What was intended as a temporary solution for a formatting software continues to accompany Windows to this day: This small detail from 1994 still causes limitations on many Windows computers.
What is it about? In 1994, the developer Dave Plummer was working at Microsoft on a problem that should have been solved quickly: A tool for formatting disks needed a simple user interface.
The solution was deliberately kept simple and accessible. However, this “temporary” approach was only partially revised for a long time (gry-online).
The result: a limit that still exists in many computers running Windows 10 or older – the maximum size of 32-GB partitions when formatting.
Start video
Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes
FAT … what?
Why does FAT32 play such a significant role? FAT32 is one of the best-known file systems out there. It was developed to support as many devices as possible. FAT stands for File Allocation Table.
USB drives, consoles, cameras, or televisions still rely on FAT32 because it works almost everywhere. This wide compatibility ensures that the system, despite its age, is far from vanished.
The problem, however, is not the file system itself, but the tool that Dave Plummer developed back then. Because FAT32 does not actually come with this limitation (RPTU).
The 32 GB limit is only created by the Windows formatting tool. This imposes an artificial restriction when creating FAT32 drives, a throwback to the original temporary solution from the 90s.
Why does Windows only allow 32 GB for FAT32? In 2021, the former software developer Plummer published an explanation on his YouTube channel regarding how this limitation came about.
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As Plummer explains, he intentionally chose this limit. Larger partitions could have caused performance issues back then, and he wanted to encourage users to move towards more modern file systems in the long run.
According to the Polish online medium Gry-Online, the tool, therefore, remained practically unchanged.
First Change with Windows 11
What changed with the big update? With Windows 11, Microsoft has significantly raised the decades-old limit. While formatting was previously capped at 32 GB, newer versions of Windows now officially allow formatting FAT32 partitions up to 2 TB. This matches the actual technical ceiling of the file system (The Verge).
However, the change is not consistently implemented everywhere: In the classic formatting dialog, the old limit may still appear in some cases (Microsoft Blog Post).
The winner of a tournament in Pokémon GO was decided by a decisive match. However, the joy of the lucky winner ultimately led to him having to forfeit his deserved victory along with the entire tournament.
Why did the winner of the match lose the tournament anyway? At the Pokémon GO regional championships in Orlando, the victory of pro Firestar73 caused a turnaround: After the final Hydro Pump of his Empoleon against his opponent NiteTimeClasher’s Kramor, he was able to win the match and thus the regional championships. But only for a short time.
Firestar73 had the victory taken away from him by the decision of the judges because of his “unsportsmanlike conduct” during his celebration.
Here you see a clip of the moment when Firestar73 celebrates “unsportsmanlike”. Maybe you can see for yourself what ultimately cost him the victory:
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The reason for this decision: According to another pro in Pokémon GO from the year 2023 (ItsAXN on X), Firestar73 threw his headphones too hard.
Since it was the decisive match of the regional championships, he lost the entire tournament due to the judges’ decision. A decision that the community absolutely cannot understand.
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Pokémon GO Fest 2026 comes with Mewtwo and Zeraora
Community demands an apology – but not from the pro
Can the throw of the headphones be classified as unsportsmanlike? Since the question can be answered with a Yes from the judges’ perspective, but the community contradicts this upon closer examination of the clip, it is a justified conflict.
The Pokémon GO player base is nearly unanimous on the side of Firestar73, whose celebration they believe cannot be classified as “unsportsmanlike” despite the throw of his headphones. He then immediately stood up from his chair and thanked his opponent for the match by shaking his hand.
“His hands were shaking even before he threw his headphones. That he threw the headphones “too hard” was probably due to the tension and nervousness being released at that moment. The disqualification was unjustified,” writes user Luis Alvarado under the clip on X and received hundreds of supportive hearts for it. Even badEGG agrees: “From my perspective, it is more embarrassing for the other player to accept this victory, lol.”
How do the pro and the community deal with these events? The community is demanding the dismissal of the responsible judges or at least a reflective, public apology, as the course of events should not be left unexamined.
“The person(s) behind this decision must be immediately dismissed. “Either they go, or we go,” writes user Vanessa on X. “Furthermore, Firestar must be reinstated his well-deserved victory, and a public apology must be made to him as well as his opponent. This is not an acceptable outcome.”
Firestar73 has since commented on the events and thanked the community for the many messages of support:
Hello everyone, I am incredibly grateful for the support I am receiving. Soon an interview will be released in which I will share my firsthand experiences; I will post the link as soon as it is published. If you disagree with the ruling, please use the link to support for now. I love you all.
Empoleon is among the strongest water-type attackers in Pokémon GO. Especially with the combination of Waterfall and Hydro Cannon, it is extremely powerful, both in PvP and in raids. If you want to know which water Pokémon are even stronger, we have listed them here on MeinMMO: Pokémon GO: The 10 best water-type attackers listed – Raid Guide
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Inquisition is considered one of the most dangerous and brutal organizations in Warhammer 40,000, but why is that actually so? Inquisitors are not just fanatics without morals. MyMMO editor and Warhammer expert Benedict Grothaus spoke with someone who has the perfect expertise on this topic: Anatoly Shestov, the Executive Producer of Dark Heresy, the upcoming role-playing game for Warhammer 40,000.
The list of these organizations is undoubtedly led by the Inquisition. Anyone who gets involved with Xenos or the Chaos, even just thinks about it or gives the appearance of not being loyal to the Emperor, the God of Men, can essentially conclude their life if an Inquisitor finds out.
Inquisitors are seen as absolutely ruthless and cold. But that is not what makes them dangerous. In a one-and-a-half-hour conversation with Anatoly Shestov – in which I learned a lot about Warhammer 40,000 – this topic was among those discussed.
Anatoly is the Executive Producer of the role-playing game Dark Heresy, where you can step into the role of an Inquisitor. Owlcat, the studio behind it, works closely with Games Workshop, especially on lore questions. Hardly anyone could explain to me better what makes the Inquisition so dangerous.
Start video
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy in the Announcement Trailer
“There are limits. The Inquisition sets these limits.”
The question right at the beginning of our conversation was actually quite simple: “What do you think makes the Inquisition such a dangerous organization?” Anatoly responds with a calmness as if he not only expected this question but as if he were an experienced teacher explaining the basics of his subject to a student:
There are limits. For every organization in the Imperium, there are limits. There are rules. There are conditions you must adhere to. The Inquisition, in this path or spectrum of things, is the only organization that sets these limits, conditions, and rules for everything in the Imperium.
It is not the High Council of Terra that does these things; the Inquisition does. In the end, the important question is who watches the watchers. That is one of the… let’s say, most adult sides of the universe, one of the most layered things.
Anatoly Shestov, Executive Producer for Dark Heresy at Owlcat
Specifically, this means: The Inquisition operates outside the jurisdiction of the Imperium. Whatever they declare as right or wrong is so – at least for the moment and only if the Inquisitor has the appropriate backup to enforce their rights. The Inquisition is not omnipotent; in Warhammer, one is always only “as strong as the firepower one brings with oneself and one’s army.”
Even the words of an Inquisitor are not followed if they cannot enforce their orders. And Anatoly gives another example: Even the Inquisition is dependent on others such as the Mechanicus. Because who maintains the great equipment after a mission?
It is precisely these possibilities that also make working with the Inquisition as exciting as he further explains to me. Taking an Inquisitor as the main character for a game provides certain freedoms:
[The Inquisition] is one of the [organizations] with the greatest opportunity for freedom in how to portray such an organization. Everyone else not only has strict rules but strict uniforms and a strict mandate on things they are not allowed to use.
