The first part of the Halloween event starts in Pokémon GO. Included are new monsters, new cryptos, and a special GO Pass.
What kind of event is this? This year, there is once again a Halloween event that consists of 2 parts. The first part starts on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM and ends on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
How do I obtain Poltchageistand Sinistcha? Poltchageist, the grass-ghost monster from the 9th generation, and its evolution Sinistcha can be obtained for the first time during the event. To get Poltchageist, you need to challenge it in 1-star raids, defeat it, and catch it.
If you have a Poltchageist and 50 candies for the monster, you can evolve it into Sinistcha.
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Pokémon GO: The Season “Stories of Transformation” in the Trailer
Halloween 2025 Part 1 – All event content
What rewards are there in the GO Pass? At the start of the event, a special GO Pass will also be activated, which will remain active until the end of the 2nd Halloween event on November 2, 2025 at 20:00. It comes in a free and a paid version.
If you reach certain levels in the pass, you will receive bonuses that remain active until the end of the 2nd Halloween event. The following milestones are available:
Level
Bonus with GO Pass
Bonus with GO Pass Deluxe
Level 10
double catch candies
triple catch candies
Level 25
increased chance of XL candies with nice, great, and excellent throws (from level 31)
Level 40
double sending candies and increased chance of XL candies when sending monsters (from level 31)
triple sending candies and further increased chance of XL candies when sending monsters (from level 31)
Which monsters are available in raids? During the event, the following monsters can be found in raids.
In 1-star raids:
Galarian Yamask*
Sinistea*
Poltchageist
In 3-star raids:
Alolan Marowak*
Hisuian Typhlosion*
Hisuian Samurott*
In 1-star shadow raids:
Shadow Yamask
Shadow Phantump
The two crypto monsters are available in their crypto form for the first time in the game.
All monsters marked with a * can also be found in shiny form. Sinistea for the first time.
Which Pokémon can be found in the wild? If you are out in the wild during the event, you may encounter Zorua, Hisuian Zorua, Greavard, and, somewhat rarely, also Sinistea. Zorua and Sinistea can also be encountered in shiny form.
What rewards are there in field research? There are various field research tasks waiting for you in the 1st Halloween event. Here you can receive some Pokémon encounters as rewards as well as Mega Energy for various monsters, some of which are among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
Further content of the event: During the event, your surroundings in the game will be decorated with Halloween decor. Additionally, you can hear a remix of the music from Lavender Town from the 1st generation at night.
With the start of the event, you can also purchase a Mortipot hat for your avatar in the in-game shop, as well as event stickers that you can also find at PokéStops or in gifts. The hat and stickers will also be available after the event.
In addition to the Halloween event, there will be a variety of other events, raids, and additional content in the game in the near future. If you want to know what these are and when they will take place, feel free to take a look at our overview with all events in October 2025 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is an NPC in World of Warcraft who has had a single goal for over 18 years. In Midnight, we learn how that turned out.
With over 20 years of content, there are thousands of NPCs in World of Warcraft with their own stories. Some are great heroes, like Jaina Proudmoore, Anduin Wrynn, or Thrall, whose stories all fans can nearly recite by heart. Yet smaller side characters are often overlooked – although Blizzard occasionally provides updates. A detail from the alpha of the upcoming expansion “Midnight” shows: Blizzard has not forgotten these NPCs. However, they will not be freed from their suffering.
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
What kind of NPC is this? Trayanise is an NPC known especially to Blood Elves or any role-players who have spent a lot of time in Silvermoon. Since Patch 2.2 – almost 18 years ago – this elf has been running around in front of the Sunspire tower trying to catch a small arcane golem that is constantly fleeing from her.
Trayanise is just a small, insignificant NPC who brings a bit of life to the city of Silvermoon and simultaneously shows the problems the elves face – fear of the mages, a bit of power misuse, and of course misprogrammed arcane constructs.
What happens to the NPC in Midnight? Clever players from the alpha have also spotted Trayanise in the new version of Silvermoon. There, she sits on one of the many balconies of the city on a blanket, with a wine glass in her hand. When you talk to her, she says:
<Trayanise sips her drink while observing something moving in the sky.> It’s only a matter of time … I will catch you.
If you then turn the camera around, you can see the little golem – which apparently has learned a few tricks over the past 18 years, as it is now flying around in the sky.
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Thus, it becomes clear: Trayanise still hasn’t been able to catch the construct of the mages even after 18 years.
Community celebrates the attention to detail of Midnight
Although Trayanise is just a small detail of an essentially unimportant NPC, it is extremely well-received by players. Many point out that they still love World of Warcraft after a long time precisely because of such details and the developments in the game world. Some of the comments from the WoW subreddit:
„I mean, elves live a very long time. It’s just a very long side quest.” – haragos
„God, these kinds of details make me love this damn game so much.” – BathtubSkeleton
„For me, that’s the best part of revamps of old areas: we see how these little stories develop.” – orangesheepdog
„Next time, in the ‘Tomorrow’ expansion, she’ll become a demon hunter to capture the flying golem, only for it to leave the atmosphere.” – Key_Arrival2927
The new Silvermoon is filled with such details. If you want to take a stroll through the old Silvermoon in the current version of WoW, you will discover many NPCs that have evolved – not just graphically. Blizzard seems to be putting a lot of work into small details here, so Blood Elf fans can experience a lot of pleasant surprises. However, the question arises whether Blood Elves will still matter in Midnight – as a player shows why we will all soon only play Haranir.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new update in Pokémon GO brought a few other elements along with the level adjustment. However, some trainers are not exactly fans of it.
Which feature is it about? On October 15, Pokémon GO released the major update with the new level system. Along with these contents, the update also included a few visual changes.
One of these changes includes graphics that show your XP progress, which appear when you have hatched an egg, completed a raid, or finished a dynamax battle. So at points where you receive a decent amount of XP.
However, this change is not well received by all trainers. The new XP screen bothers some players.
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Pokémon GO: The Season “Stories of Transformation” in the Trailer
Smiling and Lucky Egg button are not for some trainers
According to a post on the Pokémon GO subreddit, a few points play a role in why some trainers do not like the screen. Trainers criticize:
The number of screens one has to dismiss.
The positioning of the “Do you want to use a Lucky Egg?” button, which some users say could tempt them to accidentally use such an egg.
And also the smile of their own trainer seems to upset some players. In this context, criticism of the avatar models arises again, which was already a topic upon their introduction in 2024. You can see how the smile looks here in the title image.
