If you want to win the Jungle Cup in Pokémon GO, you need the right monsters. MeinMMO shows you some of the strongest specimens for the competition.
What kind of competition is this? In the Jungle Cup of the Super League edition, only monsters with a maximum of 1,500 CP and types Normal, Grass, Electric, Poison, Ground, Flying, Bug, or Dark are allowed. Your Pokémon can have, in addition to one of the mentioned types, also another type.
When does the cup take place? The Jungle Cup runs from November 4, 2025, to November 11, 2025.
During the tournament, you will also receive 4 times the amount of star dust for victories. This does not include the reward at the end of a battle set.
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Pokémon GO: The Season “Stories of Transformation” in the Trailer
The strongest monsters for the Jungle Cup
Piloswine
What kind of monster is this? Piloswine is the evolution of Swinub and the pre-evolution of Mamoswine. The monster has the types Ice and Ground. Piloswine has existed since the 2nd generation.
Piloswine
What are the optimal moves? If you want to use Piloswine, you should focus on the moves Powder Snow, Icicle Spear, and Stone Edge.
What are the best IV values? To get the most out of a Piloswine in the battle league, you should try to obtain a specimen with IV values of 0/15/10.
What is this Pokémon good for? Piloswine is a fast attacker that can quickly use charged attacks and thus apply pressure on the opponent’s shields, forcing them to use them. At the same time, Piloswine cannot withstand as much damage as other monsters on this list.
Piloswine is suitable for starting, switching in, and also for the end of a battle.
Clodsire
What kind of monster is this? Clodsire, the monster with the types Poison and Ground, has existed since the 9th generation. It evolves from Paldean Wooper.
Paldean Wooper and Clodsire
What are the optimal moves? Equip Clodsire with the moves Poison Sting, Earthquake, and Stone Edge to get the optimal moveset.
What are the best IV values? A Clodsire with IV values of 0/14/13 is the perfect specimen for the Jungle Cup.
What is this Pokémon good for? Clodsire is a true tank that is very hard to take down if you have no type disadvantage in battle. The monster is best suited to start the fight and to be used at the end.
Forretress
What kind of monster is this? This monster has the types Bug and Steel. You get it when you evolve Pineco. Forretress has been known in the Pokémon world since the 2nd generation.
What are the optimal moves? Equip Forretress with the moves Bug Bite, Sand Tomb, and Rock Tomb.
What are the best IV values? 0/9/15 are the perfect values if you want to use this monster.
What is this Pokémon good for? Forretress also has high defensive values. Use it to start the fight or at the end to defeat the weakened opponent. While it has Bug Bite as a fast move, it is only conditionally suitable to force the opponent to use their shields quickly.
Galarian Stunfisk
What kind of monster is this? Since Generation 8, Stunffisk exists in the Galarian variant. The monster has the types Ground and Steel.
The Galarian variant of Stunfisk
What are the optimal moves? If you want to use Galarian Flappo, then you should focus on the moves Mud Shot, Rock Slide, and Earthquake.
What are the best IV values? The optimal IV distribution for the monster consists of the values 0/12/15.
What is this Pokémon good for? The monster is quite an all-rounder. It can take a lot of damage, can quickly charge loaded attacks, and can also hit a variety of opposing monsters hard. Additionally, it has good resistances against many attacks.
Especially as a starter as well as the last monster, you can rely on Galarian Stunfisk.
Crustle
What kind of monster is this? If you evolve Dwebble, you will get Crustle. The Pokémon has the types Bug and Rock.
What are the optimal moves? Fury Cutter, X-Scissor, and Rock Wrecker.
What are the best IV values? 0/13/13 are the perfect IV values for Crustle if you want to use the monster in the battle league.
What is this Pokémon good for? Crustle can attack very quickly and use charged attacks, forcing the opponent to use shields. Although Crustle is suitable for all phases of the fight, you should ideally use it to switch in to put pressure on your opponent or to offset your own type disadvantage.
Corviknight
What kind of monster is this? Corviknight is a monster with the types Flying and Steel. It evolves from Corvisquire, which you can evolve from Rookidee. All 3 monsters have existed since the 8th generation.
Corviknight
What are the optimal moves? The perfect moveset consists of the moves Sand Attack, Air Cutter, and Payback. If you don’t have a Corviknight with Air Cutter, you will need to use a Premium Charge TM to obtain the move, as it is an exclusive attack.
What are the best IV values? 0/13/14 are the optimal IV values for Corviknight.
What is this Pokémon good for? Corviknight is not only defensively strong, but also a good offensive monster for the Jungle Cup. It can be used in all phases of the battle but excels slightly more as a starter monster than in other roles.
Altaria
What kind of monster is this? Altaria is a monster with the types Flying and Dragon. It has existed since the 3rd generation and evolves from Swablu.
Altaria in regular and shiny form
What are the optimal moves? You should equip Altaria with the move combination Dragon Breath, Sky Attack, and Flamethrower.
What are the best IV values? If you have an Altaria with 0 Attack, 14 Defense, and 15 HP, then you have the optimal values for the cup.
What is this Pokémon good for? The monster has high defense values and can take a lot of damage. It is especially suitable as the first monster in your team or to switch in at the end.
Cradily
What kind of monster is this? Cradily, the monster from the 3rd generation, has the types Rock and Grass. Cradily evolves from Lileep.
Cradily
What are the optimal moves? Ideally, teach your Cradily the moves Acid, Rock Tomb, and Grass Knot.
What are the best IV values? 0 Attack, 15 Defense, and 15 HP are the perfect IV values for Cradily.
What is this Pokémon good for? The monster has quite good defensive values and can withstand quite a bit. It is suitable to start the fight but can also be switched in during combat or at the end.
What should I consider when assembling a team? When assembling your team, make sure you have a balanced team and that your monsters do not all have the same weaknesses.
What should be considered in battle? You need to learn how to use your Pokémon. This includes learning against which opposing monsters you should switch your Pokémon and when it is not necessary. You should also learn which attacks hit you especially hard and when and if it makes sense to block them with a shield.
Having shields later in a battle can make the difference between victory or defeat.
Other good monsters: Of course, the 7 monsters from this list are not the only ones suitable for the Jungle Cup. Even if they comply with the current meta, you can also rely on other monsters. Here, allowed is what works. You can find some more strong monsters from the current meta in the following table:
Pokémon
Moves
IV
Note
Diggersby (Normal and Ground)
Quick Attack, Fire Fang, and Scorching Sands
0/15/13
Requires XL Candy
Dunsparce (Normal)
Rollout, Drill Run, Rock Slide
0/14/12
Relatively rare to obtain
Lickilicky (Normal)
Rollout, Body Slam*, Shadow Ball
0/15/10
Needs Elite Charged TM
Articuno (Ice and Flying)
Powder Snow, Icy Wind, Hurricane*
1/15/14
Rarely available
The current month brings you a lot of content in Pokémon GO. This includes events, dynamax monsters, and raids. If you want to know when which activity is expected in the game, feel free to check our overview of all events in March 2026 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Jasmin has played several MMORPGs and is also a big fan of single-player role-playing games. She was therefore even more excited that Crimson Desert seems to bring the best of both worlds. However, one feature that is common in both genres is missing for perfection.
When I’m not tending to farms in the virtual world and searching for true love, I usually hang out in role-playing games or MMORPGs. Accordingly, I was hyped about the announcement of Crimson Desert.
The title was originally planned as an MMORPG, only to be transformed into a single-player experience. Consequently, you can still find some relics from the early development phase, such as the extensive scope or housing. I’m also incredibly excited about the story.
But there’s one special feature that I’m missing, which is typical for both single-player and multiplayer role-playing games. You can call me a noob, but I actually have problems with the absence of this particular detail in the game.
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Crimson Desert: Launch trailer shows new bosses, dragon action and the storming of a moving train
I can’t make it to the credits
Crimson Desert will only have a pre-set difficulty level. This means that you have to live with the challenge the game offers you. Normally, in MMORPG instances or single-player role-playing games, you can set whether you want your experience to be easy, medium, or hard.
A missing difficulty level is more characteristic of titles from the Souls genre. Here you have to live with the mechanics of the bosses and there are no switches to increase the damage dealt or minimize the damage taken.
