A new strategy game on Steam showed me that I prefer to leave the leadership of Crusaders to the professionals

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 4 minutes

As part of FYNG at gamescom 2025, our author Christos was able to test an upcoming strategy game on Steam and find out if he has what it takes to lead a group of crusaders. After 10 minutes, he realized: He better leaves that to the professionals.

What kind of game is this? The Polish studio Virtual Alchemy, in collaboration with their Croatian colleagues from Ironward, is currently working on an RTS called Band of Crusaders. In it, you take on the role of a Grandmaster of a medieval knight order who leads a group of crusaders into battle. Exciting components of the game are especially your opponents as well as the combat system.

In addition to bandits and heretics, you also fight against demonic beings that have plunged the surrounding land into chaos. When you find yourself in such a battle, you need to position your troop strategically. You must then closely observe the battle and intervene if necessary; otherwise, your troop will die miserably in the stinking mud. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened to me.

Start video
The medieval strategy RPG Band of Crusaders in the gameplay trailer

Diablo meets XCOM

How did I perform in Band of Crusaders? As a newcomer to the strategy game genre, I was clearly overwhelmed at first – especially regarding the control of my troop. In the first mission, I simply marked my 5 knights and rushed them into battle against a demon troop… That didn’t go very well. 3 of the knights made it out alive, the rest ended up with the crows.

As an experienced player in the genre, this would surely not have happened to you, but every beginning is hard. Those who think that in Band of Crusaders it is enough to send their warriors mindlessly into battle are mistaken. You need to think strategically and prepare your troops for the worst, especially professionals will have their fun here.

For this reason, you have your camp. In it, your warriors can rest, eat food to boost their morale, get treated, repair their equipment in the forge, or equip themselves with new skills.

Each warrior can specialize in a combat style, and if that’s not enough, you can decide in the camp which warriors you take with you on your raid. This allows you to perfectly adapt your units to your personal play style and the respective missions.

The game strongly resembles Diablo and its dark fantasy setting in the medieval times with the demons. As for the battles, it is reminiscent of XCOM, as you also lead a small troop into battle in Band of Crusaders, just not turn-based, but in RTS style.

What makes Band of Crusaders special? The combat is always conducted in slow motion to precisely observe the encounter of the units. You can then reposition your troops in critical combat situations to gain the upper hand. If the battle goes according to plan, you can disable the slow motion effect.

Another point is the dynamic map. On this, your traveling troop is represented by a figure. When you move it, other units on the map also move – only this way does time pass.

If you’re unlucky, the paths of evil beings cross with those of your troop, and you have to fight. In the best case, however, a traveling merchant visits you, and you can replenish your resources. This adds more immersion.

The weather and the decisions you make on your journeys also affect the gameplay and can make your journey easier or more difficult.

Unfortunately, this was only an alpha test, and the game is not in a state that allows for hopes of an upcoming release. However, I must say that the idea and the current implementation seem promising, and I am curious to see what the two development teams will come up with if there is a release.

Nevertheless, I will be cautious at first, as although the game is entertaining, the learning curve for newcomers is steep and kept me occupied for several hours after my start due to its countless features. Veterans of the genre may well find enjoyment in the complexity of Band of Crusaders.

Are you already excited about the game or would you prefer to wait until a beta is available? Feel free to let us know your opinion in the comments. If you missed the highlights of the Opening Night Live, you can find all the games here in our overview: The highlights from gamescom 2025: The most important trailers and announcements from Opening Night Live

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

In Jurassic World Evolution 3, there is eBay for dinos, but you should be careful about whom you buy from

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

It has been known for some time now that Jurassic World Evolution 3 is coming. In a new gamescom trailer presented at the FYNG-Show, the developers present a new feature that you should be cautious about.

What is Jurassic World Evolution 3? The new simulation game is the sequel to the previous Evolution titles and picks up directly from them. You build your own park and manage the dinosaurs and other aspects of the park. The game promotes itself on Steam with the following features:

  • Over 80 dinosaurs and other prehistoric species.
  • New tools to design your park, such as terrain editing and landscape adjustments.
  • You can download community designs in the Steam Workshop.
  • A campaign in which you interact with Dr. Ian Malcolm (voiced by Jeff Goldblum or in German by Martin Umbach).

Within the FYNG-Show at gamescom, the developers present a new feature in the game that is like a surprise egg for dinos when you buy from the wrong vendor.

The dinosaur marketplace is fast but not always safe

What is the marketplace? The marketplace will be a new trading platform in the game, filled with vendors and dinos. You can buy the dinos there, and they will be delivered directly to your park. In the market itself, you trade with in-game currency.

There, you will see various dinosaurs and vendors offering different prices. With “Likes,” you can see how popular the vendor is, and you are shown how good the price is. However, a good price does not necessarily mean you hit the jackpot. 

If you buy from a dubious vendor, one with a bad rating or a strange name, it might happen that you receive a wrong dino that might just trample your safety fence.

You do not have direct access to the marketplace; you can only use it once you have developed your park a bit.

If you prefer a “more natural” way of acquiring dinos, for the first time in the series you will have the chance to get dino offspring through the right animals and enclosures. This will also be a gameplay element since traits can be inherited.

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When does Jurassic World Evolution 3 come out? You won’t have to wait long, as the game is set to be released on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 21, 2025. Until then, you might entertain yourself with this game: Building game on Steam plays like Anno, but you lead a Cthulhu cult, has 85% positive reviews, and is currently cheaper than ever.

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

The first AAA game from China was such a hit that the developers have secured themselves for the next decade

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The Chinese developer studio Game Science landed a real hit with its game Black Myth: Wukong and wants to expand it further.

What game are we talking about? It is about the game Black Myth: Wukong. In the Soulslike, players take on the role of a chosen monkey who must find six mystical relics one after the other. Various bosses stand in their way, which must be defeated.

Black Myth: Wukong had a dream start at release and managed to surpass Elden Ring in its popularity on Steam at release 2024. At gamescom 2025, the second part was announced: Black Myth: Zhong Kui. Research reveals that Game Science already has plans for the coming years.

Here you can watch the trailer for the second part of Black Myth:

Start video
Black Myth: Zhong Kui – Sequel to the action RPG Black Myth: Wukong in the trailer

“Looks like we are equipped for the next decade”

How have the developers secured themselves? Looking at the trademark registers, one can see that the developer studio Game Science has already secured some trademarks, and that between the years 2020 and 2022. This was before the release of Black Myth: Wukong, so Game Science could not have known whether their game would be a success.

These include the following names:

  • Black Myth: Jiang Ziya
  • Black Myth: Xiao Qian
  • Black Myth: Da Huang
  • Black Myth: Shan Hai
  • Black Myth: Sou Shen

In total, there are five new names that could possibly be transferred into five games.

It is important to mention: There has been no official confirmation from Game Science on whether the names will be used and if so, in what manner. However, since Black Myth: Wukong and Black Myth: Zhong Kui have also been registered as trademarks and turned into games, the same can be suspected for these names.