A few examples of voices from the thread:
“Lmao, I have 159 million of 8 million, I never need to get experience points again, but I still have to see this animation every time,” criticizes user lujoter4 (on Reddit).
“My character wears a mask, so I don’t see the smile. But this screen stresses me out because I constantly think that I might accidentally use a Lucky Egg if I click through this screen too quickly,” says user holonboy (on Reddit).
Similar voices are being raised in the comments. As of now, players do not seem very enthusiastic about the new screens.
What do you think about the topic? Do you find the new screens nice, or do you consider them unnecessary? And what do you think of the big level update overall? Let us know in the comments!
What else is happening in Pokémon GO? The Halloween event is just around the corner! You can join on October 21. But there are also more interesting events rounding off October. Do you want to know which ones? Then be sure to check out our overview: Here are all events in October 2025 for Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes didn’t actually want to buy Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Still, he spent 30 hours on the game over the weekend because the gameplay loop is so good.
When Pokemon Legends: Z-A was announced, I was skeptical. I, too, had been disappointed by many recent games and actually didn’t want to get the game at release. Then the game was available at a lower price right away, and I grabbed it. As a longtime fan, one inevitably gives in.
After surviving the annoying tutorial, I was caught in the gameplay loop. This is meant positively, as I spent almost an entire weekend with a game for the first time in a long while.
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In the trailer for the DLC for Pokémon Z-A, Raichu appears twice
A grindfest, but a good one
What makes Pokemon Legends: Z-A so good? First off: I generally don’t care much about graphics while playing. Many textures and representations can be annoying, but on the Switch 2, I could live with the graphics, even though the criticism is entirely justified. What mattered more to me was that the frame rate is mostly stable and loading times are short.
This is particularly important to me, as the grind is the big highlight in the game. In Legends: Z-A, the game structure is based on completing tasks and collecting. For the story, you collect points in battle zones, for Mega Evolutions, shards, and for the Pokédex Pokémon. Apart from new creatures and trainers, there’s not much variety. Even the city is quite compact.
However, the Pokemon Company has created a rather satisfying gameplay loop this time. Everything goes quickly and thanks to the active battle system, capturing Pokemon feels less tedious. Previous installment innovations also help. Since you can use the box everywhere, I can quickly swap Pokemon, and especially the boss Pokemon are always useful in the story.
While the main quest drags on for a long time, you can ignore it due to the grind structure anyway. Everything you do feels rewarding.
Side quests usually have strong rewards, completing the tasks of the Pokemon Lab is worthwhile thanks to powerful attacks, and filling the Pokédex has been the credo of the series since 1996. But it was the game world that made the grind even more enjoyable for me.
What makes the game world so good? On paper, the game world looks boring. There is little variety, you only move around in a single city, and most Pokemon are found in fixed zones. But it is this combination that creates a cozy feeling.
You walk through the city to the next wild zone, meet a lot of NPCs, and the good music underscores it all. It’s like walking through a city where you were born. The residents slowly become familiar constants that create a safe space.
I never got bored because everything goes so quickly. You can fast travel or destroy a few crystals on the way. There’s always something to do, even after the story.
I was initially skeptical about the wild zones as well, but this concentrated gathering of Pokemon has the advantage that I am also learning where each creature spawns slowly. I’m excited about the boss Pokemon, and completing the Pokédex becomes less frustrating.
Overall, I feel very comfortable in Illumina City. Like in a café that you visit every week.
The probably most important point: I’ve always loved Pokemon and I still can’t resist it years later. Especially when the grind is so incredibly fun. But even if I’ll play for hours in the post-game: Pokemon has so much more potential and should finally utilize it. If you’re looking for an alternative, you’ll find it here: The new game on Digimon does one thing really well that has always annoyed me in Pokemon
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
ARC Raiders has conducted its final test before release, and the shooter has a lot of strengths, says our MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos. Unfortunately, some fans do not share the same opinion and they want to enforce changes that he believes are unnecessary.
ARC Raiders recently completed its final test, where anyone interested could participate for free. As a long-time shooter fan, I couldn’t miss the opportunity and thus checked out the world of ARC and visited Speranza.
For many, this might sound like a joke, but ARC Raiders could finally become the Fortnite of the extraction genre that the gaming industry has been aiming for years. The developers at Embark seem to be getting a lot right – whether it’s the game world, the story, or the difficulty. Everything seems to harmonize so far, but I see a major problem before the release.
A specific group of players is criticizing exactly what makes the shooter so exciting, which is the difficulty. Therefore, I say: For ARC Raiders to remain successful, Embark should not listen to these fans this time.
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ARC Raiders: Der Extraction-Shooter auf Steam und PS5 zeigt einen neuen Trailer, lässt sich jetzt vorbestellen
Survival is extremely difficult and it should stay that way
No matter which extraction shooter I play, they all have one thing in common – they are incredibly difficult to master, and that should and must stay that way. ARC Raiders is also so good precisely because it can realistically capture the atmosphere of a dystopian future world full of rampaging robots. You can only rely on your instincts, your skill, and your abilities. Everyone is against you, including strange ARC Raiders in the form of players.
It’s particularly frustrating when you get ambushed and your entire team is wiped out. That has happened to me as well, and not just once. But that is a good thing because without such experiences, you can’t improve – learning to foresee and navigate the terrain and outsmart traps. It hurts and costs a lot of resources, but that’s what makes an extraction shooter.
Unfortunately, there is a faction in the community who finds the game too difficult.They are calling for nerfs or even want a dedicated PvE mode where things are not as intense. Theoretically, that would be possible, but it would go against the core idea of ARC Raiders.
An apocalyptic scenario like this is not relaxing and must correspondingly create strenuous moments. Therefore, it’s all the more satisfying when you emerge victorious. Some clips on Reddit show the dopamine rush of many players as they just barely managed to reach the rescue lift while being hunted by other players or robots.
That’s what makes the thrill. Such moments only exist when the game remains challenging and offers challenges. Without them, the shooter would be boring and there are already enough titles like that.
However, I do not oppose general feedback as long as it is justified and helps the game. Without the help of the community, Embark would not have postponed the release of its shooter to improve it. The version you recently played would not have been possible. One just has to evaluate where and which criticism is meaningful.
Many large studios like to take the path of developing their games for the mass market. There should be something for everyone, as only this can lead to maximum success. That may be true, but I like to remember a phrase the developers of Helldivers 2 once said: “A game for everyone is a game for no one.”
This phrase is exactly the one that ARC Raiders should adhere to. It should remain true to its idea regarding difficulty. Not every game will please you, and that’s fine. Forcing a game into paths where it loses its identity just to become more popular is, in my opinion, not the right way.