The Inquisition is the only one that does not have such restrictions. Only those they set for themselves. That makes them, in my opinion, the most interesting, the most dangerous, and the most appealing.
Anatoly Shestov, Executive Producer for Dark Heresy at Owlcat
The conversation then drifted for a while into the lore depths, among other things with the question of which Inquisitors Anatoly actually thinks are the coolest or which he would like to mention in a game. Several names came up, including the famous Fidus Kryptman, who once devised a “brilliant” plan against the voracious Tyranids.
Kryptman is a perfect example of the boundless power that the Inquisition possesses: despite contradictions, the Inquisitor completely annihilated a world seemingly lost to the Tyranids with an Exterminatus, something that should only happen in extreme exceptional cases. And he intended to go even further …
Since I am very much looking forward to Dark Heresy and was already very impressed from the first playtest, I also asked Anatoly a bit about his upcoming game – especially with regard to the Inquisition. Because it has different orientations:
The Ordo Hereticus, which of course fights everything that sounds like heresy and accordingly often receives support from the fanatical Adepta Sororitas.
Several smaller Ordos with different tasks.
Additionally, there is a division into Puritans, who strictly adhere to rules and faith, and Radicals, who use all means (with Anatoly emphasizing: “Every Inquisitor considers themselves a Puritan”). According to Anatoly, the Ordo you belong to in Dark Heresy is not fixed and also not a selection; your actions determine your orientation.
Such possibilities are also what is exciting about the Inquisition as a focal point: “There is such a thing as a ‘true’ Adeptus Mechanicus or a ‘true’ Arbites, but there is no ‘true’ Inquisitor. They are inherently different. In a role-playing game, we must keep such adaptation options open.”
This here is the second part of the conversation. Since we dived deep into the depths of nerdism for almost 90 minutes, I am processing our “interview” in several parts. So you can look forward to one or two more parts.
However, Anatoly had one request for me: during the alpha test of Dark Heresy, a user kept asking for romances for Space Marines. The persistence and dedication of this fan inspired Owlcat. Anatoly asked me to include a message: If any of you was that person, please get in touch.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a new video, Marco Risch from Nerdkultur talks about the upcoming blockbuster Dune 3, which, although from the same director, seems to look completely different from the two predecessors.
Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been dealing with news, analyses, reviews, and interviews about current movies and series on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur .
In addition to that, he meets weekly with his colleague Yves Arievich and chats in the Podcast Nerd & Kultur about pop culture film topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC.
Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.
In a new video on YouTube, Marco talks about the upcoming blockbuster Dune: Part Three and why it looks different from its predecessors.
Start video
Marco from Nerdkultur shows why Dune 3 looks different from its predecessors
17 Years Later
What is the video about? Coinciding with Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three is set to hit theaters in Germany on December 16, 2026, continuing the story of Paul and the desert planet – over 2 years after the release of the second part. Marco explains that director Denis Villeneuve actually wanted to shoot much later, with a waiting time of 10 years.
But Dune haunted him like a nightmare, which is why he preferred to do it earlier. The problem is that the cinematographer of the two predecessors, Greig Fraser, is busy with the Beatles biopic, which means another cinematographer is needed, but that shouldn’t harm the film.
While Greig Fraser mainly shot the second part from Paul’s perspective, that will likely change in Part 3. The chosen hero becomes a dubious leader, and that seems to be represented by the camera as well. Now we see Paul from the perspective of others. Paul has changed, and that fits with the source material.
As Marco points out, Dune: Part Three is based on the second book by Frank Herbert, Dune Messiah. The story begins 12 years after the first book, and in the film, even 17 years after the second film. The new film will not show how Paul fought for his power but rather how the war changed him.
Marco compares him to Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now. The war and the suffering have changed him (also visually), they show the consequences of too much power. Paul’s comrades also struggle with this.
The camera, according to Marco, not only shows Paul’s transformation but also the various relationships of the other people in Paul’s life. His sister Alia, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, is shown in close-ups, unlike Paul, who now seems to be portrayed more distantly. For Marco, she represents, with her blue eyes, the path Paul could have taken with the Bene Gesserit.
On the other hand, there is Chani, played by Zendaya. Her close-ups, reminiscent of Dune 2, show that she is slowly turning away from Paul: Chani’s gaze as a quote – and as a confrontation!. A major surprise for viewers unfamiliar with the book is the return of Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho.
Duncan is important for Paul’s identity crisis. He confronts him with his past. To match the portrayal in the book, Momoa wore bright contact lenses during filming, with a special surface that, along with an LED ring on the camera lens, creates a special effect seen in the first teaser for the film.
This is thanks to Linus Sandgren, the new cinematographer for Dune: Part Three. For the latest installment, he opted for analog film, unlike the predecessors, which were shot on an ARRI Alexa, a digital camera. However, Greig Fraser tricked: [He] exposes analog film material with the shots – and then digitizes it again for post-production.
This created a look that didn’t appear digitally clean, but instead produced the film grain effect. Sandgren has a different approach.
You can see a comparison of the looks here. The image on the left is from Dune: Part Two, and the one on the right from Dune: Part Three (image rights belong to Warner Bros.).
Different Camera, Different Look
How does Sandgren shoot Dune 3? Sandgren uses an analog camera. According to Marco, for the film First Men, he used 35mm on Earth but 70mm IMAX film on the Moon to create a different look.
In Dune: Part Three, the cinematographer, who was also responsible for the James Bond film No Time To Die, will partially use analog IMAX. This way, according to Marco, the images become even larger, more impressive, and tangible, which wouldn’t be quite possible with a digital camera.
To connect with Parts 1 and 2, Arrakis is still to use the digital camera. But Marco shows that Sandgren’s images are much richer in color. This makes it look dreamier than Fraser’s work.
For this effect, he even coated his camera lenses, which now shine golden. Marco describes it like [a] fever dream of Paul. In the end, Marco summarizes: Linus Sandgren justifies his switch to analog film with Villeneuve’s vision: Digital is perfect for capturing reality. But film is perfect for capturing a dream. Or in this case, the dream of Paul Atreides. A nightmare. More from Nerdkultur can be found here: Movie expert reveals which 10 movies you should watch in 2026
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Video game adaptations have now arrived in the mainstream. Regularly, movies and series based on video games are released. This does not seem to end in the future. MeinMMO lists all video games currently being adapted.
Update: We have updated the following article on 04/07/2025: Dates has been updated and a new series added with Season 2 of Devil May Cry.
Adaptations and adaptations of well-known video games are now regularly announced and released. This includes both film and series adaptations.
We list all movies and series based on video games that have been announced and are set to be released in the future. If possible, we will provide you with the known release date, director, or showrunner.
