Since 2023, a live-action series based on the famous anime One Piece has been running on Netflix. The first season was well received, and the second is set to be released in 2026 – and now Netflix casually announces that there will even be a season 3.
Here’s what we know about season 2:
Season 2 is expected to be released sometime in 2026. There is no specific date yet. Filming has already been completed, and now it’s mainly about the editing.
What about season 3? At the One Piece Day in Tokyo, Japan, Netflix released the first official trailer for season 2. It shows the members of the Straw Hat team as they are actively fighting villains.
Additionally, you can catch a first proper glimpse of Captain Smoker, played by Callum Kerr (The Wheel of Time), and the giant Brogy makes an appearance. The preview for season 2 ends as Luffy steers his ship towards the Grand Line and directly towards the giant whale La Boum.
The trailer itself goes even further: Right after that, Netflix reveals that season 3 is already planned. The website states that filming for it is set to begin in 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ian Stokes (Teen Wolf, Luke Cage) will co-showrun alongside Joe Trasz.
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Der Trailer zu Staffel 2 von One Piece auf Netflix zeigt direkt, dass Staffel 3 kommen wird
“The trailer is full of details. I love it”
The trailer is receiving an enormous response in the community. Alone on YouTube, the English trailer garnered over 108,000 upvotes within a few hours and received over 1.5 million views.
Especially Smoker is praised in the comments: That he smokes two cigars is “spot on” and just as he was envisioned. Overall, the entire trailer is filled with cool details that fans can discover.
On Reddit, fans are mainly discussing how things will progress after season 2 and where season 3 will take place. Some users suspect it will take place half in Alabasta and half on Jaya.
Overall, fans primarily praise the look of the trailer and are excited about what’s to come. In particular, the German fans celebrate that the characters have the same voice actors as the anime. This brings back great nostalgia. If you want to catch up on all this: Stream One Piece in German: Here’s how you can watch the anime legally online
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Electronic Arts emphasizes again and again that Battlefield 6 has the largest beta ever. A new record confirms this and attacks the major competitor.
What is this record? With the start of the open beta and the end of the early access testing phase, Battlefield 6 has set a new high for player numbers. On Saturday evening, the game had around 521,000 concurrent players on Steam alone (via SteamDB).
Battlefield 6 has thus also broken the record held by the major competitor Call of Duty that had stood for nearly 3 years. This record was from November 2022 at the release of the latest Modern Warfare 2.
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Die große Stärke von Battlefield 6 sind die Maps!
The most successful Battlefield on Steam ever
What does this mean for Battlefield? Battlefield 6 has also shattered its own record on Valve’s gaming platform. No Battlefield has ever had anywhere near so many concurrent players on Steam. The previous record holders were the latest installments Battlefield 5 and Battlefield 2042:
Battlefield 3 – 1,412
Battlefield 4 – 12,425
Battlefield Hardline – 292
Battlefield 1 – 53,714
Battlefield V – 116,104
Battlefield 2042 – 107,376
The previous record holder is even the open beta of Battlefield 2042, which had a peak of 156,665 players (via SteamDB).
The relatively low player numbers of the older games are mainly due to the fact that the games were all released on Steam in June 2020. Prior to that, Battlefield was played primarily on EA’s own launcher, Origin. The player numbers from Origin or the EA App and Battle.net, as well as from PlayStation and Xbox, are not known – neither for the old nor for the new Battlefield 6.
Overall, it remains to be seen how these player numbers will translate to the full release. The beta is free to play, while the full game will cost 70 euros on Steam. The former president of Blizzard believes that, Battlefield will stomp Call of Duty into the ground this year.
How has the beta been received so far? Overall, quite well. Many players find Battlefield 6 much better than Battlefield 2042 and celebrate the return of the familiar Battlefield feeling. Although there are some individual technical issues, for a large part of the community, it feels like a step back to the original successful formula.
Only on Reddit is there criticism of the game. One of the main points of criticism is that the game feels too much like a Call of Duty due to the map design and the relatively fast movement. However, some Battlefield veterans contradict this assessment. You can read more about the criticism on MeinMMO: The Battlefield 6 beta makes many fans happy, but some players hate 3 major aspects of the game
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Everyone has seen the legendary Hadoken from Street Fighter. Even though it has become prettier over the years, it has hardly changed. While other games are criticized for lacking revolution, for Street Fighter, that is its greatest strength.
When I first entered the massive world of Street Fighter on the Xbox 360, I was captivated by a fascination that has not left me until today. I dove into the fourth installment and set a goal that would drive me from then on: I wanted to master the Hadoken, Ryu’s signature move. What initially seemed like an insurmountable hurdle turned out to be a triumphant experience after countless attempts.
Since then, the Hadoken has accompanied me in all the Street Fighter installments I have played over the years. It is more than just a special move – it is a reminder of my beginnings, of the time I invested, and of the moment of victory that came at the end of every effort.
Even though it is the simplest move in the game, the Hadoken has become my constant companion. It symbolizes for me a series that has changed over 34 years, yet remains fundamentally the same.
The aged Ryu in Street Fighter 6
It all started with Street Fighter 2, which remains a legacy to this day. A legacy that has not only shaped entire generations of fighting games but has also deeply embedded itself into pop culture.
Junya Christopher Motomura, a designer at Arc System Works (Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball FighterZ), said about the game: Street Fighter II was the game that ignited my imagination and passion for game development (Source: gamedeveloper.com).
Michael Murray, a game designer in the Tekken Project team, has only positive things to say about it:
Street Fighter really established the VS fighting genre. Mastery of complex inputs leading to rewarding animations/attacks in the game, characters with unique abilities each from different places around the world, stages with visual themes and music tailored to specific characters and based on certain locations – all of these are elements that became standard in subsequent games.
Combos, movement, and the eccentric characters laid the groundwork for series like Tekken, Mortal Kombat, and Guilty Gear. However, if you compare Street Fighter 2 with Street Fighter 6, released 32 years later, you will see: Not much has really changed. But even if that seems odd, it is precisely that which is the greatest strength of the game.
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Street Fighter 6 shows what tricks a character over 30 years old brings
The Mechanical Constancy – Why the Gameplay is Still Good
The mechanics of Street Fighter 2 were good then and still are today. In 1991, Street Fighter 2 established not only characters that we still know but also control conventions that have remained unchanged. Ryu’s iconic Hadoken was performed in 1991 with the combo Quarter Circle Punch and it is still the same today. The same goes for the other characters.
These control conventions belong not only to the old characters but are also used for new fighters with new moves. Thus, the control established back then is as much a part of the genre as the legendary fighters Chun-Li or Ryu. Anyone who could perform the Hadoken in 1991 can do it today.
The gameplay remains the same despite improving graphics and more powerful technology. Street Fighter has always been about accurately judging distance, noticing the opponent’s weaknesses, and striking at the right moment.
Appropriately, the basic controls on paper are quite simple and intuitive. With the stick or the D-pad, you move left and right, crouch, and jump, and the other 6 buttons are 3 kicks and 3 punches. Anyone who sees Street Fighter for the first time understands the gameplay. The other player’s life must be brought down to 0, and the buttons perform attacks.
Street Fighter is easy to learn, extremely hard to master.
The 6th installment is, broken down to its core mechanics, the same game as its 34-year-old predecessor, just prettier. But that is a significant advantage.
The Human Constancy – The Importance of Characters as an Emotional Anchor
Isn’t that a point of criticism? One might think that the lack of evolution is a major point of criticism, but that is the greatest strength of Street Fighter. Especially when viewed beyond pure mechanics. Fighting games do not have classic storytelling. There are story modes and small snippets in arcade modes, but the comparatively extreme absurd story is never in the foreground.
The visual design of fighters is the most important clue for players. They should not only look cool but also give hints about what kind of fighter they might be. This is important for the character selection screen before a fight, so players have a reason to choose a fighter even without prior knowledge.
