Can Witchers take on all vampires? Who is the strongest mage in The Witcher? And what does a dragon have to do with all of this? In our ranking, we have addressed these questions among others and sorted the 10 most powerful characters around Geralt of Rivia by their strength.
What was the ranking based on? In The Witcher, there are incredibly many different beings, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Comparing vampires and dragons is about as reasonable as comparing apples and oranges. Okay, maybe that’s a bad example; after all, apples clearly have the upper hand! What I actually want to say is that the characters on this list are all very different, and therefore the ranking is not set in stone. Nevertheless, we have tried to evaluate as objectively as possible.
Decisive is primarily magical and physical strength in combat.
We usually refer to information from The Witcher 3, partly from the books.
As characters, we count all – at least partially – humanoid beings that are sentient, can speak, and are known by name.
Spoiler Alert: We explain the characters partially in relation to the plot. Thus, there are spoilers regarding the Witcher books and video games included.
Insights into the upcoming The Witcher 4 can be seen here in the tech demo:
Start video
The tech demo of The Witcher 4 provides insights into the technology of the new game by CD Projekt Red
Rank 10: Philippa Eilhart
In the Witcher universe, the Lodge of Sorceresses is one of the most powerful factions overall. The secret organization primarily aims to protect the balance of magic and has its hands in everything. The sorceresses are particularly notorious for their enormous influence on politics.
The founding member and head of this organization is the sorceress Philippa Eilhart, and this is definitely no coincidence. Philippa is considered one of the most powerful sorceresses ever. She is extremely talented in curses, illusion magic, and is one of the few known shapeshifters. She particularly enjoys taking the form of an owl and discreetly scouting her targets.
Philippa is not only powerful but also very ambitious and power-hungry. To achieve her goals, she does not shy away from terrible deeds, such as the assassination of her own king. The combination of powerful magic, political influence, and ruthlessness makes Philippa an opponent that one should not provoke.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is a new GO Pass in Pokémon GO – and it brings you not only a ton of free coins but also an encounter with one of the best attackers. You don’t even need to invest real money.
What is special about the Pass in October? In Pokémon GO, you can generally earn a maximum of 50 coins per day. However, the GO Pass in October offers you the opportunity to earn around 400 Poké Coins with the free version of the pass – simply by playing and leveling up.
Additionally, you have the opportunity to unlock an encounter with Terrakion, which is not only a good Rock-type attacker but also belongs to the best attackers in Pokémon GO as a Fighting-type overall. He is a legendary Pokémon from Generation 5. With a bit of luck, you might also get him in his Shiny variant.
What else you need to know and what to expect can be found here.
Start video
Pokémon GO: The Season “Stories of Transformation” in the Trailer
All important information about the GO Pass in October 2025
How long does the Pass last? The Pass starts on October 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM CEST and ends on November 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM CEST. Once the date passes, you can no longer earn points for the Pass.
On November 1 and 2, you also have another opportunity to catch up on missing levels. On these two days, there is no daily limitation for the experience points. So, you can level up a lot and grab the missing rewards.
What rewards are included in the Pass? In addition to the mentioned coins and the encounter with Terrakion in the free version, you can expect the following rewards:
Free GO Pass
400 x Poké Coin
Encounter with Terrakion + special, exclusive background
Stardust
Experience points
Max particles
Poké Balls
Candies
GO Pass Deluxe (€8.99)
All rewards of the free Pass
1,000 x Poké Coin
1 x Super Incubator
Additional encounters
XL Candies
Additionally, you will receive the following feature rewards:
Tier 1 – Rank 25
Open up to 40 gifts daily
50 with Deluxe
Receive up to 125 gifts from PokéStops and Gym Discs
150 with Deluxe
Store up to 30 gifts in your backpack
40 with Deluxe
Tier 2 – Rank 50
2 x daily adventure incense duration
Tier 3 – Rank 75
2 x Stardust and experience from hatching eggs
Additionally, there are also other, smaller rewards in both variants that are currently not known.
How to obtain the rewards? To earn rewards, you need to level up your GO Pass. This can be done by completing various activities in the game – such as catching monsters, hatching eggs, or participating in successful raids.
The amount of experience points you can earn daily for the GO Pass is limited. In the game, you will see under the GO Pass menu how many points you have already collected and which actions yield how many experience points.
Furthermore, there are regularly daily, weekly, or event-related tasks that allow you to earn additional experience points for your progress in the GO Pass.
October brings not only a new GO Pass but also many events, raids, and further content. If you want to get an overview of what they are and when they take place, feel free to check out our overview of all events in October 2025 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Soon there will be a German hardcore guild in WoW modeled after OnlyFangs. Now Twitch streamer Metashi12 shares the key information.
What is this project about? Kevin “Papaplatte” Teller recently had an idea for a new project in the German Twitch scene: a WoW guild just like the American model OnlyFangs.
OnlyFangs is the guild name of an American streamer guild that played World of Warcraft in hardcore mode as a large Twitch project in 2025. The project was extremely successful and is now set to become a hit in Germany as well.
Now the three founders Papaplatte, Metashi12, and HandOfBlood, despite difficulties in finding a date, have completed their first meeting and the key details are already public.
More about HandOfBlood can be found here:
Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute
Start this year
What has been revealed? In several clips from a livestream on YouTube by MMORPG streamer Metashi12, he talked about the meeting with the other co-founders. He revealed that the date for the start has changed.
While the project was initially planned for spring 2026, the streamers are now set to start in December 2025. The project is time-limited to one month, although it is unclear whether the streamers still aim to successfully complete the raid Zul’Gurub.
To ensure the project’s success, streamer Metashi12 announced in a clip on YouTube that he will stream every day for the project until he reaches level 60, which is unusual for him.