I, for my part, had a lot of fun with the Server Slam and now I am sure that I will also be there at the release. And I also know that I will get beaten again, but I will face my downfall with a smile because I know that ARC Raiders is still fun.
Do you also think that ARC Raiders should remain that difficult, or would you like a dedicated PvE mode? We would love to hear your opinion in the comments! You can find more about the release here: ARC Raiders: All about release, price, and crossplay
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A charity event by W Korea should raise awareness about breast cancer as a disease. However, many of the guests, including numerous K-Pop stars, did not behave as one would have hoped.
What kind of event was it? W Korea is a fashion magazine that recently organized a fundraising gala for breast cancer patients. With this charity event, they also aimed to highlight the importance of early breast cancer detection. The event took place on October 15, 2025, and is now making headlines.
In many TikTok videos currently circulating, partying K-Pop stars can be seen. The atmosphere is lively, many guests dance to the music, and there are many glasses visible, presumably filled with alcoholic beverages. For many affected individuals and viewers, the images of the evening are distressing.
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Friendly Fire 8 is starting soon – Gronkh & Co. collect donations in the millions annually
K-Pop stars behave inappropriately
What is the problem? For many viewers, the event seems more like a celebrity party rather than an event aimed at raising awareness of a serious illness.
Among the guests are many well-known K-Pop stars, some of whom have clearly drunk too much. Among the inebriated guests are Giselle and Karina from the K-Pop group aespa. Videos show both struggling to stand on their own feet and keep their eyes open.
Moreover, the videos do not show any pink outfits or accessories that are usually worn at such events to signal that patients are not alone. Speeches and presentations are rarely seen in the videos.
The “highlight” of the event was a performance by rapper Jay Park. He performed the song Mommae, which could not be more inappropriate for an event focused on breast cancer: At one point, he sings that he would like to be introduced to the “twin sisters hanging from your breast.”
Actor Byeon Woo Seok is also the only one in the pictures who has a pink flower as an accessory on his suit. The color is associated with breast cancer awareness.
How is one reacting to the event?TikToker yoojiuen is a cancer patient herself and does not understand why the event is made into a party. She received her last chemotherapy treatment two days ago and knows how terrible it feels to be affected.
For her, her illness is not a dress code that can be dressed up with glamour. The event should focus on highlighting the illness and showing that patients are not alone. yoojiuen does not understand why people are celebrating so exuberantly without providing space for the disease.
Meanwhile, the event organizers also responded on Instagram. They apologized for causing discomfort and pain to patients and their families through the event. They stated they take the criticism seriously and will reevaluate the event.
Rapper Jay Park also apologized on X to those affected who felt attacked by his song. He wishes them good health and strength.
A game will soon start on Steam in Early Access that could make many extremely happy. It addresses certain aspects that a particular type of player sorely misses, and therefore draws on Red Dead Redemption 2.The demo has also convinced MeinMMO editor Alex.
For many years, I have been searching for it like the knights of the Round Table sought the Holy Grail. A game that satisfies my need for freedom. A game where I can travel through Wallachia for hours and feel the adventure. Preferably on the back of a faithful steed.
I last felt this sensation while playing Red Dead Redemption 2, when I ignored the story and explored the vast world from the saddle for hours, taming wild horses and simply enjoying the feeling of adventure.
Everything was just right: the animations of the horses were as beautiful as no other game had managed from my perspective, the environment was so diverse and inviting to explore, and the controls and the feeling of riding during my time in the saddle simply felt right to me.
As a passionate rider and leisure knight, this was my digital way to unwind and satisfy that wistful longing when I couldn’t get to the stable or especially in times when I didn’t yet own a horse. But somehow… something was always missing. The focus in RDR2 was not on the horses but rather on the story and a coherent representation of the “wild west” with a healthy dose of shooting and combat.
But a new game on Steam seems to hit the nail on the head and take exactly this aspect into focus: “The Legend of Khiimori.” The demo during the Steam Next Fest captivated me for what felt like an eternity, and the best part: You can still try the demo yourself until November 30, 2025. Early Access is planned to start on March 3, 2026.
Update from October 20, 2025, 1:00 PM: Shortly after we published our article, the start of Early Access was postponed. However, the demo was extended so you can still give it a try. We have adjusted the article accordingly.
Here you can watch the gameplay trailer:
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Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori – Gameplay trailer for the new horse game with open world
On the Back of Horses Through Ancient Mongolia
What kind of game is this? In The Legend of Khiimori (formerly Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori), you take on the role of a young Mongolian in the 13th century who acts as a courier between different settlements. For this, you initially get a faithful horse by your side, which you must also take care of.
It needs food, attention, and water, and you can train it in various skills by moving around with it and focusing on activities that concentrate on these aspects. In settlements, you can swap and breed your horses to get the best horse for you. You can also catch and tame wild horses in the open world.
There are many different colors, and there are also various breeds in the finished game. In addition to the main story, where you delve into an ancient myth, you will complete various tasks: from transporting different goods, to collecting resources, to crafting items.
The focus is on realistic animations that can easily compete with those from Red Dead Redemption 2, and on survival in various biomes and weather conditions. You will need to plan your routes wisely so that neither your task nor you and your horse are in too much danger. Other wild dangers await you as well, which you can face with bow and arrow or flee from. The bow is also at your disposal for hunting.
You need to have the right plan, the right horse, and the right equipment to master your tasks. You can plan your routes with the extensive map and various markers, as well as make the necessary preparations in settlements. A game principle that I greatly enjoyed in the demo and that made me crave more.
With a focus on collaboration with the horse, combined with the leisurely journey through the picturesque regions of Mongolia and the adverse conditions that need to be overcome, The Legend of Khiimori offers exactly what I felt was missing in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The developers of the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol: Star Resonance have made an announcement that will delight German players. They celebrate the news with free items.
What is this announcement about? The developers of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance announced a major update in a post on Discord. The update for the MMORPG will add more languages to the game. They mentioned Brazilian Portuguese, French, Spanish, and also German.
The voices will likely remain in Japanese, as is typical for anime. However, the texts that are currently only available in Chinese and English will be translated into German.
Here you can watch the trailer for the game:
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Blue Protocol: Star Resonance presents a colorful character diversity in the new release trailer
Fan wish comes true
When will it happen? The developers of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance have not provided a specific date for the update in their announcement. They stated that the expanded localization is still in progress. When it will happen remains unclear.
Now there is the official confirmation, along with a gift to shorten the waiting time.
