EA is the owner of SW:TOR and pays for the Star Wars license to Disney/ Lucasfilm Games.
EA receives revenue from subscriptions and purchased cartel coins in SW:TOR.
EA pays Broad Sword Games for the development and management of the MMO RPG.
The MMO RPG still belongs to EA, even though the publisher no longer operates it themselves. Due to the sale, players are now worried about the game.
Here you can see how the graphics of SW:TOR have improved over the years:
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Star Wars: The Old Republic zeigt Grafikupdates im Trailer
Concern for the Future
What are players afraid of? Players of Star Wars: The Old Republic express their concerns on Reddit following the sale of the publisher. It is uncertain whether a new license extension will occur with the new owners of EA or if Disney/Lucasfilm Games will let the licensing expire.
Reports suggest that the license was last extended in 2023, which means the future of the MMO RPG is likely secure until 2028, but it is unclear how long the rights have been secured. It is also unclear whether smaller projects like SW:TOR will not be discontinued due to the acquisition.
What speaks for the retention of SW:TOR? Although the future of SW:TOR is uncertain, a positive outcome is supported by the fact that EA has little work involved with the MMO RPG. The publisher pays Broad Sword Games for the ongoing development and has minimal involvement.
Consequently, it would likely be in EA’s interest to keep the MMO RPG running as long as it is profitable. The MMO RPG will likely continue to operate for at least as long as the license is paid for, maximizing its potential.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is also invested in Disney itself with 500 million euros. Therefore, it is unlikely that a participation of the Fund would exclude the licensing.
Campaigns in Dungeons & Dragons are never the same yet follow similar patterns. However, there is another, slightly different type of campaign that is now also utilized by one of the most famous groups in the game.
The Player’s Handbook (2024) describes a campaign in Dungeons & Dragons as follows:
A campaign is a series of adventures with a fixed group of adventurers that follows a narrative. Some campaigns are episodic. The adventures are their own stories, essentially connected only by the player characters. Others contain complex overarching plots, a selection of recurring NPCs, and themes that span multiple adventures culminating in a final climax.
And this is how campaigns are generally set up – A group of adventurers embarks on a journey filled with various small to immense challenges to overcome. Ideally, this results in an adventure where not only do the characters grow, but an exciting story is also told.
This is how one of the most famous groups has made its mark in Dungeons & Dragons. We are talking about “Critical Role,” which has streamed its first three main campaigns in this style on Twitch and YouTube – until now.
Today, on October 2, 2025, the fourth main campaign of Critical Role starts, which will utilize a new campaign style with new and familiar faces, and a new Game Master, which we have not seen in Vox Machina, The Mighty Nein, and Bells Hells: A campaign in the so-called “West Marches” style.
Here you can see the trailer for the animated series adaptation of the second main campaign of Critical Role, The Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime:
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The Mighty Nein – First Sneak Peek of the New Fantasy Series on Amazon Prime
What distinguishes a West Marches campaign from a “regular” campaign?
A West Marches campaign involves a different approach than a typical D&D campaign, which follows a linear plot line responsible for character and story development. The adventures do not travel through various locations and civilizations to get from plot point A to plot point B.
In a West Marches campaign, there is less of a clear narrative and more of a central location that is considered a safe starting point for the adventurers. From this location, the adventures embark on different missions that lead them into the surrounding area. At the end of the missions, they return to the starting point to begin the next adventure.
Metaphorically, one can think of a West Marches campaign as akin to an open-world game with a safe base and distributed side missions, while a regular campaign is often regarded as more linear and story-heavy.
This method allows each session to look very different from the previous one due to the absence of a plot line that binds the players and locations together, without having to ruin a story.
Quests can be started spontaneously, regardless of which players and at any time. And it is from this problem-solving that the campaign style ultimately emerged.
Where does the West Marches campaign style come from?
The creator of this style is game designer Ben Robbins, who adjusted the regular flow of a typical campaign to better suit his players. He reported on his blog in 2007 that he created a campaign for a total of 14 players and made corresponding adjustments:
There was no fixed schedule. Each session was planned spontaneously by the players.
There was no fixed group: Each session consisted of different players that could come together from his 14 participants.
There was no fixed plot, but an overarching environment.
The overarching environment Robbins mentions in his blog post is the namesake border region where the campaign was set – “West Marches.” And the campaign style carries this name to this day.
The cast of Campaign 4 – The group has grown significantly (Image source: Variety)
Advantages and disadvantages of a West Marches campaign
In the case of a West Marches campaign, its advantages are also simultaneously its own disadvantages.
Advantages:
Enormous flexibility (in the campaign and the planning of sessions): This can be especially beneficial for adult players due to work hours and schedules.
More players can be part of the campaign since not everyone needs to be present at every session and can still be part of the world.
A lot of freedom of choice as there are no set plot points from the Game Master.
Disadvantages:
Players at the table as well as their characters can not grow together as strongly as a well-knit group over many sessions.
Less potential for character growth and individual personal storylines that include the backstory of a character.
Less focus on deep storytelling since many smaller missions are in focus.
Why might this style suit the new campaign of Critical Role?
Given the new number of players, which has increased from 7 players and 1 DM (Dungeon Master) in Dungeons & Dragons to 13 players and 1 DM, the West Marches style is suitable to prevent overloaded sessions. The players will, as already announced, be split into three subgroups (the “Soldiers”, the “Planners”, and the “Seekers”), all of whom will be a part of the new world.
And the new world is already the next point: The fourth campaign is set in “Aramán”, a completely new place and not in “Exandria”, which has already been explored in campaigns 1 to 3. Through the West Marches style, many different locations of Aramán will be unveiled in the individual missions to expand the world further.