The animations in battle represent the personality of the fighter. Even if Akuma and Ryu have similar moves, the aggressive animation of Akuma shows that he is more brutal.
Because of simple peculiarities, many players choose a character they not only see as their main fighter in one game but also in future installments of the series. You spend countless hours with characters that might even accompany you for a lifetime.
The return of a character can lead to an emotional reaction because you want to see how the character is faring these days. This is evident in the reveal of new characters in Season 3 of Street Fighter 6:
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The Evolution in Detail – How Street Fighter Evolves Anyway
The gameplay of Street Fighter does not need to be revolutionized, but rethought. Even if the basic mechanics and ideas do not change, Street Fighter must still create variety so that the individual games remain special.
Unlike series like Resident Evil or Final Fantasy, which regularly turn gameplay and even the genre upside down, Street Fighter needs to contextualize the known and established mechanics anew. This makes the series shine in two aspects.
The first aspect relates to gameplay. New gimmicks like V-Triggers, perfect counters, or Focus Attacks are not mechanics that remain forever, but they bring freshness to the game, sometimes more positively received than others. The well-known fighters and their mechanics remain, but with new gimmicks, they can be interpreted differently.
This also inspires the veterans of the series and their creativity. A new stage emerges with new circumstances that the well-known fighters must adapt to. Additionally, new fighters change dynamics and give individual titles their own tone.
The second aspect is presentation. The fighters are the heart of every fighting game and they cannot remain visually stagnant either. The various Street Fighter installments also try to distinguish themselves within their atmosphere. New costumes and a different soundtrack are enough.
Street Fighter 3: Third Strike musically and visually draws from jazz, creating a different flow than, for example, Street Fighter 6, which is heavily influenced by hip-hop and streetwear. Thus, each title has its own personality, even if the fundamental gameplay principle is like before.
Many fighting games rarely revolutionize themselves, but why should they? The gameplay is so refined that one can focus on audiovisual aspects like characters, atmosphere, or graphics.
Certain elements of Street Fighter become iconic because they experiment with the refined mechanics without fundamentally changing them. Players develop an emotional bond with characters whose stories they do not even know because they can focus on them.
Both in the movies and in the expanded universe of Star Wars, there are plenty of bounty hunters. In our ranking, we take a look at which of them are the strongest.
How was the ranking created? For this list, we looked at bounty hunters that appear in Star Wars. It does not matter whether they appear in movies, series, or other media.
What matters is that their profession is bounty hunting. All candidates are absolute professionals in their field and would not shy away from confronting a Jedi. Some have even faced this challenge.
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Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi – Trailer
In the end, it is of course a subjective list, where nuances make the difference. If you miss a beloved bounty hunter in this ranking, feel free to tell us about it in the comments.
Place 10: Fennec Shand
Fennec Shand worked throughout her life as an elite mercenary, assassin, but also as a bounty hunter. She was known for her ruthlessness and bravery. She even went up against other dangerous bounty hunters like Cad Bane. As a skilled sharpshooter, she worked meticulously but eventually became the hunted herself.
It was none other than the legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett who saved Fennec Shand’s life. The two teamed up, among other things, to reclaim Fett’s ship. As a duo, they were even more dangerous, but even alone, Fennec Shand instilled fear in wanted criminals. The character appears, among other things, in the series “The Book of Boba Fett” and in “The Mandalorian.”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A Dungeon Master from Dungeons & Dragons falls in love with another and asks him out on a date with a riddle. But his crush also replies with a riddle that he cannot solve. Desperate, he turns to the community, which eagerly comes to his aid.
How did the situation arise? On Reddit, user BardofEsgaroth reaches out to the Dungeons & Dragons community with a desperate plea. He explains that he works as a Dungeon Master (DM) at a local game store and has asked another DM, who also runs games there, out on a date using a riddle.
In response, he receives a riddle as well – and unfortunately, he is stumped. He has one day left until he will see his crush again. He turns to the community for help, hoping for a nudge in the right direction rather than a full solution.
Having previously sought help from the community for his own riddle (see Reddit), he hoped for similarly helpful feedback this time – and he would not be disappointed.
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Second Official Trailer for the Movie
“Dude, she replied with another riddle. That’s a yes.”
What kind of riddle is it? The riddle that the poster received from his crush is written in a poem form, containing both a cryptic mix of letters and the instructions for deciphering. The letter combination to decode was “Egt y ryew nzc uslyc”.
The community then helped him figure out the solution. He had to take the alphabet forwards and backwards once each, so first ABCDE… and then ZYXWV… then he needed to find the letter in the forward alphabet, go back seven letters, and then find the equivalent letter in the backward alphabet. This letter was the code he was looking for.
Putting it all together, the sentence “Can I pick the movie?” came out. A clear yes for the date.
How does the community feel about it? Users in the Reddit post celebrate the story of the two lovestruck Dungeon Masters and are happy to help with the problem. They also believe he should honestly admit that he asked the community for help if his date later inquires about it.
Axasmidd writes: “Dude, she replied with another riddle. That’s a yes.”
Orzhov_Syndicalist celebrates: “This is UNBEARABLY sweet and clever.”
Isbistra suggests: “Just for fun, you could create a Deck of Many Things as a response and write the names of the movies currently playing in her cinema on it. Then she can literally pick the movie.”
ELAdragon is delighted: “This thread is the damn sweetest thing. From the riddles and the situation itself to all the people helping and rooting for OP.”
A Dungeon Master posed a challenge to his group in Dungeons & Dragons that they could never have solved. But instead of giving up, the players devised an elaborate plan and ultimately defeated their DM with his own weapons. This impressed him so much that he then planned his own revenge: Players in Dungeons & Dragons get an impossible task, seek revenge with a nasty trap
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Diablo 4, there are sounds that directly embed themselves in memory. Some evoke joy, others make players wince, and a few are simply cult classics. Nevertheless, Diablo 4 seems to excel here even more than its predecessors.
Sometimes a single sound is enough to trigger an immediate reaction in players – whether it’s the sound of a rare drop or the ominous sound of an enemy charging around the corner. In a Reddit thread, fans have compiled their absolute favorite sounds from Diablo 4. Two favorites stand out in particular.
The Most Popular Sounds from Diablo 4
Below we summarize the favorite sounds collected from the player community. If you have different sounds that you particularly enjoy in Diablo 4, feel free to share them with us in the comments.
Drop of a Mythic Unique
Favorite Number 1: The drop of a mythic unique is the sound that has received the most upvotes in the post. In Diablo 4, there are powerful rare items for all classes that make many builds even stronger – the Mythic Uniques. However, they drop so rarely that some have never heard the sound.
The Butcher and His “Fresh Meat!”
Favorite Number 2: Another fan favorite among the sounds in Diablo 4 is the call “Fresh Meat!” from the Butcher. The Butcher is a boss, who can randomly surprise you in any dungeon. You will surely notice him by the loud steps he takes as he stomps towards you. He greets you with the words “Ah, fresh meat!” The Butcher originates from Diablo 1, which was released in 1996.
The Giggle of Treasure Goblins
Another sound that is often mentioned is the shrill laughter of treasure goblins. Some describe it as snorting or giggling. Since the first “Goblin March” event in March 2025, new treasure goblin variants have emerged – and one is said by fans to be “the rarest enemy in video game history”.
Some sounds are directly associated with certain skills. For example, players rave about the sound of the ultimate Necro skill “Soul Tear” or the bear roar from the Druid skill “Pulverize”.
The Clinking of Gold
The sound also has a significant impact when looting. Especially popular is the rich clinking sound when opening a chest, as gold coins rain down on the floor like a waterfall. User GigaEel sums it up aptly: “The sound when gold sprays all over the floor. This satisfying clinking of the coins.”
Soundtrack in Specific Regions and in the Login Screen
Not just effects, music creates favorite moments as well. The post particularly praises the soundtrack of Nahantu – the new area from the first DLC. User chripan also praises the humming at the beginning of the “Vessel of Hatred” theme in the login screen.
