Some monsters from Dungeons & Dragons can instantly be recognized as incredibly strong. However, there are also creatures that bring qualities other than strength, which may not be as readily perceived – yet it is precisely these that can make them even more dangerous.
Which monster is being referred to? It is the Kraken, which in Dungeons & Dragons has a Challenge Rating of 23, a Constitution score of 25, and a Strength score of 30.
The gigantic monstrosities are of chaotic evil alignment and possess abilities that make them real challenges, which is why it is better to avoid them. They are also a candidate in our ranking of the 10 strongest opponents in Dungeons & Dragons.
A DM (Dungeon Master) reported in the DnD subreddit, as he realized that the Kraken is certainly a dangerous encounter due to its strength and constitution.
But he sees even more hidden potential that many others overlook. For Kraken have an Intelligence score of 22, giving them a solid +6 bonus on all Intelligence checks. This opens up many often underutilized possibilities for DMs.
Here you can see the trailer for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves:
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Second Official Trailer for the Movie
What is worse than a natural disaster? A natural disaster with an agenda
What does the DM need help with? The DM Ough2405 writes that he does not see Kraken utilizing their +6 Intelligence often enough. He says, “Most of the time they are just used as living natural disasters, and while that is cool, I want to use them in a way that the party realizes that this creature is much smarter than they think.”
The DM is therefore reaching out to the DnD community for inspiration. “Kraken are not really able to use their telepathy unless they are relatively close. The exception is when they speak through a Kraken priest, but what could they say in just a few words that would sound threatening?”
What ideas does the community have? The DnD players immediately understand what the DM desires and offer several ideas:
dragonseth07 understands the DM’s vision: “Natural disasters with a certain purpose. Kraken are great at destroying coastal cities, but why exactly those? What is the long-term goal? To elaborate: A Kraken could, for example, pursue political goals through targeted destruction.”
zmayes immediately goes along with the idea: “A few shady characters in fancy suits show up in the town one day and start walking around, commenting on what a beautiful town it is. It would be really a shame if a tentacled monster from the depths appeared and destroyed everything. Maybe fishing boats would disappear until the protection money is paid.”
SandmanS2000 reports on a collaboration with a certain fish folk from Dungeons & Dragons, which we previously introduced in another article: “I had a Kraken convince a Kua-Toa cult that it was a god to use the powers of their psychic worship, and then sent them to raid coastal settlements and drive people out to sea, forcing them to flee. Then it struck and reaped the spoils.”
JeffreyPeterson envisions a version where a Kraken learns to use “Vicious Mockery”: “Not only does it destroy your ship, it also destroys your spirit. ‘Kyle! Hey, Kyle!’ The Kraken breaks off a mast and throws it into the sea. ‘I can hear you crying at night in your cabin, Kyle. Everyone thinks your new shield is totally lame, and you know it too. There’s a damn jalapeño pepper on it. What kind of knight thinks a jalapeño is hot?’ The Kraken throws an NPC deckhand into its gaping maw. ‘Did your shield protect your crew, Kyle? What are you going to season them for me?’”
When asked for ideas from DnD players and DMs for particularly creative new gameplay approaches and stories, you can expect to receive good material. With the help of the community, the DM and author of the post should have received some good approaches for his own campaign. If you want to know which opponents besides the Kraken are at least as dangerous or even more dangerous, this list might be interesting for you: The 10 strongest opponents in Dungeons & Dragons in Power Ranking
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Helldivers 2, the veterans reflected on the good old days. Together, they realized that Helldivers 2 was much harder before the many balance patches. They wish to have that unfair experience back for the new recruits.
What do the veterans mean? When Helldivers 2 was released, many enemies, weapons, perks, and stratagems were not yet perfectly balanced, and the overall game balance was not cohesive. This early phase of Helldivers 2 may seem unfair to the players, who had little chance against some enemies, but in hindsight, many veterans apparently still enjoyed it.
Why do veterans wish for recruits to have a bad balance? For the veterans, Helldivers 2 has become much easier than it was at the beginning. Players have unlocked all weapons and gear, memorized all enemy attack patterns, and completed all types of missions. They know exactly how to play Helldivers 2.
For the recruits coming into this already perfected world, however, that is not the case. They have to find their own play style and learn what it means to be a Helldiver. The veterans believe that tough enemies help to really learn the game. When enemies are too strong, players must get creative and find solutions themselves.
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Helldivers 2 invites new players of Xbox Series X|S to great heroic deeds
What do the veterans say? On Reddit, the old veterans talk about the galactic war and which enemies really messed with them back then:
Sabre_One: “Shriekers would take you out with a single hit back in the day if they tossed you around […].”
Embarrassed-Tale-200: “The entire Meridia campaign was one of the best moments in Helldivers, alongside Malevelon Creek when it was new and stood out from other games, and the two arrivals of the Illuminates. And the battle on Over-Earth. I hope they continue to create such great events. This game has been an incredible hit for over a year now. The balancing is frustrating, but no one can deny that this game was one of the most entertaining to come out in the last decade.”
tagnol1: “I remember that the gunship fabricators were always heavily guarded. We had to fight through hordes of bots to get close, place the hellbomb, and defend it until a teammate detonated it.”
Somedude522: “And you had to pray it wouldn’t get destroyed before it exploded.”
However, there are also players who argue against this and are happy about the many patches in recent months:
NK1337: “It’s funny to see positive comments about this now because I remember how loud people complained back then about how unfair and frustrating the event was.”
RobertMaus: “That’s not something I ‘really’ want to see again. That’s just nostalgia speaking. No really good memories. It was terrible.”
Terrorscream: “Not really, all these clips just show people fighting endless waves of enemies rather than being productive. The game should show that you can’t win a war of attrition. If you can’t eliminate the enemies before the next reinforcement is called, you have to leave. But many continued to fight and let the enemies pile up.”
Many associate Batman with the Joker, but he has many more interesting villains who should finally get a chance on the big screen. MeinMMO shows you 7 Batman villains for whom the Joker should finally retire.
How was this list created? Batman has fought many villains since his first appearance in 1939, but the Joker is probably the most prominent, appearing as a villain in many films. In doing so, he takes away the chance from many other characters to have an appearance on the big screen.
In this list, we present to you 7 villains from the comics who should finally come to the cinema. Accordingly, we only refer to characters who have previously not had a major live-action appearance. We refer to the New-Earth versions for the backstories.
If you feel a character is missing from this list, feel free to let us know in the comments.
Deathstroke
Deathstroke in the animated film Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (Image source: DC on YouTube)
First appearance: 1980 in New Teen Titans No. 2
Who is Deathstroke? Slade Wilson is a bounty hunter who takes on any job as long as the money is right. He does not shy away from powerful heroes. He is a master in close and long-range combat, and his abilities have been enhanced to superhuman levels through military experiments. As long as it benefits him, he will do anything.
If necessary, he even fights alongside the heroes.
