The story behind the game: How a German indie studio and one of the world’s largest YouTube gaming groups came together

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 4 minutes

With Nice Day for Fishing, an unusual role-playing game was released this year on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PS5. However, the composition is much quirkier: a New Zealand YouTuber and a small German studio. At gamescom, MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes just had to ask how this came about.

What is Nice Day for Fishing? The pixel RPG from the German developer FusionPlay focuses on fishing as its core mechanic. You not only catch fish or collect loot with it, but the fishing rod is also your weapon in combat. It was precisely this mix that made MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiss enjoy it so much.

The game has a special world. As a fisherman, you are traveling in Honeywood in the world of Azerim. This is based on the videos of the YouTube group Viva La Dirt League, which now has over 7.2 million subscribers on YouTube.

However, the game is not simply based on Azerim; the dialogues, the story, and the characters resemble the videos of the group that makes fun of MMORPG and gaming clichés. At gamescom, new content was presented together with Viva La Dirt League.

At gamescom, we spoke with the CEO of Fusion Play, Konrad Kunze, and asked him how the exciting collaboration came about and how the work processes unfolded.

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Nice Day for Fishing zeigt seine neuen Inhalte aus dem neuen Update

This is the perfect entry into the gaming industry

How did the work come about? At gamescom, we spoke with Konrad Kunze. He has been the CEO of FusionPlay since 2021; before that, he was the lead game designer at the studio for 7 years. At gamescom, we were able to ask him a few questions, especially regarding the collaboration and how it all came together.

He explained to us that there was an internal developer who pitched the idea of a fishing RPG. The idea was well-received, and they wanted to start a small project. At the same time, Baelin’s Route was supposed to be released on YouTube. This is a short film about Baelin the fisherman, the character you later play in the game, which lasts about 30 minutes.

This fit surprisingly well with the game concept of the fishing RPG. They decided to reach out. An email to the community manager led to artist management, and the contact with the group was established. The idea was well-received, and FusionPlay sent a prototype. It amused Viva La Dirt League, and the collaboration developed.

In the interview, Konrad Kunze explains that the group generally wanted to make a game, but their goals were too ambitious. About Azerim as a large MMORPG, but that’s not so easy:

However, when you calculate the whole thing, you quickly realize that it is very, very risky and involves very, very high costs. And then we came up with our little idea, and they said, “Wow, this is the perfect entry into the gaming industry to have our first small game.” And that’s how we came together.

Konrad Kunze about the origin of the collaboration between FusionPlay and Viva La Dirt League

The time difference was no problem at all

How did the collaboration go? In light of the collaboration’s origin story, we, of course, wanted to know how the work with the YouTubers went. This is what Konrad Kunze revealed to us in the interview.

They wanted to give Viva La Dirt League creative freedom with few restrictions. It should happen dynamically, but indeed as a collaboration. FusionPlay mostly took care of the gameplay, and Viva La Dirt League provided drafts for the story and dialogues. They revised them, rewrote dialogues, or adapted them.

It was important that it was clear that it came from Viva La Dirt League. It was a perfect middle ground. FusionPlay was able to learn a lot during the collaboration, and it was also Viva La Dirt League’s first collaboration with game developers. At first, they were constantly sending notes to each other, but that proved too much.

They developed a special version of the game in which texts could be edited directly. In this version, they could also leave notes. If Viva La Dirt League did this, they would contact FusionPlay, and the developers would integrate it into the game.

This process was much smoother and indeed uncomplicated. The time difference helped as well, as Konrad explains. The significant time difference (12 hours) was an advantage. When FusionPlay wrote emails, the YouTube group could respond the next morning or evening. This process was thus outside their regular daily business, and it worked well.

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Overall a good experience

In the interview, we also talked about the future of Nice Day for Fishing and whether anything is planned in that universe. Konrad Kunze explains that they are happy with how it turned out, including their partners Team17 (publisher) and Viva La Dirt League. There are no plans, but they can imagine doing more.

They can also envision collaborating with content creators again in the future, as a strong IP is something to stand out from the crowd. However, they do not want to force anything. It should fit the team, just as it did with Nice Day for Fishing.

We are open to what we want to do, but what we would not do is force something. We do not want to just take any IP or any influencer and then forcibly rebrand the game when it does not suit us.

Konrad Kunze about future collaborations

It was also good for Viva La Dirt League that they were involved very early in the development. Ideas were constantly brought in, and from the initially small project grew an ever-expanding game, as it ultimately appeared.

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FusionPlay is familiar with quirky concepts

In the interview, Konrad Kunze also mentioned a previous game from FusionPlay, Konrad’s Kittens, a VR cat game. In this game, you take care of a virtual pet, as in other games of this type. However, they implemented a plush toy mode.

In this mode, you can attach the VR controller to a stuffed animal, for example, with rubber bands, and thus have haptic feedback in virtual reality with a matching object. You can then lift the object, and sounds and vibrations that you physically feel are emitted through the controller.

In creative meetings with developers, artists, and also shareholders, according to Konrad, everyone can bring and pitch ideas. These are then evaluated, analyzed (for example, whether there is a target audience), and if it fits, they are further developed. This creates interesting concepts like Konrad’s Kittens or Nice Day for Fishing.

Large studios are not known for big experiments, but sometimes they also try to implement new concepts, mechanics, or ideas in established genres. This includes Capcom, which brings an intriguing mechanic with Pragmata: A new sci-fi shooter for the PS5 could turn out really well, even if one mechanic will divide players

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

Player buys used version of GTA 3, finds nostalgic “family heirloom” in the packaging

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

It often happens that buyers of used goods find unexpected items among their new possessions. A recent find in a PlayStation 2 package of GTA 3 reminds of the “good old times.”

What is this find? The user niallniallniall uploaded a picture on Reddit, showing not only the used, freshly purchased PlayStation 2 package of GTA 3 but also a sheet of paper. The previous owner noted a series of cheats on it.

Specifically, the cheat list includes cheats for

  • Lowering the wanted level
  • Increasing the wanted level
  • Unlocking all weapons
  • Providing full health
  • Providing maximum armor

The cheat list shows how many played GTA 3 for hours back then: Raising the wanted level through cheats or obviously criminal behavior, then using their destructive arsenal of weapons to fend off the approaching police, FBI forces, and soldiers.

Our talk about GTA 6 during the grind fest:

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MeinMMO and GameStar discuss the future of GTA 6

Nostalgic journey into one’s past

How does the community react to the cheat list? With over 6,500 upvotes and numerous comments.

  • boromirsbeard jokes on Reddit: “Appreciate the fact that you own a used copy from one of the psychos who wanted to know how to INCREASE their wanted level.”
  • BigRedNY explains on Reddit why they extensively used the cheat: “My friends and I constantly used this cheat and had competitions on how long we could survive with 6 stars. Those were good times.”
  • GoodQuestion97 celebrates the find on Reddit: “This isn’t a used game, but a family heirloom.”
  • Trumpet_of_Jericho sees it this way on Reddit : “Keep the paper, that’s a great relic.”
  • pvtbucko sums it up on Reddit succinctly: “The good old times.”

One player ultimately recalls a good friend who had written a complete guide for Suikoden on 112 pages just to pass it on to him. What a legend.

More about GTA:
If GTA 6 is postponed again, at least one actor from GTA 5 celebrates: “The longer they take, the cooler it will be”
von Sophia Weiss
When can we expect GTA 6 Online? A leaker claims to know Rockstar’s plans
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Even in the (still) current GTA 5, cheats play an important role for many players. Even though they likely won’t end up on extra sheets anymore. What cheat codes exist and what they do, you can find out here: GTA 5: All cheats for PS5 and Xbox

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

Two secret customers are responsible for almost 40% of Nvidia’s quarterly revenue.

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Nvidia reports a record profit. Two anonymous customers are responsible for nearly 40% of the revenue. Little is known about the customers, and Nvidia will not reveal who is behind them. Only one piece of information is known.

What were the quarterly results? Nvidia surpassed Wall Street analysts’ expectations on August 27, 2025: Nvidia reported a revenue of $46.7 billion for the second quarter, exceeding the previous quarter’s revenue record of $44.1 billion and the economists’ forecasts of $46.05 billion. This was reported by Forbes.com.

However, the remarkable thing is that two customers alone are responsible for nearly 40% of the manufacturer’s revenue. Not much is known about the customers.

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Check out the brilliant Collector’s Edition of the NVIDIA TITAN Xp in Star Wars style in the video

Two anonymous customers, whose identities are known only to Nvidia

What kind of customers are they? Two anonymous customers, referred to in a report as “Customer A” and “Customer B,” accounted for 23% and 16% of the company’s revenue in the second quarter, according to Nvidia’s latest quarterly report to the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission). Together, they make up nearly 40% of the revenue in Q2 2025.

Compared to the first quarter of 2025, the shares of the two secret customers have increased significantly: In the same quarter of the previous year, the buyers referred to as “Customer A” and “Customer B” accounted for only 14% and 11%, respectively.