Noises in the Hell Flood
With Season 4, Blizzard has revamped the Hell Flood in Diablo 4. The “new” Hell Flood wants to hunt you down and take you out – and players love it. This is noticeable in the sound design as well. As the threat increases in the Hell Flood, a scream is heard that players name as their favorite sound. For example, user steakyknife writes: “I love the scream in the Hell Flood when the threat level rises. I only run around there because of this sound.”
The Hell Flood is not only a great place to slaughter many monsters – especially when your threat level rises. Generally, the activity is suitable for looting and leveling, as you can farm chests and the monster density is simply higher there. If you’re looking for more tips on leveling up quickly, take a look at our overview: Diablo 4: Leveling Quickly in the Current Season – Leveling Guide up to Level 60
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Team GO Rocket returns to Pokémon GO. And it brings 2 legendary Crypto Pokémon with it.
What kind of event is this? As has happened in the past, Team GO Rocket returns and has some content for us. The event Blissful Days: Takeover starts on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 00:00 and runs until Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 23:59.
In addition to various Crypto Pokémon, the opportunity to forget Frustration, and a new Shiny, the leader Giovanni also returns. And he has a brand new, legendary Crypto Pokémon that you can obtain.
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So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus
All Content from Blissful Days: Takeover
Which legendary Crypto monster is making its debut? If you search for and defeat Giovanni during the event, you can receive Giratina as a Crypto monster from him this time. Since the regular variant of Giratina is already a strong Ghost attacker and is among the best attackers in Pokémon GO, the Crypto variant will be even better.
At the start of the event, you will receive a Special Research. If you complete it, you will receive a Super Rocket Radar with which you can track down and challenge Giovanni. You have until September 2, 2025, at 09:59 to obtain the research.
Which Pokémon are in raids? During the event, there will also be some Crypto Raids in which you can participate. You can challenge Crypto Kyogre for the first time in Crypto Raids and also receive it as a Shiny for the first time. Until now, you could only obtain the monster once through Giovanni.
1-Star Crypto Raids:
Crypto-Knofensa*
Crypto-Griffel*
Crypto-Teddiursa*
Crypto-Samurzel*
3-Star Crypto Raids:
Crypto-Girafarig
Crypto-Absol*
Crypto-Rollum
5-Star Crypto Raids:
Crypto-Kyogre*
All monsters marked with a * can also appear as Shiny.
What new Crypto monsters are there? There are 4 Pokémon that you can obtain for the first time as Crypto monsters at the start of the event:
Crypto-Sterndu
Crypto-Dartiri
Crypto-Peppeck
Crypto-Mabula
What bonuses are there at the event? The following bonuses are active during the event:
Crypto-Molunk can be caught as a Shiny for the first time
Team GO Rocket appears more frequently in balloons and PokéStops
The charged attack “Frustration” can be forgotten using a Charged TM
For Pokémon in Crypto Raids with 1–3 stars, the values for attack, defense, and HP vary more
Event field research, where you can receive Instant and Charged TMs as well as mysterious components
Collector’s challenge, where you can receive XP and a Rocket Radar
After the Rocket event, the Double event Darkness and Dyna Finale awaits you in Pokémon GO. The current month still brings many more events and content to Pokémon GO. You can find out what these are in our overview with all events in August 2025 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Dawn of War is one of the best games ever for Warhammer 40,000 and will be playable as a remaster on Steam starting August 14, 2025. MeinMMO editor and Warhammer expert Benedict Grothaus has created a tier list for you with the strongest factions in the ranking.
[toc]
What kind of game is this? On August 14, the remaster for Dawn of War will be released on Steam after over 20 years. According to reviews, the game is the best Warhammer game on Steam and has thrilled many fans for years – even to this day, evidently.
The Definitive Edition comes with all expansions, thus including all 9 factions that were available at the end of development. Each race plays uniquely with different strengths and weaknesses.
Why the ranking? This list aims to show you which factions have proven to be the best in Dawn of War over the last 20 years. For the evaluation, I had threads and community discussions from the past 20 years analyzed by AI.
However, my personal experience is mainly taken into account. I have spent several hundred hours in Dawn of War, still actively play the strategy game today, and have experience with all races. However, as my main faction is the Adepta Sororitas, I have significantly considered the assessments of other players.
A basic note: Dawn of War is exceptionally well balanced. No matter which faction you play, each is strong in the right hands. There is no truly “weak” faction. The ranking is meant to help you better assess how dangerous the opponent is in a match-up or to decide which faction to start with. For newcomers, there is also a brief description of the playstyle for each faction.
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Der verbesserte Trailer zu Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition
9. Dark Eldar
The Dark Eldar rely on a “Hit and Run” strategy: They strike quickly and then disappear again before the enemy can really strike back. In theory, this is a strong tactic, but in practice it often fails due to micro-management.
Dark Eldar units are quite fragile and susceptible to counterattacks. If you don’t perfectly evade every opponent, you often pay directly with high losses. Especially later in the game, when all factions bring their strong units onto the field, you have little to counter as Dark Eldar.
You can compensate for this by casting powerful spells. The building units also have the option to reach multiple buildings automatically at once, which gives you an advantage especially early in the game.
Dark Eldar are not suitable for newcomers to the genre. Veterans will feel comfortable with them if they enjoy rush tactics with fast and mobile units. In multiplayer, you are ideally a teammate for your team to annoy opponents and block their progress until your colleagues can come to clean up. Additionally, Dark Eldar have an exciting lore: Warhammer 40,000 has “evil Space Elves” that survive by torturing others
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG year 2025 will probably never go down in history as a highlight in the history of video games. The 9 online role-playing games released so far unfortunately underline this with their underwhelming quality.
More than half of the gaming year 2025 is over, and MeinMMO looks back at all the MMORPGs released between January and August to draw a kind of interim conclusion: Which new releases disappoint? Could new online role-playing games excite? Is there a hidden gem?
We are not only looking at final releases but also at early access launches, which often want your money despite their unfinished state.
Since there has been a lack of outstanding (or even just good) quality this year, we are turning the tables and presenting you in the “Ranking of Shame” first the best (but unfortunately only conditionally recommendable) new release, and then we will work our way down into the depths of the sin bin.
You can jump to the sections that interest you via our table of contents:
[toc]
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New MMORPG Crystal of Atlan – Game Preview
Rank 9: Crystal of Atlan
Developer: Skystone Games | Platform: PC, PS5 & Mobile | Release date: May 28, 2025 | Payment model: Free2Play | Status: Officially released
The “magicpunk MMO action RPG” relies on a colorful anime style, action-packed combat with aerial combos like in Devil May Cry, and a quick leveling phase that propels you into the endgame after a relatively short time. There, dungeons and raid challenges as well as PvP arenas await you.
While the free-to-play title receives only a restrained 3.2 out of 5 stars from nearly 6,000 PS5 players (Source: playstation.com), it fares significantly better on Google Play with over 1 million downloads and 4.7 out of 5 stars. A release on Steam is planned.
The differing ratings show once again that mobile-specific features such as limited access to content on platforms like PC and console are not well received. However, anyone looking for a solid action MMORPG for their smartphone or tablet can have fun with Crystal of Atlan. You can learn more about the game here: A new MMO for the PS5 offers you 8 different classes and battles like in Genshin Impact
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Battlefield 6, you must level up your weapons to unlock new attachments. To do this, you need to earn weapon XP. We provide tips on how to do this best.
How do you level up your weapons most effectively? During our playtime, we found that leveling up the weapons was most effective in the “Dominance” mode.
In Dominance, there are overall fewer players, but the maps are small and primarily designed for close-quarter combat. After a spawn, you don’t have to walk long to get into the next gunfight. This is important because kills provide weapon XP.
To earn weapon XP, ideally, you should aim for your opponent’s head. That should – if I’m not mistaken – give more experience points than kills via body shots.
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Battlefield 6 shows its maps and modes in the trailer
What should you pay attention to while playing? In Dominance, there is usually a constant change regarding which team holds which flag. Observe the movement patterns of your enemies and position yourself accordingly.