Why would Deathstroke make a good movie villain? Deathstroke is a counterpoint to Batman. He is probably just as well-trained and fights at a similar level. Unlike Batman, he has no moral code and acts only for money. Deathstroke can thus also be used as a tool by wealthy people.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What to do when you suddenly have a few hours to spare? Well, why not just go for the platinum trophy by earning all achievements in Elden Ring?!That’s exactly what a popular streamer and YouTuber has done.
Who is it about? The name is programming at JACK FROMSOFT. The Austrian is a big fan of developer legend Hidetaka Miyazaki and the games from FromSoftware. He also plays related soulslikes like Lies of P or Lords of the Fallen extensively.
His YouTube channel now has 80,600 subscribers. On Twitch, there are 34,266 followers. Recently, JACK has been particularly focused on Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and alongside a fun video review, he also streamed his five-part platinum run live. You can find all the videos on YouTube.
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Elden Ring Trailer
Naked on the platinum hunt
Why did JACK bring out Elden Ring again? When the YouTuber had to take an involuntary break during his platinum run in Wuchang, JACK needed a spontaneous substitute. And what could be better to fill that void than Elden Ring, the game that really kickstarted the YouTuber’s channel?!
JACK’s plan: To play from 0 achievements to platinum in a stream (only the main game, no DLC). It should only go offline again once the trophy is achieved. The impressive result at the end of the stream:
After 10:05 hours of in-game playtime, all 42 achievements were obtained and platinum reached.
Overall, the stream lasted 11:28 hours.
This was also due to JACK successfully facing off against Isshin, the Sword Saint from Sekiro, and Ludwig the Accursed from Bloodborne at the end.
Back to the Elden Ring run: JACK achieved platinum without any unwanted in-game deaths. The “You died” screen only appeared once, when JACK jumped into the abyss after defeating the tutorial boss and ended up in the Cemetery of the Discarded.
JACK defeated all bosses of the main game, including tough opponents like Malenia and Mohg, without protective gear on the first attempt.
You can watch the run on YouTube as well as below:
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How does the community react to the run? During the stream itself, many viewers could hardly believe how effortlessly JACK was able to play through Elden Ring and defeat bosses like Malenia.
zocker26 asked during the fight against Malenia: “How many hours have you put into soulslikes, it’s amazing to watch.”
Also, amlauschen commented on the victory over Malenia: “I took 10 hours for her, and he takes her down as if it’s nothing … simply art to watch.”
heuchel44 celebrated in the stream too: “I take off my hat.”
CastleReserve LP praised at the end: “JACK, the true Eldenlord. <3”
jannibladeofranni celebrated on YouTube: “Big GG for No Death Platinum, again mega.”
Nicolas Cage has appeared in many movies that are a bit strange. However, there are few genuine horror films in his work. The actor himself likes creepy flicks and names the scariest scene he has ever seen.
As a cinema viewer, Cage enjoys truly intense horror films, which is reflected in the ones he has named as his favorites. He crowned the scariest scene in cinematic history.
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Longlegs – Trailer for the horror hit with Nicolas Cage
Finest horror from the 1970s
What horror films does Cage like? Often, particularly modern genre representatives focus on effective staging, gore, and as hard kills as possible. Nicolas Cage revealed in a conversation with NME that he does not like this type of horror.
I don’t watch such films; they make me sick. I don’t like it when women are tortured in movies or young people are stabbed or similar. I find that disgusting and quite repulsive. But I like the charm of older horror films like the Hammer horror films I grew up with.
Nicolas Cage
The actor particularly favors atmospheric and psychological horror. However, not only old films count. Modern horror films have also convinced Cage, such as The Witch, Babadook, and It Follows. All three rely heavily on an eerie atmosphere and less on spectacular scenes.
Furthermore, Cage praises the ghost stories of Japanese horror cinema, specifically naming Ringu from 1998. The film was remade in the USA in 2001 as The Ring, but lost some of the terror of the original.
When it comes to naming the scariest scene of all time, Cage does not need to think long. He awards this title to the film The Exorcist by director William Friedkin:
I think “The Exorcist” really set new standards. The last exorcism scene in this film is, in my opinion, the scariest film scene in cinema history.
Nicolas Cage
The mentioned scene lasts about 8 minutes and is hardly surpassed in intensity. In it, the two priests try to free the young girl Regan from the demon Pazuzu. The fact that the possessed one is a child only makes it worse. Her body contorts and flies into the air, her face is distorted, and the sounds Regan makes send chills down the spine.
That Cage’s choice falls on The Exorcist is not surprising. The film is still considered one of the best genre representatives and does not shy away from comparison with modern films – on the contrary. While today’s horror films often focus on visual effects and a lot of fluff, The Exorcist captivates with its simplicity and comparatively manageable story.
Nicolas Cage was only 9 years old at the time of the film’s release. It is not entirely clear whether he had seen it back then, but even adults can find the film profoundly impactful. What do you think about it? Have you seen it? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. The actor has a recommendation in his own work: “For me like a folk song” – Nicolas Cage explains which of his films you must absolutely see
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new vendor in World of Warcraft attracts with housing items. But to do that, one must play Legion Remix.
Before heading into the next expansion Midnight, there is another important date in World of Warcraft. Because the Legion expansion is coming back as a remix variant and offers many new rewards. It is now also clear that anyone looking forward to the new housing feature should probably also make a detour to the Broken Isles. Because some housing items will probably only be available during the remix event.
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WoW: Spieler sammelt ALLE Erfolge im Spiel, fragt dann „Was mache ich jetzt?“
What has been discovered? On the PTR (Test Server) for Legion Remix, a vendor named Domelius has been added. Like all vendors, he is one of the dragons and sells rewards that can be unlocked with bronze. The special thing about Domelius: His name already indicates that he is a “Housing Vendor”.
The housing vendor has already been discovered. Image source: wowhead
Is anything being sold already? No, not yet. The vendor is currently “empty” and has no items on offer. It seems to be a placeholder that will be filled in over the next weeks. Therefore, we cannot yet estimate what items will be available for purchase.
Presumably, the items will somehow be related to Legion. There will surely be some nice pieces of furniture infused with fel magic to be obtained.
When does Legion Remix start? There is currently no specific release date for Legion Remix. However, it can be seen on the PTR that the event will likely start on October 8th and will run until early January.
Whether Blizzard will postpone this date again, we will probably find out during gamescom – as there will be many revelations, including the intro cinematic for the upcoming expansion Midnight. If you want to collect something else in the meantime, you can take a look at 5 super-rare transmog items that hardly anyone knows.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Season 10, new Uniques for the six classes are arriving in Diablo 4. You can find out what they are and what the unique items can do here on MeinMMO.
In September, according to the roadmap, the new Season 10 begins in Diablo 4. With the season, new content comes into the game and Blizzard refreshes a few activities. This time, the hellish hordes get an update, and in the season themed “Hellish Chaos,” it will literally be chaotic. In addition to Chaos Portals and Chaos Powers, so-called Chaos Uniques will come into play.
