Battlefield 6 receives an unpopular feature from Call of Duty, aims to do everything differently with 4 factors

The most criticized feature of Call of Duty is also in Battlefield 6, but it varies depending on the game mode.

What is this unpopular feature? Battlefield 4 will have a form of skill-based matchmaking. The developers of the shooter revealed this to CharlieIntel (via X).

SBMM is a matchmaking system that selects your teammates and opponents based on your skill and gameplay performance. The better you play, the stronger your opponents will be.

Skill-based matchmaking is used in various shooters and has been harshly criticized for years, especially within the Call of Duty community. Some people find SBMM good because it prevents them from having to play against significantly better players. Others criticize the system because it means they can no longer play relaxed rounds and have to give their best in every match.

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Die große Stärke von Battlefield 6 sind die Maps!

Skill is negligible despite SBMM

How is the matchmaking of Battlefield 6 supposed to work? The developers haven’t revealed much about the matchmaking of Battlefield 6, but the system is expected to rely on 4 factors:

  • Ping
  • The player’s location
  • The server availability
  • a certain skill factor

Your skill is thus supposed to play a role in matchmaking.

How does the matchmaking differ? The matchmaking factors of Battlefield 6 are expected to vary depending on the game mode and the number of players. However, in April 2025, David Sirland, one of the lead developers behind Battlefield 6, stated that the skill factor would be negligible (via Insider-Gaming).

The top priorities in matchmaking are the ping and the time until the game starts. The goal is to have the server start “as quickly as possible” in a game with 64 players.

The skill factor is important to create balanced teams and to avoid all strong players being in one team. However, Battlefield has been doing this since they started offering matchmaking. Battlefield 6, however, does not use aggressive SBMM.

So it could be that in the larger modes with 64 players, you will experience a lesser focus on skill in matchmaking than in the much smaller Team Deathmatch rounds.

What does this mean for matchmaking? If the skill factor in matchmaking is not taken more into account than, for example, in Battlefield 2042 and is truly negligible, then that should not be a problem.

In Battlefield 2042, SBMM is not as aggressive as in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, where the best players constantly face each other. There, the skill factor plays such a minor role that the matchmaking was the reason why I actually had fun with the game for a while: Battlefield 2042 is finally fun after 1.5 years because I can now destroy noobs

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

Pokémon GO: Is the trading feature finally getting the most important update in 7 years?

Can we soon trade over long distances in Pokémon GO? A new datamining suggests so.

Those who want to trade in Pokémon GO need to meet with friends in the real world to make a trade. Trading over long distances, for instance, with friends from other countries – has so far not been possible.

It has been seven years since, trading was introduced in Pokémon GO. Now it seems that the feature may actually get the upgrade that many have long been wishing for.

As Pokémon GO Hub reports, various data found in a current datamining strongly suggest that work is being done on a corresponding adjustment.

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Pokémon GO: Over 800 Trainers fight in Gigantamax battle

What does the datamining reveal about trading in Pokémon GO?

Here’s what the data show: According to Pokémon GO Hub, various contents related to “Remote Trading” have emerged in the data.

The following contents can be identified:

  • An icon related to Remote Trading.
  • A new friendship level called “Best Friends Plus.” It could be that reaching this level is necessary to trade over long distances.
  • A daily trading limit.
  • And the possibility to receive trade offers even when you are not online. However, you can only have one trade active at a time. So if you send out a request, you have to wait until it’s completed before you can make another trade.

How certain is it that the feature will come? On one hand, it’s an exciting hint that such data is emerging. It at least shows that relevant content is being worked on. At the same time, there have been instances in the past where data was found, but nothing materialized from it for a long time. So, it must be noted: These are unofficial pieces of information that have not yet been confirmed.

However, if a corresponding feature were to appear, it would offer the community many opportunities to trade and expand their collections. Just think about trading Pokémon with players from other regions of the world that are only available there.

However, it is also to be considered: There was indeed a possibility to trade Pokémon over distance – namely during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, players could trade over distances of up to 50 kilometers. However, it was not possible globally even then. It remains to be seen what distances would actually be an option this time.

What do you think of a possible distance trading feature? Would you be interested in that, or do you prefer trading in person? Tell us in the comments! And if you want to know what else is going on in Pokémon GO: The new month brings many highlights, such as the next Rocket takeover or the Dyna finale. You can find the full overview here: All events in Pokémon GO in August 2025.

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

A new player is so brazenly lied to in his first session of Dungeons & Dragons that he immediately wants to continue playing

When newcomers join experienced groups in Dungeons & Dragons, it often leads to exciting situations. In one session, the Dungeon Master convinced his player with a lie to want to continue playing.

How did the lie come about? Reddit user OmegaGuerri was the Dungeon Master (DM) of a Dungeons & Dragons session that included two newcomers, one of whom had never played a tabletop role-playing game before. He had to be convinced of how cool it actually is.

In his Reddit thread, he shares the story of how he managed to engage this newcomer. So they created a character for him together, with a backstory that connected him directly to the group’s setting.

When the entire group came together to receive their first quest from an NPC commander, the DM lied to his player so boldly that he was immediately fired up.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Second Official Trailer for the Movie

“He sat quietly in the voice chat for a while and finally replied”

How did the DM lie? When the commander provides some background information about their “secret” quest, the new player becomes suspicious. Because it is mentioned that a cave passage was supposedly discovered only 5 years ago. However, based on his character’s backstory, the player knew that couldn’t be true.

So he asks his DM outside of the role-play situation if he was mistaken, as his own character had fled through this passage 17 years ago and there were supposed to be guards there at that time.

The game master denies and agrees with him that what his player says is indeed correct. This makes the newcomer hesitate, so the DM directly asks him if he thinks the commander is lying. Thereupon, OmegaGuerri writes, the player sat quietly in the voice chat for a while and then replied: “… can he do that?”

The game master then had him roll to see if his character would uncover the lie in the game or if it would go unnoticed.

This whole situation impressed the newcomer so much that after the session he approached the game master and told him that he now understood why people enjoy tabletop role-playing games so much and when they would meet next – something that brought a broad smile to the DM’s face and made him proud.

How is the story received by the community? In the comments under the thread, many users become nostalgic and recall their own first sessions. Others cheer on how the DM managed to pull the new player right into the action:

  • imababydragon writes: “When NPCs lie or simply don’t know and make things up, it’s a great way to make the game feel more realistic.”
  • Dg-wildstar chimes in: “Congratulations on getting a player excited about the game. I love stories like this!”
  • PrayForMojo_ celebrates: “‘You can do that?!?’ is one of the main reasons newcomers show up for the second session.”
  • Intelligent-Key-8732 comments: “For this to work, my players would have to remember their own backstories.”

So the story ended well for this newcomer, and he found his way into the exciting world of tabletop role-playing games. However, for another new player, his first round did not go nearly as well, and his character met an untimely end: New player is so mean in Dungeons & Dragons that his own group takes him out in the first session, though they didn’t want to

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

A fan created a trailer for Dragon Ball that covers all the animes and looks like the movie you deserved 16 years ago

A YouTuber used Artificial Intelligence to create a trailer for a movie about Dragon Ball. Many viewers agree that it could have been the live-action film that the Anime actually deserves.

What kind of trailer is it? The YouTube channel Fifth District Studio creates trailers with the help of AI, based on well-known animes, movies, or series. Over the past months, the YouTuber has specialized in various videos about Dragon Ball.

A trailer that we want to present to you features all series related to Dragon Ball. Various characters like Son-Goku and Vegeta, as well as enemies like Cell or Freezer appear as realistic versions created with CGI.