The focus is on learning the mechanics of the bosses over time and growing from it. As you progress in the game, you are supposed to learn the mechanics by heart and eventually experience the proud moment of having defeated the boss.
And how difficult the bosses are, I experienced firsthand in a demo at gamescom 2025. Private visitors were able to test several bosses and see if they could handle them. And I have to say: I was completely overwhelmed by the fights.
Since I have no experience in the Souls genre, the bosses were incredibly hard for me. I can still remember a yeti that played ping-pong with me and knocked me down so many times that I kept biting the dust way too quickly. Another enemy constantly teleported away and slaughtered me from a distance.
I still get angry when I see that piece of garbage.
So it’s essential to learn the attack patterns over time. Normally, I have no issues with grinding, since I do the same thing every day in farming simulations to eventually have more money and expand my house. However, I have to say that I struggle to memorize mechanics and invest a lot of time into a single fight just to eventually defeat the boss. That simply doesn’t feel fun to me.
The problem with Crimson Desert is that I can’t simply lower the difficulty when I realize I’m stuck in a boss fight. In the worst case, this could lead to me having to abandon the game at some point because I can’t progress in the story since a specific enemy must be defeated.
Therefore, I’m currently wavering on whether to even start the game. I still hope there’s some mechanic that allows players to artificially lower the difficulty through other influences. For example, if I can farm a strong equipment set from other enemies that makes the boss much easier to handle, I wouldn’t have a problem with that.
As an example: In Elden Ring, it’s possible to gain significant advantages through certain items and helpers that make the bosses a bit easier. You might still struggle with the strongest enemies, but for the previous foes, those items could make the small difference needed to defeat an enemy.
However, if it turns out that the equipment has no significant impact on the difficulty, I will unfortunately have to turn my back on Crimson Desert. Especially in story-driven games, I would find it really disappointing if I couldn’t experience the complete story just because I’m too incapable of memorizing mechanics.
What do you think? Do you think multiple difficulty levels belong in a role-playing game or do you just take what the game offers you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Deep Rock Galactic is one of the best cooperative shooters on Steam. A new spin-off promises an interesting roguelite twist.
Uh… what? Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core is an upcoming co-op shooter for up to 4 players. The popular dwarf franchise so far includes the co-op shooter Deep Rock Galactic and the roguelite Deep Rock, both of which are great representatives of their respective genres. To complete the circle, the new shooter comes with a special roguelite twist.
Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core shows new aliens in the release date trailer
Against Creepy Aliens with the Pickaxe
What is known about the game? In Rogue Core, you take on the role of the “Reclaimers,” an elite unit of the Deep Rock Galactic Corporation. Equipped with a pickaxe, you venture into the deepest regions ever explored by a dwarf, where unforeseen dangers await.
In typical roguelite fashion, you start over again with the simplest equipment, collecting new weapons and abilities during a run to eventually become an absurdly overpowered dwarf.
What is the mood in the community? It is, to say the least, positive. In the comments under the trailer on YouTube, one often reads the mantra “Rock and Stone,” but there is also some more concrete feedback.
For example, user no.5689 praises the “absolutely insane alien design,” while modman287 feels reminded of Dead Space from 2008.
Holoflux jokes about “a whole Deep Rock Galactic-verse,” probably a reference to “cinematic universes” such as those created by Marvel or DC, but not all fans are pleased about it. Some feel that Rogue Core could also have been a mode or DLC for the existing game. This way, many of the familiar mechanics would be lost.
Overall, however, anticipation seems to outweigh the concerns, and many fans can hardly wait for the launch.
Final Fantasy XIV is one of the largest and most popular MMORPGs of our time. But is it worth starting or returning more than 12 years after the relaunch? MeinMMO tells you what you should know.
What do you need to know about Final Fantasy XIV? Final Fantasy XIV restarted in 2013 after the failed version 1.0 with A Realm Reborn. Since then, the MMORPG has grown and now offers thousands of hours of content with five expansions and is considered one of the most popular MMORPGs of its time.
You embark on a journey with a character you create into the world of Eorzea, experiencing great adventures along a comprehensive, epic story and facing numerous challenges alongside other players.
Additionally, Final Fantasy XIV is one of the few MMORPGs that can be played not only on PC and PlayStation 5 but also on Xbox and MAC, allowing you to comfortably play the MMO with a controller. A mobile version is also in the works, which is already playable in China.
With its extensive expansions, Final Fantasy XIV can seem intimidating for newcomers and returnees. We explain whether it is worth (re)starting in 2026 and who should not hesitate, or who should stay away.
If you are familiar with the game, you can jump directly to the assessment through our table of contents:
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Who writes here? MeinMMO editor Alexander Mehrwald has been adventuring in Eorzea mainly as a Dark Knight since the expansion Heavensward in 2015 and does not shy away from difficult content. With Dawntrail, he then switched to White Mage in his raid group, enjoying himself in challenging trials and raids. But his house in the Lavender Beds and his island are also always happy to see him.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural
What can you expect in Final Fantasy XIV?
Final Fantasy XIV is considered a theme park MMORPG. Similar to a amusement park with clearly designed attractions and paths, players are guided through a large main story, leading them from quest to quest and from content to content.
Along this campaign, numerous additional activities await, such as side quests, dungeons, raids, and other instanced challenges. The game guides you step by step through an epic storyline, offering a diverse range of content and always providing a clear sense of progression.
Besides these more traditional MMO contents, there are also plenty of additional content options, such as housing, an in-game casino, treasure maps, expeditions, a private island, as well as collector and crafter classes.
When starting with a character in the MMORPG, you can choose from one of 8 different races, which you can create in both male and female forms and with 2 sub-variations each. These mainly have visual impacts, allowing you to choose based on preference.
Once you have decided, you can choose one of 9 classes: Archer, Druid, Thaumaturge, Necromancer, Gladiator, Dragoon, Marauder, Rogue, or Pugilist. The chosen starting class also defines the initial area you start in. From level 30, these starter classes evolve into jobs such as Bard, White Mage, Paladin, Warrior, or Dragoon.
In total, across all expansions, you have the choice of 21 classes, all playable and levelable with a single character so you do not have to replay the story multiple times unless you want to.
Additionally, you can enjoy 8 crafting and 3 gathering classes, engaging in detailed crafting where you have to actively break down or create your items with various commands instead of just picking them up with a click or creating them with a short cooldown.
Fights like choreographed dances
Combat is done via tab targeting and optimized rotations, with combo sequences that light up helpfully for beginners to aid in learning the classes. This allows all fights to be learned like choreographies in a dance, making combat more accessible for newcomers – as practice indeed makes perfect.
The often instanced content is played in the so-called Holy Trinity consisting of usually one tank, one healer, and 2 damage dealers. Some content is also played in large groups of 8 players, requiring 2 defenders, 2 healers, and 4 attackers.
A particular highlight is the so-called alliance raids, where 24 players fight multiple mobs and bosses simultaneously in 3 groups of 8 players. There are also various contents for players for whom the regular content is too easy, such as epic raids and trials, difficult dungeons, and even a tough alliance raid for large groups.
Many raids and content come with catchy music, making the whole experience worthwhile, including the new raid series with a song from rock icon Tom Morello:
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Final Fantasy XIV: Rocking trailer for “Into the Mist” sets the stage for patch 7.4
What are the current strengths of Final Fantasy 14?
Final Fantasy’s strengths lie in various aspects. First, the storyline is a significant plus if as a player you care about an epic narrative centered around your character as the hero of the story.
Secondly, almost all of the game’s content, whether base game or any of the expansions, remains relevant and playable to this day, meaning you can often find fellow players through either content search or group search.
Another major plus is that you can play all available classes and content with a single character. Thus, you do not have to play through the entire story again to level a different class. Since your character does not have a level, but only the individual classes do, you can fully explore this.
Moreover, many group content, especially dungeons and trials, can also be played with NPCs, allowing Final Fantasy XIV to be played extensively as a single player experience.
After over 12 years, there are so many content options available that almost every player who enjoys classic MMO content should find something to their liking.
What current weaknesses does Final Fantasy 14 have?