For a long time, you had to farm an annoying resource in World of Warcraft. In Midnight, this is eliminated as it is removed without replacement.
A common criticism of World of Warcraft is that there are far too many different currencies and resources in the game. There are now well over 100 of them, and with each patch, there are more. At least one of them will soon be “retired” – because in Midnight, a system that has only caused frustration will disappear.
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
What were Valor Stones necessary for? Since the expansion Dragonflight, there has been an interesting and well-thought-out upgrade system in World of Warcraft. Equipment always has a certain range – you might receive it at item level 640 but can upgrade it to item level 670. These upgrades require different materials.
On one hand, the so-called “Emblems,” but on the other hand, the Valor Stones. A resource that was available everywhere in small quantities – especially through world quests, dungeons, or other outdoor activities.
What was the problem with Valor Stones? Actually, there are 2 problems, depending on which group you belong to:
Either you have almost no Valor Stones and must farm them nearly permanently to be able to buy upgrades.
Or you have reached the cap of 2,000 stones and have no way to use them meaningfully.
In between, there is actually hardly anyone. Because depending on what content you are playing, you either suffer from having too little or there is such a flood that you are frustrated that you can’t collect more stones, even though there are still some being thrown around in every corner.
However, most agreed that having to use two currencies does not have much benefit. The Emblems were more than sufficient for that.
What items do you need instead? As before, you will still need Emblems for upgrading, which you obtain from various forms of content. So basically, nothing changes.
However, Blizzard is still very much at the beginning with the Alpha of Midnight. A lot can change in the system through feedback, so you should take the previous announcements with a bit of caution. That at least the Valor Stones will disappear is likely to please most.
In EA FC 26 you can also once again compete in the Weekend League – but different from its predecessor. When do the new FUT Champions Finals start and what can you expect?MeinMMO has all the info for you.
When does the first Weekend League in EA FC 26 start? The first Champions Finals begin on Friday, October 3rd, at 7:00 PM.
This has now been confirmed by EA and can be seen in the in-game menus.
What is different this time? Unlike its predecessor EA FC 25, there are no additional playoffs and it is sufficient to collect points through the Division Rivals as in the past years. The Champion Finals are now divided into 2 competitions:
Up to Division 7, you will compete in the Challengers against players from Divisions 7 to 10.
From Division 6 onwards, you will compete in the known Weekend League against opponents up to Elite Division.
If you participate in the Finals – whether Challengers or Weekend League – you can earn some of the best rewards in the game. Also new are the reward rankings, which have been expanded from 10 to 15 in this installment. Every win counts.
Everything you need to know about the timeframes and the exact qualification can be found here.
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EA FC 26 shows many changes for the career mode that provide more dynamics
How to qualify for the Champions Finals
How do you get into the Champions Finals? To get into the Finals, you need to go through several steps:
Play Division Rivals and automatically collect points while playing. You don’t need to play additional playoffs.
You need a total of 1,000 qualification points.
If you achieve qualification, you can participate in the Finals where 15 games await you.
If you participate, you have the opportunity to earn one of 15 possible ranks and receive valuable rewards.
How to qualify the fastest? You can score the most points if you achieve wins in the Rivals. But you also receive points for draws. The higher your division, the more points you can collect in a game.
The strength of your rewards will depend on how well you perform in the Finals and how many games you can win.
While you want to qualify for the Champions Finals, you can also earn numerous rewards by playing Division Rivals that will help you progress further. What those rewards are, you can find out here on MeinMMO: EA FC 26: Division Rivals Rewards – All Rewards and Release Time
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the Witcher books, is known not to be a fan of the games by CD Projekt. He has now spoken about his world on Reddit and explained that an important part of The Witcher 4 is actually not Canon.
Which part of The Witcher 4 is affected? The next game in the Witcher series by CD Projekt is currently in development. This time, however, the main character will not be the familiar monster slayer Geralt of Rivia, but his adopted daughter Ciri.
While Geralt in the games – and according to a side note in the books – belongs to the Wolf school of Witchers, Ciri in the previously published materials for the game wears an amulet of the Lynx school. This is introduced for the first time in The Witcher 4.
According to Andrzej Sapkowski, there should never have been different Witcher schools: One single sentence about a “Wolf school” mysteriously found its way into “The Last Wish”. Later, I considered it unworthy of further development and narratively incorrect, even harmful to the story. In an Ask me Anything (AmA; in German Ask me anything) on Reddit, he even says he would like to remove this sentence in future book editions.
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The tech demo of The Witcher 4 provides insights into the technology of the new game by CD Projekt Red
Witcher schools like Hogwarts houses? This is what the author says
What does Sapkowskisay about the schools? In the Reddit AmA, the Witcher author goes into more detail about the origin of the Witcher schools. The Wolf school originated from a mere side note, and Sapkowski compares the schools to the Hogwarts houses from Harry Potter. However, he believed the idea was not viable for further development and narratively incorrect.
Currently, he is even considering whether he should simply remove the sentence about the schools in future editions of the book: I am still uncertain how to handle this situation. Perhaps I will take the path of least resistance and remove the sentence about the “school” from future editions of “The Last Wish”.
However, he is also not sure whether he might want to go into more detail about it in future books. Or if he wants to explain the Witcher medallions more deeply.
At the same time, the author is also making jabs at the developers of the Witcher games: Adapters, especially video game developers, have clung to [the idea of the Witcher schools] with remarkable persistence and have wonderfully multiplied these “Witcher schools”. Completely unnecessary.
In the games, there are quite a few different Witcher schools – for reasons
Why is this important for The Witcher 4? The previous protagonist of the games set in the Witcher universe was Geralt of Rivia, the white wolf – from the Wolf school of Witchers. According to in-game lore, the Witchers originated from experiments at various locations in the world.