The announced projects have been divided into different categories, which you can jump to directly via the table of contents:
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All video game adaptations expected to be released in 2025
In the following section, we will list all video game adaptations that are expected to be released this year:
Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 by Sam and Adam Deats (Release: January 16, 2025)
Minecraft by Jared Hess (Release: April 3, 2025)
Devil May Cry by Adi Shankar (Release: April 3, 2025)
Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers by Shigeru Morikawa (Release: April 4, 2025)
The Last of Us Season 2 by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (Release: April 14, 2025 – May 25, 2025)
Until Dawn by David F. Sandberg (Release: April 24, 2025)
Twisted Metal Season 2 by Michael Jonathan Smith (US Release: July 31, 2025)
Mortal Kombat 2 by Simon McQuoid (Release: October 23, 2025)
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 by Emma Tammi (Release: December 4, 2025)
Fallout Season 2 by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Release: December 17, 2025)
The Exit 8 by Genki Kawamura (Release: September 9, 2025)
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (Release: October 15, 2025)
Start video
A Minecraft Movie: First Complete Trailer in German
All video game adaptations expected to be released in 2026
In the following section, we will list all video game adaptations that are expected to be released in 2026:
Return to Silent Hill by Christophe Gans (released on 01.22.2026)
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (released on 04.02.2026)
Devil May Cry, Season 2 by Adi Shankar (Release: 05.12.2026)
Mortal Kombat 2 by Simon McQuoid (previous release: 10.23.2025, moved to 05.14.2026)
Resident Evil by Zach Cregger (Release: 09.17.2026)
Street Fighter by Kitao Sakurai (previous release: 03.19.2026, moved to October 15, 2026)
The Angry Birds Movie 3 by John Rice (Release: 12.23.2026)
All video game adaptations expected to be released in 2027 and beyond
In the following section, we will list all video game adaptations that are expected to be released in 2027 or beyond:
Sonic The Hedgehog 4 (Release: 18.03.2027)
The Legend of Zelda by Wes Ball (Release: 26.03.2027)
A Minecraft Movie 2 by Jared Hess (July 22, 2027)
All announced video game adaptations without a specific release date
In the following section, we will list all video game adaptations that have been announced but do not yet have a specific release:
The Boys will end in 2026 with Season 5. For 7 years, the superhero series has accompanied fans on Amazon Prime Video.Everything about the release, trailer, and cast can be found at MeinMMO.
Update: We updated the article on 04/07/2026 with the time and the score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Boys will reach its finale in 2026 with Season 5, where Butcher and Homelander will probably confront each other for the last time. The superhero satire started on Amazon Prime Video in 2019 and became a big hit.
When is the release of The Boys Season 5? Season 5 of The Boys will start on April 8, 2026, with 2 episodes. After that, new episodes will be released weekly until the final episode on May 20, 2026. The exact time the first episode will be available in Germany is still unclear.
What time do the episodes of The Boys Season 5 start? The episodes are expected to be released at 9:00 AM German time.
Is there a trailer for The Boys Season 5? On March 6, 2026, the final trailer for Season 5 of The Boys was released. The trailer shows not only how much power Homelander has now but also how all the actors are preparing for a final battle. You can watch the trailer here:
Start video
The Boys shows in the final trailer for Season 5 how far Homelander has come
The Boys Season 5: Cast, Stream, and Plot
Who is in the cast of The Boys Season 5? In the final season of The Boys, some familiar faces from previous seasons will return. However, there are also new characters:
Misha Collins as an unknown character
Jared Padelecki as an unknown character
Daveed Diggs as Oh-Father
Karl Urban as Billy Butcher
Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell
Anthony Starr as Homelander
Erin Moriarty as Starlight
Jessie T. Usher as A-Train
Laz Alonso as Mother’s Milk
Chace Crawford as The Deep
Tomer Capone as Frenchei
Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko
Nathan Mitchell as Black Noir 2
Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy
Colby Minifie as Ashley Barrett
Cameron Crovetti as Ryan
Valorie Curry as Firecracker
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Joe Kessler
Susan Heyward as Sister Sage
Giancarlo Esposito as Stan Edgar
David Andrews as Senator Calhoun
Jack Doolan as Horse Toomy
Kristin Booth as Horse Tessa
Derek Johns as Love Sausage
Jessica B. Hill as Ivy
Mason Dye as Bombsight
Zach McGowan as Dogknott
Who is streaming The Boys Season 5? Like with previous seasons, The Boys Season 5 will only be available on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription.
What is known about the plot in The Boys Season 5? After the events of Season 4, things do not look good for Hughie, MM, and Frenchie. They have been captured and are in a Freedom Camp. Annie is trying to build her resistance, and Kimiko has disappeared.
Butcher wants to finally deal with the Supes and plans to use a deadly virus for that. The trailer already shows that the group will be back together. But Homelander is also getting support for his growing regime from Soldier Boy and an unknown character played by Jared Padalecki.
How is Season 5 of The Boys received by critics? Looking at the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the series currently has a rating of 96% based on 28 reviews (as of April 7, 2026). The season may be predictable, but it’s still as wicked and dark as usual.
The Boys is one of the biggest superhero series of recent years, and that is also due to the satirical approach of the series. With Season 5, the series comes to an end. How well the first 6 of the 8 episodes were, MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes could tell you in advance: The coolest character from The Boys has a bigger role in Season 5, but that’s a problem
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
An old NPC in World of Warcraft has reappeared. He remembers you and is dissatisfied – whereas you should actually be angry.
Some NPCs in World of Warcraft remain memorable for years and decades. Not because they play a particularly important role, like Sylvanas, Anduin, or Thrall. But because one painfully remembers the quest tied to them. One of these NPCs is an Arcane Elemental that you first met in “The Burning Crusade.” He also remembers you – and that could drive you crazy.
Select a MMO video…
What kind of NPC is this? We’re talking about “Khadgar’s Servant,” a wobbly Arcane Elemental that you’ve surely encountered multiple times in the game. He is always somehow found at the side of the great mage Khadgar and serves as his assistant – even in the Arcantine, an inn where new quests and interesting NPCs can be found every week.
When you take a quest in the Arcantine, Khadgar’s Servant appears and provides you with a portal so you can travel directly to the location of the respective quest. If you talk to him, he tells you a bit and says:
“I used to guide numerous heroes through the city of Shattrath. That was quite time-consuming, showing them the entire city. It was always good to be freed from this task at the end.”
A statement that is likely to make at least one eyelid twitch for many a WoW veteran.
Khadgar’s Servant has suffered greatly because of you. It surely wasn’t the other way around.
Which quest is he talking about? We’re talking about the quest “City of Light” in the first expansion, The Burning Crusade. After you arrive in Shattrath, Khadgar wants to show you the city first. However, he doesn’t do it himself – he is a busy man – but sends one of his Arcane Elementals with you. It also says: “Follow me, stranger. This shouldn’t take long.”
This turns out to be one of the biggest lies in World of Warcraft.
One of the most boring quests in all of WoW
The quest takes a good 10 minutes, during which you simply follow the Arcane Elemental and read his texts. He leads you through the entire city and tells you details about the political climate in the city, the refugees, and external threats. This may be interesting for lore fans – but those who have to do the quest a second time will be bored.
The infamous “City of Light” – a lengthy quest that many simply cannot complete.
Especially bad: If you don’t follow the Elemental constantly and decide to go afk for a moment or simply forget to follow him immediately for a few seconds, he simply despawns and there is no quest completion. Then you have to go the entire route one more time. No wonder, then, that City of Light is considered one of the 5 most annoying quests in all of World of Warcraft.
The result was that many had to take this quest multiple times, and it often took half an hour before one could finally continue with the story.
Consequently, it is likely to be quite amusing to meet Khadgar’s Servant again in the Arcantine and learn that the experience was just as tedious for him as it was for us as heroes of Azeroth.
The MCU is full of series and movies that have expanded the world of Marvel since 2008. We explain everything about the order, phases, and upcoming projects.
Update from 04/07/2026: The release date of the Punisher special has been added, and we have adjusted the chronological timeline with new movies and series.
What is the MCU? In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe started with the first film about Iron Man. This is a vast film universe from Marvel that tells various stories within the same continuity. This includes series and movies.
In the following article, you will find an overview of all the movies and series of the MCU, and we will show you what is coming up next. We will first list the phases of the Marvel movies and series. Those who want to experience the films in chronological order of the story can jump directly to our heading.