The community is excited: On X, @dewliciouz posted that players of Black Myth are “equipped for the next decade.” Other users under the post are similarly positive:

  • MakgSnake writes on X: “And I will be there for every single game of that.”
  • Also softlikeshadows is excited about the possible games (Source: X): “Oh shit! Take literally all my money… I’m in for everything!”
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The anticipation for possible games is there, but hopes should only rise with an official announcement. If you are now eager to start playing Black Myth: Wukong, we recommend this article on MeinMMO: Black Myth Wukong: 7 tips I wish I had known earlier

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. @dewliciouz auf X
  2. JUSTIA Trademarks
  3. mp1st

Gaming group with 7 million fans on YouTube crashes Gamescom stream, brings news about its own RPG

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 2 minutes

The FYNG Show at gamescom 2025 didn’t kick off with the familiar faces Maurice and AK – but with the moderation interns. However, this was a well-known YouTube group and they brought an update for their own game.

Who crashed the FYNG Show? The crashing group was none other than Viva la Dirt League, the New Zealand comedy YouTubers with over 7 million subscribers. Their game Nice Day for Fishing, developed in collaboration with FusionPlay, announced a series of new features during their guest appearance:

  • New elite enemies
  • New sails for the boat
  • More speed for the boat
  • New items
  • New skins for Baelin
  • Seasonal events

Moreover, the game is finally set to be released on Xbox.

The new content will be completely free, as the YouTubers explained over the repeated Nice Day for Fishing, ain’t it shouts of fisherman Baelin. Until the real presenters AK and Maurice Weber shooed them off the stage.

The announcement took place during the FYNG Show (Find your next Game) by GameStar, GamePro, and MeinMMO at gamescom. It was a show act.

In the trailer, you can take a closer look at the updates:

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

A rod to rule them

What kind of game is Nice Day for Fishing? Nice Day for Fishing was developed in cooperation with the German developers at FusionPlay and was released in May 2025 on Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.

The pixel-art game takes place in the world of a fantasy MMORPG, where something terrible happens: all the players disappear, and the NPCs are left to fend for themselves. But the local fisherman Greg can suddenly take on quests – so his NPC friends send him off to save their world.

As players, it is now your task to travel with fisherman Greg in a side-scrolling manner through the world and save it. By catching fish. As many as possible, with various baits and rods. The NPCs give out tasks and sell better and better items. And of course, you follow the big storyline about the missing MMORPG players.

If you want to read more about the game, you can do so in our preview report:

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Who is Viva la Dirt League? The world and characters of Nice Day for Fishing are based on the MMORPG parodies Epic NPC Man by the YouTuber Viva la Dirt League. They follow the everyday life of the merchant NPC Greg, who often interacts with players. The players tend to skip his dialogue or complain about too skimpy breastplates for female characters.

Besides Epic NPC Man, the group has tackled several other games and topics since its founding in 2011: Witcher Logic critiques the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher books. Tarkov Logic deals with Escape from Tarkov. Additionally, there are more parody series covering Red Dead Redemption, Souls games, Apex Legends, and Dungeons & Dragons.

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During the FYNG Show, however, there was not just this one takeover. A well-known streamer was quite upset about the not-so-excellent rating for his new game and threatened to shut down the entire show: Twitch streamer HandOfBlood retaliates over “poor” rating of his game, hijacks major livestream at gamescom

Update, August 22: In an earlier version of the article, it stated that Team17 was the developer studio of Nice Day for Fishing. That is not correct. The game was developed by the German studio FusionPlay. Team17 is the publisher of the game.

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

Twitch streamer HandOfBlood takes revenge for the “poor” rating of his game, hacks large livestream at gamescom

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

At the gamescom 2025, the Twitch streamer HandOfBlood caused a big surprise via video message. With him: an announcement.

Disclaimer: Maurice Weber, as well as GameStar, MeinMMO, and GamePro are part of Webedia.

How does HandOfBlood take revenge? Just as it was supposed to lead to “the first world premiere” at gamescom 2025, the livestream suddenly gets interrupted by an error image. The Twitch streamer HandOfBlood quickly took over the presentation and said, “We’re in the system!”.

The reason: The game 9 Kings did not score 90 points in the GameStar rating. HandOfBlood finds that “too bad,” which is why he takes revenge on GameStar. But with the interruption, HandOfBlood simultaneously makes an announcement.

Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute

HandOfBlood shows trailer of new game

What does HandOfBlood announce? HandOfBlood’s interruption is not only to briefly complain about GameStar’s rating of 9 Kings, but also to announce a new game: Deadly Days: Roadtrip.

The trailer shown also reveals the release date of the Early Access: September 22, 2025. The Early Access will include the following content:

  • 55 items (of which 16 are weapons)
  • 6 power-ups
  • 6 playable characters + 1 special character
  • 8 biomes across over 15 maps
  • 8 enemy types
  • 3 bosses

Deadly Days: Roadtrip is a roguelike and combines synergy-based inventory management with chaotic bullet-hell gameplay. At the last Next Fest in June, the demo of Deadly Days: Roadtrip was one of the most played.

With the launch, there will be its own Twitch extension. The chat can determine item drops of their favorite streamers and accompany them with suitable messages. This is somewhat reminiscent of the “sponsors” in The Hunger Games.

With this pompous announcement in the form of a hack, HandOfBlood has likely caused the greatest impact on the FYNG.

The gamescom 2025 is in full swing and holds exciting announcements and events. To stay updated on gamescom 2025 and not miss anything, we recommend our article with all information: gamescom 2025: All information on tickets, dates, and games

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

An ARPG has already attracted 15 million people in China, now the developers revealed the exact release for the West

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The new ARPG Where Winds Meet is already a mega-hit in China. During the gamescom, the developers revealed when we will be able to dive into the Wuxia world.

What kind of game is this? While Where Winds Meet is still flying under the radar here, the ARPG has already attracted 15 million players in China (via Gamerant). This is mainly due to the game offering many features and content while also borrowing from other genres.

This starts with the controls, which can be used in classic “MMORPG” mode as well as in “Action” mode. In-game, players can expect a “Wuxia” world, the Chinese equivalent of low-fantasy where you can become a warrior with various martial arts skills.

MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski described the game in her beta report as follows: “It features an enormous wealth of features, from detailed martial arts combat in the style of Monster Hunter or Sekiro to a complex crime system similar to GTA, as well as deep Wuxia mechanics. It also has a highly interactive world where many decisions can be made that impact the story.”

Here you can watch the trailer for the game:

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

Release this year

When can the ARPG be played in the West? After a successful beta in July 2025, the developers took the gamescom as an opportunity to announce their release in the West. In a press release, the developers informed MeinMMO that the game will be released on November 14, 2025, for PC and PS5. A release for Xbox Series X|S has not yet been announced.

While the game cannot be pre-ordered on Steam at this time, players on PS5 should already be able to pre-order and secure an exclusive package with various rewards. Even in the beta, the developers showed that players can buy all kinds of skins and cosmetics in the game.

What about multiplayer? The open-world ARPG can be experienced entirely solo, with up to 3 additional players, or in a kind of MMO world. This means you can experience the entire game alone, without any other players, but you can also invite friends into your own session.

As MMO content, the developers have previously mentioned dungeons, raids, world bosses, guild activities, and even PvE modes like arena battles, guild wars, and even a battle royale mode.

For MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski, the beta of Where Winds Meet was one of the most intense open-world experiences in a long time, and she found that the ARPG does a lot of things right. More about her experiences from the beta and where the game’s weaknesses lie can be found in her preview: The new mega-hit from China has everything my RPG heart desires: And that could actually hurt it in the West

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

For 30 euros a hidden gem: The Glorious Model O- is great if you are looking for a lightweight and small mouse

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 6 minutes

With the Glorious Model O- (Minus), there has long been a lightweight gaming mouse for shooter players on the market. The mouse is regularly available for around 30 euros on offer. But is the deal worth it? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has tested the mouse.

What device is this? The Glorious Model O- (Minus) is no longer the youngest product and has several years under its belt. However, you can still regularly get the mouse for around 30 euros or less on offer.

But is it worth it? Because the technology still makes a reasonable impression from today’s perspective. I tested the mouse in everyday use and will explain why I still find it recommendable today.

The test at a glance:

Who tested it?

I currently own over 20 gaming mice and have tested over 15 keyboards. Privately, I also own over 10 sets of in-ear headphones. At MeinMMO, I have been testing hardware for our readers since 2019. In addition to the PC and PS5, I am now also on the Steam Deck.

I ordered our review copy privately on Amazon.

asks meinmmo benedikt

Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware editor MeinMMO

Technical Details:
Details
SensorPixart 3360
ResolutionUp to 12,000
SwitchesOmron mechanical switches, up to 20 million clicks
Buttons6 buttons
DesignBlack or white mouse. RGB lighting on the side, asymmetric right-handed mouse.
Glides4
CableFixed 2.0 m USB cable
Weight58 grams
Price (RRP)59.99 euros

Scope of delivery, design and construction

What does the scope of delivery look like? Besides the gaming mouse, there are only a few stickers and a manual in the box.

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How is the mouse constructed? You can buy the mouse in different colors, black and white are available.

  • On the top of the mouse are the main buttons and between them the scroll wheel. On top of the scroll wheel, there is a button with which you can adjust the DPI.
  • On the underside are four small mouse feet and a light indicator that shows how high you have set the DPI.
  • The mouse cable is permanently installed, lightweight, and well stretchable. As a result, the cable only slightly interferes with the movement of the mouse.

What is special? The gaming mouse features a honeycomb design, which means “honeycomb” in German. This is supposed to make the mouse particularly lightweight, as this construction saves material and therefore weight.

Glorious Model O- Minus close-up view
The Glorious O- (Minus) is small and wired and otherwise looks rather unremarkable.

Processing

The mouse cable is elastic and very flexible, but still firmly installed. Overall, the cable convinces me in everyday use and does not interfere when I have to move the mouse quickly.

The biggest criticism to keep in mind: The permeable honeycomb design of the mouse is sensitive to dirt: Those with pets or who like to eat crumbly meals at the desk while playing will likely find the mouse gets dirty quickly.

Another point to keep in mind: The switches under the mouse buttons are rated for “only” 20 million clicks. Modern mice offer rather 80 to 100 million clicks. However, if you don’t want to play 8 hours of competitive shooter titles every day, it will still take you a while to reach that durability.

Software

The software is probably the biggest limitation that you have to live with when using the Model O Minus. Unfortunately, the current software from Glorious, Core 2.0, can no longer be used with the mouse. Instead, you need to download the old software suitable for the Model O /Minus from the website.

Glorious Model O Minus Software
The old legacy software for the Glorious Model O Minus does a good job, but the text appears a bit small on large displays.

What is surprising: The old software runs much more performantly and smoothly than the modern 2.0 version that Glorious currently distributes with its new hardware. The software offers all important settings in an overview, no more and no less. The old legacy software isn’t super pretty, but it works very well.

The only drawback: On a large display, the settings appear very small, but I can live with that, and I don’t use the software that often in my everyday life.

Glorious Model O- Minus side view
The Glorious Model O- (Minus) features 6 buttons, including 2 thumb buttons on the left side.

Weight and ergonomics

The weight: In terms of weight, the O- (Minus) is one of the lightest mice you can currently buy. Even lighter are only the TurtleBeach Burst II Air at 47 grams and the Glorious O Eternal at 55 grams among the mice I was able to compare in the test.

  • Turtle Beach Burst II Air: 47 g
  • Glorious Model O Eternal: 55 grams
  • Razer Viper V2 Pro: 58 g
  • Glorious Model O-: 58 g
  • Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2: 62 g

But I claim: You will hardly feel this 3-gram difference between the mice. At least in comparison, when you switch from a 120-gram mouse to a 100-gram mouse.

The ergonomics: With a hand size of 19 centimeters, I have very large hands. The Model O Minus is, according to the manufacturer, designed for small to medium-sized hands, and I am surprised at how well the Model O Minus fits in my large hand.

Glorious Model O- Minus front view

Mouse buttons, scroll wheel and sensor

The mouse buttons: Under the buttons are switches from Glorious, with durability rated at 20 million clicks. This is significantly below other manufacturers in comparison. However, I must say, I have hardly broken any mice based on the switches. At most the G903, which now has the notorious double-click issue.

The scroll wheel: The scroll wheel is soft but provides good feedback that can be clearly felt in daily use. A quick run through the scroll wheel is not possible. Because of this, you also cannot accidentally switch the weapon or ammunition type in quick combat if you have it on the scroll wheel.

Sensor: The Pixart PMW 3360 is built into the Model O- (Minus). This is an optical sensor that is used in many gaming mice and is known for its accuracy and responsiveness. It is praised for its ability to track small movements precisely, as well as for its low latency, making it suitable for competitive gaming. The same applies to Glorious’ gaming mouse.

Glorious Model O- Minus packshot with packaging

Conclusion: A real insider tip under 30 euros, especially in 2025

Who is the mouse suitable for? With the Glorious Model O- (Minus) you get a really good gaming mouse with good ergonomics, pleasant haptics, and decent mid-range sensor. And the overall package is regularly available on offer for around 30 euros. Overall, the mouse is therefore a much better deal than the newer Glorious Eternal, which was released in 2025.

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What alternatives are there?

  • The HyperX Pulsefire Haste also features a honeycomb design, similar to the Model O- and is also very lightweight.
  • The SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless (for the test) is also a lightweight and comfortable alternative. However, the battery life is below expectations and the buttons are sometimes too far forward.

More gaming mice on MeinMMO: If you are looking for further recommended gaming mice, then take a look at our purchasing advice on MeinMMO. Here you will find the best gaming mice that you can currently buy: The best gaming mice for shooters that you can currently buy

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

Pre-order WoW Midnight – Which edition is right for me?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

There are three versions of the new expansion for World of Warcraft. We explain the differences between the various editions of Midnight.

The next expansion of World of Warcraft will be released in 2026. You can already pre-order “Midnight”. Different editions are available – but which one is the right choice? We will show you the various advantages and discuss what is worth the price – and what might not be.

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

What three versions are available? As with previous expansions, there are three different variants available this time, corresponding to the following costs:

  • The Midnight: Base Edition costs €49.99.
  • The Midnight: Heroic Edition costs €69.99.
  • The Midnight: Epic Edition costs €89.99.

How do the versions differ? Depending on which version you pre-order, you will receive different goodies and extras. The more you spend, the more extensive the bonus content will be. This ranges from additional in-game currency to special transmog rewards or extra game time.