You can try out the new features as well as the new Uniques and Chaos Uniques soon on the PTR (Public Test Realm) for Season 10 from August 19 to August 26, 2025 via Battle.net on PC.
The cheeky treasure goblins can also drop Uniques and even Mythic Uniques:
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Die neuen Goblin-Varianten in Diablo 4 im Video
All Uniques from Season 10 at a glance
What new Uniques are coming? Below you will find the new Uniques coming to the game for each class in Season 10. We will also discuss their affixes and aspects. Once their exact locations are announced, you can find them in the list of all bosses and their drops in Diablo 4.
Barbarian: Tsasgal’s Sabre (1H Weapon)
+50 % Damage (Standard)
+107–121 Strength
+62.5–85 % Physical Damage
+2–3 Ranks for Core Skills
+2–3 War Path
Aspect: For each equipped skill that deals damage, you gain 3–5 %[x] increased damage and an additional 6–10 %[x] for 15 seconds whenever any of these skills are used.
Druid: Blackwing’s Kilt (Leg Armor)
+636–685 Maximum Life
+2–3 Ranks for Ravens
+13–17.5 % Cooldown Reduction for Ravens
+16–25 % Chance for Ravens to deal double damage
Aspect: Ravens deal increased damage by 60–100 %[x]. Transforming into another form or activating a companion skill summons a raven that attacks nearby enemies. Summoning a raven has a chance to call forth a Ruthless Swarm for 10 seconds, increasing the number of summoned ravens to 3 for that duration.
Necromancer: Herald of the Pledge (Focus)
+80–94 Intelligence
+424–457 Maximum Life
+4.4–10 % Attack Speed for Basic Skills
+13–17.5 % Chance for your Basic Skills to deal double damage
Aspect: Your Basic Skills are empowered. When you deal damage to an enemy with a Basic Skill, they take 10–30 % increased damage from your other Basic Skills for 10 seconds.
Bloody Harvest attacks 10 % faster.
Decompose now spawns a corpse every 0.5 seconds.
Blood Surge triggers an additional thrust against the first target.
Bone Shards pierce enemies.
Ranger: Orphan-Maker (2H Crossbow)
+130 % Damage against Vulnerable Targets
+4–6 Ranks for Precision Skills
+2–4 Ranks for Plunders
+32–45% Chance to double cast Precision Skills
+125–170 % Damage against Vulnerable Targets
Aspect: Basic and Core Skills using this weapon now recharge. Recharge skills deal an increased damage of 250–300 % and every 2nd recharge skill receives this bonus twice.
Recharging: Skills that recharge have a small delay during which they cannot be recast. Their damage and recharging benefits from 50 % of your attack speed bonus.
Sorceress: Galvanic Azurite (Ring)
+12.5 % Resistance to all Damage Types
+5 % Resistance to all Damage Types
+5.2–6 % Critical Strike Chance
+57–75 % Lightning Damage
8.1–8.8 % Cooldown Reduction
+2–3 Ranks for Elemental Synergies
Aspect: Lightning Damage magnetizes enemies for 4 seconds, causing them to emit Crackling Energy and increasing all Lightning Damage they suffer from you by 40–60 %[x]. When two magnetized enemies with Crackling Energy meet, they attract each other.
Spiritborn: Hesha e Kesungi (Gloves)
10.5–15 % Attack Speed
46.5–60 % Damage against Vulnerable Targets
15.5–20 % Cooldown Reduction for Ultimate Skills
3–5 Ranks for Gorilla Skills
Aspect: The Protector can be summoned from a distance to pull enemies inward with its strikes. Enemies in its area take increased damage by 30–50 %[x] from your Gorilla Skills, which is doubled when they are knocked down or are bosses.
These were all the unique items coming in Season 10 for the six classes. Uniques can have a significant impact on builds and greatly change gameplay. In the upcoming season, Blizzard takes it a step further: In addition to the normal Uniques, Chaos Uniques will also come into play that can completely reshape your builds. More on this here: Season 10 brings numerous new Uniques to Diablo 4, but not as you think
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On September 19, 2025, a new roguelite titled Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree will be released on Steam. MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen is a newcomer to the genre, which made her entry into the game a bit difficult. However, in the end, she managed to navigate through the enemies so well that she wished for even more complexity.
Anyone who has read my article about Moonlighter 2 knows that I don’t typically engage much with roguelites and roguelikes. Moonlighter was my entry into the genre. Since then, I’ve mostly played roguelites with deckbuilding elements. Even Moonlighter only includes some elements from the genre, which is why I barely had contact with the action-heavy tough nuts from the genre.
However, as a huge fan of everything from Japan, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree caught my eye. Both the level and enemy design immediately appealed to me, as it looks like a mix of traditional Japanese flair and quirky elements.
It’s perfectly timed that I could sneak a peek at a preview version of the game on Steam. I had access to the first three chapters of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, spending around 7 hours in total.
As I’m still a novice in the genre, the beginning totally overwhelmed me. I felt almost like I did during my doctoral thesis at university. But after a few hours, I had to admit that I actually needed something more to keep me engaged for the long haul.
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Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree: Trailer zum Kampf des Roguelites
8 Guardians overwhelmed me
In the roguelite, we play as the titular Towa and her 8 companions, who take on the role of guardians. They must defend against the nasty Magatsu and his forces, while different worlds await the guardians. In a top-down perspective, we slice through hordes of enemies, with the top priority of not getting hit.
In Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, there are several features you might recognize from other roguelites:
The game worlds and levels are procedurally generated. Except for the bosses at the end of a run, the layout of the next room is left to chance.
Once you die in a run, collected items are lost. Only resources like ores are retained after death.
Like Hades, there is an action-oriented real-time combat system. You need to time your attacks perfectly, but otherwise avoid generic enemy attacks.
But the game adds one significant twist. You must simultaneously manage two characters that you select from the 8 guardians. One of the two characters, Tsurugi, is controlled directly by you. He is responsible for standard attacks with his swords. The other character, a supporter named Kagura, follows you around. He has two special abilities that he can use to assist you passively.
In the chaos, it’s difficult to keep track of where the two player characters are.
In single player, you have the option to control Kagura directly. However, you would then need to manage both joysticks simultaneously, which for me was nearly impossible with the gameplay. Therefore, my Kagura just followed me automatically. This has the disadvantage that he occasionally gets caught in enemy attacks if you’re not careful. It often happened that I could dash Tsurugi out of an attack in time, but Kagura was still fully caught in it – and died.
To ensure no run is the same as another, you can switch between the characters and thus provide some variety. Each character has different attacks as Tsurugi, which require different timings. Although they can all carry the same swords, they do play differently.
There are also other ways to keep yourself occupied for a long time. However, for me as a newcomer, all these features were overwhelming at the beginning.
