If you’re looking for quirky cooperative action, you can get a little shooter gem on Steam for just €5. MeinMMO author Odysseas Grigoriadis has spent over 20 hours blasting through hordes of Egyptian mummies.
This gem is called Strange Brigade: It’s a third-person shooter from the developer Rebellion, who are also the creators of the Sniper Elite games. Strange Brigade was released on Steam in 2018 and sends you on a campaign against a terrible witch queen in Egypt.
You can currently get the game on Steam again at a really cheap price. Strange Brigade currently costs only €4.99, and the Deluxe Edition is available for €7.99.
Who is writing here? Actually, MeinMMO author Ody is more of a strategy game enthusiast, but occasionally he is drawn to cooperative slashers like Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Left 4 Dead, or even Strange Brigade.
A colorful bunch of heroes roams ancient Egypt
What is the shooter about? The setting is Egypt in the 1930s: Amateur Egyptologist Sir Edgar Harbin has opened the tomb of Seteki, a witch queen from ancient Egypt. How could he have known that the queen would awaken after 4,000 years? To make matters worse, she wakes with an army of mummified monsters.
Only the members of the Strange Brigade can stop Seteki now. This group consists of a number of delightfully exaggerated personalities: there’s Frank Fairburne, the tough war veteran, or demon hunter Nalangu Rushida, among others.
The main game includes four playable characters of the Strange Brigade, and you can get five more through DLCs.
Overall, Strange Brigade offers co-op for up to 4 players.
Here you can watch a trailer for the game:
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Strange Brigade – Trailer for the co-op shooter for fans of Indiana Jones
What makes Strange Brigade a hidden gem? One of the game’s greatest strengths is its humor. While the characters take the story quite seriously, the narrator effectively breaks the dark mood and provides most of the laughs.
This narrator appears not only in the cutscenes, which look like they were filmed on old film, but also seldom leaves during missions and reacts to what you do. You can even really annoy him, for which there is actually an achievement on Steam.
In Strange Brigade, there are not only good jokes but also good gameplay. I really enjoyed blasting through hordes of mummified enemies with the guns in the game or finishing them off with magic. The environments still look nice even today.
About 30 hours of co-op fun if you have the right people
How long will I be busy with it? If you want to see and do everything, according to howlongtobeat.com, it takes about 29 hours. So, you won’t be tied to this game with your friends for too long if you don’t want to.
In addition to the campaign, there is a horde mode and a score game. In the latter, you replay campaign missions to place your overall score on a leaderboard.
Little disclaimer at the end: Although I mostly played Strange Brigade alone, it’s definitely more fun cooperatively. Since only about 150 people are currently playing it on Steam (according to steamdb.info), I recommend bringing some friends along.
The dates for the upcoming fan festivals for Final Fantasy XIV in the USA, Europe, and Japan have been announced. However, they are scheduled later than in previous years. Accordingly, the next expansion 8.0 may take some time to arrive.
Update from August 28, 2025: In a message to fans on finalfantasyxiv.com, Director Naoki Yoshida discusses, among other things, the newly announced Fanfest dates. He also has an exciting announcement to share:
Thank you all so much for your support thus far, and we hope to have the pleasure of your company as we continue along this incredible journey for years to come. (And one more thing: for those wondering what comes after the Japan Fan Fest…while I can’t give any details just yet, rest assured you won’t have to wait long.)
As we understand it, the next expansion for Final Fantasy XIV will be released shortly after the Fanfest in Tokyo, so probably sometime in the winter of late 2026 or early 2027.
Original message – When are the next fan festivals? On August 27, Square Enix announced the new dates for the upcoming fan festivals for Final Fantasy XIV. In 2026, it will once again be held in the USA, Europe, and Japan. Here are the dates:
April 24 and 25, 2026: Anaheim, California, USA – Anaheim Convention Center
July 25 and 26, 2026: Berlin, Germany – Messe Berlin, hub27
October 31 and November 1, 2026: Tokyo, Japan – Makuhari Messe
This will be the first European fan festival to take place in Germany since Frankfurt 2017. Currently, there is no information about ticket sales, but it is expected to be announced later on the official website.
However, the dates slightly deviate from the usual rhythm of Final Fantasy XIV, which could mean that the next expansion will arrive later than expected. MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiss was on site at the fan festival in London 2023 for you. Here are some impressions:
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Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival London 2023
Is 8.0 for Final Fantasy XIV coming much later than expected?
What was the previous expansion rhythm of Final Fantasy XIV? The previous rhythm for Final Fantasy XIV saw a major X.0 update approximately every two years until Endwalker:
A Realm Reborn (Base Game), Version 2.0: August 2013
Heavensward, Version 3.0: June 2015
Stormblood, Version 4.0: June 2017
Shadowbringers Version 5.0: July 2019
Endwalker, Version 6.0: December 2021
Dawntrail, Version 7.0 (currently): July 2024
The later release of Endwalker in winter 2021 instead of summer was due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The approximately 2.5 years wait for Dawntrail was also presumably linked to the pandemic, and was seen as a return to the regular rhythm with a summer release.
Why would fan festival dates correlate with the release of 8.0? If the developers do not redesign their entire tried and true announcement pattern for 8.0, it could happen that the expansion goes live only at the end of 2026 or even in spring 2027. This is also supported by the new message from Naoki Yoshida; see also the update in this news from August 28.
So far, the next expansion for the MMORPG has always been announced at the US festival. At the European festival, the release date was revealed, and the final bits of information were provided at the event in Tokyo before a release of Patch X.55, followed by about 6 months of information and update pause until the release.
If the developers use the US fan festival as usual for the announcement of 8.0, the name, setting, and initial information should be announced in April 2026. The release date will presumably be released in July 2026 at the Berlin event. Finally, the fan festival in Tokyo will take place at the end of October, beginning of November.
Of course, Square Enix could then release version 8.0 relatively shortly after the festival in Tokyo. However, it is likely that Patch 7.55 will follow first. The release of the new expansion after Dawntrail could therefore fall into April or May 2027 – if not even June or July. Wich would mean about three years of waiting time.
A release in June or July 2026, which would be a release according to the old schedule, is not possible with the current dates. This is also supported by Yoshida’s latest statement.
At this point, it is not known whether and to what extent the marketing measures for an expansion 8.0 for Final Fantasy XIV may have changed, or whether Square Enix essentially sticks to the old scheme. As soon as there is news, confirmed information about the fan festivals or the upcoming expansion, you can read about it on MeinMMO. During gamescom 2025, we were able to talk to Naoki Yoshida and he told us how he would design a new MMORPG today.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Helldivers 2 has finally released on Xbox after more than a year. MeinMMO editor Dariusz has gained some experience on PC during that time and has a few tips for the new comrades.
The first hours of Helldivers 2 can be very overwhelming, but PS5 and PC players have had over a year to adapt to the chaos of the galactic war.
Now the Helldiver veterans have received new support: Xbox players have joined the fight and are storming the battlefields. To ensure our new comrades do not serve as helpless cannon fodder, we have gathered 20 tips to help them get started.
[toc]
Use Boosters, especially the Hellpod Slot Optimization
At the beginning of each mission, every Helldiver can and should equip a booster. Boosters provide your entire team with an enhancement that can be very useful. One particularly important booster is the Hellpod Slot Optimization. It gives you more ammunition, grenades, and syringes at each respawn. Every team should equip at least this booster.
You can farm Über-Credits instead of buying them
You need Über-Credits (the blue currency) to unlock War Bonds. Through the War Bonds, you get new weapons, equipment, armor, and cosmetic items. Especially with weapons and grenades, there are some that significantly simplify your life on alien planets.
If you don’t want to spend money on War Bonds, you can also find Über-Credits during your missions, for example in bunkers. So it can be worth farming them deliberately – even if it takes a while.
Start upgrading your ship early
Use the remaining time during missions to look for samples. You need samples to unlock upgrades for your ship. It makes sense to start upgrading your ship right at the beginning since it takes some time.
Drop your samples at the extraction point
If you have diligently collected samples during a mission, you should drop them at the extraction point. Ideally as close as possible to the actual landing point of the shuttle. This way, you avoid losing some samples and not being extracted because the carrier bites the dust just before the end of the mission.
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Helldivers 2 invites new players of Xbox Series X|S to great heroic deeds
Forget about false pride
Play on a suitable difficulty level, especially when collecting samples to improve your ship. To successfully deliver samples, you must complete a mission and extract.
Overall, Helldivers is most fun when you use weapons and stratagems that you enjoy. Meta loadouts can simplify your life at higher difficulty levels, but they won’t help you if you are not having fun. So don’t let false pride guide you. This is not a PvP game.