As beautiful as the epic story is in large parts, it can be overwhelming for newcomers. With several hundred hours of gameplay just through the story, it can feel very daunting. While there is a way to skip the progress up to the latest expansion “Dawntrail” and jump straight into it, it costs additional money.
Newcomers to the MMORPG should also be aware that the quality of the content has greatly improved over the years. Older content has aged somewhat and is not as epic and lively compared to the new.
With Patch 7.3, the story of Dawntrail came to an end and the next expansion is slowly but surely being introduced. Not much is known about it so far, but that is likely to change soon. The regular fan fest is coming up again, and historically, the dates are packed with new information about the upcoming expansion.
In the meantime, several contents that Dawntrail will still receive are pending, such as the new content-limited class Beastmaster, which is supposed to follow in the footsteps of the Blue Mage, or the 3rd alliance raid that is still missing, as well as some planets for the Cosmo explorations of the gatherers and crafters.
There is still a lot to come before the next expansion can arrive. In the past, expansions have been released shortly after the fan festival in Tokyo, which will take place this time from October 31 to November 1, 2026. Thus, a release period of late 2026/early 2027 seems likely.
Historically, with the next expansion, 2 new classes are also expected to land on the servers. Based on the past, this time it should be a physical ranged DPS and a new tank.
Is it worth starting or returning in 2026?
Whether Final Fantasy XIV is worth it for you in 2026 depends entirely on what you value and whether you want to start fresh or resume your previous progress. Depending on where you left off, you may need to show a lot of patience if you want to quickly reach the latest content.
If the story is important to you but you are deterred by the rather negative opinions about Dawntrail, we understand. However, you might want to give it another chance – even if sometimes the story before the patch quests can feel a bit tedious and boring.
The storyline of the latest patches has significantly improved after the rather shallow progression of Dawntrail following the epic finale of the saga around Hydaelyn and Zodiark, proving that Square Enix is ready to deploy larger measures for presentation again.
The new raids in Dawntrail can definitely convince if your heart beats for classic MMO content and are certainly worth a second look. But also otherwise, Final Fantasy XIV in 2026 offers so many different contents that there should be something for everyone who enjoys social MMO content and/or challenging combat content.
If you are uncertain, particularly new players can test Final Fantasy XIV extensively for free. With the trial version, you can play the base game up to and including the second expansion Stormblood without a subscription or having to purchase the game and grind the available classes up to level 70.
Even though Final Fantasy XIV is currently facing some issues, the team around producer Naoki Yoshida has impressively proven since 2012 that they can forge new diamonds from ash. Because version 1.0 was by no means what we know today as FF14: One of the best MMORPGs of all time had to destroy itself first to save itself
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Darktide is a dark co-op shooter set in the universe of Warhammer 40,000, taking place in the city of Tertium. With a new update, it now heads outside.
What is this update about? Beyond the Hive is a free update for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide that introduces a completely new mode to the co-op shooter. Players must leave the secured (but by no means safe) walls of Tertium and explore the no less dangerous dunes of Atoma Prime.
While there have already been maps at the outer edges of the hive city, players have not been able to truly leave them until now.
Here you can see the trailer for the new update:
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In the latest update of Darktide, you leave the hive city for the first time
Danger lurks from all directions outside the hive city
What’s in the new mode: According to a blog post by the developers from March 12, 2026, on Steam, the expeditions are said to be “the biggest injection of new content since launch.” The core of the update is a brand new extractions mode: Players embark on “expeditions,” take on missions, and try to escape with their skin intact and valuable tech remnants.
Depending on how many tech remnants can be secured, additional parts of a map and more exciting missions will be unlocked after a run.
The basic principle resembles extraction shooters, but those who are tired of being shot in the back in ARC Raiders can rejoice: there is no PvP here. However, there will still be no shortage of dangers.
Unlike other modes in Darktide, there is no predetermined path in the expeditions. Instead, players are dropped in so-called “scavenge zones” and can locate “sites of interest” using a new feature. How they reach these locations is left to the players.
With the more open maps, enemies no longer attack in waves, but can strike from anywhere.
Some of these sites of interest are supposed to focus on defeating enemies, while others are more about solving puzzles – either way, teamwork is key to progressing.
Each run is expected to span multiple zones and end when the last zone is reached, or when players decide to extract early. A round should last between 10 and 30 minutes. Each run features randomly selected sites located in different places, where different enemies may lurk.
There are also supposed to be modifiers so that no run feels like the last.
A game tester used “professional stupidity” to test Fallout 4 and the limits of the Xbox as much as possible. This led to a series of concerned emails.
How did the tester break Fallout 4? The founder of Pedalboard Games, Colin McInerney, worked as a game tester at Bethesda during his studies before taking his current position. Here, he was responsible for testing the capabilities of Fallout 4 as part of quality assurance. One day, he overloaded the game’s memory on the Xbox One for testing purposes.
The Xbox One has 8 GB of RAM. When this memory is overloaded, Fallout 4 crashes on the console.
Colin McInerney provoked such a crash by giving himself a billion experience points and modifying a nuclear launcher to fire ten simultaneous nukes with both shots. He cheerfully fired nukes at the wasteland in the game.
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Trailer for Fallout 4, the post-apocalyptic adventure from Bethesda
Professionally stupid
What did this lead to? Within a single morning, there were four crashes, prompting a flood of emails to ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda. McInerney reports that Robert Altman, one of the founders of ZeniMax Media, received numerous messages that someone had discovered crashes in the game.
McInerney proves that artificial intelligence will likely have a hard time replacing his job as a developer or game tester. It may struggle to come up with the kinds of absurd gameplay ideas he has. He states: I am a kind of professionally stupid that a machine wouldn’t even dream of. (Source: gamesradar).
The next patch of World of Warcraft has been revealed and brings a fulfillment of their wishes particularly for Dracthyr. They should be able to choose their form.
Although World of Warcraft Midnight just launched a few weeks ago, Blizzard is already working hard on the next updates. Patch 12.0.5 is coming soon and is expected to bring some improvements and new features. Especially Dracthyr characters will receive a small highlight, as they will gain a ability that allows them to largely forgo their dragon form.
Start video
WoW: How to Get the Mount “Rosy Sporestrider”
What kind of ability is this? The new ability will be called “Battle Visage” and is supposed to have the following effect:
As long as Battle Visage is active, summoners will automatically switch to their dragon form in combat as soon as they use an ability that requires this form. After the ability ends, they will automatically switch back to their visage form.
This effectively means: Summoners can spend the vast majority of the fight in their visage form and will only briefly switch back to their true form when they want, corresponding to certain abilities.
In dragon form, Dracthyr have few customizations – that’s why many prefer to play in visage.
Camera movements are still a problem for dragons
Blizzard still needs to fix issues: Even though Blizzard has already announced this, “Battle Visage” is not yet available on the PTR. The developers are talking about some technical difficulties in implementing this.
One problem is the camera. When Dracthyr change their form, the camera shifts a bit – after all, the dragons are larger in their true form than in their visage form. However, they want to prevent the camera from jumping up and down during the fight, as this can be unpleasant.
We will only see how this gets resolved in a later version of the PTR for patch 12.0.5.
Cortyn believes: To be honest, I can understand that Dracthyr players want such a function. This may also strongly be due to the fact that Dracthyr is a race that has no access to transmogrification, as only a few armor pieces are displayed in dragon form. It’s not surprising that many would prefer to keep their visage form even in combat to at least benefit from a harmonious transmog.
The new ability seems to be a good compromise to allow these players exactly that. It’s nice that Blizzard is listening to the community here, even though they’ve been wishing for this for several years. Let’s hope that Blizzard also gives in on other issues and remembers its strengths – because housing fans currently have to swallow some bitter pills.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Sauercrowd is over, but in the USA, preparations for the next WoW project on Twitch are already underway: OnlyFangs 3, hosted by the MMORPG streamer Sodapoppin. While not much concrete is known so far, the first ideas sound exciting.
What kind of event is this? It is about the 3rd edition of the content guild OnlyFangs created by Twitch streamer Sodapoppin. The previous “seasons” have already led to a huge boom of WoW on Twitch and inspired the German project “Sauercrowd”.
The event organizer Sodapoppin is still in the planning phase for the project, so not much is really set in stone yet. However, some of the ideas already promise exciting storytelling in OnlyFangs 3.