There are 6 ores that can be collected. Each of these ores is needed for various things, such as building upgrades or forging a weapon. With other ores, you can purchase permanent advantages at the shrine, such as a revival in a run.
Especially at the beginning of the game, this overwhelmed me since I didn’t know which ores I should save for and which I could mostly ignore at first – especially since some can be exchanged for one another.
The small details contribute to the charm of the game.
I was completely lost when it came to the favor cards. It took several hours before I understood that these are the temporary upgrades in a run. There are many categories into which the favor cards can be divided.
Before entering a new room, there is a symbol indicating which favor cards, enemies, or other surprises await you in the next room. However, there are so many favor symbols that I had to check every time what the cards and their effects on me would be. The selection was simply too vast for me at the beginning.
Additionally, there are other mechanics such as sword forging, which is a lot of fun, or leveling up in the dojo. For cozy fans like me, there’s even a small fishing minigame, but it requires a lot of time investment to be worthwhile. Here, caught fish can be exchanged for ores – as if the ores weren’t complicated enough!
The switch that transformed me from a complete beginner to a veteran
After about 4-5 hours, however, the switch came when I understood how the game worked, and I started to get used to the monotony of roguelites. At that point, I understood the effects of most symbols that awaited me in a new room and how to combine different elements to gain advantages against certain enemies.
At that moment, I had reached the point where I could slice through enemies effortlessly. Mid-bosses suddenly posed no problem for me, and I had successfully advanced to the boss room. If I failed at that point, it was only because I was too slow in dodging.
But shortly after, I had a realization, which will likely disturb the hardcore roguelite fans among you. As beautiful as the game is, it just doesn’t quite match the complexity of other representatives. After about 5 hours, my learning curve began to plateau.
Most of the favor cards in the game have passive effects. They increase damage, provide you with an extra dodging option, or slow down enemies. Additionally, there are some cards that can cause knockbacks or rain lightning from the sky.
Most buffs simply affect the status values.
However, what I’m missing here is creativity like in Hades. Because in that game, it’s possible for these temporary buffs to enhance each other. One example: When arrows hit enemies, they split into several smaller arrows. With further buffs, those arrows can leave fire trails or bounce off walls, turning the entire room into a hail of arrows.
When the right buffs interact with each other, it feels like you become completely overpowered. I never had that feeling with Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. No matter how many legendary buffs I found, the gameplay never changed as a result.
Accordingly, I also believe that the title can become quite monotonous over time. For this preview, we can only report on the first three chapters. Here, the boredom has been manageable, but I fear that it could stretch in the further chapters.
Towa and the steep learning curve that then plateaued
The new roguelite on Steam attracted me with its beautiful visuals, and I do not regret playing it. I had a lot of fun during the runs and was able to learn quite a bit if I ever want to play a game from the genre again.
Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed as there are many things to modify the character and thus strengthen it. By the third chapter, I had not even found all possible upgrades. But after around five hours of gameplay, I felt I understood most of the mechanics.
However, the learning curve then flattened out so steeply that I cannot imagine Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree keeping me entertained in the long run. The buffs in a run are too simple and leave little creative possibility for good combinations. Only the 8 Guardians and their unique playstyles bring some variety.
Consequently, I can recommend the title to anyone who is enchanted by the visuals and does not let the initial steep learning curve deter them. Especially newcomers or those who have already played some roguelites may find enjoyment here. However, veterans could become bored over time – unless a significant mechanics surprise awaits after the 3 chapters.
In contrast to me, MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has been a long-time fan of roguelites. His favorite games include Tainted Grail and Night of the Full Moon. In an article, he explains what fascinates him about the genre and why he just can’t stop losing: I am obsessed with games that I can only lose
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Opening Night Live, abbreviated ONL, will also take place at gamescom 2025. Various announcements regarding new games will be presented at the event, which fans can look forward to soon. We will also be there in the evening and will provide you with the most important information in our ticker.
When does the Opening Night Live 2025 start? The Opening Night Live 2025 starts on August 19 at 8:00 PM German time. To participate, you can either purchase a ticket and travel to Cologne or tune in online on Twitch or YouTube. The pre-show begins at 7:30 PM to get all viewers ready for the program.
Are there still tickets available? According to the official site of the gamescom, all tickets for the ONL are currently sold out.
How much does a ticket cost? A ticket for the ONL costs 34 €.
How do I get to the ONL if I have a ticket? The gamescom website states that you will find the entrance to Kölnmesse, Hall 1, at the Confex in the left area of the foyer:
Entrance stamps will be distributed starting at 4:30 PM
Entrance to the hall will be between 5:45 – 7:30 PM
Don’t be late, as entrance will not be possible after 7:30 PM
What games are currently known? According to gameswirtschaft.de, several titles are already known that will be presented at the ONL. You can expect the following titles:
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Ghost of Yotei
Honor of Kings: World
Ninja Gaiden 4
Outer Worlds 2
Resident Evil: Requiem
Silent Hill f
World of Warcraft: Midnight
Besides that, two specials will also be showcased:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Fallout: Season 2
That was all the information about the Open Night Live that you should know. Please note that we will convert our overview into a ticker on August 19 to keep you updated on the most important news from the ONL. So be sure to bookmark the page. More about gamescom 2025 can be found here: gamescom 2025: All information about tickets, dates, and games
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Palia has experienced a turbulent time since its release on Steam in March 2024. Despite a rocky start and extensive layoffs, the cozy MMO has evidently managed to become a major hit for Daybreak Games.
How is Palia doing currently? The new financial report from Enad Global 7, the company behind Daybreak Games, reveals this. In the report, we learn:
The company reports a stable quarter, with rising revenues compared to the same quarter last year and organic growth.
One of the key cornerstones for the current success is Palia, driven by the release of the Elderwood expansion in May and the releases on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The cozy MMO has been able to improve in all key parameters (such as player numbers or online times). The report on mfn.se states: “As a result, Palia is on track to become the highest-grossing title in Daybreak’s live game portfolio.”
By now, more than 8 million players are said to have registered for Palia (due to the free-to-play model, there are of course no sales figures). The report also mentions 215,000 daily active and 1.2 million monthly active users – both record numbers.
The Cozy MMO Palia Shows Trailer for the New Expansion Elderwood
EverQuest struggles with unauthorized clone
What about the other games? Daybreak Games includes titles such as DC Universe Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, EverQuest I and II, Lord of the Rings Online, H1Z1, and PlanetSide 2. Of these named games, according to the report, only LotRO and DCUO show a positive trend – thanks to new servers and important adjustments like the abolition of faction boundaries.
While the numbers for PlanetSide 2 are said to remain stable, those in charge at EverQuest complain about a significant loss of players. This is supposedly due to an alleged unauthorized copy titled “The Hero’s Journey,” against which a lawsuit is already underway.
Regarding new projects, there was hardly any fresh information this time. Together with Cold Iron, Daybreak is currently working on an unannounced game that is reportedly making positive progress and is approaching announcement or completion.
