In the books and movies of The Lord of the Rings, it’s mainly about one thing: the Rings. Clearly, it’s already in the title. But which Rings are particularly powerful, and how do they compare against the One Ring of Sauron?
How was the ranking created? When it comes to the Rings of Middle-earth, there is really not much discussion. The total of 20 Rings of Power clearly differ from one another and can be divided into four categories.
A fifth is only briefly mentioned here: there are a number of weak magical Rings that, in comparison to the others, play no significant role.
Thus, the following list counts all the Rings of Power forged by the Elves and Sauron. They all share the fact that they were created from very resilient material and can only be destroyed by extreme heat in the fires of Mount Doom. Some weaker Rings can also be destroyed by the breath of a dragon.
Another difference is that all Rings, except for the One Ring, contain stones – just a detail on the side. The Rings in positions 4 and 3 differ only slightly in their actual power; here, it also matters who received them and how the respective people dealt with them. Accurate information is also scarce here, unlike the Rings in positions 2 and 1.
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Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
Place 4: The Nine Rings of Men
After Sauron brought the Rings of Power under his control, he began to distribute them to the peoples of Middle-earth – with the exception of the Elves, who already possessed three very powerful examples.
Sauron’s plan was to bring the other peoples under his control by influencing the Rings and thus their bearers. He gave a total of nine to men, more specifically to the kings of the southern and eastern lands. Sauron knew that men craved power and were weak in their greed.
Among those kings was the later Witch-king of Angmar. Although the Rings granted men long life and they could see things hidden from mortals, because of their weakness they eventually succumbed to Sauron’s power towards the end of the Second Age. The nine kings with their Rings became the Nazgûl, the Black Riders.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new racer from Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2 gained many fans with a cute face and silly smile. The Cowmoo from Cowmoo Meadow is simply a lovable character, who has also caught PETA’s attention – but they have an issue with a part of Cowmoo’s face.
What does PETA demand? PETA made a post on X, directed at Nintendo: “Hey Nintendo, let the cow run free – remove her nose ring!”
This is not a matter of style, but a cruel instrument used in the meat and dairy industries to control and torment cows, inflicting lasting pain and suffering on them.
This is not the first time PETA has taken issue with Nintendo. In 2021, the animal rights group asked if their “Not a Nugget” mascot could become part of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. A year later, they targeted Animal Crossing: New Horizons, for which they published their own “vegan guide” against fishing and catching bugs in the game. Palworld was not spared either.
Despite presumed good intentions, such actions are part of the reason PETA is no longer taken seriously by many people. This is also reflected in the reactions to the Cowmoo call.
Here you can see the trailer for Mario Kart World, in which Cowmoo goes from a grazing obstacle to a racer:
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Mario Kart World – Reveal Trailer
“Leave the rings to Sonic and let the cow breathe free.”
What does PETA write about nose rings for cows? On their website, PETA explains in detail why they want to oppose Cowmoo’s nose ring. The brass ring is seen by the animal rights group as a means of exploitation, through which workers not only control the animals but also drag them to their death.
PETA’s solution is that the small change of removing Cowmoo’s nose ring from Mario Kart World can make a big difference in how players think about animals. A petition has already been started to push Nintendo to take direct action through its signatures.
However, players see this action less as a solution to animal cruelty and more as a waste of time: “How about you take care of REAL cows instead…” (@tubbyfantastic on X)
What is the reaction to PETA’s call? Nintendo has not yet commented on the call, but many players have:
@korrupted: “Some of the fights you choose… I wonder how meaningful some of them are. And these decisions make it hard for many to take this organization seriously.”
@BasilTheFennec: “Maybe you should focus more on real-world problems and not a cow from a video game driving a cart. If the cow can make the decision to drive, then she has also chosen to wear a nose ring.”
@RuffBuffet: “What a privilege that you can seriously complain about a few pixels.”
The response from PETA to these comments remains similarly consistent: “How we see animals in games or entertainment media affects how we treat them in real life.”
Players are already eagerly waiting for GTA 6. The open-world game is expected to break records again and likely dominate in 2026. There will probably be little competition. However, a well-known analyst believes that there is indeed competition, but it is an old game in the series.
He concludes that it is currently a wild time to make new video games. According to him, the biggest competition for GTA 6 is surprisingly the predecessor: The biggest competitor of Grand Theft Auto 6 will be Grand Theft Auto 5.
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Rockstar Games presents GTA 6 in the second trailer
The biggest competition for new games are not even new titles
How does Piscatella come to this conclusion? One problem in game development is making production more efficient and sustainable, but a big challenge is games that have been around for a while. Piscatella says:
For example, look at Fortnite […] For now seven, eight years this game has been the biggest thing in the world. Or Minecraft. And Grand Theft Auto 5 was released in 2013. It still ranks among the top 20 best-selling games every month.
Mat Piscatella on the biggest challenge for new games (gamesindustry.biz)
Thus, GTA 5 regularly sells more often in Germany than other new titles.
Is there a video game fatigue? In the interview, Shawn Layden, the former head of Sony Worldwide Studios, discussed the current state of the industry. He believes that there is currently a fatigue in the market because the same things have been done for a long time.
In a new coop shooter on Steam, you descend into the dangerous ruins of a sunken civilization – players already love it.
What game is it? It’s called Abyssus and was released on August 12, 2025 on Steam. Developer DoubleMoose Games sends you, alone or in co-op with up to 4 players, deep into the ocean.