What is included in the Base Edition of Midnight

The cheapest option is the Base Edition, which comes with the following content:

  • The upcoming WoW expansion “Midnight”.
  • The current WoW expansion “The War Within”.
  • An improved character boost to level 80.
  • Early access to housing once it becomes available in the game.
  • 500 vendor tokens.
WoW Midnight Base Edition
The Base Edition has very little – but it’s sufficient.

What is included in the Heroic Edition of Midnight

The middle option is the Heroic Edition. Here you already get some additional goodies. It includes:

  • All content from the Base Edition.
  • 500 additional vendor tokens.
  • Lightwing Dragonhawk (flying mount)
  • Raiment of the Lightbringer (transmog set)
WoW Midnight Heroic Edition
The Heroic Edition has a few larger goodies.

What is included in the Epic Edition of Midnight

  • All content from the Base Edition.
  • All content from the Heroic Edition.
  • 1,000 additional vendor tokens.
  • Fluttering Hope (pet)
  • Harbinger Feather (pet)
  • Raiment of the Voidwalker (transmog set)
  • Voidwing Dragonhawk (flying mount)
  • Voidlight Wave (flying mount)
  • Light-filled Roundhouse (decoration)
  • Void-tainted Roundhouse (decoration)
  • Light-filled Fountain (decoration)
  • Void-tainted Fountain (decoration)
  • Painting of Alleria, Turalyon, Arator, and Xal’atath (decorations)
  • Access to the Beta of Midnight
  • 3 Days of Early Access to Midnight
  • 30 Days of Game Time
WoW Midnight Epic Edition
The Epic Edition includes a variety of bonuses.

Which version of WoW Midnight should you buy?

If you approach this rationally, it’s probably a decision between the Base Edition and the Epic Edition, so whether you want to pay €50 or €90.

The Base Edition is perfectly sufficient if you are a casual player and have no interest in various bonuses like transmog sets, mounts, or housing items.

Collectors and anyone who wants to start as early as possible will likely opt for the Epic Edition to secure all goodies. Numerous mounts and cosmetic rewards can be had for an additional cost of €40, with the 30 days of game time alone holding a value of €13. Thus, you are essentially “only” paying an additional €27 for a ton of cosmetic rewards that would likely be significantly more expensive if purchased individually in the shop.

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The Heroic Edition is in a somewhat strange middle ground. It offers only a few real bonuses and feels rather disappointing, especially in direct comparison with the Epic Edition. Many see the Heroic Edition as an “unattractive” offer to make the Epic Edition appear more valuable, thus encouraging players to pay €90 instead of just €50.

Long-time fans who experience every expansion launch and want to play the beta will likely opt for the Epic Edition to also take advantage of the “Early Access”. Even though this Early Access caused controversies back then with The War Within.

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

New co-op game on Steam and PS5 features cool mechs and lots of loot, you can currently test the demo for free

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

Currently, you can try out a new co-op game for free, which will be released for PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. In it, you will hunt down enemies – and loot – in a powerful mech suit.

What is the name of this game? It is called Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion and is the sequel to Daemon X Machina, which was released in 2019 for Nintendo Switch. The PC version followed in 2020 on Steam. The original has a 86% positive rating from 5,999 reviews. Particularly the mechs, the heart of the game, have convinced fans back then.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is set to release on September 5, 2025, this time on multiple platforms:

As part of gamescom 2025, developer Marvelous Inc. showed a new trailer and announced a demo. You can download this on all platforms where the game is available – except for the Switch 2. On Xbox, you need to specifically search for the demo version, which is available here on Xbox.com.

Here you can see the new trailer for Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion:

Start video
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion kündigt auf der gamescom 2025 eine Demo an

Mech Action in an Open World

What is the game about? You take on the role of a high-tech warrior equipped with a powerful mech suit. You will need it to survive against the enemies you will encounter on an alien planet.

You can explore the open world not only on foot but also by flying through the air thanks to your mech. From defeated enemies, you will collect weapons and gear with which you can customize your suit according to your play style.

In addition, you will experience what the developers call a “dark sci-fi story,” which is meant to appeal to both new players and long-time fans. You can enjoy it alone or in co-op with up to two friends. The demo includes the first 9 chapters of the story, and you can carry your progress into the full game.

Did you miss the Opening Night Live of gamescom 2025? Then you don’t have to search for each trailer individually now. We have summarized the highlights of the show for you in this overview: The highlights from gamescom 2025: The most important trailers and announcements from the Opening Night Live

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

Über 50.000 Fans sind sich einig: Call of Duty war früher viel besser, doch dann kam Fortnite und hat alles kaputt gemacht

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

Call of Duty has been around for over 20 years and during this time fans have gone through a lot with the series. However, what they really dislike is the development of the shooter, as it was once considered realistic – now absurd and colorful skins adorn the multiplayer.

What are fans complaining about? Primarily about the development of the shooter. In the early days of Call of Duty, the game was considered realistic and served as a direct competitor to Medal of Honor. Years later, little of that remains, as Activision has shifted its focus from realism to profit and has successfully implemented this with absurd skins.

For many, it’s clear: Fortnite is to blame, as they also continually bring wacky and colorful skins to their shop and are therefore very successful. Call of Duty followed suit and fans who loved the realism were left behind. They do not celebrate this development and reminisce about the past when everything was better.

Start video
Call of Duty shows first gameplay for Black Ops 7

Call of Duty has become the Fortnite for Adults

What is the current mood of the fans? They are dissatisfied with the current development of their favorite game. Especially in multiplayer, the absurd skins are noticeable. Reddit user G-Geef summarizes it aptly and over 9700 fans agree with him when he said: “To be honest, it has worked out pretty well for them. It turns out that positioning as ‘Fortnite for people who think they’re too old for Fortnite’ is very profitable.”

The absurd skins consist of brightly colored outfits, famous personalities from the stoner world or even cartoon characters like American Dad. If one were to compare Call of Duty: 1 with Black Ops 6, one might think they are games from two different titles.

However, the fans do not want to give up the shooter. There are many alternatives on the market that have a realistic touch (e.g., Arma 2, Hell Let Loose) but what Call of Duty does well is its user-friendliness.

It is very straightforward and easy to learn and offers something for every player through its many modes. Other shooters are more complex, and many older fans like Simalacrum (via Reddit) also don’t have the time to get into the more realistic shooters until they find them enjoyable. It is clear, however, that Fortnite played a significant role in influencing Call of Duty’s direction with its success through its skins.

In addition to the skins that also now adorn the famous Activision shooter, it is also the “Battle Royale” mode Warzone that Call of Duty has adopted from Fortnite. Activision has taken a great deal of inspiration from its competition to maintain its success.

With Black Ops 7, another installment of the shooter is set to be released in 2025, and many already know that Activision will also bring colorful skins to the shop here. Some fans at least recommend a similarly beginner-friendly alternative to Call of Duty, which is Battlefield 6. The shooter is also gearing up and so far has been well received by fans: I am Gen Z and I say: The movement of Battlefield 6 is great and should stay that way, but I can recommend a slower shooter to you Boomers

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

The brave soldiers of Helldivers 2 can now also sneak cautiously, but one feature gives them away

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The brave soldiers of Helldivers 2 finally have the opportunity to complete missions without the roaring noise with their new weapons, but one feature often prevents stealth missions from being successful.