[toc]
Start video
English trailer for Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr.
All Phases of the MCU at a Glance
The Marvel Studios divide their films into different phases. These are also the release dates of the various films and series. In this overview, we list all phases and their corresponding productions:
Phase 1
Iron Man (April 14, 2008)
The Incredible Hulk (June 6, 2008)
Iron Man 2 (April 26, 2010)
Thor (April 17, 2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger (July 19, 2011)
Marvel’s The Avengers (April 11, 2012)
Phase 2
Iron Man 3 (April 12, 2013)
Thor – The Dark Kingdom (October 22, 2013)
The Return of the First Avenger (March 13, 2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy (July 21, 2014)
Avengers: Age of Ultron (April 13, 2015)
Ant-Man (June 29, 2015)
Phase 3
The First Avenger: Civil War (April 12, 2016)
Doctor Strange (October 13, 2016)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (April 10, 2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (June 28, 2017)
Thor: Ragnarok (October 10, 2017)
Black Panther (January 29, 2018)
Avengers: Infinity War (April 23, 2018)
Ant-Man and the Wasp (June 25, 2018)
Captain Marvel (February 27, 2019)
Avengers: Endgame (April 22, 2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (June 26, 2019)
Phase 4
WandaVision as a series (Start: January 15, 2021)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as a series (Start: March 19, 2021)
Loki as a series (Start: June 9, 2021)
Black Widow (June 29, 2021)
What if…? as an animated series (Start: August 11, 2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (August 16, 2021)
Eternals (October 18, 2021)
Hawkeye as a series (Start: November 24, 2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 13, 2021)
Moon Knight as a series (Start: March 30, 2022)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 2, 2022)
Ms. Marvel as a series (Start: June 8, 2022)
Thor: Love and Thunder (June 23, 2022)
I Am Groot as a series (Start: August 10, 2022)
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Start: August 18, 2022)
Werewolf by Night (October 7, 2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (October 26, 2022)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (November 25, 2022)
Phase 5
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 6, 2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (April 22, 2023)
Secret Invasion as a series (Start: June 21, 2023)
I Am Groot Season 2 (Start: September 6, 2023)
Loki Season 2 (Start: October 5, 2023)
The Marvels (November 7, 2023)
What If…?Season 2 (Start: December 22, 2023)
Echo as a series (Start: January 10, 2024)
Deadpool & Wolverine (July 22, 2024)
Agatha All Along as a series (Start: September 18, 2024)
The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man as an animated series (Start: January 29, 2025)
Captain America: Brave New World (February 11, 2025)
Daredevil: Born Again as a series (Start: March 4, 2025)
Thunderbolts* (April 22, 2025)
Iron Heart as a series (Start: June 24, 2025)
Phase 6
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
Eyes of Wakanda as an animated series (August 1, 2025)
Marvel Zombies as an animated series (September 24, 2025, originally: October 3, 2025)
Wonder Man as a series (January 27, 2026)
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (March 2026)
The Punisher: One Last Kill (May 12, 2026)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 30, 2026)
Avengers: Doomsday (December 16, 2026 (originally May 1, 2026))
Vision Quest as a series (2026)
Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027 (originally May 7, 2027))
Wonder Man Season 2 (unknown)
Marvel Zombies Season 2 (unknown)
Marvel Series Not Specifically Assigned to Any Phase
Marvel’s Agents of Shield (6 seasons, Start: September 24, 2013)
Marvel’s Agent Carter (2 seasons, Start: January 6, 2015)
Marvel’s Inhumans (1 season, Start: August 31, 2017)
Marvel’s Daredevil (3 seasons, Start: April 10, 2015)
Marvel’s Jessica Jones (3 seasons, Start: November 20, 2015)
Marvel’s Luke Cage (2 seasons, Start: September 30, 2016)
Marvel’s Iron Fist (2 seasons, Start: March 17, 2017)
Marvel’s The Defenders (1 season, Start: August 18, 2017)
Marvel’s The Punisher (2 seasons, Start: November 17, 2017)
Marvel’s Runaways (3 seasons, Start: November 21, 2017)
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger (2 seasons, Start June 7, 2018)
X-Men ’97 (March 20, 2025)
X-Men ’97 Season (2026)
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In Crimson Desert, you can earn 2 powerful armor sets that will transform you into Sauron. MeinMMO reveals where you can find the pieces of the Shadow Set and the Armor of the Frost Curse.
What are these armors? The Shadow Set and the Armor of the Frost Curse each consist of 5 pieces and are not only wonderfully black, but also have strong stats and effects, transforming you visually into Sauron from The Lord of the Rings.
The first set is actually the reward for conquering a mastered boss fight. However, some pieces (chest piece, gloves, boots, and cloak) can also be found in the game world, specifically in the coldest regions of Hernand in the west. This is a welcome alternative, as the boss is among the hardest challenges in the game.
The second set is distributed across several locations in Demeniss. The region lies east of Hernand and is initially filled with enemies, but the armor pieces are easier to reach – and there’s also a matching weapon. Below, we reveal all the locations and what makes the sets so special.
Update, April 21, 2026: The article has been reviewed and structurally optimized.
You can find many tips for starting in Crimson Desert on our MeinMMO YouTube channel – check it out!
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The questline through which you can earn the Shadow Set is called “White Blizzard” and you will receive it from the soldiers of House Lanford in the northwest of Hernand City. However, you will only get the first task “Cursed Mountain” once you have already completed some tasks for Lanford and reached Act 8.
After the follow-up quest “Wraith in the Frost,” you are to find “Beloth, the Darksworn’s Loot.” To do this, you must defeat the eponymous boss who wears the black Shadow Armor and attacks you with icy assaults. Therefore, pack gear with high frost resistance (you might want to obtain the second set first, see below).
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Crimson Desert: Pets are helpful loot collectors, here’s how you can tame them
Shadow Set – Alternative Locations and Effects
Below, we present each piece of the set and reveal where you can find them aside from the boss battle.
Plate Armor of the Frost Shadows: This stylish outfit protects you from petrification, provides a slight bonus to defense, and increases stamina regeneration by 2 percent. You will find the chest in a locked chamber in the mountain near the Winterberg Watchtower in the northwest of Hernand.
Light the campfire and the way will open.Here you will find the hidden cave.
Plate Cloak of the Icy Shadows: This shoulder piece with cape offers level 7 protection against fire (!). For the cloak, you need to return to the cold northwest of Hernand, to a ruin (south of the location of the chest armor). On one of the roofs, you will find a trapdoor that stands out from the rest of the roof due to its stone pattern.
Position yourself on one side of the trapdoor, kneel down, and perform the force strike downwards. This will cause your side of the door to fall down and the other side to rise; you will fall into the depths, towards the chest with the cloak. If you perform the force strike during your jump, you will trigger the trapdoor as well, but it will close before you can slip through.
Here you will find the ruins where the cloak is hidden.Here you need to use the downward force strike to open the trapdoor.
Plate Boots of the Cold Darkness: Don’t be surprised, in English, this item is called Plate Boots of the Shadows and belongs to the Shadow Set. Here there seems to be a translation error into German. The boots grant you a 10 percent bonus on skill XP and a 2 percent increase in climbing speed.
You can find the boots in the Frostclaw Cave in the west of Hernand. With the push skill from the talent tree, you can pass through the waterfall. Here’s the location of the hideout:
The position of the Frostclaw Cave.
Plate Gloves of the Cold Darkness: Again, the awkward translation applies here. The black gloves provide a 2 percent increase for climbing and swimming speed.