Medals, cap: 250 (currency for unlocks within the War Bonds)
Request Notes, cap: 50,000 (yellow currency for new stratagems, etc.)
Samples, cap: 500 for common, 250 for rare, and 100 for super rare (Samples are the currency for ship upgrades)
Even a fun build can be optimized
Play with weapons and stratagems that you enjoy, but: A build works more reliably when you have the right mix – such as a support weapon, a backpack, and 2 stratagems (e.g., one for crowd control, one as a heavy hitter). You can also combine different weapons in your builds to compensate for each other’s weaknesses.
Weapons for easing missions
There are weapons, stratagems, and support weapons with which you can destroy mission objectives like fabricators or bug nests. Some examples include:
Always keep moving, as the hordes of enemies will otherwise get closer and put more pressure on you. You need to try to maintain control and successfully kite the enemies. If possible, you should even move while activating stratagems. If you’re on PC, for example, you can map the stratagem execution from WASD to the arrow keys – as long as your keyboard has arrow keys.
Don’t waste ammunition
When you reload, you discard the remaining ammunition in your magazine. Since ammunition management is important for some weapons to avoid encountering a giant acid titan unprepared and empty-handed, you should avoid this if possible. So be mindful not to switch your magazine after just a few rounds.
Stims not only heal you, they also replenish your stamina
If you are being overrun by hordes of bugs and need to make up a few meters, your stamina plays a crucial role. If you’ve used up all your stamina, you can replenish it with a syringe. Ideally, use the stims when you can benefit from both effects: health AND stamina regeneration.
Throw yourselves into the dirt more often
Dropping down and diving to the ground extinguishes the fire if you are burning. It also reduces the damage you take from explosions. If you cannot escape a potentially devastating explosion, throw yourself on the ground – you may be lucky and survive this way. You also avoid damage from Tesla towers when you are lying on the ground.
Weapons have different armor penetration
In Helldivers 2, not all weapons deal the same damage to armor. Each weapon has one of three armor penetration ratings: light, medium, heavy. Only weapons that penetrate heavy armor can deal damage to any enemy. The shots from a submachine gun with light penetration will bounce off enemies with medium or heavy armor – keep that in mind.
Planning when loading the SEAF artillery
When using the SEAF artillery, keep in mind: It fires the shells in the order you load them. It can cause surprises if you expect a different type of ammunition. So keep this in mind when loading the SEAF artillery.
Check out the planets from the spaceship
Pay attention to the conditions of the planet when starting a mission. This can have a significant impact on gameplay and, for example, affect the use of stratagems.
Sometimes in Helldivers it is wise to avoid or quickly end a confrontation and retreat. In such situations, you can use smoke to break the line of sight and reposition yourself. The enemies can no longer track you if they do not know your position.
Distraction to avoid confrontations
You can use sound to distract enemies and lure them in another direction. For example, throw a grenade or a stratagem in a certain direction to draw the enemies’ attention there, and then sneak past them from the other side.
Avoid reinforcements – especially the really nasty ones
If you encounter enemy patrols or get involved in a fight, first eliminate the enemies that can call reinforcements. With the bugs, pay special attention to the Alpha Commanders, as they can summon strong enemies like acid titans.
Injuries affect gameplay
In heated combat, your Helldiver may quickly sustain an injury. This is then indicated with a corresponding symbol on the screen. These injuries actively affect gameplay and should therefore be treated. A broken arm, for example, worsens your shooting precision and affects the throwing of grenades and stratagems. A broken leg impacts your movement, and a chest injury deals bleeding damage that can eventually kill you over time.
Prepare for strong enemies
Some enemy types are significantly stronger than the small, insignificant adds that follow you in droves. You should not encounter these enemies unprepared. For example, if you are facing a Bots tank or an acid titan and do not know their weaknesses or do not have firepower that can crack their armor, you will run into problems.
If you are not familiar with the weaknesses of various enemies, we have written small guides on MeinMMO for many of the Over-Earth foes that could help you in battle. You can find an overview here: Helldivers 2: All Guides, Beginner Tips, and Lists Overview
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In EA FC 25 you can now earn the Griddy celebration for the successor. If you want to use the Griddy in FC 26, you must complete matches in a special cup in Ultimate Team. On MeinMMO, we explain which tasks you need to complete for the popular celebration.
What is the Griddy? The Griddy is a celebration that dates back to a TikTok trend from 2019. During the Griddy, you shuffle forward in a slightly bent posture while swinging your arms back and forth. At the moment when the arms are in front of the face, you look through the hands that are shaped into a hole.
The Griddy is considered very provocative yet popular due to its casualness paired with a touch of silliness. Many players in the EA FC scene use it to further provoke an opponent after scoring.
Until now, the Griddy was a celebration that you could use randomly with any player and that you could also set as your club’s pro celebration for all players in Ultimate Team.
Is the Griddy also available in FC 26? Yes, but you have to earn it. To do this, you need to play the new Griddy-to-Glory-Cup in Ultimate Team. If you do not unlock the Griddy celebration, you cannot perform it in FC 26. There is also no way to obtain the Griddy by other means in FC 26.
After the video, you will see how to obtain the Griddy for FC 26 in FC 25 Ultimate Team.
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Deep Dive trailer on gameplay shows 2 different gameplays and numerous adjustments
Unlocking Griddy for FC 26: Tasks and Requirements
How do you get the Griddy for FC 26? In the live objectives in FC 25 Ultimate Team, you will find 2 task blocks that are relevant for unlocking the Griddy for FC 26:
Griddy-to-Glory Daily Play
Griddy-to-Glory Daily Completionist
Both tasks are interconnected. For the daily match task, you need to either:
win 3 matches
or
complete 6 matches
The daily match task is updated daily at 6:00 PM (GMT). If you meet the requirements for the daily match, you automatically complete a sub-task for the Griddy-to-Glory Daily Complete Package.
To finally get the Griddy celebration for FC 26, you must complete the daily match tasks and thus also the complete package 5 times. You have until September 9, 2025, to do this.
How can you participate in the Griddy-to-Glory Cup? You can find the cup in the live friendly matches of Ultimate Team. Every player is eligible for the cup and you can play as often as you like.
Your team must meet 2 specific requirements to start a match:
18 common + rare pros: Exactly 18 (starting lineup and substitution)
75 OVR and higher: Exactly 18
In other words, you can only use common or rare gold players for the cup. However, you do not need to spend a long time tinkering with a formation or tactics, as you will have already met your quota after completing 6 matches.
Can I unlock additional rewards through the cup? Yes. For each daily match task you complete, you will receive for FC 25 Ultimate Team:
3x 86+-Pro Pack
10x 85+-Pro Packs
An even greater bonus is provided by the Griddy-to-Glory Daily Complete Package:
Complete 1, 2, and 3: each a 5-of-10 player choice from Futties/Path to Glory/Greats of the Game with an overall rating of 99
Complete 4 and 5: each a 5-of-20 player choice from Futties/Path to Glory/Greats of the Game with an overall rating of 99
as a bonus for completions 1-5: Futties Ronaldinho (99 OVR)
The Griddy is not only used on the field, but also in eSports for EA FC, where some pros occasionally resort to the Griddy. Recently, RB Leipzig eProfi Anders Vejrgang caused a stir when he retaliated with the celebration against his opponent. However, a Dutchman became the world champion in FC 25, and he opted for an unconventional player in defense: The new world champion in FC 25 relies on a budget defensive giant who is actually a goalkeeper
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Path of Exile 2, the director discussed exclusive skins during a press preview for the new season. We’ll reveal whether these will also come to the West.
Which skins are involved? Path of Exile 2 is being produced for the West and is only familiar to most players in this version. However, the game is too dark and off-putting for the Chinese market, which is why the developers are creating a standalone version for the many players there that differs in several aspects from the “normal” version.
There are skins tailored specifically to that market, such as anime characters as companions or cute dogs and cats that players can own. Some players have expressed in the past that they wish these skins could also come to the West. MeinMMO asked the director, Jonathan Rogers, about the chances of this happening.
Here you can see the trailer for the new season “The Third Edict”:
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Path of Exile 2 shows Season 2 in the new trailer, brings Act 4 and 3 interludes into play
Nothing is excluded
Will the skins also come to the West? During a press preview for the new season of Path of Exile 2, MeinMMO asked Game Director Jonathan Rogers whether the skins from China would also come to the West.
Rogers initially explained that the skins are not created by the developer Grinding Gear Games themselves, but by the publisher Tencent specifically for the Chinese market. However, he did not rule out the possibility that some of the skins would make it into the global version.