By the way, here you can see the launch trailer for Abyssus:
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Abyssus: Launch trailer for the new co-op shooter on Steam
What is the game about? The world of Abyssus is powered by Sole, a rare and powerful substance that can only be found in the darkest depths of the ocean. Under the ruins of an ancient civilization, you search for a massive Sole deposit, but you will be attacked by the former inhabitants of this realm.
Abyssus is fundamentally a roguelite shooter. You fight through various levels and collect new weapons, which you can also customize with mods. There are also so-called “blessings” that allow you to summon tentacles or unleash ghosts on your enemies.
It’s also fun to shoot in the depths solo
The first players are already thrilled: Of the 838 reviews on Steam, 84% are currently positive. “Fun game to play and the devs have more plans ahead, I’m looking forward to seeing where they take this game,” writes ~Ren~ in his review on Steam.
BinaryOutlook seems to have finally found a fitting Destiny alternative for themselves, as their review on Steam reveals: “It’s fantastic even as a solo game. I have not yet had the good fortune to be able to convince my friends to join me in yet another new game, but even as a solo game it scratches the itch left by destiny 2 without the predatory microtransactions. […] You won’t regret this purchase.”
Even a player who cannot currently recommend Abyssus has to admit that it’s fun. For example, Steam user Skitt says: “The game is fun, but it’s limited in its current state. The weapon customization is limited, the blessings are very cookie cutter and uninspired, the content is lacking for a game of its price. […] Let this one cook a little while longer, see what the devs add and modify.”
Anyone who snaps it up by August 19 will get Abyssus on Steam with a 15% discount. The game will then cost you €21.24 instead of the usual €24.99. In addition, the developers have already announced that all content updates will be released for free. The shooter aims to finance itself through optional cosmetic packs, emote packs, and goodies that do not affect the game content.
Both Doctor Who and Warhammer 40,000 are among the most famous science fiction worlds from the UK. Fans have now wondered what would happen if the universes met in parts with… surprisingly detailed considerations.
They are said to have existed since the dawn of time, or at least shortly thereafter, and feed on time energy, which they steal from their victims.
Weeping Angels take the form of stone statues in the shape of angels whenever they are being observed, but they can also look like any other statue.
Why are they so dangerous? According to several incarnations of the Doctor, Weeping Angels are the “loneliest” but still “friendly” killers: They kill by sending their victims back in time by exactly as many years as they would have lived.
The angels feed on the released energy. However, it can also happen that they simply kill their targets directly, for example by breaking their necks. What really makes them dangerous, though, are their abilities for defense and multiplication.
Weeping Angels make use of something called “quantum-locking”: Whenever they are being observed, they turn to stone. Only when no one is watching do they move, and that faster than it seems possible. For this reason, they often keep their hands in front of their faces (and look “weeping”) to avoid locking each other. In this state, Weeping Angels are nearly immortal; they can only starve.
It suffices to observe angels indirectly, for example through recordings. But it is said that anything bearing the likeness of an angel can itself become one. That is: Videos and images that show angels, even a person’s thoughts, can become Weeping Angels. There is a whole episode of Doctor Who on YouTube from the creators that delves into the lore of the Weeping Angels.
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English trailer for BBC series Doctor Who
“Every augmented individual would be their downfall”
In the Grimdank subreddit, where the truly (not) serious discussions about Warhammer are held, a user asked what would happen if the Weeping Angels suddenly appeared in the 41st millennium.
The issue with the likeness of an angel could also be easily resolved. One could simply slice the servitor’s brain so that it can see but cannot remember images. And even if not, there are countless other possibilities:
Skitarii, the soldiers of the Mechanicum, would not have eyelids anyway, but rather artificial moisture for their eyeballs.
And finally, it would even be likely that the Imperium would simply drop the angels somewhere on a planet and use them as a weapon.
In the worst case, there would certainly be some way to manipulate the forces of the Warp. The Warp has a strange effect on time anyway, and there would certainly be ways to eliminate Weeping Angels.
Even with other races, users clearly see that the angels would stand no chance. Tyranids, that devour everything, would simply throw the angels into their pools of biomass and break them down to obtain their minerals. Worse still, they would likely breed even more terrible Tyranids from the abilities of the angels.
The war-hungry Orks would probably fight, but after a few of their boyz were sent back in time, they would simply lose interest – after all, there is no fight here.
Necrons, on the other hand, would probably just watch in amusement. The robotic mummies from space don’t “live” anyway – or endlessly, depending on how you see it. In any case, they could not serve as food for Weeping Angels. And if they did, they would probably gladly travel back in time to change their fate.
In Helldivers 2, the reinforcement from the new recruits on Xbox Series X|S is getting closer. The developers have now released a video that players believe will end the console war forever.
What kind of video is it? The developers of Helldivers 2 have released a new video on YouTube aimed at potential new players on the Xbox Series X|S. Starting from August 26, 2025, these players will finally be able to play Helldivers 2, and the video explains why it is worth it.
The video showcases many heroic deeds and soldiers who have accomplished these in the major battles of the galactic war. Naturally, the developers also include some humorous moments that are characteristic of Helldivers 2, alongside the action-packed scenes.
It quickly becomes clear to the players: The combined fight for Über-Earth could end the console war.
Here you can watch the new video:
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Helldivers 2 invites new players of Xbox Series X|S to great heroic deeds
Helldivers 2 unites PlayStation, Xbox, and PC
Why is Helldivers 2 supposed to end the console war? If there’s one thing Helldivers 2 embodies, it’s the strong connection between the community and the developers, and the joint fight for Über-Earth. This video game patriotism developed by the fans has long provided great motivation and strong player numbers for Helldivers 2.