These places, later known as schools, eventually received animal names, such as the Wolf school or the Bear or Manticore schools from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In the game, there are some armors related to a few of the schools, such as the Bear sets.
In The Witcher 4, Ciri, on the other hand, appears with a medallion of a currently unknown Witcher school: that of the Lynx. This suggests that she has presumably learned a correspondingly different combat style than her adoptive father Geralt and is likely also equipped with completely different gear.
Moreover, Ciri is presumably not trained by Geralt or any of his colleagues from the Wolf school. What happens to her between the end of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the start of The Witcher 4 will consequently be strongly influenced by her experiences in the school. Therefore, which school Ciri belongs to can have story and gameplay implications.
With CoD: Black Ops 7, players will also encounter several changes in Warzone. Especially with the updates regarding movement, many fans are currently far from enthusiastic.
This is currently being discussed: During the “CoD: Next” live show, which takes place annually for the new Call of Duty, the developers showcased gameplay for the latest installment of the series. There was also an insight into the innovations in CoD: Warzone. Especially the movement updates are causing furrowed brows. Some movement options will be removed from the battle royale and instead offered as optional, equippable perks.
Many players are now criticizing that the new movement animations appear “lazy” and destroy immersion.
The new installment of the “Call of Duty” series, Black Ops 7, will be released on November 14, 2025:
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Call of Duty shows first gameplay for Black Ops 7
What disrupts immersion? In a clip on X, Raven Software shows the new Mountaineer perk, which allows you to roll when you jump off a roof. The problem is: At that moment, the camera switches to the third-person perspective. A user writes on X that this destroys all immersion.
You can see the movement here:
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Fans find “Combat Roll” mechanic clunky and underdeveloped
This is what other players say about it: Overall, the roll is not well received by players. YouWontTv writes in the comment under the clip that the roll looks cool, but the transition in and out of the third-person camera feels clunky. “Hopefully, you can shoot during or after the roll; otherwise, you’ll just get killed,” he notes.
The user AdiGamesREAL believes that the animation after the roll should be smoother, calling it “really, really bad”. And kidd_rom writes: “There should be a setting that keeps me in the first-person view because pulling the camera into third-person makes no sense at all”. Another user writes on X that the “Combat Roll” mechanic is a “lazy animation job”.
Additionally, some players express the desire for wall jumps from the Black Ops 7 multiplayer to be available in Warzone as an upgrade to the Omni-Movements.
What else is changing in movement? Other users comment that they prefer the classic tactical sprint over the new perk solution. Because there is also an adjustment here. The developers state in their blog post:
“Unlike in Black Ops 7, there is no longer a standard tactical sprint [in Warzone], but the base speed of all operators is increased. Enhanced movement options are available through perks – such as the Combat Roll in the Mountaineer perk or the Tactical Sprint in the Sprinter perk.”
In the information about the Black Ops 7 beta, the description of the “Tac Sprinter” perk also states that while it activates tactical sprint, the normal sprint speed is reduced (via callofduty.com). So here, there is an additional disadvantage.
World of Warcraft has revealed when Housing will begin. And it is, as promised, still within this year.
This could be the biggest and most ambitious feature ever seen in World of Warcraft: player housing, also simply called “Housing”. Many developers have been working on the housing system for several years, looking at other games, adopting the best features, and expanding upon them in many areas.
Now Housing is finally within reach, as it will be available this year – in fact, even before Nikolaustag, as a kind of early Christmas gift.
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
Housing will be released in 9 weeks, on December 3, 2025
When will Housing be released? As announced by Blizzard, Housing will launch on December 3, 2025, so in exactly about 9 weeks. As usual, the launch in the USA will happen a day earlier, on December 2 – this is due to the different time zones and various server maintenance times.
Will everyone be able to play Housing? No. As of December 3, Housing will be available to everyone who already owns the upcoming expansion “Midnight,” meaning those who have pre-ordered it. This includes early access to Housing and is necessary to get started. We have listed what else is included in the various pre-order versions here.
When will Midnight be released? Even though Housing is strictly speaking a feature of the upcoming expansion Midnight, it will be released independently and much earlier. Since the closed alpha test for Midnight has just begun and a detailed beta is still to come, we should not expect Midnight before the end of January – likely even a bit later. A concrete release date for the expansion has not yet been announced.
But this only means that you can spend a long time thoroughly engaging with Housing and preparing your home almost to perfection, only to then spend the whole day in Silvermoon during Midnight – but the city also looks quite elegant.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Swing the axe and fell trees in World of Warcraft. Soon you will be able to become a “Lumberjack” – but not in the way you think.
There are a few wishes for World of Warcraft that have existed since the early hours of the game. One of these wishes is housing. This hope is usually accompanied by a new profession, namely a lumberjack and a carpenter who will build the furniture. At least partly, this wish is coming true, as wood will become an important resource for crafting many pieces of furniture. In the future, you will need to swing the axe if you want to have a nice home.
Select a MMO video…
What has been announced? In the first “Deep Dive” for the next expansion of World of Warcraft, Midnight, a lot of details were revealed. In addition to regions and new mechanics, housing and a new resource were also discussed. Because all over the game world, players will soon find trees marked with an axe symbol. These trees can then be felled to obtain different types of wood, which can then be further processed.
Is this a completely new profession? No, that is not the case. Wood is simply a new resource that can be found everywhere in the world. Various craftsmen can then use the wood and other materials typical for their profession to create different items for housing. For example, tailors can make curtains, while engineers can construct various technical devices that beep and blink all day long.