Who are these customers? A spokesman for Nvidia declined to provide details about the identities of the customers to Fortune magazine. However, in its report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Nvidia points out that its two largest anonymous buyers are so-called “direct customers.”

This means they are companies that make purchases directly from Nvidia, but do not necessarily have to use the hardware themselves. Direct customers can be companies, but they can also be public institutions like schools that purchase hardware.

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However, not everything is going smoothly for the chip manufacturer: Nvidia recently suffered a loss of 600 billion euros in market value, all due to a new AI model from China.

However, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sees the panic as unfounded. In his opinion, high-performance computing remains essential for the future of AI, and the market has completely misunderstood the situation: Nvidia lost 600 billion euros in a single day on the stock market, but now the CEO says: It was all just a misunderstanding

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

Few other races in Dungeons & Dragons are so despised as Tieflings – But why are the “Devil Children” so hated?

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 6 minutes

While they may outwardly resemble fiendish creatures or infernal demons, tieflings are not monstrosities. They are inhabitants of Faerûn, just like elves, dwarves, or humans, albeit a little rarer – and with many deep-seated prejudices that make tieflings one of the most despised races in Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur’s Gate 3.

What are tieflings? Tieflings are one of the many different races from Dungeons & Dragons that players can embody in the game. They are particularly noticeable due to their unique appearance and resemblance to hellish inhabitants, which give them a certain aura that can fascinate and unsettle others.

And that’s exactly the point. Despite all the different faces one can encounter in Dungeons & Dragons, tieflings are scrutinized especially closely – and usually not for a friendly reason.

Erin M. Evans captures the perception of tieflings very well in his book “Brimstone Angels” (published by Wizards of the Coast), which is why an excerpt from it serves as the introduction for tieflings in the fifth edition rulebook:

“But you see how they look at you, child of the devil.”

[…]

“What do they say?”, he asked, “One is a curiosity, two is a conspiracy…”

“Three is a curse,” she completed. “Don’t you think I haven’t heard this crap before?”

“Yeah, I know.” As she looked at him, he added: “It’s not like I want to tinker with the depths of your soul, girl. That’s the burden of every tiefling. Some collapse beneath it, some make it the millstone around their neck, others take joy in it.” He tilted his head and scrutinized her with that strange glow in his eyes. “You’re fighting it, aren’t you? Like a little wildcat, every bet. Every little jab, every comment only sharpens your claws.”

– Erin M. Evans, Brimstone Angels
Farideh and Havilar from Brimstone Angels
The tiefling twins Farideh and Havilar from Brimstone Angels, who handle their heritage very differently (Cover of the book, Wizards of the Coast)

In the eyes of many humans and other races, tieflings are viewed as shady and dark, often leading to their expulsion and ostracization. Whispering and looks, public violence and insults, distrust and fear characterize the daily life of a tiefling. But why is that the case? 

Here you can see the trailer for the animated series “The Mighty Nein” on Amazon Prime, in which you can also meet two tieflings from the well-known campaign of Critical Role:

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The Mighty Nein – First Sneak Peek of the New Fantasy Series on Amazon Prime

Where do tieflings come from, when they are so rare?

The rulebook refers to the infernal bloodline responsible for a tiefling’s appearance and nature as a “consequence of an ancient sin for which they, their children, and their grandchildren will be held accountable forever,” or summarized – as a punishment.

And there is some truth to that, only that the tiefling themselves is not guilty of this “punishment.” They really can do nothing about it.

The infernal bloodline can lie dormant for decades, with its legacy unexpectedly falling upon the child of a purely human parent couple in most cases. This can stem from a pact of a long-past generation, or a dark influence of a similar caliber. 

The child itself rarely shares any guilt in this legacy but must carry the proof more or less unwillingly outward: Long horns in various shapes, sharp canine teeth, a long tail, differently shaped eyes, and an “unnatural” skin color for humans make tieflings stand out even in a diverse world like that of Dungeons & Dragons.

Different tieflings from the Player's Handbook (2024)
Different tieflings from the Player’s Handbook from 2024 (Source: D&D Beyond)

Tieflings cannot help their bloodline – why are they so hated then? 

The fact that tieflings are despised by other races is not just a free choice of a DM (Dungeon Master), the mistrust that has now been reciprocal for generations is also made clear in the rulebook: 

People tend to be suspicious of tieflings, as they assume that their infernal descent has not only left marks on their appearance but also on their personality and moral standards. […] In truth, a tiefling’s bloodline only influences their personality very little. Rather, the many years of mistrust leave their marks, and most tieflings respond to this in different ways.

Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook (5e)

Thus, the hatred towards tieflings is an almost superstitious misunderstanding that has persisted for decades and centuries, making false assumptions and prejudices seem factual enough for many to accept them as their own reality.

Rumors, narratives, and prejudices are responsible for the exclusion of tieflings, who can react to these reactions to their kind in different ways. Because they are very aware of how people react to them.

Tieflings typically receive a +2 bonus to their Charisma attribute, which is indeed justifiable through their handling of their identity:

“Some fulfill the stereotype of the wicked monstrosity, others behave virtuously. […] After encountering only mistrust throughout their youth, tieflings often develop the ability to overcome prejudices through charm or intimidation.” (Source: Player’s Handbook 5e)

Tieflings do not have to conform to the stereotypes of the “evil, cunning creature”; they are extremely diverse, making them a popular choice when creating characters.

Hated by many, yet just as beloved

Why do so many players choose a tiefling as the race of their DnD character? Tieflings are extremely versatile and offer great potential for character and story development that many players yearn for.

They can embrace their infernal heritage and be tempted by dark powers, become charismatic leaders with social or creative talents, or break free from their shame and forge their own path.

Jester from her comic
Jester is a popular character from Critical Role’s “The Mighty Nein”, an outgoing and quirky tiefling (Source: Excerpt from “The Mighty Nein Origins – Jester Lavorre”, via Cross Cult)

In the Dungeons & Dragons community, some players describe why they love tieflings so much, after a player (EsperTheBard) asked this question on Reddit:

  • cline_59: “They are Technicolor half-demons with built-in angst and story hooks due to their connection to the hells. They are different from conventional fantasy races to be interesting without being so different that they drive away newcomers. They practically sell themselves.”
  • Aegillade: “I think the fact that they have incorporated alienation into their lore plays a significant role. Whether you are part of the LGBTQ community or just a nerd who was bullied in school often. Many people know what it’s like to be excluded just for being themselves – something that tieflings embody.”

Even MeinMMO editor Caro loves playing tieflings:

Who is writing here? Caroline Fuller, referred to by the former editorial leadership as a diligent “BG3 Ork”, writes many contributions on Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons. She has invested around 600 hours into the former and has been involved in a tabletop RPG campaign for about a year. Before starting at MeinMMO, she studied game art and engages extensively in character design, storytelling, and other creative hobbies related to Dungeons & Dragons, such as character illustration and painting DnD miniatures. She also has her own opinion on tieflings:

“I proudly refer to myself as an absolute tiefling ultra in Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur’s Gate 3, mostly due to their versatility. From the edgy warlock to the super extroverted and charismatic bard. They offer so many possibilities, not just regarding their design and personality but also in how to interact with other players and NPCs.

You could argue that this applies to almost every other race in a game like Dungeons & Dragons, yes, I get that too. However, tieflings, at least for me personally, bring that sweet flavor of satanic panic, of liberation from shame and disgrace, as well as the overcoming or playing into prejudices however you want – not for others. Besides, horns just look damn cool.”

Tieflings are a race that draws attention. In Dungeons & Dragons as well as Baldur’s Gate 3, there are many examples of the versatility of these characters, including the barbarian Karlach. If you’ve already met Karlach and want to know exactly how to win her burning heart, you can learn how to charm her on MeinMMO here: Baldur’s Gate 3: Karlach Romance Guide – How to Find and Woo the Hot Tiefling Friend

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

Players from Path of Exile 2 criticize the developers’ “Obsession” with ruining great talents with overly strong disadvantages

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In the great talent matrix of Path of Exile 2, there are numerous talents that come with both advantages and disadvantages. According to some players, the developers are overshooting the mark here and ruining great talents with too severe negative effects. Is that true?

Which talent is sparking the discussion? Reddit user lane4 refers to the talent “Utility Ordnance” in their criticism on Reddit, which grants the following effects:

  • 40 percent increased cooldown recovery rate for grenade skills
  • 80 percent reduced grenade damage

lane4 comments on this talent as follows:

This obsession with the downsides has to stop – This downside is crazy and makes no sense. If it’s meant for utility grenade skills that do no damage, why are there small nodes next to it with ‘increased grenade damage’?

Utility grenade skills refer to abilities that primarily do little or no damage but are meant to weaken or control enemies – such as through oil, a flash of light, or gas.

The trailer for the new update of Path of Exile 2:

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Path of Exile 2 shows Season 2 in the new trailer, brings Act 4 and 3 interludes into play

Frustratingly wrong or exactly right?