If you understand where the opponents are going next, you can intercept them. With the element of surprise, simple kills can often be achieved – and thus headshots can be landed even if your aim is not good.
Why smaller modes? On one hand, you want to have as many gunfights as possible quickly to gather kills and thus weapon XP. This is easier in the smaller maps in the smaller modes – also because no vehicles get in your way.
On the other hand, you notice this progress much faster. A match in Dominance usually only lasts a few minutes. You can grab a new weapon, play 1-3 matches, and quickly unlock the first attachments. This can represent a noticeable improvement for a weapon like the M4A1.
Why not King of the Hill? This is a personal preference, but in Dominance it can be easier to foresee the spawns and rotations of the opponents. If you can read your opponents perfectly in King of the Hill, the mode is also very good for leveling weapons. I leveled up the M4A1 in Dominance shortly after the beta started and fell in love with the new attachments: A weapon saved my entry into the Battlefield 6 beta, it was the perfect choice for the first hours
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When it comes to the most successful game offers of the past years and from 2025, one platform often flies under the radar. But when even GTA 6 is afraid of this competition…
The popularity of Roblox among its target audience is also shown by another statistic: On YouTube, the game reached the milestone of 1 billion views. The platform celebrates this milestone with its own “game” in Roblox, the YouTube Roblox Museum.
You can find the offer at roblox.com, to relive special moments from the long history of Roblox. YouTube emphasizes that Roblox has been influencing the direction of the video platform almost from the beginning since both launched live within a year.
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Roblox – The Official Trailer for the Virtual Universe
A platform that worries both young and old
What does this have to do with GTA 6? In an interview with thegamebusiness.com, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, talked about the upcoming launch of GTA 6 and the current competitive environment for the blockbuster. Regarding Roblox, the executive explains:
We are not resting on our laurels. We do not believe that success is guaranteed. We look over our shoulders. We are afraid.
Whether the fear of Roblox is justified will likely be revealed on May 26, 2026. Then GTA 6 is supposed to be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
What else should I know about Roblox? Although the platform has been on the market for such a long time and primarily targets younger players, the developers have not been able to moderate the large number of players and games in a timely and child-friendly manner, nor implement measures to sustainably protect minors from abuse and toxic or concerning content.
The former president of Blizzard believes that Call of Duty faces a severe defeat against Battlefield 6 this year, as the shooter giant has become lazy.
Who is that?
Mike Ybarra is the former president of Blizzard. He switched from Microsoft to the company in 2019.
During his time at Blizzard, he was particularly appreciated for his closeness to the community through social media – but also criticized. He repeatedly shares his thoughts on industry issues and sometimes puts his foot in his mouth, for instance, when he referred to a Marvel heroine over 50 years old as an Overwatch clone.
This year’s Call of Duty will be Black Ops 6. We saw a first trailer at the Xbox Showcase during the Summer Game Fest.
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Activision shows the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in the trailer for the Xbox Showcase 2025
Ex-president of Blizzard knows what Call of Duty needs to improve
What exactly does Ybarra say about Call of Duty? Ybarra made clear statements about the current situation of Call of Duty on X. He is sure that the shooter from Activision-Blizzard will suffer a severe defeat this year:
“Battlefield will stomp CoD into the ground this year. But the real gain is that CoD will not be lazy anymore, and as a result, we will all get better first-person shooters.”
Electronic Arts is currently inviting players to test Battlefield 6. Players have the opportunity to take a first look at the shooter during the ongoing Open Beta – and, despite some criticism, it has been very well received so far.
Furthermore, Ybarra is confident that Call of Duty has been steadily declining over the past years and that Battlefield will now force the shooter to change.
What reasons does Ybarra mention? Ybarra further addresses the topic in the comments and lists a few reasons that have maneuvered Call of Duty into a steadily worsening situation over the years, including:
How likely is the severe defeat of CoD? Not very likely. Especially because Call of Duty and Battlefield differ significantly in gameplay. Players who prefer fast, action-packed gameplay at close range will likely continue to favor Call of Duty.
Overall, Call of Duty has had significantly better sales figures in the past. Activision also believes that they do not need to worry about Battlefield (via Insider Gaming). Call of Duty cannot fail; the franchise is too big.
After the first livestream in May 2025, the second streaming event from NCsoft about Aion 2 has now followed. The developers showcased new gameplay and revealed more details about the continuation of Aion.
What was shown? While the stream from May 2025 introduced Aion 2 rather generally and focused on trailer material and static assets from the game, the much longer stream on August 8, 2025, showed real gameplay from the new MMORPG that is set to be released in Asia in 2025 and is expected to come to us in 2026.
The video covers the following areas:
First, testers who have already been able to play Aion 2 shared their thoughts. They report that the previous trailers accurately reflect the actual gameplay experience, particularly regarding flying and the seamless transition between mounts. The battles play out quite dynamically despite a tab-targeting framework. Your chosen class defines the available roles and playstyles.
The character creation was shown with its countless options.
Next, the developers showcased a female character who, accompanied by a small companion, runs and flies through one of the game’s regions. Additionally, there was interaction with a merchant. Noteworthy: If players do not feel like walking to the merchant, they will also be able to purchase items through the in-game shop for in-game currency. However, this will likely be at a slightly higher price than from the merchants.
There was dungeon gameplay featuring a 4-player group. The standard interface displayed a skill list with 12 slots for abilities, plus one skill for mounts and flying. There are also 10 additional slots for consumables. The boss battles in the dungeon reveal that it will be crucial to avoid harmful areas, area attacks, or mechanics.
The user interface shown in the scenes is still a placeholder. The final version is supposed to look better.
You can watch the full stream below or on YouTube:
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What else have the developers revealed about Aion 2?
In the stream, the developers emphasized that the PC version of Aion 2 is the main focus. The mobile version is intended to complement the gameplay experience and allow players to initiate crafting actions, master mini-games, or collect daily rewards while on the go. There will be no mobile features like autoplay.
A console port is expected to follow sometime after the PC release. It is unknown whether there will be crossplay.
Each class should have around 40 skills, from which you will choose the 12 abilities for your next battle. You can create different sets for content like PvE, PvP, or boss fights.
In the game, you can earn different wings, each bringing a selection of stats and a unique appearance.
Although flying will be possible very early on almost everywhere, it should not be possible to simply spread your wings and flee during PvP combat. A stamina resource will determine how long and how far you can fly.
The developers reiterated that each server will be exclusive to one faction. You can encounter either Asmodians or Elyos in one world only. The faction battle will play a role in server-wide, instanced battlegrounds like the Abyss (known from the first part).
There is a pet system, where players should be able to tame monsters for their pets collection. It was also shown that pets can carry a character – possibly slightly increasing movement speed.
What about dungeons, raids, and PvP? At launch, Aion 2 is set to offer various dungeon variants for solo players and groups:
The so-called Nightmare Dungeons offer boss fights with 10 levels and a ranking system for speedruns.
Additionally, there will be a boss content where the reward depends on how quickly you can take down your opponent.
Random seal dungeons can appear in the world, where a PvE challenge awaits, but PvP is also expected to be active. You will compete with other players for the loot.
There are co-op dungeons for up to 4 players and with 2 difficulty levels (Normal and Hard).
Ascended dungeons with random affixes, reminiscent of Mythic Plus from WoW, where you can level up to increasingly difficult stages.
Instanced challenges for 8-player groups.
For PvP fans, in addition to the already mentioned Abyss, an instanced arena is planned, which will have 1vs1 and 4vs4 modes. There will also be 8vs8 battlegrounds, where you have to escort something from A to B (similar to Payload from Overwatch).
Here is the latest trailer for Aion 2:
Start video
Aion 2 shows first trailer, beautiful graphics and action-packed battles
How does the community rate what has been shown? The comments in a current discussion on Reddit are mixed.