Prepare for a little expedition through the cold. You need to go back to the Frostclaw Cave and follow the river to the west. Watch out! At one point, two ice elementals with boss status appear. However, you can run away from them.
When you reach the end of the map, head south until you reach the spot shown on the map. Keep an eye out for a hidden access point in the mountain that is blocked by blue ice. You can destroy the ice and enter the cave of the Winterberg.
This is where you need to go, to the cave of the Winterberg.The access is hard to see.
Plate Helmet of the Shadows: This helmet provides you with the activatable Glacial-Domain effect that allows you to attack enemies with an ice breath. Additionally, you gain immunity to stun and a bonus of 3 to defense.
So far, the community has not found an alternative location for the helmet. Currently, it seems that you must defeat the old “Beloth, the Darksworn” to complete the set.
You can find the matching black legendary horse for the armor set here:
The Armor of the Frost Curse – Locations and Effects
Plate Helmet of the Frost Curse: This headgear has the same design as the Shadow Helmet, looks a bit lighter, and unfortunately lacks the cool frost breath effect. Instead, it offers immunity to tinnitus and a slight health point refresh.
You can find the helmet at the Chatter Rock, north of Kingshield Mountains. Look for an access point in the ruins that is covered by underbrush. If you burn the blockage with your weapon reflection, you will find the chest with the helmet in the chamber.
You must uncover this access point.The Chatter Rock.
Frost Curse Plate Armor: The plate armor is located in the Mist Shard Cave in northern Demeniss. Immediately after crossing the waterfall, destroy the stone structure blocking the path. Then, collect an Improved Herb Paste and the Frost Curse Plate Armor.
Currently, the breastplate unfortunately cannot be upgraded, but it grants you level 2 movement speed and ice resistance at level 7 (!). You won’t find a better piece of gear for the coldest regions of Pywel.
The Mist Shard Cave.
Frozen Plate Boots of the Curse: Like the Plate Boots of the Cold Darkness, these shoes also grant you a 2 percent increase in climbing speed. Moreover, they provide 10 percent more contribution XP. You can find this item in a chest in the cave of the Source of Misfortune, which lies south of the Mist Shard Cave.
The cave of the Source of Misfortune.
Plate Gloves of the Frost Curse: The black finger protection grants you level 1 ice resistance and damage reduction by 1. You can find the set piece in the Moon Spirit Cave, which you can find just southwest of the cave of the Source of Misfortune.
The Moon Spirit Cave.
Plate Cloak of the Frost Curse: For the last piece of the set, you will have to draw your weapons for the first time. The Sanctum of Atonement, which you will find west of the Chatter Rock, is filled with enemies and needs to be cleansed by you for the witches.
Once the area is pacified, look for an access point that is blocked by thorns. You can remove the underbrush with the reflection of your weapons. Then crouch and sneak along the low U-shaped tunnel until you come across the chest with the cloak. Don’t stop, as the path is lined with traps. You can safely teleport back.
Here you need to burn the thorns.You must enter the Sanctum for a quest as well.
The Plate Cloak grants you some defense and level 5 protection against frost. With the 3 parts with frost resistance, there is no better set for the frosty regions of Pywel. Plus, it looks really cool.
Where can I find a weapon that matches both sets? Directly west of the Mist Shard Cave, you will find the Peak of Frost, which you will eventually have to visit for a quest. However, it is sufficient to make a brief visit to the ground floor of the tower. Just watch out for the flying guards and equip gear with frost resistance.
In this light behind the stairs hides the chest.The Peak of Frost on the map.
You will gain access to the tower once you ignite the nearby campfire at the entrance. However, first you must destroy the ice layer, either with a powerful strike or with fire. Once the campfire is burning, the tower opens, and you can move behind the staircase.
In the golden glowing light hides a chest. From the chest, you will draw, among other things, the Frozen Torment, a stylish two-handed blade that restores stamina through strikes and has bonuses for attack and attack speed. Two free sockets complete the weapon’s offerings.
The race for the World First Kill in World of Warcraft Midnight is over. Team Liquid has dominated and was the first to defeat L’ura.
It’s over. Team Liquid has succeeded and defeated the Dawn of Midnight, the final fight against L’ura in the march on Quel’danas on mythic difficulty. This is currently the toughest boss in World of Warcraft. With this, Team Liquid emerges as the winner of this race for the World First Kill. Congratulations!
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WoW: How to Get the Mount “Rosy Sporestrider”
Team Liquid claims the World First Kill of L’ura
What made the fight so difficult? In the fight against L’ura, there were many difficulties. First, it turned out that some mechanics on mythic difficulty were so complex that the pros resorted to writing their own addons to use them in the fight. Blizzard had to relent, further restrict addon functionalities, and at the same time provide more official options to master these mechanics.
How long did the race last? The race lasted just over 13 days, although progress was staggered. The final raid, that is, the march on Quel’danas, only opened a week ago. The pure time in the last raid was therefore just under 7 days.
In numbers, the race was quite impressive, as L’ura proved to be exceptionally resilient. The pros from Liquid required a hefty 474 attempts to secure the victory.
What about other guilds? At the time of this article (April 7, 2026, 00:40 AM), Echo is narrowly in 2nd place (raider.io). They are also in the 4th phase of L’ura and have brought the Naaru down to 1% of its health points. Only seconds separated this guild from snatching the victory away from Liquid – but it was not meant to be.
What did you think of the race for the World First Kill in the first season of World of Warcraft Midnight? An exciting race that was interesting until the last second? Or did you think that this staggered raid structure harmed the race?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Crimson Desert is the new open-world role-playing game from the makers of Black Desert and was released on March 19, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series, MacOS, GeForce Now, and PC. MeinMMO introduces you to the three playable characters and their unique traits.
Update, April 7, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.
Kliff Macduff is the main character of Crimson Desert. He is the one who sets out to find the survivors of his Graymane clan after the attack by the Black Bears. The fighter, who visually resembles Jon Snow from the series Game of Thrones, appeared long as the only playable character in the official trailers.
Since the end of January 2026, however, we know that there will be a total of three playable characters in Crimson Desert. Below we introduce you to the trio and their special features and reveal to you – based on the gameplay shown so far – who might suit you.
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Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
The playable characters in Crimson Desert
You can control the following three fighters through the game world of Pywel in Crimson Desert – they have different combat styles, weapons, talent trees, and skills:
Kliff Macduff: We already know the main character of the game from the first trailers. Kliff is armed with a sword, shield, and bow. But he also has “wrestling” moves and can cast elemental spells thanks to a magical bracelet.
Damiane: The fighter usually uses a two-handed claymore in the current trailers but is still agile and relies on precise dodging in combat. From a distance, she can also deal damage, for which she uses a handy pistol, a musket, or casts spells. Additionally, she protects herself with a small buckler and can switch to a faster rapier.
Oongka: The muscle-bound brute uses a massive axe to whirl through enemies and an explosive cannon on his wrist. He can also grab his enemies and slam them to the ground, causing massive damage. Furthermore, Oongka loves to launch things into the air.
Note that we will obtain the characters Damiane and Oongka while Kliff’s story unfolds. Everyone starts with Kliff, gradually unlocks the other playable characters, and can switch between them with the push of a button – similar to, for example, GTA 5. For Oongka, you will have to wait until Act 8, you will earn Damiane during the first acts.
Attention: The developers say that with the alternative fighters, you can explore the open world and play many quests outside the main story. However, the contents of the main story are said to be exclusive to Kliff. There are only a few missions in the game world where you have to control one of the other two characters.