How big is the project expected to be? Although the exact goal is not yet known, the three project founders have already revealed how many streamers they expect. Metashi12 explains that “over 150 of the largest German streamers” are interested in participating in the hardcore WoW project.
In another video on YouTube, he mentions Twitch streamers Trymacs and Zarbex as potential candidates, though it is unclear whether they are really involved or just used as illustrations of high-reach streamers.
There, Metashi12 explains that it is his wish for big streamers to encourage their viewers to start with the MMORPG and learn to appreciate it as he does.
An Xbox player takes consequences after 24 years: He says goodbye and switches to PS5. The reason is decisions by Microsoft that many fans perceive as “punishment”.
Why does a loyal fan turn away? On reddit reports user nyanbatman, who turns his back on Xbox after 24 years. In his post, he thanks for the time spent together, but now he is taking action. The recent price increase of the Game Pass has caused it to overflow for him.
With these words he says goodbye: It was nice Xbox, thanks for 24 years of gaming, but I am out. I can no longer support Microsoft’s decisions to punish us. Time to switch completely to Pro. Thus, he stands for many disappointed fans.
What is Microsoft doing? Microsoft’s recent price increases for the Game Pass have triggered a wave of cancellations. On Reddit and X, posts are piling up in which players share their frustration over Microsoft’s recent decisions.
Dissatisfaction does not come from nowhere. After Microsoft has already raised the price of the Xbox Series X twice, the Game Pass is now increasing by almost 50 percent. For many fans, that is too much.
Start video
It is official, the console war is over: Phil Spencer says in light of the PS5 that he no longer wants to bring all players to Xbox
Microsoft stumbles over its own pricing policy and loses trust
How does the community react?User YellowOne5358 (via reddit) draws comparisons with the competition: “PS Plus Premium has significantly more games and costs only 175 dollars a year” (about 150 euros according to the exchange rate on October 6, 2025).
On X, the same picture emerges. Under the hashtag #GamePass, angry and sarcastic memes are circulating. User Evangelicos posted (via X) a setting sun with Game Pass logo, a symbol of the end of the service.
Another user, NikTek provides a Google Trends analysis that shows how search inquiries for “How do I cancel my Game Pass?” surge:
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The user Angel writes on X that one should best turn one’s back on consoles altogether. His words, “cancel the Game Pass, sell your Xbox and fully switch to PC” are clear.
Yorch Torch Games expresses themselves on X about it. They say Microsoft is doing everything to destroy the Xbox brand, and compares the Game Pass to a blackjack martingale strategy. That is a system where you keep doubling your bet until you win.
How do you cancel your Game Pass? If you are currently considering canceling your Game Pass subscription, you can do so as follows:
With the recent pricing decision, Microsoft has made few friends in the community. Now it remains to be seen whether the company will react to the growing number of cancellations and whether the situation will calm down again. Gamestop is currently still sticking to the old price, much to the delight of many players. It will be exciting to see how this affects the market and how long the retailer can maintain its current pricing policy: GameStop sticks to the old price while Microsoft raises the Game Pass to nearly €27.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In EA FC 26 a card is currently appearing in expensive meta teams, and even though it is surprisingly cheap at around 70,000 coins. We show you which professional it is, why he is so strong, and in which teams he particularly shines.
Which card is meant? Cláudia Pina is currently one of the most sought-after cards in Ultimate Team. The Spaniard from FC Barcelona can be deployed in FC 26 on the left wing (LF), in left midfield (LM), and as a striker (ST).
Pina’s stats:
Speed: 79
Shooting: 86
Passing: 83
Dribbling: 87
Defense: 45
Physical: 71
In which meta teams is Pina used? Experts and also professionals rely on the lively Spaniard in their teams. In the first Weekend League, for example, content creator Benedikt “BeneCR7x” relied on Pina with Florian Wirtz in a double striker formation and achieved the maximum with 15 wins (via YouTube.com). Another prominent example is the German professional “Beast” from Fokusclan, who deployed Pina as the sole striker in the Weekend League.
And you can also easily integrate Pina into your team, as she comes from a top nation and belongs to a strong league with many good players. Affordable top connections could be:
CM: Rosa Márquez (78)
ST: Amaiur Sarriegi (81)
GK: Joan García (83)
LF: Ferran Torres (83)
Start video
Deep Dive trailer on gameplay shows 2 different gameplays and numerous adjustments
Claudia Pina – What makes her the cheap meta card
This is how strong Pina is in FC 26: The card impresses with strong values, playstyles, and roles:
Top Values:
Long Shots: 91
Volleys: 88
Ball Control: 88
Dribbling: 88
Finishing: 87
Playstyles:
Power Shot+
Curling Shot
Key Pass
Tiki-Taka
Technique
Gamechanger
Set Piece Specialist
Roles:
Wing Generator++ (LF)
Inside Forward+ (LF)
Wing Forward+ (LF)
False Nine+ (ST)
Other Abilities:
Weak Foot. 5*
Special Moves: 4*
What makes Pina a meta card? The combination of strong values, playstyles, and roles that are currently in demand in FC 26 is what works for the Spaniard.
The Power Shot (double shot button) is the best way to beat the goalkeeper. Pina even possesses the appropriate playstyle to execute Power Shots faster and more accurately in gold. Since she has the maximum star rating for the weak foot, the Spaniard can shoot with the same precision and power with either foot.
Additionally, she has the playstyle Curling Shot and the Gamechanger playstyle for outside-of-the-foot shots, allowing her to curl balls past the keeper from worse angles.
Moreover, you currently need players who can play passes through tightly packed opposing defenses in tight spaces. Pina has the perfect playstyles with Key Pass and Tiki-Taka to ensure the passes reach teammates from nearly any position.
In general, players that feel dynamic, can move and turn quickly, are in demand at the moment. Therefore, small, agile players with strong dribbling stats like Pina, who ideally also have the playstyle for Controlled Sprint (R1-dribbling), are sought after.