Civil_Response1 praises the fights on Reddit: “I think this looks smooth. The combat feels powerful and fluid. The animations look good.”
vvashabi, on the other hand, finds on Reddit: “The camera movements feel very console and gamepad-like. There are no shadows. The characters’ feet barely interact with the ground. This is a typical mobile problem, where characters seem to float above the highly textured ground.”
Prysm25 criticizes on Reddit: “This doesn’t look like Aion. The magic of Aion came from the world and its style. This is just another Throne and Liberty.”
Zoggit expresses surprise on Reddit: “At first, I read the comments and got the impression that the game personally killed everyone’s firstborn or something. Then I watched the gameplay and thought it looked pretty good.”
How did you like what was shown? Let us know in the comments!
What’s next? In September, there will be a third developer stream from NCsoft regarding Aion 2. Then we will learn, among other things, details about the payment model of the MMORPG. What is clear is that flying should not be tied to any Pay2Win or Gacha function, and that the developers are aiming for a launch in their home market in 2025.
Whether there will still be a global release next year depends certainly on the next testing phases and the success of the Asia launch. Aion 2 must not be a failure for NCsoft. The publisher’s aging MMORPG lineup is struggling with declining numbers. Throne and Liberty was not the success hoped for. Now more than 300 developers are working on the project. You can find more information on this here: Large MMORPG Company is in Crisis Due to 10 Games Generating Too Little Revenue
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The right weapon can often make a big difference in a shooter. In Battlefield 6, this was the turning point for MeinMMO editor Dariusz, where the beta started to become fun.
My first rounds in the beta of Battlefield 6 were … challenging. I started a conquest match with limited weapons, the Pioneer with a rocket launcher, and wanted to go hunt some tanks – they make such a nice boom after all.
Then I found myself on the map Liberation Peak, looking down the barrels of what felt like 32 sniper rifles. On every mountain, I saw the infamous glimmer of sniper scopes. It quickly became clear: With the class-specific weapons of the Pioneer, the MPs, I wouldn’t get far on this expansive map.
An alternative had to be found.
Start video
Die große Stärke von Battlefield 6 sind die Maps!
The class-specific weapons could only convince to a limited extent
I switched around through the different classes, but I wasn’t really satisfied. The spark just wouldn’t fly, and so the fun initially waited.
The first MP is not bad, but especially on Liberation Peak, it’s not the best choice. Overall, I prefer weapons in Battlefield that are good at medium to long range.
Sniping is fun on Liberation Peak and the rifle isn’t bad, but I’m just not a camper and I don’t enjoy aggressive play with sniper rifles.
LMGs, the class-specific weapon of the suppliers, I generally dislike playing.
I was oscillating between the starting assault rifle of the assault soldier, the M433, and the first carbine, the M4A1. The latter seemed to me like the best choice, as I can also use it in the other classes.
A versatile option for beginners that is a bit temperamental at first
The M4A1 turned out to be a good all-rounder for beginners, but it was a bit temperamental at first. Without unlocked attachments, I wasn’t convinced right away. This changed at the latest with the vertical grip and other sights.
By now, I’ve unlocked a large part of the attachments for the M4 and am glad that I initially focused on the carbine:
At longer distances, the M4 proves to be solid and has moderate recoil that can be well controlled with some practice.
The damage is good, noticeably better than the factory “AK-205”, and gets even better with the unlockable types of ammunition on headshot hits.
The fire rate is high enough to have good chances in close combat and to compete against the MPs.
There were really only a few situations where the M4A1 didn’t shine – and that was really only at very long distances or in very close quarters against the overpowering shotgun.
If you want to know which attachments I currently use on the M4A1, you can read that here:
Currently, I am testing the “AK-205” and comparing it with the M4A1. The AK has significantly less recoil but causes very little damage. However, with the improved ammunition types, it becomes a real hidden gem at medium to long distances if you are good at hitting the head.
At shorter distances, the M4 seems like the better choice due to the higher fire rate, but the extremely low recoil of the AK makes it less effective at long distances. Overall, you can’t go wrong with the M4, especially at the beginning, as damage, fire rate, and recoil are really solid, and it is playable from the start in all classes. The M4 still hasn’t made it into our selection of the best weapons of Battlefield 6 – but maybe that will change.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
During “Techno Friday,” popular German streamer and YouTuber Max “HandOfBlood” Knabe (affectionately known as Hänno) combines gaming and music. The party streamed on Twitch on August 8, 2025, is also gaining attention in the international press.
What makes this weekend special? The current club edition of “Techno Friday” lasts 24 hours, during which 23 DJs create a great atmosphere (Source: YouTube). The party is still ongoing for a few more hours, and you can join live on Twitch.
What makes the event special is that there’s always gaming happening alongside. Sometimes major games like Elden Ring, sometimes small co-op titles like “Paddle Paddle Paddle” (more on this at Steam).
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute
“It’s different from anything else on Twitch”
What does the international press say? The website dexerto.com also finds the scenes wild and dedicates an enthusiastic article to us-Hänno. It states, among other things:
A Twitch streamer from Germany goes viral after he streamed himself playing games like Elden Ring and Street Fighter 6 at a packed rave. This is one of the wildest streams we have seen so far. […] A streamer named HandOfBlood has found his niche – and it is different from anything else on Twitch.
However, some also point out that there have been similar actions before. The Ukrainian streamer thetremba reportedly transformed his house into a techno club to stream his own party for 155 hours.
Battlefield 6 demands maximum performance from your hardware. A setting helps you to boost your FPS.
What is this setting? According to various users on social media, players who play Battlefield 6 via the EA App on PC have limited GPU usage. The graphics card is only utilized to 50%.
Inexplicably, the limited GPU usage can be resolved with a simple setting: You need to enable the in-game overlay of the EA App (via X).
Once the overlay is activated, your graphics card should be utilized much better, boosting your performance and resulting in noticeably more FPS.
Start video
Die große Stärke von Battlefield 6 sind die Maps!
How big is the difference? Most users unfortunately do not share detailed information about their hardware, but various players report achieving between 40 and 70 more FPS – often bringing them into the triple digits.
How to activate the overlay: First, you need to open the EA App and click on the arrow next to your profile icon in the top right corner. This opens a tab where you can access your settings.
In the settings, navigate to the “Application” section and scroll down. The second to last option is called “In-game overlay.” Here you can activate the overlay.
Afterward, in the game, you can open the overlay with the key combination “Shift + F1”. This way, you can see if the overlay is really activated.
How does this performance boost come about? This is still unclear. Keep in mind that it is a beta. It is likely a bug.
Do you also need to activate the overlay if you play on Steam? Judging by the experiences of various players on social media, you do not need to have the EA App and the in-game overlay activated if you play the Battlefield 6 beta via Steam. The GPU usage is said to be normal there.
Fifteen-year-old Alex Butler invented a game at the age of seven that he was able to sell with great success. So much success, in fact, that he is now a millionaire.
What kind of game is it? Alex Butler came up with “Taco vs Burrito,” a strategic card game that you can buy on amazon.com. The game is about creating the wildest meal by using various ingredients, modifiers, and action cards.
The idea for the game came to Alex by chance, who reportedly spent a lot of time playing card games back then. His mother, an entrepreneur, supported the idea, so they created an initial prototype that they played together at local cafes or with friends. The rules were refined, and new cards and strategies emerged.
To cover the production costs for the cards, Alex’s mother set up an online fundraising campaign. The boy expected maybe $200. In the end, over $25,000 was raised. That was enough to push the project forward and found a new company.
Start video
He created a legendary game, but didn’t get paid for it – Today he’s still a millionaire
Now, first buy a “Lambo”
How successful is “Taco vs Burrito”? For distribution, they sought an experienced partner who would sell the product on Amazon. This decision paid off. The first batches of cards were immediately sold out. In the first year alone, the family was able to generate $1.1 million in revenue.
Over the years, the game, which costs nearly $25, has sold more than 1.5 million copies. At times, “Taco vs Burrito” was reportedly the best-selling game on Amazon.
