On July 31, 2025, Patch 1.02.0 for Elden Ring: Nightreign will be released. When the servers are down, when you can play again, and patch notes can be found here.
Update, July 31: Today is the day. At 10 AM German time, the servers will be shut down for one hour for maintenance in order to download the new update.
What happens during the server downtime? The servers will be shut down to upload the new update. During this time, you can only play Nightreign offline and solo. To be able to play online again, you must have downloaded the new update – however, it is currently not available.
Server downtime in Nightreign – from when? The servers will be shut down on July 31, 2025, at 10:00 CEST (17:00 JST, 01:00 PDT) on all platforms.
When can I play Nightreign again? According to a post on X.com, maintenance and implementation of the patch will take about 1 hour. We will inform you as soon as the servers are available again.
What is included in the patch will be revealed in the next section.
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Diese Special-Events solltet ihr in Elden Ring Nightreign nicht verpassen
All Patch Notes for 1.02.0
What is in the patch notes? There are currently no patch notes available, but FromSoftware has announced what you can expect in the upcoming update. Primarily, you can look forward to three major changes:
The implementation of the Duo mode that many Nightfarers have been waiting for
Unlocking a new Sovereignty boss – The Augur
A new filtering system for your relics
Further adjustments such as balance changes or the implementation of new QoL features that are meant to ease your life in Limveldt are also possible, but until we know what FromSoft has prepared, we have to wait for the patch notes.
In the future, Nightreign is also expected to receive additional content such as a major DLC. This will likely introduce new bosses and characters for a fresh experience. To learn what else awaits you, the latest updates on the planned content, and when you can expect them, read here: Elden Ring: Nightreign – Roadmap and Upcoming Content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The video game series God of War will soon get an adaptation as a series. This is being created at Amazon, and its creator has now announced an important update, which will please some and disappoint others.
What kind of series is this? Series adaptations of video games have not only been very good in recent years but also successful. Well-known examples include Arcane, Fallout, or The Last of Us.
Now God of War is also getting its own series, which will be developed and produced by Amazon. It will, unsurprisingly, tell the story of Kratos. While the project was already announced some time ago, the showrunner has now revealed which aspect of the game he considers particularly important – and when the story takes place.
There is no footage from the series yet; instead, watch the trailer for the latest game of God of War:
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God of War: Ragnarök – Ein Meisterwerk für PS4 und PS5 erscheint endlich auf Steam
Heading to the Far North
What has the showrunner revealed? Ronald D. Moore is in charge of the new series and spoke at Comic Con 2025 with Collider about it. It became clear that the scripts are just in development, but work is progressing well.
The series takes the two reboot games as a template, thus relocating the story and its characters to Norse mythology. The first three iterations of the original took place in ancient Greece.
This decision is likely to please those fans who particularly enjoyed the modern God of War titles. Fans of the original may feel disappointed by the departure from the original Kratos.
Although God of War is Moore’s first video game adaptation, he wants to ensure everything is done right. He emphasized to IGN that it is important for him to accurately capture the tone of the original. Despite all the action and cool monsters, he is especially focused on the emotional relationship between father and son.
However, it will not be a 1:1 adaptation:
This is an adaptation, so it’s an adaptation/interpretation when dealing with live-action, and it has been really fun to say: “Wow, there’s a lot we can play with. Okay, we want to keep the story. We want to keep the characters and the spirit of the story.” There are all these things to refer back to for inspiration. It has been really interesting.
How many episodes will there be? The first season is expected to contain 10 episodes. Another season has already been ordered by Amazon. However, when exactly the series will start is still uncertain. According to Moore, filming will not begin before 2026. Are you excited about the series? Let us know in the comments. A successful series adaptation was The Last of Us – MeinMMO editor Leya Jankowski was very impressed: The new “The Last of Us” series exceeds my expectations: spoiler-free conclusion after all 9 episodes
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Who hasn’t heard the ultimate question about their PC setup: “Can it run Crysis?”. This phrase is one of the most famous memes in gaming history, but its roots lie in Germany and it all began 25 years ago.
Where does the phrase come from? The phrase originated back when Crytek introduced its stunning shooter “Crysis” and unleashed it into the world of gaming. The game was considered revolutionary in 2007, primarily due to its engine.
For its time, the requirements to run Crysis smoothly were enormous. You could say Crysis was the ultimate benchmark to test your performance. Nowadays, that is no longer a problem, but many gamers still jokingly use this phrase when questioning the hardware of a PC.
As for Crytek, the company from Germany has had a long journey before becoming known for its stunning engine. It began 25 years ago with three brothers from Coburg.
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Crytek turns 25 – Celebrate its moments in gaming
How did it all begin? Three brothers from Coburg – Avni, Faruk, and Cevat Yerli – wanted a high-end gaming PC from their father in 1994. The reason: they needed it to learn – but like them, these brothers were also passionate gamers and used their old machine to play various games.
From a passion, the goal emerged a few years later to also develop games themselves, but they wanted to change something. German game studios at that time were known for their complex RPGs and strategy games. However, the brothers wanted to take a different approach and move towards sandbox and open-world experiences.
They created a tech demo called X-Isle with 50 other enthusiasts on ICQ. They then presented it at E3 in 2000. One studio was very impressed with their demo, which led to their first contract. This was with Ubisoft and the game Far Cry.
Through the tech demo, Crytek was able to demonstrate how ahead of their competitors they were in terms of graphics representation. With Far Cry, they implemented that with CryEngine 1.