So far, the video has reached over 3.8 million views and collected over 37,000 likes. You can watch the fan trailer here:

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It covers Dragon Ball, DBZ, and DBS. Beerus and Broly also make appearances. However, there is no real plot to see. Rather, the individual characters are shown, who may take a step forward.

And although hardly anything happens in the video, fans are sure that it would have been the better live-action film 16 years ago.

Start video
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – The Official Trailer for the Movie

CGI trailer is better than the real film

Why would it be the better live-action film? Dragon Ball already has a live-action adaptation, which has gone down in history as a disgrace. The film was released in 2009 and has a catastrophic rating of 2.5 out of 10 on the film rating platform IMDb.

The reason for this poor rating is the altered personalities of the characters, flat dialogues, and bad special effects. Additionally, the story is set in a modern context that has little to do with the original.

If there were a movie of the quality shown in the trailer, finally a live-action adaptation would appear that fans deserved 16 years ago. At least that’s what the top comment under the video on YouTube says.

However, we must be fair: 16 years ago, technology was not advanced enough to create a film of such quality. Moreover, the AI trailer only shows short sequences. The video is far from having an action-packed plot.

A live-action adaptation of the anime Naruto is also reportedly in the works. However, there are already early signs that this film could also be a flop. The reason for this is the producers’ lack of expertise: The makers of the Naruto live-action film reportedly have no clue about the anime – They reportedly don’t even know who the villains are

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

The boom of a 12-year-old MMORPG continues, breaking its own all-time record

Old School RuneScape continues to ride the wave of success despite its old age. Now, the 12-year-old MMORPG has even broken its own all-time record.

What is the current status of Old School RuneScape? At the end of July, MeinMMO reported that the 12-year-old MMORPG is enjoying unusually high player numbers. Such high numbers that the developers have already provided 18 new worlds. 15 more worlds are expected to follow soon.

And the boom continues! Last weekend, the previous all-time record for concurrent active players was broken – this was announced by the proud developers on X. At times, more than 241,000 players were online in Old School RuneScape simultaneously.

The previous record was set during the “Leagues V: Raging Echoes” in November 2024, with over 231,000 concurrent active players at one point.

Start video
Old School RuneScape – Trailer for the Steam Release

What came first: the hype or the streamers?

Once again, the question arises: What is behind the boom? We previously examined in the last report that there is no event happening this time that could have such a positive effect on player numbers. The recently released update Varlamore: The Final Dawn might play a part, but it went live only after the initial spark of the boom.

Another possible reason is currently being discussed on Reddit. LerntLesen writes there: “Streamers can really make or break games.” ICE-FlGHT agrees: “That’s the most truthful answer … it’s crazy how much they drive the market.”

And indeed, it can be observed on twitchtracker.com that Old School RuneScape has gained significant popularity on Twitch since April 2025 in terms of average viewers, peak viewers, number of streams, and hours watched.

In nearly all categories, the numbers have more than doubled – from about 4.32 million hours watched in April 2025 to 11.3 million hours watched in July 2025. A well-known content creator who has recently streamed Old School RuneScape several times is Thomas Chance “Sodapoppin” Morris, who many may know better through his WoW content.

What came first – the chicken or the egg? Some fans of Old School RuneScape admit that many streamers switched to OSRS in recent months precisely because the MMORPG was already experiencing a surge at that time. It is rather the great work of the developers over the past years that laid the foundation for the current success.

This assessment is only partially reflected in the Steam reviews of recent months. While Old School RuneScape has maintained a very positive rating of 82 percent over the entire period, the recent reviews have been significantly lower for nearly the entire year 2025 (currently about 70 percent as of August 4, 2025, 11:00 AM).

Many players who have invested hundreds of hours in the MMORPG criticize unjustified bans, technical issues, or the increased price for membership. The active community, the plethora of content, the nostalgic gaming experience, and the noticeable improvements of recent years receive praise.

Can streamers influence the success of a game? Definitely! This has been shown in recent years by Lost Ark and New World, both of which significantly benefited from the synergy of publisher Amazon Games and Twitch (owned by Amazon) at launch.

Twitch Drops here, streaming events there, the hype fueled by enthusiastic streamers everywhere – that’s how the two MMORPGs achieved two of the most successful launches in Steam history. Many more examples of games that have received a significant boost in player numbers through Twitch can be found in the following article: 7 games that became successful and big through Twitch.

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

Superman is powerful, but a villainess from Gotham brings him to his knees

Superman fights against many strong villains who can match him physically. But sometimes, just the kiss of a villainess is enough to defeat the well-known hero.

Which villainess are we talking about? Even though Superman is often portrayed as the unbeatable hero and tussles with powerful aliens, he can also lose against simpler opponents. Notable examples would be Batman or Lex Luthor.

However, one does not always have to fight him to defeat him. Poison Ivy showed that sometimes even a simple kiss is enough, as long as you wear the right lipstick.

In Batman and Robin, Poison Ivy plays an important role:

Start video
Batman and Robin – Trailer for the superhero movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

Even Superman can be seduced

How did Poison Ivy bring Superman to his knees? Poison Ivy made her first appearance in the comic Batman No.181 in 1966. She actually belongs to Batman’s gallery of villains, but now also appears as an anti-hero and has many stories teamed up with Harley Quinn or Catwoman.

Pamela Lillian Isley is her real name, and her origin story changes depending on the universe. However, she almost always has the ability to control plants, spray poisons, and control people through substances. Usually, a simple kiss and her knowledge as a former botanist are enough.

In the legendary comic storyline Batman: Hush, which ran between 2002 and 2003, she was manipulated by the villain Hush, who wanted to take out Batman. Her task was to seduce Superman. She used her pheromones and a lipstick containing Kryptonite for this. She tried to get Superman to kill Batman.

To free Superman from hypnosis, Catwoman throws Lois Lane, Superman’s great love, from a skyscraper. He frees himself from Ivy and saves Lois. Had Catwoman not done this, Batman might have been killed even. In the animated film Batman: Hush from 2019, you can also see this outside of comics.

Like many other villains, Poison Ivy is now a character who not only acts as an antagonist but also as an anti-hero or part of a team. In the Gotham City Sirens comic series, she is a protagonist alongside Harley Quinn and Catwoman, and in the Harley Quinn series, she plays an important role as her lover. Another Batman villain was able to break Superman: The Joker tried for years to break Batman, but for Superman, he only needed one day

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 talks about lessons from development, fans say: the greatest achievement was defeating companies and “hints”.

For many players, Baldur’s Gate 3 is considered one of the best games of all time, at least in recent times. Larian CEO Swen Vincke is now discussing future game plans and lessons learned from the development of Baldur’s Gate 3 in a tweet. Fans see success in a completely different light.

This is what Larian is talking about now:

  • On X, Swen Vincke writes that the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 was only two years ago – amazing, as he says. The role-playing game has exceeded all expectations by a factor of many.
  • The post is actually about how things should proceed from here. Because of Baldur’s Gate 3, one can now focus on “the next crazy thing.” Larian is already working on the next games, which should “be a lot of fun, really tons of it,” “in surprising ways.”
  • Vincke cannot say much about the upcoming projects yet. But in the replies on X, users see a different achievement that Baldur’s Gate 3 has been able to accomplish.

What are the fans celebrating instead? One of the comments with the most likes comes from @9Syht. It says: The greatest gift to the world was not Baldur’s Gate 3, but the lessons that could be drawn from it.

Larian has shown the “companies and suits” what is possible without cramming everything with microtransactions. Other users respond to this and state: One should not forget that the game also comes without DRMs.