Hardcore formats like OnlyFangs and Sauercrowd thrive on great victories… and bitter losses.
Select a MMO video…
OnlyFangs 3 continues the Soda vs. Tyler1 storyline
What is planned? Aside from the actual gameplay, OnlyFangs Season 2 primarily thrived on the rivalry between founder and guild leader Sodapoppin, the experienced MMORPG streamer and WoW veteran, and Tyler1, the complete WoW newbie and proven LoL rage monster.
In Season 3, the conflict between Sodapoppin and Tyler1 could become an integral part of the concept. Two guilds are planned, each representing the Horde or the Alliance and led by one of the streamers.
How does GoT fit in? Within these guilds, “houses” are now being discussed, between which rivalries and alliances can form, similar to the famous book series and TV series. The idea comes from Twitch streamer Nmplol, who already planned memes and T-shirts for the individual groups in a podcast with Soda (Source: YouTube).
How is it supposed to work? According to Soda, there will be a kind of points system for OnlyFangs 3. Once a week, there will be a guild meeting where the guild that has earned the most points will receive a valuable reward.
These rewards could then go to the house that provided the guild with the most points that week, for example, by clearing Heroic Dungeons.
However, Soda and Nmplol are not entirely in agreement yet. It is still unclear how many groups there will actually be and which streamers could be given such a power position. Soda has already joked that many content creators might abandon the project if they are dissatisfied with the viewer numbers.
It is also still open how much we can expect collaboration with Sauercrowd. Neither Soda nor the German guild leaders were opposed to the idea beforehand. Even though the German WoW project is finished for now, some familiar faces could return. What the participants of Sauercrowd have been doing since the project’s end can be found here: 7 Twitch streamers emerged as winners from Sauercrowd – three remain in WoW
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The DC Universe is full of powerful villains that can only be fought by several superheroes. Many of them have not been seen in the movies and series so far. One of the most dangerous resembles monsters like Cthulhu.
Which villain is it about? Many creatures in the DC Universe exceed even the abilities and powers of Superman. There are interdimensional beings capable of destroying entire universes. This includes Barbatos from the Dark Multiverse, who made his debut in 2017. With him came not only a new villain to light, but a whole new level with new threats.
They are so great that not only Batman and Superman are enough to save the Earth. A whole team and a specific new metal are needed. The major comic event about this is compiled in DC Events: Batman Metal by Panini.
DC Events – Batman Metalwas sent to us by Panini as an editorial review copy.
Start video
In Batman: Under the Red Hood muss sich der bekannte Superheld seiner Vergangenheit stellen
Like Cthulhu, only in the DC Universe
What is DC Events – Batman Metal about? After a fierce battle in space, the Justice League returns to Gotham City. But the city is destroyed, and a huge mountain has suddenly appeared. There, the heroes find a strange machine, and a secret organization emerges.
They reveal to the League the existence of the Dark Multiverse. This is a kind of evil version of the known multiverse, for which the divine entity Barbatos is responsible, who has existed for billions of years and has only one goal: the destruction of all universes. As a cosmic entity, it thematically resembles monsters from the Cthulhu mythos.
The Murder Machine is an Alfred AI that has taken over Batman
The Red Death is a Batman with the abilities of Flash
And the most famous and dangerous of the 7 is The Batman Who Laughs. This is a Batman who inhaled Joker gas and became a sadistic villain who has his Robins on leashes.
The Batman Who Laughs acts as the leader of the evil Batman crew and visibly enjoys the fight against the heroes. He is so dangerous that Batman even resorts to the Joker to fight him.
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DC even released its own trailer for the leader of the Dark Knights
Barbatos has a weakness
How can the superheroes even defeat Barbatos? Barbatos has a major weakness. The Nth metal is a special substance that can be used to defeat the evil god. To find it, heroes and some villains embark on various missions to locate it.
Although the entire universe is in danger, not all villains work with the Justice League, and former allies also become enemies that must first be overcome.
A battle ensues that threatens not only the fate of one Earth, but all Earths in the multiverse.
The cover of DC Events – Batman Metal
Total nonsense that is still fun
What does MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes say about DC Events – Batman Metal? Batman Metal is not only a big event, it also tries to establish a new mythology that I think doesn’t fit that well and is total nonsense in many places. Scott Snyder has previously introduced better innovations into the DC cosmos with the Court of Owls.
The designs of the new villains, especially the evil Batmans, are cool, but Batman Metal has the problem that comic events always have for me: there’s no real focus, and many of the characters don’t get any real time to shine. Only Wonder Woman really appealed to me as a character; she has strong moments and acts like the leader of the Justice League.
But: Still, such things are fun. The fights are cool, and even though much of it feels like Power Rangers, this nonsense is entertaining. I wouldn’t read such comic events regularly, but it’s also good for switching off.
With Greg Capullo, they also found a good artist who has previously worked with Scott Snyder. All characters look cool, have a certain presence, and the action is nicely highlighted because of that. I particularly liked the designs of Barbatos and The Batman Who Laughs purely visually.
They create a certain cosmic horror atmosphere and especially the evil Batman variant resembles a Hellraiser film. Even though I didn’t like the new mythology surrounding Batman, the designs fit nicely into the style of the Dark Knight.
How can I read DC Events – Batman Metal? There are many collected editions of Batman Metal. Within the DC Events series, Panini published a hardcover edition on 24.02.2026 that delivers the main event along with background information and alternative covers in the German version. It includes the issues Dark Knights: Metal 1 to 6. Panini also provided us with this collected edition for a review.
This is a good variant that is also quite nice, although I personally am not the biggest fan of the black bar at the top. Otherwise, there is also a softcover variant for the event, without the bar.
There is also a Deluxe Edition as a complete edition for the event, which is significantly more expensive but offers many stories before and after the event if you want more background on the Dark Multiverse.
Some actors take on roles in movies and series so that their children can be happy. Actor Tim Roth has taken on at least two roles just to embarrass his kids.
Who is it about? The British actor Tim Roth has been in the film and series industry for a long time. One of his most famous roles is that of the body language-reading Dr. Cal Lightman in the series Lie to Me.
Tim Roth is likely known to Marvel fans mainly for his role in The Incredible Hulk. Hulk or Bruce Banner was still played by Edward Norton in this film, and Tim Roth took on the role of Emil Blonsky/Abomination as his adversary.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, the actor mentioned that he took on this and another role just for his kids, but not in a positive way.
Tim Roth will also appear in the new Peaky Blinders movie starting March 20, 2026:
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Thomas Shelby returns in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Why did Tim Roth take on roles for his children? In an interview with gamesradar+, Tim Roth said that he only took on the role of Abomination and the role of General Thade in Planet of the Apes from 2001 to embarrass his kids at school.
In the Marvel series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Tim Roth returned in his role as Emil Blonsky. The actor commented:
They just called me and said, ‘How about…?’ And I just thought: ‘What?!’ It was just totally crazy. But I liked Tatiana [Maslany]. It was fascinating to watch her on set. She had so much on her plate and handled it all perfectly.
Starting March 20, 2026, actor Tim Roth will be seen in a role in the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man alongside Cillian Murphy. However, he probably did not take this acting job to make it uncomfortable for his kids at school.
As a child, MeinMMO author Ody loved playing MMORPGs, but over the years, that changed drastically. However, the passion is coming back now, as with The Elder Scrolls Online, he is falling in love with the genre a second time.
When I was a child, The Lord of the Rings Online filled a large part of my PC gaming time. Later, Age of Conan: Unchained was added – both MMORPGs that are Free2Play, so I didn’t have to spend any pocket money. I spent more hours on these two games than you honestly want to know.
Over time, however, MMORPGs were increasingly pushed aside by other games until I didn’t touch a single one for several years. Just three years ago, I thought the genre was dead for me – until I gave ESO another chance in December 2023.
Since then, I have really enjoyed again what MMORPGs have always meant to me – namely the RPG part.
Who is writing here? Ody is originally a strategy game player, but he also developed an interest in MMORPGs early on. However, that faded away at the latest when he lost the access data to his old accounts. Now, The Elder Scrolls Online is leading to a renaissance of the genre for him.