The game was well-received and especially praised for its strong graphics and world. However, the team wanted to improve, so the development of CryEngine 2 followed, along with their own game “Crysis”. Here the studio wanted to take another direction.
What did Crysis do better than Far Cry? Far Cry enchanted many players with its idyllic island, but this one was created from the minds of the developers and was therefore fictional. As for Crysis, the team wanted to elevate realism to a new level. For this reason, they sent some employees to a tropical island to get a feel for the terrain there.
This excursion bore fruit, as the game was able to amaze the entire gaming community in 2007. Trees fell after being shot at, breaking into pieces, and even grass and leaves could bend and move with the wind depending on explosions.
It’s no wonder that even today the saying “Can it run Crysis?” pops up when you build your gaming PC.
What is the studio working on now? Crytek initially worked on Crysis 4, but the project was recently canceled as the studio had to lay off some of its employees. Currently, the studio is maintaining the multiplayer success Hunt: Showdown, but it is unknown if there will be any future projects for the studio.
Once again, the developers of Chrono Odyssey have responded to feedback from the last closed beta and explained in detail what needs to be improved before the launch.
In summary, the developers will address every area of the ambitious MMORPG to adjust the unfortunately still quite numerous construction sites of Chrono Odyssey. Below are the most important points from our perspective from the new to-do list:
Through various measures, the fights are intended to feel more direct, responsive, satisfying (hit feedback!) and better readable, with the different control options (controller vs. mouse and keyboard) receiving user interfaces tailored and optimized for them.
The skill system will be refined to highlight synergies better and enable more different playstyles. Each class is to receive a more developed identity that clearly distinguishes it from the others. A matrix system will be introduced, where you choose from multiple talent trees for your weapon. The overall progression of the character will be adjusted.
The AI of monsters will see noticeable improvements, their attack animations will be easier to read, and the difficulty of enemies will be rebalanced. You should encounter the first Chrono Gate, which overwhelmed many level 3 heroes in the beta, a bit later.
Content for solo players and groups will follow clearer rules and play more diversely and excitingly. The open world will receive additional content and more alternative/optional paths for exploration. PvP zones where duels are possible will be more clearly recognizable.
Navigation in complex regions will be facilitated by more points of interest. It will also be easier to recognize collectible resources and find the core content of the game in the open world. The visual identity of the regions will be developed further. The compass will be optimized.
Exploring points of interest (POIs) and the world in general should be more rewarding. The developers will introduce new, dynamic quest lines that you can stumble upon while exploring, as well as hidden caves, story encounters, and more. Additionally, the regions will receive more significant events and quests.
All dungeon content will be adjusted to make it feel more varied, challenging, and rewarding.
Crafting will be better introduced and documented. Collecting should feel more satisfying through adjusted animations and effects and potential bonus resources.
The developers plan several measures to significantly improve performance. The user interface will be optimized in all areas. Animations will be improved. Menus will be adjusted. Graphics and sound will be refined.
The narrative aspect of Chrono Odyssey will receive a complete overhaul to provide a story that pulls players into the world and its lore.
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Chrono Odyssey: Trailer from Summer Game Fest 2025 shows action-packed battles and a dark world
With great ambitions come great expectations
That’s quite a lot, isn’t it? Considering that Chrono Odyssey is actually supposed to be released in 2025 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series: yes! This launch window seems hardly feasible when looking at the planned revisions for fundamental systems of the MMORPG.
From our perspective, taking the time to address the issues found in the closed beta is the right approach. After the first, well-staged trailers were able to generate a certain hype, the last playable version of Chrono Odyssey was only convincing in a few areas – which is also reflected in our survey from the Grindfest.
The system offers a customizable difficulty and various modifiers, allowing players to tailor the missions to their own demands. Additionally, you farm your top loot here. The core idea behind the portal system is to give players more control over the potential rewards of the activity.
Within the portal, certain missions have proven to be particularly rewarding since the system’s launch, as they can be completed relatively quickly and easily when you want to farm the best loot to increase your power level. The remaining missions are ignored. Even worse, all content that does not appear in the portal is affected, as you only get the loot you need to reach power level 400 and above there.
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The launch trailer of “The Edge of Fate” showcases the new expansion of Destiny 2
What does this have to do with WoW? A player compares the current situation of the portal system on Reddit with the dungeon finder in WoW. He is convinced that Bungie has just made the same mistake in Destiny 2 that Blizzard made with World of Warcraft back in 2009 with the release of the dungeon finders.
The player states that the WoW community started to repeatedly play the quickest dungeons for daily rewards after the dungeon finder’s introduction, completely ignoring other dungeons. His thesis is: “Players will always take the fun out of the game when the system encourages them to do so.”
He believes it is human nature for players to seek the easiest path and grind as efficiently as possible. The choice that these games give players is merely an illusion. There is always one optimal option that everyone plays because it leads to the goal the fastest and easiest – even if that takes the fun out of the game.
The post collected over 2,500 upvotes on Reddit within a day and received much agreement in the comments, including from former WoW players.
Why is this a problem? The grind for power level is a motivation for many players in Destiny 2 to play and a significant driving force. If this grind becomes faster and more monotonous, players could lose interest – especially if increasing the power level is such a laborious and time-consuming task.
In the anime of Gachiakuta, there are some characters with special abilities. MeinMMO lists the people who have a Jinki.
Update on August 4, 2025: The information about Semiu Grier has been updated.
What makes them so special? In Gachiakuta, there are people who have a special bond with an object that is considered worthless trash by many others. These characters are referred to as Givers, and their objects are called Jinkis. The Jinkis can be altered by thought power and can thus be used as weapons.