Additionally, you can use Pina both on the wing and in the central striker position, as she possesses player roles for both positions. The roles ensure that Pina can move quickly and intelligently in the respective spaces.
Why does Pina still only cost 70,000 coins? The only thing preventing Pina from becoming a truly expensive meta card is her only average speed compared to the best offensive players.
With a speed of 78, you cannot simply outrun your opponents with Pina, as faster players with corresponding playstyles for more speed in FC 26 can do.
For example, wing striker Diani (Olympique Lyon), whose pace stat is 13 points higher (92 instead of 79) than Pina’s, costs about 60,000 coins more. Top-tier winger Raphinha (FC Barcelona) even costs around 324,000 coins (as of October 6, 2025) despite comparable stats.
Pina compared to other meta wingers
Player
Pina
Diani
Raphinha
Speed
79
92
91
Shooting
86
85
84
Passing
83
81
85
Dribbling
87
88
87
Cost
70,000
130,000
324,000
How do you use Pina correctly? Since Pina is not the fastest player, you should focus on using her in the center with her strengths in shooting, dribbling, and passing. The suitable role of Wing Generator++ can be perfectly implemented by Pina. As a wing generator, Pina will always orient herself towards the center to create a passing option.
Many experts also use the Spaniard in the central striker position. There, she finds herself most frequently in dangerous situations in the opponent’s penalty area, where she can quickly turn around her defenders and is a real goal guarantee with her strong shooting abilities. Either you use her as a forward with her role+ as a False Nine or deploy her as an advanced striker or goal scorer.
A mega evolution of a monster in Pokémon GO makes it onto the current loading screen in the game. However, the sunset light brings up a 10-year-old question that players didn’t expect… or want.
What are players questioning? The current loading screen in Pokémon GO features a mega Metagross enveloped in warm light by the low-hanging sun in the background. The Pokémon is showcased as part of the raid day on October 4th, when mega Metagross also debuted.
However, a discussion arising from the loading screen in the game is not warmly welcomed by the community given the reactions.
On Reddit, the player TheThingGoes posts the loading screen with the appropriate image that brings up an old question: Is the Metagross in the picture blue and white or in its shiny form, that is, white and gold?
Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus
Metagross recalls a controversial piece of clothing from 2015
What does this question remind us of? The player’s question triggers several reactions among players for good reason. Back in 2015, a similar discussion arose over a picture of a real dispute. The picture shows a dress that possesses two different colors. However, it remained controversial whether the dress was blue-black or white-gold.
Metagross in the loading screen and the controversial dress (via TheThingGoes on Reddit)
Instead of a discussion that should answer the trainer’s question, the community’s reactions show more of a shared capitulation: “Oh no, we are not doing this again,” writes jngrln on Reddit, who, with 655 upvotes, represents a multitude of opinions all of which do not want to initiate this dispute again.
But what is the correct answer now? In fact, there is an early hint regarding which variant of a Metagross it really is, unlike the dispute over the colors of the dress. The decisive aspect lies in the mega variant of the Pokémon.
Metagross from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (via PokéWiki)
While the normal versions of Metagross are blue-white or in the shiny variant white-gold, as the player also framed in his question, the Metagross in the loading screen is not a normal Metagross, but its mega evolution.
The shiny variant of a mega Metagross has a blue cross on its face, not a golden one, as in its regular form.
Therefore, both variants from TheThingGoes are incorrect. The image shows not a shiny mega Metagross, but a regular mega Metagross – in blue and gold.
Next, a different Pokémon besides Metagross or mega Metagross plays a role in Pokémon GO. In the next spotlight hour, which takes place tomorrow, October 7th, another steel Pokémon will be in focus. Whether it’s worth it and what bonuses it offers, you can find here on MeinMMO: Pokémon GO: Is the spotlight hour with Kastadur worth it?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new season 7 vs. Wild Amazonas starts tomorrow on Amazon Prime, and the participants’ items are supposed to remain a secret until then. However, fans have kept track.
What about the items? Each season of 7 vs. Wild brings its own concept. Accordingly, different rules apply regarding the items:
Season 1: 7 items per participant
Season 2: Skill ranking determines the number of items
Season 3: One bottle per team, filling almost unlimited as long as it fits
Season 4: Items are found as “loot” and are hidden in the area
Season 5: Basic equipment + “draft pick” items
What items will be used this year is supposed to be revealed to viewers only in the first episode of the show on October 7, 2025. However, fans did not want to wait and created their own list.
Former 7 vs. Wild candidate Knossi also wants to react to the current season:
Start video
From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi
Viewers find out what items are available
What have viewers discovered? Through the collaborative effort of many viewers and content creators who engaged with 7 vs. Wild, a list was created on Reddit. It shows the likely equipment for participants in season 5 in the Amazon.
Fans on Reddit assume that participants are again provided with a set of camera equipment that they can transport in a waterproof case.
Participants are also said to have a compass to navigate through the jungle. Things get exciting with regard to the standard and draft pick equipment.
What does the equipment look like? According to viewers’ research, each participant received the following items:
Hammock with mosquito net
Tarp + strings
Water bottle
Water filter
GPS satellite communication device
First aid kit
Backpack
Viewers’ assumption: Insect repellent
Contestants must share the items from the draft pick. Here, they had to choose one item per person from a selection of items, while the remaining ones did not come into the jungle. According to fans, the contestants chose the following seven items:
Machete
Machete with special grind
Knife
Pruning saw
Cooking equipment
Fire steel
Tarpaulin
On Reddit, fans even go a step further and try to find out the exact models. They have already listed all the food items of the participants.