Here, Alex’s mother explains how to play “Taco vs Burrito”:
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Alex and his parents were able to finalize the deal recently. The family sold the rights to the game to the company PlayMonster, which aims to expand “Taco vs Burrito” and take it to new markets.
Alex himself sees the sale pragmatically. In an interview with seattletimes.com, the 15-year-old explained: “It was never something I was particularly attached to. It’s not super important to me. I just wanted to make the most money out of it.” With the money, he would like to buy a “Lambo.”
Alex does not aspire to a career in the card game industry. His interests currently lie in sports, video games, and music production. In the coming months, however, the family wants to enjoy a vacation together. This is about another boy who was able to make a lot of money very early: 15-year-old became the youngest e-sports millionaire in the world – He didn’t even win
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
Blackpink had some surprise songs that were not seen in previous shows of the Deadline Tour. In contrast, with Stray Kids, the last song at each concert is a surprise, depending on the location.
In the bottom right of the image, you can still see the wagons with Stray Kids, behind them were the balloons.
At Stray Kids, my highlight was the moment when they drove around the audience on the edge of the arena with a wagon. This gave fans the opportunity to see their idols up close. They were accompanied by large balloons representing their respective animal mascots.
In contrast, at Blackpink, Rosé’s performance was my big highlight. It was evident how she prepared for her performance and walked to the stage. While doing so, she ate a baguette, played a drinking game with her dancers, and then really heated up the audience with her APT performance.
At this point, I cannot decide who had the edge. Therefore, I would place both bands on equal footing.
Dance and singing – Point to both
Also, when it comes to dance and singing, I unfortunately cannot name a clear favorite. Both Stray Kids and Blackpink seemed to have almost all performances live. Only in Jump by Blackpink did I notice that their voices became suspiciously loud, and the lip movements were no longer synchronized.
The music video for it is a complete fever dream with the head-nodding fans:
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At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
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I also found the song selection super for both bands. They played all the songs spread across all eras. This allowed both new and long-time fans to sing along.
Previously, I had actually expected that this point would clearly go to Stray Kids. On TikTok, it was evident that Blackpink appeared unmotivated while dancing at previous concerts and didn’t perform elaborate movements. A lot of criticism was directed at Jennie.
But there could be a reason for that, as Jenny herself revealed: At a previous concert, she mentioned that she saw more phones than faces and that people should have fun. In Paris, she even emphasized how nice it is to see more faces than phones here and that people are having fun.
This might be a reason why she put in more effort – or simply because she is human and can have a bad day. Therefore, I must also give a point to both bands in this category.
The comparison continues on page 2.
Blackpink solved the whole thing more charmingly by the band members speaking in English themselves. Unfortunately, Jisoo can hardly speak English, which is why she was the only member from whom you hardly heard anything.
If this category ended here, I would give Blackpink the point. But Stray Kids has proven through many other actions that they stood out in this category:
At one point, Stray Kids watched a fan-made video, which was totally cute. For the creator of the video, it must have been a lovely experience to observe how the band reacted and enjoyed the individual scenes.
At Stray Kids, there were dance challenges or karaoke with the entire audience to bridge breaks. With Blackpink, I believe this happened before the concert – I missed it because I probably arrived too late in the arena and got drinks beforehand.
To give something back to the bands, fans also came up with little ideas. At Blackpink, during one song, only the flashlight of mobile phones was turned on and used for lighting. For Stray Kids, however, there was a complete light show displayed on the mobile phone screens, which showed the Eiffel Tower and hearts.
After both concerts, the fan interactions with Stray Kids remained stronger in my memory, even though I didn’t understand a single word. However, from the fans’ screams, I could tell that they were pleased with what was said. Therefore, my point here goes to Stray Kids overall.
Stage design and sound – Point to both
Those who couldn’t get a VIP ticket had to hope for a good view and clear sound. Because standing in the 125th row of this large stadium, you didn’t get much from the band members.
And here it became clear that both bands had an edge in one aspect each. With Stray Kids, there was a varied stage design. In their song Giant, a gigantic puppet inflated, while in another song, suddenly a car appeared on stage.
In the music video of Stray Kids, even the actors from Wolverine and Deadpool appear:
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At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
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Read more about our privacy policy.
In contrast, the sound with Blackpink was much better. I could hear their voices much clearer, which was not the case with Stray Kids. Here, the songs got drowned out by the fans’ singing, and sometimes I couldn’t even understand which song was currently being played.
Since each band was better at one thing, another point goes to both.
Merchandise – Point to Stray Kids
The concert is over, and what remains are the memories, pictures, and videos. Unless fans spend extra money and buy something nice at the merchandise stand. The selection was large for both bands, and there were many different clothing items and smaller items like keychains or stress balls.
As is usual for concerts, the prices were astronomically high. I bought photo cards from Stray Kids, which cost €15 per pack. However, the packaging stated that they only cost 4,000 Won in Korea. That amounts to less than €2.50 per pack.
In comparison, it is noticeable that prices at Blackpink are slightly higher. I have listed some comparisons for you:
A standard shirt starts here at €60, which is €5 cheaper at Stray Kids.
A bucket hat costs €30 at Stray Kids, while Blackpink charges €50.
For the jogging pants, Blackpink is €5 more expensive, while the comparable bag is €5 more expensive at Stray Kids.
The biggest difference is with the zip hoodie: Stray Kids want €95 for theirs, while Blackpink charges €120.
It also depends on personal taste which items one prefers and for what one is willing to open their wallet. But overall, I noticed that items at Blackpink are more expensive. Therefore, I have to give this point to Stray Kids.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
Conclusion – Stray Kids has a slight edge
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
Blackpink had some surprise songs that were not seen in previous shows of the Deadline Tour. In contrast, with Stray Kids, the last song at each concert is a surprise, depending on the location.
In the bottom right of the image, you can still see the wagons with Stray Kids, behind them were the balloons.
At Stray Kids, my highlight was the moment when they drove around the audience on the edge of the arena with a wagon. This gave fans the opportunity to see their idols up close. They were accompanied by large balloons representing their respective animal mascots.
In contrast, at Blackpink, Rosé’s performance was my big highlight. It was evident how she prepared for her performance and walked to the stage. While doing so, she ate a baguette, played a drinking game with her dancers, and then really heated up the audience with her APT performance.
At this point, I cannot decide who had the edge. Therefore, I would place both bands on equal footing.
Dance and singing – Point to both
Also, when it comes to dance and singing, I unfortunately cannot name a clear favorite. Both Stray Kids and Blackpink seemed to have almost all performances live. Only in Jump by Blackpink did I notice that their voices became suspiciously loud, and the lip movements were no longer synchronized.
The music video for it is a complete fever dream with the head-nodding fans:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
I also found the song selection super for both bands. They played all the songs spread across all eras. This allowed both new and long-time fans to sing along.
Previously, I had actually expected that this point would clearly go to Stray Kids. On TikTok, it was evident that Blackpink appeared unmotivated while dancing at previous concerts and didn’t perform elaborate movements. A lot of criticism was directed at Jennie.
But there could be a reason for that, as Jenny herself revealed: At a previous concert, she mentioned that she saw more phones than faces and that people should have fun. In Paris, she even emphasized how nice it is to see more faces than phones here and that people are having fun.
This might be a reason why she put in more effort – or simply because she is human and can have a bad day. Therefore, I must also give a point to both bands in this category.
The comparison continues on page 2.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
Conclusion – Stray Kids has a slight edge
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
Blackpink solved the whole thing more charmingly by the band members speaking in English themselves. Unfortunately, Jisoo can hardly speak English, which is why she was the only member from whom you hardly heard anything.
If this category ended here, I would give Blackpink the point. But Stray Kids has proven through many other actions that they stood out in this category:
At one point, Stray Kids watched a fan-made video, which was totally cute. For the creator of the video, it must have been a lovely experience to observe how the band reacted and enjoyed the individual scenes.