Many players not only check in on the game regularly but also engage heavily on social media about Helldivers 2. On Reddit, the Helldivers 2 community, with over 2 million members, ranks among the top 500 largest subreddits, and on Discord, the Helldivers 2 server boasts over a million members.
The shared fight for Über-Earth has bonded many players together and is set to do the same with the new recruits on Xbox. This starts right in the first scene of the video, where the Xbox logo and the PlayStation logo appear one after the other.
How do the players of Helldivers 2 view the situation? Current players are looking forward to their new recruits. In the comments on YouTube, they express this anticipation:
ed_architecture: “As a PlayStation player, I look forward to spreading democracy with our Xbox brothers.”
tonymozzarella4: “Seeing the two logos next to each other brings a tear to my eye.”
UnapologeticcallyAmerican: “Helldivers has ended the console wars.”
xR167xT: “I never expected to see the Xbox and the PlayStation logo next to each other.”
Pandora was yesterday! In Borderlands 4 you will explore the planet Kairos – against your will. What defines the new world in Borderlands 4?
Kairos is described as a “beautiful, vast world”, yet hardly anyone wants to stay there in Borderlands 4. Especially not our four Vault Hunters, who find themselves stranded on the planet and would very much like to seek a way out.
The problem on Kairos: The planet is a prison planet that is under the tyranny of the “Time Keeper”. The villainous ruler of the planet keeps his “subjects” in check with cybernetic implants. Through them, the Time Keeper can exercise surveillance, control, and power.
But the planet is in turmoil and the population is on the verge of a revolution. More and more factions are rising up – and this also influences the planet, or rather, life on the planet itself.
This atmosphere is what prevails on Kairos. But what does the planet itself look like?
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Borderlands 4 – Story trailer for the new installment of the loot shooter series
Kairos and its four zones – Environment and Population
The new planet in Borderlands 4 is divided into four zones, which are connected and explorable. Each of these zones is under the control of a commander that you will face. At the same time, there are factions present that will support you in your battle against the Time Keeper.
The Welkfields: This area consists of beaches, wooded areas, and hills. They currently seem like the friendliest environment on Kairos, but there are plenty of dangers you must confront here. Commander Sol is here, who aims to rise to the right hand of the Time Keeper.
Wasteland of Carcadia: The name already reveals it: Here you should not expect radiant forests and rushing waters. Sand and desert are the motto here. You will face the Rippers, who have succumbed to madness. The Ripper Queen has chosen to tear out her cybernetic implant – which either means death or madness. Accordingly, her soldiers are quite wild.
Terminus Wastes: This is a stormy, dark mountain range. The “Dwellers” roam here, dominated by the “Evil Lictor”.
Dominion: The capital of Kairos. Yet the city’s shine only hides the decrepit reality in which prisoners must survive day by day. Here reigns the Time Keeper.
You can get a closer look at the planet and its inhabitants in the developer’s video here:
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Some factions on Kairos are already known. For example, the “Outsiders”, who aim to leave the planet as quickly as possible. They are revolutionaries and are quite aligned with your Vault Hunters.
The “Electi”, on the other hand, are the upper-class citizens of the isolated city Dominion – or they were. Because they have been cast out and now live outside the city gates, where they can no longer shut themselves off from the harsh reality. They are led by Levaine.
Also among the “Dwellers” are rebels, led by the Defiant Calders. The small, old man is a good guy but relentless in his fight against the Time Keeper.
Furthermore, some old acquaintances can also be found on the planet. From Borderlands 3 you might still remember Amara and Zane. Moxxi is also back, as well as the old chatterbox Claptrap. Nevertheless, Borderlands 4 with the new planet is a good entry point for newcomers, say the developers in the video linked above, where Kairos is presented in more detail.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
An indie developer released his game on Steam, 3 years later he was bankrupt – but not because it had not been successful.
Who is this developer? This is Alex Mochi, founder of Dapper Penguin Studios and lead developer of the economic simulation Rise of Industry as well as the management game Recipe for Disaster.
Mochi opened his studio in 2015, 4 years later, his first own game Rise of Industry was released on Steam. But just 3 years after release, he was bankrupt, burned out – and sold his IP for only 5,000 euros, as he now explains in a clip on TikTok.
Here you see a trailer for Rise of Industry:
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Rise of Industry: Release-Trailer zur Wirtschaftssimulation auf Steam
Developer bankrupt, although his game was successful
How did this bankruptcy happen? It was not due to a lack of success, Mochi says. On the contrary: Rise of Industry generated 4 million euros and was prominently featured several times on the Steam shop’s front page.
The lead developer claims that “the part that no indie wants to talk about” was his downfall:
“It was the deals, the margins, and the cost of running a studio.”
On the one hand, there is Steam: The platform takes a 30 percent cut per sold unit of a game – a “massive cut,” the developer explains. Refunds cost developers even more. Online retailers selling keys at bargain prices are also a problem.
“Then you have taxes, contractors, payment delays, and publisher deals that you didn’t push back on because you were too f****** naive!”
A longer video on the topic has been uploaded by Alex Mochi on his YouTube channel.
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Rise of Industry 2 is no longer from Mochi and Dapper Penguin Studios. Publisher Kasedo Games had it developed by SomaSim. The sequel was released on June 3, 2025, but on Steam, it is currently rated “mixed.” In contrast, the original has a rating of “mostly positive” on Steam.
In the upcoming Season 10 of Diablo 4, there will be fresh loot, but not just in the usual way. With the so-called Chaos Uniques, items will come into play that can completely change your builds.
On top of that, the developers are making updates to the hell hordes that will remain in the game permanently.