7 vs. Wild officially starts tomorrow on Prime Video, while the first episode on YouTube will come two weeks later. Viewers will also have to wait for reactions from former candidates like Knossi or series creator Fritz Meinecke. When which episode of 7 vs. Wild will air can be found in our overview: 7 vs. Wild Season 5 Amazonas: All info on participants, start, and location
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The next Spotlight Hour is coming up in Pokémon GO this time featuring Kastadur and an XP bonus.
What is a Spotlight Hour? The Spotlight Hour is a short, 60-minute event that takes place every week on Tuesday. During this time, there is at least one Pokémon in the spotlight as well as a bonus.
The next Spotlight Hour will be on October 7, 2025. This time it features the Grass and Steel Pokémon Kastadur. It is from Generation 5 and is the first evolutionary stage of Tentanel.
Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus
Spotlight Hour on October 7, 2025 – Start and Bonuses
When does the Spotlight Hour start? Like every week, the Spotlight Hour starts at 6:00 PM. After about 60 minutes, it ends again at 7:00 PM.
What bonus is active? If you catch Pokémon during the Spotlight Hour, you will receive double the amount of experience points. This bonus applies not only to Kastadur but to all Pokémon you catch within these 60 minutes.
If you also use Lucky Eggs during this time, you will receive four times the amount of experience points for each catch.
Can you catch Shiny Kastadur? Yes. If you are lucky, you might obtain the monster in its Shiny variant. However, the chance for this is not increased during the Spotlight Hour.
Is the Spotlight Hour worth it? If you want to use Kastadur and its evolution Tentanel for raids, we would advise against it, as neither of the two monsters are among the best attackers in Pokémon GO. Both monsters perform particularly well in the battle league as well.
If you are currently farming experience points ahead of the level system change, you can use the event to gain more experience points through evolutions.
If you also use Lucky Eggs here, you will receive four times the amount of experience points for each evolution.
In October, several events are planned in Pokémon GO. In addition to Spotlight Hours, there will also be a Community Day and many other contents. If you want to know what events there are and when they will take place, feel free to take a look at our overview: Pokémon GO: All events in October 2025 – Schedule list
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the United Kingdom, an entire department has to forego remote work. Some employees had used tricks to fake work. The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) intends to take strong action against the employees.
The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in the United Kingdom has suspended the remote work privileges for an entire department after it was found that several employees had used tricks to fake productivity.
According to the English-language magazine The Register, at least 26 individuals are being charged with misconduct after an investigation revealed that they likely engaged in “key jamming”: placing an object on a key to keep it pressed down.
Terry Woods, Chief Constable of the GMP, stated in a statement that such behavior is unacceptable. After all, the communities pay for the employees:
The unusual key behavior is due to repeated key presses and could be caused by an object that has remained on the keyboard, keeping a key pressed down.
Our communities deserve to have their money used wisely, and if intentional misconduct is proven, you can be sure that we will take decisive action in this matter.
The employees were caught after the agency installed keyloggers to ensure that work laptops and other devices are used only for work purposes. A measure that would not be easily permitted in Germany.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Keyloggers and similar software are generally prohibited in Germany
Would such a thing be allowed in Germany? No, companies in Germany are generally not allowed to use keyloggers and similar software to monitor employees – for example, in remote work. Such measures are only permitted under very strict legal conditions. This is explained by IG Metall on their website.
The use of keylogger programs to monitor employees is only permissible under German labor law and the Federal Data Protection Act (§ 32 Abs. 1 BDSG) when there is a specific, factually substantiated suspicion of a criminal offense or a serious breach of duty. General covert monitoring without cause is officially prohibited in Germany. This is also pointed out by the website Kenjo.io.
For companies caught secretly tracking their employees, a violation can become quite expensive. Penalties of up to four percent of the corporate revenue may apply.
A strategy game on Steam was long considered an alternative to Civilization, but no less than 2 years after the release, the developers have to concede defeat. Their latest update will be the last.
Which game is now coming to an end? Players of the 4X strategy game Millennia were informed on October 3 by a community update from the (former) community manager Katten that Update 8 means more than just bug fixes – it is actually the final patch for the game.
And this news comes just 18 months after the release of the game, which was regarded by many players as an alternative to Civilization. However, Millennia currently holds a “mixed” rating (68% of 3,671 user reviews are positive). This primarily relates to a “fresh approach in the 4X genre” (mcroell via Steam), but also disruptive bugs (KamikazeKows via Steam) and especially a lack of support (Quemo via Steam). And this support will no longer provide any new content from now on.
Start video
Announcement Teaser Trailer to Millennia
Millennia loses the title of Civilization rival
How does the publisher respond to the community? With a statement from Paradox Interactive, the publisher of the game, they thank the developers and players who gave Millennia a chance:
Unfortunately, with this patch, an era is coming to an end. This will be the last patch for Millennia. We thank C Prompt for their work and support of this game. We at Paradox will no longer be active on the community platforms for Millennia, but you can continue to rely on our support, and the game will remain playable indefinitely.
We would like to thank everyone who has accompanied us on this journey, everyone who has played and supported our game. You have been with us from the beginnings of Ancient Worlds to your wildest Atomic Ambitions, and it has been an unforgettable experience.
We hope to see you again in a future era!
Katten, former community manager of Millennia, via Steam
How does the community react to this announcement? Similar to the game’s rating, the players’ reaction to this announcement is very mixed. Some find it unfortunate, some say they are not exactly surprised, but a clear sentiment of the community is mainly frustration over wasted potential.
“A rough diamond. One that unfortunately will remain so,” writes stevethegreat 93 under the community update on Steam and also angh expresses disappointment: “With a bit of love, it could have gained more depth and become a strong pillar for 4X Civ games. I had hoped you would invest double the effort instead of dropping it. Anyway, good luck with the next project!”