What is this gift? To make the waiting time a bit more pleasant, the developers of the anime MMORPG have released a new gift code. With the code “BPSR4LANGS”, all players will receive several items upon redemption:
2x Will Wish Coin
2x Mixing Agent
2x Mystery Toy Chest
5x Gift of the Sea Breeze
200x Rose Orb (bound)
The code expires on October 26, 2025, at the daily reset at 09:00 AM. So you need to redeem it before the German patch is in the game.
To redeem the code, you need to go to your account in the settings and click on “Redeem Code” in the upper right corner. You will find your rewards in the in-game mailbox, where you can collect them as usual.
Listening to the fans and opening the MMORPG to more players will please the players. For those who do not need a German version, there are still free items. The developers of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance regularly release new codes. Here you can find all currently active promotional codes: Blue Protocol: Star Resonance Codes – All active promotional codes of the anime MMORPG
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If you feel in Battlefield 6 that your opponents can see you better than you can see them, it is due to your weapon and you should urgently change one thing.
What mechanic is involved? Battlefield 6 has changed the way opposing players are marked compared to its predecessors. Just like in the previous games, there are again two ways in which such a marking can occur:
In the game world
On the minimap
Marked players are represented by a colored diamond that is red by default. So if you are marked as an opposing player in the game world, you have a red diamond above your head.
Start video
Battlefield 6: Mit diesen Tipps werdet ihr zum besseren Squad-Spieler
You have a red marking above your head with every shot
What has changed? In past Battlefield titles, you were only marked on the minimap when you fired. The red diamond above your head in the game world was only there if you were actively marked by a player using the respective key.
In Battlefield 6, a marking now appears above your head with every shot when you are in an enemy’s line of sight.
As YouTuber TheXclusiveAce found out through detailed tests, this red marking in the game world is visible after a shot up to 75 meters away – this range also marks the sweet spot for snipers. However, the marking only lasts for a short moment.
In the comments of the YouTuber, many players complain that the developers mention nowhere that you are automatically marked in the game world when you shoot without a suppressor.
Can you prevent being marked? Yes, there are muzzle attachments that affect when and how you are marked for enemies. For example, if you use a muzzle brake, you are not marked in the game world even at short distances, but you appear on the minimap, no matter how far away you are.
Suppressors also eliminate your marking in the game world and additionally reduce the distance at which you are seen on the minimap to under 15 meters. So if you felt that your opponents could see you too well, it may be due to the thick red marking above your head, and you should try using a suppressor.
However, for a suppressor, you have to forgo a muzzle that helps you control the recoil. It might be advisable to use a weapon that is easily controllable. In our list of the best weapons in Battlefield 6, you will also find a section on the weapons with the lowest recoil: The best weapons in Battlefield 6 to gain the upper hand on the battlefield
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Since 2008, the Hulk has been part of the MCU, but Mark Ruffalo, who took on the role in 2012, has not yet had a solo film. Even though he would finally love to have his own film, he also doesn’t believe that it will happen anytime soon.
What does Mark Ruffalo say about a solo Hulk film? In an interview on the YouTube channel GQ, Mark Ruffalo was asked various questions about his films. He was also asked questions about his roles in the many Marvel films. He was asked if he ever wished for a solo Hulk film. He gave a clear answer:
Yeah, I would love to have a solo Hulk film. I don’t know if you know the story, but it [the Hulk brand] doesn’t really belong to Marvel. It’s property of Universal. I don’t know if it will ever really happen, to be honest.
Mark Ruffalo on a solo Hulk film (Source: YouTube)
While Marvel can use the character as a side character in films or series, the distribution rights for a solo film lie with Universal. Even in the MCU film The Incredible Hulk (2008), Universal handled the distribution in the USA. At that time, Edward Norton played Bruce Banner.
In the interview, he goes on to say that they probably have regular discussions about the topic, but he doesn’t know if audiences still want a Hulk film. However, if they could approach it correctly, he believes that fans would definitely love it.
In 2012, Mark Ruffalo took over the role in Avengers and since then, he has played the Hulk in various Marvel productions, just not in a solo film. That is not so easy in today’s MCU.
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The Incredible Hulk – Trailer for the Forgotten MCU Movie from 2008
The Hulk is at a Standstill
What does MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes say about a Hulk solo film? Basically, I find the hero Hulk incredibly interesting. He is at his core a tragic figure who has been burdened with a great weight. But Marvel has not built on that.
The character development of the Hulk has happened off-screen in the MCU since Age of Ultron, meaning not actively in the films.
Between Age of Ultron and Thor: Ragnarok
Between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame
Between Avengers: Endgame and She-Hulk
This has wasted a lot of material if no film is made between the films. The Hulk seems to have overcome his tragedy and now lives comfortably with his burden. Within the films, he even has had a son. These are all possible storylines that could have been implemented as a film.
Unless you film a Hulk from another universe, it’s difficult to do something with the character. But what do you think?
Could Marvel make a new Hulk film? It is unknown how exactly and for how long the rights distribution with Universal lies. However, Marvel and Disney could negotiate. The film character Spider-Man also does not belong to Disney. The film rights for the web-slinger lie with Sony, even though they could have gotten even more.
What’s next for the Hulk in the MCU? His last appearance was in the series She-Hulk in 2022. Since then, it has been relatively quiet around the Hulk. It has not yet been confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will return as the Hulk for Avengers: Doomsday. Allegedly, he is also supposed to appear in the next Spider-Man film, but in September 2025, Ruffalo stated that he had not seen a script for the film yet (Source: GamesRadar).
In New World crafting is very important. Ores, and partially stones, play a significant role as the material is used for a variety of recipes. We at MeinMMO will show you in this guide how to quickly level up your mining skills.
What types of stones and ores exist in New World? If you are involved in mining, you will encounter a variety of collectible materials:
Stone – Collectible from level 0
Iron – Collectible from level 0, detectable from level 25
Silver – Collectible from level 10, detectable from level 35
Oil – Collectible from level 20, detectable from level 45
Gold – Collectible from level 45, detectable from level 70
Alchemist stones – Collectible from level 50, detectable from level 75
Magnetite – Collectible from level 75, detectable from level 100
Star metal – Collectible at level 100, detectable from level 125
Sandstone – Collectible from level 105
Platinum – Collectible from level 110, detectable from level 135
Sulfur – Collectible from level 130
Orichalcum – Collectible from level 150, detectable from level 200
Mythril – Collectible from level 205
Update from October 20, 2025: With the start of Season 10, more and more players are currently looking for information on leveling up mining. We have therefore updated the article.