You can test the season and the new items beforehand: The PTR (Public Test Realm) will run from August 19 to 26, 2025 exclusively for PC players on Battle.net.
In a “Sanctuary Sitdown” on the official Discord, the developers talked about the new content on August 14. The announcement of the Chaos Uniques was particularly well received. Systems designer Aislyn Hall promised that Season 10 would be “absolutely wild” – and even challenged players to “break” the season with the new items and prove to the devs that they made “terrible mistakes.”
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
Chaos Uniques drop with “Maxroll” and at least 1GA
What are Chaos Uniques? The new chaos armor is a stronger version of existing Uniques. However, their counterparts drop for other item slots, creating entirely new avenues for builds and playstyles. However, you can only equip one version of a Unique and thus cannot combine the normal one with the chaos version.
Possible slots for Chaos Uniques are:
Headgear
Chest armor
Gloves
Leg armor
Boots
A Chaos Unique never drops for the same slot as its original. For example, Flicker Step does not exist as Chaos boots. Additionally, they always come with the best possible version of their unique affix (Maxroll) and at least one major affix (1GA). You cannot trade them, and they are seasonal.
Which Uniques will be available as Chaos Uniques? Blizzard has already published a list of Uniques that can drop as chaos versions on the official website. Below, you can see all the Chaos Uniques in Season 10 when you expand the list:
All new Chaos Uniques
Chaos Uniques for all classes
Talisman of the Banished Prince
Crown of Lucion
Enduring Faith
Fists of Fate
Flicker Step
Godslayer Crown
Locran’s Talisman
Mother’s Embrace
Pain-Warped Gauntlets
Rusty Seal Ring of X’Fal
Chaos Uniques for Barbarians
Battle Trance
Gohr’s Devastating Grasp
Hoof of the Mountain God
Cloak of Mountain Fury
Extinguisher
Wrath of Harrogath
Ring of the Red Fury
Ring of the Gluttonous
Saber of Tsasgal (new unique item)
Helm of Joritz the Mighty
Helm of the Ugly Bastard
Unbroken Chain
Chaos Uniques for Druids
Airidah’s Relentless Will
Earthbreaker
Meat Grinder
Great Staff of the Vettel
Zenith of the Hunter
Shadowwing’s Kilt (new unique item)
Sickle of Malice
Mjölnir’s Ryng
Rotting Lightbringer
Storm Roar
The Basilisk
Vasily’s Prayer
Chaos Uniques for Necromancers
Black River
Bloodless Scream
Immortal Visage
Amulet of the Death Speaker
Slate Carver
Proclamation of the Amulet (new unique item)
Unlidded Wall
Orphan Maker
Mendel’s Ring
Ring of the Soul of the Sacrilege
The Hand of Naz
The Mortacrux
The Annihilator
Chaos Uniques for Hunters
Beastfall Boots
Condemnation
Hood of the Nameless
Death Mask of Nirmitruq
Shadow Touch
Orphan Maker (new unique item)
Trick of the Pit Fighter
Seal of the Saboteur
Leather of the Swindler
Veil from Khanduras
Sky Hunter
Message from Hakan
Chaos Uniques for Sorcerers
Axial Connection
Blue Rose
Esadora’s Overflowing Cameo
Firebrand
Shattered Winterglass
Galvanic Azurit (new unique item)
Ophidian Iris
Robes of the Infinite
Staff of Endless Wrath
Staff of Lam Esen
Starfall Diadem
Vox Omnium
Chaos Uniques for Spiritborn
Balazan’s Maxtlatl
Band of the First Breath
Harmony of Ebeweka
Hesha e Kesungi (new unique item)
Hyacinth Wrap
Cloak of Loyalty
Emblem of the Peacemaker
Ring of the Midday Hunt
Staff of Kepeleke
Sun-Mottled War Crux
Sepazontec
Wushe Nak Pa
Three examples of Chaos Uniques in Season 10 of Diablo 4.Chaos Uniques have stronger unique affixes.
Fans say: Chaos Uniques are game changers
What do the players say about it? The announcement of the Chaos Uniques is well received by many players. Deidarac5 writes on Reddit: “Chaos items are a great, innovative upgrade. […] This is shaking up the meta completely and creating much more possible builds.”
SavingsCampaign9502 also believes: “This will open up explosive endgame possibilities.” And for build crafters like Angren1991, this is exactly what they need: “I could never equip the Hyacinth Wrap because Veil of the Wrong Death was better – now I can use the Hyacinth Wrap as boots or leg armor.”
The only issue that the player community apparently sees right now: The Chaos Uniques are seasonal, and many hope that Chaos Uniques will find a permanent place in the game. ShadoW_Mage111 writes: “This must definitely stay in the main game in some form. This is definitely a way to give item hunting a new level.” He thinks that Chaos Uniques should have a specific chaos affix that makes them special.
According to Blizzard, there will be over 60 Uniques in the chaos variant in Season 10. If you want to take another look at the unique items in their standard version, perhaps to come up with crazy build ideas even now, you can find them collected here – including the new “normal” Uniques: Diablo 4: All Uniques in overview with effects
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Battlefield 6 you can finally play Rush! Or can you? Where has the mode gone? EA has hidden it, but we will show you where.
What is this new mode? With the second beta of Battlefield 6, the mode “Rush” was added. In Rush, the two teams are divided into attackers and defenders. The attackers must capture and destroy certain sectors in sequence. The defenders must prevent this. The game is over when the attackers have used up all their tickets or when all sectors of the defenders have been destroyed.