If you choose a fighter, the others can accompany you on your adventure through the open world and fight by your side. However, this apparently does not work during certain boss fights and sequences of the main story.
Basically, you should enjoy action-packed melee combat against larger groups of enemies, where you have a variety of options and powerful attacks available. In Crimson Desert, there is no character that is particularly defensively oriented, hiding behind a large broad shield and simply blocking most attacks.
Likewise, you won’t find a pure ranged fighter who only fights enemies from a safe distance here. Nevertheless, Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka differ enough at first impression to cater to different tastes.
Oongka is reminiscent of the giant from Black Desert, who also charges into battle with a large axe and sweeps through groups of enemies. In the MMORPG, this character belongs to the beginner-friendly classes that rely on easy-to-learn attack combos while still taking down foes by the dozen. In Crimson Desert, his sluggishness means he often takes damage. However, where he strikes with his battle axe, great hammer, or two one-handed weapons, no grass grows. Those who prefer a simple, somewhat rough playstyle will likely have fun with Oongka.
Damiane starts with a rapier and mini-shield. She can switch to a two-handed sword, spear, and two one-handed weapons. In combat, she appears much more agile than Oongka, constantly dodging and intermittently using her pistol or musket for additional damage.
Kliff is the all-rounder of the team. He combines attacks with a sword, shield, and bow with wrestling moves, throws, jump attacks, and elemental spells. He can also utilize a spear, a large two-handed sword, two one-handed weapons, or his fists to deal damage. This gives him the widest selection of weapons. This flexibility is perfect if you want to be optimally equipped for every situation.
The developers emphasize that initially you only have a small selection of skills for your character. Many additional options, weapons, and skills will only be learned throughout the adventure. This motivates and allows you to gradually get to know the arsenal of a character.
Note that we have so far only been able to play Kliff in previews. As soon as we are allowed to test Damiane and Oongka in practice, we will update the article.
What kind of game is Crimson Desert? Unlike Black Desert, the current game from developer Pearl Abyss, Crimson Desert will be a pure single-player experience, but it aims to shine with comparable strengths – such as beautiful graphics and a brutal combat system.
The previous trailers not only impress with their great visuals and dynamic combat in the open world (with wrestling moves, destructible siege machines, and horseback battles), but they also showcase activities such as fishing, ballooning, flute playing, arm wrestling, parkour climbing, taming mounts, and much more.
The setting (the harsh continent of Pywel) and the characters of Crimson Desert are strongly reminiscent of Westeros from Game of Thrones with their Western style. The main character Kliff resembles a certain Jon Snow. You can even ride dragons, like the Targaryens.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
It won’t be long until the release of Crimson Desert, but before fans decide to purchase, they want to know what the reviews promise. Therefore, we summarize the impressions of the first testers.
When can you expect reviews? On March 18, 2026, at 11:00 PM, the review embargo for all testers was lifted, and with it, the first reviews were published. So far, things look solid for Crimson Desert, as the game boasts an average score of 78 points based on currently 94 reviews on Metacritic (as of May 19, 08:24 AM).
Reviews have also been published with us and GameStar & GamePro, and overall, they look good. Here are the tests:
Crimson Desert: Launch trailer shows new bosses, dragon action and the storming of a moving train
78 Score on Metacritic speaks of an impressive open world
What can I expect? On Metacritic, 94 tests have been conducted, which are divided as follows (as of March 19, 08:24 AM):
PC: 94 reviews with a total score of 78
63 positive
21 mixed
1 negative
Xbox and PlayStation have no reviews yet
Forbes has aptly described Crimson Desert for all doubters. When asked if the game is really that big, plays well, and keeps you entertained throughout, the tester simply answered “Yes” to all three questions.
MMORPG.com is also convinced that Crimson Desert will positively influence many future open-worlds. It is a masterpiece, especially strong in performance on PC and its graphics.
Is there anything to criticize? Yes, there were things that the first testers were not pleased with. Especially regarding the story. As Game8 describes, it lacks a clear direction. Plot lines often seem disjointed.
Game Rant deepens the statement by explaining that fans who prefer a linear narrative are more likely to experience frustration. Fans who prefer to do their own thing – like in Dark Souls – will find it more enjoyable.
Brief overview – What is Crimson Desert? Crimson Desert is set in a high-fantasy world, home to various races such as orcs, dwarves, dragons, humans, and more. You take on the role of Kliff, a powerful warrior of the Graymanes. Your goal is to reunite your crew, navigating through the world of Pywel. More about Crimson Desert can be found here: Crimson Desert will be released on Thursday – everything important in 3 minutes (now with experience report)
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Upgrading your weapons is an important part of Elden Ring. For that, you also need the appropriate smithing stones. With bell bearings, you can buy these without limits. MyMMO shows you their locations.
Update, April 07, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.
What are bell bearings? These are items that you can hand over to the NPC merchant “Twin Maiden Husk” at the Roundtable Hold. In exchange, their offer expands to new items depending on which bell bearing you hand over.
Why is this so important? Without the bell bearings, you rely on items in the game world and the random drop chance from certain enemies to find smithing stones.
This restricts you significantly. With the bell bearings, all levels are available for purchase; you just need to collect runes. Since Patch 1.05, bell bearings that have been found once are also carried over to New Game Plus.
We will reveal to you where to find them and which upgrade materials you can buy with them.
[toc]
This is the NPC merchant at the Roundtable Hold where you can hand over your bell bearings.
Locations for the bell bearing of the smithing stone miner
This is how the upgrade with smithing stones works: Smithing stones are for your “normal” weapons, meaning all that are not legendary or originated from boss echoes. In total, you can upgrade these weapons up to +25.
Here’s the breakdown:
Smithing Stone 1
Up to +3
Smithing Stone 2
Up to +6
Smithing Stone 3
Up to +9
Smithing Stone 4
Up to +12
Smithing Stone 5
Up to +15
Smithing Stone 6
Up to +18
Smithing Stone 7
Up to +21
Smithing Stone 8
Up to +24
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone
Up to +25
You can unlock smithing stones of levels 1-8 through bell bearings at the merchant. In total, there are 5 bell bearings of the smithing stone miner. Here are the locations:
For smithing stones 1 & 2 – Bell Bearing of the Smithing Stone Miner 1
Here you can find them:
The bell bearing is located in the northern lakes region of Liurnia, northeast of the Raya Lucaria academy.
There you will find the Seliana crystal tunnel. Defeat the boss and you will receive the bell bearing.
For smithing stones 3 & 4 – Bell Bearing of the Smithing Stone Miner 2
Here you can find them:
The bell bearing pearl is located in the sealed tunnel leading to the Holy Tower of West Altus. It is hidden in a chest behind some wooden crates and other debris.
The hiding place is not far from the main entrance; go through the entrance tunnel and keep to the right wall.
For smithing stones 5 & 6 – Bell Bearing of the Smithing Stone Miner 3
Here you can find them:
This bell bearing is located on the mountaintop of the giants, hidden in the ruins of Zamor. From the site of grace, you need to head west.
In a larger area of the ruins, there is a staircase leading to an underground area with a treasure chest. You will find it there.
For smithing stones 7 & 8 – Bell Bearing of the Smithing Stone Miner 4
Here you can find them:
The last bell bearing of the smithing stone miner is hidden in the Fallen Farum Azula.
It is not far from the grace “Dragon Temple Altar” as a reward for the boss fight against the Godskin Duo.
On page 2, we continue with the dark smithing stones.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
50 of the biggest streamers from YouTube, Twitch and Kick competed against each other at MrBeast to earn 1 million dollars for their communities. The winner got double the prize.