Start video
Der Launch-Trailer zu Nighthaven zeigt die neue schaurige Zone von New World
Increase your level faster with the right tools
Are the tools that important? Yes, they are indeed. The higher the quality of your tools, the faster you can mine stones and ores. This also affects the faster leveling of mining. Try, whenever possible, to craft or buy better tools.
You can find out how to best craft tools or other products in this detailed crafting guide from MeinMMO:
Which pickaxes are the best? In this overview, you will find the individual pickaxes with their stats and when you can unlock them with your character level. We also list the recommended passive benefits.
Pickaxe – Iron
Usable from character level 5 – 1 passive possible.
‘Miner Discipline’ – More experience for mining.
Pickaxe – Steel
Usable from character level 17 – 2 passives possible.
‘Miner Discipline’ – More experience for mining.
‘Miner Yield’ – Mining yields more resources.
Pickaxe – Star Metal
Usable from character level 36 – 3 passives possible.
‘Miner Discipline’ – More experience for mining.
‘Miner Yield’ – Mining yields more resources.
‘Azoth Extraction’ or ‘Mining Luck’ – The former gives you a chance for Azoth after finishing collection, the latter increases the chance for rare materials during mining.
Pickaxe – Orichalcum
Usable from character level 52 – 3 passives possible.
‘Miner Yield’ – Mining yields more resources.
‘Azoth Extraction’ – Chance for Azoth
‘Mining Luck’ – Chance for rare materials
Pickaxe – Mythril
Can be used from character level 55 – 5 passives possible
Mining Yield – Mining yields more raw materials.
Azoth Extraction – Chance to obtain Azoth
Mining Luck – Chance to obtain rare materials
Gathering Recovery – Healing while gathering
Prospector’s Discipline – Bonus to mining experience
Gathering Alacrity – Haste for 3 seconds after gathering
Level up Mining quickly – Here’s how
From level 1 to 10: For these levels, you should initially focus on stone and iron. Generally, you will automatically reach this level before you even look at this guide. From level 10, silver is added, and the routes become more interesting.
From level 10 to 100: In this level range, you will quickly focus only on iron and silver. Stones work for leveling, but they are extremely slow. The ores are significantly more effective.
For quick leveling at these stages, we recommend the following two routes, one located in Everfall and the other in Cutlass Keys. Both routes take between 10 and 20 minutes, which also corresponds roughly to the respawn time of the ores.
The route in Everfall is sometimes crowded, but if you’re alone, there are almost no enemies in your way.
The route in Everfall.
For the route in Cutlass Keys, you need a higher level but gather more silver and gold. You should have reached level 45 by now.
The route in Cutlass Keys.
From level 100 to 150: At level 100, star metal comes into play, which you will continue to need for armor and weapons.
If you want to collect star metal at a low level, you can go to the border between Windsward and Everfall. There you will find iron, silver, and some star metal nodes.
If you want to level your mining skill but don’t have a high character level, you will find happiness here in Windsward.
If you have already reached a higher level and really want to level quickly, you need to go to the Depths. There you will find a good route with relatively few monsters. If you want, you can also clear your inventory in town in between.
If you want to level quickly and find star metal, you must go to the Depths.
From level 150 to 200: If you want to maximize your mining skill, but still don’t have a high character level, it will now be really difficult. However, there are a total of 6 orichalcum veins in the areas of Windsward and Everfall that you can mine. Additionally, there are two star metal veins along the path shown here.
The orichalcum veins in the low-level area.
If you have already reached level 200, you will find the most effective spots in Shattered Mountain or can enter the new area Sulfur Sands. Starting at level 205, you can mine any ore deposit on Aeternum.
The orichalcum veins in Shattered Mountain.
More benefits to make leveling easier
Extra Constitution brings bonuses: The more points you have invested in Strength in the attributes window, the more benefits you gain in mining:
50 points or more = +10% more speed in mining
100 points or more = 20% more durability (inventory weight)
150 points or more = 10% less weight from processed items
200 points or more = +10% more speed in mining
250 points or more = +10% more yield in mining
300 points = 25% chance to mine an ore with one hit
Regional reputation also plays a role. With the regional reputation card Gathering, you can mine ores even faster, and that means gaining experience faster. If you primarily gather ores in an area, you can rely on this buff. Have you already reached level 250 in mining? Or is that not your focus at all? Let us know in the comments below. All guides to New World can be found in this article: New World Guides: All tips, tricks, and builds at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Grab 5 stylish portals for all your characters in World of Warcraft. The effort required is minimal.
A large part of the time in World of Warcraft is spent traveling from point A to point B. Sometimes it’s so confusing that we even have a guide on how to reach various locations in the world. You can often shorten this by using portals to individual dungeons or raids. These can also be unlocked in Legion Remix – much easier than it was back then.
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WoW Legion Remix: This insane time travel works
5 Portals to Legion for all accounts
What portals can you unlock? The portals apply to the following 5 dungeons:
Raven’s Hold (“Black Rook Hold”)
Court of Stars (“Court of Stars”)
Darkheart Thicket (“Darkheart Thicket”)
Halls of Valor (“Halls of Valor”)
Neltharion’s Lair (“Neltharions Lair”)
The portals bring you right up to the respective instance portals upon use. Additionally, the portals share a cooldown of 8 hours, which is reset when you complete a keystone dungeon.
The portals are suitable for traveling quickly through the world – even if you want to go back to the old areas of Legion for other reasons and don’t want to visit a Mage or travel via Dalaran.
When you unlock the portals, the Mages will get a vacation.
Why can you unlock the portals? This is because the 5 dungeons mentioned above later became part of a “Mythic+” rotation. Blizzard has slightly revised them and added new rewards – including the portals. The game data stores: “When the dungeon is completed at Mythic+20, grant the portal” – and this is also the case in Remix.
A few days ago, obtaining these portals was already possible, but it was deemed a bug by Blizzard. The feature was disabled, and the portal was removed from the corresponding accounts. After a few days of reflection, the developers seemed to think, “Why not?” and reactivated the feature via hotfix. Since this change was also noted in the official patch notes, the unlocks should also be permanent this time.
How difficult is it to unlock the portals? Mythic+20 may sound like a dangerous, exhausting endeavor, but it becomes a breeze once you’ve obtained high gear. With an item level of around 700, you should be able to easily complete a dungeon of level 20 or higher – even if you’re not that experienced.