There will not be a completely new profession in Midnight. Instead, the housing feature will be divided among the already existing professions, so that each profession can contribute something of its own.
A former developer of Resident Evil and Street Fighter for Capcom has commented on Palworld and the lawsuit with Nintendo. For Yoshiki Okamoto, Pocket Pair has crossed a line.
What does the Capcom veteran say? In a video on his Japanese YouTube channel, Yoshiki Okamoto talks about Palworld. The former Capcom dev clearly states that he believes the developers Pocket Pair have crossed a line with the game: Personally, I think this game has crossed a line that should not be crossed.
For him, Palworld seems to be a precedent: When a game like Palworld, which in his view is too close to Nintendo’s IP Pokémon, is released, it could be seen as a green light for other developers to borrow from other well-known games. This should not be supported: Playing [Palworld] means you are supporting something like this – so: please do not buy it.
Indeed, the developers of Palworld have announced that they are currently working on version 1.0. Once it is released, the game, which is currently in Early Access, will be officially released. Recently, a co-op with Once Human has been announced for the game:
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Palworld and Once Human are unexpectedly getting a crossover – Even very soon
He hasn’t played it, but says: Do not support it
What exactly bothers Yoshiki Okamoto? Basically, Okamoto is concerned that Palworld is too close to Pokémon. He does not name it specifically in his video, but mentions the crossed line, addresses the legal issues with Nintendo, and the potential copyright and patent violations at stake.
For the Capcom veteran, the visual and gameplay proximity between Pokémon and Palworld is an absolute no-go, which he does not want to support. Accordingly, he also asks his community to stay away from Palworld.
He himself has also not played the game for the aforementioned reasons: I personally do not play it and have not downloaded it either. I do not want to support the game – neither with my time nor with my money. Only when an agreement has been reached in the lawsuit between Nintendo and Palworld can the game be supported.
What is the current status of Palworld? In fact, Palworld seems to be doing quite well. Recently, the aforementioned cooperation with Once Human was announced. The developers also announced a new offshoot called Palfarm, which is reminiscent of a newly announced Nintendo game: Pokopia. They are also diligently working on the final 1.0 release.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit continues to rage behind the scenes. Nintendo has recently been attempting to secure patents on game mechanics in the USA as well. This may indicate that Nintendo is trying to sue the makers of Palworld there as well.
With Season 10, special Uniques have come to Diablo 4 that you can specifically farm in certain activities. An expert has now revealed which paths are the most worthwhile.
What are these Uniques? The Chaos Uniques are seasonal items in the new Season 10 and a stronger version of already existing Uniques. They drop for other item slots, opening up entirely new possibilities for builds and playstyles. You can only equip one version of a Unique at a time. Combining the normal and the Chaos version is not possible. The Chaos Uniques are well received in the community, many even wish that they stay permanently in Diablo 4.
Where do Chaos Uniques drop? To obtain the Chaos Uniques, you must first reach the Torment levels in Diablo 4. There, the seasonal items can drop in various activities:
In the Hell Hordes, specifically from the new boss Bartuk
In Nightmare Dungeons with the “Chaos Portal” modifier
Through the seasonal reputation at the board in Yelesna
At the Curiosity Vendor through “Gambling”
As random drops – but this doesn’t happen often
The Diablo expert wudijo has taken a closer look at the system and explained in a YouTube video which activities are worth it – and which are not. The Curiosity Vendor is the least worthwhile. There are simply too many different Chaos Uniques, so you rarely get the right one. On top of that, you have to do numerous Pit runs to gather enough Oboluses for gambling.
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Diablo 4 shows the new features in Season 10 in the gameplay trailer
Nightmare Dungeons are the most worthwhile
This is the fastest way to get Chaos Uniques: The Diablo expert wudijo explains that Nightmare Dungeons with the “Chaos Portal” modifier are currently the best approach to obtain Chaos Uniques. There, you not only collect loot but also advance your reputation on the seasonal board in Yelesna – and there are also Chaos Uniques. Even if you complete all 24 levels on the board, you can unlock more chests.
According to wudijo, with a fast build, you can farm around 10–12 Chaos Uniques per hour. The necessary seals for the dungeons can be obtained through seasonal content, such as Chaos Portals in the Hell Flood, or from the reputation board.
For variety, wudijo recommends the Hell Floods. There, you will not only receive seals for the dungeons but also reputation and loot. He advises farming solo and disabling crossplay – this gives you the best chance of finding Chaos Portals open. Less visited Hell Flood areas without Whisper tasks are especially worthwhile.
If you prefer a slower but stronger build, you can instead scour the Hell Hordes and take down Bartuk. Here too, around 10 Chaos Uniques per hour are possible.
In general, the expert recommends:
Nightmare Dungeons: The most effective method for farming Chaos Uniques and building reputation.
Hell Hordes: a good alternative for slower builds.
Hell Floods: Perfect for variety and as a source of Chaos Portals and dungeon seals.
Gambling at the vendor: Only use if you have many Oboluses left.
The new seasonal items open up completely new build possibilities. Because you can now place Uniques in other slots, the actual Unique slots are freed up for other strong items. For instance, you can now equip an amulet that previously only existed as an amulet, now also as boots. No wonder that the Chaos Uniques appear in many strong endgame builds. You can find the best builds in Season 10 of Diablo 4 for all classes in the endgame in our tier list, including links to replicate them.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Microsoft/Xbox has announced today that the “Game Pass” subscription is undergoing significant adjustments. Starting today, October 1, 2025, prices will increase significantly. You can read more about it directly on MeinMMO.
Microsoft and Xbox have announced today that the subscription model “Game Pass” is being significantly revised: The various tiers will be renamed and prices will increase sharply. Depending on the subscription, it will cost nearly double starting October 1, 2025.