What is the deal with stealth? Since the release of Helldivers 2, the brave soldiers of Over-Earth can complete missions stealthily instead of wildly shooting around. However, there have been no suitable perks and equipment until now to effectively implement this tactic.

With the new war bond “Halo ODST”, the developers have now added silenced weapons and perks that fit well with stealth gameplay. Players can better avoid enemy groups and sneak up to the mission objective without getting embroiled in long fights beforehand. However, one feature that is otherwise so useful gives away the Helldiver’s position despite the new equipment.

Start video
Helldivers 2 x Halo: ODST – Trailer for the next legendary war loan

Useful feature exposes players

What kind of feature is that? While players can typically bombard the enemies of Over-Earth with various support weapons, this is a major problem in stealth. Because as soon as an airstrike, a minefield, or any other help called from orbit appears near enemies, the players’ current position is revealed to the enemies.

Even if one throws the support perfectly hidden from a distance, it immediately reveals to the enemies where the Helldivers are. While this feature hardly influences gameplay in normal, loud combat, it regularly causes frustration in stealth. Players would like to unleash a hail of grenades on enemies without those enemies having a clue as to where they are located. This is also expressed by the brave Helldivers themselves.

What do the Helldivers say about the new stealth opportunities? Players are glad that after more than a year since the release, even the far less popular stealth playstyle has received an upgrade. At the same time, they criticize the way they are partially discovered on Reddit:

  • Slarg232: “I really hope they fix the problem that enemies know exactly where a red stratagem has been thrown from. They should be alerted, but not immediately know where you are. Honestly, that is the biggest problem when playing Helldivers 2 stealthily.”
  • Kyrottimus: “That and enemies making no noise when they appear behind you and stay off-screen.”
  • EvanMBurgess: “I find the idea that an ODST is stealthy amusing. Troopers crash down in burning metal capsules. That’s not exactly a subtle entrance. The rookie parts of the game allow you a little sneaking, but otherwise, you blow things up most of the time in the campaign. Very loud.”
  • sack-o-krapo: “I suspect that the Xbox release and the ODST war bond will also bring an update. The update could include some changes to stealth. Maybe they’ll change the fact that the secondary weapons are silent.”

Other users note that the secondary weapons in Helldivers 2 have been attracting fewer or no enemies since release. How this will interact with the new silenced pistol remains to be seen.

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With the launch of Helldivers 2 on Xbox and the new Halo war bond, some new weapons are coming into play. What those are and what you will receive upon purchase can be found in this article: The new war bond for Helldivers 2 will truly be legendary, bringing the best Xbox shooter to your PlayStation

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

A hint about Final Fantasy XIV has probably been right under your nose since the release of Monster Hunter Wilds

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

With the crossover between Monster Hunter Wilds and Final Fantasy XIV, a popular collaboration returns to both games. Fans now believe that the content could have been hinted at, and they have some evidence to support this.

What theory do the fans have? On Reddit, fans are discussing the latest collaboration, when user TaliesinGwion notes that the iconic rock in the Wind Plain of Monster Hunter Wilds looks very familiar to him.

For the user has seen a similar rock formation before, in Final Fantasy XIV. There is also a strikingly similar configuration in the desert area of the expansion Stormblood, which was released in 2017:

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In a comment below, he shows the comparison to the rock in Monster Hunter Wilds:

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This rock has been part of Monster Hunter Wilds since its release and has another connection to the crossover in Final Fantasy XIV. Instead of a fitting monster, the infamous raid boss Omega appears in Monster Hunter Wilds – a kind of superweapon of an ancient civilization (see finalfantasy.fandom.com).

Interestingly, user Choice-Function-5605 adds via Reddit that Omega is responsible for this rock formation in Final Fantasy XIV, as he created this hole, as demonstrated in the raid series Alphametrie (see finalfantasy.fandom.com). The assumption is therefore that Omega could also have an influence on the world of Monster Hunter Wilds and may also be responsible for the strange rock formation that has characterized Wilds since its release.

Omega could thus solve an unresolved mystery that has occupied both the in-game characters and the community at times (see Reddit). The rock is also in focus in the trailer for the collaboration in Monster Hunter Wilds in the first few seconds:

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy XIV – Collaboration comes as a free update

“I never thought it would be Omega. I’m so excited.”

How is the choice of the opponent received otherwise? In a thread on Reddit, fans continue to discuss the trailer, the details, and especially the choice of the opponent. Many are surprised by the selection, as Omega is not a classic monster, and they expected opponents like the dragons Nidhogg or Midgardsormr. Nevertheless, Omega is well received among fans.

  • rfgstsp is excited: “I never thought it would be Omega. I’m so excited.”
  • MightyBobTheMighty refers to an iconic attack: “I can’t wait to be port and starboard.”
    (Note: Port and starboard represent large area attacks on the respective left or right side during the fight against Omega, and still cause confusion among many players today, but are also part of many memes – see Reddit)
  • Key-Garbage-9286 notes: “I actually expected Nidhogg or something. BUT DAMN OMEGA!!!??? Doesn’t fit at all with Monster Hunter, but whatever, this is really hype.”

The corresponding collaboration content is set to appear in Monster Hunter Wilds at the end of September, while in Final Fantasy XIV, it will roll out in early October. Exact dates are still unknown, and there’s no detailed information about the content either. Only the above trailer and another trailer for the crossover in Final Fantasy XIV provide initial clues.

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There had already been a similar collaboration during the time of Monster Hunter World. Here, the monster Rathalos entered FF14, and in MHW, players could battle Behemoth. The developers of both games primarily saw it as a small duel: Final Fantasy XIV: “Event with Monster Hunter World was a duel”

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

In the hardest mode of Baldur’s Gate 3, many players only pay attention to their builds – while they fail because of something completely different

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 3 minutes

The Honour Mode in Baldur’s Gate 3 can come to a quick end, usually in battles with strong opponents for which one is unprepared. However, it is even more frustrating when the fights are not even the real reason – but a truly avoidable mistake.

What ruins so many Honour runs? A meme in the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit seems to evoke almost 10,000 bad memories for many players. The player and Reddit user AdditionalMess6546 points out that it is essential, for the Honour Mode, to engage with the actual mechanics of the game, as thoughtless small details can cause an immediate end to one’s playthrough after hundreds of hours. And that can be significantly more annoying than losing a fight.

Preparation through a strong build and good equipment only works up to a certain point and cannot compensate for thoughtless mistakes. To prevent these unfortunate “Oopsies” from happening to you, both the author and other community players warn with their own mistakes.

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 these taverns could read, they would have completed the Honour Mode!”