Especially as a lost alternative to the mediocre Civilization 7, which currently only holds a “mixed” rating (47% of 47,648 user reviews) on Steam, this news is particularly disappointing: “As much as I love Civ 7, there are still enough people in the community who do not. This is the perfect opportunity for a game like Millennia to grow. What a shame” (Rat Clown via Steam).
Even though Millenia will come to an end with its last update, it will still be available to players for the time being, just without the improvements that the community hoped for from the beginning. If you want to look for a completely different alternative to Millennia and Civilization, you can browse for inspiration here on MeinMMO: The 15 best strategy games for PC 2025
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Call of Duty brought a much-anticipated change in the beta of Black Ops 7, and the YouTuber Haptic thanks the competition for it.
Who is the YouTuber? Cem Gülken, also known as Haptic/HapticRush, is a German YouTuber primarily known for his videos on Call of Duty.
Haptic has over 905,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel HapticRush and regularly reaches over 250,000 views with his videos.
On his channel, he primarily focuses on Call of Duty, most recently the beta of Black Ops 7.
Haptic has been playing Call of Duty since Black Ops 1 and regularly demonstrates in his videos that he has become an expert over the years, playing the shooter at a high level.
In a new video on YouTube, Haptic thanked the biggest competitor of Call of Duty, Battlefield, for a long-awaited change.
Start video
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 zeigt erstes Gameplay aus dem Multiplayer-Modus
Call of Duty delivers what many fans have been waiting for years
Why is Black Ops 7 fun now? The beta of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 runs until October 8. During the beta weekend, it received a new mode called “Open Moshpit”. This new mode is characterized by the fact that “skill” is supposed to play a lesser role in matchmaking. In other words, there is weakened SBMM (skill-based matchmaking) in this mode.
SBMM has been criticized by some in the community for years. Critics say that the system prevents them from playing relaxed rounds and forces them to give their best in every match. This takes away the fun from playing. Instead, they demand mixed lobbies where – like in the past – equally good and bad players are represented.
Meanwhile, more modes with weakened SBMM have been added. In addition to “Open Moshpit”, you can now also play “Open Hardcore Moshpit” and “Open Search & Destroy”.
Battlefield puts pressure, and Call of Duty reacts
What does Battlefield have to do with it? Haptic tested the mode and had a visibly good time. He also noticed that the matchmaking seems to go faster. It didn’t take long for him to find a lobby.
For the SBMM critic, the new mode is a step in the right direction – for which he thanks none other than the biggest competitor of Call of Duty:
“Thank you, Battlefield, thank you, competition. I never thought that the survival of CoD would be secured by Battlefield.”
Battlefield 6 kicked off strongly with a beta in August 2025, putting pressure on the competitor. Many players are already looking forward to the release of Battlefield 6 on October 10, 2025. Others are clearly stating that they believe Battlefield will have the edge this year.
Even under the trailer for Black Ops 7, some users wrote on YouTube in the comments that this trailer has made them decide to go with Battlefield 6. The strong competition and pressure may have led Activision to listen a little more to the community and cater to the fans’ wishes in the new Call of Duty.
The new Outward 2 on Steam puts players in the role of a destitute warrior who fights his way to become a legendary hero using only his weapons.
What kind of game is this? The new action open-world game Outward 2 is the sequel to the well-known Outward and follows the same concept. As a poor fighter, you must confront the great dangers of Aurai and prove your skills in challenging boss fights.
While the game is not a Soulslike, the developers explain that every victory must be earned and is not freely given. Your character is also dependent on the environment. Hunger, diseases, and the elements of the world have an influence. There are seasons and a dynamic weather system that you must adapt to.
Not only can the open-world game be experienced alone, but also in split-screen, locally or online. Although Outward 2 is designed for one player, the developers wanted to include this mode and proudly showcase it in the new trailer:
Start video
Outward 2 shows in co-op and split screen in the new trailer of the open-world adventure
More than just an update
What is changing compared to its predecessor? The sequel aims to stand out significantly from its predecessor, even though the fundamental principle of “From Zero to Hero” remains intact. Players can choose from three different scenarios right at the start and assign one of eleven different backgrounds to their character.
Each different setting changes how the start unfolds and what resources and materials are available to the player at the beginning. The sequel also aims to give more weight to the players’ choices, but it will also carry negative consequences.
What else is changing? The developers want to significantly improve the combat system. Melee weapons will receive new animations and attacks, while spells will now involve performing rituals.
In the future, players will need less space for loot compared to the predecessor. This is thanks to the new pack mule that transports items for the player from point A to point B. This is especially useful because there is no fast travel function in Outward 2.
According to the developers, Outward 2 is set to be released in summer 2026, but offers several playtests prior to launch on Steam where everyone can try out the game. Players can simply request beta access on Steam.
In China, there is a new job: people who bring meals to the top floors of skyscrapers. A job that doesn’t pay much, but offers a nice extra income for many retirees and young people.
In China, cities are growing taller and taller, resulting in many high skyscrapers. However, this also means that entirely new jobs are being created. Because even the people who live and work on the highest floors would like to have a hot meal.
The English-speaking New York Times describes the daily life of an informal group of “last-mile” runners in the skyscrapers of Shenzhen, China, who are responsible for the last stage of food delivery when the wait times at elevators are too long for official delivery drivers.
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In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
Delivery workers bring food from the driver up to the top floors
What kind of delivery workers are these? At tall skyscrapers, young people or retirees often wait and offer themselves as “delivery stand-ins.” They take the order from the delivery driver, receive about 2 Yuan (approximately 24 cents) for it, and bring the food through the often crowded elevators to the customer.
This is a voluntary offer from individuals who want to earn a little extra, and there are no formal employment contracts or anything similar. The income remains modest: According to the New York Times, the daily earnings are about 100 Yuan. That is roughly 12 Euros.