It has also been known since 2023 that Daybreak is planning adaptations of several games for well-known franchises that are set to be released in the coming years:
A new multiplayer game for H1Z1 for 2026
A co-op game for the Mechwarrior IP for 2027
A modernized remake of EverQuest for 2028
Furthermore, they want to continue providing the existing service games with new content. For Palia, for example, a pet feature is planned for the autumn and cooperative housing projects.
Shadowheart and her partner compete in a quiz about the popular companion from Baldur’s Gate 3. They reveal not only new insights into the creation of the character but also decide on further personality traits of the half-elf.
Who are the two women? Jennifer English, the voice of Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3, and her partner Aliona Baranova both worked on Larian’s RPG, where they also met and became a couple.
Since the success of the game, the two have become very visible faces for the player community, speaking at panels at conventions and streaming their own campaign in Baldur’s Gate 3 on Twitch and YouTube. There, they have already given a small insight into how contact with the game’s developers can be used for special gestures.
In a video from Fall Damage on YouTube, the two compete in a quiz about Shadowheart, where they not only demonstrate their solid knowledge. They also provide many interesting insights into the character’s development and her influence on the events in the game.
Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3, where Shadowheart is also featured:
Start video
Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3
New information on the development of “God’s Favorite Princess”
What influence did Jen and Aliona have on Shadowheart and Baldur’s Gate 3? In the quiz, the two answer questions about Shadowheart to test how well they really know Jennifer’s character. Both perform really well and reveal a bit more about the development of the beloved companion. The information shared includes:
Shadowheart’s real name is Jennevelle Hallowleaf. One of the lead writers, John Corcoran, had a whole list of possible names, but he wanted Jennevelle to be used since it is based on Jennifer’s name.
What was born from a meme eventually found its own place in the game. Aliona saw memes of Shadowheart online with the already well-known meme phrase “I may be a hater and a gatekeeper, but I am also God’s Favorite Princess and the most interesting girl in the world.” She got Jen to record that line in Shadowheart’s tone, which ultimately found its own place in the game’s epilogue.
In keeping with the epilogue: The two share that if a romantic relationship has been established with Shadowheart, she reports on a squirrel that regularly sits on her shoulder and is fed nuts by her. This is a reference to a squirrel from the first act of the game, whose voice Aliona lent when one can speak with animals.
All questions are answered correctly, but when it comes to the exact race, class, and subclass of Shadowheart, Aliona is unsure. However, she then answers in her own way: “Race: Half-Elf, Class: Cleric, Subclass: sexy lady.”
You can watch the Shadowheart quiz with Jennifer and Aliona here:
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What else do the two talk about? Aliona admits she thought the quiz would be more about personality questions regarding Shadowheart, which would then be confirmed or denied by Jennifer. Since they still have enough time, the two decide on further facts for the cleric, which, due to the prior influence of the two, should be considered “canon” (“officially valid”):
Shadowheart’s favorite coffee is black, but she actually prefers colorful coffees, like a unicorn frappuccino, which she does not want to be seen with.
Her favorite animals are owlbears and (of course) squirrels.
Her favorite karaoke song is “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence, but Jennifer adds that Shadowheart would also rock out to Alanis Morissette or Paramore.
Shadowheart’s favorite snack is not entirely clear to both. Jen thinks of a cheese platter; Aliona thinks of Tav, the standard name for the player character from Baldur’s Gate 3 – cheese would have been her second choice.
Her favorite cocktail is either an espresso martini or a piña colada.
When asked who would play Shadowheart in a live-action film or series, Jennifer is quite certain: “Don’t touch her, or I’ll get angry. That’s my final answer.”
The only exception is Aliona’s suggestion of a “young Rebecca Ferguson,” which Jennifer would also have been satisfied with.
Jen and Aliona have been streaming regularly on Twitch since 2023 and uploading videos of their campaign to YouTube. There, they have their own loyal audience with whom they also like to interact a lot. When a fan passed away, the two wanted to honor her. Through their contact with the developers, the player was then immortalized forever in Baldur’s Gate 3: Player becomes a part of Baldur’s Gate 3 after her death – Shadowheart honors her with a special tribute
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In EA FC 25 the Pre Season for FC 26 has begun. In various tasks, you can already secure rewards for the successor. On MeinMMO, you can read about the available rewards and how to unlock them quickly.
What is the Pre Season? The Pre Season gives you the chance to secure rewards in FC 25 Ultimate Team for FC 26.
You can find the tasks for the rewards in the objectives and in the Season Pass. To get the rewards for FC 26, you need to complete matches, finish Squad Building Challenges (SBCs), or play through the Season Pass until the end.
What rewards are there? So far, there are 3 different rewards for FC 26:
The Club is Yours I: 10x-80+-Player Pack and Loan Hero Player Pick for 5 matches
All rewards are untradeable and are expected to be automatically added to your shop for FC 26 Ultimate Team in October 2025.
Start video
Deep Dive trailer on gameplay shows 2 different gameplays and numerous adjustments
Quickly complete tasks for Pre Season rewards
What kind of tasks are they? You can only complete 2 of the 3 tasks in Ultimate Team. For one task, you can use various online and offline game modes to make progress.
The tasks are easy to fulfill but require some time investment. With our tips, you only need to invest about an hour a day to easily collect all bonuses.
The Club is Yours I: 10x-80+-Player Pack and Loan Hero Player Pick for 5 matches (available until September 5, 2025)
How do you complete the task? For The Clubs is Yours and the 10x-80+-Player Pack and Loan Hero Player Pick for 5 matches, you need to complete the following sub-tasks according to the live objectives:
Score 10 goals with Premier League players in any Ultimate Team mode
Assist 10 goals with NWSL players in any Ultimate Team mode
Play 10 matches with at least 4 Ligue 1 players in the starting lineup in any Ultimate Team mode
Win 4 matches in Squad Battles (minimum semi-pro), Rivals or Champions with 3 players from Liga F in the starting lineup
Win 6 in Squad Battles (minimum semi-pro), Rivals or Champions with 5 players from LaLiga in the starting lineup
How to complete The Club is Yours I the fastest: The easiest way to complete the tasks is in Squad Battles. At the semi-pro difficulty, you shouldn’t face much resistance from the CPU.
To get the rewards the fastest, it’s most important to build your team with the required players from the last 3 tasks. Set up your starting XI as follows and complete the specified number of matches:
5 players from LaLiga + 4 players from Ligue 1 for 6 matches
4 players from Ligue 1 + 3 players from Liga F for 4 matches
In this lineup, you just need to win 10 Squad Battles matches. You can fill the free spots with players from the Premier League or NWSL to complete the required 10 goals or 10 assists.
Pre-Season Crafting Upgrade Complete Package: 5x-82+-Player Pack (available until September 12, 2025)
How do you complete the task? You need to complete the Squad Building Challenge 100 times to receive the 5x-82+-Player Pack. Make sure that for the Pre-Season rewards, only the Season Preparation Crafting Upgrade counts and not the Season Preparation Grind Upgrade.