What fatal small things does the player warn about? The author of the post mentions 5 small things that can ruin the Honour Mode:

  • Accidentally using the rune powder barrel instead of the sufficiently smaller amount in the rune powder vial. Even a small amount of rune powder has enough explosive power to clear some paths. If you mistakenly place the large barrel instead of the vial and blow it up, you not only clear the way – but also yourself.
  • Not splitting the party while searching for Lathander’s blood. The path to the Legendary Weapon is filled with traps that can catapult everything into the abyss when triggered. A failed disarm attempt can therefore be fatal, but it’s not a big deal if only one person stood in front of the trap, right? … or?
  • Attacking Raphael in the House of Hope with a glaring “Divine Intervention”. What initially seems like a sensible attack on the fiend is reflected back to you as double fire damage.
  • Casting “Friendship” during the Tiefling party. What initially sounds like a friendly spell turns out to be the opposite after the effect. The Tieflings, like all characters from Baldur’s Gate 3, do not appreciate it when you cast an emotion-altering spell on them to manipulate them. A quick way to make an entire party your enemy.
  • Running into a Haste spore cloud during the final fight, even though you are already hasted. The spore cloud wants to give you Haste again, which ends the old effect. And what happens when a Haste effect ends? You are incapacitated for an entire round. In a fight where every round counts or else the end of the world is initiated, that’s rather suboptimal.
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What mistakes does the community report? Other players also seem to want to outdo each other with the dumbest mistakes in an Honour Mode:

  • kef34 reports: “One of my Honour runs ended when I was sorting my inventory and accidentally clicked on Lumps Horn twice. In the Druid Grove.”
  • M4jkelson admits: “My second attempt ended when I forgot that I was playing in Honour Mode and mindlessly insulted Vlaakith.”
  • Animegx43 writes: “I once aborted a HM game when I wanted to save Florrick from the fire. I missed the door and accidentally hit a Flaming Fist with my dread beam.”
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Players must not forget that there are more fatal moments in an Honour run than just lost battles. And these happen more often than expected. My co-op group and I also almost destroyed our Honour run because our greed for gold was too great: A cursed imp punished my party’s greed for gold in Baldur’s Gate 3 and almost ended our Honour run

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

Twitch streamer Papaplatte apologizes, he means it so seriously that he speaks German

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The Twitch streamer Kevin “Papaplatte” Teller speaks out one last time on the topic surrounding his editor and apologizes. This seems so serious to him that he even refrains from using anglicisms.

The Twitch streamer Papaplatte is known for using a lot of anglicisms in his speech. Words like “Bro”, “for real” or “lowkey” are almost always present with Papaplatte. His speaking style is usually casual and straightforward.

For a Pro7 show, a translator was engaged as a gag for Papaplatte, so that the Twitch streamer could be understood at all.

In a new statement from Papaplatte regarding the current issue surrounding his former editor Pamabu, Papaplatte speaks very directly in 2 minutes and does not use any anglicisms. An indication that the Twitch streamer is serious and has thought about what he wants to say.

Previously, Pamabu reported in a post on X that the Twitch streamer and he had talked, but Papaplatte wanted to address a few points in his statement from his side.

Start video
This is how challenges for Papaplatte became a livelihood

“Finally someone who acknowledges his mistakes”

What does Papaplatte say in his statement? Papaplatte states in his latest YouTube video on the channel Lattensepp that he took the public criticism very seriously. He had many conversations and also watched reactions from other Twitch streamers or YouTubers. After this reflection, he realized that his behavior towards Pamabu had been wrong.

Then Pamabu and he spoke via Discord. The Twitch streamer apologized extensively to his former editor and Pamabu accepted it. They also discussed their collaboration in general and what went well and what did not. Overall, it was supposed to be a good conversation.

Finally, Pamabu and Papaplatte now want to find a financial solution, presumably in the form of a severance payment. After all, Papaplatte also apologizes to his community and promises that such behavior will not happen again.

How is the statement received? The community, at least judging by the comments under the YouTube video, reacts very positively to the statement:

  • Ferjusi praises Papaplatte: “Good statement, you just have to say it. Everyone makes mistakes, but showing insight afterwards is not something everyone does. Hopefully, the editor gets his share that he deserves and you both come out of the situation positively in the end.”
  • Dani3lDE writes: “Strong statement. Finally someone who acknowledges his mistakes.”
  • Even Niggoification finds the statement good: “Honor man. That’s how you deal with it. Very good.”
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A clip on Twitch has been following Trymacs for 3 years, he just wants to play in peace
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The discussion about the salary or profit-sharing of an editor of a Twitch streamer is not new. The Twitch streamer Trymacs had a similar opinion as Papaplatte earlier in 2025, but later retracted his statements after his own reflection. You can read more about it on MeinMMO: Twitch streamer retracts statements that seemed greedy, but the apology sounds hollow

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

One of the most reliable car brands has just admitted: electric cars are not the goal

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

The Japanese manufacturer has abandoned its plans to fully switch to electric cars. Instead, they have a different goal in mind: CO₂ neutrality. To achieve this, they want to rely on a healthy mix of different technologies for vehicles. This also includes combustion engines.

Which manufacturer is it about? The Japanese car manufacturer Honda is one of the most reliable car brands in the world. But while most manufacturers worldwide are now switching to fully electric vehicles, Honda has taken a different path.

In its official strategy papers, they have now removed their targets for electric cars: They have abandoned the goal of 30% electric cars of all cars sold. Instead, electric cars are only a means to another end: CO₂ neutrality.

Start video
Slate Auto presents new truck with electric motor

CO₂ neutrality and not just electric cars with brute force

What are Honda’s plans? The Japanese manufacturer reinforces that the battery-powered car is not an end in itself. The brand is now pursuing a diverse strategy where hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and hybrid drives remain priority paths to achieving CO₂ neutrality.

Honda is already selling electrified models, but the executives consider it risky to rely solely on this technology. The manufacturer points out that the charging infrastructure is still unevenly distributed, which hinders the introduction in several strategic markets. According to Honda, hybrid vehicles are still the preferred solution for many drivers, especially in Asia and North America.

Honda argues in a paper that electrification is not always the best solution for climate protection in every market or segment. Often, infrastructure or a power mix from renewable sources is lacking, which reduces the CO₂ saving potential. In developing and emerging countries, Honda therefore continues to rely on combustion engines.

Therefore, Honda wants to offer solutions with alternative technologies everywhere where fully electric vehicles would not bring quick progress. Electric mobility is an important but not sole means of achieving real CO₂ neutrality.

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A study has examined how often drivers change their vehicle and buy a new one: Owners of electric cars switch their models more often than those using gasoline-powered vehicles. And the period of use varies considerably: According to a study, electric car drivers buy a new car 4 times as often as gasoline drivers

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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WoW players tear apart the new cinematic: “Did they fire their video team?”

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 5 minutes

The community of World of Warcraft is reacting against the cinematic. There is much to criticize. But what makes everyone so angry?

At gamescom 2025, the next expansion Midnight for World of Warcraft was announced with a big cinematic. While many liked the new trailer and the action in it, there was almost immediately resistance and rejection in the community. Many feel that the cinematic is clearly a regression to the past in several ways. There seems to be a strong consensus: Blood Elves do not look like that in Warcraft. But there are even worse accusations, some relating to the use of AI.

We would like to briefly explain the most serious accusations with the most upvotes. The comments embedded in the article come from the two Reddit threads that discuss the cinematic. This is the official trailer thread on Reddit and the post Is it just me or do the characters in the new trailer look a lot more like plastic? in the WoW subreddit.

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

Blood Elves do not look like that

One of the biggest criticisms is the design of the Blood Elves in the video, namely that of Liadrin and Lor’themar. Several points are being attacked here:

On one hand, it is criticized that the Blood Elves do not have glowing eyes. This is one of their most important features and ensures that they are distinguished from humans. The omission of this detail in all Blood Elves contributes to making them look like “Elves from The Elder Scrolls Online” rather than like Blood Elves from the Warcraft universe.