For comparison: The minimum wage has been set at about 22 Yuan/hour for Shanghai and 24 Yuan/hour for Beijing (via IHK.de).
Overall, the situation is chaotic: There are enough orders for everyone, and most drivers reported that they are not picky about whom they pass their orders on to. On the ground, it looks like a beehive.
Government bans child labor
Things got complicated when a new group of “workers” entered the skyscrapers: children, some of whom were still in elementary school. Their parents had brought them along to give them an impression of hard work during the summer holidays.
Videos on social media showed dozens of children surrounding the delivery workers and loudly asking for orders. Shortly after the videos appeared, the local government banned children from delivering orders due to safety concerns. In China, work is only allowed from the age of 16.
In February 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds was released and initially received positive feedback from players. However, it quickly became apparent that there was a problem on PC that still persists today and, despite good new content, continues to receive criticism.
What is the problem? Shortly after its release on February 28, 2025, the first reviews appeared on Steam criticizing the game’s performance. As a result, the originally positive reviews dropped significantly, so that by June 2025, the recent reviews for the last 30 days slipped to “very negative” on Steam.
This situation has persisted to this day, around 8 months after release. Although the game still has a “mixed” rating with 284,919 reviews, only about 23% of the recent reviews are positive (Steam, as of October 6, 2025, 10:15 AM). The main problems still include unstable framerates, regular crashes, poor optimization, and issues with textures and system load.
Trailer shows 3rd major update of Monster Hunter Wilds and the return of the Elder Dragons
Negative Reviews, Despite Cool New Content
What are fans criticizing? In the negative reviews, many players express their frustration. For example, user Nishikina writes, despite nearly 200 hours of gameplay, that she would be very excited about the new raid boss and the crossover if she could actually play it:
“Unplayable garbage, even on the lowest graphics settings, 40 fps is a damn miracle […] The FF collaboration would have been great if it hadn’t tried to fry my PC!”
Furthermore, she writes that she is very disappointed and regrets having purchased the game. She does not believe that performance will really improve in the future.
And she is not alone. User Chihiro writes in her review something similar and expresses her annoyance:
“It’s been eight months since the release, and the game is still plagued by severe performance issues that have bothered it since launch, with no major fixes in sight.“
If you look at the many other negative reviews on Steam, a consensus emerges quickly: Generally, the content is well-received, but many players don’t even get the chance to enjoy it due to performance issues.
In December 2025, the next major update TU4 is scheduled. According to the roadmap, there will also be extensive improvements, and the endgame content is to be expanded. Whether the improvements will really be substantial enough this time to improve the reviews remains to be seen. What else awaits you can be seen in the roadmap: Monster Hunter Wilds: Roadmap for Title Update 3 & upcoming content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen have updated their roadmap for the remaining year of 2025 and provided a first glimpse of the new zone that the team is currently working on.
What are the plans for Pantheon? There are still 2 major updates planned for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen this year:
In November, the Silent Plains region will receive a new area featuring the Wildbloods, where you can follow a new storyline. There will also be high-level content for the dungeon area in Black Rose Keep, which premiered on September 10, 2025. Additionally, there will be ability adjustments for Wizards and crafting quests for levels 1 to 10.
For December, the developers are planning an expansion of crafting quests, the introduction of mounts, as well as taming and updates for the village of Demith.
The Early Access trailer for Pantheon:
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The Fantasy MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is coming to Early Access on Steam
“Oh my, an underwater area”
What else are the developers planning? In March 2025, the developers did state that major changes like new classes and zones would not arrive on the live servers until 2026, but at least the southern region of Badia de Cara found its place on the roadmap for this year.
It is now clear that this new region will also celebrate its release in 2026. The developers explain on the official website pantheonmmo.com:
It is very important to us to get this gameplay right. We have all firsthand experienced the problems and difficulties that some other MMORPGs have faced in their water areas. However, we have also seen what other games that focused on this type of experience could achieve, and we are confident that we can provide an engaging and entertaining experience that makes Terminus a fully realized world. To give this project the attention it deserves, we have postponed the release of Badia de Cara to 2026.
Wait… underwater areas? Yes! Badia de Cara is a zone that will take you not only to islands but also into the ocean. So, you can expect content that you must navigate while swimming underwater. What that might feel like has been illustrated years ago by the underwater zone Vashj’ir from WoW: Cataclysm.
The developers’ quote shows that they are aware of the challenge. Underwater gameplay often feels bad because the character is less mobile, negatively impacting travel and combat. Additionally, many players struggle with orientation in 3D space.
There are good reasons why Blizzard has put various planned underwater content on hold after the experiences with Vashj’ir.
How is the community reacting? How popular underwater zones are among many MMORPG fans is demonstrated by a current discussion on Reddit regarding the roadmap update.
In response to the question of when the Bard class is coming, Rathisponge sarcastically replies on Reddit: “Sorry, buddy. Mounts and taming have higher priority. And the underwater zone too. After all, people LOVE these.”
Spikeybear writes on Reddit: “I know many games have something like this [underwater zones]. However, people usually avoid this content. I have my doubts that Pantheon can pull this off. If you jump into the water right now, there’s a good chance you won’t even swim, but that the character just strikes a T-pose.”
Syphin33 cannot believe it on Reddit: “Oh my, an underwater area – I can’t even imagine how much time and resources they will waste on such a feature that really isn’t needed at the moment. There are other things that should be worked on before underwater content. The game barely works above water, for crying out loud, no one likes underwater areas, man… Fix the things above first.”
Many other players agree with Syphin33 and state that there are still numerous issues that urgently need to be addressed for Pantheon to have a solid foundation to properly present underwater content. One example: you can apparently die from falling damage in water.
The anime MMORPG Blue Protocol: Star Resonance launches this week on Steam and has now reached the final milestone of pre-registrations.