What was this project about? Over the Easter weekend, the famous YouTuber MrBeast had 50 streamers from YouTube, Twitch, and Kick compete against each other. There was 1 million US dollars to win for the community of the victorious content creator, and there were also cash prizes raffled off during the show.
Some of the biggest names in streaming participated, including xQc, Pokimane, and the European record streamer ibai. The event took place over 2 days, with most participants eliminated on day 1. The 4 remaining finalists then competed in the grand finale on April 5, 2026. They were:
YourRage: A streamer from the circle of Kai Cenat, known for reactions, “pranks”, and gaming content
Ski Mask: An American rapper and Twitch streamer.
xQc was not only a participant himself but is also considered a doppelgänger of finalist Rubius.
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From Overwatch professional to number 1 on Twitch to 100 million $ – Who is xQc?
Streamer benefits, even though he distributes all the money
This is how the event turned out: After a series of challenges, several of which revolved around guessing the images or names of the opponents, YourRage emerged as the winner. The other finalists still managed to take home 50,000 dollars for their communities.
YourRage immediately jumped into his own Twitch stream to distribute the money to his fans. However, initially, his manager, as well as his editors and Twitch mods, received a portion of the money, totaling 150,000 dollars.
However, the winner did not come away empty-handed either: While the streamer was distributing the money, the subs, the paid subscriptions on Twitch, came pouring in. At one point, YourRage had over 102,000 active subs, making him the most-subscribed streamer on Twitch. At times, so many new subscriptions came in that the chat looked completely “broken”.
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Most of these subscriptions are Tier 1 subs and Prime subs worth 4.99 $, of which 70% typically go to the streamer. Therefore, YourRage likely earned approximately 350,000 US dollars or 300,000 euros with his giveaway stream.
The last time the streamer had this many subscriptions was in October 2025 during Kai Cenat’s “Mafiathon” streaming marathon. Normally, YourRage tends to have about 10,000 active subscriptions. Additionally, YourRage hit a peak of nearly 265,000 simultaneous viewers, with an average of about 175,000 watching. Both of these are new records for the streamer and could bring him additional income from advertising and placements.
It has been almost 27 years since the release of Age of Empires 2, and yet new real-time strategy games (RTS) continue to face the benchmark. Because the game not only lives on, it thrives. Currently, there is even a tournament going on where a large sum of money is at stake.
What is the current status of Age of Empires? While Part 1 has already been forgotten and fans of Part 3 are still mourning the death of their game, the remaster of Age of Empires (AoE) 2 continues to thrive to this day. And this, despite the original having been released in September 1999 and thus being almost 27 years old.
With the great popularity of AoE 2, it is no wonder that people have looked back at AoE 4, which was released in 2021. But although AoE 4 is by no means a bad game and even a really good RTS, Part 2 remains significantly more popular – at least on Steam:
The Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is played daily by around 25,000 players on Steam (according to steamdb.info)
Age of Empires 4 has an average of around 15,000 concurrent players per day (according to steamdb.info)
So it is not surprising that there is a lot of money to be won at a tournament for the strategy game.
Start video
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition – Developers thank for 5 years of loyal fan support
Age of Empires 2 set the standards for RTS
What kind of tournament is this? At Red Bull Wololo, 8 players compete in AoE2 and 4 players in AoE 4. The participants have the chance to snag prize money from a pool of $250,000 (around €216,400).
Compared to other Esports tournaments, this may seem like a relatively small tournament, but in the realm of RTS, it is one of the largest. The final, by the way, starts on April 6, 2026, at 4:00 PM CEST. You can watch it live on YouTube and Twitch.
What makes AoE 2 still so good after all this time? With such an old game, one might think that it should hardly be playable by today’s standards. However, it does not feel that way when you play it. AoE 2 laid the foundation for how RTS should be played, and thus it does not really feel old even after almost three decades.
The game furthermore combines an extremely popular setting – namely the historical Middle Ages – with a strong mix of base building and military. These are the two pillars upon which every match stands or falls. You cannot simply focus on one or the other. Those who want to win must master both.
Above all, it is the still strong multiplayer scene that the game owes its longevity to. AoE 2 remains a popular game for Esports, even more so than the rest of the series. This is why there are still regular tournaments – several are planned for 2026.
Super Mutants are among the most powerful beings in the wasteland of Fallout. One specimen is particularly notorious and far surpasses its peers in terms of danger. Enter Frank Horrigan.
Who is Frank Horrigan? His name does not necessarily sound like one of the most dangerous super mutants in the wasteland. He was originally a human born in 2211.
He quickly stood out due to his large and massive stature and became the bodyguard of the leader of the Enclave, a highly questionable faction.
However, during an expedition into the wasteland, a fateful event occurred. At the Mariposa military base, where another villain known as “the Master” originated, Frank Horrigan came into contact with the FEV virus.
This substance alters the DNA of a creature and causes it to mutate. Thus, in addition to the super mutants, other beings in the wasteland emerged, such as the centaurs.
In the case of Frank Horrigan, the Enclave did not abandon him, but used him for further experiments. He was studied by their own scientists, and it was observed how Frank slowly transformed into a super mutant.
Thanks to numerous experiments, he soon became far more than a conventional mutant, significantly stronger and more brutal. In 2239, Frank was finally unleashed upon the wasteland, but not without the appropriate equipment.
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The official trailer for Fallout Season 2 takes us back to the apocalypse
Human-Machine without Mercy
What equipment did Frank receive? The mutant was put into a special power armor that continually supplied him with injections. Frank was administered medication that kept him alive.
He became merged with his armor and could no longer be separated from it. Additionally, he was equipped with cybernetic enhancements such as special eyes, leg rotators, or arm control mechanisms.
Combined with his brutal and merciless nature, Frank became an ideal tool for the Enclave. He was loyal to his employers and soon functioned as the perfect solution to all problems.
In doing so, he acted with such violence that he took on even the most dangerous creatures in the wasteland. It was said that he could tear Deathclaws apart with his bare hands or take them down with precise strikes. Frank was skilled in both ranged and melee combat.
He quickly earned a dubious reputation in the wasteland – even among his allies in the Enclave. The soldiers who accompanied him on missions feared him and watched in horror as he brutally dealt with their enemies.
What happened to Frank in the end? In 2242, a dramatic encounter occurred. The Chosen One – the player character from Fallout 2 – stormed the Poseidon oil rig, which was occupied by the Enclave.
There, he not only destroyed the computer, causing a meltdown, but also ended up taking the life of Frank Horrigan. The super mutant lost a battle against the Chosen One. His body was torn apart, and a self-destruction program was activated – which sealed his fate.
For over 20 years, developer Tarn Adams has been working together with his brother Zach on Dwarf Fortress, a complex strategy simulation with thousands of excellent reviews on Steam. In an interview, the developer recently revealed which games occupy his own time.
What kind of developer is he? Tarn Adams is the co-creator of Dwarf Fortress, a simulation in which players build their own dwarf civilization. However, the game is so deep and complex that it leads to completely absurd events:
In 2015, there was a mysterious cat plague after the developers introduced taverns to the game. House cats wandered into the bars, collected spilled alcohol on their paws, and became drunk as they licked their paws.
Occasionally, the developers are even afraid of their own creation, especially when aquifers can wipe out entire fortresses with a single pickaxe strike.
After Dwarf Fortress managed for more than 15 years without proper graphics, a Steam version with (comparatively) nice pixel graphics was released in 2022. Since then, Tarn Adams has been spending his time supporting the game and working on new additions.
