Pokémon GO: Spotlight Hour brings Geodude and an XP bonus

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

A Spotlight Hour is coming in Pokémon GO again. This time featuring Roggenrola and an XP bonus.

What is a Spotlight Hour? A Spotlight Hour is a small 60-minute event that takes place every Tuesday. During this time, there is at least one Pokémon that is in the spotlight, appearing in very high numbers throughout the event. A bonus is also part of the event.

The Spotlight Hour on July 29, 2025 features Roggenrola. The Rock-type Pokémon from Generation 5 can evolve into Boldore and then into Gigalith.

Start video
Pokémon GO starts new season Pleasant Days – Trailer for the season

Spotlight Hour on July 29, 2025 – Start and Bonuses

When does the Spotlight Hour start? As always, the Spotlight Hour starts at 6:00 PM and lasts for one hour, until 7:00 PM.

What bonus is active? If you evolve Pokémon during the event, you will receive double the amount of experience points for each individual evolution. It doesn’t matter which Pokémon you evolve. The bonus applies to every Pokémon.

If you use Lucky Eggs, you can further increase the bonus and thus get four times the amount of experience points for each evolution.

Can you catch Shiny Roggenrola? Yes, if you are lucky, you can also obtain the shiny variant of Roggenrola. However, the chance is not increased during the event.

Is the Spotlight Hour worth it? With Gigalith, the final evolution of Roggenrola, you will have one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO of the Rock type. If you still have gaps in your team, you can use the event to farm the corresponding Roggenrola specimens and candies.

In the Battle League, however, you should avoid Roggenrola and its evolutions. Neither in the Great League, nor in the Ultra League, or Master League can these Pokémon score points.

If you are actively gathering experience points and have some Pokémon that you wanted to evolve anyway, you can use the event to gain a few extra experience points.

More on the topic
New hints indicate research with Mega Mewtwo in Pokémon GO
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon GO: Mega Alakazam Counters – the 20 best attackers in the raid guide
von Patrick Freese
Pokémon GO: How to make the most of the hatching day with Riolu
von Max Handwerk

As the current month comes to an end, the next month in Pokémon GO is also packed with various events, raids, and other content. You can find out what exactly these are and when they take place in our overview of all events in August 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

New trick in Baldur’s Gate 3 gets you 4 magical eyes, but you must torment Volo

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

If you torture Volo from Baldur’s Gate 3 just a tiny bit, he will give you magical eyes – as many as you want.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are plenty of tips and tricks, many of which are probably on the verge of being exploits. But if you want to get the most out of all characters, you sometimes have to be ready to fully exploit the possibilities of the extensive RPG.

A player has now discovered how to get the peculiar bard Volo to perform the questionable operation on a character’s eye – and this can be done 4 times, so that the whole party has magical eyes.

The trick works in Patch 8 – which is presented here:

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

What kind of operation is this? This is reported by a player in the BG3 subreddit. After you rescue Volo from the Goblin camp in Act 1, he appears in your camp. You can talk to him, and he knows a method that “safely” helps remove your larva from your head. He just has to poke around in your eye with a needle a little and then pull out the larva.

If you go through with the operation – and do not cancel at any point – your character will lose an eye and instead get a replacement eye implanted by Volo. The new eye may not be particularly pretty, but it has the nice effect that your character can see invisibility within 9 meters.

Afterward, Volo disappears – supposedly.

Hold Volo and grab 4 eyes

How does the trick work? If you want Volo to perform the operation on all your active party members, then visit him in the camp and switch to turn-based mode. Then cast the spell “Hold Person” on him. Now you can simply talk to Volo with the desired character and perform the operation. After the operation, just talk to him with the next character and repeat the process until the whole party is equipped with eyes that can see through invisibility.

More about Baldur’s Gate 3:
Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
von Johanna
Baldur’s Gate 3: Decipher the ancient book – How to find and open the necromancy of Thay
von Fabienne Kissel
Baldur’s Gate 3: Recruiting Minthara – How to Get the Powerful Companion
von Benedict Grothaus

Is this intentional? Almost certainly not. Because if you argue logically, the spell “Hold Person” actually ensures that a character cannot move at all – an extensive operation should then also not be possible, let alone multiple such operations.

Since Volo should actually disappear immediately after the operation and he is only prevented from doing so by “Hold Person”, one can be quite sure that this is an exploit. But where there is no complainant, there is no judge.
You have hardly used another spell with versatile applications – but it is super strong.