Due to the quality like that of Larian, CD Projekt Red (Cyberpunk, The Witcher), or Warhorse (Kingdom Come: Deliverance), one can show Ubisoft, EA, and others how it should be done properly. Vincke himself has harshly criticized the practices of large studios in the past.

Whether the “lesson” will really reach AAA remains to be seen. The former story chief of Dragon Age at least believes: The industry will learn nothing from Baldur’s Gate 3. This view is shared by other users – however, there are also plenty of suggestions for the future.

Start video
D&D in crisis: What will happen to Baldur’s Gate 4 now? The GameStar Talk in the video

“Can you make the sex better?”

Swen Vincke is not revealing many details about the upcoming games from Larian yet. It is only said: We have to be patient, it will take a little more time to get everything running. “It will be worth it,” Vincke promises.

In the comments, alongside praise for Baldur’s Gate 3, there is some criticism as well, albeit at the highest level. One of them actually relates to too much freedom, specifically: to love.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, all companions are “player sexual”, meaning: No matter what gender or race you play, every companion is attracted to you when you flirt with them. Romances are always possible.

Now a user writes on X that he wishes for restrictions regarding this aspect in the next game. That would make sex “more meaningful.” In Baldur’s Gate 3, you are always treated the same, no matter who you are. That does not seem very credible.

In the vast majority of comments, however, players praise Larian and their success with the role-playing game. One user even hopes that one of the upcoming games takes place in Warhammer 40,000 – although this is unlikely to happen.

For many, Larian is the last or one of the last studios they still “trust.” However, the fact that Baldur’s Gate 3 represents a major breakthrough is still a mystery to a good portion of gamers, especially since Dungeons & Dragons remains a niche. But they are often proven wrong: user thinks Baldur’s Gate 3 is only for nerds, plays it for the first time, and instantly logs 360 hours

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

A player from Dune: Awakening builds a working elevator with a trick: “Haha, this is genius”

The developers of Dune: Awakening have confirmed that elevators will come with an update, but one player obviously doesn’t want to wait that long – he is simply building a working elevator himself.

What is known about the elevators? Currently, there are no components for the building system of Dune: Awakening with which one can install full-fledged elevators in one’s base – which is very unfortunate, as it is indeed possible to build up high or in very elevated places in this survival MMO.

As early as a few months ago, players wished that Funcom would address this, for example in this discussion on Reddit. At least: In an “Ask my Anything” session on June 19, 2025, the developers explained that elevators and other building styles for player bases are planned.

Start video
Dune: Awakening presents new action-packed trailer for the release of the game

A Survivor’s Initiative

How does a player solve the problem? A player from Dune: Awakening didn’t want to wait for the update. On Reddit, he showcased his “elevator” with a short video clip that covers 3 floors in his base.

He uses an Ornithopter and a shaft that is just wide enough for the aircraft to navigate up and down. On the levels where the “elevator” is supposed to stop, there are also sufficiently large parking bays for the Thopter on the side areas. But see for yourself:

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How does the community react to this? In just a few hours, there were already almost 1,000 upvotes and over 100 comments.

  • BoJackB26354 already has a name for this invention on Reddit: “The Elethopter.” Hawk_Cloud argues: “Ornivator.”
  • noheals4Blaire celebrates the idea on Reddit: “Haha, that’s genius. I was excited for a moment, I thought I would learn how to build a route for my floating hangar anchored to both cliffs in the gap. Made me laugh well.”
  • Lennyleonard_ believes on Reddit that this trick has no future: “I’m not an architect, but you will never get a building permit from the government, this is a minefield in terms of labor safety and security!”
  • Nop277 shares his own solution on Reddit: “This is pretty cool. I have an elevator that is just a Pentashield at the bottom of a shaft. A Suspensor + grappling hook takes you all the way up.”

Another feature that is still missing in Dune: Awakening is dueling. Here too, the community is already helping itself: Player says a feature is missing in Dune: Awakening, just takes care of it himself.

By the way, when exactly the official elevators are supposed to arrive is still unclear. In the current patch notes for update 1.1.20, which is currently on the test servers, there is no entry for a corresponding innovation. What the next package is supposed to bring instead, you can find out here: The next patch of Dune: Awakening brings no content, but many players are still looking forward to it.

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A new anime movie disappointed me so much that I now think twice about what I go to the cinema for

Cinema-goers could watch the new anime film of Jujutsu Kaisen. However, the film Hidden Inventory / Premature Death was so disappointing for MeinMMO editor Jasmin that she is considering which films to go to in the future.

Although snack prices continue to soar into astronomical heights, I am still a passionate cinema-goer. I especially enjoy animated films, whether American or Japanese productions. I even watched the film of One Piece twice in theaters – although it was ruined for me just as often.

Jujutsu Kaisen received a new film for theaters with Hidden Inventory / Premature Death, which was made available to MeinMMO as a screener. Since I had already seen Jujutsu Kaisen 0, I was curious about the new film – but was disappointed already by the synopsis of the new flick.

Start video
Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – Trailer for the Anime Movie

Anime film connects episodes together

The film shows the backstory of Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, when they were still friends. The two must protect the student Riko Amanai, who is to be sacrificed as a star plasma vessel. Nothing can happen to her until her sacrifice.

With time, the group gets to know Riko better and allows her to have a few last enjoyable hours. During this mission, so traumatic experiences occur that Geto later becomes the enemy we know from the Jujutsu Kaisen anime.

If the film’s content seems familiar to you, that’s no surprise: the film simply consists of the first 5 episodes of the anime. Only the opening and the ending have been removed.

For fans of the anime, there are two additional scenes: At the beginning, the protagonists of the film discuss whether eating Mochis helps them not to need the restroom during the film. This takes place in a cinema hall where the film is also currently playing. The essence: it is not proven.

At the end, there are also new montages of photos from the characters’ academy days. An acoustic version of Ao no Sumika plays in the background. Otherwise, everything in the film is identical to the series version, similar to earlier this year with the film for the finale of Attack on Titan.

Is it worth it? I watched the film again and have to say that it wasn’t worth it for me. Those who, like me, already know the scenes from the anime find nothing new in the film. According to Anna Nagase, who voices Riko in the film, the emotional highs are supposed to feel even more painful to the viewer due to the montage (seen on gamer.ne.jp).

Furthermore, the ending is also said to potentially tug at the heartstrings again. For hardcore fans of Gojo, the anime film could be worth it since it showcases his beginnings. However, those who simply want to follow the story of Jujutsu Kaisen, like me, will be disappointed.

I have experienced this before with other animes like Demon Slayer, which summarize part of the story. However, there are two advantages here that the producers improve upon:

  • The films were released each time before the start of the arcs in theaters. This allowed you to conveniently skip a few episodes from the new season to save time.
  • The episodes were not just lined up one after the other, but cut down to the necessary plot. This also saves time and allows you to experience the most exciting moments as a film.

However, if a film is just a collection of scenes that are exactly from the anime, I can’t find any enjoyment in it. Especially not when it is still not known when season 3 will be released.

The film would have been a good option to serve as a recap of what actually happened in season 2. Just before season 3, some moments from season 2 could have become important again. But by the time season 3 airs, I will probably have forgotten some scenes and will have those “Oh right, that’s how it was” moments.

As a cinema visit becomes increasingly expensive thanks to techniques like IMAX and the mentioned snack prices, it is worth considering which anime films I want to see in theaters in the future. In this case, we were fortunate that the film was provided to us; otherwise, I would have been upset.

There are now so many anime films released each year that I have decided to only go to those that consist of completely new footage. Some examples are the films of Detective Conan or Demon Slayer.