How does the community react to the accusation? With 1,400 upvotes and more than 250 comments. Many players agree with the original poster:

  • AIButthole sees it similarly on Reddit: “The obsession with artificially increasing difficulty has been so annoying in the last patches. The decision should be: Do I take it or not? That’s it. We are already limited by points/gem slots/equipment slots. We do not need arbitrary disadvantages slapped onto everything.”
  • Ok_Potential359 adds on Reddit: “I want to feel powerful, but instead, I feel like these runs are more about a test of patience. For me, that’s not entertaining game design.”
  • DCDTDito understands the downside even less on Reddit, as the buff itself isn’t supposed to be that good: “As far as I see, there is no grenade that desperately needs a cooldown improvement to the extent that it would accept an 80% reduction.”

Others suggest that such talents can also be useful in certain situations and that a broader perspective should be considered:

  • NYNMx2021 writes, for example, on Reddit: “The reason for the downside is that the node is bad for certain grenades. If the grenade were to deal damage as well, it would be overpowered. It is balanced concerning the build meant to take it.”
  • greyy1x counters on Reddit: “This node is a damage gain in many grenade builds since you have much more ‘increased damage’ than increased cooldown recovery rate. If you remove 80% from a total of 400% increased damage, it doesn’t destroy the build, but the cooldown recovery rate will definitely improve it significantly.”

Various other players also point out that “80 percent less damage” isn’t as harsh of a downside as it may seem at first glance. Psych6VZZ calculates it on Reddit in an example that shows: Even if the damage per grenade will end up being slightly lower, the overall damage increases due to the significantly faster firing grenades.

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In summary, it can be said: The talent system of Path of Exile 2 is complex, and seemingly bad talents can be really good in certain situations. However, due to the high level of difficulty, some players would wish for weaker downsides for the talents. Do you feel the same way?

The current heated discussions in the Path of Exile 2 community are due to the new content pack that has just been released for the action RPG, which includes Act 4: Path of Exile 2 brings a big update and players say: “The Third Edict” feels like a completely different game

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

Analyst says: Gamers are slowly dying out, the next generation plays very differently

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 6 minutes

Games as we know them today may slowly but surely disappear. Because the next generation plays very differently – and does not even see itself as “gamers”.

Gaming is our favorite hobby. Whether we play MMORPGs on PC, shooters on console, or Zelda on the Switch 2. However, this definition of “gaming” could die out – along with a whole part of the industry. Because the following generations have a completely different understanding of play.

Some games captivate millions of players. For now. Such as Where Winds Meet:

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Where Winds Meet shows in the new trailer why this ARPG could captivate 15 million players in China

Where does the information come from? Analyst and YouTuber Bellular repeatedly addresses trends in gaming in his videos. He bases his statements on various studies or statistics and puts them into perspective with what is happening in the gaming market. In one of his latest videos, he paints a picture that will likely not be pleasing to “older” gamers – meaning all those who still play on console or PC.

The next generation no longer plays like “we” do

One of the most important statements from the video is found right at the beginning. The Alpha generation has a completely different understanding of video games than is the case with “older” gamers. An article on GamesIndustry.biz, which is based on a survey by IGN, states: 93% of the Alpha generation prefers to play on mobile devices.

That the trend is moving more towards mobile gaming has long been clear – but the scale seems gigantic.

But something else is striking. In older generations, it was common to feel affiliated with a “type” of gaming. Were you part of the “PC Master Race” or a “console gamer”? Many identified with their chosen platform, but in one thing, most saw themselves as united: they were gamers.

For the Alpha generation, this is no longer the case. They do not identify as gamers anymore, but rather as players who only play a very specific game (gamesindustry.biz).

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The absolute winner in the young generation is probably Roblox. The platform is criticized from many sides, especially regarding data security and exploitation – yet it is incredibly successful among children.

Bellular then wonders:

Based on the real trends we see, the future of gaming looks like this: These are people who are fans of exactly one game and probably play it on a mobile phone, which is a bit strange. I don’t like that and it raises a big question: What does that mean for people who prefer traditional gaming experiences?

Games have grown with gamers – Now comes the generational shift

Bellular illuminates the gaming industry and the development of gaming. After the first major crash, video games experienced a second boom in the early 1990s. But with a clear difference: games back then were marketed as toys for children. Although many games were difficult and could also be enjoyed by adults, the marketing was clearly aimed at children.

These children who grew up with Super Mario were then the target group in the following decades. Games have grown with the target audience, becoming more serious and mature. Or, as Bellular describes it:

The medium has literally grown with its target audience. You had ROB the robot aimed at boys. Then came […] Tony Hawks and Call of Duty for the cool teenagers. […] And what do we have now? Cinematic games with sad fathers, like The Last of Us. Yes. It has just grown with us.

This generational shift is just around the corner. Because the next purchasing generation will be the Alpha generation, of whom 93% indicate that they prefer to play on a smartphone. Only 15% of respondents find gaming on a PC equally interesting or even preferred.

But this is not an issue that only Gen Alpha is facing. The preference for mobile gaming is also increasing among millennials – 32% prefer to play on a mobile device, namely a smartphone.

Mario was marketed as a children’s game back then – even though the plumber captivates many adults as well.

Gaming industry in crisis – but not everyone

After the pandemic, the gaming industry headed towards a crisis that still persists in many areas. Numerous layoffs and canceled game projects are the result. The hope that the “pandemic boom” of the gaming industry would continue has not been fulfilled.

However, there are exceptions – and the platform Roblox is one of them. It has maintained its growth and is now a market power that attracts nearly an entire generation of gamers. The Roblox game “Grow a Garden” has recorded 21.3 million concurrent players, the highest number ever measured for any game.

Compare your AAA studio with several hundred employees to a 16-year-old in 3 days. And now feel sad.

The big publishers also notice where the young generation is hanging out – the next generation of customers. Publishers like Sega and Starbreeze have already begun licensing games in Roblox – games like “Like a Dragon” or “Payday” are now found in Roblox.

Mono-gamers are on the rise

Bellular believes that we are already noticing many of the effects and that the trend did not start with Roblox. In previous generations, it started that players focused increasingly on just one game.

So many, who play Counter-Strike or World of Warcraft, play exactly one of those two games – and hardly anything else. Take a look at your guild or ask how many people play something else besides WoW. Sure, some will – but there are many for whom their chosen MMORPG is exactly what gaming is all about. And platforms like Fortnite or Roblox represent that for the next generations.

WoW Warrior Tank Shield Bash titel title 1280x720
Many who play WoW do exactly that. That’s their entire gaming experience.

Other data also supports this. An interesting report from Newzoo shows that 30% of all gaming time of PC players over 18 occurs in just 5 games: Call of Duty, Counter Strike, Fortnite, League of Legends, and Minecraft. If you take the top 10 of these games, they already account for 50% of total gaming time.

On consoles, it’s even more dramatic. Here, only 5 games account for 50% of all gaming hours – Call of Duty, FIFA/EA FC, Fortnite, GTA, and NBA 2K.

If 5 games already demand so much attention and capture the interest of several generations – how can new games still break through?

Sure, individual hits come along every now and then. Long-awaited sequels of franchises like GTA 6 or unexpected blockbusters like Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 cause momentary spikes. However, even such unexpected hits are just a drop in the bucket. Because in 2023, only 6.5% of all gaming hours were spent on games that were newly released that year.

Even more shocking: Of these 6.5%, only 4 games accounted for half of that time: Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Starfield.

Epyllon Game Time in Games
New games account for only 6.5% of time – and there are few successes that can claim that. Source: matthewball.co

The RPG milestone “Baldur’s Gate 3” only accounted for 0.6% of gaming hours in 2023, the year of its release – and it is still considered a gigantic success.

Are “our” games dying out?

Even if the statistics look grim at first glance, Bellular is convinced that there will continue to be good games in every niche. Only developers need to focus more. The idea of making a “game for everyone” rarely works. Instead, one should make a game for a specific target audience, because that, according to him, is the key to success:

Expedition 33 is everything you want, with none of what you don’t want in such a game. It’s not an overloaded, chaotic accident that had to try to find meaningful work for hundreds of employees. And funnily enough, that can lead to a good execution and a strong focus. I believe that this is the way forward for games that many of us fear we will not see one day.

One thing is clear: the gaming industry is undergoing a transformation. A change that is hardly stoppable when you look at the gaming habits of today’s young generation. Whether new games can find their niche here or whether we will face a major consolidation of gaming platforms in a few decades remains to be seen. But the data is interesting. A bit alarming, but interesting.

If you’re feeling frustrated and don’t know what to do with yourself, then enjoy the time instead and turn to a nice game. For this, we have our list of the 10 best MMORPGs you can play in 2025 – there are likely some suggestions you can consider to get your thoughts back on track.

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

A millionaire and CEO snatches a boy’s gift from a sports star right under his nose, now he is the villain of the internet

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A millionaire snatches a gift from a boy right in front of him. However, he finds his action perfectly fine and thinks others should not get so upset. For the boy who ended up empty-handed, at least there is a happy ending.

Our cover image is a symbolic image and does not depict the boy in question.

What exactly happened? Tennis player Kamil Majchrzak wanted to give a boy in the audience his hat. But the hat never reaches the boy, as a Polish millionaire and CEO snatched the hat meant for the child right in front of him. This was reported, among others, by the English-language magazine Dexerto.com.

