the support and kind words from the community. Perhaps her next character will simply be a barbarian, as another user has already suggested. The paladin is, by the way, a class that is perfect for beginners because, contrary to the assumption of her “friends,” it actually cannot be played incorrectly: Here are 5 classes from Dungeons & Dragons that are particularly suitable for beginners

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

The new MMORPG Aion 2 launches with issues in Asia, but is expected to earn over 1 million euros every day

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The new MMORPG Aion 2 continues to celebrate its great success about 3 weeks after its launch in Asia. Now the developers reveal how well the MMORPG is really doing.

How is Aion 2 doing? While we in the West still have to wait until the second half of 2026 for the release of Aion 2, the new MMORPG is already available in Korea and Taiwan. Players there can already play the title regularly.

On December 5, the developers of Aion 2 spoke with Money Today MTN in an interview and shared some insights about the current success. The title is reported to be generating over 2.5 billion South Korean won daily. That’s about 1.46 million euros per day. A rather large sum, and the player numbers are impressive as well.

Currently, 180,000 players peak daily in Aion 2 on the Korean server, while on the Taiwanese server about 160,000 players play per day at peak times. However, the developers do not reveal the total number of players. According to the interview, the developers estimate annual revenues of 500 to 600 billion won, which translates to 292 to 351 million euros solely from Aion 2.

Here you can watch the trailer for the game:

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Aion 2: New trailer prepares for the Korean launch of the MMORPG

No Launch Without Problems

What problems exist? Although Aion 2 is a great success for the developers both financially and in terms of player numbers, there are several aspects of the new MMORPG that leave much to be desired. Just shortly after the launch, there was an outcry from players criticizing the new game heavily for its monetization.

The title featured various battle passes and subscription tiers that supposedly cost up to 45,– € monthly. The balancing of classes in the game was initially not where it should be. The developers intervened and alleviated the situation somewhat, though many felt it still wasn’t enough.

Another major problem with Aion 2 is the bots in the game. They have been around since week 1 and attempt to create gold using various methods and sell it. Players are still complaining today on Reddit about the bots and note that there is currently a lack of a simple method to report them.

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Aion 2 is a major success for publisher NCSoft and currently enjoys high player numbers and revenues. However, the hoped-for changes and adjustments must now follow the good start, such as finding effective ways to deal with bots to maintain the momentum.

Aion 2 is set to be released in the West in the second half of 2026. Until then, the developers want to make further adjustments. The game is to be tailored for the West, after testing what works well and what doesn’t in Asia. You can find out how this is supposed to look here: MMORPG Aion 2 announces release timeframe in the West, but one sentence may hurt fans

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. news.mtn.co.kr
  2. mmorpg.org.pl
  3. reddit.com

The creator of One Piece draws his first “real” pirate, gifts the picture to Johnny Depp

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

One Piece is an anime full of pirates. An actor embodying the most famous modern pirate has now received a brilliant gift from the creator of the pirate manga.

What was that situation like? Johnny Depp was a guest at the Tokyo Comic Convention 2025. He stood on stage with Hiroaki Hirata. The Japanese voice actor not only voices Sanji from One Piece but also every role played by Johnny Depp.

He suddenly announces that he wants to present a gift. With his words, it becomes clear that he is presenting a gift from Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece:

I have a good friend who draws a certain manga about pirates.

Shortly thereafter, he arrives with a small attention, where Oda drew a pirate for the first time in his life, embodied by a real person.

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Johnny Depp receives a gift about One Piece, only with himself

What kind of gift is that? Hirata presents a blue noren curtain, traditionally used in Japan. He explains that such a curtain would be hung by an artist in front of their dressing room. Painted in white is a version of Jack Sparrow, the protagonist from Pirates of the Caribbean, as portrayed by Johnny Depp.

However, the Jack Sparrow is drawn in a style that could make him appear in One Piece. He wears his distinctive bandana and holds his pistol in hand. 

How does Depp react? Johnny Depp says he would prefer to wrap himself in it and steps behind the curtain. The hosts have to ask him to step back in front of the curtain. After that, Depp moves away from his gift, and the hosts again have to ask him to step in front of the curtain to take a photo.

You can watch his reaction here:

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Depp then shows gratitude, shakes Hirata’s hand, and makes jokes with the audience. He thanks his fans and leaves the stage with grateful gestures.

What do fans say about the gift? Many users on Reddit think it’s cool that Oda drew a version of Jack Sparrow. However, they write that Oda may not have given his best effort in drawing the real pirate. They suspect it could be a quick sketch as a nice gesture.

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The creator of One Piece has a penchant for crazy and strange things. During a tour of his house, it becomes clear what kind of curiosities he has acquired over the years: “I spent my money on ridiculous things”: The mangaka of One Piece gives a house tour

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

With a new feature in Pokémon GO, you can increase your friend level much faster

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, there is a new feature available for a short time. You should especially use this if you want to increase your friendship level.

What kind of feature is this? Since last week, there are finally weekly challenges in Pokémon GO. After a rough start where the feature was removed from the game after just one day, it has now made its final entry into the game.

In the challenges, you have to complete a task together with up to 3 friends, for which you have 7 days each. All information about the weekly challenges.

In addition to some stardust and experience points, there is especially a third reward that is really strong and should not be underestimated.

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One task, 7 hearts

What kind of reward is this? Normally, you can only earn 1 heart per day with your friends to increase the friendship level. This works by, for example, opening a gift from your friend or completing a raid together.

Through the weekly challenges, you can receive a decent bonus of hearts. Currently, you get a total of 7 additional hearts if you successfully complete a weekly challenge.

Why is that so strong? If you want to raise the friendship level to the maximum, you normally need 90 days during which you perform an interaction each day. This is useful if you want to reduce trade costs with your friend, want lucky friends, or need experience points.

For the increase in respective levels of good friends, super friends, hyper friends, and best friends, you receive an additional amount of experience points for each.

With the additional levels from the weekly challenges, you can significantly reduce the 90 days needed for the “best friends” level and thus achieve rewards and bonuses faster.

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Can I also participate in weekly challenges alone? Yes. If all your friends are already in groups for weekly challenges, you can open a group alone and complete the challenge. You will not earn additional hearts with your friends, but you can still collect the stardust and experience points.

Also, in the last month of the year, there are again many events waiting for you in the game, bringing you various content. If you want to know what they are and when they take place, feel free to take a look at our overview with all events in December 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

Player sends broken RTX 5090 for repair, the manufacturer sends him an invoice for 2,900 euros back

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A user sends their broken RTX 5090 to the manufacturer, who responds with an invoice for 2,900 euros. The manufacturer ASUS discovered a fracture in the graphics card that can only be seen under a microscope.