Price changes for the Game Pass in detail:
Tier
New Price
Changes
Essential (formerly Core)
€8.99/month (previously €6.99)
Cloud Gaming
Premium (formerly Standard)
€14.99/month (previously €12.99)
Cloud Gaming
Ultimate
€26.99/month (previously €17.99)
better cloud quality compared to other price tiers
PC Game Pass
€14.99/month (previously €11.99)
Players are complaining about the price increases, comparing the move to Sony and PS Plus
Microsoft has been investing a lot of money in the Game Pass since 2017, bringing many games directly at release without additional costs through the subscription models, and has been expanding the portfolio for years. After a long dry spell and some failures, it was recently said that the Game Pass is paying off – also for us players: Microsoft’s billions are finally paying off, the Xbox Game Pass is more valuable than ever
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many of you might still know Digimon as Anime on RTL2. Nowadays, there are countless games about the colorful monsters. MeinMMO editor Jasmin was able to test the latest installment, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and even finds one thing better than in the Pokémon games.
Pokémon and Digimon have been competitors for decades, as both franchises feature colorful monsters that can battle each other. Ultimately, Pokémon has established itself as the more successful brand and is now the largest anime franchise in the world.
Who is writing this review? I am Jasmin, an anime editor at MeinMMO, and I spent many afternoons in front of the TV when many animes were airing on the RTL2 channel. Digimon stands out in my memory because the characters had to undertake an exciting journey. My favorite Digimon is Lilimon.
New video games are regularly released for both universes. Recently, this was the case for Pokémon with Scarlet and Violet, for Digimon it will be on October 3, 2025, with Digimon Story: Time Stranger.
As much as I loved the Pokémon games and they added a part of joy to my childhood: There is one thing that I found totally annoying even as a child – and tried to avoid as much as possible.
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Digimon Story Time Stranger: English Trailer for the Anime Game
Digimon Story makes battles more bearable
Just like in Pokémon, battles are turn-based. You have a fixed team of 6 Digimon, of which only 3 are active in battle. The series also plays with elemental weaknesses and strengths, as well as types of Digimon that can perform more effective attacks in a rock-paper-scissors principle.
The battles in Pokémon have always bothered me on the different routes. You walk through tall grass, surf on the sea, or climb through a cave. Every few meters, you come to a halt because you either locked eyes with a trainer or triggered a random battle.
IMAGE
With a high frequency, this can become quite annoying over time. While there are items to keep the Pokémon at bay, you miss out on the experience points from the battles. Nowadays, in Scarlet and Violet, you can at least see where the wild pocket monsters are to avoid them – but the battles still drag on.
And that’s exactly what Digimon Story gets right in my opinion. Here, there’s even the option to speed up battles. In extreme cases, you can make the battles and Digimon animations run at five times the speed. Once you’ve seen the effects of the attacks a few times, you’ll tire of them anyway.
As a result, I was much more motivated to jump into the next battle. Additionally, some Digimon can even be defeated with a first strike from afar, without triggering a battle. This way, I moved through the game more easily than in Pokémon, as I never had to pause to grind for levels. Thus, I was never thrown out of the “game flow”.
Another plus point is the fact that using an item doesn’t cost a turn. In Pokémon, you often have to decide whether to heal your team or even perform revives and sacrifice a turn for that. In Digimon, attacking and healing can happen simultaneously.
This also made the battles much more bearable for me. Because I didn’t have to wait for another turn before I could attack again.
Story becomes a minor thing when collecting
Another great strength I discovered in Digimon is the digitization system. Unlike Pokémon, Digimon do not simply evolve by carrying certain items and leveling up. Instead, there is a sophisticated system where individual stats of Digimon must reach certain values.
Each Digimon also has the option to perform multiple digitizations. This makes it more complicated to decide on a specific digitization, because you either have to catch the base Digimon again or revert the current one. However, this usually lowers the stats so much that a re-digitization is not immediately possible.
It takes much more sweat and effort to collect all the Digimon. It escalated for me to the extent that the story became a mere side note, and I was just hunting for new Digimon.
To strengthen the Digimon in their stats, you can either use the skill tree of the respective being or send the Digimon to a “farm” for training. But don’t expect a farm like I imagined; instead, there’s a miniature view planet where the Digimon train and decoration items like toilets can be placed.
If you’re still interested in the story: As a time traveler, you must prevent a major catastrophe where humanity is destroyed by a Digimon. To do this, you visit both the human world and the Digimon’s home.
There are small surprises here and there in the story. However, they are introduced so clumsily that you usually already know what’s going on before the reveal.
Many similarities to Pokémon
Apart from that, the new Digimon game has quite a few similarities to the main series of Pokémon, aside from the battle setup and different elemental types:
At the very beginning, 3 digital monsters are available as starters. This immediately reminded me of the most important choice in Pokémon games.
The strengths in Digimon, as in Pokémon, are not exactly in the visuals. Overall, they fluctuate greatly in Digimon: Sometimes there’s a beautiful Tokyo that makes me emotional and reminds me of my last trip to Japan, but then there are uninspired housing blocks that could come from the PS3 era.
There are hidden interactions and conversations in towns to obtain items. This motivates you to click on everything and everyone.
One thing makes Pokémon better for me: You can customize your character much more individually than in Digimon Story: Time Stranger. That’s also an important reason for me, to still play Pokémon Legends Z-A.
Additionally, the main character does not have his own voice acting. As a result, I felt an even lower attachment to him. Even the agent who keeps calling me in the game was totally irrelevant to me – he only gave the same instructions over and over: Watch for anomalies, keep a low profile, and report everything to me!