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The Elder Scrolls Online: Seasons of the Worm Cult – Part 1 – Release Trailer
ESO makes the “RPG” in MMORPG appealing again
As a child, I loved coming up with backstories for my characters and giving them a personality beyond what the game allows. Whenever I had multiple characters in a game, I liked to imagine how they would interact with each other and what adventures they would experience. I was basically playing Dungeons & Dragons on my own – without even knowing that it existed.
At some point, this connection to my game characters faded away. For over 10 years, I thought I would never have that again in an MMORPG. But with ESO, that has changed again in recent months.
Role-playing is really fun for me in ESO again! This is also because I no longer just click mindlessly through dialogues but consider how my character would behave. And because I can be a bit evil, the game doesn’t push me too much into a predefined role.
Since I started playing ESO again, one character turned into four. So, I’ll take this moment to introduce my current group:
My character with the most playtime is a nasty High Elf Arcanist (the guy in the title image). Now and then, he gets tempted to do a good deed, which he would never admit.
A completely scarred and bitter Breton Templar who is a veteran of an unnamed war (he doesn’t talk about it).
Brand new is my noble Argonian Dragonknight. Because I forgot to adjust his voice, he now sounds like an old witch – an oversight that has quickly become part of his character. It’s quite funny when such a large, muscular lizard giggles like an evil old woman.
Speaking of the Dragonknight: The class feels really good after its overhaul. I usually don’t like starting over in an MMORPG. But as far as pure fun is concerned, my Dragonknight at level 10 can now already keep up with my Arcanist at max level (plus several champion levels).
The Elder Scrolls Online has actually achieved something I didn’t think was possible – to get me excited about an MMORPG again. I am really looking forward to seeing what the developers have planned for the remaining classes in the game. If they are revamped to the level of the Dragonknight, my lively group should grow with many more characters.
The question of whether ESO is still worth it in 2026 is clearly answered by MeinMMO author Ody with a yes. If you are trying to answer that question for yourself, MeinMMO has just the right article for you. MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz has taken another look at the game: Is The Elder Scrolls Online worth it in 2026?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Depending on whether you choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle at the beginning of your Kanto adventure in Pokémon Leaf Green or Fire Red, you will have a chance to encounter a different legendary Pokémon in the game.
What is affected? There are many myths surrounding Pokémon that players have shared with each other. For example, the belief that you just have to press the B button really hard to ensure that the Pokéball actually stays closed around the Pokémon you want to catch.
However, one myth turns out to be true. The choice of starter in the Kanto region in the Leaf Green and Fire Red editions, that is, between Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, influences which legendary Pokémon, Entei, Suicune, or Raikou, you will encounter later in the game.
The latest generation is heralded with the editions Wind and Wave:
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The trailer for the 10th generation of Pokémon shows the new region and the three starters
Pokémon for Pokémon
Who encounters whom? You can only encounter the legendary three feline Pokémon in the post-game, that is, after the Elite Four. Thus, the choice of starter is linked to the encounter:
If you chose the Grass-type Pokémon Bulbasaur, you will encounter Entei.
If you started your adventure with Charmander, you can meet Suicune.
If you chose Squirtle, you have the chance to catch Raikou.
Entei, Suicune, and Raikou are not easy to catch. You will randomly encounter them in Kanto in tall grass, and they will flee immediately as a first move. Therefore, saving the Master Ball is essential, or you manage to bind the legendary Pokémon in battle directly with a status effect.
Unfortunately, you will only have the chance to catch one legendary feline Pokémon per game save. To complete the Pokédex, you are forced to trade.
Players who tried to catch them all in the original editions on the GBA will surely remember this mechanic. However, those who discover the games now on the Switch will be just as surprised as the previous generation was back then when the choice of starter has unexpected effects.
In Crimson Desert has an incredible number of systems, features, and content. So many that you probably haven’t even noticed some of them yet. Or do you already know these … ?
We already presented to you in another article the 4 core features of Crimson Desert that will likely influence your gaming experience the most from March 19, 2026, on PC, Xbox, and PS5. These essential pillars in the new open-world adventure from Pearl Abyss are accompanied by numerous other systems, features, and content.
Due to the enormous size of Crimson Desert and the overwhelming amount of content, you might have missed some exciting details in the previous reports. We will focus on those details below. What little features of Crimson Desert have you discovered?
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Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
Being friendly pays off
In the world of Crimson Desert, you can apparently interact with just about every NPC and at least greet them, but you can also talk to some of them occasionally and even give gifts or donations.
In this way, you increase your reputation with the local residents, which may lead them to reveal hints about nearby secrets, ask for less money for trade goods, or offer special missions.
But you can be not only nice to NPCs but also to animals like dogs. With cuddles and a bit of food, you also increase your reputation with them. What happens when a four-legged friend becomes a companion?
It’s clear: You can steal from the residents of Pywel, but you need a thief’s mask for that. Only with this can you steal the possessions of the NPCs. There are even fences who will buy stolen carriages or livestock from you.
But beware: If you get caught, it can negatively impact your reputation, and the crime level will rise until someone puts a bounty on you. If you get caught with an active bounty, you’ll end up in jail for a short time and have to pay a fine, the amount of which depends on your actions.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Usually, pretty much everyone in Warhammer 40,000 aims to dominate the galaxy alone. Cooperation is an absolute exception. Therefore, a seemingly emotionless zombie robot stands out, one that not only values history but even helps humans.
Most of the time, such short-term alliances are formed between the once so powerful Aeldari and the Imperium of Man, who repeatedly collaborate. But there is another, major exception: Trazyn the Infinite.
Trazyn belongs to the “people” of the Necrons, an ancient species that exchanged their fleshly bodies for constructs of living metal millions of years ago. Unlike most of his people, Trazyn is a collector and preserver.
The Necron has become a legend not only in the world of Warhammer itself but also in the community. However, he enjoys a somewhat different reputation here.
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Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader lets you meet an ancient Necron in the new DLC
A Thief Enthusiastic Collector and Preserver of History
Among fans, Trazyn is mainly regarded as a thief because he “collects” just about everything – if necessary, with armed force. His collection is probably the largest in the entire galaxy and encompasses his entire homeworld Solemnus, an artificial planet that is constantly being expanded by nanites. Supposedly, not even Trazyn himself knows the extent of his gallery.
That, along with Trazyn’s original profession as an archivist, has led the Necron Lord to collect items, writings, individuals, and even situations that he deems worthy of preservation. They are to serve his people when they eventually awaken to explore the galaxy.
Although Trazyn has acquired many objects from his collection through wars and battles, often instigated by himself, he is not a brutal raider. On the contrary: because he values preservation, he sometimes even helps.
Cadia Falls and a Xenos Comes to Help
His perhaps greatest intervention in galactic affairs is the legendary fall of the human fortress world Cadia. Forces of Chaos attacked here during the 13th Crusade, and Abaddon himself dropped a space fortress on the planet to smash it.
The Crusade itself destroyed parts of Trazyn’s collection, prompting him to investigate the cause. Even the most powerful weapon in the galaxy was used. After he was able to identify Chaos as the culprit – and because he hoped for new pieces for his collection – he came to Cadia’s aid.
In collaboration with the humans, Trazyn then attempted to stop Abaddon, the Champion of Chaos… without success, obviously. Trazyn even simply teleported out of the fight when it seemed hopeless, abandoning the humans.
However, what is exciting is the manner in which Trazyn provided for the defense. That illustrates what the notorious thief – uh, collector – has to offer.
The soldiers from Cadia even have their own miniatures:
Random Bullshit, go!
In the war for Cadia, Trazyn not only fought with his own weapons but also summoned heaps of pieces from his collection to strike back against the Black Legion.
To give you an idea of what Trazyn has in his collection, the gallery contains items like:
powerful relics from the past, especially from human history
Some exhibits, especially those showing situations, are not included as actual items in the collection but rather in the form of holograms… which, however, have consciousness.
Among his perhaps most notable collectibles is Inquisitor Greyfax, whom he captured along with her entourage. The Inquisition is one of the most dangerous organizations of the Imperium, and capturing someone like that is certainly not easy. By the way, it didn’t last very long: Greyfax eventually escaped.