A user reports on Reddit that they had to send their graphics card for repair. They stated that their RTX 5090 Astral caused spontaneous black screens and forced their computer to restart.

So, they sent the GPU back to ASUS to request a repair for their graphics card. However, according to the user, ASUS rejected the repair of the graphics card and instead sent them an invoice for 2,900 euros. This was reported by the English-language magazine WCCFTech.com.

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Damage to graphics card is only visible under the microscope

What exactly is wrong with the graphics card? ASUS found a “surface irregularity” near the PCIe interface that is difficult to see with the naked eye but becomes visible under a microscope.

ASUS reportedly rejected their claim due to “consumer-caused” damage and stated that this GPU could not be repaired. For a replacement, the company now demanded 4,661 Canadian dollars from the user. That is approximately 2,900 euros.

However, the user defends themselves in their thread, explaining that they did everything correctly when installing the graphics card: they used the GPU support that came with the graphics card. However, the user added that they do not know if this irregularity was already present before shipping, as it was not visible to the naked eye.

Basically, it holds true: If the player really caused the damage themselves, then ASUS is right and does not have to repair the damage for free.

Well-known YouTuber already complained about ASUS customer service

The “problems” with ASUS customer service are reportedly not an isolated case. The well-known YouTuber Gamers Nexus also complained about customer service and called the service “absolute trash.” ASUS responded to the allegations, stating that they want to cover certain guarantees.

The response to the critical video was at least significant: According to channel head Steve Burke, Gamers Nexus reportedly received countless emails from people who also had problems with ASUS customer service.

Linus Tech Tips, another well-known YouTube channel, recently criticized ASUS as well. But here it is not about customer service, but about the lack of transparency regarding the new ROG Ally X. According to Linus, ASUS has never been very productive in addressing criticism or problems with the predecessor: Well-known tech YouTuber explains why he cannot recommend the new ASUS ROG Ally X to anyone

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

Gronkh and PietSmiet raise over 1.75 million euros for a good cause on Twitch, breaking their own record

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

Last weekend, the annual “Friendly Fire” charity event took place on Twitch. The eleventh edition was live streamed for 12 hours by Gronkh, PietSmiet, and Co., breaking a record in the process.

What kind of event was it? From December 6 to 7, 2025, Friendly Fire 11 took place. This charity event, which has been running for 11 years, collects donations for a good cause every December through a large live stream. It is hosted by content creators Gronkh and PietSmiet, with fisHC0p, DerHeider, PhunkRoyal, MrMoregame, and Pandorya joining in.

While the donation amount does not reach a new high every year, the previous record for direct donations was broken this time.

Gronkh and PietSmiet take turns hosting the event on their respective Twitch channels. You can learn more about Gronkh here:

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Direct donations hit a new record

What record was broken? Just before the end of the live stream on Twitch, the content creators broke their record for direct donations thanks to the viewers’ contributions. This record was previously set in 2021 and has now been surpassed. The new record currently stands at €1,329,222.55, donated by the viewers as of December 8 at 10:00 AM.

In addition to that, there were sales of merchandise items and donations from sponsors, bringing the total donation amount to a provisional result of €1.75 million. Although the live stream has already ended, donations can still be made until December 12, 2025, on betterplace.org, and the merchandise will still be available until then. The final total donation amount is usually announced only after several months when all processes are completed.

The record for direct donations was also broken thanks to the contributions from the participants, who made additional donations just before the end.

What was there to see? As every year, the content creators engaged in a variety of activities. There was again a colorful mix of board games, challenges, penalties for donation goals, and advertisement blocks for sponsors of the event.

A highlight of the live stream was the visit from “Santa Claus,” who distributed gifts to the participants. There were also some fun gifts like vegetables for those who were not so well-behaved. Another highlight was the annual cake, contributed and sponsored by KittyCatCakes. It was designed to look like a card from Anno 117, as the game is this year’s main sponsor of the event. Over the course of the evening, the cake card was covered by a volcanic eruption.

The criticism from last year was also addressed. In the previous edition, there was food waste in a collaboration (via Ingame.de). This time, they replaced the segment with a restaurant run by Peter and Christian from PietSmiet. They had to prepare pizzas for the crew of Friendly Fire, which resembles a typical restaurant game that the content creators would probably otherwise play for a video.

You can catch the whole live stream here:

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Who receives the donations? All donations collected during, before, and after the live stream as part of Friendly Fire 11 are for a good cause. This year, the organizers have again selected 8 associations and organizations to which the donations will go:

As in previous years, donations were also collected for the so-called Friendly Fire Emergency Fund. The event’s own donation fund always reserves a portion of the donations collected to respond quickly and unbureaucratically to crises as they arise. According to the donation page on betterplace.org of Friendly Fire, assistance has been provided directly 20 times in the past. This includes when President Trump suspended humanitarian aid.

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Although the donation live stream could not break its all-time record this year, the fans donated more than in previous years. You can see how the record was broken last year and the emotional moment when the participants learned about it here: Gronkh and PietSmiet raised over 2 million euros for a good cause on Twitch, creating an emotional moment

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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  2. betterplace.org

After 87 years, Lex Luthor reveals why he really hates Superman

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

Every fan of Superman knows the tense relationship between the Man of Steel and his archenemy Lex Luthor, whether in the movies or comics. A new story from DC now provides the true reason for his hatred.

Lex Luthor is one of Superman’s greatest, certainly the most well-known enemies. In countless stories, the two have faced off, and Superman hasn’t always emerged victorious from a fight.

No matter what the conflicts between them looked like, one question was always exciting: Why does Lex Luthor hate his opponent so much? Sure, he regularly exposes his vile deeds, but can that really be the only reason?

Until now, there was another reason: Lex Luthor believes that Superman intervenes too much in people’s lives. He prevents their mistakes or rectifies them. This way, humanity cannot learn from these mistakes, improve itself, and realize its true potential.

Superman holds people back – thinks Lex Luthor. However, in a new comic, the villain takes a step further and retracts this opinion. His new reason is just as intriguing.

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Superman – Trailer for the new film of the well-known superhero from DC

Is Superman a Coward?

What kind of story is this? DC K.O. #2 is a new comic book that first appeared on November 26, 2025. It revolves around the King Omega tournament of the villain Darkseid.

Famous heroes and villains compete against each other there, trying to advance through several rounds. The candidates must find powerful items and prevent themselves from being eliminated early.