What kind of MMORPG is this? Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is the rebirth of the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol, created by Bandai Namco, which was bought after its discontinuation. The reason for the new subtitle “Star Resonance” is the massive overhaul of the game, which now bears little resemblance to its predecessor.
All classes have been completely redesigned and now resemble the holy trinity of tank, healer, and damage dealer more akin to classic theme park MMORPGs. Gameplay-wise, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is aimed at people with less time and therefore offers content for about two hours a day, with the option to spend more time in dungeons and raids if desired.
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Blue Protocol: Star Resonance presents a colorful character diversity in the new release trailer
Anticipation for the Release
How is it going before the launch? The new MMORPG will launch on Thursday, October 9, 2025, on Steam, Epic Games, as well as iOS and Android. Although the launch time is still unknown, the developers have already reached a new milestone.
On Sunday evening, the developers shared on X.com that they have achieved 5 million pre-registrations. Players can pre-register on the various platforms until launch, unlocking rewards for all.
With the achievement of the 5 million registrations milestone, players have not only reached the final milestone but also unlocked a mount.
What is the reward? As a reward, players will receive in-game and real currency unlocked through the previous tiers, as well as cosmetic items and loot boxes, along with the new mount. This is a small puppy that is just big enough to ride into adventure.
According to data from the beta, it grants a 175% speed bonus and a 262.5% sprint speed bonus. This makes it faster than the mounts typically available at the game’s start and a good reward for players.
How to obtain the mount? To obtain the mount, players must pre-register on the official game website. To do this, simply create an account as usual or log in via Google, Apple, or Crunchyroll. The latter is said to unlock additional rewards.
Once registered, players can also win further rewards with a spin-the-wheel feature on the website, including tangible prizes.
Marvel has produced some good series, but one we never got to see because it was canceled before its release. The idea sounds interesting and likely had a lot of potential.
In 2015, the people in charge at Marvel and the TV channel ABC had the idea to produce a spin-off of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Just for context, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a show that aired for seven seasons between 2013 and 2020.
The series was quite successful and boasts a critic score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Users rated it similarly, with 91%. So it’s no surprise that Marvel and ABC toyed with the idea of making a spin-off. A script was written, actors were cast, and the pilot episode was shot. But to this day, the series has never been released.
Instead, Marvel produced the show Inhumans – here you can see the trailer:
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Marvel’s Inhumans – Trailer for the 3rd Marvel series from 2017
Agents on the Run
What kind of series was it? The name of the production was Marvel’s Most Wanted. As the name suggests, the main characters are on the run. Namely, the characters Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, who also had roles in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, they left the show in the 13th episode of the third season. Marvel’s Most Wanted was meant to directly follow this episode and continue the story.
Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter must flee from numerous enemies as there is a bounty on their heads. They can no longer count on the support of S.H.I.E.L.D. or their old friends. However, as they are still reliant on external help, they team up with the equally wanted Dominic Fortune.
The question is whether they can trust the adventurer. At the same time, Bobbi and Lance are trying to survive and uncover the reason why they are now being hunted.
Why has the series never aired? As previously mentioned, the pilot episode was filmed. On television, this is known as a “pilot episode.” It is meant to show whether the concept of the series works and to convince the heads of the production companies and networks.
In the case of Marvel’s Most Wanted, it seems that this didn’t work out very well. In 2016, it was announced that the series would not be further produced. The reason was given by ABC’s then-president, Channing Dungey, to Slash Film:
Most Wanted ultimately did not convince us as much as some of the other pilot episodes we have shot. We talked with Marvel about it and agreed that we would develop a new series together that we all felt was as creatively strong as possible.
Channing Dungey
Instead, ABC and Marvel turned to the series Inhumans, which was also canceled after only eight episodes. Most Wanted likely had a lot of potential simply due to its plot and connection to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..
One of the few who have seen the pilot episode is the lead actress Adrianne Palicki. She described the project to TV Line in 2019 as follows:
It was really very, very good. It was a bit darker, more realistic. We were mercenaries. It’s a kind of sequel to what we dealt with before, where we tried to get married again, and then hell breaks loose because people are after us. Ultimately, we are just fighting for our lives.
Ship of Heroes launched a new superhero MMORPG on Steam on September 22, 2025. The reviews from many players have been negative so far. The developers suspect a targeted campaign against the project.
What is the current status of Ship of Heroes? On September 22, 2025, the new superhero MMORPG from Heroic Games celebrated its final release. However, there was hardly any reason for a party. User reviews have been negative from the start, and the new online role-playing game also struggled to gain traction with player numbers. Currently, the numbers are as follows:
The peak for simultaneous active Steam users was 100 thirteen days ago. Over the weekend, there were rarely more than 10 people online at the same time – Source: steamdb.info.
Of the just 100 user reviews on Steam, only 20 percent are positive. This results in an average of “Mostly Negative.”
A lot of criticism is directed at the payment model. Ship of Heroes is supposed to cost almost 60 euros. In addition, a mandatory subscription kicks in after the second month. For this, the developers promise: no microtransactions, no in-game shop, no expensive deluxe packs, and no paid DLCs.
The problem: Ship of Heroes is simply not good and polished enough for many players to justify full price plus subscription. There are complaints about the technical foundation, clunky controls, AI synchronization, and much more. The consensus of many critiques is: Other significantly older superhero MMORPGs offer much more quality and content, and that with Free2Play access.
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Ship of Heroes: Neuer Trailer zum Superhelden-MMORPG stimmt euch auf den Launch ein
In the first week, Ship of Heroes was bombarded with negative reviews. […] For this reason, we made some simple changes. We are addressing the most frequently mentioned concerns, as good, honest people sometimes have significant doubts about a game, and we want to clear those up. We also reset our Steam forums to prioritize discussions between our customers and players. As the review-bombing trolls flood the Steam forums with negativity, we recommend everyone who has not yet purchased the game and wants to learn about the game, its features, culture, and future, to visit the SoH forums at Shipofheroes.com.