However, you still need the Season Preparation Grind Upgrade to quickly obtain the 9 gold players required for the Season Preparation Crafting Upgrade.
How to complete the Pre-Season Crafting Upgrade Complete Package the fastest: To get the needed players for the Crafting Upgrade, you can follow these steps in the SBCs:
Complete the Super Daily Bronze Upgrade 3 times a day with one Bronze player each time to get 17 common Bronze players and 7 rare Bronze players
Complete the Daily Bronze Upgrade 6 times a day with one Bronze player each time to get more Bronze players
Complete up to 30 times daily the Season Preparation Grind Upgrade with 11 Bronze players each time to get a Grind Pack with 7 common Gold players and 3 rare Gold players
Complete the Season Crafting Upgrade at least 100 times in the coming days
Reach Season Pass Level 40: 5x-84+-Player Pack (available until September 17, 2025)
How do you complete the task? For another 5x-84+-Player Pack in FC 26, you need to reach level 40 of the current Season Pass. Various tasks are available in Ultimate Team, Clubs, and Career Mode to accumulate the required 40,000 Season Points (SP).
How to reach Season Pass Level 40 the fastest: You can earn a lot of SP just by playing various modes in Ultimate Team. The following objectives offer you different amounts of SP.
Objectives in Ultimate Team for over 5,000 SP each week
Daily Objectives (150 SP per day): Play any match and score a goal.
Daily Game Complete Package (1,000 SP once): Complete the daily objectives 3 times within a week to receive an additional 1,000 SP.
Pre-Season Sofia Cantore (1,000 SP once): Complete 4 of the 5 tasks for Futties Sofia Cantore from the live objectives to receive an additional 1,000 SP.
Weekly Objectives (800 SP weekly): Achieve at least 8 wins from 10 matches and assist 5 goals. Complete 3 SBCs as well.
Season-10 Weekly Games (1,400 SP weekly): Complete 5 matches in Squad Battles, Rivals, Champions, and/or Rush and/or complete 7 SBCs.*
Objectives in Manager Career for 750 SP each week
Complete 7 matches in Manager Career.
Objectives in Player Career for 750 SP each week
Complete 6 matches in Player Career. Score a hat-trick and complete 10 match objectives.
Objectives in Clubs for over 1,100 SP each week
Daily Objectives (75 SP daily): Play 2 matches in Rush and score 3 goals.
Weekly Objectives (675 SP weekly):
Complete 6 clubs league matches and win 4 of them. Assist 5 goals and win 15 tackles.
Complete 10 clubs rush matches and win 6 of them. Score 9 goals and win 25 tackles
*Tip: For completing the Season-10 Weekly Games, you only need to fulfill 3 of the total 5 tasks. Since you will already be playing Squad Battles for the other Pre-Season rewards and completing numerous SBCs, you can choose whether to also play 5 matches in Rivals, Champs, or Rush.
If you earn all the available Season Points, you could currently level up by about 8 levels each week. More tasks and objectives will likely appear during the Pre-Season, at which you can earn additional SP. We will update the article should new tasks for more SP become available.
There will probably be more opportunities during the Pre Season for FC 26 to earn packs in FC 25. Feel free to check back regularly so you don’t miss any rewards. You’ll receive additional rewards when you preorder FC 26: Preorder EA FC 26: Price, Editions, and Preorder Bonuses at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Gabe Newell, the head of Steam and Valve, has joined a shipyard to finance a high-end vessel.He intends to share the research data with the world for free.
What exactly does Gabe Newell do? Gabe Newell is known as a billionaire and co-founder of Valve, the company behind Steam. Now the English article from Luxurylaunches reports that Newell has joined the Dutch shipyard Oceanco.
Oceanco specializes in building luxurious megayachts. Newell is planning a new, special project there: a high-end explorer ship with a budget of around 300 million USD. Converted, that is about 256 million Euros.
Start video
Commercial for the Joule Kitchen Appliance with Gabe Newell from Valve
A Luxury Ship for Ocean Exploration
What is Newell’s project? So far, the shipyard Oceanco is primarily known for very expensive luxury yachts. Here, Newell has now become a new stakeholder. And he has already presented a goal: Newell wants to have a specially equipped explorer yacht built, which is technically advanced and suitable for expeditions.
The ship is to be largely autonomous and capable of operating at a high level of comfort and safety.
This is one of the largest and most expensive projects the shipyard has undertaken so far.
The focus of the yacht is on exploration and adventure, rather than pure luxury.
The approximately 111-meter-long ship is designed for scientific research and expeditions, accommodating around 70 scientists who can conduct month-long missions.
What goals are there? The ship is primarily intended for the exploration of the oceans, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas such as the deepest ocean trenches. Unexplored seabeds are also to be mapped. Other points mentioned include studies on marine biodiversity and the discovery of new species. Furthermore, there is an intention to advance maritime environmental protection and advocate for sustainable use of the oceans. This is reported by Pressmare.it in its German-language press release.
Regarding the collected research data, it is planned to systematically gather and analyze it for scientific purposes, and make it available to the public for free.
For Anthem, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. The game is expected to remain online until early 2026, when the studio will pull the plug. Fans are already mourning, but for the former lead developer of the shooter, there may still be a glimmer of hope to save the game.
Who is talking about Anthem? This concerns the former lead developer of Anthem, Mark Darrah. He has already spoken on YouTube about the various issues facing the shooter and how these led to the ultimate downfall of Anthem.
In a new YouTube video, Mark Darrah was interviewed. The discussion mainly revolved around Dragon Age, but some points were also focused on the future of Anthem. According to him, it is possible to keep the shooter alive, but it is not that simple.
Start video
Anthem shows the four different combat suits in the launch trailer
Fans need to make compromises
What does he say about Anthem? Despite the live-service aspect of Anthem, Mark Darrah was confident that the shooter would eventually come to an end. The flop only accelerated its fate.
Now, however, EA is left with a dead shooter and has to decide how to proceed. The solution: The servers for Anthem will be deactivated on January 12, 2026. For Mark Darrah, this could be avoided as there are means by which a game can exist without the constant support of the developers.
How could Anthem be saved? Here, the developer looks towards Bungie and Destiny. The loot shooter from the former Halo developers has a “peer-to-peer” hosting system, where a client-server from the developer is not necessary. This allows the game to exist even after the studio has shut down the servers and development.
In peer-to-peer connections, one player acts as the host of the session. The data traffic runs through this player, making the connection dependent on that player. This can lead to lags and disconnections.
A peer-to-peer system could have also been possible for Anthem, but according to Darrah, that was not within BioWare’s budget. Furthermore, fans would have had to make compromises, which Darrah describes as follows: “It would have become a uglier game, probably with more latency issues. It would have been a worse experience second to second to achieve something that essentially should never have been shut down.”