The whole incident was recorded by a camera and went viral: Within a short time, the clip on X.com was viewed millions of times and caused an uproar in the community, which criticized the CEO for behaving so unfriendly. Eventually, even the tennis player who had given away his hat became aware of the incident.

How did it end? The tennis player saw what had happened, reached out to the child directly, gifted him a signed hat, and met with him personally.

Later, the player published the meeting on Instagram and showed that he had finally passed the hat to the person it was meant for.

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The CEO defends his actions: “First come, first served”

The Polish CEO defended against accusations that he had stolen the hat from the boy. Instead of apologizing for his reaction, which many considered inappropriate, he explained that he was simply faster. Moreover, he stated that it was just a hat, and there should be no scandal over it. His statement can be found in Polish on the platform GoWork.pl

The recent incident at the tennis match has led to an outpouring of outrage on the internet. Of course, it’s about the famous hat. Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it quickly. But as I always say: First come, first served.

I understand that some people may not like that, but let’s not make a global scandal out of the hat. It’s just a hat. If you had been faster, you would have it. Regarding the hate on the internet, I would like to remind you that insulting a public figure is criminal. All offensive comments, slander, and insinuations will be reviewed for the possibility of prosecution.


His reaction has further consequences: Hundreds of people criticized his statement and insulted the CEO. Additionally, the company’s rating on Gowork, a platform for business reviews, dropped to 1.4 out of 5 points: Since it became known who the CEO is, the company has been bombarded with thousands of negative reviews.

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Other CEOs haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory either: The head of a company that produces custom gaming PCs, Noah Katz, made a disastrous appearance on Twitch, and after that, everything went downhill. Sponsors pulled out, the reputation was ruined, and now the closure of the company is announced. Apparently, there is no money left to maintain operations: In 59 terrible seconds on Twitch, a CEO destroys everything – Gaming PC company must now close

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

What does it mean when the refrigerator makes loud noises at night?

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A refrigerator often makes loud noises during the day and especially at night: Why is this the case and when should you be concerned if the refrigerator makes a lot of noise? MeinMMO explains what is behind it.

If you go to the refrigerator again in the evening or at night and want to get a drink, you will notice that the refrigerator can make loud noises. But what is behind the noises and when can it become problematic if the device makes such noises?

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Every refrigerator makes noise when operating, which is primarily due to the materials used

Where do the noises come from? The loud noises primarily arise from the expansion and contraction of the materials (plastic and metal) when the temperature inside fluctuates significantly. Additionally, the operation of the compressor and the circulation of the refrigerant play a role in typical noises such as buzzing, gurgling, or clicking. Some noises also occur when the defrosting automatic kicks in or ice detaches from surfaces.

How can you limit the loud noises? There are several ways you can narrow down issues with refrigerator noises:

  • Stand and orientation: Check if the refrigerator is installed evenly and stable; an uneven stand can amplify vibrations and loud noises.
  • Interior and loading: Check if glass plates, shelves, or removable parts are properly installed and that no objects are colliding or blocking the fans.
  • Door seal: Test if the door seal closes properly, as a leaking door can lead to increased compressor use and thus more noise.
  • Distance to the wall: Ensure that the refrigerator has enough space from the wall and furniture so that vibrations do not amplify or get transmitted.

High and persistent noises can indicate a defect in the refrigerator

When can high volume be a problem? Especially when noises occur very often or frequently, it can be an indication that something is wrong with your device. For example, Ersatzteileshop.de reports this. Here are some things to consider:

  • Constant loud buzzing or knocking: This can indicate a defective compressor, temperature sensor, or thermostat. A compressor that runs continuously often indicates a more serious defect – such as damaged insulation, a faulty door seal, or an electronic problem. Here, components can become overloaded, potentially causing electrical issues such as a short circuit.
  • Scraping, grinding, or whistling noises: These often arise from a blocked or defective fan or from ice deposits that stress mechanical and electrical components.
  • Popping, crackling, or bubbling: If these noises occur more frequently and louder, there may be foreign substances in the cooling system as well as leaks, which can long-term also favor electronic defects
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A YouTuber wanted to try out how well a refrigerator can cool hardware. To do this, he modified the refrigerator. But it was hard work and he also had many difficulties. And there are plenty of reasons why you should not recreate this action: YouTuber modifies refrigerator into gaming PC – You should definitely not imitate this

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. baur.de
  2. tudogostoso.com

I love Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, but a new game by absolute Viking nerds allows me to dive much deeper into the culture

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 5 minutes

Vikings Dynasty aims to continue the well-known game series, this time in cold Scandinavia. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus is a huge fan of Vikings and checked out the upcoming survival game at the gamescom 2025. He was very surprised: The creators apparently place great value on authenticity.

There’s hardly anything better than living out the completely exaggerated idea of Vikings in video games. Wild warriors from the North, charging into battle with bare chests and mowing down everything like the berserkers they are. Excellent!

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla immersed me in a fantasy that I still consider one of the best in video games: two two-handed swords, loud war cries, and go for it! Easily one of the best Viking games I have ever played.

However, these games often do not truly reflect what Vikings really are. I am interested not only in the myths surrounding the Norsemen but also in the culture, history, the legacy – everything that relates to history. And there is much more than just the raiding warriors.

Vikings Dynasty showcases precisely this world of Vikings that many who are not in the know remain unaware of: agriculture, fishing, shipbuilding, family. What I saw at gamescom about this game absolutely thrilled me.

Start video
Der Trailer zu Vikings Dynasty, dem Survival-Spiel im alten Skandinavien

“Family as a status is enormously important for the Vikings”

In Vikings Dynasty, you play as a Norse man or woman and found your own dynasty. Starting with being stranded after a storm, you receive some land from the Jarl of a nearby location and can settle there.

With the inhabitants you can recruit, you build your village, grow larger, find partners, and start families. Of course, they all need to be provided for: agriculture, fishing, and hunting provide food, seers, völvas, and temples offer divine assistance. Eventually, you will even become a Jarl yourself.

That already sounds quite different from what you typically know from Viking games – and that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be. Mathias Oertel, Senior Marketing & PR Manager at Toplitz Productions, the publishers of Vikings Dynasty, showed me the game and explained:

The combat is not our focus. For us, the classic, pure dynasty remains at the forefront, especially since it is surprisingly more ingrained in the culture, contrary to what is propagated in pop culture and through TV series and so on… Sure, they fight to reach Valhalla, but family values, family as a status, is enormously important for the Vikings.

And that fits wonderfully with this dynasty franchise. That is something we want to convey. We want to show Viking culture not just as warriors but also as civilians, as ordinary people. And still, it is all story-driven. Especially about the main character you create, who, as you’ve seen, can also be female.

Especially the story designer is one of the absolute Viking freaks. We cannot avoid referencing the well-known sagas and gods and so on. As we had in the intro, Odin Allfather, of course, you recognize Thor, Loki, and all their names.

Mathias Oertel

Fights will nonetheless play an important role: bandits will frequently attack, and you must defend your settlement. Unlike in Sengoku Dynasty, these raids cannot be eliminated, as the path to Valhalla is an important part of the story.

Vikings Dynasty Screenshot Tor
Vikings Dynasty Screenshot Axe
Vikings Dynasty Screenshot Village close
Vikings Dynasty Screenshot Village
Vikings Dynasty Screenshot Village
Vikings Dynasty Screenshot Houses

“You will have to honor the gods”

What impressed me the most was the authentic integration of religion. I haven’t seen much, but Mathias explains to me:

You will have to honor the gods. We also have seers, we have rune magic. In other words, you can also use runes in your weapons. It may help, before you go on any expeditions, to team up with your völva and take a look into the future to see what might happen. […]

The story designer and the world designer, he is the one who really… in another time, he would be a Viking. He is very focused on authenticity. And when we did the character presentation for Tarja, the völva, I wrote a few things. Because I had assumed that magic in the world is just “there” and he then corrected me very strongly. Therefore, I now assume that the magic derives from the knowledge of the time as they saw it, and is integrated.

Mathias Oertel

There will be temples in the game and seers who will imbue weapons – which you can forge yourself – with runes. However, I don’t know what effects these runes really have yet. Regarding the temples, I was particularly pleased with one detail: “The story we tell revolves around gods, figures, beings that may not be so well-known.” Maybe I’ll learn something new!

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Like a real Viking: Out to sea with your own ship!

Shipbuilding will also play a major role in Vikings Dynasty. There will be several types of ships with which you can travel more or less far across the sea and explore new islands to find resources.

If you’re not up for that, you can let your NPCs do it – or fellow players, as Vikings Dynasty supports co-op for up to 4 players. Of course, you can also steer your ships yourself. There just won’t be any ship battles.

Currently, Vikings Dynasty is still in development, and many ideas are still being implemented or, if they are not feasible, discarded. The release is planned for later in 2025 in early access on PC.