From Mechanical Annihilators to Reasonable Preservers
Originally, the Necrons were just soulless machines that sought to annihilate all biological life in the galaxy. However, this has changed over the years in the lore, and Trazyn is one of the best examples of this.
Currently, the Necrons are seeking a way to reverse their biotransference and regain living bodies. Whether and how this works, is yet to be revealed in the upcoming lore.
In the TCG Card Shop Simulator on Steam, I can do exactly what I despise in real life. And I can do it without any guilt and with a lot of fun.
Scalpers are causing bad moods in many areas today. They buy products that are available in limited quantities and try to resell them at higher prices. This behavior has been observed for a long time with Pokémon trading cards and has led to Amazon selling such products by invitation only.
Due to these difficulties, I had to find another way to pursue the hobby. That’s when I stumbled upon the TCG Card Shop Simulator. Here I can not only collect cards but also become a scalper myself. But the ones who suffer are not people who want to pursue a hobby, but NPCs. And that makes it a lot of fun.
You can watch the trailer for another TCG game with virtual cards here:
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Pokémon TCG Pocket scores with pure nostalgia
Buying, selling, profit
What captivates me about the game? The goal of the game is to build the ultimate store for trading cards. For this, products must be ordered and sold on the appropriate sales areas after prices have been set.
At the beginning, I bought a few sales areas and started selling simple boosters and displays. While waiting for new customers, I also made sure to open a few boosters myself and build my own collection.
Later, licenses for new products were acquired so that I could constantly expand the range for my customers. Accessories, plush toys, and items from the world of tabletop games gradually found their way into my inventory.
While some customers played against each other at tables, there were the first customers who wanted to sell me their own cards. And that turned out to be highly lucrative. While I was able to acquire the cards for prices far below market value, I subsequently sold them directly again with a markup of 20% above market value. It’s their own fault if the customers are that foolish.
With each sale and every player who played at a table with me, there was more money and new experience points that ensured new shop levels. This allowed me to unlock even more products and furnishings to make the shop bigger and the product selection more diverse.
The sales area of my shop
The importance of a buffer in the game was impressively demonstrated to me in a situation where my greed almost drove me to ruin. After purchasing a card that was very expensive for me at that time for a solid price, I was almost broke. Thanks to ongoing income, I could still refill the stock, but then came the day when the rent had to be paid.
While I kept staring at the sales table with the card that I wanted to sell for €5,500, time went by relentlessly. Nobody wanted the card. And just when I had almost given up hope, there he was: the customer who was once again foolish enough to take the card for an exorbitant price.
The joy I felt in that moment was indescribable. Not only did I successfully sell a card with a huge profit margin again. No. This one customer, who apparently wasn’t very familiar with market prices, literally saved my shop from collapse. And gave me a nice dose of endorphins.
That’s exactly what I love about this game. It’s a constant switch between greed, the danger of insolvency, and the joy of a strategy that always seems to work out in the end.
Always a highlight: cards come back from grading
Over time, it was also time to hire the first employees. They are now responsible for ensuring that the sales areas are stocked with products from the warehouse and for the cash register. After all, I need new money to shamelessly rip off more customers.
Of course, expenses such as rent, electricity, and salaries for the employees must also be planned. But thanks to my loyal customers who continually trust me with their cards, that’s no problem.
Where can I find the game? The game is available on Steam, Xbox Cloud, and PC via Geforce Now and is currently in Early Access. It was released on September 15, 2024, and currently enjoys an impressive rating of 96% positive reviews from 43,919 votes on Steam (as of March 12, 2026, 10:40 AM).
What does the development of the game look like? As mentioned, the game is currently still in Early Access. Accordingly, the game is not finished and is under development. With a playtime of nearly 47 hours, I personally haven’t noticed any major issues or crashes.
A precise date for the full version of the game is not yet known. However, regular updates with new content are being added to the game.
In the livestream, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV announced their new class, which brings Pokémon to the MMORPG.
What kind of class is it? The new class in Final Fantasy XIV is the Beastmaster, which translates to something like: Animal Tamer or Beast Master, and comes as a limited class in the MMORPG. This means it is intended for solo content or special activities and not as a main character.
This means the Beastmaster cannot participate in standard team play through matchmaking because it is too specialized for that.
Here you can watch a trailer for Final Fantasy XIV:
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Final Fantasy XIV: Rocking trailer for “Into the Mist” sets the stage for patch 7.4
Pokémon says hello
What can the new class do? The Beastmaster does exactly what the name suggests: It tames animals and lets them fight for it. Just like in Pokémon, players can tame up to 50 different creatures.
It fights in melee with an axe, but its true strength lies in the three creatures it is allowed to summon into battle at the same time. The creatures have their own abilities, making the arrangement of the right team very important.
To create the right Pokémon feeling, you even have your own Pokédex, called “Beastmaster’s Bestiary” in the game, which helps you keep track of which creatures you still need to collect.
How can one unlock the Beastmaster? To unlock the new class, you need to have already played a character at level 50. This ensures that the developers prevent the Beastmaster from being raised as a main character, as that is not its intended purpose.
Furthermore, you need the Dawntrail expansion for the MMORPG to create a Beastmaster. As a final requirement, you must also have completed the main story of Final Fantasy XIV on your level 50 character.
When can you play the Beastmaster? The Beastmaster will not make it into the upcoming version 7.5 “Trail to the Heavens”; instead, the developers have announced the class for the next update. Therefore, the Beastmaster is not expected to be playable before May. There is currently no exact date.
The group of a game master has lost a beloved member and a close friend. To honor her, she dedicates a post to the deceased player that touches the entire community. However, the bard of the group should not be forgotten and finds many new places that offer her a home.
If dark thoughts trouble you, you can contact the telephone counseling service at 116 123, available 24/7. The service is free.You can find more support services on the homepage of the German Society for Suicide Prevention.
What is the game master talking about? Game master TheMythicalTeaspoon dedicated a message to a deceased player and friend, as well as her adventurer from Dungeons & Dragons, which she shared with the community on Reddit.
The two were very close, both in private life and as mutual players. In her campaign, she played a tiefling bard named Sabrina, who is highlighted by the game master as incredibly diplomatic, loving, optimistic, and a sort of mother or fun aunt of the group. Sabrina was a teacher at a local magic school as well as an actress and poet who had something profound and positive to say about everything.
“This character was undoubtedly an extension of herself and perhaps a model of how she wanted to be,” writes TheMythicalTeaspoon in her message, “Life will not be the same without her, just like D&D. She was a light that could never be extinguished, and that will remain so – in the real world and in my silly little fantasy world that she helped shape.”
In the end, she asks the community if there is still room in a campaign for a carefree pink tiefling named Sabrina, who loves her students as well as life and adventure, so that she can continue to live on in other stories. And the community is not only willing but deeply moved.
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The 4th Campaign of Critical Role starts now and is bigger than ever
A Wonderful Community Project for the Characters of Deceased Players
What kind of project is this? The most upvoted response in the thread comes from CinnamonEspeon on Reddit, who wishes to offer the game master not only supportive words but also a hint about a special project. It is called “Adventurers of Galder,” a subreddit specifically aimed at honoring the characters of those who have been lost.
The project originally arose in honor of a D&D player named Laurence, who passed away from cancer. The community eventually gathered to remember him as “Galder the Wizard.” This ultimately led to the creation of a subreddit to commemorate deceased TTRPG players and their characters and other creations.
How is the community reacting to Sabrina and her deceased player? The Dungeons & Dragons community gave the game master’s Reddit post not only over 4,000 upvotes but also many new places that want to offer the bard a new home.
“I run games for children and teens who struggle with grief, loss, and trauma,” explains Theazel, “From now on, there will be a small info booth in every town run by a helpful former teacher named Sabrina. She will provide useful information about the cities the children visit, and she will be the first face they look for upon their arrival.”
Other players are also willing to immortalize Sabrina in their campaigns, like NoxFTW: “My heartfelt condolences for your loss. I’m currently planning the start of a new campaign. There will definitely be a cheerful, friendly, bright pink tiefling involved.”