The better the owner takes care of their object, the more powerful it becomes. Therefore, MeinMMO presents all the known characters from the anime who are Givers. The characters that have only been shown in the manga are not included in this list for spoiler reasons. Over time, new characters will be added to the anime, which we will then supplement in this article.
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Gachiakuta: Trailer with German synchronization of the anime
All Characters from Gachiakuta with Jinki
Attention, Spoilers: Even though the Jinkis have not yet been introduced in the anime, we will discuss them. However, only characters that have already been seen in the anime will be included.
Rudo Surebrec
Rudo must fight his way through the abyss.
First appearance in the anime: Episode 1
Jinki: 3R (Gloves)
Rudo is the protagonist of the series. He lives in the slums with his foster father Regto, but one day Rudo is accused of murdering Regto. He is then thrown into hell and must fight his way through.
He has a special relationship with used objects and always values them. As a result, the gloves he received from Regto have become something special: they can create additional Jinkis from used objects, which Rudo uses in battle.
Enjin
Enjin uses an umbrella as a weapon.
First appearance in the anime: Episode 2
Jinki: Umbreaker (Umbrella)
Enjin is a high-ranking member of the Cleaners and the leader of Team Akuta, which Rudo also joins. He shows his skills during his first appearance by defeating the trash monsters on his own.
Assisting him is his umbrella. With this Jinki, he can float in the air and then attack opponents in a dive. The umbrella doubles in size and blades sprout from it.
Zanka Nijiku
Zanka loves his staff.
First appearance in the anime: Episode 3
Jinki: Lovely Assistaff (Staff)
Zanka is also a member of the Cleaners and part of Team Akuta. He was picked up by Enjin and aims to get stronger to surpass a certain person. He uses his staff, which normally splits into two ends.
In battle, the staff however gains several blades at the top end and becomes much heavier. This allows him to be thrown in combat or used as a melee weapon. Zanka uses the staff very skillfully to strike both from a distance and up close.
Riyo Reaper
Riyo has a penchant for hair.
First appearance in the anime: Episode 3
Jinki: The Ripper (Scissors)
Riyo is also part of Team Akuta and thus part of the Cleaners. She has a calm demeanor and is seen as childish by others because she lacks good manners. She is easily motivated by a strong challenger.
Her Jinki is a pair of hair-cutting scissors that she always carries with her. When the Jinki activates, it grows to the size of Riyo’s legs. Consequently, the scissors are handled with her legs and no longer with her hands. This allows her to effectively cut things – including the trash monsters.
Semiu Grier
First appearance in the anime: Episode 4
Jinki: Eyes (Glasses)
Unlike the other characters, Semiu is not a fighter. Rather, she works as a receptionist at the headquarters of the cleaning crew. She was born for this job and completes her work as quickly as she can.
As she does not fight, her Jinki is not intended for battling the trash monsters. Instead, she can see abnormalities in people with her glasses and assess their abilities. Additionally, she can glance a little into the future, allowing her to anticipate the trajectory of projectiles. However, she cannot use this ability for too long, or it will impair her vision.
However, not everyone always has the opportunity to go outside. Even in the early days of the game, an image of Nurse Joy from the series circulated, calling for players to place lures at nearby children’s hospitals. This way, children who are health-challenged and bedridden could also catch Pokémon.
A post by user Silver-Sun3559 in the Pokémon GO subreddit is currently reminding us of this trend, which you can check out here (Link to the post on Reddit). And it turns out: Even today, there are still people who follow this idea and try to bring joy to children with the game.
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Pokémon GO: Over 800 Trainers fight in Gigantamax battle
This is what the community says: The post has garnered a lot of attention in the subreddit with over 8,000 upvotes and more than 120 comments. Numerous community members are exchanging thoughts about it and sharing that they still think about it today and occasionally activate lures at hospitals.
“I go to the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Toronto once a month and activate a whole bunch of lures for the kiddos,” writes a user (via Reddit).
“I always did this when I worked in hospitals. Definitely do it for the kids!” writes another user (via Reddit).
“I will do that when I’m near one. That’s such a nice idea,” finds a user (via Reddit).
“I work at Children’s Health and sometimes see kids playing when I do my rounds,” shares someone else (via Reddit).
“I would have appreciated that too when my son was in the neonatal ward lol,” writes another user (via Reddit).
The last point is indeed one that several commenters address: After all, parents are often in the hospital with their children when they are being treated. Other hospitals and situations are also mentioned in which one simply waits in the hospital – and appreciates any distraction. And if that distraction is Pokémon collecting.
What should be considered? In general, the situation today is certainly different from 2016 when everyone was out hunting Pokémon, and even some crazier stories came out. But of course, one should still be careful not to go where one does not belong – and there are plenty of places like that in hospitals. Therefore, one should be mindful of where exactly one places lures.
Indeed, there was a hospital in 2016 that opposed the trend. It explained that luring can also lead to disappointment, as some children could not get out of bed to chase Pokémon in the hospital or go outside (via globalnews.ca). Such actions should always be approached thoughtfully and one should assess whether the situation allows it.
What do you think of the idea of bringing joy to children with Pokémon GO? Have you done something in this regard, do you know corresponding stories? Share it with us in the comments and exchange views with other trainers. Want to know what’s happening in the game? Then check out the event overview for Pokémon GO in August 2025.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Nintendo Switch is considered a popular handheld console due to its lightweight and slim design, which makes it easy to take on vacation. However, one player recently had bad luck on his trip with the Switch.