I am definitely very much looking forward to building a settlement with longhouses, many temples, and a shipyard, from which I can sail out to sea and fish! Things a Viking does when he’s not plundering Lindisfarne. Until the release, I hope to engage with a surprising highlight: My biggest surprise at gamescom was a game I’ve been waiting for 24 years – and I didn’t even know it before

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

6 Common Amazon Scams Targeting Your Money and Data and How to Protect Yourself Against Them

Yana Yana Reading time 5 minutes

Millions of customers order daily on Amazon, and that is exactly what makes the platform a popular target for scammers. We will show you the most common tricks used by scammers and how to protect yourself from them.

Amazon is the most important platform for many when it comes to online shopping. Millions of customers order here daily, and where a lot of money flows, scammers are not far behind. They use the name of Amazon to send emails, texts or even packages that appear deceptively authentic. Their goal: your data, your money, or both. As reported by FastCompany, this year some schemes are circulating that frequently appear in Germany. MeinMMO presents the most popular scams and also explains how you can protect yourself against them.

[toc]

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Scam No. 1: Typosquatting & Fake Shops

How does the scam work? Scammers register domains that are confusingly similar to the real Amazon URL. Such as “amaz0n.de” or sites with other endings like .top, .xyz or “amazon-onlineshop.com”. Just a small typo is enough to land on a deceptively authentic fake page. There you are often asked to log in or enter payment details. Typosquatting is often used, according to Hideez, to carry out phishing, malware installation, or to collect personal data.

How to protect yourself: Pay attention to the URL; only amazon.de or your respective country domain ending is correct. No typos, extra characters or other endings. It’s safer to enter the address manually or go via the app/a bookmark. According to Cybersecuritynews, fake domains, especially during major shopping events like Prime Day, are particularly popular with scammers.

Scam No. 2: Fake Order Confirmation

How does the scam work? You receive an email with the subject “Your order has been shipped” – for an expensive product that you never ordered. The scammers hope that you panic and click on the “Cancel Order” link. In reality, the link leads to a fake page where login and payment details are requested.

How to protect yourself: Check directly in your Amazon account under “Orders” if the supposed shipment actually exists; if not, it is an attempted fraud. Amazon itself has warned its customers via email about fake orders and explicitly recommends checking such sent confirmations not through links in emails, but through the internal message center or the login area of the app. You can access the message center after logging in on the Amazon website via “My Account” → “Message Center”. In the app, go to your account page and then click on the bell.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. FastCompany
  2. Amazon
  3. Verbraucherzentrale
Pages: 1 2 3

Pokémon GO: How to take advantage of the Mega Raid Tag with Mega Gyarados

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 3 minutes

In Pokémon GO the Mega Raid Day begins with Mega Gyarados. We provide you with all the important information.

When does the Mega Raid Day start? The Raid Day with Mega Gyarados starts on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 2:00 PM. It ends at 5:00 PM.

What happens during the Mega Raid Day? As usual for the Raid Day, almost all gyms will be taken over by Mega Gyarados during the event period. The following bonuses apply:

  • If you catch Gyarados in the Mega Raid, it will know “Aqua Tail.” Gyarados is a strong option in the Master League when it has this exclusive attack in its repertoire.
  • The remote raid limit is increased to 20.
  • You can earn up to 5 raid passes from gyms by spinning.
  • The chance of shiny Gyarados is increased.

Ticket in the shop: There is also a ticket for $4.99 in the shop that gives you additional bonuses:

  • 8 more raid passes from gyms
  • An increased chance of XL candies (if you are level 31)
  • 50% more XP from raid battles
  • Double star dust from raid battles

Overall, the event is quite useful even without the ticket from the shop. How do you make the most of it? We summarize it for you here.

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Counters against Mega Gyarados and tips for the day

How do I defeat Mega Gyarados? Mega Gyarados is of the Dark and Water type – not Flying, like the regular Gyarados. Therefore, you should primarily focus on Pokémon and attacks of the Fighting, Bug, Grass, Electric, and Fairy types.

Good options include Mega Evolutions like Mega Lucario or Mega Scizor of the Fighting type, or Mega Sceptile as a Grass type and Mega Gardevoir as a Fairy attacker. Otherwise, use monsters like Terrakion, Katagami or other top attackers of their types.

You can find a list of the best counters against Mega Gyarados here.

How many trainers do I need against Mega Gyarados? With the right counters, you can defeat Mega Gyarados with two players.

A tip for the Raid Day: As a Dark and Water boss in the raid, Mega Gyarados is ideal to advance your evolution for Dakuma. You need to use it as a buddy and then defeat either 30 Dark or 30 Water Pokémon in raids and Dynamax battles, depending on which form of Wulaosu you want. Mega Gyarados counts for both types.

How do I make the most of the Raid Day? You only receive a new raid pass from gyms when the last one has been used up. Therefore, your goal should be to quickly hit as many gyms as possible. Follow these steps:

  • Assemble a team with strong counters
  • Team up with friends, using team play for increased damage
  • Complete the first raid
  • Go to the next gym
  • Collect the pass from the disk
  • Battle the next Mega Gyarados

In this way, you can quickly and efficiently collect multiple Gyarados specimens.

Keep in mind: You will only receive the regular Gyarados from the raid, not the Mega form. To get that, you need to use the Mega Energy from the raid to evolve it. The quicker you finish the raid, the more energy you will get. So, it is worth using strong counters and teammates to obtain as much energy as possible.

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Otherwise, the August event in Pokémon GO with the Gyarados Day will come to an end. However, it will seamlessly continue with the new month, the current XP event, and in a few days the start of the new season. September will be quite interesting! Want an overview? Then check it out here: All events in September 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

WoW: Who the two elves in the Midnight cinematic are

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 6 minutes

Some may have been confused by the new cinematic of World of Warcraft. We explain which characters are actually involved.

At gamescom 2025, the new expansion of World of Warcraft was introduced. In Midnight, we head to Quel’thalas, the land of the Blood Elves, to defend the Sunwell from Xal’atath. But those who are not well-versed in the history of the Blood Elves, the Sin’dorei, may be wondering: Who are those two elves? Are they important? Do we need to know them?

If this applies to you as well, we want to explain in this article who Lor’themar Theron and Lady Liadrin actually are – and why they play such an important role in the past – and future – of the Blood Elves.

Start video
WoW Midnight – The opening cinematic of the new addon shows the attack on Silvermoon

Please note that this is a significantly reduced version of the background story. Both characters have many appearances in comics, books, and other background materials. We are limiting ourselves to the main points here.

Lor’themar Theron

Lor’themar Theron is the male Blood Elf who is the focus of the Midnight intro cinematic. He is especially noticeable for his hairstyle, but also for the fact that he has only one eye left, which still has the fel green color of the Blood Elves from the time of Kael’thas. Unlike many other Blood Elves, Lor’themar is not particularly interested in faith or the Light – he is more of a pragmatist who sees the utility of the Sunwell and its importance for the people.

Lor’themar has always been a ranger and served under Lireesa Windrunner (the mother of Sylvanas, Alleria, and Vereesa), but later became a good friend of Sylvanas and ultimately served under her as well.

WoW Lorthemar Theron Blood Elf leader

Most of the time, Lor’themar dealt with the threat of the Amani trolls, who repeatedly invaded the land of the High Elves – a nearly eternal conflict, as the Amani also claim the land as their home. The war between the Amani and the High Elves has been ongoing since the founding of Quel’thalas.

When the Scourge fell upon Quel’thalas during the Third War (Warcraft III), killing both King Anasterian, Sylvanas, and the Council of Silvermoon, Lor’themar took temporary control over the remaining High Elves. One consequence of this war was the corruption of the Sunwell, as the death knight Arthas corrupted the well by using its magics to transform the corpse of a necromancer (Kel’Thuzad) into a Lich.

After parts of Silvermoon were recaptured, Kael’thas, the son of Anasterian, was appointed king, but he quickly left the city. He journeyed to Outland to find a new source of magic for the magic-addicted people of the High Elves, who were henceforth called “Blood Elves” – Sin’dorei. As a reminder of the bloody past the people had experienced.

While Kael’thas was in Outland, he appointed Lor’themar as his deputy, the “Lord Regent” – after all, he had previously proven that he could lead the people.

WoW Lorthemar Sword Holding titel title 1280x720
Lor’themar only has one intact eye – but that doesn’t stop him.

However, Kael’thas was corrupted on his journey by the powers of the Legion and joined the Burning Legion. After the king attacked Silvermoon and sought to use the remnants of the Sunwell to summon a leader of the Legion, Kael’thas was killed – making Lor’themar the new ruler of Silvermoon.

At the end of this conflict, the Sunwell was also rejuvenated. Through the Draenei prophet Velen and the remnants of a Naaru, the Sunwell was filled with the Holy Light, which all Blood Elves could use to satisfy their hunger for magic.

Since then, Lor’themar has been the uninterrupted leader of the Blood Elves, who is also frequently part of the story. He was part of the War Council of the Horde during Battle for Azeroth and fought, among others, against Queen Azshara.

By now, Lor’themar is even married – to the Nightborne Thalyssra. This relationship has led to a rapprochement between the two peoples of Blood Elves and Nightborne.