He explained that they are looking at the skins, and those that align with the developers’ vision for the “normal” version may eventually be released. Therefore, it is not expected that anime characters and puppy dogs will soon fight skeletons and monsters in the Western version.
What about the skins from Path of Exile 1? Since the release of Path of Exile (1), the developers have continually introduced new skins into the game through dozens of supporter packs. Therefore, MeinMMO asked the director during the press preview whether new players would eventually be given the opportunity to purchase these.
However, Jonathan Rogers clarified that this will not happen. They promised the supporters that the skins would be exclusive and do not want to break that promise. Instead, the developers are offering new packs that new players can use to build their wardrobe.
Legion Remix for World of Warcraft does not look good. This is what the community says and promises: We will not play it like that.
Update 28.08.2025, 06:30 AM: Meanwhile, Blizzard has commented in the WoW Forum and appears to be planning a course change. All the loud criticism from the community seems to have had an effect, as Blizzard says:
Many thanks to everyone who took the time to test Legion Remix on the PTR. Based on your feedback, we will extend our PTR test by a week starting next week and make significant improvements, aiming to bring additional speed, power, and fun into the mode. More details coming soon.
It remains to be seen whether the changes will actually make a difference. But at least it seems that the feedback has been received.
Original message:
It was supposed to be a big nostalgia fest and the announcement was received with much joy. But it is becoming increasingly clear that Legion Remix will be quite different than Mists of Pandaria Remix. However, the developers seem determined to stick to this path and are now paying the price for it: many are unwilling to give Legion Remix a chance or prefer to play it only at the end when Blizzard gives in.
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WoW Midnight – The opening cinematic of the new addon shows the attack on Silvermoon
What is the problem? Legion Remix could already be tried out on the PTR (test server). However, the first feedback from players was devastating. Leveling is too slow, the power increase is too low, and essentially all that made Mists of Pandaria Remix great is not included this time – with the exception of numerous cosmetic rewards. But even those are not all available at the start, but will be unlocked over time.
Blizzard sticks to phases, wants slower power gain
One of the developers responsible for Legion Remix is also active on a community Discord, where a channel has even been created specifically for feedback. There, “Josh” not only collects feedback from the community but also responds to some criticisms to clarify his design philosophy or explain what the intent of Legion Remix is.
In recent days, numerous players have expressed their concerns and criticized that essentially the best aspects of Mists of Pandaria Remix are not present in Legion Remix: all content available from the start and the ability to become extremely powerful within a few days. Josh responded:
I appreciate the feedback and understand where you are coming from and your feelings are valid. Some updates will come soon. I want you to feel as powerful as in Mists of Pandaria [Remix], but I also want to bring back the feeling of strengthening the artifact weapon over multiple patches and then going into the once-challenging zones and slaughtering everything – that is a kind of progress and narrative that can only be experienced with different phases.
Even if Josh’s statement should not be understood as a general Blizzard position, he is indeed one of the key developers of this feature, and such a statement carries weight.
Community says: Let us know when everything is there, then we will play
In social media, such as the WoW subreddit, these and other statements are not received well at all. Many express their discontent that they have to wait many weeks until all content from Legion is available.
It is also disappointing that one will only truly feel overpowered late in the course of Legion Remix. After all, this overpowering is what made it fun and one of the driving factors when it came to farming rewards. Because hardly anyone wants to farm rewards while having a “normal” power level – that has been experienced sufficiently in Retail WoW.
Blizzard sticks to the plans – and the community is angry.
Some of the comments on this:
“I won’t touch this until they go back to their typical ‘Sorry, here’s the turbo mode’ nonsense, like they always do lately when they give us content piecemeal.” – snukz
“To make it short: We wait a month and when it’s finally fixed, we will play.” – ironmcchef
“I want no phases. I want no progress. I want no ‘trying’. I want to turn off my brain, see big numbers, and make bosses fall over.” – Khaldaan
“It’s incredible that the feedback for MoP Remix back then was almost unanimous: ‘This is the most fun I’ve ever had in WoW’ and the feedback for Legion Remix is ‘This is really, really bad and nobody likes it’. And they still stick to it.” – SpunkMcKullins
“You can just trust Blizzard to take a fun new game mode (that surprised everyone) and completely massacre it for future versions of it. Just… how?” – Fright13
Whether all these comments are ultimately just lip service and players will end up playing for the cosmetic rewards remains to be seen. However, one should not expect a “hype” like the one Mists of Pandaria Remix generated. After all, Legion Remix resembles too much the restrictions and “normal” things that everyone has been experiencing in Retail for years. That’s all very unfortunate, as Legion Remix brings some of the coolest rewards.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Battlefield 6 is still a few months away. If you’re already craving action, you’ll need to look for other games. Therefore, we now present a series of games that you can play while waiting for Battlefield 6.
What kind of games are these? Battlefield has its own niche in a way. It is an arcade shooter, which is therefore not as realistic as various military simulations. Nevertheless, Battlefield puts a greater focus on realism and immersion than, for example, its big shooter competitor Call of Duty. This makes it difficult, actually impossible, to recommend a truly perfect alternative.
However, the games we present here share certain characteristics with the Battlefield series and can therefore be an alternative. To help you better assess whether a game is interesting for you, we will mention the core elements that it shares with Battlefield for each game.
Battlefield 4, 1, V, and 2042
Genre: Military Shooter |Developer: EA Dice | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S |Release Date: / | Model: Buy-to-Play | Perspective: First-Person
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The Official Reveal Trailer for Battlefield 1
What distinguishes the Battlefield titles? The best alternative to the latest Battlefield is an old Battlefield since it relies on the same gameplay elements – except for Battlefield 2042. The respective games differ slightly in setting and color scheme of the maps.
Battlefield 4 – Setting: relatively contemporary with modern weapons and vehicles
Immersion and sound design have always had a strong focus
Typical Battlefield modes available
Movement and game speed in BF4, 1 and V significantly slower than in BF6 and 2042
Contra
The last entry in a modern setting is 2042 or the 12-year-old Battlefield 4. If you’re looking for a modern setting, you have to make compromises.
The memory of the existence of Battlefield 2042 might frustrate you
Player counts and server selection in older entries can be uneven, especially in BF4
Arma Reforger
Genre: Military Simulation, Hardcore Shooter |Setting: Cold War |Developer: Bohemia Interactive |Release Date: May 12, 2022 | Model: Buy-to-Play | Perspective: First-Person | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series
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New shooter on Steam and Xbox gives a taste of Arma 4 – See here the realistic graphics in the trailer
What distinguishes Arma? Arma is a military simulation characterized by extreme realism and complexity. This is noticeable, for example, in the ballistics of the weapons. The gameplay focus is overall on large-scale battles involving infantry and various vehicles across expansive landscapes.
Additionally, communication with your teammates is extremely important. You are constantly exchanging information with your comrades and discussing the further course of action – not only in your small squad but throughout the entire team. Often there is a concrete attack plan that you follow.
Pro
Focus on realism
Large-scale battles with vehicles and infantry
Immersive atmosphere with strong sound design
Strategy and communication are important
Suitable for roleplaying fans
No CoD movement
Contra
not arcade/casual-friendly/beginner-friendly
You are practically forced to communicate with other players
English language skills are advantageous due to the importance of communication.
A developer is not pleased that Twitch streamers are playing his games, but feels exploited. The streams would get high views, yet he gains little from it.
The title image is a symbolic image and does not represent any of the mentioned individuals.
What is the developer frustrated about? The developer Okuda Kaku, who with his wife owns the game company Kaeru Panda, shared a personal case. A Twitch streamer had over 2 million subscribers on the platform and played his game. This was supposed to mean a significant boost in sales since many people were introduced to his video game this way.
But because the Twitch streamer did not provide a link to the game, the success eluded the developer. Only the streamer could benefit from the game for his stream and the revenue generated from it.
In a posting on X, he writes: “I have personally experienced situations where a game I developed was streamed by a famous streamer and received hundreds of thousands of views overnight. However, there was no purchase link in the video description, so it had absolutely no impact on sales. I felt like I was being exploited and only the streamer benefited. Honestly, I really wish something would be done about it. Seriously.”
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These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google
A problem without a real solution
What is the solution? Currently, there is no immediate solution, only several ways to potentially address this issue:
Developer Takayuki Fukatsu suggests on X a revenue share. 5% of the revenue that a player earns by playing a specific video game should go to the developers.
A provided link to buy the game directly may not always bring much. Many viewers from Twitch streams are primarily viewers and not buyers. A suggestion (from the community on X) would be that developers could charge so-called “streaming fees” for their game, which Twitch streamers would need to pay if they wanted to stream the game.