What happened to the player? The user reports on Reddit that he wanted to travel with his Switch. However, as soon as he sat down in the airplane and wanted to start playing, his Switch complained that he should please insert a “virtual game card.” The problem: He needs an active internet connection for this step, which was not possible while on the plane. He explains:
Suddenly, Nintendo requires users to insert a “virtual game card” for games they already own. An internet connection is required for this. I find this out at the beginning of a 9-hour flight. I was completely bored.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 in the unboxing video
Virtual game cards can be handy if you want to lend digital games
What is this feature?With the “Virtual Game Card”, you can temporarily lend digital games between Switch consoles. This applies to both your own consoles and to consoles and users who use the same family account. It works somewhat like Steam Family on PC, but with temporary restrictions.
What is the problem? Some speculate that the player made an error during setup: Instead of making his Switch the “primary console,” his account believes that it is logged in on a secondary console. In this case, he requires an online connection or a virtual card to be able to play the games.
The solution to the problem: He needs to disable the “Virtual Game Card” feature in the settings and use the old licensing system, where he can use digital purchases directly through his account and his Switch. Additionally, he should set his console as the primary system for the account so that he can also play offline in the future.
A user reports that he was banned by Nintendo after attempting to use games on his new Switch 2 that he had purchased used for the old Switch 1. He had bought four used games through the Facebook marketplace, inserted them, and installed the respective updates: Nintendo bans owners of a Switch 2 because he bought used games
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In World of Warcraft, knowledge can also be burdensome. Because a player knows the dungeon and plays correctly, they get kicked.
That parts of the long-established community of World of Warcraft can sometimes be a bit impatient is something everyone knows who has tried to visit a “Random Dungeon” in recent years and lost sight of the tank after just 10 seconds.
Generally, you can still get through the dungeon well if you simply follow the group in silence. But if the whole group ignores a necessary mechanic, that is simply not possible – and leads to strange incidents.
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WoW: Spieler sammelt ALLE Erfolge im Spiel, fragt dann „Was mache ich jetzt?“
Which player got kicked? In the WoW Subreddit, the player Nerdy_Valkyrie shared a screenshot from their visit to the Stratholme dungeon. Since their group rushed after each boss, they asked:
“You do know you need to kill the enemies in the ziggurats, right?”
Later, they added:
“Because I had to do the last two solo.”
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Apparently, the group did not take this very positively. Because the reaction of another member was simply “Stop talking” – followed by the successful kicking of the player, who then received a deserter debuff, preventing them from signing up for dungeons for a while.
Why did the player fall behind? In Stratholme, unlike almost all other dungeons in the game, it is not only necessary to defeat the individual bosses. Additionally, you must enter the ziggurats located behind the bosses and defeat the mobs within them as well. Only then does the barrier at the end of the dungeon drop, allowing access to the final bosses.
The community is amused: Under the post, the incident and its absurdity are celebrated. Even though it does not necessarily represent the entire WoW community, some report that they have had similar experiences – and those do stick in the memory.
“‘Stop talking?’ I wonder if they know they are playing an MMO… Don’t take it to heart. Idiots do idiotic things.” – Rampaging Biscuit
“This is funny because I saw a comment recently that basically published a guide on how to never get kicked in dungeons, and it has been working for me for weeks: Step 1) Never talk in chat. Step 2) Follow the group, even if they are wrong. Step 3) Never talk in chat.” – SweetMeese
“Their heads are literally echo chambers. Some jokes write themselves…” – Sylvinus98hun
The head of Borderlands 4 has talked about the development of the game and revealed the philosophy that helped developers create the largest map yet.
Who is it about? Randy Pitchford is the CEO of Gearbox Entertainment Company and head of the Borderlands series. Since May 2025, there have been controversies surrounding him because he told a fan that a real fan would find a way to raise the money to buy Borderlands 4.
In a new interview, however, the focus was not on the controversies of the CEO, but on Borderlands 4 itself. The head revealed the ideas that the developers brought to the game and how it led to the largest world yet.
Here you can see the trailer for Borderlands 4:
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Borderlands 4 – Story trailer for the new installment of the loot shooter series
“Less Border, More Lands”
How was the development? The head revealed a lot about the development of the game in an interview with RollingStone.com. The protagonists leave Pandora and arrive on the new planet Kairos, where they encounter a villain named “The Timekeeper.”
The new planet has opened up several new possibilities for the developers. The game features different physics and is designed to be played in a much more open way than previous installments. The world is supposed to be “the largest” that Gearbox has ever created.
Above all, there should be more open areas instead of “choke points,” following the motto “Less Border, More Lands.” To ensure this is implemented correctly, players can look forward to new movement options. There will be grappling hooks, double jumps, and dashes. Characters will also be able to swim on Kairos.
Why the change? The developers explain in an interview with RollingStone.com that they no longer have several technical limitations. The developer explained, “We can now transfer large amounts of data at very high speeds from these new storage units that we have on consoles and PCs into memory that the CPU can access.”
He further says that all of this is “technical nonsense,” but simply put, they are no longer reliant on these choke points to load the game. They are simply not needed anymore, allowing for a real open world that is perfectly suited for a new planet.
The fact that the technological advances are so great that Borderlands 4 can be developed with a completely different concept is likely to have pleased the developers. There will also be a new class in the next installment of the shooter: Borderlands 4 shows gameplay of a new class, but a joke is at the center of it
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Switch 2 launched with a new feature that saw little use. Now Nintendo is bringing back a 33-year-old game that will benefit from it.