After the introduction of Rush, the mode quickly received a lot of criticism from the community. The reduced number of players per team (12v12 instead of 32v32) and the small number of vehicles were an annoyance. The fact that the mode can only be played with open weapons was another.
Initially, you could simply start Rush through the menu. It was one of the modes prominently displayed on the home page. Now it is suddenly gone, or at least it seems that way. However, EA has only hidden it.
Start video
Battlefield 6 shows its maps and modes in the trailer
Where is Rush in the beta of Battlefield 6?
This is how you can find Rush: You can still play Rush, but you must select the mode through the personalized search. You can find this selection very far to the right in the game mode options, so you will need to navigate through the overview with the arrow.
With the personalized search, you can filter for matches that suit your interests. You can specifically select the maps and modes you want to play – for example, Rush. However, the search is only available for modes with open weapons, meaning where it is possible to play all weapons regardless of your classes.
Recently, Riot Games presented some changes for League of Legends that are set to come to the game this year. The most notable is probably the WASD control. Twitch streamer NoWay reacted to this during his stream and is already worried about it.
First, the feature is to be tested on the PBE, the test server of LoL
Then it will be rolled out in the unranked queues, i.e., the normal matches
And afterwards in the ranked mode
This way, they aim to fix potential bugs and issues before they could cause problems in ranked play. Twitch streamer NoWay reacted to the information about the new control, and although he does not yet know what to think of it, he is worried about it.
Start video
Former German LoL Pro is Now One of the Most Successful Twitch Streamers – This is NoWay
WASD could change a lot, especially for 2 roles
What does NoWay say about WASD control? In a YouTube video, NoWay reacted to the latest developer update from Riot Games. It also addressed the WASD control that is supposed to follow in the future. He directly says:
Okay guys, I have no idea what to think of this. It could very well be that it’s broken and that everything you’ve learned over the past 10 years, 15 years, you have to relearn completely. And that would be really intense. […] I am so afraid of WASD.
Why could it be so powerful? In the reaction, NoWay already explains that some champions might be quite strong with it. WASD allows for more precise movement, which makes dodging even stronger. For him, WASD movement sounds like a huge advantage, at least for the roles ADC and Control Mages.
This is because this type of champion relies on kiting. That is when you use abilities and auto-attacks while moving, for example, when you flee from a melee fighter but attack him at the same time. With WASD, this will be simplified.
A champion that immediately comes to NoWay’s mind is Aphelios. He only has 2 spells, so maybe one could assign the abilities to the two mouse buttons and focus only on WASD. If it happens as NoWay says, the champion meta could also change.
NoWay does not believe it can be balanced. In the update, the developers emphasize that they want to balance the WASD control with the classic control. However, NoWay questions how that could even be done: What can you change? Do you want to give WASD players artificial delay or what do you want to do? The reasoning that it is only for new players seems strange to him, precisely because of the balancing.
The developers of Path of Exile 2 have released the teaser for the new season, leading to much speculation within the community. Players believe they know exactly what is coming next.
What is this teaser about? Before Path of Exile 2 showcases its new season, the developers always release a teaser announcing the event. This time, the big reveal is scheduled for August 20 at 10:00 PM German time.
However, there are already some details in the teaser that could reveal what the next season of Path of Exile 2 will bring.
Here you can see the new teaser trailer:
Start video
Path of Exile 2 shows the teaser for the new season “The Third Edic” and hints at the next story chapter
No surprises for the fans
What can be discovered in the trailer? The most obvious element in the trailer is a hint at the continuation of the story. It mentions “The Third Edict,” referring to the third decree. However, Path of Exile 2 actually takes place after this, leading fans to assume that this points to an expansion of the storyline.
Thus, one or several of the missing acts of Path of Exile 2 could be added to the ARPG. Path of Exile 2 is currently still in early access, and three of the planned six acts are not yet playable. Many fans now believe in an expansion:
KylAnde01 says on Reddit: “New ‘acts’ fingers crossed“
fireMCG_ shares their theory on Reddit: “We only have part of the precursor weapon (Doryani has it), will we really only find the other two in Act 4? This could be more than just the reveal of Act 4 :)”
What about a new class? The last expansion of Path of Exile 2 introduced the Huntress as a new class, which dominated the previous season. The developers do not want that anymore and could bring in another class for the next season to provide new variety.
Many fans strongly believe that the season “The Third Edict” will bring the Druid with its bear form into the game. Some players believed this in the previous season and were proven wrong. However, this time they have discovered a detail that is supposed to support the theory.
At the end of the teaser, when the logo of Path of Exile 2 appears on screen, a bear sound can be heard, writes Reddit user khyhira. This could be a hint at the Druid that the developers have hidden. However, other users contradict this, claiming the sound has already occurred in other trailers and serves merely to create the atmosphere of the teaser. In fact, the sound could already be heard in the announcement trailer on YouTube.
A content creator discusses in her latest YouTube video about her work with influencers, her experiences, and why she had to give up her dream job.
Who is it about? The YouTuber Janis “JanisandtheArtists” published a video titled “My Experiences as an Editor” on her YouTube channel. She had worked for a long time as a freelance editor in the influencer industry, including for Twitch streamers.
However, she ultimately gave up her job due to the way she was treated within the industry. Nowadays, she operates her social media channels as a hobby and talks about anime and manga topics.
In our video, we introduce you to the most important Twitch streamers in the German industry:
Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google
“Don’t let yourself be fooled”
What experiences did Janis have? During her time as an editor, Janis worked for many different influencers, she says. However, her experiences were mostly negative. Among other things, Janis recounts the following incidents:
For a major YouTuber, Janis was supposed to deliver two unpaid trial videos. Her work was good enough that she was employed for a trial month, for which only 200-250 euros were offered afterwards. The offer afterwards: Either a payment of 100 euros per video or a contract for 450 euros basis. There was hardly any feedback from the YouTuber, and eventually, the relationship fell through.