  • “They look like humans and not like elves, especially Liadrin.” – GenkGiril12

Many find the design of the elves inappropriate as well. Elves in Warcraft, in direct comparison to humans, are usually endowed with flawless beauty (excluding scars and the like) and impress with soft, even facial features. However, Liadrin appears extremely angular and to many like “a human with pointed ears”.

  • “A Botox CGI face was not what I had on my bingo card.” – Idkmybffyata
  • “If that is a stylistic choice, then it is very un-Warcraft-like.” – Ruuubs

Here, the trailer from The Burning Crusade is often used as a comparison, where you see a Blood Elf sucking a Manawyrm. Although it had much less detail, it could be immediately recognized as a Warcraft Blood Elf.

  • “This is what budget cuts look like: This is the first WoW cinematic where I wondered if I was actually watching a WoW cinematic.” – AlienFunBags
WoW Midnight Cinematic Liadrin Lorthemar Army
There is a lot of criticism of the new cinematic.

Worse character models than in previous trailers

The detail level of the characters is said to be lower than in previous cinematics, and they appear less “realistic” than, for example, Anduin in the trailer for The War Within or even Varian in the trailer for Legion.

Many have the impression that Liadrin and Lor’themar look more like wax figures, which may partly be due to the lighting of the scenery, but is further exacerbated by the questionable design of the elves.

  • “I couldn’t stop staring at Lor’themar. The guy looks just like a model from a wax museum about to melt.” – theragco
  • “This is the kind of stuff we see in AI-generated things. Who knows, maybe they started outsourcing this work to AI tools as well.” – Dark1624
WoW The War Within Anduin Cinematic Still
Anduin looked much more “real” back then – many criticize this.

What the hell happened?

The plot of the trailer was also criticized. While there was a strong build-up of tension, the “payoff” at the end is missing. It is not really clear what is actually happening and who is marching out of the Sunwell. As a result, the resolving “How cool and heroic!” is lacking, and many are left with question marks on their faces. Especially players who might have been brought back by the expansion could hardly relate to it.

  • “What a strange cinematic. I would say … it feels incomplete? I mean, it felt like a big buildup, but then the payoff was simply missing. Whose hand was that on Liadrin’s shoulder? I expected something new, but I guess that was just another Blood Elf. No idea, it felt strange.” – DarkLemon2
  • “The rendering does not look like WoW at all. The music doesn’t sound like that either. Or the dialogue. I don’t remember paladins ever repeating the same prayer over and over again. That’s definitely disappointing.” – Rocketeer_99

Many ultimately note that the soldiers presumably belong to the Arathi or the Army of Light – but this is not evident from the cinematic, which significantly ruins the “hero moment” at the end. The “Aha!” effect is missing.

WoW Midnight Cinematic Xalatath
Only Xal’atath receives a lot of praise. She looks much more fitting than the rest of the characters.

Missing lip-syncing and the accusation: use of AI

Another point of criticism that is difficult to dismiss is the lip-syncing in the trailer, even in the English version. The movements of the mouths and faces do not always match perfectly with the spoken words. This is particularly noticeable when comparing the animations, for instance, with those of the cinematic from The War Within, where every little movement in Anduin’s face was recognizable and perfectly matched the spoken words.

  • “The animations felt kind of stiff, especially the lip-syncing.” – The_Pheex
  • “Oh yeah, I could definitely feel the ‘The model is not in sync with the spoken words’ during Liadrin’s prayer.” – Marco-Polaris
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How much truth is there to the accusations? Currently, it is hard to say what the accusations are really based on, whether Blizzard had a different team working on the video or if the help of AI was used. What is clear, however, is that a great deal has caught the community’s attention that does not fit well together. This gives Midnight a significant dampening effect even before its release and leads to much skepticism in the community.

How did you perceive the cinematic? Did you like the action and the depiction of the Blood Elves? Or are you more on the side of the critics and find the cinematic to be a step backward compared to more recent trailers? We have gathered all information regarding the WoW expansion Midnight here.

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

Neither the maps nor the gameplay: EA says that the top priority of Battlefield 6 today is to combat those who ruin games

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

The open beta of Battlefield 6 is over and has revealed some adjustments that EA needs to make before the release of the shooter. However, the developers particularly prioritize the handling of game disruptors.

What is the top priority for Battlefield 6? One of the biggest topics of discussion during the Battlefield 6 beta was the anti-cheat system and the presence of cheaters.

Although players must activate “Secure Boot” in their PC’s BIOS to even start Battlefield 6, there were confirmed cheaters during the first beta weekend. They ruined the fun for honest players with wallhacks and aimbots. This topic is therefore very important for EA.

Start video
Battlefield 6 zeigt sein Gameplay im actionreichen Trailer

In an interview with CharlieIntel (via Dexerto), Battlefield’s Executive Producer Christian Grass explained the significance of preventing cheaters and how he views the second beta weekend: “[Anti-cheat] is our top priority; it is extremely important. We were really motivated by the performance that the system showed last weekend.”

What does he say about Secure Boot? Grass elaborated in the interview that the requirement to have Secure Boot enabled is related to combating cheaters as effectively as possible.

“As you have certainly seen, we require Secure Boot to be enabled, just like many other games do, to ensure that we can provide the best possible anti-cheat systems.”

He emphasizes that the anti-cheat is at the top of the agenda and says: “It is very, very important for us to get this right.”

The significance of this issue among players is highlighted by the story of a streamer. A clip of her gameplay from Battlefield 6 has been viewed millions of times and hundreds of players discussed whether the streamer is cheating or just playing exceptionally well.

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What else is being discussed about Battlefield 6? The community already wanted a server browser for the open beta and demands that weapons are tied to classes in the game modes – in the beta, this was only an alternative option that did not apply to all game modes.

Additionally, within the community, the size of the maps, the fast movement, and the overall game speed are hotly debated topics. Many players criticize that Battlefield 6 is too accommodating to CoD players. MeinMMO editor Dariusz, however, hopes that at least the movement will not change after the beta: I am Gen Z and say: The movement of Battlefield 6 is great and should stay the same, but I can recommend a slower shooter to you Boomers

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

Player wants the ultimate desert feeling from Dune: Awakening, lets himself be grilled by 6 monitors

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

A player has been inspired and has shown other players how to play Dune: Awakening. He uses a total of 6 screens, and two of them are particularly large.

Who is it about? According to the Reddit user USSR89, he has been inspired by other users who have showcased their setup for Dune: Awakening. He himself has two widescreen monitors and an additional four regular screens running while he flies through Arrakis.

The Reddit user is a big Dune fan and has, among other things, brought Pikachu to Arrakis. However, he compares his setup to something else.

Here you can see the setup:

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Six monitors create a lot of heat

How warm does it get with the setup? The Reddit user must be feeling quite warm from his monitors and his computer, which is also on his desk. One user asks him on Reddit: “How warm is this room? I also get the impression that you like Dune.”

The gamer responds (via Reddit):

Do you know roasted chicken? When it’s grilled evenly while turning? That’s how it feels. And of course, I love Dune, I’ve also spent about 1,500 hours in the Harkonnen Desert before release, I’ve dreamed of sand.