Developer Nama Takahashi (via automaton-media.com) believes that content creators should be required to break the game they play into episodes and only upload them piece by piece.
So far, there are only ideas regarding this topic, but no concrete solutions. It remains to be seen whether a system can be created in the near future where both developers and Twitch streamers can benefit.
On Steam and PS5 you can currently get a special shooter on offer that relies not only on sci-fi and many jokes but also has a lot to offer as a game.
What game is it? On Steam, there are many sci-fi shooters, but hardly any game compares to High On Life. Instead of focusing on an epic story with twists and drama, the shooter is packed with crude humor known from cartoons like Rick and Morty.
As a classic loser, you suddenly find yourself in an alien invasion and with an arsenal of talking weapons, you try to save the Earth.
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The release trailer for High on Life
Quirky humor and a fine shooter
What kind of game is High On Life? As the first look at the trailer already shows, the shooter relies on crude (fecal) humor. A major focus is on the conversations with your weapons, which not only constantly contradict you. They have their own personalities, which also reflect their tactics on the battlefield.
You can switch the weapons in combat according to the situation. Corresponding to the talking weapons, there are also unique shooting and reloading animations that fit the humorous world.
Aside from fighting colorful alien monsters and bosses with loose mouths, you need to explore various planets. The shooting is not only important, but also the journey within the worlds. High On Life has a strong focus on movement segments that you must complete with various tools.
How is the game received on Steam? The game currently has a pretty good rating of 89% with over 16,000 reviews on Steam.
MIKIESZ (via Steam) praises many aspects of the game: Each biome is incredibly beautiful and well-designed, the movement mechanics are very responsive, the weapon comments and dialogues are incredibly funny.
[LOS] Gamma (via Steam) can recommend the game especially to a group of people: Anyone who loves the Rick and Morty humor will love the game.
Even Mr. Zero: 7 (via Steam) had his fun: Haven’t had a game that made me laugh and smirk so much in a long time! A bit short, but that’s what DLC is for!
Who is the game not suitable for? Even if you are only interested in the shooter and movement mechanics, you should be a fan of the humor. If you don’t like the humor in series like Rick and Morty, American Dad, or Family Guy, you probably won’t have fun here either.
How much does High On Life cost currently? Until September 6, you can get the game on Steam with a 50% discount for only €18.24. If you want the DLC as well, you currently pay €24.11. You can also get the game in the PSN Store for a price of €19.99 on sale.
If you have the Xbox Game Pass, the shooter is also included in the subscription.
At Gamescom, MeinMMO chief editor Leya played the demo of Borderlands 4 and spoke with the developers afterward. They discussed how the shooter feels more mature now and what it actually means to have already created a legend like Handsome Jack.
What do you do when you have created one of the most iconic villains in gaming history and set the bar incredibly high for yourself for all who follow?
This is exactly what I have been wondering for years when I think of Borderlands. I love this loot shooter very much, have played everything in the series – and Handsome Jack, with his smug, cunning, and calculating nature, remains unmatched as a villain to this day.
At Gamescom, I spoke with Senior Project Producer Anthony Nicholson and Lead Level Designer Jason Reiss about the question that has been burning in my mind for so long.
I will embed the 10-minute interview here as a video. Small warning: Unfortunately, we had technical problems and my audio quality is poor, but Anthony and Jason are easy to understand:
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Borderlands 4 Interview mit Anthony Nicholson und Jason Reiss
The Legacy of Handsome Jack
After I had about 40 minutes to shoot through the demo of Borderlands 4 and had a lot of fun doing so, I was able to talk with both developers for another 10 minutes. When we generally discussed the topic of the villain, I asked them straight out if it actually puts pressure on them to create a new villain at the level of Handsome Jack. Anthony immediately had a clear answer to that:
Yes, absolutely.
I think every artist, every creator has this thing that they are constantly trying to either look up to or surpass, but that is not our goal. We’re not saying: Oh, that was done that way, now we have to do everything to make sure that happens [again]. No, we have super creative and very talented writers. And together with all the directors and leads of our project, who all contribute to making the story what it is, how we tell it and what the characters can do over time.
Jason added that each Borderlands has a separate story with different meanings and that many different directions can be taken here.
Why this question was swirling in my head was also due to the predecessor Borderlands 3. At that time, the Calypso twins were criticized. Their direction looked like this: The villains parodied narcissistic Twitch streamers, got on many people’s nerves and never had the depth that Handsome Jack possesses. One could say they were one of the biggest criticisms of the game.
Borderlands 4 aims to be more serious – and the villain?
While I was playing the demo at Gamescom, I especially noticed that the gameplay felt much more mature. Because from my perspective, Gearbox has focused primarily on modernizing the shooter gameplay while also significantly improving the movement. With grappling hooks, gliding, swimming and more vertical gameplay, the loot shooter feels much more refined.
As I couldn’t quite explain to myself why I felt this way, I asked both if they had a theory as to why Borderlands 4 feels more mature to me. Anthony explained how, in his view, their new antagonist, the Timekeeper, likely contributes to this:
I think when we develop games and we evolve and move forward, we grow up too. And the players grow with us. And so there’s an approach that improves, but also looks at things through a different lens so we can continuously try to make things better and better.
But I also think about how much is at stake with this part with the Timekeeper and what he is. It’s much more serious. The entire planet is at risk because of what this person is doing. You can see how environmental storytelling contributes and how different factions have risen up and tried to resist.
The Timekeeper rules as a dictator over the prison planet Kairos, which has long been protected from external influences by a barrier created by him. He is the leader of the faction “Order,” which operates with mind control and total surveillance. Unlike previous Borderlands villains, he acts calmly, calculatingly, and is difficult to provoke, making him particularly threatening.
The actual motives and true nature of the Timekeeper are meant to remain mysterious and will be revealed further along in the game.
All of this already sounds like a very harsh dystopia and, according to Anthony, is supposed to reflect in the game’s visuals, which are also kept rather dark. They want to settle the atmosphere somewhere between Borderlands 1 and Borderlands 2.
I personally liked the Calypso twins for what they were. I didn’t expect much depth from narcissistic influencers either. But I must say, this new villain really intrigues me, as he seems to be the exact opposite of the usual colorful characters one encounters in Borderlands.
His will to keep an entire planet hidden makes the Timekeeper a fascinating figure. What is his agenda?
Gameplay reflects what the antagonist is meant to be
After processing my impressions of the gameplay and my conversation with both developers a bit, I get a cohesive overall picture.
Jason made a good point regarding worldbuilding and gameplay. From his perspective, Borderlands 4 also feels more mature now, due to the logic that had to be created in the world:
When you think about what we could do before, we created levels. There was a level transition, where you appeared somewhere else. And we could be a bit vague about how big this thing is and what the path looks like, all these things. But with the seamless world, everything is real. It’s a realer world. Everything is interconnected. Everyone. The river you see flowing has to reach all the other interesting sights. And it has to be fully realized or we create a large world that connects everything.
I think that creates a more mature type of environment.
Because Borderlands has now evolved again in its systems and is more mature, a loot shooter has been created that feels more grown-up. But I can promise you, the chaotic feeling and absurd moments will remain. I mean: I threw away my weapon with an empty magazine, which then ran alongside me and shot with me automatically. Delightful!
When I now think about why Handsome Jack was so iconic back then, he may have even been ahead of Borderlands 2 in development. Because with his way of trying to pull you to his side and his motives in the end, that had depth, it was dark, it had maturity.
And so the series has not managed to create such a refined villain that it already had back in 2012. But Borderlands 4 seems to be right there, and I have high hopes for the Timekeeper. It would be cool if a villain on the level of Handsome Jack is presented here – but oh, I understand the pressure the developers are under. These smug remarks, that nasty laugh, that false charm… it’s just a major cinematic experience.
In the new update of the game No Man’s Sky, you can finally fly through space together with your friends.
What kind of update is this? The update “Voyagers” catapults the game No Man’s Sky to a new level. The update has been live for a few hours and can be tried out. It is update 6.0 and primarily offers the ability to design your spaceships freely and turn them into flying bases.
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No Man’s Sky player is in such a desperate situation with his permadeath character that the developers are paying him their last respects
Your spaceship becomes a base in space
What is new in the update 6.0? In the new update, you get entirely new options to design your ship. Ships now have a complete interior. You can add, among other things, medical stations, bedrooms, armories, radar devices, and teleporters.
The spaceships thus transform into mobile bases that you can decorate and inhabit. All of this is possible even while you are currently traveling, as you can move freely during flight and are not stuck in the pilot’s seat.
The best part: ships can now be inhabited by a multi-crew. This means you can take your friends on your ship, assign them roles, and they can help design the ship.