Conclusion: Digimon is essential for JRPG fans
Thanks to the comfort functions in battle, I am convinced that Digimon Story: Time Stranger can also win over fans who generally enjoy turn-based RPGs. Especially fans of Japan will be blown away by the metropolis of Tokyo, as there were many details that I could remember from my vacation.
Aside from that, Digimon is rather average in many respects. The story is a nice accessory to provide a red thread in the game. The textures also vary greatly in quality. Additionally, the main character cannot be customized.
Overall, I had the feeling that parts of the story series are very beginner-friendly. This is due to the comfort functions and the easy difficulty level. Even on normal, I had no trouble getting through the game.
Pros
Battles are enjoyable due to several factors
Collecting different digitizations is fun
Cities are particularly well-designed
Very beginner-friendly, even for newcomers to the series
Cons
Outside of cities, like in the sewers, the visuals decline
Main character can only be minimally adjusted with a shirt
Story remains rather average
Who is Digimon Story: Time Stranger suitable for?
You should play Digimon Story: Time Stranger if you …
Hated the battles in Pokémon and need motivation to complete them faster
Enjoy collecting monsters and completing collections
Are a fan of Pokémon or Digimon – both are fine!
Have experience with JRPGs
You should rather stay away if you …
Need top-notch graphics that immerse you in the game
Are a fashion diva and value many customization options
Expect a grand story with many plot twists
Is Digimon Story: Time Stranger also suitable for newcomers? Don’t worry if you haven’t played the previous story parts; it’s not a problem. As mentioned, this installment of the series is particularly beginner-friendly. Furthermore, you don’t need to have played the predecessors, since each part essentially has its own, complete story.
By the end of 2025, a huge update for Fallout 76 is set to arrive, giving newcomers and veterans plenty to do in the Wasteland again. What you can expect, we show you in our overview.
Your task is, of course, to stir up the Wasteland, loot, and even meet a familiar face from the series.
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Trailer for Season 2 of Fallout on Prime – from December 2025
A new area and bounty hunting
What new features can I expect? In December, one of the largest updates for Fallout 76 – “Burning Springs” – awaits you. Point Pleasant and its charming Mothman cultists have managed to repair the bridge, and you can now cross it to visit Ohio. This locality ties into Appalachia and represents the second real map expansion alongside Skyline Valley – not a new expedition.
In Ohio, you will meet various NPCs who will pick you up and tell you what you should know about Ohio, including residents and even an intelligent Super Mutant. Of course, there will also be quests as well as events that will equip you with new items.
But the most interesting feature is the new bounty system. The ghoul from the Fallout series appears as an NPC in Highway Town, and he will provide you with wanted posters. Your task: track down and eliminate criminals.
The outlaws are legendary foes who will provide you with loot and legendary items. So be successful and make the ghoul proud, as new wanted posters will always be waiting for you to pursue.
Can I test the update? Although the update is set to arrive in December 2025, you can meet the ghoul from the series on October 2nd on the PTS of Fallout 76. However, since this is only a preliminary test version of the feature, you should expect that some changes could be made after the feedback loop with the fans before the final update. You can download the PTS on Steam as soon as it is available.
Are you already excited about Ohio, and if so, what do you think of the new bounty system? A system like this already existed as a PvP component, but now PvE players also have the chance to earn rewards like bounty hunters. Important: You need to be well-equipped for the update, and a strong Power Armor is essential for that. You can find more about it here: Fallout 76: The best Power Armor for every situation – Top 3 Power Armors
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At an event, first players were allowed to try out Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and showcased the innovations of this installment to the public. A new killstreak immediately caught the attention of the viewers.
Where does the gameplay come from? Some influencers were invited by Activision to take a look at the new installment of the shooter series about a month before its release on November 14, 2025.
The event served to promote the game, and the invited influencers diligently produced clips from their livestreams. The CoD pro Simp especially drew attention with a clip. He showcased the new killstreak “The Gravemaker,” which caused quite a stir among fans.
Here you can see gameplay from the multiplayer:
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 zeigt erstes Gameplay aus dem Multiplayer-Modus
New killstreak is a legal cheat
What can the new killstreak do? The new killstreak “The Gravemaker” gives the player a sniper rifle with high damage and extreme wall penetration. It allows shooting through multiple walls effortlessly and taking down enemies with a single shot.
However, the weapon causes frustration due to its scope. It provides the player with a kind of wallhack that displays all enemies through walls in thermal optics, allowing them to be dealt with using the sniper rifle.
If one did not know that this is a feature, the perspective could also be sold as a cheat by a third party that creates unfair advantages.
Here you can see the weapon in action:
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How does the community react to the innovation? Players are not fans of the new weapon; on the contrary, they are frustrated by the killstreak. As such, X user @starboydiablo asks: “Call of Duty is messed up, man. What happened to the game I love so much?”
The gameplay clips of the new killstreak are causing many fans of the series to shake their heads and feel dismayed. There are already calls for a change or removal of the weapon. However, there are also alternative opinions.
Journalist Tyler Wilde from PCGamer.com explains that killstreaks are supposed to be OP. In his opinion, being taken down by a combat helicopter or a carpet bomb without a chance is not fairer than getting taken out by an OP sniper rifle through walls.
The new weapon seems unfair at first glance and appears to be a capitulation to cheaters by integrating a wallhack. Nevertheless, the statement holds that there have always been killstreaks against which one could hardly or not defend at all. With the new “Gravemaker,” one at least still has to aim and hit, even if that is easier with thermal optics.
In Battlefield 6 it’s not only your good shooter skills that matter, but also your hardware, because if it’s not up to par, you won’t be able to enjoy the graphical splendor of the upcoming shooter. Therefore, we show you all the system requirements you should know.