For another influencer, Janis was supposed to edit Reactions. The price of 35 euros per hour was previously agreed upon and accepted. Janis delivered the videos, and they were uploaded. When it came to paying Janis’s invoice, the influencer wanted to drop the price to 25 euros per hour. Janis was only paid after a reminder.
Another content creator and Twitch streamer, who was very “anti-capitalist” in his approach, even independently increased her payment from 35 euros to 50 euros per hour. The collaboration went well until December when no payments or responses were received anymore. They finally reached out in February and cited mental health during the winter months as an explanation. After further unfulfilled agreements, Janis wrote her last invoice, which was paid without comment or apology. Janis was particularly disappointed with this content creator because that person publicly presented themselves as a fair employer.
Finally, Janis worked for another major German influencer, with whom a fixed editing day was promised. However, the influencer did not provide the material, and after several follow-ups, Janis ultimately canceled the collaboration, after which she was portrayed as unreliable.
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Only the work for one influencer was pleasant, says Janis. With her, she had a permanent position, a satisfactory salary that was paid on time, and a reliable team. The relationship ended only because the influencer had to let go of her entire team.
Finally, Janis appeals to the industry. Influencers should put themselves in the shoes of editors and consider how they would feel if they were treated that way. Without editors, this industry would not function as it does, she says. Addressing those who want to pursue the profession of an editor, Janis states: “Don’t let yourself be fooled” (source: YouTube).
OpenAI has recently introduced the new version of its AI, ChatGPT-5. Currently, it is trying to complete the first game of the Pokémon series faster than its competitors.
What is the challenge? Shortly after OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT-5, the AI was tasked with a challenge. It aims to complete Pokémon Red faster than previous versions or other AIs have managed to do so. A past version failed miserably.
So that every interested fan can follow the endeavor, a livestream has been set up on Twitch. There, it can be observed how the AI plays the game at a leisurely pace.
The goal is to complete the Pokémon edition and finish the league. Currently, ChatGPT-5 is on a good path. The AI has already collected all eight gym badges and is close to completing the project.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A presents a new story trailer for Switch
The AI is transparent and self-critical
What does the stream look like? On Twitch, you can closely follow how the AI approaches the game. ChatGPT-5 uses screenshots to analyze the current situation and make the appropriate decision.
All considerations the AI makes during the playthrough can be read in a separate window in the stream. This way, it is always clear what the gameplay decisions are based on. What’s particularly exciting is that ChatGPT-5 doesn’t hold back on self-criticism. If the AI makes a mistake, that too is analyzed and addressed. This allows it to adjust its strategy in the short term.
A separate window in the stream also shows which goals are next, which items, and which Pokémon are in the inventory. A dedicated minimap allows the AI to know where it is located in a simplified view, helping it remember certain locations.
Since the AI thinks through every decision carefully, completing Pokémon Red takes time. There is no quick, frantic button-mashing here. Naming a Pokémon can easily take several minutes. Accordingly, the stream has already lasted over 7 days.
In contrast to a past attempt of version ChatGPT-o3, the current AI is significantly more efficient. It only needed 3,985 interactions to obtain the first four badges in the game, while o3 needed over 10,000 actions to do so.
It will be exciting to see how long the AI still takes to reach the end. And whether future versions from OpenAI or competitors will learn to play even more efficiently. Do you follow projects like this? Feel free to write it in the comments. While playing itself, Artificial Intelligence could also play a role in the future: An AI is supposed to help you get better at your games – gives you tips while you play
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The campaigns in Call of Duty have always been reserved for those who want to experience a relaxed, yet dramatic war story. According to leaks, this is set to change in Black Ops 7.
What has become known? A leaker, who wishes to remain anonymous, is said to have information regarding the campaign of Black Ops 7, primarily the final mission. He shared his information with the famous industry insider Tom Henderson via Insider-Gaming.com.
The final mission is rumored to be a massive coop experience, unlike the usual single-player missions. Up to 32 players will meet on the map of “Avalon.” Whether they will fight against each other or together is still unclear, but everything sounds like an extraction mission. The mission is also supposed to be “hardcore,” meaning very difficult.
Extraction content, in which fans must loot items to safely escape from the map, is considered hardcore, as dying in such games means losing all your carried equipment – this could also be conceivable in Black Ops 7.
Anyone who has been in the Call of Duty community for a long time may already see a problem, as not everyone will enjoy the final mission.
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Activision shows the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in the trailer for the Xbox Showcase 2025
Campaign has always been reserved for solo players
What could be a problem? Call of Duty has always offered a wide range of activities for all types of players. The campaign has primarily been reserved for solo players – or for fans who want a dramatic story. The multiplayer mode is intended for PvP players, and the zombie and spec-ops modes are for coop players.
If the leak is true, primarily solo players may take to the barricades. This type of player only wants to play missions and enjoy an engaging story, not be forced to fight for survival against other players – especially in a mode that is generally considered frustrating.
The fact that this is even the last mission of the campaign could also be a reason for escalation. This mission is supposed to round off the story, but if players cannot complete it because they are not good enough in PvP, many fans might feel betrayed.
It remains to be seen whether the leaks will prove true, but so far this is still information that has not been confirmed by Activision.
The beta of Battlefield 6 has received a new map, but it is not well received by a part of the community.