If you have at least one character in the group with item level 740 and more than 100 points in the final talent of the artifact weapon, you can also easily be carried through such a dungeon. However, you will become significantly stronger in Legion Remix over the next few days. If the portals still feel unreachable, a few more hours of playtime could make a big difference. You will soon have more portals, but one other thing will vanish: Addons. How WoW is supposed to look without addons, explained by the Game Director.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The raw material iron ore is mainly needed at the lower level of crafting in New World. We at MeinMMO will tell you where you can find the iron ore.
What is iron ore used for? Iron ore can be processed into iron bars in a furnace. You will need the iron bars for the first armor tiers and weapons beyond wood. This is particularly relevant for levels 5 to about 20.
Update from October 20, 2025: With the start of Season 10, more and more players are currently looking for information on farming iron ore. We have therefore updated the article.
Start video
Der Launch-Trailer zu Nighthaven zeigt die neue schaurige Zone von New World
Where can you find iron ore? You can obtain iron ore from iron ore veins. You can generally find them in the “Highland” biome, and they come in various sizes, so you can yield between 15 and 50 iron ore from them.
A larger accumulation of iron ore can be found between the towns of Kingsfall and Everfall. There you can follow a route that you can repeatedly follow.
An alternative route is available at the Cutlass Keys, where you can find silver and gold alongside iron and level up mining quickly.
A good overview of the locations of the various resources can generally be found on the map. Open it with the “M” key and click on “Places with Resources” there. You will see where the various resources are and can also determine from the terrain’s appearance which landscape you are in.
Helpful in the search for materials is this interactive map by players, which clearly shows where to find fibers, oil, and other raw materials.
At what level can you mine iron ore? To mine iron ore, you need a pickaxe, but no special skills in mining. Because you can already mine iron at level 0.
From level 25, iron ore will even be displayed on the map.
What other trick is there? At the NPC Michael Shields in Windsward, there are fishing quests. For one of them, you need to obtain fish swords. However, if you keep this quest active and do not turn it in immediately, you can catch and dismantle more fish swords. According to a reddit user, this can yield up to 137 iron bars per 30 minutes, which corresponds to 548 iron ore. Other useful tips and guides can be found in this overview: New World Guides: All tips, tricks, and builds in overview
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO raids, every second counts. However, there is currently a problem.
What is the problem? Currently, some raids are experiencing an issue where the raid “freezes” when all your Pokémon are defeated.
You should be transported directly to the team switch screen as soon as your last Pokémon is knocked out. Then you could jump back into the raid with a new team and continue fighting the boss.
However, there can be a delay that costs valuable seconds. In such a case, those seconds may be precisely what you need at the end of the raid battle.
Select a MMO video…
Problem meets Rayquaza Day – Niantic responds
Over the weekend, the Mega Raid event with Mega Rayquaza took place. The legendary dragon is a highly sought-after Pokémon, and many trainers attempted to obtain the “Meteorite” over the weekend to transform Rayquaza into its Mega form.
However, as reported in the Pokémon GO community on Reddit, some trainers had to deal with the freeze issue specifically this weekend. They report that they were able to rejoin the raid by restarting the game – even in remote raids. Some trainers also received a new raid pass from support when things went wrong with the raid.
Nevertheless, the “freezing” is a problem. Niantic has addressed the issue via social media.
On “X”, the official account of Niantic Support states, translated from English: “Trainers, please note that there may be a delay of about 10 seconds before you can participate in a raid battle again after all your Pokémon have been defeated. We are currently working to fix this issue.”
Currently, a solution to the problem appears to be in progress. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
What’s happening this week in Pokémon GO? Various dates are on the agenda. As always, there is a spotlight hour, but mainly the Halloween event in Pokémon GO is starting. These events have often been highlights in previous years. If you want to know what else is coming up: Here are all events in October 2025 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Worldwide, servers of various games have gone down on Steam and elsewhere. Users can no longer access Amazon, Snapchat, Canva, and also games like Fortnite and other titles on Steam.
Why are so many services affected? On Monday morning, many internet services globally went offline. Users can no longer access websites like Amazon and Canva, nor can they launch games like Fortnite and other Steam titles like ARK: Survival Evolved.
The reason for the server outage is likely a disruption at Amazon AWS. Amazon AWS is one of the largest server providers, and many popular services rely on this infrastructure. Due to a disruption at Amazon AWS, so many services are offline at the same time because they all depend on the same data centers. When the services will be back online and how the maintenance is progressing is currently unknown.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Global server outage disrupts many services
Which services are affected? Countless services are currently affected by the outage, making a complete list impossible. However, users report outages with these games and services:
Roblox
Epic Games Store
Clash Royale
Fortnite
Hayday
Clash of Clans
Pokémon Go
Steam
Rainbow Six Siege
Snapchat
Canva
Signal
Duolingo
Tinder
ARK: Survival Evolved
EA
When will it be back online? It is currently unknown when exactly the services will be back online. However, since so many services are affected simultaneously, resulting in significant economic damage, a swift resolution is to be expected.
So far, it is unclear what the issues are and what caused them. We will update this article as soon as there is new information from Amazon AWS.
New World is currently enjoying rising player numbers. Some players have noticed how poorly some NPCs are voiced in the new zone Nighthaven. Did Amazon Games rely on Artificial Intelligence here?
What are players criticizing? Since the start of Season 10 of New World, players have been discussing the voice acting of the NPCs in the MMORPG.
Riflebird writes on Steam: “It’s so terrible now. What happened? Did they go for AI or hire a cheaper voice recording company? When I spoke to Morgaine, I initially thought the voice outputs were placeholders they forgot to replace, but every voice output in the new zone is awful. Come on, Amazon, don’t be so stingy.”
GenericBox believes on Steam in AI recordings: “AI was definitely used, as soon as I spoke to Morgaine, something was off, but the first quest giver Lynette was even worse! Definitely AI, she doesn’t even pronounce the words correctly or articulate them properly.”
ekylok criticizes on Reddit: “What’s up with the AI syncing??? Sounds so bad… What is this?! I knew about the voice actor strike, but this is atrocious.”
SMC540 fears on Reddit the worst: “I fear this will happen more and more in the future. Destiny Rising also did this, and it’s super annoying.”
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Der Launch-Trailer zu Nighthaven zeigt die neue schaurige Zone von New World
The examples mentioned in the discussions, such as Morgaine or Lynette, come from the new content that went live with Season 10. Additionally, New World is currently experiencing a small hype phase, resulting in significantly more players going through the quests than it had been the case in previous years.
Amazon Games responds to AI accusations
How is Amazon Games responding to the criticism? A spokesperson for Amazon Games has commented on the accusations to the website massivelyop.com. However, they only address one of the points of criticism:
All voice recordings in New World: Aeternum were made by humans and not by AI.