Caution Spoiler: Anyone who wants to read the story themselves and learn the true reason for Lex Luthor’s hatred must stop reading at this point.

Why does Lex Luthor hate his enemy? In one moment, the villain manages to overwhelm Superman. He uses this moment to share his true motives.

He always thought he hated Superman because he does too much for humanity. But now he understands that the opposite is true: Superman does too little.

He could help humanity achieve a better world. But because he believes in the autonomy of humanity, he holds back and leaves progress and development up to them. This frustrates Lex Luthor immensely and has created a deep hatred within him. Just think: How far would humanity be if Superman used all his power for them?

That Superman has no interest in overly intervening in the affairs of the world is also shown in another scene: The participants of the tournament see in a vision how they could freely shape the world in the event of their victory.

Superman saw that too, but rejected the vision of a perfect world shaped by him. He prefers that everything remains as it is. Evil must be fought, but only so that peace can be restored and the status quo reestablished.

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For these reasons, Lex Luthor hates the Man of Steel and calls him a coward. The villain claims that people need a leader and presents himself as such. He wants to win the tournament and save the world in this way.

Whether he will succeed remains to be seen. The next installment of the story will not be released until early 2026. What do you think about Lex Luthor’s motives? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments. For those wanting to learn more about the villain’s actions, read more here: Lex Luthor is quite a bad guy, but one act was so vile that it didn’t make it into the new Superman movie

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. screenrant.com
  2. DC auf YouTube

Grandpa always smiled at his grandchildren’s games, changes his mind at 90 and now searches for the perfect game to start with

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

A 90-year-old man asked his grandson what he could play as his first video game. The grandson is now seeking advice from other gamers and receives plenty of tips, including one of the oldest gaming classics.

The title image is a symbolic image.

Why does the 90-year-old want to try video games now? As the user Castigafagiani reports on Reddit, his grandfather has always laughed off the passion for video games of his grandson and his brother. The two were raised by their grandfather for their hobby, and he even took away their Game Boys.

However, at the age of 90, the grandfather is said to have suddenly experienced a change of heart. He realized that it is not just “a phase of youth,” but video games still accompany his two grandsons. Furthermore, the elderly man has read news about video games. That is why he is now asking his grandson what he can play as his first game.

The grandson passes the question on to the Reddit community. According to him, although his grandfather is 90 years old, he has the mind of a 30-year-old. In the forum, there are numerous recommendations that the grandfather could enjoy in the future.

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The first game for a 90-year-old grandfather

What is he recommended? The top comment suggests that the grandfather should try Tetris. His own grandfather would also love Tetris. It is one of the most well-known classic games, where blocks must be stacked as efficiently as possible.

The creator of the thread finds it “unironically good,” so we can assume that he will recommend Tetris to his grandfather.

Another user asks what interests the grandfather has. Since the 90-year-old is said to love good wine, he receives this humorously meant suggestion: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. After all, one of the characters is also a walking sack full of wine.

In addition, there are further recommendations that are not always meant to be taken seriously:

  • Ilymbass recommends a relaxing game: “Journey. Excellent first game for everyone.”
  • mikebe1 thinks a card game is a good idea: “I agree with the suggestion of Balatro if he likes cards. It’s easy to get into and doesn’t require reflexes.”
  • slashgamer11 wants to put the grandfather to the test: “Elden Ring. Eat or be eaten, grandpa.”

Moreover, there are many more suggestions that could really suit the grandfather. The post actually has over 1,200 comments.

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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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WoW player spends 3 years in crazy achievement, shares it with the internet because he has hardly any friends, receives a lot of love in return

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In World of Warcraft there are achievements that require one to go to the brink of madness to complete. A player is now happily sharing such an achievement with the community.

Which achievement is it? It is the WoW achievement “At the Edge of Madness.” For this achievement, one must achieve “Friendly” status with the Bloodsail Buccaneers and “Exalted” status in Booty Bay, the Eternal Wait, Gadgetzan, Ratchet, the Darkmoon Fair, and Ravenholdt.

The reputation grind behind this achievement is – even though Blizzard has slightly eased it over the years – tough, because the various factions are not particularly designed to become your friends. For instance, those wanting to charm the Bloodsail Buccaneers must take down guards and residents from goblin settlements like Booty Bay … hour after hour.

Not surprisingly, “At the Edge of Madness” has already been crowned by us as one of the toughest achievements in WoW a few years ago. As a reward, the title “the Insane” awaits.

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In WoW könnt ihr Häuser anheben – Pimp Your House Edition

“I still have nightmares about it”

Who has now mastered this achievement? The player Economy_Ad5673 shares a screenshot of the completed achievement on Reddit a few hours ago. Under the image, he writes visibly happy:

I don’t have many friends to share this with, so I’m sharing it with strangers on the internet.

I’ve worked for three years for this title, and I finally got it! No farming groups, no racial bonuses, just occasionally the buff from the Darkmoon Fair and this year’s anniversary buff.

How is the community reacting? Over 1,960 thumbs up and 130 comments underscore that successfully completing this achievement is still no small feat after all these years.

  • jermac83 cheers on Reddit: “Congratulations!!!!! I still have nightmares about slaying pirates and farming lockers. In fact, I farmed the lockers three times, once for myself, once for my girlfriend, and once for a guild member who paid me 100,000 gold.”
  • Nufreos puts it succinctly on Reddit: “You are insane!”
  • Geneva-Suggestionss has been working on the achievement for 10 years, they reveal on Reddit: “I’ve been stuck on this quest part with the lockers for 10 years. One day I will be motivated to actually finish it. Congratulations on completing the achievement!”
  • rui-tan explains on Reddit: “That’s really impressive in every way! In my opinion, that’s one of the coolest achievements that has existed in the game to date. The title is fantastic and truly shows how much dedication it entails.”
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The author of these lines has observed several players struggle with “At the Edge of Madness” over the years. Throughout the exhausting weeks, you can actually witness guild members slowly going mad. It’s comparable to another achievement from Vanilla WoW and WoW Classic: Known streamer suffers through the hardest grind from 20 years of WoW: “I won’t do this again”

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

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Start, Cast, Teaser – Everything about the new prequel series of Game of Thrones

Linda Baumgartl Linda Baumgartl Reading time 5 minutes

Game of Thrones has now become a classic among fantasy series. The prequel series House of the Dragon has also recently entered its second season. Soon fans can look forward to another series from the universe of George R.R. Martin: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Here on MeinMMO you can find all the information that is already known.

Note: This article was updated on December 8, 2025. A final trailer has been released.