WoW Thalyssra Lorthemar elves heart titel title 1280x720
In this relationship, Thalyssra probably has more say.

According to his position as the leader of the Sin’dorei, Lor’themar is also present in the fight against Xal’atath and the Void, commanding the troops of the Blood Elves. This is also why he is directly attacked by Xal’atath. For Lor’themar to be defeated or broken by mind control would greatly simplify the attack.

Lady Liadrin

Lady Liadrin is the female Blood Elf in the cinematic, who one can almost always see praying at the Sunwell. She is the leader of the Blood Knights, the paladins of the Blood Elves. However, that was not actually Liadrin’s original plan.

WoW Lady Liadrin Full Art Hearthstone
Liadrin is a fervent defender of Quel’thalas and the Sin’dorei.

Liadrin’s parents were killed by the Amani trolls, so she was raised instead by a High Priest of the Light. He brought her closer to the Light, so she first became a priestess and later a High Priestess, using the Light to strengthen her people, heal wounds, and at the same time inflict pain on all enemies of the Sin’dorei to drive them out of the land of Quel’thalas.

However, Liadrin’s faith in the Light was massively damaged when the Scourge invaded Silvermoon, killing a large part of the people or even resurrecting them as undead. Her trust in the holy power was shaken, having let her down in her time of greatest need.

After Liadrin lived in seclusion in the Shadowlands for several years, where she confronted her guilt of having survived while a large part of her people died, she was summoned back to the reclaimed Silvermoon. Lor’themar and Magister Rommath (one of the highest mages of the Blood Elves) told her that Prince Kael’thas had captured a Naaru – a being of Light that could be used to satisfy the elves’ hunger for magic. But the Magisters had an even better idea: they could subjugate the being and simply take the power of the Light to use it again in battle.

Hearthstone Liadrin
Liadrin looked very different back then – still in The Burning Crusade.

Liadrin, disappointed by the Light, agreed to this suggestion. With the help of the Magisters, she was connected to the Naaru and thus became the first Blood Knight. A sort of paladin who wields the Light not with love or compassion – but as a pure weapon of power, stolen from another being.

Gradually, more and more chosen ones became Blood Knights, rapidly becoming the new elite unit of the Blood Elves – occasionally leading to conflicts with the Rangers. However, the Blood Knights were superior in almost all respects and their power was so important that most had to simply accept their value for the people of the elves.

When Kael’thas returned to Silvermoon, he kidnapped the Naaru M’uru and brought him to attack the Sunwell. This temporarily deprived the Blood Knights of their power. But M’uru had been so weakened by the ongoing abuse that he transformed from a Naaru of Light into a source of the Void – a suffering that was ended by the heroes of Azeroth before it could have greater effects.

Prophet Velen (a Draenei) used the core of M’uru to later rekindle the Sunwell with Holy Light. A Light that also immediately filled Liadrin and made her realize: The Light had never left her; rather, she had lost the connection due to her own change in personality.

Since then, Liadrin has regained a positive, faith-based connection to the Holy Light. She still uses this power with fervor for her people and is quite radical in protecting the Sin’dorei, although she is still plagued by self-doubt.

WoW Midnight Cinematic Liadrin Pray titel title 1280x720
Liadrin is still plagued by doubts. These seem to run a bit deeper.

This also explains why Liadrin sounds significantly more remorseful at the end, speaking of being “not worthy.” She has not forgiven herself for enslaving the Light to create the Blood Knights of Silvermoon. Even though this was many years ago, this memory still gnaws at Liadrin.

For this reason, she also appeals to the Light to not protect herself but her people. Because even if she is not worthy – her people are, or at least she believes so.

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We hope that we have removed a few question marks, and you now know who the two elves are that Xal’atath is fighting with. But if you still don’t know who Xal’atath is – her story has been presented here in more detail.

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

Fleeing in Baldur’s Gate 3 is often a clever method, but some enemies would rather die than let you escape

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

A player realized that one should honorably flee from certain situations in Baldur’s Gate 3 to escape death. Too bad when one’s life is of no concern to the opponent.

What is the player reporting? A player was completely surprised when he wanted to run away from what seemed like a safe distance from a battle to get to safety in the camp. He was in the Underdark, a location from the first act of Baldur’s Gate 3, and realized that three raging Minotaurs might be a bit too much for a single character.

When he decided to flee and managed to gain a considerable distance through the various “levels” of the environment, he was promptly overwhelmed by the bloodlust of one of the Minotaurs. 

In a video on Reddit, the player Subject-Spinach-5801 shows how the monster, after the player’s move, prepares for a brutal leap accessible only to Minotaurs, daringly plunging down to catch the player.

Due to the height, the creature itself took 118 damage from the impact and died – but it successfully dragged the player down with it.

Here you can see the clip of the situation that the player provided on Reddit: 

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The only thing the player wanted to say about it was: “Great God, Almighty. I wanted to flee from the battle, but this friend here wouldn’t allow it.”

Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3:

Start video
Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3

“If this had ended my solo run, I wouldn’t even be angry”

How does the community react? The community shares the player’s surprise (and slight excitement) at how absolutely exaggerated this urge of the Minotaur was to kill the player. Sevro777 commented under the Reddit post that he wouldn’t even be angry if this action had ended his solo run.

However, the player clarifies that it was not a solo run, but a co-op campaign with his girlfriend, who was exploring somewhere else in the Underdark (via Reddit).

Player Sineddeta aptly summarizes the community’s reaction with a comment on Reddit: “What the… that’s kind of cool, one of those ‘BG3 battle moments’ that would be impressive even if it led to a TPK [Total Party Kill].”

What does the Minotaur’s jump remind us of? Many players see the similarity to another situation in Baldur’s Gate 3. Born_Faithlessness_3 comments: “[The Minotaur] thought he was an owlbear.” (via Reddit)

This refers to the fight against the Grym, which can only be found shortly after in the Adamantine Forge. A popular tactic is to transform a druid into an owlbear and then, like the Minotaur, pounce on the opponent. Due to the fall height and the accordingly long way, the impact causes a lot of damage that brings the otherwise strong Grym to his knees instantly.

MARUSHI-rdt fittingly writes: “Grym: HOW DOES THAT FEEL??” (via Reddit)

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The Underdark in Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of various places to explore. Especially the mentioned Adamantine Forge offers much to search, loot and battle. How to best navigate through the forge, how to utilize it, and how to defeat the Grym, you can find out here on MeinMMO: Baldur’s Gate 3: Finding Adamantine Forge, defeating boss, and crafting strong items

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

A new zombie game affected me so much that I was glad to see daylight again after not even 1 hour

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 4 minutes

MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen plunged into the zombie world of Dying Light: The Beast for about an hour at gamescom 2025. And she was relieved when she was finally redeemed from her play session.

Actually, I usually spend my free time playing cozy games or role-playing games with grand stories. Nevertheless, my then-boyfriend somehow managed to persuade me to play a round of Dying Light. We eventually had to stop the game in the middle because it was just too scary for me.

Accordingly, you can imagine my face when I was assigned to try out the demo of Dying Light: The Beast at gamescom 2025. Well, it shouldn’t be that bad, I thought.

However, after an hour of playing, I actually needed a break to recover from the whole atmosphere. And that could be the reason why fans of the first part will love the game so much.

Start video
Dying Light: The Beast shows its mix of open-world and action-survival horror in the trailer

The graphics created the perfect vacation vibe

In the one-hour demo, I was able to complete a story mission with the protagonist Kyle Crane, known from the first part of the series. Our home base had its water turned off, so we were sent to look for the source. Over time, I went to several stations in the outside world, which had been overrun by zombies.

During my excursion into the game world, I noticed how beautifully everything looks. The new map, Castor Woods, is inspired by the Alps in Switzerland, according to the developers on the official site. And I saw that too: There were forests and mountains everywhere, their peaks covered with snow.

Dying Light_ The Beast - Screenshot 02
I could only briefly enjoy the colorful facades of the houses.

The city where the home base was located reminded me of a Central European holiday destination. If it weren’t for all the zombies, you could consider it a nice holiday spot that has seen better days.

At the beginning, I simply jumped over the roofs of the abandoned city to enjoy the scenery a bit. Dying Light: The Beast looked so beautiful that I would have loved to explore the landscape as a silent observer. But once I focused on the main mission, I had no peaceful minute left.

Dying Light: The Beast cost me a lot of nerves

That Dying Light looks so good and captivated me was unfortunately also to my detriment. Because the zombies seemed much scarier than in the first part, I constantly felt threatened. I couldn’t find a peaceful minute because even in quiet moments, new zombies could appear.

In a factory hall, for example, I thought I had exterminated all the zombies. Suddenly, another door opened, and a big soldier-zombie and several Sprinters charged at me. Panicked, I fled back, barricaded the door, and hoped that the Molotov cocktail would still have an effect through the closed door.

There were several situations where a jump scare was pre-programmed. In seemingly harmless corners, a zombie would suddenly drop on me, or when I thought I had finally found my peace, another undead would rush at me, one I had probably overlooked before.