In an interview with PC Gamer, he revealed what he plays in his spare time.
Start video
Dwarf Fortress on Steam Announcement Teaser
Winter is Factorio Time
What does the creator of Dwarf Fortress play? Unsurprisingly, the developer has a weakness for simulations. Recently, he has been especially taken by terraforming games like The Planet Crafter and Terraformental. Dwarf Fortress just doesn’t offer that “sci-fi thing,” according to Adams.
However, he has spent the most hours in Factorio, where players build increasingly automated factories.
Adams tells PC Gamer he has spent 1,454.5 hours in the game, which he says is quite dangerous. The game is essentially about building a rocket to escape the planet. But the developer thinks: Why stop? You can also get the “Space Age” expansion and complete that. And then there are the mods.
Why should you stop at 5 planets or so, we can add 8 more. And that’s exactly what I did. By the end of last year, there were more like 12 or 15 planets or so. That was a lot of fun.
The developer further states that he goes through phases. Winter is Factorio time for him. It started with the death of his father a few years ago. He played Factorio continuously for 25 days, and the following winter, he started playing again.
Do you have similar gaming traditions? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
Anyone looking for a job as a game developer currently needs luck. At least that’s what a former developer at Rockstar Games says, who has great difficulty finding work in the industry today despite a strong portfolio.
Who is this developer? This is Rob Carr, who looks back on a 20-year career in the gaming industry – 9 of those years at Rockstar Games. As an audio designer, he has contributed to some of the studio’s most notable games, including L.A. Noire, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption (both Part 1 and Part 2).
In 2016, Carr left Rockstar Games. He now lives in Finland, where he is working on his own game: Nyrkkipöytä. Despite his impressive resume, he is having trouble finding a new job. He has been unemployed for over a year, as explained in an interview with KIWI TALKZ on March 28, 2026. You can watch the full interview as a YouTube video.
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Rockstar Games presents GTA 6 in the second trailer
“It’s a toss of a coin at this point”
What does the developer say about the current situation in the gaming industry? Finding a job in the gaming industry right now is above all a matter of luck. “my 20-year tenure is no longer good enough for me to get a job whereas 5 years ago it was,” says Carr.
I got 20 years industry experience, I’ve worked on some of the biggest titles in the world, but there’s 35 other guys with the exact same amount of experience and tenure and projects behind them as I’ve got.
Carr reports on several application processes he went through where he was not selected. “When I asked for feedback, it often went like this: “When I’ve asked for feedback, it was like: ‘We dont really have any’, you know? It’s a toss of a coin at this point”
Currently, it also seems that even the success of a game does not protect its developers from being laid off:
Battlefield 6 celebrated a record launch; nevertheless, several developers from all involved studios were laid off in March 2026, as reported by IGN Germany
The race for the World First Kill in World of Warcraft is over – thought the best team. But then came the chilling realization.
In World of Warcraft, the “World First Race” for completing all 3 raids that launched with the Midnight expansion has been running for almost 2 weeks. In the meantime, all major guilds have reached the final boss “L’ura” – the second and final boss of the “March on Quel’danas” and also the final boss of the entire raid tier.
Team Liquid had the lead here and was pushing forward further than all other professional guilds. But at the moment of triumph came the realization – the fight was not over yet.
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Secret phase leaves victory cheers choking
What happened to Team Liquid? The pros from Liquid had the lead in the race. In one of their last attempts, they managed to bring L’ura deep into the supposedly final phase. The enrage timer was already close, but with immunity effects, it was possible to bring L’ura’s health points to 0%.
The joy was immense. Players like Imfiredup immediately jump up, the cheers begin. But just moments later, the realization dawns: No success has been granted yet. Was that a bug? An error?
No, it was not: Because L’ura has a secret phase that only occurs at Mythic difficulty. This is a small but crucial detail that no guild knew in advance.
How the reactions of the “too early rejoicing” come out, you can see beautifully in this post on X:
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What kind of secret phase is this? After L’ura is defeated in Phase 3, her body reassembles one more time. All health points of the boss are healed – that’s nearly a billion HP. While L’ura hovers above the Dark Fountain, more and more void creatures pour out of the fountain, which the entire raid must avoid. What else happens in this phase is not yet clear – because the group succumbed to the final phase after just a few seconds, having previously reached the “enrage timer” in Phase 3 and only a few even reached the secret phase.
What seems clear, however, is that player characters during this phase have a strong buff that increases their damage dealt. So they don’t really have to whittle down L’ura’s full health points again – but just a fraction of it.
Which guild is currently in the lead? As of now (06.04.2026, 11:00 AM), Team Liquid continues to lead (raider.io). They are the only ones who have been able to progress into the secret phase and brought L’ura here to just under 50%. The competitors from Echo are below 1% of Phase 3 – so just about to reach the secret phase as well. Method is currently lagging behind, reaching only about 50% remaining boss HP in Phase 3.
Whether and when the first guild will succeed in defeating L’ura in her secret phase remains to be seen. However, the race for the World First is becoming exciting once again in the final stretch. If you want to be there live, we have listed the streams of the major professional guilds here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Dungeons & Dragons is one of the most well-known tabletop role-playing games worldwide. To start playing, you only need exactly 8 things, and they are even available for free. What they are, you will read in this article.
Dungeons & Dragons is highly popular and world-renowned. But how exactly do you start your first D&D adventure? What do you need for it? And how do you get going?
In this article, we have compiled eight essential things you need for your very first adventure. You do not need any prior experience with any kind of pen & paper games. Moreover, we mainly recommend free resources in German here.
Who is writing here?
MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß has been a huge fan of Critical Role since 2017. She experienced the end of the first campaign (Vox Machina) live and watched the Mighty Nein almost every Friday night. Since 2018, she has been an active D&D player and has tried a lot: official adventures from Wizards of the Coast, homebrew campaigns, and fan and Kickstarter scenarios.
She started her journey directly as a game master (because naturally, no one else wanted to). Nowadays, she also gets to play with her own characters and was even involved in the GameStar talk series Ready to Roll.
Currently, she is playing in two ongoing campaigns and is running The Wilderness Beyond the Witchlight: A Feywild Adventure for her friends.
With the following table of contents, you can jump to the individual points you want to know more about. If you just prefer a quick overview, you can jump directly to the conclusion via this link.
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In this list, we have omitted tools for advanced players. If you later crave more equipment, you might be interested in the list from our pen & paper veteran Caro with the next level of new purchases:
The genre of pen & paper directly defines the two most important things to start the game: pencil and paper. With the pencil, you make notes for the game and label your character sheet. If needed, you can visualize existing in-game situations or draw NPCs.
We recommend a regular pencil. With it, you can label the changed statuses on your character sheet and edit your notes if needed. For editing to work, you should also have an eraser on hand.
But to be able to make those aforementioned notes with a pencil, you simply need a writing surface. For example, paper. My concrete recommendation is a standard notebook in DIN A4 or DIN A3. Whether lined, squared, or blank is really completely irrelevant. What’s important is that you can write. If nothing else is available, you can also use printer paper.
Upgrade Options: Pencil, eraser, and pad are the basics. However, if you want, you can of course opt for ballpoint pens, glitter pens, and highlighters. For the physical character sheet, I would always recommend a pencil, as stats can change multiple times during a session. I personally have a nice notebook for each ongoing D&D campaign. Really practical are also the so-called campaign books, notebooks that are specifically designed for D&D with character sheets, adventure trackers, and more. If you want to carry less, you can of course also digitize everything: notes on your phone, a digital character sheet, or a tablet or PC combo can be good alternatives.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