You can customize decorations and the exterior according to your personal style. For example, you can design your spaceship luxuriously and glide through space in splendor. Additionally, new multiplayer missions and a new suit for your character are included.
What does the developer say about the update? In a deep dive video on YouTube, developer Sean Murray describes the ship as “the most important character in No Man’s Sky.” He describes the update as the most significant so far.
Furthermore, he states that substantial parts of the game had to be overhauled for the update. The technology for the revisions will also be useful for the upcoming game Light No Fire, which Hello Games is also developing.
It has been known for a while that Harry Potter is getting a series, and new information or images featuring actors are regularly released. However, the director of the first two films is not really satisfied with the first images.
Which director are we talking about? Chris Columbus directed the first 2 Harry Potter films (The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets). Previously, he was known as a director for Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire.
In July 2025, filming began on the new Harry Potter series from HBO, and during this process, former actors and directors are being questioned about their opinions as new images and information emerge (via Variety). Chris Columbus has now expressed negative opinions in a podcast after seeing an image of the new Hagrid.
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German trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
It will all be the same
What does he say about the first photos? In the podcast The Rest is Entertainment (via podcasts.apple.com), host Richard Osman discussed with Chris Columbus among other things about Harry Potter and the new series. He mentioned that he had seen unofficial photos from the set.
He saw photos of Hagrid, who is played by Nick Frost, and was shocked at how similar it was to the old films. He explains:
So, I see these photos… and he is wearing exactly the same costume that we designed for Hagrid. A part of me thought: What’s the deal? […] I thought everything would be different, but it’s more of the same. It will all be the same.
You can see a first glimpse of the new Hagrid here:
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He questions why the series seemingly makes everything similar to the original films. He also feels flattered that they are using his old design, and finds at least exciting what the new series will do with the old elements. On the other hand, it feels to him like a déjà-vu.
In the podcast, he also emphasizes that he is not jealous. He is proud of the first films and would move forward.
What is Chris Columbus doing currently? He will release the film The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix on August 28, 2025. This is a crime comedy featuring Hellen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan among others. As a producer, he was recently involved in the horror film Nosferatu.
What potential does a new series about Harry Potter have? Chris Columbus’s critique is not absurd, as the series should utilize its potential to tell more than the films did. With more runtime, there can be more room for the story, the characters, and Hogwarts itself.
The series thus has the opportunity to do more than the films. However, if that is not achieved, one cannot prevent die-hard fans from comparing the series to the films. Using similar costumes is not a strong indication of how the series will develop. The books certainly provide many details that were left out in the films: Harry Potter: 10 details that are simply better in the books
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PS Plus Essential for September 2025 for the PS5 and PS4 have been officially announced. We will give you a brief overview of the games and show you when they will be available.
What PS Plus games are there in September 2025? In September 2025, there are three games that you can get with the PS Plus Essential subscription.
Viewfinder | PS5, PS4
Stardew Valley | PS4
Psychonauts 2 | PS4
When are the games available? The games are always available from the first Tuesday of a month:
PS Plus games available: September 03, 2025, around 12:00 PM
PS Plus Essential in September 2025: An Overview of All Games
Here we present the three games briefly:
Viewfinder (PS4/PS5): Viewfinder is an exciting puzzle game where you use your camera and surrounding images to explore your environment and solve puzzles. It’s especially worth it for explorers. Overall, the game offers up to 4 hours of gameplay.
Stardew Valley (PS4): One of the most famous indie games ever lets you build your own farm. Your grandfather left you land and some tools. Now you can decide how you want to expand your farm.
In Stardew Valley, you have countless options to express yourself, as not only can your farm be customized. Your home also features housing and can be designed as you wish. Depending on how much you immerse yourself, the game offers between 50 to 160 hours of gameplay.
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Stardew Valley Trailer
Psychonauts 2 (PS4): With Psychonauts 2, Microsoft has revived one of its most famous 3D platformers. In this game, you have to complete various jump-and-run sections, solve puzzles, and complete missions – along the way you will meet entertaining characters.
With your powers, you can enter the thoughts of others and must then change reality according to your ideas to survive. In search of a secret villain, you can enjoy Psychonauts 2 for up to 15 hours. If you take your time, you can stretch the gameplay to 20–26 hours.
What else do I need to consider? If you have not redeemed the games from last month for PS Plus yet, you should hurry. Once the new games are available, the old ones will be switched off again. To get the games, you need the paid PS Plus subscription for your PS4 or PS5.
Critical Role, the largest streamer group for Dungeons & Dragons on Twitch, has announced the first information about their fourth campaign. We have gathered all the known information regarding the start, the cast, the new Dungeon Master, and which system will be used.
When does Critical Role Campaign 4 start? Campaign 4 of Critical Role will start on October 2, 2025. According to the Fireside Chat from August 22 (YouTube), the first four episodes have already been recorded and are intended to serve as an overture.
Where can Campaign 4 be watched? Critical Role will also release Campaign 4 via Twitch, YouTube, and their own streaming service Beacon.
The premiere of each episode is expected to again take place weekly from Thursday to Friday via Twitch, Beacon, and YouTube. The video-on-demand will be made available on Beacon right after the live show. Those without a Beacon subscription can catch the VoD on YouTube starting the following Monday.
Critical Role – Campaign 4: Everything about the system, DM, and cast
Will Critical Role use D&D or Daggerheart in Campaign 4? Campaign 4 will be played with Dungeons & Dragons 2024, not with Critical Role’s own system Daggerheart.
They will receive support from two of the developers of D&D 2024: Chris Perkins, former Game Designer, and Jeremy Crawford, former game and lead rules designer for the fourth and fifth editions of Dungeons & Dragons. Both played significant roles in the development of D&D 2024 and are now employed by Critical Role.
Who is the Dungeon Master for Campaign 4? Critical Role’s fourth campaign will be led by Brennan Lee Mulligan.
Brennan Lee Mulligan is a U.S. author, actor, and comedian. However, he is primarily known as the Dungeon Master for various English-speaking tabletop groups: In addition to Dimension 20, he also leads Worlds Beyond Number, Pirates of Leviathan, and Adventures on the Stoop. Critical Role fans may recognize him from the four-part mini-series Exandria Unlimited: Calamity (YouTube).
Who plays in Campaign 4? The cast of Campaign 4 will include a total of 14 people, including the Dungeon Master and the full previous Critical Role group:
What characters will be in Campaign 4? Currently, it is not known which characters will be involved in the fourth campaign.
Critical Role – Campaign 4: Everything about the campaign style and setting
What kind of campaign will the fourth one be? Campaign 4 will be held in the West Marches style. In this format, several groups of adventurers will experience the world through interconnected and independent story arcs.
For this, the 13 players will divide into three small groups after the first four episodes: the Soldiers, the Cunning, and the Seekers.
What kind of world will Campaign 4 take place in? The campaign will for the first time not take place in the already known world of Exandria. Instead, the players will face adventures in the new setting of Aramán.
In Aramán, there are no gods anymore, which affects the abilities of certain classes, including Clerics. The world will be shaped by DM Brennan Lee Mulligan along with Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins. There will be new subclasses, backgrounds, feats, and spells.
Amazon has revealed the start date for 7 vs. Wild and officially introduced season 5 of the series. But especially one person on the cover leaves fans guessing.
When does it start? Season 5 of 7 vs. Wild will premiere on October 7, 2025, on Amazon. All episodes of the series are expected to be released on YouTube two weeks later as usual. In addition to the 16 episodes of the main series, there will also be a 10-part series with background information on the organization and planning of the show.
7 vs. Wild Season 5 takes place in the Amazon rainforest, and participants can look forward to the following 7 candidates:
Joe Vogel (survival expert and featured on the cover via YouTube)
But besides the participants, there is another person visible on the announcement poster, about whom nothing has been known so far.
One of the most popular participants in the series is Jens “Knossi” Knossalla. You can find out more about him here:
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Knossi announces engagement in front of 11,000 spectators on Twitch
Fans are speculating about the new person
Who is it about? In the official announcement image for 7 vs. Wild Season 5 “Amazonas”, besides the participants, there is also another person visible. They are painted in camouflage and are hiding in the top right of the image. Neither the Instagram announcement nor the official Amazon website mentions who this person is.
While many fans express their frustration on Instagram about the departure of original founders Fritz Meinecke, Max Kovacs, and Johannes Hovekamp under the announcement, some are already speculating about who the person might be.
Here you can see the cover image of the new season:
Cover image of 7 vs. Wild with the contestants
What are their theories? Several theories about the person are being put forth by fans on Reddit and Instagram. For one, some believe it could be Steven Gätjen, who produced the 7 vs. Wild-podcast in Season 4 and is now supposed to replace Fritz Meinecke as the new face.