There was no comment on the underlying criticism that the AI accusation is based on: Why do the voice recordings of the new content sound so amateurish? One possible answer: Although the voice actor strike ended months ago, we might still be seeing the effects of the strike here.
Voice recordings take place parallel to the actual development and often require a lot of time in large RPGs. Due to the eerie theme of the new zone, it seems likely that Amazon Games wanted to release the new season in the Halloween month. That may have only been possible with compromises in the quality of the voice actors.
The developers of Path of Exile presented a feature of the new season in a video. At the same time, they also revealed that the big player wish will soon be fulfilled.
What feature did the developers show? In a new video on YouTube, the developers of Path of Exile introduced a new feature. It is the ability to reset skills from the skill tree as well as the entire skill tree for a gold fee.
This feature has been available in the sequel but was not available in the first part until now. Previously, currency items were always required, and resetting a complete tree was so tedious that players often just leveled a new character.
However, this method was less attractive for beginners. They often wanted to change their build, which is why Path of Exile 2 had always had the edge. But this is supposed to change now. Those who paid attention in the video can discover another new feature.
This season introduced asynchronous trading in Path of Exile 2:
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Path of Exile 2 shows Season 2 in the new trailer, brings Act 4 and 3 interludes into play
Asynchronous Trading Is Coming
What could be discovered? Those who paid attention in the video noticed that the NPC Faustus in the hideout has a new conversation feature. In addition to resetting one’s skill tree, he now also offers the conversation option “Manage Shop” which translates to “Manage Shop”.
This suggests that the player-desired asynchronous trading, which was introduced with the recent season in Path of Exile 2, is also coming to its predecessor. Many players have wished for this since the success in part 2. Even though the display is not yet an official announcement, for the players the hint is confirmation enough.
The asynchronous trading allows players to trade with each other offline and with much less risk. For each trade, they pay a gold fee, but many players still prefer the new system because it allows them to quickly get to their items without having to message countless players who often do not respond.
How are players reacting to the two features? For the players, the video is amazing. They are very excited about both features because they make Path of Exile much more accessible and eliminate rather annoying aspects. As users write in the comments on YouTube:
@Mewi987: “The year of quality of life”
@GhazzyTV: “Manage shop! Asynchronous trading is coming ?!”
@HASTE1001: “HYPE, now I can try my 50 different atlas strategies without getting carpal tunnel syndrome.”
@Mezion: “This is exactly the quality of life we needed!”
The complete release of all features will take place as usual in the livestream. This will take place on October 23, 2025, at 9:00 PM on Twitch. There, asynchronous trading and its functionality in Path of Exile (1) will probably also be explained.
While Western players are still somewhat skeptical about Aion 2, the character reservation phase last week showed just how eager South Korean players are for the MMORPG.
How did the character reservation go? Between October 16 and 20, interested players had the opportunity to create a character in advance for the South Korean version of Aion 2 and choose a server for it.
20 servers were reportedly available for this character reservation (Source: nc.com). According to various sources, the quota provided by NCsoft was already exhausted in 1 minute and 44 seconds. This means that players were then notified that no more reservations were possible.
As mmorpg.org.pl reports, the developers supposedly added more worlds and expanded the capacity of the existing servers, but these were also quickly filled up. The total mentioned on reddit.com and YouTube is reportedly 62 worlds, though this number seems to be inaccurate.
In a statement on inven.co.kr from NCsoft, it is stated that they had to close the ultimately 34 servers early on November 19. Either way, this enormous demand shows how many fans the Aion franchise has in its home market.
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Aion 2: New trailer prepares for the Korean launch of the MMORPG
Friend and foe clearly separated
What server system does Aion 2 use? As in the first Aion, players can expect a faction war between the Elyos and Asmodians. However, the main focus of the MMORPG is still said to be on PvE, which is why the servers are supposed to be exclusively for each of the two factions.
The faction battle between the Elyos and Asmodians is supposed to play a role in server-wide, instanced battlefields like the (known from the first part) Abyss – so you can’t simply encounter followers of the enemy faction while leveling and questing.
What else do I need to know about Aion 2? The Korean launch of the MMORPG is planned for November 19, 2025. The global launch is expected to follow in the first half of 2026. There is still no specific date for this.
Although the first game had many fans in Europe and with the focus on PvE content they want to get even closer to them with the second part, there is some skepticism in the local community discussions. One reason: Aion 2 is not only coming for PC but also for Mobile, which often negatively affects areas like user interface, systems, monetization, and player experience.
There are also concerns about the payment model. NCsoft is opting for a free-to-play model with optional subscription and battle pass. Additionally, there will be an in-game shop where players can purchase cosmetic offers, consumables, or offers such as additional character slots, name changes, or keys for treasure chests in the open world.
The auction house is reportedly not linked to the real money currency of the MMORPG. Trading between players is likely only done through the earnable in-game currency. Additionally, there should be the option to exchange the earnable currency for the real money currency (and vice versa). Aion 2 will thus have a pay-to-win component, which the developers have already announced.
Furthermore, there is the visual style of the game, which some have already criticized as generic. It almost seems as if NCsoft hasn’t read our analysis of the frequent failures of Asian online role-playing games in the West: 5 mistakes MMORPGs from Asia must avoid if they want to succeed here
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There isn’t just one anime award, but many more recognized ones. In Germany, for example, we look at the Crunchyroll Awards, while in Japan, the Newtype Award is particularly significant. And it has now awarded the best anime of the year.
What is this award? The Japanese magazine Newtype has been around since 1985, so it has a long history. Additionally, starting in 2011, the Newtype Anime Award has been held, awarding prizes in several categories each year. These include:
Best Anime (TV)
Best Anime (Film)
Best Director
Best Actor
Particularly interesting is the award for Anime of the Year. Last year, Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death & Shibuya Incident took home the prize. This year, it is a series that is somewhat less known outside of Japan.
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Too Many Losing Heroines: Trailer of the Anime where the heroines have a hard time
Japan has its best anime
Which anime receives the award? The winner in the “Best Anime TV” category is Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!. This story follows high school student Kazuhiko Nukumizu, who witnesses popular girls in his school being rejected by their crushes.
The young man gets involved in all sorts of romantic dramas, befriending the girls and helping them cope with their rejections.
The series started in July 2024, and the accompanying manga and novel are still ongoing. You can stream the anime as Season 1 in Germany on Crunchyroll, but you will need a paid subscription for that.
Polaris in Hamburg has developed into the second largest gaming fair in Germany within a few years. MeinMMO author Linda Baumgartl was live on site and believes: it is precisely the differences to the gamescom that make the event so attractive.