What is this feature? The new Joy-Cons of the Switch 2 provide the functionality to imitate a mouse like on a PC. Many were excited about the mouse control of the Switch 2, but until now, few games have truly benefited from it – at least until now.
Through Switch Online, you can now play an old classic on the Switch 2: Mario Paint. It was released on July 14, 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES. Thus, the game is already 33 years old.
Here you can see a trailer for Mario Paint on the Switch 2:
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Mario Paint is being released 33 years after its release also for the Switch 2
Mario Paint moves from the SNES to the Switch 2
What kind of game is this? Mario Paint can best be described as a simplified graphic program.
In it, you can paint your own pictures, create animations, and even compose simple music.
At its release in 1992, it did not use a controller but a mouse developed for the SNES, which was included with the purchase of the game.
Since the original was played with a mouse, it makes sense that Mario Paint on the Switch 2 will also utilize the mouse control of the Joy-Cons. Many players are pleased because this feature has not been properly utilized by any previous game.
“Unironically, the best mouse controller game currently on the Switch 2,” writes NathanielBandy under a trailer for the game on YouTube.
YouTube user Sudoloku64 is also looking forward to it: “Finally, a proper use for the mouse feature”
The combination seems perfect. “As soon as I heard about mouse controls on Switch 2, I saw this coming,” wrote brockbracken318 under the same trailer.
When it comes to its own games, Nintendo is significantly more restrictive than other companies. They are only available on the company’s home consoles. Additionally, the company is not a fan of used games. A Switch 2 owner had to experience this firsthand: Nintendo bans a Switch 2 owner for buying used games
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Do you find it boring to just have to press the right hotkey for spells in video games? Then a new co-op game on Steam might be just right for you – and it only costs €3.
What game is it about? It is about Mage Arena: A new co-op PvP game that was released on Steam on July 24, 2025. As a wizard or warlock, you fight alongside and against other players, where you have to cast your spells out loud. So you need a microphone.
You can watch a trailer for the game here:
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Mage Arena: Im neuen Koop-Spiel auf Steam könnt ihr euch wie richtige Zauberer fühlen
Exciting magic duels with a special twist
What is the game about? Wizards and warlocks battle in the eponymous Mage Arena to see which side is superior in the arcane arts. You join this millennia-old conflict on one of the two sides
So far, there are 2 different game modes: battles with 2 teams of 4 players each and simple duels. The special thing is that you have to cast your spells out loud for them to take effect:
For example, if you shout “Fireball”, you cast a fireball.
You can also give your spells custom names that you use in battle.
How is the game currently received? On Steam, Mage Arena has become a small hit. The game reached a peak of 13,450 concurrent players on July 29, just 5 days after release (according to steamdb.info).
The game also receives very good ratings from players: 95% of the reviews on Steam are positive. The fun concept of the game is especially praised. This comforts many despite the rather outdated-looking graphics and numerous bugs.
“insanely good proof that a fun game concept will always beat graphical fidelity” (Joker on Steam)
“Absolute pontential… it still needs to cook, but it is very fun.” (panch s on Steam)
“In no other game I’ve ever played am I able to yell “FIREBALL” and it actually do it.” (VRCentral on Steam)
As exciting as the concept of the game is, it also brings problems. In discussions on Steam, many complain that players cast spells with racist insults. Also, the game currently seems to have trouble reliably recognizing female voices.
Mage Arena currently costs only €2.99 on Steam. The developer claims to have decided to lower the price due to the many bugs. It is supposed to cost €4.99 by default.
ChatGPT has released a new feature that turns the AI into a personal secretary. It can bypass protective mechanisms that were supposed to stop it without any problems.
What is this new feature? Recently, access to the Agents was unlocked for premium users of ChatGPT. The new agent function is supposed to work like the namesake agent or secretary who actively performs tasks on the internet for the user. From booking flights for the next vacation to analyzing competitors and subsequently creating presentations, to managing one’s own calendar, the artificial intelligence is expected to handle everything.
The feature is not only new but also experimental. Not every attempt has been successful so far, and sometimes the tool fails at obstacles that wouldn’t be a problem for humans. However, there is already one obstacle that the AI can solve without any issues: captchas.
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“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real
u201cI am not a robotu201d
What are captchas? Captchas are the small boxes that appear on many websites to prevent requests from robots instead of humans. Usually, you have to move your mouse over a box and click on it. Sometimes you also have to click on pictures of school buses, traffic lights, or bicycles.
The “magic” behind captchas lies mainly in how you move your mouse over them. While robots do this in a straight line or arc, humans tremble slightly, which makes them easy to distinguish from robots.
What has ChatGPT accomplished now? A user on Reddit tasked the new agent function of ChatGPT with a job. The AI had to solve one of those captchas and it did so without any problems. The tool also commented on the task without irony:
The link has been inserted, so I’m now clicking the checkbox “I am not a robot” to complete the verification via Cloudflare. This step is necessary to prove that I am not a bot and to proceed with the action.
The Cloudflare verification was successful. Now I click the “Convert” button to proceed to the next step of the process.
In the comments on Reddit, some users attempt to explain. They say that ChatGPT is not a classic bot used for automated processes and is also trained on human data.
According to winfuture.de, captchas are primarily intended to make automated attacks more difficult and expensive. It seems that the solution to such tasks can no longer be completely prevented.
Two European streamers are currently leading the international Twitch charts with their special events. MeinMMO shows you what this is all about.
Who are these streamers? The Spaniard Ibai Llanos and the Cologne resident Kevin “Papaplatte” Teller are currently at the top of the list of the most-watched streamers worldwide on SullyGnome. Ibai leads with a watch time of more than 45 million hours watched in the past 3 days, while Papaplatte has managed 2.6 million.