In another theory, it remains unclear who the person is precisely, but their function is interpreted as the new gamemaster, as in Season 4. The role that Fritz Meinecke fulfilled in Season 4 was to secure the participants’ memory cards and provide viewers with some additional information to put what was shown in a better context.
However, whose face is truly seen in the picture and what role they will play in 7 vs. Wild in the future remains a mystery.
Vought Rising is an upcoming spin-off of the Amazon series The Boys and takes one of the most popular characters as its protagonist. We at MeinMMO will tell you everything we know about it so far.
What kind of series is Vought Rising? Although The Boys will come to an end with its fifth season in 2026, fans do not have to say goodbye to the superhero universe. Vought Rising is set to be a series that explores the past of Soldier Boy and Stormfront.
The two are also the main characters of the series, which shows the beginnings of Vought and the superheroes. Unlike in The Boys, the plot will revolve around a murder case.
[toc]
You can watch the trailer for Season 4 of The Boys here:
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The Boys – Trailer for Season 4 of the adult superhero series
Vought Rising: All about the trailer, release, and debut
Is there a trailer for Vought Rising?
So far, there is no trailer for Vought Rising. Filming for the series began in August 2025 in Toronto and is expected to continue until the end of February 2026. Therefore, it might still take a while before a proper trailer is available.
So far, no official release date is known. Since filming will only end in February 2026, it can be assumed that it will take several months, perhaps even 1 to 2 years, before the series is released.
Who will stream Vought Rising?
Like The Boys and the spin-off Gen V, Vought Rising is also produced by Amazon. Therefore, it can also be assumed that the series will be streamed there.
What is the age rating for Vought Rising?
Nothing is known about this yet. However, since the series is expected to be similar in brutality to The Boys, one can assume a general age rating of 18.
Since Vought Rising takes place in the past, the main characters from The Boys will likely not be there, but fans can look forward to 2 recurring heroes:
Jensen Ackles returns as Soldier Boy
Also, Aya Cash returns as Stormfront
Elizabeth Posey plays the character Private Angel
Mason Dye plays Bombsight
Will Hochman portrays Torpedo
In currently unconfirmed roles, the following actors are involved:
KiKi Layne
Ricky Staffieri
Brian J. Smith
Ricky Staffieri
Nicolo Pasetti
Jordon Myrie
Vought Rising: Plot – What is it about?
During a Comic Con, Eric Kripke and showrunner Paul Grellong explained that the focus is on a murder investigation related to the beginnings of Vought. Soldier Boy’s early steps as a supe are shown, and the other main role is played by Clara Vought, who is later known as Stormfront.
MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was able to talk to 2 developers from gamescom about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Not only were skins and the Omnimovement a topic,but also Black Ops 2.
As has been known for some time, Black Ops 7 is the next installment in the Call of Duty series. Unlike the major competitor Battlefield 6, the new title focuses on futuristic influences and quite fast gameplay.
At gamescom 2025, I was able to talk with developers behind Black Ops 7 and discussed not only sources of inspiration, skins, and the zombie mode, but also a surreal sequence that I can’t forget after 13 years.
I was able to speak with the following developers:
Miles Leslie, Associate Creative Director at Treyarch.
Natalie Pohorski, Lead Narrative Producer at Raven Software.
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Activision shows the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in the trailer for the Xbox Showcase 2025
Black Ops 2 as a source of inspiration and a beloved title for the community
MeinMMO: When I think of the Call of Duty series, I always have special memories of Black Ops 2. And my friends feel the same way. Why do you think BO2 is such a special game for many CoD players?
Miles Leslie: Oh, I like this question. Yes, I have worked on every single Black Ops. I have been with Treyarch since World at War. And I can tell you that this game was something special even in the studio because between World at War and Black Ops 1, we as a team gained so much experience that we really got into the groove. And with Black Ops 2, we put so much energy and confidence into this dynamic that it really manifested in the game.
And also our knowledge of what to do and what not to do. And what it means to develop a Black Ops game. I believe we really worked that out in Black Ops 2. And we had so much fun developing it. And that’s what’s special about having fun internally and thinking: Oh yes, we have to release it too.
And then you go out and people react so positively to it. I believe it was just the perfect moment for it. And since then, we’ve carried that momentum and the insights from fans into every game and constantly try to develop and deliver something new.
MeinMMO: Yes, when I talk to my friends about Call of Duty, it’s always about Black Ops 2 to this day. In the first trailers, the cinematic sequences were only or at least mostly about AI and robotics, which is a big topic today. Are there any inspirations from real life or movies for the story?
Natalie Pohorski: Yes, I think we are heavily inspired by the zeitgeist of human experience. We knew that 2035 would be our setting, so there’s an evolution of technology that we see today. We were already in Black Ops [2] in 2025, so we had already established some things in that world.
So when we looked at what technology might look like in 2035, there were some unknowns and some knowns, and we tried to find a good balance. The Guild is our technology company, and often they find themselves in a sort of gray area. You wonder: What exactly are they trying to achieve here? And Emma Kagan and David Mason and his team often argue about how to handle the situation.
MeinMMO: One more thing I found really cool were these fragments of the broken mind. How do you try to express that not just visually but also in gameplay?
Miles Leslie: Yes, that was an important part. In Black Ops 7 – and I believe you’re already a fan, you saw it in Black Ops 2 – we’re always trying to find ways to deliver the unexpected. At the center of this story is David Mason, and we wanted to return to Black Ops 2 to tell the aftermath of the events surrounding Raul Menendez and David Mason, and now was the right time for it.
And so you return 10 years later. The world was still somewhat broken after Raul Menendez’s first attack. Then he appears again, and the world goes into turmoil, and David Mason must confront his own decisions and regrets. And then it was about how that manifests in gameplay, not just in terms of the story, but also in the locations and the gameplay and how we can weave it all together.
And there are many mechanics with these hallucinations, the fears that also manifest, which you can use in all the various missions where they occur. There are even some gear and abilities that rely on that. There are a lot of these mixes.
Natalie Pohorski: And regarding the characters, we are introducing a co-op mode, right? This way you can experience the story either alone or with up to four players while taking on the role of these characters. You embark on a journey with each of them. While the story revolves around David Mason, each of them has made decisions in their past that now take center stage. And you as a player accompany them.
MeinMMO: Will you try to express it in multiplayer mode too?
Miles Leslie: Yes, that’s what excites us: the multiplayer maps and the co-op campaign because we visit the same locations and draw from moments in the campaign to create multiplayer maps. So it’s 2035, and there’s a bit of mind-bending [around changing consciousness]. And we also use this with some gear where we are also dealing with mind-bending. This gives you a glimpse of multiplayer mode and the co-op campaign.
Some mind-bending sequences can be seen in the first gameplay trailer:
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Call of Duty shows first gameplay for Black Ops 7
No mode should feel disconnected
MeinMMO: A question for me. I love playing CoD games with friends on the couch. Will there be a split-screen for the co-op campaign or for zombies?
Miles Leslie: Oh yes, no split-screen. Yes, everything is online, basically, and connected with all your friends.
MeinMMO: You talked in the past about the possibility of unlocking everything in each mode for every mode. How do you try to balance that? So that [people] don’t just play this one mission to fully unlock the Battle Pass?
Miles Leslie: Yes, no, good question. And we have designers who really focus on overall progress throughout the game. It has to feel fair, as you said, but also fair that you feel rewarded for the time you spend there.
And that was an important part of it. As Natalie said, we now have a game so interconnected that we wanted to guide players through the different areas, basically through discoverability. I think there have always been these barriers where you thought, “I don’t want to lose my progress when I try out the story or play zombies.” That is no longer the case. You can move freely in the game and continue your global progression and weapon progression. That was very important to us. It’s still balanced.
You can’t cheat it. You can’t bypass it. But you’ll be rewarded for your time, that’s really the key.
MeinMMO: An interesting topic was, in my opinion, the last campaign mission. [Miles Leslie interjects: Endgame] Endgame, yes. Will it be updated continuously to keep the experience varied for players who really enjoy this endgame mode?
Miles Leslie: Yes, we are not yet talking about our plans after release. But we are already planning how to support the game and do some fun things together with the fans.
MeinMMO: As for gameplay mechanics, I think one of the most important aspects of BO6 was the Omnimovement. Are there any aspects regarding that where you think you went too far or not far enough?
Miles Leslie: Yes, because we developed Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 in parallel, each game had its own identity, and we emphasized that. But we knew we wanted to introduce Omnimovement.