The game tested my nerves tremendously because I found no peace since leaving the city. The gloomy atmosphere emanating from the abandoned buildings didn’t help either. The lack of ammunition meant I had to primarily defend myself against the zombies with a bat studded with nails.

Dying Light_ The Beast - Screenshot 08
There are several ways to deal with zombie hordes.

Things got even worse at night: special zombies appear that are not so easy to deal with. They hunted me down, and I quickly learned that fleeing was the only good option.

Additionally, I was only equipped with a flashlight to see anything in the dark. The constant moaning of the zombies was always audible, but I couldn’t always see them. This created a permanent feeling of tension in me that often released.

I was startled by every little jump scare or even just when I turned around and suddenly saw a zombie. For the developers who sat with me in the room, it must have looked incredibly funny as I flinched or screamed.

A nightmare for me, perfect for fans

I was relieved when the hour was up and I could step out of the zombie world. If I could have determined how long I played in one go, I would have needed some recovery breaks in between.

But this aspect shows that the game is perfect for all those who enjoy scares and want to experience a Dying Light with a bombastic atmosphere. In the community on Steam, there are many advocates who believe that part 1 is better than part 2. This is due to several reasons:

  • The combat system is more brutal
  • Stronger focus on survival horror
  • More threatening atmosphere

And if these three points are important to you, I can promise you: Dying Light: The Beast goes full throttle on these three points and is perfect for all those looking for an atmospheric zombie game.

What I also liked was the selection of weapons for the demo. Besides a flamethrower, I had a crossbow that killed zombies with one shot, and a regular pistol. So anyone expecting creative weapons is also well taken care of.

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By the way, there is another shooter that offers creative mods for its weapons. However, you need to make special settings in the options or play at specific times: A new solo shooter on Steam rewards you with a larger magazine if you sacrifice your sleep for it

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

I can hardly believe it, but Destiny: Rising is better than feared

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

A Destiny with a gacha system. Every long-time fan feels their hair stand on end at the thought, yet NetEase recently released such a game. MyMMO’s Destiny expert Christos Tsogos has taken a look at the game, and although he is reluctant to admit it, it is actually not bad.

With Destiny: Rising, the developers from NetEase have created a spin-off of the famous loot shooter from Bungie. This game is set in an alternate timeline that unfolds before the events of Destiny 1 & 2.

In the game, you take on the role of the wolf cub, but you can also choose and play well-known characters from the Destiny lore as protagonists. The problem is: to effectively access them, you need to pull them from the implemented gacha system with some luck. This is a gambling mechanic where you open boxes with random loot.

Apart from that, Destiny: Rising goes its own way and even brings back modes that fans of Destiny 1 & 2 thought were dead. I tested the game for several hours, and although I have a very strong aversion to gacha, I find NetEase’s work successful.

Start video
Destiny: Rising shows first gameplay in the trailer

NetEase is doing something Bungie isn’t: listening

I have been watching the development of Destiny 2 since its release. What I’ve noticed over the years is that Bungie often insufficiently or not at all listens to the community when it comes to feedback. I think NetEase is taking advantage of this, as Destiny: Rising clearly shows that the Chinese developers value responding to the community’s wishes.

This is evident with the weapons. Many well-known firearms and exotics are available at launch. What impressed me the most is that NetEase provides variety with new weapon classes, such as the dual pistols, right at release.

The gameplay is fluid and coherent, which I didn’t expect at all. Each of the 12 available Guardians has unique abilities that differ significantly from each other. The shooting and especially the action-packed movements that create the brisk gameplay feeling in Destiny feel natural.

I’ve played several shooters on mobile, but Destiny: Rising feels better than most and is close to what I know from Destiny on console and PC.

Gacha is a scourge, but Destiny: Rising is somehow … fair

Another point is the gacha system. I’m not a fan of it and despise such features in games, but compared to other gacha games, Destiny: Rising is relatively fair. Many fans are already allergic to Bungie’s monetization in Destiny 2, and NetEase has probably noticed that as well.

Your chances of getting a Guardian in a loot box increase with each opening, and after 60 times, you are guaranteed to receive one. No chance, but a guaranteed Guardian. Those who want to play purely as free-to-play also have the chance to achieve 200 free pulls through quests.

Last but not least: It’s simply fun. Every exhausted veteran from Destiny knows this. You log in, stand in front of the menu or the star map, and wonder what to do, only to close Destiny again.

Destiny: Rising feels fresh. A new story that can entertain, gameplay that feels coherent, and the soundtrack pulls me directly into the world. After a long day, I can easily imagine playing the game for 1-2 hours to unwind.

Of course, I won’t spend a dime in the shop; rather, Rising will be a fun distraction where the grind after a good 10 years of treadmill in Destiny 2 is secondary.

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What I definitely recommend is an emulator if you want to play the game on PC. NetEase even offers one on its website. You can’t expect 4K graphics, but it is more comfortable to play the game on a large monitor or TV with a mouse and keyboard, without bending your fingers to execute moves or kills.

I really thought NetEase would come up with a flop, but I was positively surprised. Whether the developers will decide to officially port the game to PC and consoles in the future remains to be seen. If that happens, surely more fans could enjoy the game. Until then, you can find all the necessary information about the shooter here in our overview: Destiny: Rising is now here – The most important information in 3 minutes

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

One of the best RPGs of all time gets a huge unofficial addon 26 years after release, but you need some patience

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Planescape: Torment is considered legendary among fans. 26 years after its release, there are now new contents for the RPG from a group of loyal fans from Poland.

Planescape: Torment is regarded as legendary by hardcore RPG fans and is counted among the best role-playing games of all time by many players. On Metacritic, the game receives a score of 9.1 out of 10 possible points.

A group of Polish fans has now, 26 years after the release of Planescape: Torment (the game was released in 1999, followed by the enhanced edition in 2017), introduced a huge modification and story expansion, calling their project “the first unofficial Planescape DLC ever.”

However, you will need a lot of patience: The modders do not expect the project to be completed before 2031, although they “really hope it will be much earlier.” There is, however, a consolation: The first part of the expansion should still be released this year and will take about a dozen hours, according to the modders’ estimates. This is reported by the English-speaking magazine PCGamer.

Start video
Neverwinter Nights 2 shows in the gameplay trailer how cool the Enhanced Edition looks

“Blizzard in Baator” is supposed to bring a new area, new characters, and cutscenes

What kind of modification is this? In the modification “Blizzard in Baator,” the protagonist and his companions venture into a new region of Sigil, where they ascend through the Nine Hells of Planescape into the frozen wastelands of Cania. There, the companions become involved in an endless war between the lords of the Nine Hells, the titular “Blizzard in Baator.”

The mod adds far more than just a series of new locations to explore. In an interview with the Polish role-playing website girmuar.pl, the developers reveal, among other things, that the expansion will include two new recruitable characters, new planar creatures, original music, and even new cutscenes. You can watch the official trailer directly on YouTube:

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The first trailer for Planescape: Torment – “Blizzard in Baator”

What else is there? Additionally, the modification has even more in store: it restores several elements that were removed by the original developers. These include voice recordings, lost items, and even some graphical elements hidden in the game’s files. However, the developers emphasize that most of the content in the unofficial addon comes from them.

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Neverwinter Nights is a well-known game series in the D&D universe. Now, the game has received a new update. This is mainly due to the diligent community that continues to support the game and produces new content for it. You can read more about it directly on MeinMMO: A 23-year-old RPG in D&D has just received a new update because the loyal community is still playing the game

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

I played a hidden gem on Steam for 30 hours: Now the game has left Early Access after 2.5 years

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

Plan B: Terraform is a building game where you have to colonize a planet while also terraforming it. Now the game has left Early Access. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has followed the game through Early Access and finds: It has become a real insider tip.

What kind of game is this? In Plan B: Terraform, you get a randomly generated barren planet. Your goal: You should not only colonize the planet but also terraform it at the same time.

I purchased the game at the start of Early Access and played for about 30 hours. And at the official release, I can say that you should definitely give Plan B: Terraform on Steam a chance. About 2,500 people who rate the game 91% positively seem to feel the same.

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The world is constantly evolving, but the water often ruins my plans

What makes the game so good? I start in Plan B: Terraform with almost nothing. There are only three city centers scattered across the planet. I slowly begin to set up my first production, lay roads, and build my first trucks for transportation. Meanwhile, I eventually start producing greenhouse gases to warm the world, because I want the ice to melt and the planet to become habitable.

Plan B Terraform green and water and railroad
My railway carves its way through forest and water. The world looks really impressive after a while.

In fact, you do almost nothing else in the game other than produce, transport, process, and then transport resources again. But the more you terraform the world, the stronger you feel it: suddenly, entire areas are flooded with water, and the resources are gone. And water can be really unpredictable. This has sometimes led to me having to relocate entire industries and railways.

While you can counter this with dams, the water relentlessly finds its way. And if your industry is too low, the water will eventually overflow even your dam, no matter how many pumps you have trying to keep the water at bay.