12 years after players first got their hands on GTA 5, a YouTuber has solved a puzzle that has occupied many players to this day. The riddle about Mount Chiliad is actually much simpler than many might believe.
What was the riddle? In GTA 5, there is a type of mural that has intrigued players since the release. As you can see in the featured image, it shows UFOs, a jetpack, and an egg, along with glyphs that together form a mountain. A YouTuber has apparently solved the puzzle definitively thanks to new information from Rockstar, although the result is more disappointing than many had hoped.
Start video
The graphic comparison of GTA 6 and GTA 5 in the video
The crucial clue to the riddle
What is the riddle about? Over the years, many players have tried to solve the riddle, and some have partially succeeded. As YouTuber Gator Keys explains in his video, players discovered early on that you need to complete GTA 5 at 100% to find a UFO over Mount Chiliad.
However, this was accomplished so quickly that players believed there was more behind the mural. Thus began a years-long hunt for a needle in a haystack, until finally, a former Rockstar Games employee confirmed in an interview with YouTube host Dan “Hinchliffe” Dawkins that there are no further secrets there.
With this realization, YouTuber Gator Keys set out to decipher the mural and find out what it really represents.
What does the mural depict? According to the YouTuber, the mural merely indicates where the clues to the UFOs are located in the game. The jetpack is supposed to symbolize that players need to fly to see them. The UFO on the graphic in the lower left shows, according to his analysis, the additional so-called “Beam me up” UFO, which is located to the left of Mount Chiliad.
The X-glyphs on the mural are supposed to show the correct glyphs in the game. The YouTuber managed to find a point where these are exactly in the right position relative to Mount Chiliad.
You can see the scene starting at minute 03:06 in the video:
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The egg in the middle is supposed to represent the player character, who needs to go from the start of the game to the top to unlock the UFO. He supported his theory with other clues about unmanned aerial vehicles in the game and clarified that the mural is nothing more than a hint at the spaceships in the game. There should be no further secrets regarding this.
In the comments, many users discuss whether her skill is legitimate or if she is cheating. In the nearly two-minute video, she achieved some amazing kills in the Beta of Battlefield 6. Especially her precise flicks and crosshair placement became a topic of conversation.
As reported by the English-language online magazine Dexerto, the player was even banned on Twitch in the meantime. This was likely a result of mass reports. The ban has since been lifted.
Start video
Spieler fragen, was eigentlich aus „Niemals vorbestellen“ geworden ist, während Battlefield 6 die Charts auf Steam erobert
What is the latest development with the streamer? Since the clip and the lifting of the streamer’s ban on Twitch, many shooter fans seem to want to verify her skills. The viewer numbers for the streamer have skyrocketed in the past few days, and she has broken her previous records multiple times.
In August 2025, rileycs had an average of 387 viewers, with a peak of 1,539 users watching her broadcast live. In comparison, in July 2025, only an average of 28 viewers watched her. Her previous record was from August 2024 and stood at 290 viewers.
Overall, the streamer, who is a so-called VTuber and does not show her face but appears behind an animated character, has gained over 14,000 new followers this month.
Is she really cheating? That remains unclear, as it is difficult to judge based on a few clips and streams. There is no clear evidence of using an aimbot or wallhack.
Several shooter experts and content creators who focus on the topic of “aiming” have since expressed their opinions on the clip. The YouTuber “optimum” is example convinced that the streamer is not cheating, as she initially misses slightly on many of her flicks and then corrects her crosshair.
If you want to be good at shooters like Battlefield 6 without training an aim as good as the streamer, there are a few small tricks you can follow to achieve better results. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: 5 tips on how to get better in any shooter without training
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Artificial intelligence is considered a major challenge for many areas. A CEO shared in a conversation how he restructured his entire company to make it AI-ready. This required layoffs of employees who refused to adopt AI.
Eric Vaughan is the CEO of IgniteTech. IgniteTech is an international company specializing in enterprise software with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
Vaughan describes in an interview with the English-language magazine Fortune that he made a radical decision in his company: In 2023, he laid off about 80% of the workforce because they were not adapting quickly and enthusiastically enough to the comprehensive deployment of artificial intelligence (AI).
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Artificial Intelligence as a Major Challenge for Companies
Vaughan explained that he saw artificial intelligence as a major challenge approaching his company in early 2023. For this reason, he launched a large-scale training and investment program (“AI Monday”) for all areas such as sales, marketing, and development. The company is said to have invested about 20% of its revenues to make the company future-ready.
However, there was significant resistance from the workforce: particularly from technical professionals, less so in sales or marketing. Many refused to use AI tools or sabotaged the deployment of the new tools.
In the end, hundreds of employees had to go. Vaughan emphasizes that it was “extremely difficult” and that it was not his actual goal to lay off employees. But he explained that you cannot force people to change their minds:
You cannot force anyone to change, especially not when the person does not believe in it.
Would he make this radical decision again? When asked if he would make the decision again, he replied:
Without hesitation. […] This is not a technical change. It is a cultural change and a business change.
With our FYNG Show, we want to show on August 20, 2025, starting at 5 PM, that gaming showcases can do more than just string trailers together. A little preview of what we are planning for you.
Before we take a small look ahead, let’s first make sure you know what you need to know if you don’t want to miss anything.
When does it start? The pre-show for the FYNG gamescom show starts on August 20 at 5 PM, with the main show following at 5:30 PM. Our program is planned for just over two hours, so it will last until approximately 7:45 PM.
Where will it be broadcasted? We will be broadcasting live from our stand in the gamescom exhibition hall 10.1. For our biggest show yet, we are also building our largest stage with a gigantic video screen.
And of course, we will broadcast the show live on all platforms:
on the FYNG Steam page (goes live on August 20 at 10 AM CEST)
Can I watch the show later or differently? Of course! The showcase will also be available as a video afterwards, so you can conveniently catch up on it on GameStar.de or YouTube. There will also be a live ticker at GameStar, allowing you to follow everything in writing. And of course, you can also look forward to a lot of exclusive news and previews about the show announcements.
Start video
gamescom 2024: MeinMMO asks, which game character would you like to be?
What makes the FYNG gamescom show special?
When we had the idea for our own showcase, it was clear from the beginning that we want to do a few things differently.
An editorial show: Of course, we have paid advertising, we have to finance this somehow. But this is clearly marked as such. And you cannot buy your way into the actual show program. Only our editorial team decides what goes into the show and what doesn’t.
We have evaluated over 120 titles for this. Some manufacturers approached us, but many games were pitched to us by the studios themselves from all over the world.
No teleprompter reading: We broadcast live and don’t have a safety net. Of course, we prepare carefully, but we want to present the games authentically together with our stage guests and not read from a script.
Focus on gameplay: At the FYNG gamescom show, there will not be a single trailer without gameplay! Because as game fans ourselves, we want to see the game just like you, not some render teasers that reveal nothing at all.
And let’s put it this way: If you find yourself thinking during an ONL reveal, “Exciting reveal, but a bit more gameplay would be cool!”, then there’s a good chance you’ll see that gameplay with us.