The Polaris took place in Hamburg from October 10 to 12, 2025. With around 50,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors, the fair celebrated a personal record and continued the successful trend of recent years. It also secured its place as the second largest gaming fair in Germany (Source: gameswirtschaft.de), although gaming only represents a part of Polaris – more on that later.
These numbers are quite impressive – especially since the Hamburg event has only taken place for the fourth time. In 2022, Polaris celebrated its kickoff with nearly 10,000 visitors and has been growing continuously every year since.
Success or not, of course, a young fair like Polaris cannot compete numerically with the trade fair giant gamescom. For years, the Cologne fair has been the largest gaming event in the world and recorded around 357,000 visitors this year.
Fairs of this magnitude are nice because they can simply offer an incredible amount: massive halls that take days to cover. Renowned exhibitors and an international audience – to name just a few aspects. At the same time, such events can also be quite overwhelming. Too loud, too large, too crowded – these are points I have heard increasingly in connection with the gamescom over the past years. Could a smaller fair like Polaris provide a remedy here?
In the official aftermovie, you can see some highlights of Polaris 2024:
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At Polaris 2024, Gaming, Content Creator, Cosplay, and Anime came together
More Community, Less Gaming
This year, Polaris spanned five halls: sufficiently large to explore a lot. Still, my feet don’t hurt when I want to walk from one end to the other. What stands out while strolling through the halls is: Extremely large stands of individual publishers are nowhere to be found here.
Personally, I don’t really mind that. At gamescom, I also prefer to hang around in the indie arena and test as many games as possible. Fortunately, there were also indies at Polaris that I couldn’t miss. It was especially positive that the area never seemed excessively crowded. With a few minutes of waiting, most games could be tested easily. Moreover, many developers were personally present and always available for a nice chat.
At the same time, I was surprised at how small the gaming component of the fair ultimately was. About half a hall was dedicated to video games, mainly occupied by the large main stage and an extensive retro area. Anyone wanting to indulge in nostalgia could dive right in on SNES, Commodore 64, and co. The retro flea market also allowed for the search for old treasures.
A glance at the Indie Area.The Retro Area offered a good dose of nostalgia. (Photo: Polaris)At the flea market, you could snag rare treasures. (Photo: Polaris)
Newer games, including the Indie Area, probably didn’t even take up a quarter of a hall. This already shows: Polaris is not a pure gaming fair and does not want to be one either. Rather, it is a community fair that unites various topics.
The halls were divided into a total of five different “thematic worlds,” which were also visually well separated. This greatly facilitated navigation and generally ensured a good structure. The themes included:
Gaming and Retro
Asian Pop Culture
Art and Community
Merch and Food
Content Creator
Plenty of Space to Explore, But Not Too Much
What enchanted me right after entering the first exhibition hall was the truly extensive Artist Alley. Numerous artists lined the halls and offered their lovingly crafted creations. From classics like prints, stickers, or pins to lunch boxes, plush toys, or metal figures, one could discover a lot here. At the same time, you support small vendors and ideally get to chat about your favorite game or anime. A win-win, I would say.
In the same “thematic world” as the Artist Alley, there were also the tabletop and cosplay areas. Here, you could take photos with your favorite cosplayers, try out a round of tabletop, attend workshops, or simply admire the exhibits.
Carefully designed booths invited shopping. (Photo: Polaris)The Artist Alley was well attended.In the tabletop area, there were detailed miniature worlds to see.Cosplayers particularly enjoyed beautiful photo spots. (Photo: Polaris)
The variety of the fair was also evident on the five different stages that provided a varied program throughout the weekend:
On the Plitch Main Stage, you could experience formats like “Spoon, Knife, Fork” with Colin from Rocket Beans TV, “Offline & Honest” with Trymax, Varion, and unsympatheticTV, or “Loot for the World” with DoktorFroid and the Space Frogs live.
On the Neo Taki Stage, NinotakuTV provided programming around anime, including numerous quiz rounds.
The Footprint Gaming Stage provided interactive entertainment. Here, for example, Mario Kart or League of Legends were played.
On the Content Creation Stage, there were many helpful talks on content creation.
On the Dance Stage (and sometimes also around it), dancing was in full swing.
At the center were always community, content creators, and Asian pop culture. This focus clearly distinguishes Polaris from other fairs, such as gamescom.
DoktorFroid provided a lot of dessert – a whole wheelbarrow full of tiramisu. (Photo: Polaris)For a good cause, you could even auction off worn socks from Gronkh at Loot for the World. (Photo: Polaris)The Dance Stage always brought good vibes. (Photo: Polaris)
What is frowned upon at gamescom is part of the concept here
What particularly stands out at Polaris in contrast to gamescom is the focus on content creators of all kinds. These have increasingly fallen out of favor at gamescom over the years. The reason: many fans now only attend the fair because of specific influencers and clog up the already crowded halls without even being interested in gaming. As a result, streaming rights for MontanaBlack, for example, were also restricted.
Such annoyances are completely absent at Polaris. Influencers are not a thorn in the side here, but are explicitly welcome. The focus is precisely on the exchange – between the community, but also between fans and streamers, YouTubers, voice actors, or cosplayers.
So far, this concept seems to be working very well. Names like PietSmiet, RocketBeansTV, Space Frogs, Trymacs, CrispyRob, or numerous voice actors, for example from One Piece, generate a lot of interest. Nevertheless, I never felt during the fair that unpleasant crowds were forming. Sure, the halls were well filled during peak times. However, it was always possible to get through easily. Here, it remains particularly exciting whether this will remain the case in the future with the ever-increasing visitor numbers.
In conclusion, it can be said: Polaris is not a complete replacement for gamescom, even though it is referred to as the second largest gaming fair. It is not only significantly smaller but also places different thematic focuses.
I perceive both as a clear strength of the fair. It specifically targets where gamescom tends to falter and thus appeals to many people. Family atmosphere, community exchange, a focus on content creators, and nerd culture. All of this strikes a chord and contributed to Polaris’s meteoric rise.
For the future, I personally would perhaps wish for a somewhat broader offering in terms of gaming. I feel that indie games fit perfectly into the concept and could easily take up twice as much space as this year. However, looking at the development of Polaris over the last four years, I am very optimistic that this wish could actually be fulfilled fairly soon. I will definitely continue to follow the Hamburg fair and am curious where it will develop in the future.
Disclaimer: MeinMMO was present at Polaris as a press representative. The costs for admission, travel, and accommodation were covered by the organizers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