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This is how challenges for Papaplatte became a livelihood
Success with special events
What’s behind this? The current success of the European streamers can be attributed to a common factor: Both hosted a recurring special event during this period.
Ibai has been hosting an annual boxing event called La Velada del Año since 2021, which translates to: The Night of the Year. In 2022, the streamer shattered the previous record for the most concurrent viewers on Twitch. Since then, he has surpassed his own records every year, but in 2025 he completely overshadowed his previous highs: Up to 9.1 million people watched simultaneously when streamers like TheGrefg stepped into the ring (via SullyGnome).
Papaplatte also managed to stream into the Twitch charts with a special event. The Edeltour is taking place for the 4th time this year, where a group of friendly streamers travel together in a motorhome – this time through the United Kingdom. With a peak of 102,000 viewers, Papaplatte and Co. are baking somewhat smaller rolls, but the tour lasts longer than just one night, allowing them to accumulate a substantial watch time. You can follow the escapades of the streamers on a dedicated website for the Edeltour.
Both Ibai and Papaplatte are already big streamers, regularly attracting several tens of thousands of viewers. However, their current success shows how much such events can enhance a streamer’s appeal.
The same goes for Papaplatte: Even if his channel is the most visibly represented, events like the Edeltour thrive on the interaction between the streamers, which continually creates entertaining and surprising moments.
Such special events repeatedly help streamers achieve new career milestones. The so-called Subathons are also popular: marathon streams where content creators stay online longer for every paid subscription completed on Twitch. In 2021, Ludwig catapulted himself to the top of Twitch with such a stream – but it didn’t go as he had imagined.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Wuchang Fallen Feathers there are gates that present you with puzzles. Where to find them, how to solve them, and what awaits you is explained here.
What are these mysterious doors? In the game, there are exactly 3 doors or gates that present you with a choice of two answers. If you answer them, you will receive rewards or consequences, depending on your choice. If you solve all 3 doors, you will receive the trophy or achievement called “Wise”.
All gates have a red, lightning-like vertical beam that makes them easy to identify.
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Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – New Action RPG from China Shows Boss Fight and Release Date
Puzzle Gate I
Location: You will find the first puzzle pretty much automatically since you just need to follow the story. It is located in the palace where you will have to face 2 boss fights.
Correct Answer
The Rise of the Winged
Reward
Shen – Lasting Momentum (Blessing)
Puzzle Gate II
Location: You will find this gate near a checkpoint and a bridge in the area Sky Fortress – Hill Watch.
Correct Answer
Challenge the Threads of Fate
Reward
– Kong Wine 1 x – Bride’s Armor
Puzzle Gate III
Location: Gate number 3 can be found in the underworld towards the end of the game. Right next to it is the shrine of the area Capital of the Bo – Depths of the Capital.
Correct Answer
The Great Dream Fades
Reward
Talk to the Ferryman and receive “Shimmering Red Feather”
Wrong Answers and Their Consequences
What happens if you answer incorrectly? If you give the wrong answer, you will be teleported away and have to fight a strong enemy. Depending on the door, your teleportation location will be your last checkpoint until you find another one.
If you answer the first door incorrectly, you can, however, also receive additional items that may be helpful. However, you will not receive the trophy then.
With the third door, it may be advantageous to intentionally give the wrong answer, depending on which ending you want to achieve. The wrong answer in this case is related to the “True Ending”.
As part of the Grindfest, MeinMMO discussed the future of the genre. A significant part of this consists of Asian MMORPGs that could save the genre’s future. We explain which representatives are interesting and which have less chance in the talk.
Who is participating in the Gamestar Talk and what is it about? In line with the MeinMMO theme week Grindfest, host Felix Rick was invited to talk about Asian MMORPGs, their chances, but also their difficulties. Joining him are Managing Editor Sophia Weiß and Senior Editor Karsten Scholz from MeinMMO.
In the talk, the three first discuss why so many Asian MMORPGs are coming to the West and what challenges Western MMORPG development actually entails. Topics like high costs and the significant chance of becoming a flop play a crucial role.
According to MeinMMO’s experts, games from Asia have it somewhat easier. They can initially test themselves in the Asian market and work on their strengths and weaknesses before coming to the West. However, porting in the West has its own unique challenges.
What these challenges are will be revealed here, in the full talk:
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MeinMMO and GameStar discuss the death of western MMOs
You can find even more video talks directly at GameStar Talk on GameStar.de and on the YouTube channel of the colleagues, which you can of course also subscribe to. The GameStar podcast is also available on Spotify. It’s worth checking out!
Another highlight was the GameStar Talk with guest and WoW veteran George “Uncle Barlow” Zaal, in which nearly 2 hours of 60 years of MMORPG history were discussed, and all important milestones paired with nostalgic memories were experienced once again.
In League of Legends the esports scene is huge. In addition to the professionals or casters, there are also journalists who conduct interviews with the players and accompany a tournament. One of the most well-known journalists in the LoL scene is now taking a break.
Which LoL expert is it? Even before there were official leagues like the LCK, LEC, or LCS, the American Travis Gafford started a podcast in 2011 that focused on the esports scene of LoL.
Travis became a major personality, especially in North America, and provided high-quality content in the form of interviews with players and general videos from major events like Worlds or MSI. Now the LoL expert is taking a break for the time being, as he explains in his farewell video on YouTube.