A reasonable amount of fun: We take games very seriously, but ourselves only moderately. It’s hard to explain how one can come up with the idea of crocheting FYNG puppets for the show. And since AK and Maurice Weber will again be hosting the show, you can be sure that anything can happen.
The specially created FYNG puppets are just a part of it! Here is one from Maurice.
Which games and studios are involved?
First, a little expectation management: The chances of Valve announcing Half-Life 3 with us are rather slim. But we are still quite sure that we have put together a very exciting and diverse program.
So look forward to a colorful mix of blockbusters, ambitious AA productions, and innovative indie titles! Now you can either stop reading and just let yourself be surprised on Wednesday. Or you can read on because you want to share a bit more of our excitement.
Games we will show:
Spoiler:
Look forward to news about Anno 117!
Owlcat will provide fresh insights into The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
We will show first real gameplay of Transport Fever 3.
The RPG hopeful Of Ash and Steel will reveal more about its game systems.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 will reveal a new feature with us!
and much more.
Guests we will welcome:
Spoiler:
Warhorse will visit us and bring new information about Kingdom Come 2.
The amazing gaming comedians from Viva La Dirt League will stop by for some fun.
Rebel Wolves will take the stage to provide fresh insights into The Blood of Dawnwalker.
And who knows what antics a certain Hand of Blood will plot again …
And of course, there will also be a few topics about which we can’t tell you anything yet – simply because they are genuine world premieres.
Over the past few months, we have put an incredible amount of work, passion, and crochet yarn into the planning of our FYNG gamescom show. And we are extremely excited to bring all of this to the stage for you on August 20 at 5 PM. Keep your fingers crossed for us and most importantly: Join us live! We look forward to seeing you.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The survival game Dune: Awakening has slipped to only balanced ratings on Steam. Players cite primarily one reason for this in their reviews.
How is Dune: Awakening doing? After the initial hype for the survival game has faded, the ratings for Dune: Awakening on Steam have dropped. While the game has a 73% rating overall, currently only 53% of players give a positive review on Steam.
A clearer picture emerges when comparing reviews from the first week to those from the last week. Dune: Awakening started with 87% positive reviews and is now down to just 50% in the current week. Players explain in their reviews why the survival MMO has worsened over time.
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Dune: Awakening: 7 schnelle Tipps, die das Spiel euch nicht verrät
A disappointing endgame
What happens in the endgame of Dune: Awakening? The endgame of the survival MMO was supposed to consist of two aspects, as the developers stated before release.
The Landsraad system, where players are to undertake tasks for their faction to decide on a change of rules on their server within a political system.
The Deep Desert, once planned as almost purely a PvP area, offers players the best resources while also risking attacks from hostile players.
While the Landsraad system was discarded as little exciting endgame by many shortly after its inception, all players had to go into the Deep Desert to gather the necessary materials for the final upgrade of their machines.
There, they were often shot down by groups or entire clans of PvP players, resulting in not only their farmed items being destroyed but also their brought aircraft. This frustrating experience has been made increasingly PvE-friendly by the developers through updates; however, many see the entire concept of the Deep Desert as an ill-conceived area that should better be replaced with a PvE-oriented endgame.
What are the players saying? That player ratings have suffered significantly due to the endgame PvP following the initial hype and successful PvE story segment is also noted by players in recent reviews:
QuikMercury writes on Steam: “The Deep Desert is trash. You get two losers who have nothing better to do than farm everything by launching people into the air with rockets. It has become a pointless game.”
Wolfdoggie says on Steam: “A fun game, but as a ‘live service’, it cannot sustain itself right now. I enjoyed PvE, building, quests, and so on, but the stuff eventually ends with a cliffhanger. If they had focused their entire development from the start on making it a complete co-op game with a story, it might have been fantastic. But this game was designed as a PvPvE MMO for the long term, which it currently is not. […]”.
d4french rates the game positively on Steam, but admits: “So you’ve seen all the reviews with over 200 hours of playtime telling you not to buy this game and that the game is essentially over once you’ve built an Ornithopter. The Deep Desert is in an alpha state and lacks depth compared to the Hagga Basin. Cheating is widespread. They are right. […] Without the great people I’ve met, I probably would have also given a negative review.”
InfiniteAbysS finds on Steam: “It pains me to leave a negative review for this game. For hundreds of hours I enjoyed this game. The role-playing aspect of the Hagga Basin and everything leading to the Deep Desert is fantastic, in my opinion, high-level gaming. Then you reach the Deep Desert and realize that many of the people there don’t intend to play the game and collect resources to build a base. The only reason these people play this game is griefing. They roam in kill squads now referred to as ‘murder vagrants’. […] These people will kill the game.”
In 2026, the 2nd season of the Netflix series of One Piece starts. In the live-action series of the anime, many characters appear that we have already seen in season 1. However, one has changed so much that he is suddenly unrecognizable to some fans.
Which actor is it and what happened to him? Ilia Isorelýs Paulino is the actress playing Alvida in the live-action series of One Piece. Together with her iron club, the antagonist appears already in the first episode of season 1 of the Netflix series. She is part of the introduction story when Ruffy meets Corby, who was held as a slave on Alvida’s ship at that time.
In season 2, Alvida returns and joins Buggy for an alliance. Their shared hatred for Monkey D. Ruffy, which is built up in the first season, connects them. However, when you watch the upcoming episodes, you may notice that the actress playing Alvida has lost some weight.
On her Instagram profile, it can be seen that she has been reducing her weight for the past few months. With the physical change, she will also appear in season 2. The weight loss is related to her role.
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Der Trailer zu Staffel 2 von One Piece auf Netflix zeigt direkt, dass Staffel 3 kommen wird
Alvida and her actress lose several kilos
Why has she lost so much weight? In the anime, Alvida eats the Alabasta fruit after her defeat against Ruffy. This makes her skin so smooth that physical attacks bounce off her. Her appearance also changes drastically, and she loses a lot of weight.
To do justice to her role, Paulino has also lost a lot of weight. On Reddit, a fan shows how her appearance has aligned with her role:
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What do fans think about it? In the comments on Reddit, many fans are excited that the actress is giving her all for her role. The top commenter writes that Paulino did a great job.
Many users are also reminded of Christian Bale and his roles. For The Machinist, Bale had to lose nearly 30 kilograms, according to GQ, just one year later he had to gain drastic weight again for his role in Batman – especially muscle mass.
Others write:
daekle: “A quick Google search reveals that she was just a slightly fuller woman and decided to lose weight after season 1. Hats off to her, she was perfect in season 1 and looks perfect in season 2 as well.”
Lonehoof: “An incredible motivator to lose weight and maintain a routine. Also an incredible success story. Honestly, hats off to her.”
There are also some viewers who thought that Alvida’s weight in season 1 was due to a suit. However, some fans point out that Paulino did not wear a suit, as can be seen on social media.