What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? The HBO series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a prequel to Game of Thrones.

It tells the story of Ser Duncan “the Great” and his young squire nicknamed “Egg,” later known as Aegon V. Targaryen.

Is there a book template? The plot is based on the three Hedge Knight novellas by George R.R. Martin. In Germany, these are available in a collection titled “The Hedge Knight of Westeros: The Judgment of the Seven” (for example via Amazon).

Is there a trailer yet? The first trailer for the series was finally released on October 9, 2025. You can watch the trailer here:

[toc]

Start video
First teaser for the new prequel of Game of Thrones: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Start, Cast, Teaser – Everything about the new prequel series of Game of Thrones 21 years after Order 66, Star Wars shows another Jedi who has survived – He is a completely new alien species Dune 3 looks completely different from the two predecessors DC superheroine gets her own movie, immediately relies on the “trick” that made John Wick so great In 3 days, a brutal action series continues on Netflix, season 1 showed the best fights since John Wick 4 A sex scene in Bridgerton is spicy, but anyone trying to replicate it could die Only 5 days left on Netflix: 11 years ago there was a sequel to Jumanji, but the sci-fi film ignores it “I believe he does it out of fear” – Bryan Cranston reveals the secret of a good marriage in Malcolm in the Middle The best superhero series on Amazon starts the new season with a perfect rating The best villain from The Boys is missing in the Amazon series, he even surpasses Homelander A MCU villain took the role just to embarrass his children, returned 14 years later A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Start, Cast, Teaser – Everything about the new prequel series of Game of Thrones

Is there any additional material about the series? HBO has released a new poster for the series showing the two main characters in a wide field. In the background, you can see a large tree and a sign with a tree emblem, and on the other side, a small village. You can see the image here:

a knight of the seven kingdoms poster hbo

On December 4, 2025, HBO released a final trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which gives a last taste of the fantasy series in two and a half minutes. The trailer shows that it will be significantly more humorous and light-hearted than we are used to from Game of Thrones. There are jokes and slapstick humor.

But it’s also about the skills of the hedge knight, who embarks on a great adventure with Egg. The trailer shows sword fights, but also tournament scenes with lances. You can watch the new final trailer here:

Start video
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows in the final trailer that one can expect more humor than in Game of Thrones

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Release and Duration

When will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms start? Filming for the first season was completed in September 2024. The final release was initially planned for the end of 2025, but has been postponed to 2026. It is now known that the series is scheduled to start on January 18, 2026.

The first season will consist of six episodes, which will be released weekly.

How many seasons will there be? As Deadline reports, HBO has now confirmed that the series will continue with a second season after the first. It is scheduled to be released in 2027.

According to current plans, the series is expected to have 3 seasons. Each season is supposed to depict one of the three Hedge Knight novellas.

Fans can be excited, as the waiting time between the seasons is not expected to be as long as, for example, with House of the Dragon. The release is to take place in three consecutive years.

George R.R. Martin has also stated that he is working on more Hedge Knight novellas. So there could be even more seasons of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. However, currently, the focus is on the existing material (via sky.de).

Everyone is faster than George
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Plot

When does the series take place? Just like House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a prequel series to Game of Thrones. This means the story takes place some time before. More specifically, 100 years before Game of Thrones, but 100 years after House of the Dragon.

What is it about? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is about two unexpected heroes: the somewhat naive but brave knight Ser Duncan “the Great” and his small, bald squire “Egg.” Together they travel across Westeros, face dangerous adventures, and develop an unparalleled friendship.

However, Egg harbors a great secret. He is actually Prince Aegon Targaryen.

And even though the age of dragons has passed, the Targaryens still rule over the Seven Kingdoms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Cast

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Ser Duncan
Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Aegon 'Egg'
Dexter Sol Ansell as ‘Egg’

Who stars in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? The cast, including the two main characters, is already known. Some actors are expected to appear in all six episodes, while others in just one (via IMDb).

Main cast (6 episodes):

  • Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan “the Great” / Dunk
  • Dexter Sol Ansell as Prince Aegon Targaryen / ‘Egg’
  • Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen / ‘Brightflame’, older and crueler brother of Ice
  • Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen / ‘Spearbreaker’, heir to the Iron Throne
  • Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, ‘the Laughing Storm’, heir of House Baratheon
  • Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen, Baelor’s older brother and Ice’s father
  • Henry Ashton as Daeron ‘the Drunk’ Targaryen, older brother of Ice and Aerion
  • Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossowey
  • Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossowey, Steffon’s cousin and squire

Additional cast (1 episode):

  • Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of the Hedge, a hedge knight and mentor to Dunk
  • Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, steward of House Ashford
  • Youssef Kerkour as Steel Pat, a traveling blacksmith
  • Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a knight and heir of House Dondarrion

Additional cast (unknown duration):

  • Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a Dorne puppeteer
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Producers, Directors, Writers

We already know quite a bit about the team behind A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Many contributors are already known from Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon (via IMDb). George R.R. Martin himself will also participate as a producer and writer in the series. Additionally involved are among others:

Producers:

  • Ryan Condal (House of the Dragon)
  • Vince Geradis (Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon)

Directors:

  • Owen Harris (Episode 1-3) (Black Mirror, Brave New World)
  • Sarah Adina Smith (presumably Episode 4-6) (Buster’s Mal Heart)

Screenplay:

  • Ira Parker (House of the Dragon)

Ryan Condal in particular wanted to push for a film adaptation of the Hedge Knight novellas early on. However, HBO apparently wanted to do “something much bigger, crazier, and more expensive” at that time, he says in an interview (via Entertainment Weekly). This then led to House of the Dragon.

He is now all the more happy to be able to tell the story of Dunk and Egg.

These stories always remained in my memory as a wonderful contrast point to George’s world, which is essentially about the upper class, the top one percent: the kings and the high lords and ladies who play the game of thrones at the cost of the common people.

Now, with ‘Dunk and Egg’, it is about the common people suffering under the game of thrones as played by the nobles.

Ryan Condal, via Entertainment Weekly

Fortunately, Aegon is primarily known as “Egg” in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Because another Aegon Targaryen? This is slowly getting a bit too far. There have been a total of 12 of them in the history of Westeros. So you don’t lose track, we have here a list of all Aegons for you: House of the Dragon: Really all Aegon Targaryens in the ultimate power ranking

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbild: Warner Bros. Discovery

Fallout Season 3: All about the release, cast, and story

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

Although Season 2 of the well-known series about Fallout has not yet been released, many are wondering if a third season is planned. What about a release and what characters can we expect? Here’s what you should know about Season 3.