With six monitors and a computer on the desk, Arrakis probably feels even more real due to the heat. But the Reddit user also uses the computer for work. In the comments, he states that he works as a Senior Quality Assurance Technician and ensures that video games reach you in good quality.

How is it currently on Arrakis? The players of Dune: Awakening are currently waiting for the first footage for Chapter 2, the next big expansion for Dune: Awakening. This is expected to start in September, but so far only bullet points are known.

At the same time, the first real DLC of the survival game is launching, which is supposed to bring not only cosmetic skins but also a new vehicle into the game. The developers announced that they would provide more details about the update during Gamescom. While players were not enlightened during the Opening Night Live, there is a good chance that the new update will be shown on August 20 at 7 PM during the Level Infinite Showcase (via Levelinfinite.com).

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Dune: Awakening rutscht auf Steam auf 53 % positive Bewertungen ab, will es aber mit neuer Roadmap retten

With six monitors, Dune: Awakening can probably be experienced in a completely different way than most players do. One gamer skipped two weeks in the world of Arrakis for his vacation, but upon his return, he found thieves in his base: Player takes 2 weeks off from Dune: Awakening, discovers brazen burglars upon his return, simply locks them up

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

Generation Z is excited about expensive luxury watches, but for many people this could now come to an end

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

Generation Z has discovered expensive watches as a status symbol. However, new tariffs could make this expensive hobby unaffordable. Experts warn that the tariffs are likely to make luxury goods significantly more expensive.

Generation Z has discovered luxury watches as status symbols, as a new “social currency” that can be flaunted in public or on TikTok and Instagram.

A BCG survey found that 54% of Generation Z respondents have spent more on luxury watches since 2021, and Sotheby’s estimates that nearly a third of its watch sales in 2023 went to buyers under 30.

A report from Watchfinder & Co. examined the purchasing intentions of young people, surveying 2,400 individuals, although the methodology is unclear, making it not entirely reliable. However, there are other reports, such as from YouGov, that indicate similar trends showing interest in expensive watches. The Neovisio magazine also surveyed 1,000 young people, who stated that they consider owning a luxury watch to be very important, even if they do not own one.

  • In 2023, according to the Watchfinder report, 41% of 16-to-26-year-olds in Generation Z acquired a luxury watch, perhaps as a birthday gift, a wedding present, or through a private purchase. The report defines a luxury watch as one that cost more than $1,300 at the time of purchase.
  • Individuals in this age group willing to buy a luxury watch reported that $10,870 would be the starting point for their next purchase.
  • Generation Z watch enthusiasts purchased an average of 2.4 new watches and 1.43 used watches in 2023, with more than half buying for themselves.

Daniel Yi, CMO of Bob’s Watches, a resale marketplace for watches, also confirms that this trend of purchasing an expensive watch is very real, pointing to a significant increase in interest from Generation Z customers in recent years. He explains to the magazine Kiplinger:

While earlier generations may have discovered watches through milestones or family traditions, Generation Z encounters this category through culture, fashion, and even social media. They are incredibly receptive to stories and value authenticity, which luxury watches – particularly vintage and used models – provide to a large extent.

Moreover, one should not underestimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2021 to 2023. There was a significant hype around expensive watches as investment objects, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

Although the major hype with excessively high prices is reportedly over, dealers and manufacturers have told dasInvestment.com that the sales books are still full.

However, the new US tariffs under the Trump administration could quickly end this enthusiasm for watches.

Select a MMO video…

Tariffs make luxury goods more expensive; are luxury watches now purchased elsewhere?

What exactly is the problem? In the last round of tariffs by President Donald Trump, a 39% tariff on Swiss watches was announced. This could make the expensive hobby of Generation Z significantly more expensive. The USA is considered an important destination for Swiss exports.

It is suspected that importers will pass the higher prices on to consumers. Experts estimate that prices could rise between 12 and 14%. Many young people have already stated that the price increases are too high and that there might not be a next luxury watch for the time being (via Fortune.com).

Nevertheless, while the enthusiasm for expensive watches may not completely wane, the tariffs could change how and especially where young people acquire their next luxury watch. Perhaps on the used market or on their next trip through Europe, to avoid the tariffs.

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A 95-year-old dairy farmer living in England lost his Rolex to a greedy cow 50 years ago. The band of the Rolex was loose, and it must have fallen into the grass while he was working in the field. The family thought the piece of jewelry was lost forever. However, with the help of two experts, including a Twitch streamer, the man gets his beloved watch back: A farmer thought a cow had eaten his Rolex – 50 years later, he gets it back

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

To become one of the best “failed WoW killers” it was quiet for a long time, but now it is back with a new team at gamescom

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In recent months, it has become evident that something is happening with Rift. Suddenly, updates have been going online regularly again. And now the MMORPG is even represented at gamescom 2025.

Why is Rift at gamescom? According to the official overview page of Senatis GmbH on gamescom.global, it states that in cooperation with publisher Gamigo and – attention – “a new indie team”, the MMORPG Rift will be showcased at their booth as a guest. There awaits a “thrilling insight into the upcoming steps of this long-standing online success” for all visitors.

What kind of insight that is, we cannot say at this time. However, riftgame.com mentions that at booth 31 in hall 10.2, visitors can meet at least two well-known members of the Rift team:

  • Arcahem – RIFT Community Management
  • Naerolin – RIFT Product Management (professional dwarf)

Players with a Rift account who stop by there can grab a voucher for the “GC 2025 Cape Bundle”, which includes an exclusive cloak and a nimbus for the MMORPG.

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Trailer for the fantasy MMORPG Rift

Rift is alive

What else is happening with Rift? In June 2025, the first update for Rift since May 2022 surprisingly went live . There were new features for the summer festival, expanded graphic settings, and more. Since then, additional minor patches have gone live. The most recent was on August 19, 2025.

Newly released features include (source: riftgame.com):

  • The battle pass “Tentacles of the Pest” has been activated.
  • A visual issue with the werewolf cloak has been fixed.
  • A visual issue with the Pirate King’s mantle has been fixed.
  • A localization error for the “GC 2025” cloak mail has been fixed.
  • The halo spells obtained from newer cloak items now persist even after the player logs out.

Again, just a few minor things.

What do I need to know about Rift? Rift is a genre oldie that has been around for over 14 years and is known for being one of the few MMORPGs that had a nearly trouble-free launch.

This, in turn, allowed the developers to kickstart their content pipeline early for regular supply, enabling Rift to quickly establish itself as a strong alternative to WoW and similar games. This made the MMORPG more successful than most other genre representatives that were labeled as potential WoW-killers during the peak of online role-playing games.

Content-wise, Rift has long been said to offer a “best-of” from the content and systems of the MMORPG genre. There were hardly any original ideas. However, the well-known elements were adapted and combined so well that this was often highlighted as a positive aspect of Rift.

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Unfortunately, two other ambitious games were also being developed at the time by the then developer Trion Worlds. Financial issues arose. The team had to be reduced. As a result, they could not convert the momentum built by the strong launch into sustainable success. You can learn more about it here: The MMORPG Rift mocked WoW at launch, celebrated great successes – former CEO explains what went wrong

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