At Stray Kids, there were dance challenges or karaoke with the entire audience to bridge breaks. With Blackpink, I believe this happened before the concert – I missed it because I probably arrived too late in the arena and got drinks beforehand.
To give something back to the bands, fans also came up with little ideas. At Blackpink, during one song, only the flashlight of mobile phones was turned on and used for lighting. For Stray Kids, however, there was a complete light show displayed on the mobile phone screens, which showed the Eiffel Tower and hearts.
After both concerts, the fan interactions with Stray Kids remained stronger in my memory, even though I didn’t understand a single word. However, from the fans’ screams, I could tell that they were pleased with what was said. Therefore, my point here goes to Stray Kids overall.
Stage design and sound – Point to both
Those who couldn’t get a VIP ticket had to hope for a good view and clear sound. Because standing in the 125th row of this large stadium, you didn’t get much from the band members.
And here it became clear that both bands had an edge in one aspect each. With Stray Kids, there was a varied stage design. In their song Giant, a gigantic puppet inflated, while in another song, suddenly a car appeared on stage.
In the music video of Stray Kids, even the actors from Wolverine and Deadpool appear:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In contrast, the sound with Blackpink was much better. I could hear their voices much clearer, which was not the case with Stray Kids. Here, the songs got drowned out by the fans’ singing, and sometimes I couldn’t even understand which song was currently being played.
Since each band was better at one thing, another point goes to both.
Merchandise – Point to Stray Kids
The concert is over, and what remains are the memories, pictures, and videos. Unless fans spend extra money and buy something nice at the merchandise stand. The selection was large for both bands, and there were many different clothing items and smaller items like keychains or stress balls.
As is usual for concerts, the prices were astronomically high. I bought photo cards from Stray Kids, which cost €15 per pack. However, the packaging stated that they only cost 4,000 Won in Korea. That amounts to less than €2.50 per pack.
In comparison, it is noticeable that prices at Blackpink are slightly higher. I have listed some comparisons for you:
A standard shirt starts here at €60, which is €5 cheaper at Stray Kids.
A bucket hat costs €30 at Stray Kids, while Blackpink charges €50.
For the jogging pants, Blackpink is €5 more expensive, while the comparable bag is €5 more expensive at Stray Kids.
The biggest difference is with the zip hoodie: Stray Kids want €95 for theirs, while Blackpink charges €120.
It also depends on personal taste which items one prefers and for what one is willing to open their wallet. But overall, I noticed that items at Blackpink are more expensive. Therefore, I have to give this point to Stray Kids.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
Conclusion – Stray Kids has a slight edge
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
Blackpink had some surprise songs that were not seen in previous shows of the Deadline Tour. In contrast, with Stray Kids, the last song at each concert is a surprise, depending on the location.
In the bottom right of the image, you can still see the wagons with Stray Kids, behind them were the balloons.
At Stray Kids, my highlight was the moment when they drove around the audience on the edge of the arena with a wagon. This gave fans the opportunity to see their idols up close. They were accompanied by large balloons representing their respective animal mascots.
In contrast, at Blackpink, Rosé’s performance was my big highlight. It was evident how she prepared for her performance and walked to the stage. While doing so, she ate a baguette, played a drinking game with her dancers, and then really heated up the audience with her APT performance.
At this point, I cannot decide who had the edge. Therefore, I would place both bands on equal footing.
Dance and singing – Point to both
Also, when it comes to dance and singing, I unfortunately cannot name a clear favorite. Both Stray Kids and Blackpink seemed to have almost all performances live. Only in Jump by Blackpink did I notice that their voices became suspiciously loud, and the lip movements were no longer synchronized.
The music video for it is a complete fever dream with the head-nodding fans:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
I also found the song selection super for both bands. They played all the songs spread across all eras. This allowed both new and long-time fans to sing along.
Previously, I had actually expected that this point would clearly go to Stray Kids. On TikTok, it was evident that Blackpink appeared unmotivated while dancing at previous concerts and didn’t perform elaborate movements. A lot of criticism was directed at Jennie.
But there could be a reason for that, as Jenny herself revealed: At a previous concert, she mentioned that she saw more phones than faces and that people should have fun. In Paris, she even emphasized how nice it is to see more faces than phones here and that people are having fun.
This might be a reason why she put in more effort – or simply because she is human and can have a bad day. Therefore, I must also give a point to both bands in this category.
The comparison continues on page 2.
MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen was able to attend two K-Pop concerts in Paris over the last two weeks. She saw the currently biggest girl group and boy group from the country. She reveals which concert she liked better.
A few years ago, a friend introduced me to the world of K-Pop. She showed me DNA by BTS, and I was instantly hooked. The catchy sounds penetrated my ear and didn’t want to leave quickly.
Over time, I discovered more bands, including rap-focused groups. My favorites include both Blackpink and Stray Kids. I was very lucky to have won the ticket war twice and see both bands on two consecutive weekends in Paris – armed with my lightstick for each band.
Stray Kids consists of eight members and is currently touring the world with their Dominate Tour. The four girls of Blackpink, on the other hand, are traveling under the slogan Deadline around the world.
In this article, I want to share how I experienced both concerts. Since both concerts took place at the same venue, I can compare them very well. Therefore, I have outlined several points to compare the two bands.
At the end of this article, I will reveal my personal favorite. However, I can already say in advance: I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and the time of my life.
The concert comparison of Blackpink and Stray Kids
Program – Point to both
Both Blackpink and Stray Kids had a program on stage that lasted three hours. During this time, you want to be well entertained as a fan. And indeed, at neither of the two concerts did I feel bored at any moment.
Whenever there was a break, it was filled quite well. For example, there was a choreography where the dancers could shine or clips that showed the band members closer. During the songs, there was a lot of pyrotechnics, fireworks, and confetti raining down on the fans.
Each band also had a time slot where the band members could perform their solos. In Blackpink, each member could perform two to three of their own songs. In contrast, Stray Kids consists of eight members, so here only one solo of a duo was played.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
Conclusion – Stray Kids has a slight edge
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
Conclusion – Stray Kids has a slight edge
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
Blackpink solved the whole thing more charmingly by the band members speaking in English themselves. Unfortunately, Jisoo can hardly speak English, which is why she was the only member from whom you hardly heard anything.
If this category ended here, I would give Blackpink the point. But Stray Kids has proven through many other actions that they stood out in this category:
At one point, Stray Kids watched a fan-made video, which was totally cute. For the creator of the video, it must have been a lovely experience to observe how the band reacted and enjoyed the individual scenes.
At Stray Kids, there were dance challenges or karaoke with the entire audience to bridge breaks. With Blackpink, I believe this happened before the concert – I missed it because I probably arrived too late in the arena and got drinks beforehand.
To give something back to the bands, fans also came up with little ideas. At Blackpink, during one song, only the flashlight of mobile phones was turned on and used for lighting. For Stray Kids, however, there was a complete light show displayed on the mobile phone screens, which showed the Eiffel Tower and hearts.
After both concerts, the fan interactions with Stray Kids remained stronger in my memory, even though I didn’t understand a single word. However, from the fans’ screams, I could tell that they were pleased with what was said. Therefore, my point here goes to Stray Kids overall.
Stage design and sound – Point to both
Those who couldn’t get a VIP ticket had to hope for a good view and clear sound. Because standing in the 125th row of this large stadium, you didn’t get much from the band members.
And here it became clear that both bands had an edge in one aspect each. With Stray Kids, there was a varied stage design. In their song Giant, a gigantic puppet inflated, while in another song, suddenly a car appeared on stage.
In the music video of Stray Kids, even the actors from Wolverine and Deadpool appear:
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In contrast, the sound with Blackpink was much better. I could hear their voices much clearer, which was not the case with Stray Kids. Here, the songs got drowned out by the fans’ singing, and sometimes I couldn’t even understand which song was currently being played.
Since each band was better at one thing, another point goes to both.