Battlefield 6 will be released soon, alongside the Xbox and PlayStation versions, also on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, or the EA launcher. While the versions of the shooter on consoles are already optimized, PC fans have to hope that they have the right hardware at launch.
For this reason, we show you the necessary system requirements for the minimum settings as well as the optimal selection of hardware to play with the best possible graphics.
Battlefield 6 shows live-action trailer with a clear message to the competition
If your PC does not meet the system requirements, the console version of the shooter might be a worthwhile alternative for you. It is already known that Battlefield 6 will have crossplay – so you could also play with your friends in co-op using a PS5 or Xbox if they are playing on PC.
It is important that your friends on console activate crossplay. PC players do not have the option, but you must enable this setting on the console.
The release of Battlefield 6 is just around the corner, but before it starts, you should know what to expect in the new shooter from DICE. You can find all important information about the shooter in our extensive overview: Battlefield 6: All important info about release, beta, and crossplay
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The latest installment of the popular fighting series is Street Fighter 6, and Capcom is hosting a large tournament for the best players in the world in March 2026. They have now announced that as viewers, you will have to pay to watch the event on Twitch.
What kind of big tournament is this? The Capcom Cup 12 and the Street Fighter League: World Championships will take place together on the weekend of March 14 – 15, 2026. In Japan, the best players and teams of Street Fighter 6 will compete against each other. The Capcom Cup 12 has a whopping one million USD prize for the winner.
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Street Fighter 6 aespa – Trailer for the new collaboration of the fighting game
What do viewers have to pay? In a X post, Capcom announced that this time there will be a so-called pay-per-view system. Anyone who wants to watch the finals of the Capcom Cup and the subsequent Street Fighter League live will have to pay. For both events combined, it would be nearly 35 Euros, and if you are only interested in one of the two, you can expect a price of around 23 Euros. The playoffs and qualifiers will be streamed for free.
Currently, Street Fighter 6 even costs less than the tickets for the live stream. In the Autumn Sale on Steam, it is currently only 19.99 €.
Fans of Street Fighter are not pleased with this news
What do fans say about Capcom’s payment model? Under the X post, there are some players and fans who are disappointed in Capcom due to the pay-per-view principle.
The Street Fighter player and tournament participant, ElChakotay writes on X that he has followed every Capcom Cup from start to finish since 2013 and he definitely will not pay for the finals. He describes the decision as one of the worst that Capcom has ever made.
Another X user named Super_Yan thought that the reason so much money was invested in the Capcom Cup was to appeal to casual audiences and thus sell more copies of Street Fighter.
Super_Yan continues the following: “Instead, they are doing the exact opposite by shutting out new viewers with a paywall, not to mention angering long-time fans. Greed destroys everything.”
Those who want to buy Battlefield 6 before its release should know what editions and prices exist. Therefore, we list all versions of the shooter and show you what you can get for your money.
Are there pre-order bonuses? Yes, if you pre-order Battlefield 6, you will receive access to the “Tombstone Pack” – a cosmetic pack for your account. This pack offers you:
The “Gravedigger” soldier skin
The “Bandolier” weapon talisman
XP boost set
“Axe” weapon configuration
Weapon stickers and soldier patches
“Heroic Fallen” player card
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Battlefield 6 shows live-action trailer with a clear message to the competition
All prices and editions at a glance
In total, you can expect two editions:
The Standard Edition
The Phantom Edition
Both have different prices and bonuses when you purchase them. To allow you to compare them better, we organize their contents in a table. This way, you can more easily contrast them:
BF Pro Token: Battle Pass, 25 Level Skip, Exclusive Rewards
No
Yes
Phantom Pack with skins and weapon configurations
No
Yes
Now we know what to expect in the available editions. But which one should you choose? We will give you a brief advice.
Here are the contents of the pre-order and Phantom bonuses:
What you can expect in the editions and bonuses
Which edition is right for me? If you just want to play the latest shooter from Battlefield and can do without cosmetic content, we recommend the Standard Edition. You can’t go wrong with it.
You should consider the Phantom Edition if the beta has already convinced you to buy and you would like to benefit from XP tokens for your weapons and account. These bonuses give you an advantage over all other standard players, allowing you to quickly access the attachments and weapons that appeal to you the most.
If you are still undecided, you can also go for the Standard Edition first and test the game. If you fall in love with it, you can upgrade your edition to the Phantom Edition for a small fee and thus also benefit from the bonuses of the larger edition.
Will there still be pre-order bonuses after the release? From what we know, these are strictly pre-order bonuses, meaning if you haven’t pre-ordered, you will never get the chance to obtain these cosmetic contents after the release.
That was all the information regarding the editions and prices for Battlefield 6. We hope we could assist you in your purchasing decision. If you are looking for more information about the release, we have the right overview with all details about Battlefield 6: Battlefield 6: All important information about release, beta, and crossplay
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A user posts a picture showing dozens of computers that will soon be disposed of. Many companies dispose of their old computers because they are no longer supported. This means a lot of new electronic waste. Critics say: This could also be avoided if Microsoft changed its update policy.
A user has now posted a photo on Reddit showing what the end of Windows 10 means: numerous computers ending up in the trash. The user reports that there are a total of three pallets of computers involved. So it’s about dozens of computers that will become “useless” to the company starting mid-October.
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Windows 11 does not support older hardware
Why do computers need to be disposed of? Microsoft has significantly increased the minimum requirements for Windows 11, so that especially older hardware no longer supports the current operating system from Microsoft. However, the end of support means that many PCs will ultimately no longer be secure. And an insecure computer can become an entry point for malware for an entire company, potentially causing damages in the millions.