Is Season 3 of Fallout planned? Yes, on May 12, 2025, Amazon announced (via aboutamazon.com) that they want to expand the series about Fallout with a third season. However, a release date is not yet known. First, the release of Season 2 is upcoming, as it will take place in New Vegas, a well-known location from the video game series.

Start video
Trailer for Season 2 of Fallout on Prime – from December 2025

Possible Release, Cast, and Story

When is a release expected? Only recently, the filming of Season 2 has been completed. As long as the filming for Season 3 has not started, it is difficult to estimate when you can expect a release. However, based on Seasons 1 and 2, we can roughly estimate how long you will have to wait for a continuation:

  • Season 1 premiered on April 11, 2024, on Amazon.
  • Season 2 is set to release its first episode on December 17, 2025.

Season 3 is being produced by Kilter Films, Bethesda Game Studios, and Amazon Studios. If the production takes as long as with Season 2, you can expect Season 3 around early to mid-2027.

In an interview with IGN (via YouTube), executive producer Jonathan Nolan confirmed that filming for season 3 is expected to begin in the summer of 2026. In addition, the team wants to maintain the pace for future seasons so that fans don’t have to wait too long. So 2027 seems to be a likely release year.

Please note that this is only speculation on our part and plans may still change.

Is anything known about the cast? No, it is still unknown who will be in Season 3. This largely depends on how the story unfolds in New Vegas and what challenges the protagonists will face.

Do we know anything about the story? No, as long as no trailer has been released and we don’t know how Season 2 will end, we cannot estimate where the protagonists will be taken next. However, we will keep you updated and update the article as soon as we know more about the story.

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But first, it’s off to New Vegas in the Mojave Desert, where the protagonists will have to once again survive and fight through. Hopefully, they will endure against the Deathclaws, as these are horrific beasts that show no mercy: One of the strongest creatures in Fallout Season 2 existed even before the apocalypse, meant to replace human soldiers

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

One of the best shooters of your childhood is returning soon

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Unreal Tournament returns – in its classic form from 2004. The popular shooter will soon be playable again.

When a beloved game can no longer be played, it is always a sad thing. Much nostalgia hangs on games that were played back then at LAN parties or online, spending nights with friends. One of those games is “Unreal Tournament 2004,” which hasn’t been playable for a while. But that is about to change. A fan project has received the blessing from developer Epic Games – the legendary shooter is making its return.

Another shooter serves as a sort of spiritual successor to Unreal Tournament: Splitgate Arena Reloaded.

Start video
Splitgate: Arena Reloaded shows in the trailer the return of the arena shooter

What is Unreal Tournament 2004? The game was the third installment in the series and is still fondly remembered by fans. This is due to many improvements and innovations compared to the two predecessors – there were nearly 100 different maps, new weapons, and for the first time in the series, vehicles. Moreover, the behavior of enemies (i.e., the AI of the bots) was considered quite advanced.

Especially the most popular game modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, or Assault are modes many of you probably played at LAN parties in the 2000s – or at least had older siblings who always rave about them.

Unreal Tournament 2004 is, like all parts of the series, known for very fast and brutal action. There are basically no long waiting times, as you are constantly running towards your fellow players to send them to the digital afterlife with all sorts of (impossible) weapons. It is a classic arena shooter that many believe represented the peak of gaming back then.

Why was it no longer playable? In December 2022, Epic Games decided to take most of the “Unreal Tournament” series servers offline. Since then, Unreal Tournament 2004 has only been playable with some workarounds.

But that is set to change now.

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Why is it returning now? The site “OldUnreal” has been trying for years to preserve and make playable the old games of the “Unreal Tournament” series and keep the community alive with various contents like patches, mods, or skin packs. Now it was announced on the Discord server of the project:

With the blessing of Epic and the help of some new team members, we are bringing Unreal Tournament 2024 (UT2004) back.
This means we will release an installation file that downloads an original image of the UT2004 DVD, installs the game, and applies patches. We will also release patches to modernize the game, making it compatible with Windows Vista and onwards (…)
Yes, you read that right. UT2004 will soon be available for download again. Free of charge.

While there isn’t a specific date for the re-release yet, they plan to invite the first testers within the next two months to address existing issues.

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Anyone wanting to fully wrap themselves in nostalgia in the future should already mobilize friends and schoolmates from the past, only to bitterly realize that they no longer have the reflexes they once did – except for that one guy who still manages to pull off a “M-M-M-Monsterkill!” time and again. Each of you has that one friend, right?
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

In WoW you have to play extra badly to achieve new successes

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

If you want really fancy decoration in World of Warcraft, you must lead your own troops to ruin. Cruel, but efficient.

With patch 11.2.7, World of Warcraft has not only received housing but also numerous new achievements that entice with decorations or special rewards. While achievements usually require you to prove your skill or endurance, a few new achievements require you to be particularly bad and lead your troops to annihilation. But that’s well rewarded.

Select a MMO video…

What kind of achievements are these? With patch 11.2.7, new achievements were added for the old class halls of Legion. The achievements are named “Recruit an army for [Class Hall Name]”. These achievements require you to recruit at least 20 troops for your class’s order hall. To do this, you need to progress far enough in your order hall campaign to train troops and send them on missions.

By the way: Because you can’t interact with the mission table and followers in Legion Remix, the corresponding achievements are not possible there. You will have to play them in the “regular” mode. However, you can also do this retroactively when your remix character is converted to a normal character.

Fancy class rewards for sacrificing troops

What rewards are there? As a reward, you receive an iconic item from the corresponding order hall. For priests, this is the Commander’s Map of the Netherlight, or for druids, the Cenarion Arch, which you can see here:

WoW Housing Items Order Halls
Items like these require you to burn through your troops.

For the achievement, you only receive a copy of the item, but after unlocking, you can buy more from the vendors in the corresponding order hall.

Why do you have to play badly? To recruit 20 troops, you need to invest some time. You have a maximum number of available troops – depending on the type of troop, this ranges from 1 to 4 units. As long as you are “at cap”, you cannot recruit any further troops. This can only happen once previous troops have been “exhausted” and thus essentially used up.

This means conversely: To recruit 20 troops as quickly as possible, you should ruthlessly burn through your troops. It’s best to send them on missions where an enemy has the “deadly” addition, recognizable by a small skull. Troops on this mission lose all their life as long as no character counters the “deadly”.

If there are no missions with “deadly” enemies, prioritize quests that only require a short time span, from 4 to 8 hours. This way, you can send your troops out multiple times a day and exhaust them faster. Of course, you should also pay attention to not send heroes with passive effects that increase your troops’ life.