For the 10th anniversary of the MMORPG Black Desert, Pearl Abyss invited players to a birthday event in Seville. Players from different parts of Europe, as well as MeinMMO editor Caro, were on site. The creators and the head answered some questions about the anniversary and explained what this milestone means for their MMO and its players.
The MMORPG Black Desert celebrated a significant milestone this March 2026: In March 2016, the online role-playing game by Pearl Abyss was first released in Europe and now celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026.
Appropriately for the anniversary, the team announced not only a new in-game outfit, the “Dark Prince,” which caused loud cheers at the reveal. To celebrate 10 years, Pearl Abyss invited their community to Seville to participate in the “Voices of Adventure” event.
I was also on site to capture the atmosphere of the community and the developers, as well as conduct an interview with the creators of the MMO. I found it particularly exciting to see how a 10-year-old community comes together and has a shared home despite their diverse backgrounds.
It was also interesting to experience how the creators looked back on their players and the time since the release in Europe.
Who is writing here? MeinMMO editor Caro studied Game Art and Animation and is more involved in video games and tabletop RPGs, single-player games, and other deep places of nerd culture. However, she is fascinated by strong communities, meaning the players and fans that truly make up fandoms. When she received the invitation for the community event of Black Desert, she was ready to take the trip to capture the players’ mood and speak with the creators of the MMO. The questions for the interview were developed in consultation with MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz.
In this picture, a waving MeinMMO editor can be seen among Black Desert fans.
A look back at the launch and 10 years of Black Desert in the West
I wanted to know exactly how the team looks back on the last 10 years, what they are particularly proud of, and what keeps the game interesting for newcomers as well as veterans after a decade. I got the answers through an interview with the CEO of Pearl Abyss Europe, Lybee Park, and Jeseok Jang, the head of Live Services at Black Desert.
MeinMMO: 10 years, release in over 250 countries, launch on consoles, millions of players… Black Desert has come a remarkable and very successful way. Did you expect that when you and your team prepared for the launch in the West in 2016? And what are you particularly proud of?
Lybee: When we launched Black Desert in the West in 2016, we hoped that it would resonate with our Western adventurers, but we did not anticipate the scale it would eventually reach. The expansion into over 250 countries, the launch on consoles, and more than 55 million players worldwide have far exceeded our original forecasts. Back then, our focus was not on numbers. We were concerned with one question: Would players identify with the depth of our action combat system and the freedom of our world?
What I am most proud of is that we have never compromised on our original vision. We have continually evolved. We have introduced major updates, expanded globally, refined systems, and improved our service. But we have preserved the core identity of Black Desert. The fact that players from different regions, platforms, and cultures have chosen to stay in this world for a decade is our greatest achievement.
Jeseok Jang, Head of Live Service at Black Desert (left) and Lybee Park, CEO of Pearl Abyss Europe (right)
MeinMMO: When Black Desert was launched in the West, the last two major MMORPGs from the West, Wildstar and Elder Scrolls Online, had already been on the market for almost two years. At the same time, there was a strong competitor, Blade & Soul from NCSoft, which had a two-month head start. Do you remember what you thought about the launch date in March 2016? And how do you look back on the launch in the West?
Lybee: We did not enter the Western market with the thought of measuring ourselves against individual features of the competition. Our question was different. Could Black Desert offer a fundamentally “different” experience? Our action-oriented combat, our seamless world, and our sandbox progression system were not designed to meet the existing expectations of MMOs. They were developed to challenge those expectations.
Of course, there was pressure. As a Korean developer entering a mature Western MMO market, it was not easy. But we had confidence in the game’s distinctive identity.
Looking back, that launch was a pivotal moment. It proved that our design philosophy could resonate beyond our home market. It also taught us humility. We learned how differently players interact in different regions – from communication styles to service expectations – and those lessons continue to shape the global direction of Pearl Abyss today.
MeinMMO: To what extent does feedback from the Western community influence the global roadmap compared to the Korean market? Are there specific features that were implemented primarily due to the wishes or feedback of Western fans?
Jeseok: Our principle is to listen to the voices from all regions equally. A clear example of the influence of the Western community is our cooperative PvE content, especially Atoraxxion and Black Spirit’s Temple.
Originally, Black Desert was heavily focused on the single-player experience, which was particularly popular with players in eastern regions. However, due to the ongoing wishes of Western fans, these contents were developed. In the future, we will continue to strive to integrate the unique needs of each region into the global service standard.
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Black Desert: Edania – Trailer gives you an overview of all the content of the big content update
Black Desert wants to remain authentic and is aware of its strengths
MeinMMO: When you look back over the last decade, which specific feature or update do you consider the “cornerstone” of Black Desert – the one element without which the game would not be where it is today?
Jeseok: I can say without hesitation: It is the action. Even after 10 years, Black Desert has maintained its distinctive identity because it offers exciting and precise action that differentiates it from all other MMORPGs. At the core of PvE and PvP – the pillars of every MMORPG – is action.
If we had compromised on the quality of the action, we would not have been able to provide the uniquely intense combat experience of Black Desert. The game might have been forgotten as just another title in a crowded market. Action has always been and continues to be the strongest driver and the cornerstone of Black Desert.
Lybee: If I had to choose one element, I would actually choose character creation and customization. Not only because it is technically impressive, but because it sets the tone for the entire experience. From the beginning, players are encouraged to create a character that truly feels like their own.
This sense of ownership translates to everything else in Black Desert. The world is not built around a single path or fixed role. Players shape their own journey through combat, exploration, life skills, creativity, and community. Customization may be the entry point, but the real cornerstone of Black Desert is player freedom.
MeinMMO: The character creation system of Black Desert remains one of the most powerful and feature-rich editors in the MMORPG genre, but also in the RPG area. Are you sometimes surprised that competitors invest relatively little love into their character creation? Is that something you want to implement in a comparable or even better quality in your upcoming RPGs?
Jeseok: I am not so much surprised by the direction of competing games but rather grateful that the customization system of Black Desert is still regarded as the “best” even 10 years after its launch and is widely discussed. I am constantly reminded of how important and enjoyable this process is for players – creating an avatar and immersing themselves in the game world as their character.
As for future developments in RPGs, that would of course be a part of it if we were to pursue it…but for now, that is not the case. [Editor’s note: Crimson Desert, the new game from Pearl Abyss, is set to release on March 19, 2026, without character creation.]
MeinMMO: The impressive combat system has always been one of the greatest strengths of Black Desert, and at the same time, you have introduced a variety of new classes over the years, all of which are great. How difficult is it to maintain this high quality in the development of new classes? And do you have a favorite class that you particularly like?
Jeseok: To be honest, we feel like we are constantly pushing our limits. Currently, there are over 30 classes, and more than 60 combat mechanics have been implemented, including Awakening. Every time we plan a new class, the first thing we ask ourselves is: “Can we create a distinctive identity that does not overlap with existing classes and leaves a strong impression immediately?”
In Black Desert, the completeness of actions is particularly important, so we invest a lot of time in each individual movement or the feel of an attack. Everything is part of the design process: weapon concepts, connection structures between skills, combat rhythm. It’s not easy, but even after 10 years, our desire to provide new combat experiences drives us.
Personally, I feel the most connected to the “Woosa” class. It is based on the concept of a Korean shaman, which is rare in MMORPGs, and feels even more special due to its connection to the world and the history of the “Land of the Morning Light”.
Woosa is the favorite class of the head of Live Services at Black Desert (Image source: Black Desert)
Finding the right balance: Honoring veterans while also welcoming newcomers
With 10 years behind it, a lot has happened in Black Desert. Updates have made the world even fuller, players have risen to true veterans, and all of this could make the entry for interested newcomers seem a bit intimidating. I wanted to know how Pearl Abyss is handling this situation.
MeinMMO: Recently, the entry barrier for newcomers has been significantly lowered by things like season servers. How do you balance the desire to attract new players with respect for the immense time and effort veterans have invested over the past decade?
Jeseok: This is by far the most difficult and important challenge. We believe that the continuous integration of new players ultimately relates to preserving the value of existing players’ assets. Lowering the entry barrier through season servers or the Olvia Academy aims to help keep the entire game ecosystem healthy.
At the same time, we place great importance on reward systems and updates of endgame content to ensure that the efforts and prestige that experienced players have built over time are not diminished. Both groups are important pillars supporting Black Desert. Therefore, we constantly strive for a careful balance that does not favor one side over the other.