However, if you are a big fan of Jujutsu Kaisen or see Gojo as your personal husbando, you might enjoy the film.

What do you think about it? Which films do you go to the cinema for? Write it in the comments, as I am curious about how you handle new films.

By the way: MeinMMO has a list of anime films that will be playing in German cinemas this year. So you won’t miss anything. The complete overview of all films can be found here: All anime movies coming to cinemas in Germany in 2025

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

The big event from WoW regularly has completely undeserved winners; the reason might be the other participants

In the first week of August, the annual big Stylecheck of World of Warcraft takes place. Theoretically, the outfit that best fits the theme should win in the end. However, reality often looks different.

What kind of event is this? The big Stylecheck of World of Warcraft debuted almost exactly 8 years ago as part of the new mini-holidays introduced during WoW: Legion. In this competition, multiple players compete against each other.

The task: Find the best transmog outfit for a given theme within 2 minutes and present it afterwards – refined with emotes, visual effects, and paid fans cheering in the audience. The ratings of the outfits come from the participants themselves. As a reward, there are brands that can be exchanged for further cosmetics.

He who has achieved everything has nothing left to achieve – as this WoW player had to realize:

Start video
WoW: Spieler sammelt ALLE Erfolge im Spiel, fragt dann „Was mache ich jetzt?“

“I must have the worst luck in the world”

What does this look like in reality? The player ella posted a picture of a colorfully mixed outfit on Reddit, which is many things but certainly not award-winning. Her comment on it: “Why does this guy win the big Stylecheck every time, no matter what the theme is?”

The over 200 comments and more than 1,700 upvotes show that other WoW players are also familiar with this phenomenon. Additionally, the community discusses possible reasons:

  • farris59 writes on Reddit: “Ironically, there is a widespread strategy where everyone votes for the ‘worst’ mog (transmog/outfit) to increase their own chances, but this inadvertently catapults the outfit to first place.”
  • Shezarrine comments on Reddit: “It’s so annoying that the people who actually stick to the theme rarely win. I don’t know if people are just voting for ‘lol the funny mog’ or trying to trick the system by voting for the worst [outfit], but it makes the whole event pretty dull.”
  • Fullerbay gives an example on Reddit: “I once participated in the purple theme, where the first place wore a green outfit.”
  • Ainastrasza reports on Reddit: “The Style competition has been pretty bad for years. Naked Kul Tirans and gnomes in outfits that can only be described as ‘shitpost outfits’ that completely ignore the theme always get the most votes because people are just boring. Not to mention the revealing outfits. It really only happens about every third game I participate in that people actually take the theme seriously. I must have the worst luck in the world.”

What are your experiences with the big Stylecheck? Should Blizzard make changes to make the competition more exciting again? Share it in the comments! Participants certainly have the greatest chances if they own a colorful transmog collection. A WoW player even managed to impress the developers with his wardrobe recently.

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

Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 is popular – but an item in his tent confuses everyone

The most popular vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3 raises some questions. After all, he carries an item that has no use for him. Or does he?

The companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 are considered very likable, multifaceted, and simply popular. The “slightly” narcissistic elf with a penchant for sadism, Astarion, is no exception. As the group’s vampire, he is quite a special character that the community loves to discuss. However, he possesses an object that fans can’t quite make sense of.

Start video
Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3

What is in Astarion’s camp? If you look closely at Astarion’s camp, you’ll find several objects that painfully obviously reveal he is a vampire. A chalice filled with blood, a small shelf with blood vials – but also a large mirror. This very mirror presents a puzzle for the community, as the vampire-elf shouldn’t have any use for it.

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A mirror, many possible explanations

Why is a mirror so strange? While it wonderfully fits the slightly self-absorbed Astarion to have a large mirror among his possessions – it is rather absurd. After all, Astarion is a vampire, and they do not cast a reflection in the world of Baldur’s Gate. This is even explicitly confirmed in another scene when he uses a smaller hand mirror, emphasizing that he only uses it to see who is sneaking up behind him.

However, the fact that he has a large standing mirror in camp to admire himself seems a bit out of place – as he will never be able to see himself in it.

This is how the community discusses: In the Reddit subreddit for Baldur’s Gate 3, the mirror in Astarion’s camp is also actively discussed. Some have found a logical explanation for it – and it almost always relates to the vampire elf’s vanity.

  • “To be fair, he is a vampire who walks in the sun and is able to resist his master due to the larva that causes ongoing changes. It is not totally illogical that he looks at his reflection multiple times.” – saltpancake
  • “Vanity does not die, darling.” – ActuallySatanAMA
  • “So he can recognize when someone approaching him is also a vampire he does not know yet.” – Vanilla_Unlucky

This last theory seems to make sense, as Astarion lives in constant fear that his master sends henchmen after him to recapture him.

Do you have a better explanation for why our vampire heartthrob carries a large mirror around with him? What could Astarion aim to achieve by always keeping such a large object with him? If you want to get a little closer to Astarion, our romance guide might help you…

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

ArcheAge Chronicles should earn its place in your library by being fun, fair, and worth your time – XL Games on Pay2Win and MMO content

MeinMMO had the opportunity to interview the developers of ArcheAge Chronicles with questions. What we learned about one of the most important new MMORPGs of 2026 can be read in this interview special.

Since the developer update from October 2024, it had been unusually quiet about ArcheAge Chronicles. Only from the regular financial reports from publisher Kakao Games could new details be gleaned – such as the planned release in the first half of 2026 or focus tests in summer 2025.

The silence was supposed to last until July 31, 2025, but the newly released Producer’s Letter revealed not too much new information again. It is even nicer now that the developers from XL Games have taken the time to answer some of our questions regarding the successor to the popular sandbox MMORPG ArcheAge.

We wanted to know, among other things, how much ArcheAge and MMORPG elements are in Chronicles, how character progression will look, and what payment model we can expect in the West. You can jump to the interesting questions or answers via the table of contents.

[toc]

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ArcheAge Chronicles: Trailer shows for the first time the successor to ArcheAge

Online Action RPG or true MMORPG?

MeinMMO reported in September 2024 that the developers of ArcheAge Chronicles often use the genre term “Online Action RPG” and avoid the term MMORPG. We wanted to know from XL Games how much MMORPG is actually in ArcheAge Chronicles. The detailed response from the responsible parties:

The short version is: Chronicles is not a traditional MMORPG, but it is an always-online game with meaningful multiplayer systems. We refer to it as an online action RPG because that better captures the design direction—we’re prioritizing personal progression, immersive world-building, and a story-driven adventure that can be played solo, while still offering ways to connect, collaborate, and trade with others.

So yes—players will absolutely run into each other in the open world and in towns. We’re still tuning final numbers, but depending on the zone and activity, you can expect to encounter dozens of other players at a time. That includes social hubs, key regions, and public spaces like housing zones or market areas.

There will be guilds, and they’ll serve both a social and functional role in the game. We’re not ready to confirm exact size limits just yet, but we can say they’re being designed to support a variety of playstyles—from small groups of close friends to larger, community-driven organizations. However, unlike AA1, large-scale PvP and political control aren’t the focus, so guilds will be more about camaraderie, shared goals, and access to certain features—not territory wars or power structures.

As for group content like dungeons—yes, we have them. But again, the scale is more intimate. These are built for small groups, typically 2–5 players, with some potential exceptions depending on the activity. We want these experiences to feel personal, tight-knit, and skill-driven—not like massive raid coordination events. That allows us to keep content accessible while still offering challenge and depth for those who want it.