Plan B Terraform a lot of water
In this case, I fenced in my industry. But eventually, the water will be too strong here as well.

Are there things that are not so successful? You almost always do the same thing in the game: produce resources, transport them, process them, and then transport them again while supplying the cities that then grow. Yes, additional resources and buildings are added later, but the basic principle always remains the same. And that can become very monotonous over time. There is no exciting story, and there are no extensive researches or a proper endgame where you can unlock things for the next game.

Another thing that bothers me personally: at certain points, the balancing does not seem as perfect as it could be. While you can eventually recycle resources, I have always had the problem of having way too much of certain resources and too little of others. However, with recycling alone, you cannot autonomously supply an industry.

The random generator can sometimes throw a wrench in the works for you as well. Sometimes resources are placed so poorly that certain cities are hardly reachable or the paths are very long. Or the later space elevator, which is also randomly placed, is located in the middle of a mountain range and is hardly reachable.

Plan B Terraform green planet and city
After many hours of work, the cities grow, and the planet becomes slowly but surely green.

A real insider tip if you engage with it

After about 30 hours, I have now started numerous worlds, but have also abandoned several playthroughs. Due to the randomness, you get to see a different planet each time, which is pleasantly refreshing.

Where we would be back to the water: because that is also different on every planet and can definitely ruin plans. A lucrative deposit can quickly become unreachable.

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Steam introduced the new feature “Steam Family” a few months ago. But you could already try out the feature in beta version since March 2024. I tested the beta and saved a lot of money together with my partner over the past six months. How the feature works and why I absolutely recommend it, you can read in the following article directly with us on MeinMMO: I’ve been using a new feature on Steam for months and have saved several hundred euros since then

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

Child has to watch as an extremely rare Shiny in Pokémon GO slips away from him because he made an annoying mistake

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 3 minutes

It can happen again and again that a Pokémon flees in Pokémon GO. But when you encounter a really rare monster, it hurts even more. A father now reports how his son’s luck slowly but surely turned into misfortune.

What does the father report? The father and Pokémon trainer leroyyrogers reports in the subreddit of Pokémon GO that his son encountered an incredibly rare monster in the game – one of the rare Galar birds, a Galar Moltres, and then also in the Shiny variant. 

But the luck did not last too long, as the situation became tighter with each Pokéball. What remained for the team of father and son is only a photographic evidence of the Shiny Moltres. They both had to witness how the rare Pokémon slipped away, and that was only because the boy did not have enough Pokéballs in his pocket, even though there were fifty of them. The only comment from the father in his Reddit post is: “That is really ridiculous.”

Here you see a video of the Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris:

Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus

Preparation in Pokémon GO should not be neglected

How does the community react to the experience of father and son? The community realizes how annoying this must have been for both of them. If the boy had still had his rare Master Ball, the Pokémon would not have slipped away:

  • Dragonmodus: “Yes, that’s the reason why I haven’t used my Master Balls yet, it’s those rare moments when you really need one.” (via Reddit)
  • ju_free: “Funny in a way because the Master Balls in the main games always rot away in the inventory. And in [Pokémon] GO they suddenly become really important.” (via Reddit)

What kind of ball is recommended? The Master Ball is a Pokéball that is not very frequently available in Pokémon GO. Therefore, you should save it for extremely important monsters. For which Pokémon the Master Ball is most worthwhile, we will tell you here on MeinMMO: Pokémon GO: Using the Master Ball – Which monsters are worth it

What tips are there against the players? The Pokémon GO community sees the experience of the boy and his father as a kind of lesson. They comment under the Reddit post on how best to prepare for such situations, but not all of these tips are so easy to implement. Especially if the trainer is still a child.

Regarding the tips from players like ahawaiianbear and JuanG12, that one needs to have enough balls and enough inventory space in Pokémon GO as in the main games, Rappy28 points out with a comment that it doesn’t cost real money in the main games (via Reddit).

ArcanuaNighte writes on Reddit fittingly:

The main games don’t force you to use balls so ruthlessly… The poster literally said his child had FIFTY Pokéballs, which should actually be more than enough. Niantic should really stop making everything harder for no reason.

The player PeterPan182182 comments (via Reddit):

I’m so sorry for this child and all the kids who just want to have fun with the game. What if the child is not in a position to just spend 5 dollars (he’s a kid, they usually have no jobs)? […] Well done, Niantic, you are just a billion-dollar company, but what do I know.

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Even though the community wants to give the father and his son hints on how to best prepare to play Pokémon GO the right way, another player proves that one can also progress really well with a “wrong” playing style. He even managed to reach level 40 in his own way: Trainer plays Pokémon GO completely wrong, still reaches level 40 – “Respect for this achievement”

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

The most famous hobbit from “The Lord of the Rings” reveals what his favorite game is and what he is currently playing on the Steam Deck

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Elijah Wood, the actor behind Frodo from The Lord of the Rings, was asked by the community what his favorite game is. He explains that answering that is difficult but names games that he has come to cherish. He also reveals what he is currently playing on the Steam Deck.

What did Elijah Wood get asked? Elijah Wood held an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit, where fans and gamers could bombard him with questions. Some people from the community wanted to know which game he likes to play the most.

Start video
Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship

Elijah Wood is passionate about 90s adventure games

What is his favorite game? Wood explains that he finds it difficult to name a game as his favorite. However, he added that he has grown very fond of adventure games. He writes (via Reddit.com):

It is hard to define a single game as my absolute favorite, but I have a real soft spot for the LucasArts adventure games from the 90s like The Secret of Monkey Island, Full Throttle, and Sam & Max Hit the Road. I just love the adventure game format and the strong focus on great, often comedic writing.

And what is he playing on the Steam Deck? He has an answer for that as well. He writes:

Lately, I love Blue Prince (a modern puzzle masterpiece) and Wheel World on the Steam Deck.

What kind of games are these?

  • Blue Prince is a mystery and puzzle game, which has around 9,500 reviews with 86% positive ratings.
  • Wheel World is a bike racing game, which has approximately 400 reviews on Steam and also holds an 86% positive rating.

Elijah Wood has definitely chosen two highly rated games. Blue Prince is currently becoming a surprise hit and receives praise from well-known reviewers and other personalities.

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The Lord of the Rings has countless fans even today, who continue to engage in mysteries and discussions decades later. A fairly trivial line from The Two Towers is still being discussed 22 years later. Elijah Wood has now also commented on this: “Frodo” responds to an unusual question that fans of The Lord of the Rings have been asking for 22 years

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

The producer of the worst film of the year defends his work despite the harsh criticism: “For the money, we made a really good film.”

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

The producer of one of this year’s least popular movies with record-low ratings believes that he and his team still did great work. And he stands by that publicly.

Which movie is being discussed? It is the adaptation of the novel “War of the Worlds,” which premiered on Amazon Prime on July 30, 2025. The main roles in the sci-fi film are played by Eva Longoria and the American rapper and actor Ice Cube.

The film has, as of today (August 30, 2025), received an abysmal rating from critics of only 2% (from 44 reviews), while it stands at least at 21% from audiences (from nearly 2,500 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes and is also being torn apart in the comments. “Sloppy filmmaking,” “terrible garbage,” and “disaster” are terms used in the comments on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and audiences to describe the work of producer Patrick Aiello.

However, he has a very different opinion about the film: “For the money, we made a really good movie.” (Patrick Aiello in conversation with Toni’s Film Club, via GamesRadar+)

Here you can see the trailer for the “War of the Worlds” adaptation by Steven Spielberg from 2005, which fared significantly better than the new adaptation from 2025:

Start video
War of the Worlds – German trailer for Steven Spielberg’s Sci-Fi film

“No one wants to make a bad movie”

What does the producer say about the criticism? Aiello states in the conversation with Toni’s Film Club that the studio behind War of the Worlds really wanted to make a good movie:

No one wants to make a bad movie. Period. Never. No one forces themselves out of bed in the morning to work 12, 14, 16 hours a day, sometimes, as was the case for us, 6, 7 days a week, just to produce something bad.

That the film failed with both audiences and critics is unfortunate for the producer – and he believes that the creators of War of the Worlds are not to blame for the hate. “We just wanted to entertain. It’s unfortunate that the film is so hated. We have no control over that.”

What else matters to the producer? The producer adds that there is only one way to really assess the success of the film. And that doesn’t depend on reviews but on the numbers. 

You can only look at the results to figure out if the efforts were worth it. And if we make it to number 4, number 5, or number 6 of the most-watched movies on Amazon’s platform, then we have really succeeded.

Aiello draws the following conclusion from his conversation with Toni’s Film Club, which sounds like a kind of peace of mind for him: “We really wanted to make a good movie. I think that with the money we had, we made a really good movie. We will be fine.” (Patrick Aiello via GamesRadar+)

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If you enjoy watching bad movies, the new War of the Worlds could be a new project for a funny movie night. Of course, you can also form your own opinion. If you prefer to watch a film that performed significantly better with audiences, you might be interested in this sci-fi film that you may not have heard of: Few people know about a sci-fi film with Pedro Pascal that received an 89% positive rating – it was never shown in cinemas in Germany

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