Why is he stepping back from the scene? Travis Gafford has been part of LoL for 14 years and has been working a lot, as he himself says. During a vacation, he receives messages about transfers between players or other news from the scene and has to immediately think about what content he can produce from it. He would like to have fewer commitments to the LoL scene and gain some distance.
Travis also talks about his other passions that he would like to pursue more, such as Magic: The Gathering or the LoL card game, Riftbound. One of the biggest points of his decision was the change in the esports scene of LoL, especially in North America.
In the video, you can see the trailer for Season 2 of 2025 in League of Legends:
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The launch trailer for the new Season 2 2025 in League of Legends
Riot is hurting the scene itself
How has Riot hurt the esports scene of LoL? Travis Gafford discusses in his video some points that have not been good for the scene and the LCS (now LTA) of North America:
The abolition of the Academy: In 2018, the NA LCS franchising was introduced (liquidpedia.net). Part of this was the Academy League, in which organizations like Cloud9 or Team Liquid had to have a team of up-and-coming talents. In 2023, this regulation was abolished, resulting in many teams being simply released and thus fewer new players being discovered or promoted in NA.
The rebranding of the LCS brand: In 2025, Riot decided to merge the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA into one large American league. The League of Legends Championships of The Americas (LTA) became the official league and split into North and South America. This decision faced heavy criticism, and many wondered why the big and established name, LCS, was changed (zleague.gg).
Website issues during MSI25: Travis Gafford mentioned in his video that during the game days of MSI25, no live matches were displayed, even though they were being played. This was also noted by some users on Reddit (reddit.com). Travis further stated that such a problem would have been resolved in a heartbeat back in 2014, which further emphasizes how little passion is put into the scene.
Fans are convinced that this is a disgrace for the esports scene
What are the fans saying about his break? Many are sad that Travis Gafford is leaving the scene for now. A stalwart like him, who has been a voice between the community and the esports scene for 14 years, will be missed in the LTA.
It is especially highlighted how disappointed fans are that the North American LoL scene is slowly going downhill, especially when a big personality like him is missing. Reddit user needphotoshophelp199 writes the following on the topic (reddit.com):
League in NA is at the end. If that’s not a sign, then I don’t know what is. Riot killed NA a long time ago, and we are just zombies feeding off a corpse. Good luck to the players and organizations still part of the ecosystem, and God help anyone trying to make content out of it, because they will really need divine help.
Under his YouTube video, user skylerroth1444 commented that he will miss Travis and that he was the one who breathed the last bit of life into the LTA:
Damn, we will really miss your content and your commitment to LoL. You really breathed the last bit of life into what was left of LTA. I’m glad that I will continue to follow you on your other channels even during your break.
In August, the Pokémon GOSpotlight Hours are waiting for you again. We will show you which ones they are and when they take place.
A Spotlight Hour is a short event that lasts only 60 minutes. It takes place every Tuesday and brings you during that time a bonus and at least one Pokémon that appears in very high numbers.
We have summarized for you which Spotlight Hours are waiting for you in August 2025, when they take place, and which monsters and bonuses they bring.
Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus
All Spotlight Hours in August 2025
When are the Spotlight Hours? The Spotlight Hours take place every Tuesday from 18:00 to 19:00. In the following table, you can see which Spotlight Hours there are in August 2025. Monsters marked with * can also appear as Shiny.
Date
Pokémon & Bonus
August 5
Swirlix* and double catch Stardust
August 12
Plusle* and Minun* and double catch XP
August 19
Ralts* and double catch candy
August 26
Lechonk* and double transfer candy
Spotlight Hour on August 5, 2025
Which Pokémon is in the spotlight? In the first Spotlight Hour of August, Swirlix is waiting for you. The Fairy-type Pokémon has existed since Generation 6 and can evolve into Slurpuff.
Which bonus is active? In this Spotlight Hour, you will receive double the amount of Stardust when you catch Pokémon. It doesn’t matter what monster it is: The bonus applies to every Pokémon you catch.
Is the event worth it? From a combat perspective, Swirlix and its evolution are not recommended. Neither in raids nor in the battle league can these Pokémon score.
You can still use the event to earn some extra Stardust. Although Swirlix is not one of the monsters that brings more Stardust when caught, you can still receive double the Stardust for every catch during the event.
If you also use Star Pieces during this time, you will get triple the amount of Stardust for every catch.
Can you catch Shiny Swirlix? Yes, you may encounter the shiny variant of Swirlix as well.
Spotlight Hour on August 12, 2025
Which Pokémon is in the spotlight? On August 12, 2025, two monsters are waiting for you: Plusle and Minun. Both monsters are Electric type and have existed since Generation 3. Neither of the two Pokémon has an evolution.
Which bonus is active? If you catch Pokémon in this event, you will receive double the amount of experience points for it.
Is the event worth it? Both monsters are neither interesting for raids nor for the battle league. There are far better Pokémon you should rely on.
At least the additional experience points can be interesting if you are actively leveling up. If you use Lucky Eggs, you will receive four times the amount of experience points for each catch.
Can you catch Shiny Plusle and Minun? Yes, with a bit of luck, you may also encounter the shiny forms of both monsters.
Which Pokémon is in the spotlight? In this Spotlight Hour, Ralts is waiting for you. The Pokémon has the types Fairy and Psychic and comes from Generation 3. It evolves into Kirlia, which can then evolve into Gardevoir or Gallade. Only male Kirlia can evolve into Gallade.
Which bonus is active? If you catch Pokémon during this Spotlight Hour, you will receive double candy for each catch.