So to summarize: ArcheAge Chronicles carries the soul of an MMO—persistent world, multiplayer systems, player interaction—but it’s delivered through a story-first, player-friendly structure that’s designed for flexibility and freedom, not obligation. It’s a world you can share with others, but one you’ll experience primarily through your own lens.

XL Games via Mail to MeinMMO

In the coming months, more details about all these systems are promised, according to the developers.

ArcheAge Chronicles: PvE content
The PvE content in ArcheAge Chronicles is primarily aimed at solo players and small groups.

How much ArcheAge is in ArcheAge Chronicles?

The developers had already said that they want to build on the legacy of ArcheAge and send players to regions already known from the predecessor. We wanted to know more specifically which familiar elements fans of the first game can look forward to. Here again, the developers provided a rather detailed answer:

ArcheAge Chronicles is very much a new beginning, but it’s one that’s rooted deeply in the legacy of ArcheAge. We’re building a fresh experience—new systems, new structure, new storytelling—but we’re doing it in a world that long-time fans will recognize, with characters, locations, and lore that connect directly to the original.

Players can absolutely expect to revisit iconic regions from the original game—but not necessarily exactly as they remember them. Time has passed. The world has changed. Some places have evolved. Others have fallen into ruin. And some may hold surprises that challenge what you thought you knew about the world of ArcheAge.

You’ll also encounter familiar factions, lore threads, and even certain characters whose stories are continuing in new and unexpected ways. But importantly, Chronicles doesn’t assume you’ve played AA1. It’s built to be welcoming to new players, while rewarding those who already have a deep history with the franchise.

In terms of gameplay systems—yes, core pillars like trading, crafting, housing, and trade runs are returning, but they’ve been reimagined to better support Chronicles’ focus on solo progression, smoother onboarding, and player freedom. It’s not about recreating AA1—it’s about honoring what made it special and evolving it into something that fits today’s players and today’s tech.

In short: there’s a lot of ArcheAge in Chronicles, but this isn’t just a nostalgic remix. It’s a spiritual successor that stands on its own—built with love for the past, and a clear vision for the future.

XL Games via Mail to MeinMMO

Start video
ArcheAge Chronicles: Behind the Scenes – This is the Vision of the New MMORPG

What can the housing in ArcheAge Chronicles do?

In the first ArcheAge, housing was very important, and in the first developer blogs, it was mentioned that this will also be the case in ArcheAge Chronicles, but in a slightly different form. For example, NPC neighbors are supposed to play a role.

We therefore wanted to know to what extent this resembles familiar “Cozy Games” and how deep the life simulation should go? What possibilities do we have, for example, to interact with the NPC neighbors? The developers’ response:

We’ll be sharing more on how these systems work—and how deep the interactions can go—as we get closer to launch. But yes, this is a side of Chronicles that we’re really excited about, and one we think will surprise people in the best way.

We’re not trying to build a full-blown life sim—but we do want your home to feel alive, grounded, and connected to the world. There’s a clear inspiration here from games that emphasize comfort, customization, and community—think Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, or even Fantasy Life—but all within the structure of a larger action RPG with its own story and progression systems.

XL Games via Mail to MeinMMO

Looting and leveling – what does character progression look like?

Up to this point, there has been no information in the developers’ previous blog posts about this topic. Since looting and leveling are close to our hearts at MeinMMO, we naturally had to ask the developers what they can tell us about character progression in ArcheAge Chronicles. Here are their elaborations:

Rather than locking players into rigid classes, we’re building a flexible system that allows you to develop your abilities, gear, and playstyle in ways that reflect how you actually play. That means experimenting with weapon types, building synergy with skills, and chasing gear that enhances your preferred approach—whether that’s melee, magic, support, or something in between.

Loot is designed to feel exciting, not overwhelming. Our philosophy is to focus on quality and impact—we want every drop to feel like it could be meaningful, whether it’s a stat boost that pushes your build forward, a unique item with special effects, or a cosmetic piece that adds to your personal identity.

You’ll find gear through exploration, dungeons, crafting, and trading, and yes—crafters will play an important role in the overall item economy. But no matter how you obtain your equipment, our goal is to make sure your progression feels rewarding without becoming a grind. We’re not interested in overloading players with dozens of meaningless items. We want the loot you find—or make—to feel like it tells part of your story.

Character development in Chronicles is built around that same idea: steady, satisfying growth, with lots of room for experimentation. And because the game is designed to be approachable in shorter play sessions, you’ll always feel like you’re making progress—even if you just log in for a quick adventure or a crafting run.

We’ll be diving deeper into the specifics of gear, stats, and builds soon. But if you love the loop of leveling, looting, and refining your character—we think you’ll feel right at home.

XL Games via Mail to MeinMMO

ArcheAge Chronicles: Story
The story is expected to play an even bigger role than in the first ArcheAge.

How do the action battles work – is there the holy trinity of tanks, healers, and damage dealers?

It has been clear for some time that ArcheAge Chronicles will use an action combat system. However, we wanted to know details from the developers, such as roles, classes, and weapons. The developers’ explanations:

Combat in ArcheAge Chronicles is built to feel responsive, fluid, and expressive—we’ve designed it as a full action combat system, not tab-targeted or auto-driven. That means movement, timing, and positioning matter—and so do your choices about weapons, skills, and tactics.

Players will still be able to fill classic RPG roles like tank, healer, or DPS through their loadout—what weapon they equip, what skills they develop, and how they customize their build. It’s a flexible role system, designed to let you experiment and adapt based on your group or solo needs, not something you’re locked into at character creation.

Mechanically, things like dodging, blocking, and parrying play a central role in how combat feels. You’ll need to actively evade attacks, time your blocks correctly, and learn the patterns of enemies—especially in boss fights or dungeon encounters. It’s not just about stats—it’s about skill.

Combos are also a key part of the design. Some skills can be chained together for bonus effects, and others might interact differently depending on timing, enemy state, or synergy with group members. Whether you’re freezing an enemy to set up a shatter combo or taunting a boss to protect a glass-cannon ally, the goal is to create combat that feels both tactical and rewarding.

We want every weapon and ability to feel distinct, and for combat to evolve as you grow—not just through raw power, but through mastery of mechanics. Whether you’re soloing through story content or teaming up for tougher challenges, the system is built to keep you engaged moment to moment.

There’s still more to reveal, especially around weapon types and ability customization—but if you enjoy dynamic, action-driven combat with RPG depth underneath, we think you’ll find something really satisfying here.

XL Games via Mail to MeinMMO

How will ArcheAge Chronicles be monetized?

Finally, the topic of monetization was on the table. We discussed Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, which, for the western market, had received adjustments, but still relied on a combination of free-to-play and real-money currency auction houses – leading to many issues such as bots and pay-to-win. How does ArcheAge Chronicles solve this? The developers’ response:

At this time, we haven’t finalized a specific payment model for ArcheAge Chronicles, and that’s intentional. We’re actively listening to our community across regions and taking the time to ensure that whatever direction we choose, it aligns with one fundamental principle: fair play for everyone.

We’ve seen firsthand how monetization models can make or break a game’s long-term health—especially when pay-to-win mechanics creep in and damage player trust. That’s not what we’re about. Whether you’re on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series, you can expect a level playing field, where progression is driven by gameplay, skill, and your choices—not your wallet.

We’re fully committed to not introducing any pay-to-win systems. That includes things like buying power, gear advantages, or anything that would give paying players a competitive edge over others. We’re also being extremely cautious about how any in-game economies or marketplaces are integrated, precisely to avoid the pitfalls we’ve seen with other titles—especially the issues surrounding bots and real-money transactions that have frustrated players in both Eastern and Western markets.