We implemented that with Black Ops 6. The feedback was really positive. And then of course you use these insights internally, but also for the players, and consider how to realign them. We also knew we wanted to add wall-running in Black Ops 7. And that brought about this realignment.
We have experience with advanced movement, right? Black Ops 3. And it was very important to us that the combat fits within the framework. You don’t want players to leave the game because they have to jump too high or too low. And so, there’s this constant iteration where it’s not frustrating for either side, right? You don’t want to feel frustrated when using it, and you also don’t want to feel frustrated when it’s used against you. So we wanted to realign that.
But beyond that, the most important insight for us was that players want more options to express themselves in the game. The Omnimovement allowed them to do that, but we wanted to take it a step further.
So let’s drop the Tac Sprint, but allow you to toggle it on if you want. This way you have more choices on how you want to play and more options to really engage in combat.
MeinMMO: Were there any weapons or gadgets in the past that you didn’t think would be particularly powerful, but became really good through the Omnimovement?
Miles Leslie: Yes, I think that’s the beauty of Omni. Let me give you a perfect example. For me, it revitalizes content that has always existed. Semtex. That has always been there, right? It’s a dinosaur, it’s been in every single one.
But the beauty of Omnimovement was that if I wanted to jump out of a window, I could perform a 360-degree omni-movement backward and then throw a Semtex behind me into a window, and that for the first time, because it sticks, otherwise it wouldn’t have been possible, right? And thus it takes something and refreshes it in interesting ways. Now you can combine that with wall-jumping, where some of these other things go, you will breathe new life into them when you discover how to use them in the maps, in the campaign, in zombies, and all these things.
MeinMMO: An aspect you are surely often asked about is SBMM [Skill Based Matchmaking]. Are there considerations to introduce a special mode with SBMM or the regular mode? [This means a separate mode with or without SBMM]
Miles Leslie: It’s a topic that comes up repeatedly, and we have nothing to do with SBMM, so I think they [the PR contact] can give you the contacts of the people who deal with that.
The zombie mode and the transit map from Black Ops 2
MeinMMO: Yes, one aspect I love about Black Ops, Black Ops 1, and Black Ops 2 is the zombie mode. And there were always these crazy maps like the moon or the Oval Office in Black Ops 1. Can you tell us something about the new maps?
Miles Leslie: Yes, so what excites me most about the zombie side is that it is the largest RPG map, a round-based zombie map, right? And we were really inspired, you talked about Black Ops 2, right? We were inspired by Transit. Do you remember Transit [a map in Black Ops 2], with the bus and the rides to all these places? We wanted to take that idea and then, as we always do, turn it on its head.
What happens if you could drive around? What happens if you could drive over zombies? What happens if you were shuffled through all these different locations? But they aren’t just normal places. Now you will be in the Dark Ether for the first time. We let players enter the Dark Ether and discover all the secrets, all the story elements that couldn’t be uncovered before, and that is really exciting.
The story is crazy, right? Zombie stories are already crazy, and the team thought, let’s make it even crazier. But that doesn’t mean it’s inaccessible and you can’t understand it. It’s still very accessible, but it has so many layers that are really exciting.
MeinMMO: Do you have favorite zombie maps?
Miles Leslie: How dare you? If I give you an answer, I’ll basically offend someone. No, you know what? I will answer it differently. It’s because I’ve been around since World at War.
My fondest memory is when the zombies were brought to life. I remember the team. We were just working on it on the side, and it was something we did to relax, which is why it is so special to me that something that was just fun became something that so many fans love.
It’s as if we have the responsibility to push that forward, and I look back on that moment and then look at Black Ops 7 and think: It’s so great that we continue to push that forward. That’s what’s special about it for me.
MeinMMO: Yes, I really liked the zombie mode in Dead Ops. How did you approach this modern version of Dead Ops? I believe you said I could unlock things for the other modes in Dead Ops too? How do you go about that since it’s a different genre?
Miles Leslie: I mean, for us, as Natalie already hinted, since the game is so interconnected, it was the right time to bring Dead Ops back because it’s such a shared experience.
We want to achieve that discoverability we talked about. Dead Ops has always been more of a niche product, right? Not all fans were aware of it, and so we thought, since it’s now so easy to try out all the different game modes, maybe now is the right time to make DO [Dead Ops] accessible to a wider audience and attract more fans to it, like you, because once they hold those two weapons in their hands, they will fall in love with the game, and we also know that there are barriers where an MP player might say, “I can’t because I have to grind.”
No worries, you can achieve your global progress in DO, and so you can gain new fans in all these different modes.
Absurd end-credit scene and the campaign
MeinMMO: When I think of the campaign in Black Ops 2, I always have this wow moment in mind, I believe it was at the end of the campaign, where there was this strange sequence where you played rock music, I believe. [Miles Leslie interjects: Oh, the credits! I have fond memories of that.] It was so weird, but it was so much fun. I would love to ask why or how this idea was implemented?
Miles Leslie: I’ve never been asked that before. Back then it was like that, and this goes back to what I said: The team was so confident and had so much fun that we wondered how we could have even more fun and express that in the game to show players how much fun we had developing the game. This is how the idea emerged to do something over the top during the credits, and we implemented that, and that’s the outcome you saw.
The following sequence is meant:
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MeinMMO: Regarding the mission structure of the campaign, the campaigns over the years have had a very linear structure. You can choose this path, you can choose this gadget. We talked about the “Fractured Mind” sequences, are there any other innovations regarding an approach to the structure?
Natalie Pohorski: I think the variety of these missions greatly depends on how you play them, how you play as a team, and how you decide to approach them. For example, you could say, “Oh, maybe I’ll approach it this way and you take care of this thing,” just like with that strategic level that plays a role in that. And then there are these diverse locations, each providing a unique gameplay incentive. I think this element, where you learn a bit about the world again but also connect your characters, contributes a lot to the variety that comes from the moment-to-moment gameplay and these unique places because it’s like a roller coaster, right? We go through these real locations, we go through Avalon, the future, and the past.
Miles Leslie: And then regarding the structure: It’s linear, and there’s no hub you go to. Each mission is a linear roller coaster in terms of structure. You work your way straight through the campaign.
MeinMMO: Will the weapons and gadgets be leveled in the missions that don’t belong to the endgame?
Miles Leslie: Yes, the entire campaign.
MeinMMO: I think Cold War is a good example of how it was worth replaying the missions because there was so much to discover. I have fond memories of the Berlin level.
Miles Leslie: Oh man, old school. We just talked about that. I love it. Yes, and that was a big advantage, right? We spent so much time developing these stories, and we want players to never feel like they’re not progressing and that they are not rewarded for their time. And this is where the co-op campaign comes in, where you are rewarded. Global progress, weapon progress, just everything.
MeinMMO: How do you handle the difficulty level of the campaign? I personally preferred to play Black Ops 2 on the highest difficulty options. Are there ideas on how to set the difficulty apart more from the other options, aside from just dealing more damage or taking less damage?
Miles Leslie: Yes, in this game there are no difficulty levels. We wanted to optimize the player experience so that you can dive in right away, but it’s integrated into the missions if you know what I mean. And in this roller coaster, we will challenge you on how you approach it, but it also allowed us, as Natalie said, that you have the option to play in co-op mode, and you can assemble a squad or play with friends, so there’s the opportunity to devise a strategy on how to approach these missions, and it gets harder with more players. So there’s the option if you want it to be harder, you can team up with other players and try to fight your way through.
The big topic: Skins
MeinMMO: Yes, and my last question, which I’m sure you get asked often, concerns skins for the multiplayer mode and the other game modes. How do you select specific skin themes or collaboration skins?
Miles Leslie: Yes, definitely. So, first of all, our approach in this whole matter is that we have so many fans, right? Millions of fans, and they all want something different, and for us, it’s important to serve the largest number of our fans and to give them what they want in the game. And when the team deals with collaborations and all these things, that’s really the goal and intent. We have heard the feedback and take it seriously. It’s therefore important for us to maintain the tone and theme in Black Ops 7 while also supporting our large fan base.
MeinMMO: Are there any favorite collaborations you would love to do with this futuristic theme?
Miles Leslie: I love this question, but I can’t answer it. Because if I said it, someone else would get it.
MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes had a lot of fun with a big sci-fi role-playing game at gamescom 2025, even though he didn’t play it like a role-playing game.
What game is it? The Outer Worlds 2 is perhaps the most interesting upcoming game for Fallout fans and will be released in just a few months. The role-playing game from Obsidian Entertainment features, like its predecessor, a satirical sci-fi world full of corrupt and powerful companies and quirky characters. Recently, the game’s companions were showcased during the Opening Night Live.