You should repeat this process for each class – because there are exclusive decorations for all of them that you can then use in your house.

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If you ever want to see what wonders other players build from all the decorations, beware: Some even build a whole body pillow of Xal’atath – and we really don’t want to know exactly what that is for.

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

A country that makes Germany’s high-speed trains look old is testing a magnetic levitation train that is supposed to reach speeds of 4,000 km/h

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In 2008, a country lag behind the West in the widespread provision of high-speed rail. Today, it is working on maglev trains that could revolutionize the future of travel.

What kind of train is this? China is currently working on high-speed rail and a technology that aims to connect the entire country in record time, rendering air travel unnecessary. A new generation of maglev trains, which are expected to reach speeds of 1,000 km/h, is making this possible.

In the long term, the “T-Flight” model is set to follow, which is expected to achieve a speed of 4,000 km/h. Current maglev trains from China have already reached a speed of 431 km/h since 2021 and are considered the fastest in the world (Source: globaltimes.cn).

Start video
Why do tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg keep wearing the same clothes?

The Future of Travel

How are such speeds possible? Maglev trains levitate thanks to powerful magnets and electromagnetic fields on the tracks, without their wheels touching them. The new, significantly faster generation of trains is expected to operate in vacuum tubes to minimize factors like air pressure and resistance as much as possible.

The company behind the technology, the “China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation,” also aims to use superconductors to enhance magnetic levitation and allow the train to hover up to 100 mm above the track. According to experts, this should keep the train stable even at extreme speeds.

What is the current status? Development on the “T-Flight” has been ongoing since 2017. Last year, as reported by fanaticalfuturist.com, they achieved initial successes, reaching a speed of 623 km/h in a test. In summer 2025, the next record was set at 650 km/h, as reported by cgtn.com.

This year, they aim to surpass the 800 km/h mark. Following that, they will move into the next phase to prepare for the “1,000 km/h” threshold. To achieve this, they want to extend the test track to 60 kilometers. Speeds of 2,000 and 4,000 km/h are next on the agenda.

China on the fast track: The enormous ambitions behind the maglev trains are even more remarkable considering that in 2008, China had just 120 kilometers of high-speed rail, specifically between Beijing and Tianjin.

Since then, a lot has changed. China is now by far the most advanced country in terms of the widespread deployment of high-speed rail.

According to data from worldpopulationreview.com, China has over 40,000 kilometers of high-speed tracks. An additional 12,800 kilometers are under construction and over 11,000 more are planned. In second place: India, with a total of 8,000 kilometers. Third place: the USA, with 6,100 kilometers.

Germany ranks 12th, with 2,000 kilometers of high-speed tracks, a large portion of which is already operational. Relatively few new tracks are currently in progress or planned.

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Recently, China achieved another milestone: The maiden voyage of the “Istanbul Bridge” started a few weeks ago and took the Chinese container ship through a new northeastern passage across the Russian economic zone to Europe. Find out more here: A country masters the previously impossible sea route, enabling goods to be brought to Europe in half the time – Unfortunately, the reason is not so nice.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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Gronkh wins the best gaming moment at the StreamAwards on Twitch for a legendary song that he first sang 15 years ago

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

On December 4, 2025, the StreamAwards took place again. In various categories, Twitch streamers were awarded for the best moments or events of 2025. YouTube legend Gronkh also received an award for a short song that is sure to evoke nostalgia for many YouTube fans.

What was the award about? In the category Best Gaming Moment, clips at the StreamAwards are awarded that were particularly entertaining, iconic, or formative in 2025. Gronkh won against 7 other clips with a Minecraft moment and did so by a large majority.

The clip was created in 2024 during the event Craft Attack. Gronkh is playing with many other Twitch streamers, which you can see in a stream excerpt on YouTube:

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Shortly before the end of the video, Gronkh sees coal, starts mining it, and sings his coal song. While Gronkh sings, all the other streamers are quiet, and when he stops, there is loud clapping and celebration because the moment could be experienced live.

For many streamers and viewers who have been on YouTube for a long time, the coal song is a YouTube milestone.

Start video
Gronkh, the man with the voice – Career and life of Germany’s most famous Let’s Player

The Pioneer of YouTube

Why is this song so special? For many, Gronkh is considered a true YouTube legend, known primarily for his Minecraft Let’s Plays. On December 13, 2010, the YouTube video: Let’s Play Minecraft #049 [German] [HD] – Cave Tours & Slime Sliding, was uploaded to his channel and has since gained over 1 million views.

There he sings his legendary coal song after about 50 seconds. On July 4, 2011, the YouTube video Rahmschnitzel feat. Gronkh – Coal Metal (Minecraft Gronkh Coal Song) was released. The channel RahmschnitzelZeug turned Gronkh’s short singing into a metal remix over 2 minutes long. As of today (December 7, 2025), the video has collected over 9 million views.

The victory at the StreamAwards shows how iconic and nostalgic the song is for many viewers and streamers.

Who else won at the StreamAwards? User Tricky-Concert2380 summarized the winners of the evening on Reddit. You can see the list here:

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The most victories of the evening were achieved by HandOfBlood, who won in a total of 4 categories:

  • Best One-Day Event
  • Best Stream Crossover with Michael Bully Herbig
  • WTF is happening here
  • Most Surreal Moments

Important categories such as best newcomer won by Krokoboss and Rosemondy.

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The StreamAwards have been held annually since 2022. The award show aims to provide a retrospective of the respective year in Twitch Germany. After a 2-year break, Reved might be among the nominees again next year: Two years ago, she said goodbye to Twitch, and now the biggest German streamer hints at a comeback

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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A shooter that wanted to save the genre appeared, flopped, disappeared, returned, and is being renamed – all in one year

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

After a very wild 2025, Splitgate is making a comeback, with a new name. This time, they want to do everything better than in parts 1 and 2 and focus on the core elements. You won’t have to wait long for the release.

Splitgate is back, once again. In 2019, the studio 1047 Games celebrated a major success with their arena shooter Splitgate, which is basically shooting with portal guns. Three years later, the curious journey of the shooter and the studio began:

  • In 2022, the work on Splitgate was completed
  • In 2024, Splitgate 2 was announced
  • In 2025, CEO Ian Proulx gave a big speech at the Summer Games Fest, wearing a cap that said Make first-person shooters great again.
  • On June 7, 2025, Splitgate 2 and a related battle royale mode were released

Seven weeks after the release, things looked pretty bad again. They lost 90% of the players and reverted back to beta status. Now, Splitgate 2 is back again, called Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and promises: They want to focus on the old strengths.