As for whether the model will be the same worldwide—ideally, yes. We believe in creating a unified global experience where all players, regardless of region, have access to the same fair, rewarding, and engaging systems. That said, we also understand that different markets have different expectations and behaviors, so we’re weighing that carefully to strike the right balance.

In short: no pay-to-win, no shortcuts to power, and no compromising the integrity of the gameplay. We want ArcheAge Chronicles to earn its place in your library by being fun, fair, and worth your time.

XL Games via Mail to MeinMMO

What else do I need to know about ArcheAge Chronicles? ArcheAge Chronicles is set to focus more on the Western market than its predecessor and will therefore offer comprehensive PvE and story content that can be tackled alone or with small groups.

PvP elements and large-scale battles in the open world, which were tentatively planned, will instead be omitted. PvP is intended to be available mainly in clearly defined, competitive areas for fixed teams and guilds. The creative mind behind the world, who also worked on part 2 for a long time, is no longer on board: the creator of ArcheAge and Lineage wanted to celebrate his biggest success with a new MMORPG, but that will not happen

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

7 dangerous creatures from The Lord of the Rings that scare even the bravest warriors

The books and films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s work are full of menacing creatures. In our ranking, we clarify who is the most dangerous.

How was the ranking created? Middle-earth is inhabited by a multitude of beings. Besides well-known races like Men, Elves, Dwarves, or Orcs, there are also numerous creatures.

On one hand, there are those we know from our real world, such as rabbits, horses, or cows. But there are also those that clearly belong to the fantasy genre. For this list, we looked at beings that are animals or remind us of them.

Start video
Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship

It’s important that they appear in “The Lord of the Rings” or in “The Hobbit”. Whether they stand on the side of Good or Evil doesn’t matter. The main thing is that they are extremely dangerous and make brave warriors tremble.

Wargs LoTR

Place 7: Wargs

Wargs are basically just oversized wolves. On one hand, there are those from Saruman, one of the most powerful wizards from Middle-earth, who bred them. They were supposed to serve the Uruk-hai, which also originated from his “own production”, as mounts. On the other hand, there are also wild Wargs that have roamed Middle-earth since the First Age and once collaborated with the Orcs.

Wargs can grow up to three meters long and are a tough opponent purely due to their size. Mercilessly, they pounce on their enemies and tear them apart. Especially when these creatures move in packs, they pose a significant danger. Even with mounted units like the warriors of Rohan, they make short work of them.

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

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Promo A – All cards at a glance

“Promo A” cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket are cards that you cannot get from boosters. We have summarized which ones exist and how you can obtain them.

Update on August 4th: The new promo cards have been added.

What are promo cards? As the name suggests, these cards are ones that you receive through specific functions or events in the game. You cannot draw them normally from boosters.

In the “Promo A” series, there are several cards that you can obtain. We have looked into how this works for you.

Start video
Here are the 3 best decks for Pokémon TCG Pocket!

Overview of All Promo A Cards

  • Potion (001/P-A)
  • X Speed (002/P-A)
  • Hand Scope (003/P-A)
  • Pokédex (004/P-A)
  • Poké Ball (005/P-A)
  • Red Card (006/P-A)
  • Professor’s Research (Supporter Card, 007/P-A)
  • Pokédex (008/P-A)
  • Pikachu (009/P-A)
  • Mewtwo (010/P-A)
  • Chansey (011/P-A)
  • Meowth (012/P-A)
  • Butterfree (013/P-A)
  • Lapras-ex (014/P-A)
  • Pikachu (015/P-A)
  • Clefairy (016/P-A)
  • Mankey (017/P-A)
  • Venusaur (018/P-A)
  • Greninja (019/P-A)
  • Haunter (020/P-A)
  • Onix (021/P-A)
  • Jigglypuff (022/P-A)
  • Bulbasaur (023/P-A)
  • Magnemite (024/P-A)
  • Moltres ex (025/P-A)
  • Pikachu (026/P-A)
  • Snivy (027/P-A)
  • Volcarona (028/P-A)
  • Blastoise (029/P-A)
  • Eevee (030/P-A)
  • Cinccino (031/P-A)
  • Charmander (032/P-A)
  • Squirtle (033/P-A)
  • Piplup (034/P-A)
  • Turtwig (035/P-A)
  • Electivire (036/P-A)
  • Cresselia ex (037/P-A)
  • Misdreavus (038/P-A)
  • Skarmory (039/P-A)
  • Chimchar (040/P-A)
  • Togepi (041/P-A)
  • Darkrai ex (042/P-A)
  • Cherrim (043/P-A)
  • Raichu (044/P-A)
  • Nosepass (045/P-A)
  • Gible (046/P-A)
  • Staraptor (047/P-A)
  • Manaphy (048/P-A)
  • Snorlax (049/P-A)
  • Mewtwo ex (050/P-A)
  • Cyclizar (051/P-A)
  • Sprigatito (052/P-A)
  • Floatzel (053/P-A)
  • Pawmot (054/P-A)
  • Machamp (055/P-A)
  • Ekans (056/P-A)
  • Bidoof (057/P-A)
  • Pachirisu (058/P-A)
  • Riolu (059/P-A)
  • Exeggcute (060/P-A)
  • Froakie (061/P-A)
  • Farfetch’d (062/P-A)
  • Rayquaza (063/P-A)
  • Rayquaza ex (064/P-A)
  • Rayquaza ex (065/P-A)
  • Mimikyu (066/P-A)
  • Cosmog (067/P-A)
  • Lycanroc (068/P-A)
  • Alolan Exeggutor (069/P-A)
  • Alolan Ninetales (070/P-A)
  • Crabrawler (071/P-A)
  • Alolan Grimer (072/P-A)
  • Toucannon (073/P-A)
  • Zeraora (074/P-A)
  • Kartana (075/P-A)
  • Blacephalon (076/P-A)
  • Xurkitree (077/P-A)
  • Dawn Wings Necrozma (078/P-A)
  • Dusk Mane Necrozma (079/P-A)
  • Stakataka (080/P-A)
  • Ultra Necrozma ex (081/P-A)
  • Poipole (082/P-A)
  • Stufful (083/P-A)
  • Tapu Koko ex (084/P-A)
  • Vanillite (085/P-A)
  • Jolteon (086/P-A)
  • Alcremie (087/P-A)
  • Dragonait (088/P-A)
  • Audino (089/P-A)
  • Togedemaru (090/P-A)
  • Greedent (091/P-A)
  • Eevee (092/P-A)
  • Cleffa (093/P-A)
  • Horsea (094/P-A)
  • Chinchou (095/P-A)
  • Houndoom (096/P-A)
  • Kangaskhan (097/P-A)
  • Blissey ex (098/P-A)
  • Marill (099/P-A)
  • Weavile (100/P-A)

More cards from the series: No further cards from the “Promo A” series have been officially confirmed so far. As soon as the additional cards are confirmed, we will update the list accordingly.

In addition to the promo cards, there are certainly many other cards that you can collect in the game. Naturally, there are cards that are more commonly found in boosters and others that are much rarer. We have also put together an overview of the rarest cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

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

Because he has had enough of traffic, a billionaire exchanges his villa for a super yacht and commutes to work by helicopter

As the US ambassador, Tilman Fertitta actually has a villa in Rome at his disposal, but the billionaire prefers to live on his yacht and flies to appointments with the associated helicopter.

The cover image is a symbolic image by Sean Dogjani via Pexels.

Who is it about? Tilman Fertitta is not only the owner of the NBA team Houston Rockets and a chain of casinos and restaurants – since May 2025, he is also the US ambassador to Italy. As such, the billionaire is officially entitled to Villa Taverna as his official residence, which was sold to the then US government in 1948.