In the preview at gamescom, I was able to create a character and play the beginning of the game. Even though I didn’t play the predecessor, I had a lot of fun, although I feel like I played The Outer Worlds 2 completely wrong.
Start video
The Outer Worlds 2 showcases the in-game companions in a new trailer.
Right from the beginning, the backstory becomes relevant
How did the beginning go? First, we were able to create a character in the preview. It was not only about appearance but also about various attributes and a backstory that affected dialogues and the possibilities in the game world.
Character created, and off I go to a space station, where my next mission is explained to me. Even the first dialogues were enjoyable. They weren’t fantastically written, but the silliness and strong personalities made me laugh.
I also found it pretty cool that my background was a constant theme. I chose the backstory as gambler, and whenever a character disliked what I said, they reduced me to that. It fit the world and made me feel a bit more alive as a character.
I focused my remaining attributes on shooting. Yes, that doesn’t really fit with a role-playing game with various systems and approaches, but that’s exactly what I enjoyed a lot.
In the preview, I just had to solve everything with guns
Shooting felt really good
How was the gameplay? In the preview, one faced several types of enemies in a space station. There were robots, drones, and also human foes. I played the game directly as I would play a Borderlands game: fully confrontational.
After a failed stealth attempt, I pulled out my starting gun and faced the enemies in ranged combat. I slid and jumped from cover to cover, creating a pleasant flow. The pace and movement of my character felt good, and I found aiming down sights enjoyable.
The weapons we got to test in the preview were also a lot of fun. They didn’t feel as fluid and fast as in a CoD game, but a bit heavier, which I quite like. This gives the weapons some character.
Furthermore, I also enjoyed the sound design quite a bit. The weapons and grenades sound crisp, and together with the hit feedback, this helped create a pleasant flow in the combat.
As shown to me by the gameplay trailer on YouTube, I can look forward to a lot of quirky weapons with elements and other gimmicks in the game. The inner Borderlands and shooter fan in me is quite convinced from the preview, although one thing does bother me a bit.
What is the problem with the story? I generally like the funny and satirical dialogues that tend to go over the top, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get much out of the presentation.
As you know from Bethesda titles, dialogues often proceed quite generically. You approach a character, it zooms in slightly, and with a static camera, you listen to the character. This is somewhat better in The Outer Worlds 2 compared to Fallout (the characters have more dynamic poses), but I still didn’t find it really good.
The static camera is a disadvantage for the dialogues, which makes them often seem a bit stiff. As a result, the world lost some flair in the preview, especially when trying to click through all dialogue options.
Fortunately, you don’t have to do that, which is why I mainly focused on combat.
I didn’t play The Outer Worlds 2 in the preview like a role-playing game, but it suited my playstyle quite well. In the first area, I could already discover some ways to interact with the world without directly blowing everything up.
These included conversations I messed up, alternative paths, and chests that I could have opened with different attributes. The conversations with the characters also had some options and possibilities that piqued my interest.
Thus, the preview already seemed full of elements where one can go wild as a roleplayer. But honestly: I will probably also play it as a shooter at release and am already very much looking forward to ignoring the many role-playing elements like a gunslinger. One thing that cannot be ignored is the extraordinary mechanic in Pragmata: A new sci-fi shooter for the PS5 could turn out really well, even if one mechanism will divide players
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new month is approaching in Pokémon GO. And it brings you 2 events with interesting monsters.
September is just around the corner. With it, not only does the new season in Pokémon GO start, but also 2 events right away.
On one hand, you can look forward to the Kanto Celebration from Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM to Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 8:00 PM. On the other hand, on Sunday, September 7, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM is the Raid Day with Mega-Tohaido.
We have summarized what to expect at both events for you.
Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus
All Content of the Kanto Celebration
Which Pokémon are there in the event? During the Kanto Celebration, Chaneira, Relaxo, and Abra await you in the wild, all of which can also appear as Shiny.
Additionally, there are several limited research tasks that bring regional monsters along with experience points, stardust, and mega energy:
Limited research “Porentabel”, September 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM to September 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Limited research “Kangama can”, September 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM to September 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Limited research “Pantimost wanted”, September 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM to September 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Limited research “Taurosige Aussichten”, September 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM to September 6, 2025, at 10:00 AM
The names of the research strongly suggest that the regional monsters will be Porenta, Kangama, Pantimos, and Tauros.
What bonuses are there in the event? The event also brings you the following bonuses:
guaranteed XL candy when evolving Pokémon
3 times longer for Mega Evolutions
double experience points when spinning PokéStops
Charged Attack Flora-Statue when evolving Bisaknosp to Bisaflor
Charged Attack Lohekanonade when evolving Glutexo to Glurak
Charged Attack Aquahaubitze when evolving Schillock to Turtok
Snapshot surprises
Event Field Research
Collector Challenges
Paid Special Research: For $4.99 (approximately 5 €), you can also purchase a paid special research task. For completion, you can receive Dynamax-Arktos, Dynamax-Zapdos, and Dynamax-Lavados. Whether you receive all 3 monsters or just one of them is not yet known.
If you purchase the special research in the Pokémon GO web store, you will also receive a Premium Battle Pass.
What bonuses are there in the event? During the Raid Day with Mega-Tohaido, the following bonuses are active:
Remote Raid limit increased to 20 (from September 7, 2025, at 2:00 AM to September 8, 2025, at 5:00 AM)
up to 5 free Raid Passes through spinning Gym discs
chance to encounter Tohaido as Shiny is increased
You can also purchase an event ticket for $4.99 (approximately 5 €) on Raid Day. This gives you the following additional bonuses:
up to 8 additional Raid Passes from Gyms
increased chance for XL Rare Candies in raids
50% more experience points for raid battles
double amount of stardust for raid battles
1 Premium Battle Pass (if you purchase the ticket in the web store)
September brings you the new season Stories of Transformation to Pokémon GO. In addition to the previously known content of the season, a large event has also been announced, which will take place during the new season: Pokémon GO Wild Area 2025: All information about the event.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
While some players in Baldur’s Gate 3 prefer equipping spells that deal the most damage with their builds, there are others who focus more on the simple suffering of their enemies. One of these spells is particularly nasty and can be more powerful than all others even without dealing damage.
Which spell are we talking about? It is the level 3 spell “Sleet Storm,” which Druids, Wizards, Sorcerers, Clerics of the Storm Domain, and Bards of the College of Lore can learn.
Sleet Storm creates a layer of ice in a 9-meter radius, really covering a large area, making it extremely difficult for all affected targets to move or even stay on their feet.
Although the spell itself does not deal damage, it is a favorite spell of many players and, due to its effect, one of the most powerful spells in the entire game, turning even dangerous fights with particularly many opponents into child’s play.
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
What is better than a powerful, area-of-effect spell? – Two powerful, area-of-effect spells
What makes Sleet Storm so strong? More precisely, it is not the storm itself that makes this spell so dangerous for your enemies, but the slippery ice surface. Affected creatures must make a Dexterity saving throw starting from their first step on iceor they will slip and fall to the ground.
They cannot take any further action or reaction until their next turn, cannot move any further, and find themselves lying in one of the most vulnerable states in the game. Attackers have advantage on attack rolls against prone enemies, and in the next round, they can only use half of their movement rate, which is already halved by the Sleet Storm. They are completely at the mercy of the spell.
An example of how this can look is shown by the player bejeweled_midnights in a video in the Baldurs Gate 3 subreddit:
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How can you make Sleet Storm an even worse nightmare? Warlocks love Sleet Storm, even though they cannot learn it themselves. Because the spell makes a truly terrible combination with the Warlock-exclusive spell “Hunger of Hadar” – at least for their victims.
The Hunger of Hadar has a radius of 6 meters, which is slightly smaller, but can be placed over the ice surface, ideally where the slipped enemies are already located. The Sleet Storm combined with the dark, tentacle-filled environment ensures that your enemies are not only lying on the ground but are also blind, taking cold damage at the start of each round, taking acid damage at the end of each round, can hardly escape from this environment, and are very vulnerable to attacks.
Anyone particularly sadistic can repeatedly throw enemies into this nightmare through actions like pushing or a repelling “Horrifying Ray.” This strategy is especially suitable for large enemy groups but can also significantly simplify boss fights.
Anyone who wants to use the combination of the two spells needs the obvious caster for Sleet Storm and at least one Warlock who knows Hunger of Hadar. If you want to take on the role of the Warlock yourself, we have a build for you here on MeinMMO, which has been considered the best build for a pure Warlock since Patch 8: Baldur’s Gate 3: Hexblade Build in Patch 8 – Here’s how to build your Hexblade Warlock
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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