Start video
Splitgate: Arena Reloaded shows in the trailer the return of the arena shooter

Like in the old LAN days

What is changing with Splitgate: Arena Reloaded? Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is essentially a new version of the 2nd part (on Steam it is already listed this way). After months of community feedback, they want to change various aspects of the shooter. The most important change for shooter fans: There are no more factions and abilities.

They have taken the best aspects from Splitgate 1 and 2 and want to implement them in the new version.

  • Focus on the gunplay and portals
  • Cosmetic content will be unlockable through gameplay
  • There will be player statistics, leaderboards, and a career system
  • The ranked mode has been revised
  • 5 new maps and 6 updated maps
  • 4 new weapons
  • New game modes, including a Classic Arena Mode with map pickups

In the announcement video, the game is said to feel like in the old LAN days. Further information on Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is expected in the coming weeks.

When is Splitgate: Arena Reloaded set to release? On December 17, the relaunch of the game is set to occur on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4. This will also mean that Splitgate 2 will disappear and be replaced by Arena Reloaded. The game will continue to be free-to-play.

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Are you checking out Splitgate: Arena Reloaded or are you staying away after Splitgate 2? Please let us know in the comments. Autumn 2025 was a true dream for shooter fans, but which game was actually the best? The biggest multiplayer shooters of autumn 2025 ranked

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

Because I didn’t play Cyberpunk 2077 on time for the release, I have now put in 150 hours and am the biggest fan

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 5 minutes

MeinMMO editor Caro followed the official release of Cyberpunk 2077 only through memes and further jokes. Back then, she could not imagine that the game would soon become one of her favorite games. After several playthroughs, she notes that it feels like coming home each time.

Cyberpunk 2077 was for me in 2020 nothing more than a meme. Everything I knew about the game consisted only of poor performance, exploding cars, broken character animations, and a stunning Keanu Reeves. I knew nothing about the story, the lore, or the evil hidden behind Night City’s shiny facade.

A couple of years later, however, I was reminded of it again due to a friend’s recommendation. Cyberpunk 2077 was not only finally playable but also – in her words – really “extremely cool”. She urged me to give the game a chance.

And what can I say? My friend was right. The game not only ran flawlessly after several saving patches… I was immediately captivated.

Here you can see the trailer for the city of dreams, which has not let go of me since my first visit:

Select a MMO video…

Night City swallowed me whole and I haven’t found a way out yet

Because I only played Cyberpunk 2077 late, I was able to fully immerse myself in the gaming experience that players were promised at release. I quickly asked myself a question: Am I glad I waited so long or disappointed that I didn’t give the game a chance earlier?

While I fell in love with the story and its themes almost immediately, with the level design of the missions and also V as my protagonist – it was mainly the little things that made the game feel so alive for me.

These are the details that you hardly notice unless you’re explicitly looking for them. But it’s precisely these that make a place not just a level in a game engine, but a restaurant, a temple, a nightclub – a city.

The songs on the radio (which are actually absolute bangers), the fully equipped kitchens of a snack bar, an inconspicuous irrigation system for the remaining few trees: Such things show that someone cares about the city, that normal people go to work, that there is culture, and that Night City is alive. And you find plenty of such things. Walking through the city with an open eye is definitely worth it. The design tells its own story.

The immersion I experienced in Cyberpunk 2077 is something I haven’t been able to compare with any other game, no matter how much I love other favorites.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a game where I forgo fast travel, and instead of making a quick jump, I’m willing to take the damn subway, put the controller down, and look out the window during the ride. V is indeed a mercenary, but also a resident of the city, which slowly but surely became another home for me. And with every playthrough, this feeling grew.

Large corporations and seedy nightclubs go hand in hand in Night City.
The subway can be used normally, with strange passengers, stops, and everything that goes with it (Source: Cyberpunk.net)
Kabuki, once a wealthy place of a famous med center, is now considered one of the poorest areas outside of Pacifica after the dissolution by the megacorporation Arasaka.

A new start feels like coming home

Although I started late, I have since gone through a solid number of playthroughs that I wouldn’t justify in every single-player game. Instead of becoming a little more boring each time because I already know everything, it does the opposite for me.

Every new run feels like coming home. I feel a bit like my street kid V, who left Night City to find a better life in Atlanta but ended up back in the “city of dreams” because one cannot escape it. That’s how all the unfinished games I left behind must have felt, while I ended up returning to Night City again.

In the intro with Jackie, I see familiar faces like Misty and Victor, I drive through the city with Padre, which I know so well and always look forward to what awaits me. To the emotions, the disturbing gigs and fates, the relationships. And to my development from a walking corpse to the absolutely over-equipped Edgerunner, whom nothing can stop, not even Adam Smasher.

The graphics in Cyberpunk 2077 are impressive, but what is really important to me in single-player games with a strong story is immersion. I would like to particularly commend the team at CD Projekt Red, especially its concept artists, environment, and narrative designers at this point.

Because this love for detail and the storytelling they carry through Night City and its locations becomes evident already in the early stages of development and built me a second home.

Garbage is part of the architecture in Night City (Source: Ilya Ivanov on ArtStation)
Apartments in Night City are often shabby, but thus appear as if they are inhabited (Source: Marta Leydy on ArtStation)

Of course, worldbuilding and sleek design alone do not create a flawless masterpiece – but it matters a lot. God-playing corporations, the dystopia of a corrupted humanity, and the human-made danger of wild AIs, which could become a kind of Lovecraftian cyber-entity bringing about the complete downfall of their creators. That tastes good.

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If you play Cyberpunk 2077 like this guy, then even the most controversial ending would be perfect
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Through Cyberpunk 2077 I realized: Better late than never. I am glad that I gave a chance to the origin of “Wake the F*ck Up, Samurai” memes and other shitposts and at the same time discovered one of my absolute favorite games that moves and emotionally challenges me every time I revisit it.

The world in 2077 and the city of Night City are always presented in the media of the game, be it songs or advertisements, as a kind of shiny metropolis of hedonism and excess. However, one should not forget the evil behind the facade and how terrible life in Night City actually is: 5 things in Cyberpunk 2077 that prove Night City is not “the city of dreams”

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

The rockin’ trailer for Final Fantasy XIV: Patch 7.4 “Into the Mist” makes you want to return to Eorzea

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

Shortly before the launch of Patch 7.4, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV released a new trailer to excite players about the new content of “Into the Mist”. MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz finds the plan successful.