In contrast to his predecessors, however, Fertitta does not live on the estate, but on the Boarwalk, his 77-meter yacht, which is moored about 100 kilometers outside of Rome in the port of Civitavechhia. In addition to a wine cellar, a gym, and a pool, the yacht also features its own helicopter of the type Airbus H130, with which the ambassador flies to meetings in Rome.

According to reports, the billionaire felt disturbed by restoration work in the villa. Furthermore, the traffic in the Italian capital is intolerable. Nevertheless, Fertitta cannot completely escape the traffic, as a flight permit over Rome is reserved for the Pope and the Italian head of state.

Whenever possible, the ambassador therefore attends appointments directly with his yacht, as recently during his visit to a memorial service at the monumental cemetery near Nettuno, where 7,860 US soldiers are buried.

Another successful businessman can probably only dream of the yacht because he drove his company live on air into the ground:

Start video
Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?

An expensive fun – not just for the ambassador

The choice of residence of the billionaire seems to be received rather moderately by the Italians, as they now have to take care of the ambassador’s security not only on the officially intended estate but also on water and in the air.

Thus, the airspace above the yacht would be under constant observation by various forces, intelligence services, and the harbor authority. As a result, the superyacht joins about 4,000 sensitive objects in Rome, for whose protection the Italian state has to bear the costs.

The additional costs due to his unusual residence are probably no factor for Fertitta, as he explained in a conversation with ABC: “This is one of the things I’ve always wanted and will always have. It’s not cheap, I can tell you that… but every time I step on it, I think to myself, ‘God, I love this boat.'” (via Luxury Launches)

The benefits of life on a boat are also enjoyed by Gabe Newell, the head of Valve and Steam. In a recent interview, he revealed what a day in his life looks like: Gabe Newell tells a YouTuber with 19 subscribers how the head of Valve lives and works on a boat 7 days a week

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

A Pokémon player spends 81 hours in the first area to level up his starter to level 100, community asks: Why?

A player has brought his starter Pokémon to the maximum level in 81 hours. Fans are asking him if he is okay and why he put himself through that.

What exactly did the player do? Since many players find Pokémon games too easy, content creators, streamers, and players take on various challenges, such as the well-known Kaizo Challenge.

Reddit user Ov3rall_Middle made it his personal challenge to level up his starter Pokémon Snivy to the maximum level in the White Edition right in the starting area. He took about 81 hours to evolve Snivy into Serperior and bring it to level 100.

To level up Snivy, he could only battle against the small Pokémon Patrat, Lillipup, and Purrloin in the tall grass. Especially Lillipup was beneficial to him, as due to its ability “Pickup”, there was a 10% chance of receiving an item after each battle. Starting from level 21, he was able to get valuable Rare Candies through Lillipup, which he then used on Snivy to increase its level.

The undertaking proved to be such a test of patience that the community in the thread of his experience report inevitably questions whether everything is alright with him.

Start video
Pokémon Legends: Z-A presents a new story trailer for Switch

“Okay, but why?”

What does the community say about his achievement? In the comments on his thread on Reddit, a clear picture of admiration emerges. Many users find it impressive that he managed to endure and accomplish it for so long.

Others question his decision and wonder if the effort was really worth it:

  • ImmersedBlade asks: “Are you… Are you okay..? (In all seriousness, congratulations on your dedication)”
  • MrShad0wzz comments: “I’m impressed, but I don’t understand why you put yourself through this.”
  • No_Stand7554 asks: “I need to know if you’re mentally okay.”
  • frostyfiger celebrates: “A level of patience I could never muster. Good job, ahahah.”

Many users also ask him if he at least saw some Shinies, given the time he invested. Unfortunately, the player denies this but says that his next challenge is to assemble a team consisting only of Shinies in the Black Edition.

The Reddit user is, as mentioned, not the only one who artificially enhances the seemingly “boring” Pokémon experience. Another player took on one of the hardest self-imposed challenges and took about 8,000 attempts: After over 8,000 attempts, a trainer completes probably the hardest challenge in Pokémon with a bat

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

Because the food in the manga looked too good, the creators of the hit anime Dandadan had to get creative

The second season of the successful anime Dandadan has premiered on Netflix and Crunchyroll. However, besides action-packed fights, it is particularly the food that is causing a stir.

What’s up with the food? In Dandadan, there are several scenes where the characters eat together. This is also true in episode 6 of the current second season. However, the pot around which the group gathers is not filled with coarsely drawn cel-shading snacks – instead, the animators simply took a photo of real food and integrated it into the 2D environment.

Okay, but… why? Some fans suspect that the food drawings by mangaka Tatsu in the original work were so detailed that studio Science Saru could only use real food to adequately adapt the original (via Vida Extra).

After all, the food in the manga already looks so good that some might find their mouths watering. You can check out the comparison here via Instagram:

Some users, however, point out that the manga panel could already be a photo, simply overlaid with a filter, or at least a photo that has been redrawn here.

The decision of the animators might indicate less about being overwhelmed by the adaptation but rather a kind of visual gag, often found in cartoon series like SpongeBob or Gumball. However, the result is certainly memorable.

Start video
Dandadan: Official Trailer for Season 2 of the Anime

When the characters are not busy stuffing their faces, things also get intense in Dandadan, as Okarun and Momo must face aliens, ghosts, and other supernatural beings. And some of them are truly formidable: The 7 strongest characters from Dandadan in the ranking that make Okarun’s life difficult

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

For a long time, I didn’t want to play Magic: The Gathering Arena because it was said to be pay-to-win – Now I rise up the ranks without spending money and can only say: Git gud!

MyMMO editor Karsten Scholz spent his school breaks many, many years ago with Magic: The Gathering. Now, despite all the criticism, he has started with MTGArena on Steam and is back in the trading card game fever.

Hearthstone, Gwent, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, Legends of Runeterra, Scrolls … over the years I have tried many digital trading card games and had a lot of fun with some of them. However, none of them compare to my first great TCG love – Magic: The Gathering (TCG stands for Trading Card Game, of course).

This is certainly due to many nostalgic memories from my school days, as we played Magic during breaks and after school. I also enjoy the complex rules behind the game, the characteristics of the 5 colors, as well as the incredibly wide range of deck strategies that have existed over the past 32 years and still exist today.

Start video
Magic: The Gathering has a crossover with Final Fantasy – Shows first cards in the trailer

The Long Wait

The fact that I still played the aforementioned games quite extensively is simply because there were no digital variants of Magic for a long time that could engage me long-term. Attempts like Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers (the ones from 2011 to 2015 are resting in my Steam library) or Magic Duels were okay for a few hours, but nothing more than that.

I kept my distance from Magic: The Gathering Arena from 2019 for a long time. The ratings on Steam reach only “Mixed” – in the end, only 62 percent of the over 21,000 ratings are positive. The criticism almost always revolves around one point: monetization:

  • The business model is at least as greedy and predatory in the digital version as it is in paper form – but enriched by microtransactions, cosmetics, loot boxes, battle passes, time-limited offers, and so on…
  • If you don’t invest money, you can’t keep up and are constantly losing → Pay2Win
  • Some people even believe that a player’s investments affect their draw luck and starting hand.
Magic The Gathering Arena: Battle Pass
With the new edition, a fresh battle pass also started a few days ago, which – as you know – offers both a free and a paid path.

Why did you start now? A good buddy of mine, with whom I played a lot of Magic back in the day, asked me to download the game on Steam as well as on the tablet. He had started a few weeks earlier and suggested that we could duel with the easily earned starter decks and chat about everything under the sun. Good idea, count me in!