Merchandise – Point to Stray Kids
The concert is over, and what remains are the memories, pictures, and videos. Unless fans spend extra money and buy something nice at the merchandise stand. The selection was large for both bands, and there were many different clothing items and smaller items like keychains or stress balls.
As is usual for concerts, the prices were astronomically high. I bought photo cards from Stray Kids, which cost €15 per pack. However, the packaging stated that they only cost 4,000 Won in Korea. That amounts to less than €2.50 per pack.
In comparison, it is noticeable that prices at Blackpink are slightly higher. I have listed some comparisons for you:
A standard shirt starts here at €60, which is €5 cheaper at Stray Kids.
A bucket hat costs €30 at Stray Kids, while Blackpink charges €50.
For the jogging pants, Blackpink is €5 more expensive, while the comparable bag is €5 more expensive at Stray Kids.
The biggest difference is with the zip hoodie: Stray Kids want €95 for theirs, while Blackpink charges €120.
It also depends on personal taste which items one prefers and for what one is willing to open their wallet. But overall, I noticed that items at Blackpink are more expensive. Therefore, I have to give this point to Stray Kids.
By the way: Regarding ticket prices, both bands behaved similarly. As is common for K-Pop groups, the prices are set high. You have to invest quite a bit of money to see your favorite stars from Korea.
Conclusion – Stray Kids has a slight edge
If it were purely based on this point system, Stray Kids would win the competition with 5:3 points. However, if I go by my memories, I couldn’t decide which concert I preferred.
I had an immense amount of fun at both concerts and also participated in some activities from shops in Paris. For example, one café had a photo booth with special frames for homemade photos.
So if both bands embark on another world tour, I can only recommend you watch both shows. There are some rumors that Stray Kids will be on tour again in 2026. For Blackpink, this is still an open question.
Blackpink had some surprise songs that were not seen in previous shows of the Deadline Tour. In contrast, with Stray Kids, the last song at each concert is a surprise, depending on the location.
In the bottom right of the image, you can still see the wagons with Stray Kids, behind them were the balloons.
At Stray Kids, my highlight was the moment when they drove around the audience on the edge of the arena with a wagon. This gave fans the opportunity to see their idols up close. They were accompanied by large balloons representing their respective animal mascots.
In contrast, at Blackpink, Rosé’s performance was my big highlight. It was evident how she prepared for her performance and walked to the stage. While doing so, she ate a baguette, played a drinking game with her dancers, and then really heated up the audience with her APT performance.
At this point, I cannot decide who had the edge. Therefore, I would place both bands on equal footing.
Dance and singing – Point to both
Also, when it comes to dance and singing, I unfortunately cannot name a clear favorite. Both Stray Kids and Blackpink seemed to have almost all performances live. Only in Jump by Blackpink did I notice that their voices became suspiciously loud, and the lip movements were no longer synchronized.
The music video for it is a complete fever dream with the head-nodding fans:
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I also found the song selection super for both bands. They played all the songs spread across all eras. This allowed both new and long-time fans to sing along.
Previously, I had actually expected that this point would clearly go to Stray Kids. On TikTok, it was evident that Blackpink appeared unmotivated while dancing at previous concerts and didn’t perform elaborate movements. A lot of criticism was directed at Jennie.
But there could be a reason for that, as Jenny herself revealed: At a previous concert, she mentioned that she saw more phones than faces and that people should have fun. In Paris, she even emphasized how nice it is to see more faces than phones here and that people are having fun.
This might be a reason why she put in more effort – or simply because she is human and can have a bad day. Therefore, I must also give a point to both bands in this category.
The comparison continues on page 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Even though the X-Men often look cool in the Marvel universe, it’s not an easy life being a mutant. This is especially shown in the story of Jesse, whose whole life was destroyed because of it.
What are mutants anyway? Mutants are humans in the Marvel universe who have the X-gene in their DNA. This grants them abilities that usually manifest during puberty. Some mutants acquire their abilities earlier or through tragic events.
The abilities that one receives as a mutant can be practically anything. For characters like Beast or Mystique, their appearance even changes. Often, mutants are despised and threatened by humanity.
A refuge for mutants is the school of Charles Xavier (Professor X), who, along with the X-Men, tries to protect mutants in the world. However, not all mutants have the chance to lead a good life. Sometimes the mutation makes one a great danger to others. This happened to the mutant Jesse.
Start video
X-Men: First Class – Trailer for the superhero movie by Fox
A Mighty Ability, a Tragic Fate
Who is Jesse? In the comic Ultimate X-Men No. 41 from 2004, we meet the teenager Jesse. He was actually a normal teenager until one day he got up and no one was home anymore. The streets looked similar. They seemed empty, and he only saw a dog collar lying on the ground.
From a distance, he sees people and feels relieved, so he walks to school. There he meets his girlfriend, but suddenly everyone around him starts to burn and dissolve into dust. The same happens to his girlfriend. Nothing but clothes remains.
What happened? As it turns out later, Jesse is a mutant whose ability releases certain acids and toxins that burn everything organic. That’s why only the clothing remains. Jesse has no control over the ability itself; his body releases it unconsciously.
In panic, Jesse hides in a cave, far away from other living beings. But suddenly Wolverine appears. Thanks to his self-healing, he can stay near Jesse. He hands Jesse a beer and spends some time with him.
Jesse Cannot Go On
What happens to Jesse? Jesse recognizes Wolverine and engages in a conversation, explaining to him that he is on a solo mission. Wolverine informs him that he is a mutant and what abilities he has. Jesse learns that he is responsible for the deaths and breaks down in tears. He is said to have killed at least 265 people.
He collapses after realizing that his only ability is killing. Jesse says: I can’t live with that and Wolverine simply replies I know. He tells the boy that no one will find out that it was him. If something like this were to become public, it would harm the reputation of mutants.
Wolverine tells him to finish his beer, and in the last of his panels, Jesse says only: Just do it. He leaves the cave alone.
What makes this story so good? Even though the X-Men and the mutants are a cool superhero team, they often have a human component about exclusion in their stories. This story is so emotional because there is no way out for Jesse.
The X-Men face a moral dilemma here. Wolverine must take care of Jesse to protect other people and mutants, but they also break the promise that all mutants have a place in this world. There are also other mutants who have been less blessed with their abilities: The 10 worst mutant abilities from X-Men that probably no one wants
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player experienced something quite strange in the open beta of Battlefield 6 after tripping over a rock.
What happened to this player? What exactly occurred is shown in a clip on Reddit. He shared this in r/Battlefield, the largest subreddit dedicated to the shooter series.
In this trailer, Battlefield 6 showcases its classes, movement, and tactical destruction:
Start video
Battlefield 6 presents classes, movement, and tactical destruction in the trailer
Player trips over a rock, falls out of first-person view
The post shows the exact sequence of events: At the beginning, the player was sprinting with a gun in hand when he veered off the path into rocky terrain. Small stones protrude from the ground, which players would usually just run over in games.
However, the player trips over the stones and takes a lot of damage, but that’s not all. Shortly after the player stumbled, he appears to keep running. He was torn out of the first-person view in which Battlefield 6 is typically played.
The player can still move, but his camera remains stuck at the accident site. This results in him distancing himself so far from it that he can no longer see himself – and gets shot by enemies.
Here’s the Reddit post again:
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The fans take it with humor: The clip is greeted with humor by the community on Reddit. They immediately start cracking jokes about it:
“It’s a feature!”, shouts GThugMoney (on Reddit) and earns a proud 1,300 upvotes for his comment
“Stubbing your toes is no joke, bro,” says deeku4972, to which Smith6612 humorously suggests: “Next, they should introduce the ‘stepping on LEGO’ mode” (on Reddit)
KitamuraP politely points out to the poster: “You dropped the camera” (on Reddit)
What really happened there? It’s likely not a hidden feature. Reddit user syo speculates: “Probably just a sync thing. The client thinks he’s dead, but the server does not” (on Reddit). This could also explain why the player is in some sort of death cam, even though he is still alive.