Lybee: We view players as part of the living fabric of Black Desert. They are not just consumers of content – they actively shape the world.
Lowering the entry barrier ensures that the world remains alive and sustainable. Season servers and onboarding improvements help new adventurers to find their footing faster, but they do not replace the depth, mastery, and long-term progress that veterans have built over the years.
In fact, Black Desert is strongest when experienced players guide and inspire newcomers. This dynamic – where knowledge, ambition, and successes are shared – is part of what makes our ecosystem so unique. For us, this is not a compromise. It is about maintaining the health of the ecosystem while also honoring the journey of those who contributed to building the world.
MeinMMO’s MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz comments on this: Keeping experienced veterans engaged while also attracting new players to the servers – this is a challenge that affects all genre fans because all long-standing MMORPGs grapple with precisely this balance.
A WoW currently focuses on getting players into the current endgame as quickly as possible, at the expense of level and story experience. A Final Fantasy XIV, on the other hand, continues to force newcomers through the content of A Realm Reborn and all subsequent expansions even after all these years. This allows for a better storytelling experience, but players struggle through stale game design from 2013.
There is no perfect solution, which makes it – as the developers of Black Desert rightly say – the “most difficult challenge.”
MeinMMO: As someone with very little experience in MMORPGs who wants to give the genre a chance: Why should I choose Black Desert?
Jeseok: Because Black Desert offers nearly all the experiences that an MMORPG can provide, and does so with a high level of completeness – intense action, complex customization options, life skills, and large-scale PvP.
Even compared to the MMORPGs newly released in 2026, you can enjoy the depth gained in 11 years with graphics that match them in every way. I am proud to say that Black Desert is the only MMORPG that offers this combination. It is truly an entertaining game, so I encourage players to immerse themselves in this vast world and explore it for the first time.
Lybee: If you have never played an MMORPG, Black Desert is actually a great entry point because it does not force you into a specific playstyle. There is no single path you must follow. Some players come for the action combat and the thrill of competition. Others spend their time exploring the world, decorating homes, fishing, or simply enjoying the world.
This freedom is the heart of Black Desert. You decide what kind of adventure you want to experience. And as the world has been growing for over ten years, there is an incredible amount to discover, at your own pace.
Players celebrate a round birthday with developers
Pearl Abyss created a day for their fans that they won’t forget quickly: Developers hosted mini-games, game masters fished with players in competition and dressed up in cosplays. Lybee Park also hid small gems in a sandbox for players to dig up treasures.
You could tell how much their favorite MMO meant to the team and the players during the event: International fans met each other, chatted with devs, and could freely talk about Black Desert with everyone on site.
In the mini-game ‘Gold Digger’, treasures were dug up.A suitable video for the anniversary allowed players to reminisce.The group photo of the event with players and devs.
I also wanted to know from the CEO what the “Voices of Adventure” event means to her. I asked her how it feels to bring together so many players from different countries, all of whom live the same game into which your team has put so much love.
Lybee: For the team, moments like these are something very special. When you work on a game for ten years, you spend most of your time behind screens designing systems, checking data, feedback, and updates. Events like “Voice of Adventurers” remind us that behind these characters are real people.
What I personally enjoy most is seeing how players from entirely different cultures and backgrounds share the same passion for the world we have created. Hearing their enthusiasm, their ideas, and even their passionate debates about the game is genuinely fun for me.
Sharing these moments with them makes it very real for us. It reminds us that Black Desert is no longer just a game. It has become a world that people truly care about.
Black Desert remains a successful and highly recommended MMORPG for those who place a strong emphasis on a robust character editor, exciting combat system, and a lot of freedom after all these years. As can be seen from the conversation with the CEO, newcomers need not worry if they have little experience in the genre.
However, someone who has gained a lot of experience and knowledge in MMOs is our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz. He has also spent countless hours in Black Desert, which is why he is particularly looking forward to Pearl Abyss’s latest project, even if it takes a new direction: Due to an MMORPG, Crimson Desert is the game I’m most looking forward to in 2026
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Counter-Strike 2, much revolves around the skins that can fetch six-figure sums. The German Twitch streamer “ohnePixel” is considered a god of the skin scene, but he could hardly believe it when he examined a viewer’s skin.
Who is he? ohnePixel is one of the largest German streamers on Twitch. His English streams were peaked by over 45,000 viewers at the same time recently (Source: sullygnome). However, ohnePixel is not a pro eSports player in Counter-Strike 2.
Instead, the streamer primarily focuses on the skins in the game. He opens loot boxes, sometimes worth thousands of euros at once, collects the rarest skins, or plays with other well-known figures in the scene.
Although he owns some of the most expensive skins and is accustomed to a lot with his own skin market, he was shocked recently by a viewer’s skin.
Here you can see a trailer for Counter-Strike 2:
Start video
Counter-Strike 2: Valve once again impresses with the launch trailer
Viewer with skin worth over €100,000
Why was he shocked? As usual in the stream, the streamer let viewers show their skins. One was particularly proud of his AK skin. Because it is a “Blue Gem”, a skin that features a large blue area by mere luck.
Additionally, the skin boasts four of the extremely expensive “Titan Katowice 2014” stickers. One of these stickers now costs over €70,000, according to csgoskins.gg. The streamer was shocked by what he saw.
In the video clip, he initially cannot believe that the player has such an expensive skin. He checks live in the viewer’s Steam inventory whether the skin actually belongs to him. But the viewer is indeed the owner of the AK skin, which the streamer ohnePixel estimates to be worth over €100,000.
You can see his reaction to the skin here:
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Why are skins so expensive? Counter-Strike 2 and its predecessor Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have shaped an entire business model through the trade in weapon skins. The weapon skins are often extremely rare and are often only available through loot boxes for real money.
Skins like the AK skin in this example are rare not only by themselves but also because the texture is not applied the same way every time. Thus, the “same” skin can look completely different, depending on how much luck one had.
Opening the boxes to obtain the skins can also become expensive, as the boxes containing a random skin may also become rarer over time. There are sticker boxes that are only available at the time of a major tournament and then are no longer obtainable.
The player base of ARC Raiders is pleased with a decision from Embark Studios that addresses one of the major criticisms from the community: The voices in the game suddenly sound more, but finally human.
What change is the ARC Raiders community happy about? The developers of ARC Raiders have decided to re-record some of the AI-generated voicelines in the game and provide them with real voices from voice actors. This was revealed by Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz.
Some players in the shooter have already noticed this, as they now know why some voices suddenly sounded so different. They express on Reddit that they have already noticed that characters like Celeste or Shani sound a bit better since the last updates and indeed sound like a human.
In the interview with the CEO, however, it becomes clear that despite the previously existing criticism from the community, it is not a pacification method, but was done out of self-interest.
Start video
ARC Raiders shows new Hurricane condition and hints at a new enemy
Embark does not want to replace humans
Why did the creators of ARC Raiders decide to do this? So far, Embark Studios has relied on AI as a technological tool for voiceovers for ARC Raiders as well as another of their games, “The Finals.” Generative AI was not used in this process. Instead, they worked with real and paid actors, whose voices they licensed for text-to-speech technologies with their permission. These were mainly used for the ping system,
However, the studio has now re-recorded a lot of voicelines in the game directly from human speakers, in order to replace previous AI lines.
There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that’s just how it is. We consider [AI] primarily as a production tool. We can test things internally. We can try 15 different lines without recording them and then know what we need to record. It’s also a workflow for us, but not a replacement for actors. We do not unconditionally believe in replacing humans with AI all the time.
A decision that is well received by the player base: Based on the reactions on Reddit, this decision by Embark was a correct and necessary approach. It not only improves the overall mood in the game but also sets a sign that is significant in the current time of continuously increasing AI usage:
“The sooner people, companies, and organizations recognize that AI is merely a tool and should not be a replacement, the better,” writes 5ivepie.
The use of AI has been a frustrating thorn in the side of many players so far. That’s why they are even happier that Embark is not only changing its approach but also addressing the voicelines retroactively:
“They just keep winning. I do have many small criticisms, but that was the biggest,” finds syd_fishes.