What is this new map? With the launch of the second beta of Battlefield 6 on August 14, the shooter was presented with a new map that players can now test: Empire State. It is a purely infantry map, with no vehicles.
The map takes place in the streets and buildings of Brooklyn, a borough of New York City. The battles thus occur in relatively tight spaces. Empire State is the fourth of a total of 9 release maps.
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Die große Stärke von Battlefield 6 sind die Maps!
“The old-school Battlefield feel is now gone”
What is the criticism about the map? On Reddit, some players write that Empire State does not feel like a Battlefield map. Some think the map resembles Call of Duty, especially because of its size and gameplay speed.
One user writes: “Honestly feels like a CoD map, fits perfectly with the open gun classes lol. The old-school Battlefield feel is now gone.” Another responds: “All beta maps feel like CoD maps, but some people still claim that has nothing to do with CoD and is the true Battlefield DNA.”
Other players are overall surprised that there is now another, rather small map in the beta, instead of presenting a new large and expansive map. In another Reddit post, it is even stated that Empire State is now the worst map in Battlefield 6.
Are there also counterarguments? Yes, some players emphasize that there are clear differences from CoD maps. One user, who plays the latest Call of Duty for a few weeks every year, says that although the maps are small for Battlefield, they are huge compared to CoD maps. Critics use the CoD comparison merely as a synonym for “I don’t like this.”
Other users explain that maps in Call of Duty usually consist of 3 lanes and are relatively tight. You can run from one spawn to another in under 15 seconds there. That’s not the case in Battlefield 6. So, the comparison is inappropriate.
After countless hours, you can still find new details about the popular characters in Baldur’s Gate 3. A dark detail about Shadowheart is also included …
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most played and thoroughly explored games ever. Yet, time and again, some people discover new details and connections that have long gone unnoticed. Especially every small story detail surrounding the main characters in the group is eagerly absorbed. Now, a small, slightly cruel detail about Shadowheart has come to light. She has quite a torture past that she can remember.
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Eine halbe Million Leute meisterten die schwierigste Herausforderung in Baldur’s Gate 3, doch 4.600 Spieler gingen noch einen Schritt weiter
What was found? The player Hyperspace_Towel reports his discovery. In the goblin camp in Act 1, you have the opportunity to free the character Liam from his captivity. There are many different methods to do so, but only Shadowheart has her own unique variant. If you control her (whether as Avatar or Companion), you can choose the option for Liam to “Prepare for Pain” – and then you break his fingers to then set him free.
If you let Shadowheart make this decision, it has a unique impact on Act 3. There, you reach the monastery of the Shar followers, and depending on the path Shadowheart has taken, there are different voice lines from her.
As a follower of Selune: “I… I think I was taught here how to break people’s thumbs. I swear, I can remember the cracking of bones, the screams… But it helped me save Liam back in the goblin camp. A silver lining, I suppose…”
As a follower of Shar: “I think I remember… breaking thumbs? Yes, Mother Superior showed me how. I guess that’s why I knew how to free Liam back in the goblin camp. He was lucky then.”
That followers of Shar are not exactly gentle is evident in several instances in the game. Shadowheart also reflects – depending on the decisions – often on the old times and the atrocities she committed in the name of the goddess and the “Mother Superior”.
Community is excited about the new discovery: In the community of Baldur’s Gate 3, such discoveries are always well-received. Every new detail about the beloved characters is eagerly absorbed and praised for the love that is evident in all the details of the game world. In the BG3 subreddit, some write:
“More than 1000 hours and I’m still learning new things.” – Vana92
“This abuse that [Shadowheart] had to endure. I swear, after I kill Viconia, I’ll resurrect her as a zombie just to kill her again.” – Paladin-Rooker
In a new video, Marco Risch from Nerdkulturtalks about three of the most interesting episodes of Star Wars: Andor, Season 1.
Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been focusing on his YouTube channel Nerdkulturwith news, analyses, reviews, and interviews about current movies and series.
Additionally, he meets weekly with his colleague Yves Arievich to chat in the Nerd & Culture Podcast about pop culture film topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC.
Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.
In a new video on YouTube, Marco talks about episodes 8-10 of season 1 of Andor.
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In a new video, Marco from Nerdkultur analyzes episodes 8–10 of Star Wars: Andor
Sacrifices made and to be made
What is the video about? Marco focuses in his video on episodes 8, 9, and 10 of the first season of Andor. In his analysis, he focuses on sacrifices. This primarily concerns Narkina 5. On this planet, there are rules that prisoners, including Cassian, must adhere to.
People are more relatable. However, they are also humiliated and dehumanized more strongly. In the game of the planet, they compete against other inmates. The group that is slower is punished. Marco says in the video: The absolute peak of their dehumanization is then the mutual. Marco compares the circumstances with Squid Game, particularly the voice that comments on the game.
In the series, the situation on Narkina 5 is further clarified through parallel montages, as Marco explains. Scenes from the high society of the senators are shown in comparison. This also represents the class struggle.
The dictatorship is tolerated as long as one has a little more power over those beneath them. Even the sacrifices accept the injustice when one has privileges. This is an inner conflict that is illustrated by the character Kino Loy.
In contrast to the dehumanization of the prisoners stands Syril Karn. Through a match cut, in which shoes are taken off, a new chapter of life is symbolized for him.
Mon Mothma has to make sacrifices. Not only the prisoners are victims of the Empire. The people behind the Rebellion also make sacrifices. Marco explains this using the example of Mon Mothma. She accepts a political forced marriage. Marco compares this to Game of Thrones. However, the other side of the wedding sacrifices nothing.