Critics argue that Microsoft is passively accepting that millions of computers will need to be disposed of starting in mid-October 2025: The English magazine TomsHardware reports that approximately 240 million computers with Windows 10 are expected to end up on the scrap heap. Electronic waste that could be avoided if Microsoft changed its restrictive update policy behind Windows 11.
However, Microsoft has already stated that it will stick to the end of Windows 10. The Redmond company recommends that users should rather buy a new PC instead of updating their old system to Windows 11 (via Neowin.com).
The Autumn Sale on Steam features many exciting offers. Among them is a hardcore action RPG in which MeinMMO author Ody has already slashed his way through a dark world as an anime vampire for 80 hours.
Code Vein was one of those games that really surprised me. I stumbled upon it years ago by chance and had no high expectations for the game. The more it surprised me how solid of a Soulslike you get here.
Who is writing here? MeinMMO author Ody loves to struggle through Soulslikes – especially when they come from FromSoftware itself. However, he is also not averse to genre representatives from other developers: For example, he has also played the Nioh series and Code Vein.
This surprisingly good Soulslike is now available on Steam for the lowest price ever. Until October 6th, Code Vein is down by 90%. So you can get it for just €4.99 instead of the usual €49.99.
A first look at the game is provided by this trailer for Code Vein:
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Code Vein – Trailer for the Anime Soulslike by Bandai Namco
Awakened as a Vampire after the Apocalypse
The game’s premise is as follows: Code Vein lets you awaken in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world and you have no idea how you got there or what has happened to you. One thing becomes clear quickly, namely that you are no longer a normal human.
In Code Vein, you play as a “Revenant,” a revenant. At first glance, they look like ordinary humans but are significantly stronger and also immortal.
However, this power comes at a high price, as revenants must feed on human blood.
Yes, basically you are playing as an anime vampire here. However, this fact is less relevant for gameplay and much more so for the story. One theme of the game is how the coexistence between revenants and humans can actually work when one needs to drink the other’s blood.
For gameplay, your vampiric nature means you gain some really powerful abilities.
Your revenant possesses powers that you unlock and enhance through the use of ichor.
Generally, each revenant has their own blood code, but you also have access to a variety of different blood codes.
Some of these blood codes can be found in the game world, while others are collected from the “Lost” – revenants who have lost their minds and become wild beasts. Others are willingly given to you by characters in the game when you befriend them, like by completing quests or giving the right gifts.
This way, over time, a collection of different abilities becomes available to you, allowing you to create your own build: Whether mage, striking enemies from a distance with spells and rifles, agile melee fighter, or tanking opponents with an oversized hammer.
With the bayonet, you deal damage to the Lost from a distance, and magic is a real help with the right build in both melee and ranged combat.
Not the Crème de la Crème, but Worth a Look
The battles in the game demand quite a lot from you: Even ordinary enemies can become dangerous if you’re not careful. And with some bosses, you should be prepared to die frequently. However, you can always take a companion with you who can also help you back on your feet if you are down. This companion can also be a buddy in co-op mode.
Code Vein was never a game that made big waves. The reviews on Metacritic are rather lukewarm, while the reviews on Steam are a bit more lenient. Personally, I was still very taken by the game, which was mainly due to the emotional story and the engaging characters.
According to the website howlongtobeat.com, you need around 35 hours for the main and side stories; if you want to see everything, it takes about 62 hours. I have spent about 80 hours in Code Vein so far and still haven’t seen everything. I have rarely been bored and always wanted to know how the story continues.
If you don’t want to spend money on the game right away, then first download the demo on Steam. However, keep in mind that the discount on the game is only valid until October 6th.
The Big Bang Theory was a big success for the main actors. One of them is grateful to the series to this day, as it ended a long dry spell full of odd jobs and secured him a residence permit in the USA.
Which actor is being referred to? Kunal Nayyar experienced his big breakthrough with The Big Bang Theory. In the series, which aired from 2007 to 2019, he was seen for 279 episodes as Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali, short Raj. He portrayed the character in a charming way and knew what was good for the character.
Before that, however, the actor went through some tough years in the USA. The British native arrived in the United States in 1999 and studied acting at Temple University in Philadelphia. Like many young people, he had to work alongside his studies to finance his life.
Today, many years later, Kunal Nayyar looks back on that time pragmatically.
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The Big Bang Theory – Trailer of Season 1
Not too good for any job
How did Nayyar get by? The acting student had to find his way in the USA, finance his studies, and cover all other living costs. He took every job that came his way. In a conversation with Fortune, he shares today:
I just did every job I could. In my first year in 1999, I cleaned toilets, I was in the housekeeping department. I did everything I could. No job was too low for me.
Kunal Nayyar
Fortunately, Kunal Nayyar got the role and subsequently received permission to continue staying in the USA.
Besides his cleaning jobs, he also worked as the computer room manager at his school, taught acting, waited tables, or cleaned windows in a church.
It was not until gradually that the first acting jobs came in. Nayyar played a small role in the popular series Navy CIS. But the breakthrough did not come. Slowly, time was running out, as the actor was about to graduate from his studies, which presented him with the next problem.
What was the problem? Nayyar had a student visa for the duration of his acting studies. This allowed him to stay in the USA. About a year before it expired and he would have to leave the country, he went to the casting of a then-unknown series: The Big Bang Theory.
I needed to book something big to be able to apply for a permanent residence permit, and then I auditioned for Big Bang, and the rest is history. But I had only a year left on my visa because when an international student graduates, you get a one-year free work permit. So I was under time pressure.
Kunal Nayyar
Fortunately, Kunal Nayyar got the role and subsequently received permission to continue staying in the USA.