Is the event worth it? One of the two final evolutions of Ralts, Gardevoir, is among the best attackers in Pokémon GO of the Fairy type. If you need monsters here, the Spotlight Hour might be worth it for you. The additional candies also help to level up Gardevoir quickly.
Additionally, Gardevoir and Gallade have Mega Evolutions that are very strong. If you already have these, you can also collect plenty of candies for them. If you use Pineapp Berries, you will receive four times the amount of candy for each catch.
Neither Gardevoir nor Gallade are particularly suitable for the battle league.
Can you catch Shiny Ralts? Yes, you may also encounter the shiny variant of Ralts with a bit of luck.
Spotlight Hour on August 26, 2025
Which Pokémon is in the spotlight? Lechonk is waiting for you in the last Spotlight Hour of August 2025. The Normal-type Pokémon comes from Generation 9 and can evolve into Oinkologne.
Which bonus is active? If you transfer Pokémon to the professor during this Spotlight Hour, you will receive double candy for it.
Is the event worth it? Lechonk and Oinkologne are not strong attackers. You shouldn’t rely on these Pokémon neither in raids nor in the battle league.
If you have accumulated many Pokémon that you want to transfer to the professor, then this event is perfect for that. Mark your monsters beforehand with a tag to be able to transfer the appropriate Pokémon quickly.
Can you catch Shiny Lechonk? Yes. You can also catch the shiny variant of Lechonk, if you are lucky.
Not only the Spotlight Hours are waiting for you in August. There are again many other events, raids, and Dynamax battles for you. We have put together a complete overview with all relevant information for the next month: All events in August 2025 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A leak reveals the various skins in Battlefield 6 and many players agree on what they think about them.
What do the soldiers in Battlefield 6 look like? Realistic, somewhat generic, just like real soldiers. They are not characters with distinctive faces. Each soldier is one of many, uniformed, with camouflage patterns.
This is at least indicated by a leak on Reddit that showcases the different soldiers in their combat gear. The exact origin of the leak is unclear, but it is likely that the screenshots come from the new testing environment Battlefield Labs. This would mean that they might have visually changed slightly for the release of Battlefield 6.
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Players have strong feelings about skins in Battlefield 6
What do players say about the skins? Many players are very happy that the skins of the characters are realistic, generic soldiers. The community praises the design and the post with the images collected over 6,900 upvotes in less than 24 hours.
Overall, many players are very happy that they are playing soldiers instead of operators in Battlefield 6. This was a recurring point of criticism in Battlefield 2042, as it resulted in seeing the same face of a specific character 30 times on a battlefield.
Criticism of the skins comes only from a few players who find the design somewhat boring or wish that the soldiers would wear more modern helmets.
Start video
Reveal-Trailer zu Battlefield 6
Why is this such an important topic for players? Part of the Battlefield community places great value on immersion and at least partial realism. The game portrays wars, serious and dramatic situations, and thrives on chaos as well as the unvarnished depiction of a battlefield.
Colorful skins and operators running through the war zone with the same face in numerous variants are correspondingly immersion-breaking and disturb that part of the community that became Battlefield fans due to immersion and the feeling of the battlefield.
However, with the start of the new Season 9 “Season of the Banner,” the community’s mood is changing. New players and new content are revitalizing the MMORPG once again.
Here you can watch the trailer for the last season:
Start video
New World: Aeternum – Trailer prepares for Season of the Divide
The dead live longer
Where does the hype come from? The little whirlwind currently surrounding New World is mainly due to two factors. On one hand, there is the major season update, which focuses primarily on PvP. The centerpiece is the new “Capture the Flag” game mode, which will be introduced with the patch on July 29.
But there will also be a new map for the 3v3 arena and changes to the free-for-all PvP zones. Some of the artifact items have also been revised and equipped with new values to make them attractive to players once again.
In addition to balance changes, the flail is particularly in focus as a weapon this season. The developers state on NewWorld.com that it is among the least used weapons in all game modes and is, therefore, being significantly revised. It is intended to be more combinable with a larger number of other weapons.
Apart from PvP and PvE, the summer festival is also starting again in Aeternum. Here, mini-games, music, and good vibes await players. Additionally, there will be some events like double weapon or refining XP.
In addition to the innovations and changes of the season, the developers have also launched a promotion that is currently attracting new players to the servers.
What kind of promotion is this? Although New World is still a paid game and not free-to-play, it has been available as a free title on PlayStation Plus since this month. PlayStation Plus is a subscription service for PS4 and PS5 that grants players access to new games as long as they are subscribers. Every month, players can pick up and play new titles as long as they are subscribers.
This month, New World has been added as one of the games that subscribers can pick up. Although no exact player numbers are shared, the veterans have noticed an increase in new players. On Reddit, they write:
Ultimagus007: “The game feels alive again, and people are really sociable! I created a new character to try out the new content, and it’s been fantastic so far. I’m excited about what the future holds; the game is finally moving in the right direction! I sincerely hope it maintains this momentum.”
Much_Adhesiveness871: “Yes, I was quite shocked when I saw how many people under level 20 were playing the main quest with me.”
Invader_86: “As a new player, I’ve been playing for 35 hours since the PS+ launch. I love it.”
Hbizzle2: “We just have to hold on until Season 10! I feel the same way, the game is booming and I love it.”
Fluffy_Narwhal6942: “I’m new to the game and currently doing the story; there are so many people running to the same quest, it’s crazy and feels great.”
But there is also criticism. User peidinho31 writes on Reddit: “The problem with New World is essentially this: It excites briefly, comes back briefly, and then dies off again. I hope it recovers.”