The fact that the criticism from players is fundamentally justified is also reflected in the low player numbers. Why would there be hardly more than 10 players online at the same time two weeks after the release if the game was worth its money? Many of the complaints raised by the buyers can also be easily understood by watching gameplay in video form – like the trailer here in the article.
The fact that occasional troll comments occur amidst the constructive criticism is unfortunately a part of the nature of the internet, and it has even been fueled by the developers. When they referred to critics as trolls, deleted critical posts, and published their own peculiar definition of constructive feedback on Steam, it was not well received by parts of the community.
In addition to strong abilities and impressive values, special talents in Dungeons & Dragons can also be more useful than one might think. In this list, we present 7 talents that are even more effective than improved ability scores.
Every 4 levels in a class, players may choose whether to grant their characters an ability score increase or a talent that “refines” the character a bit more.
Ability score increase: Increase one ability score of your choice by 2 points or two ability scores of your choice by 1 point each. No ability can exceed a value of 20 through this.
Players Handbook (2024), page 202
While the ability score increase can make the character more powerful through improved values and simplify die checks, talents are particularly suitable for players who already have a clearer idea of their character and their role in the game and wish to improve in a specific area – a so-called talent.
Here you can see the trailer for the fourth main campaign of Critical Role:
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The 4th Campaign of Critical Role starts now and is bigger than ever
This list only considers talents that can be found in the standard Players Handbook (version 2024) of Dungeons & Dragons, so no expansions are required to access them. A placement on this list deserves an honorable mention, as it builds on two individual talents that can be very powerful when used together.
Sentinel and Polearm Master are a powerful combination for melee fighters (Source: D&D Beyond)
Honorable Mention: Sentinel and Polearm Master
Players Handbook (2024), page 207, page 208
Polearm Master
Ability score increase by 1 (either Dexterity or Strength) to a maximum of 20
Polearm Strike: After attacking with a quarterstaff, spear, or a weapon with the Heavy and Reach property, you can use your bonus action to make another attack (1d4 bludgeoning damage)
Reactive Strike: Reactions can be taken as soon as a target enters the radius, not just when they leave the radius
Sentinel
Ability score increase by 1 (either Dexterity or Strength) to a maximum of 20
Sentinel: If a creature within the player’s radius takes the Disengage action or attacks a target other than the player, the player can make an opportunity attack.
Stop: After a successful opportunity attack, the target loses the rest of its movement speed until its next turn
The two talents Sentinel and Polearm Master immediately form an exception at the beginning of this list, as they are solid on their own but become really strong talents for a melee fighter, especially in combination.
Since the talents are particularly effective in close combat, they are suitable for the tank of the group who protects their allies and ensures that their enemies do not escape.
With the reactive strike of a Polearm Master, characters can use their opportunity attack as soon as an opponent moves into their range, not only when they try to leave the radius.
Due to the ability of the Sentinel (“Stop”), the opponent also loses the rest of their movement speed until their next turn and cannot move away from the user.
Once the opponents are “trapped” by the user with this tactic, another ability of the Sentinel comes into play. When an opponent in the user’s radius attacks a different target, the Sentinel can immediately make their opportunity attack. And thus, the whole game begins anew.
The two talents stop any opponents’ attempts to bypass the user, as they only need to be equipped with a suitable weapon. They turn a character into a dangerous wall that is hard to get past unscathed.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For the upcoming expansion Midnight, the developers have a clear plan: WoW should become more accessible, and all classes should be easier to play.
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
What was said? During the Alpha launch of Midnight, Blizzard released numerous articles and shared the thoughts of the developers regarding the game’s design philosophy. In one of these blog posts on the WoW website, it states:
One thing we often hear is that there is a high level of complexity in the class and combat design of WoW. Classes have many abilities that one must master, and it can be difficult to find comfortable keybindings for all of them. During combat, there are numerous buffs and debuffs to keep track of, which is a critical aspect of playing well and requires a lot of concentration.
Players trying out new specializations (“Specs”) also report that the talent trees can be intimidating. Even after learning the purpose of each talent, there are still subtle interactions between them that are not obvious, and many players feel they do not understand which bonuses and combinations are crucial for success. […]
This complexity affects nearly everyone in the game in different ways. Without hours of reading guides or the guidance of a more experienced veteran of the respective class, it can be nearly impossible to find access to the specific specialization.
In other words: The gameplay of many classes is extremely complex, and this is set to change.
Fewer abilities, clear effects, easier entry
How is this to be achieved? With Midnight, Blizzard plans significant overhauls for many classes. The underlying core gameplay and feel of the classes should hardly change, but a series of adjustments will ensure the game becomes more accessible. These include:
The visually most beautiful and impressive abilities should have the greatest impact on the game and be the most efficient.
Information such as triggered effects (“Procs”) should be visually clear without requiring addons. The number of procs for each class will be reduced.
The “cognitive load” of all classes should be slightly reduced. This mainly includes simultaneous tasks, such as watching your own auras and buffs, quickly selecting the correct ability, and remembering long sequences. For some classes, however, this cognitive load is part of their identity even more than for others.
Abilities without meaningful gameplay, such as temporary buffs that are usually used in combination with exactly one specific other ability, will be removed or merged.
Whether and how well these plans by Blizzard work will only become clear in the coming weeks when the Alpha opens up further and talents of all classes at max level can also be tested. It seems clear, however, that the gameplay feel and the complexity of entry into the classes are set to change drastically. However, there are also critical voices, as Blizzard has made such plans in the past repeatedly. Thus, there is essentially an overhaul of healer gameplay with every addon release and in the end everything is just as it was before.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