But it didn’t stop there. I quickly got caught up in the trading card game fever again. Through beginner challenges, events, quests, and the free battle pass path, I quickly earned cards with which I could build my first own decks. With those, I tried my hand at one of the ranked modes, lost, won, climbed up, and learned about other builds of the current meta.

How has it been so far? On Thursday (July 31, 2025), the ranked season ended, and I was able to play my way up to Platinum rank quite easily – that’s not quite Diamond yet, but at least the fourth progression level. I haven’t paid a cent for Arena so far.

Maybe I was just lucky because there are one or two deck strategies in the current meta that can be implemented with relatively inexpensive cards – I was able to achieve most of my victories with a green Chocobo/bird deck and 2 white minion decks.

Magic The Gathering Arena Rankings
Karsten played ranked for a few days with several free-to-play decks – enough for Platinum.

One of the minion decks relies on units that grant life points or benefit from healing. The other is a modified version of the cat starter deck, which exploits the synergies of the feline critters to overwhelm the opponent.

Currently, I have a total of 31 different decks in my collection, plus another 5 incomplete ones for which I still lack some key cards.

The criticism that you can only win in Magic: The Gathering Arena with a lot of money and climb the leaderboard is something I cannot confirm at this point. Also, I haven’t noticed constant punishment through bad starting cards or bad luck draws as a non-payer. Sometimes draws can be frustratingly bad, but it was like that even back then, with the real cards.

What does “Git gud” mean?
Let’s ask the internet: “Git gud” is a colloquial expression that is a deliberate misspelling of “get good” and is used in gaming contexts to urge someone to improve their skills. It means something like “Get better” or “Become good”.

Magic is simply a complex game where the effect descriptions of the cards are getting longer and longer, and one really has to pay attention not to miss anything on the game board that could decide the outcome of a match. Anyone trying it for the first time or after a long break will likely be overwhelmed by the current editions and game modes.

Here, the only solution is: Play, play, play. Get to know as many cards, effects, and current deck strategies as possible. And continuously refine one’s own decks.

Not a game for you if you are susceptible to gambling mechanisms

So there’s nothing to the criticism? Let’s not kid ourselves: The whole system with the paid boosters that contain random cards has been questionable for over 30 years. We are talking about the ancestors of loot boxes, which some organizations in the EU classify as dangerous.

In Arena, we now find not only these loot boxes back in booster form but also all the other monetization nonsense that service games have brought us in recent years. In this regard, I believe the criticism on Steam is absolutely justified. If you don’t have self-control, you can quickly spend a fortune on the game, and that is a problem.

The truth, however, also includes: Those who spend little or no money can still have fun with Arena, regularly win, and even climb the leaderboard – at least that’s my experience from the past weeks.

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What I would wish for is a few cooperative modes, as there were in other Magic games, where you have to tackle certain deck strategies or challenges together. If you like PvE content in TCGs, you won’t find it in Arena. Have you tried the game yet? How is it for you?

By the way: The officials from Hasbro recently revealed details about the revenues from Q2 2025 during the latest earnings call. In particular, 2 brands from Wizards of the Coast performed well: Monopoly Go and Magic: The Gathering. There were even record revenues: Magic: The Gathering is made to empty fans’ wallets – in combination with Final Fantasy, it worked better than ever before

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

A tiny developer team creates a role-playing game for Steam that could visually be an Elder Scrolls

The publisher THQ Nordic has showcased some new games, including Fatekeeper, a new role-playing game on Steam, developed by just 10 people.

What kind of game is Fatekeeper? Fatekeeper is a first-person RPG from the new development team at Paraglacial. According to THQ Nordic, the team consists of just 10 passionate developers taking on this ambitious project.

You play as a warrior exploring a world filled with ruins and catastrophic events, using medieval weapons and magic. You will be able to customize your playstyle with various relics, weapons, and spells, making decisions along a narrative that influences the outcome.

The announcement trailer impresses with a dark atmosphere and a mystical ancient narrative about curses, gods, and wars. Visually, it recalls a mix of popular Elder Scrolls games. Could this game fill the gap for fans eagerly awaiting Elder Scrolls 6?

The game is set to enter Early Access on Steam in winter 2025. It is currently unclear whether Fatekeeper will also be released for consoles.

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New RPG for Steam shows atmosphere like in Elder Scrolls

Builds and Exploration in Focus

What will the game offer? Not much is currently known about the game aside from the trailer and some core features. According to the shop page on Steam, you can expect a handcrafted, exciting world full of secrets to explore.

You will follow a focused story where your decisions play a significant role. Exploring ancient battlefields, caves, ruins, and forests will be at the forefront. Various opponents with their unique strengths, weaknesses, and attack patterns will confront the player, requiring both good preparation and combat skills.

Builds will take a major focus in the gameplay, which you should be able to combine with various weapons, spells, relics, and a variety of different equipment. Together with different progression mechanics, you will be able to extensively customize the builds to suit your own playstyle.

Whether this will actually strike a similar chord as Elder Scrolls remains to be seen. Meanwhile, an old German game with its remaster on Steam is making headlines: Ancient strategy game with German flair releases as a remaster on Steam, is 90% positive after 2 weeks, delighting fans

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

WoW player gets kicked from the group because the group doesn’t help him

In World of Warcraft, sometimes players are kicked for absurd reasons. Even when they are in need of help.

It’s accepted that sometimes you have players in World of Warcraft who don’t really know what they are doing or how a boss fight works. This happens in every game and is part of it. However, in WoW, there is often a peculiar impatience that leads some to want to kick someone from their group. Even when that person is not at fault and one should reflect on their own actions.

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WoW mal so richtig ehrlich erklärt

What happened? After a player demonstrated a few days ago that he was kicked from a dungeon for being the only one to play the mechanics correctly, many others are now sharing their stories and revealing the reasons why they were removed from their groups.

The player Ciric3 shares his story from the Timewalking dungeon, King’s Rest. There, he was stunned – and because no one knew the mechanics, he was subsequently kicked for inactivity.

When I was leveling in Timewalking dungeons, I entered King’s Rest. We defeated the first boss, and during the second boss (Mchimba), I was hit by “Entomb”. While I was underground, I used the “Assist” ping so my teammates could see me better and help me. Right after that, a loading screen came up, and I didn’t know what was going on.

Then I saw the Dungeon Deserter debuff and realized what had happened. I whispered the hunter in the group and asked why I was kicked. The group probably thought I was afk, even though they hadn’t played the mechanics that keep me stunned permanently.

This community gets stranger every day.

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What is special about this boss? Mchimba in the dungeon “King’s Rest” has the ability “Entomb”. This forces a character in the group into a sarcophagus, from which they cannot free themselves. The only thing the captured character can do is squirm so that the sarcophagus wobbles and the rest of the group knows which sarcophagus the character is in – to rescue them.

However, if one does not know this mechanic, a character can be trapped for several minutes, even after the fight has ended.

Why are these mechanics so unknown? King’s Rest is a special case. The dungeon belongs to “Battle for Azeroth”, but even back then it was not part of the leveling experience. King’s Rest was an end-game dungeon that one only played at maximum level. Most of the time, the dungeon was played on Mythic and “Mythic+”. Therefore, many who did not play such content back then have little to no memories of this instance.

These incidents are particularly frustrating because the kicked individuals then have a deserter debuff, preventing them from accessing further dungeons for half an hour. They feel doubly punished for the ignorance of their fellow players.
Despite this negative experience, many players are sure – There is only one WoW.

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