On Narkina 5, the question arises whether the Empire is listening to what is being said. The title already reveals: No one is listening. Cassian makes it clear: The Empire is too arrogant to monitor them. We as viewers disregard the privacy of the characters. We follow them even to the bathroom.
According to Marco, the episodes on Narkina 5 work so well because Tony Gilroy, the showrunner of the series, has focused on one thing: show us ordinary people in an ordinary environment despite this extraordinary world. The events are not so far removed from our own world.
This is also reflected by Dedra when she starts to torture. She is, as in our real world, not the pure evil, but she believes she is doing the right thing, thus her actions are justified. Here we also have a novelty in Star Wars: Torture is shown and executed in more detail.
Kino Loy realizes that he is a nobody to the Empire. This contradicts his collaboration, which brings him nothing. He wants to be a somebody. Even though Cassian’s attempts to bring him to his side fail throughout the episodes, a single sentence reveals that Loy has already thought about it. According to Marco, the series manages to unveil a character arc without clearly presenting it.
Cassian is the inspiration, the born leader. His sleepless night shows that the big picture now concerns him. The rebellion begins, and after attempts at persuasion, Loy gives a speech. The address has no reference to revenge or rebellion. It is solely about freedom. But freedom comes with a price.
Loy knew that he could not escape and that there was no alternative. Loy is a sacrifice for the fall of the Empire. We do not learn more about him. Marco explains that Gilroy does this on purpose. Any resolution would diminish the sacrifices.
Cassian learns that sacrifices must be made, even if one will never experience the success. Unlike Luthen, however, Cassian is not yet ready to sacrifice others. Not yet.
Even though Andor is over, it remains one of the best Star Wars projects of all time for many fans. It showcases a different side of the franchise and the rebellion. For MeinMMO editor Karsten, Andor is part of a new trilogy: Star Wars has a new “best trilogy” with about 1,400 minutes of runtime
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMORPG Ashes of Creation, the alpha testing phase is currently underway. The developers have completely rebuilt the crafting and gear progression system, and crafters can be excited.
What has changed? The developers of Ashes of Creation discussed the changes to the crafting and progression system in a new blog post on AshesofCreation.com. They have replaced the former crafting system, which was only a placeholder, and are now presenting their new system.
Each crafting skill in the new system is supposed to have different levels. As a “Beginner,” you can only craft gear of the “Novice” level, as an “Apprentice” you can craft gear of the “Adept” level. In total, there are 5 levels, with the last two levels, “Master” and “Grandmaster”, becoming available later.
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Ashes of Creation: Trailer shows gameplay of the rogue class
New system equates crafting and grinding
How does the new system work? To ensure a good balance between crafting and monster grinding, the developers of Ashes of Creation have revised many aspects of the game. Quests, vendors, monster drops, respawn times, yields, and locations where ores can spawn are just a few examples of where changes have occurred.
Now, there are more ores in caves, dead corals by the sea, acacias and agaves in high places, and water-rich areas now provide weeping willows, date palms, and rividium. To craft an item, crafters need various resources from different sources.
Rare components, materials from vendors, and items only dropped by certain monsters add to the materials that only exist in certain regions to increase the difficulty of endgame crafts.
What do the developers hope to achieve with this? With the new version of the crafting system, the developers aim to make crafting and monster grinding equal. The goal is for 4 hours of grinding to be just as rewarding as 4 hours of crafting.
To achieve this, the developers have also made significant changes to monster drops. In the future, monsters will only drop one tier of items, such as equipment of the “Beginner” level, but these will have the chance to be of higher quality. This way, the same gray undershirts won’t always drop from the same monster.
In the game’s quests, players now also have the option to choose between different rewards, especially those that yield crafting materials and equipment. This allows players to progress their characters in various ways.
The new update is a significant step for Ashes of Creation towards a “player-driven economy,” the developers state in their blog post. Their goal is to reward crafters just like grinders and everyone in between. Ashes of Creation is also making great strides in other areas: Ashes of Creation masters groundbreaking test that aims to change MMOs forever
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The job market in China makes it difficult for Gen Z to find employment quickly. Instead of simply staying home and doing nothing, they invest money that they actually should be saving.
What is the money spent on? Many young people in China visit specially established offices to spend the day there. The cost: about 6 € per day. Over a month, this amounts to 180 €, and around 2,160 € per year. What sounds like not too much money by German standards is a substantial amount in China.
There, salaries compared to Germany are significantly lower. The average annual salary is around 13,600 € in the non-private sector, and even less in the private sector, about 7,770 € according to early.app.de.
What happens in these offices? It may seem strange that young people without a job also incur additional costs to sit all day in a fake office. They cannot work there, however.
Instead, young people tinker with ideas for their own startups, write job applications, and exchange ideas. To ensure an authentic office atmosphere, there are computers on site, free snacks, drinks, and even lunch. This creates the appearance of having an employment from the outside.
Christian Yao, who works as a lecturer at the School of Management in Wellington, is familiar with the phenomenon. He states that it is widespread in China:
Due to economic change and the discrepancy between education and the job market, young people need these places to reflect on their next steps or to take up casual jobs as a transitional solution… Fake office companies are one of these transitional solutions.
Overall, youth unemployment in China has improved since 2023. During the time of and after Corona, it reportedly rose to 46.5%, according to a report by Reuters.
Whether fake offices actually help to find real jobs faster is unclear. The concept is certainly unusual. What do you think about it? Would you utilize such an office? Feel free to let us know in the comments. While some older people believe that young people do not want to work, an expert sees it differently: Gen Z is not lazy, they have different expectations regarding work
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