What does the new trailer show? In 3 minutes and 20 seconds, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV provide insights into the upcoming story events of the main scenario of Patch 7.4 “Into the Mist”. You will see scenes from the raid Arkadion – Super Heavyweight, the dungeon “The Mist Rift”, the trial “Zel Tajaal – Doomtrain”, the new PvP front arena, and the fresh Hildibrand adventure.

The sequences are complemented not only by the typical orchestral music from the MMORPG and voiced lines from the story sections. There’s also the song “Everything Burns” to listen to, which was specially written for the new raid by two-time Grammy winner Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage). The singer you hear is Caleb Shomo (Beartooth).

Here you can watch the official German trailer for Patch 7.4 of Final Fantasy XIV:

Select a MMO video…

MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz suddenly has the urge: After the somewhat disappointing, only okay start of Dawntrail, I had left Final Fantasy XIV for a while. There were simply too many other games (most recently Battlefield 6 and Where Winds Meet) that occupied my time.

However, the trailer for Patch 7.4 has rekindled the desire for Eorzea. The new zones look visually impressive, the boss challenges are fun (my highlight: the Doomtrain!). Hildibrand returns. And the new song by Tom Morello and Caleb Shomo rocks. “Everything Burns” fondly reminds me of the best pieces from the Primals, the in-house band of the FFXIV developers.

So I guess I’ll have to draw another ticket to Eorzea, good thing the Christmas vacation is coming up soon. How do you like the trailer?

The main innovations of Patch 7.4

What does Patch 7.4 bring? The feature list of “Into the Mist” is long. Here are the most important innovations of the update, which will be released on December 16, 2025:

  • Continuation of the main scenario: After Calyx’s defeat, Alexandria finally seems to be able to breathe again – the perfect moment to address all the other questions that have especially been weighing on Krile’s heart.
  • Raid: Arkadion – Super Heavyweight: The Warrior of Light has proven himself as an unregulated challenger in spectacular duels against the heavyweight fighters. Thus, all eyes are now on the largest stage of Solution Nine: the Super Heavyweight.
  • Dungeon “The Mist Rift”: Countless unanswered questions lead the Warrior of Light and his good friend Krile straight into the unknown: forgotten lands shrouded in mist!
  • New trial “Zel Tajaal – Doomtrain”: With roaring thunder, the dreaded armored train rushes directly toward the Warrior of Light…
  • New dream trial Tsukuyomi: This time, Soroban’s tale is dedicated to the mystical Tsukuyomi. Is she a tragic moon goddess or a deep black spirit of revenge?
  • New PvP front arena Worqor Chirteh: The PvP front will be expanded with a new arena and new game rules! Let the spirits of the mountain guide you through the thick snow and fight your way to the top of the leaderboards!
  • Innovations for Kreszentia: The new phantom jobs Paladin, Dancer, and Gladiator want to be learned. Use their special abilities to uncover the mystery of Crescent Moon Island!
  • New weapon enhancements: Phantom Weapons: Listen one more time to the drunken hammering of Gerolt as he shapes your weapons into new masterpieces.
  • Restless Vault “The Merchant’s Labors of Love”
  • New quests for Hildibrand
  • New attraction in the Gold Saucer: Air Force, Fire freely! (The Cieldalens)
  • New planet “Oizys” and new tool enhancements in cosmic exploration
  • Strategy board
  • New user interface: Command board
  • Innovations for weapon and equipment projections
  • New Allagan stones: Mnemonic
  • New recipes
  • New mounts, companions, and emotes
  • Content assistant support
  • New color schemes: Clear Green, Clear White
More about FFXIV:
Which free MMORPGs are still really fun in 2026? MeinMMO reveals it to you in the video
von Nico Scheibel
Is Final Fantasy XIV worth it in 2026? MeinMMO reveals it to you in the video
von Karsten Scholz

For over 10 years, MeinMMO editor Alex has called the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV his second home and is one of those who usually hardly miss any content. However, now the endgame of the MMORPG forces him to urgently change something, and he seems to be far from alone.

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

In game shows on Twitch, big German streamers meet, but few know the father of success

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

A streamer regularly hosts game and quiz shows on his channel, inviting Twitch celebrities to prove themselves in these shows. The clips often go viral or find their way into compilations.

What kind of game shows are on Twitch? On Twitch, it’s not just about gaming and chatting, but also testing the streamers’ knowledge in quiz and game shows. Among the various guests are JenNyan, Papaplatte, and Peter from PietSmiet.

In the different formats, Twitch streamers must complete various tasks, but it mostly revolves around answering questions. Recurring formats include the following:

  • Activity
    • A digital Twitch version of the classic game Activity. Terms need to be explained with taboo words, acted out, or drawn.
  • Genial Daneben
    • Twitch streamers must work together to guess lesser-known terms.
  • The Dumbest Flies
    • The participants must answer questions in turn. If the answer is wrong, a life is deducted. With no remaining lives, the Twitch streamer is out of the game.
Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google

Twitch streamer organizes his own game shows

Who is behind the success? Funny clips from the game shows, in which Twitch streamers give wrong answers or embarrass themselves, regularly go viral on social media or find their place in compilations.

The event organizer of the game shows is Twitch streamer Tim Horus. He created his Twitch channel in 2015 but only started actively streaming in 2021. In his description on his Twitch channel, he describes himself as “Quiz Streamer, Format Host & Moderator”.

On Twitch, Tim Horus has over 18,000 followers and entertained an average of 78 concurrent viewers from January to November 2025. His biggest categories were Just Chatting, VALORANT, and Minecraft (Source: SullyGnome).

Tim Horus participates as a moderator and organizes the game shows in advance, so he typically is not a participant himself.

In his formats, the Twitch streamer puts in a lot of effort, even regarding the individual details. For example, in his Christmas quiz, he organized a digital Advent calendar:

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Those who missed the Twitch streams with the quiz shows can watch them on his YouTube channel. Highlights in the form of clips can be found on his TikTok or Instagram channel.

In addition to the regular quiz show streams, Tim Horus also engages with other content on his Twitch channel. He plays games and chats with his audience. In November 2025, he played Dispatch, Unmourned, and RV There Yet? (Source: SullyGnome).

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von MeinMMO
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Tim Horus is not the only one testing his Twitch colleagues in quiz shows. The streamer Reved also organized such events repeatedly. Reved has been on a break for a long time but recently announced her comeback for 2026: The biggest German Twitch streamer wants to return with her own content in 2026, fans say: “She has just been missed”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. timhorus auf Twitch
  2. Tim Horus auf YouTube