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

Player buys motherboard, surprisingly finds two SSDs: Instead of keeping them shamelessly, he does exactly the right thing

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A used motherboard leads a player to the “lucky catch”: Because he finds two SSDs on the model. However, he sends them back to the old owner. The community is thrilled with the behavior. Because many others would have simply kept the SSDs.

With used hardware, you can usually save a few euros compared to the MSRP. Apparently, a player thought so too and was surprised to find that the seller had forgotten two M.2 SSDs on the sold motherboard.

But unlike other players who would have kept the parts, he decides to send the SSDs back to the seller.

Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds

Used motherboard delivered with forgotten M.2 SSDs

This is what the user did: The user “Gloomy_Article_5240” explained on Reddit that he had ordered a motherboard on eBay. But when he receives the package and wants to install his M.2 SSD on the motherboard, he is quite astonished: Because there are already two M.2 SSDs installed.

In a conversation with the seller, he quickly realizes: They accidentally forgot the M.2 SSDs and actually wanted them removed. He shares the conversation with the seller on Reddit, showing that he will send the M.2 SSDs back to the seller.

This is how the community reacts: They are thrilled with the player’s behavior. Many say that such behavior is rather rare. Because most would have simply kept the forgotten SSDs. One writes:

Good that you did the right thing. I know many people who would have kept them.

And another adds:

Thank you for returning these. Unfortunately, many people would keep them.

The behavior is definitely greatly appreciated. The user explains himself in another post that the seller is “a really cool guy” and helped him “when I was confused trying to update the BIOS, although he had already updated it to the latest version.”

More on the topic
A new setting makes Crimson Desert even more immersive, and we show you how to set it up
von Christos Tsogos
Forget the Steam Machine: Players are waiting for another device from Valve and it could sell like hot cakes
von Benedikt Schlotmann
Crimson Desert: The best settings for the most FPS
von Benedikt Schlotmann

A player buys a used PS5, but when he connects it to his TV, he realizes the storage is way too large. Because the seller did not remove his SSD and also did not delete his games. But the games are not as useful as it sounds: Player buys used PS5 – But the seller apparently forgot to remove his SSD with 4 TB full of games

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

Pokémon GO in August 2025: Raid Hours, Mega Raids and Legendary Raid Bosses

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

Which raids will take place in August 2025 in Pokémon GO? We will list them for you and show you the best counters against each boss.

In August, there will be various raid bosses waiting to be defeated and captured by you. This includes both 5-star raids and some Mega raids for you.

Additionally, there will be raid hours in August 2025, during which you will have one hour to defeat a legendary Pokémon in a large number of gyms in the game.

We have compiled for you which raid bosses are waiting for you in August and during which time periods they will be available in the game. Bosses that you can encounter as Shiny are marked with an *.

Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus

Raid Hours in August 2025 in Pokémon GO

When do the raid hours take place? The raid hours always occur on a Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In this hour, you have the opportunity to challenge the respective boss in many gyms.

In August 2025, there will be one less raid hour than usual. This is because one date would overlap with the Darkness Event, which takes place from August 18, 2025, to August 23, 2025.

DateRaid Boss
August 6Lugia*
August 13Ho-Oh*
August 27Necrozma*

All Raid Bosses and Mega Raids in August 2025

Time PeriodRaid Boss
Every weekend from August 3 to September 2Shadow Regirock*
Counters against Regirock
August 4 – 115-star raids with Lugia*
Counters against Lugia
August 4 – 11Mega raids with Mega Ampharos*
Counters against Mega Ampharos
August 11 – 185-star raids with Ho-Oh*
Counters against Ho-Oh
August 11 – 18Mega raids with Mega Slowbro*
Counters against Mega Slowbro
August 18 – 25Mega raids with Mega Pidgeot*
Counters against Mega Pidgeot
August 25 – September 25-star raids with Necrozma*
Counters against Necrozma
August 25 – September 2Mega raids with Mega Salamence*
Counters against Mega Salamence

Which monsters are interesting? With Lugia and Ho-Oh, two of the popular legendary Pokémon from Generation 2 return to raids in August. However, both are not particularly strong from a combat perspective.

However, with Mega Salamence, there is a very strong attacker that can also be found in the list of the best attackers in Pokémon GO. Also, Mega Pidgeot and Mega Ampharos are quite strong attackers that can strengthen your team if you need attackers in that area.

More on the topic
New hints indicate research with Mega Mewtwo in Pokémon GO
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon GO: Mega Alakazam Counters – the 20 best attackers in the raid guide
von Patrick Freese
Pokémon GO: How to make the most of the hatching day with Riolu
von Max Handwerk

Not only raids await you in August. Of course, there will also be countless events, spotlight hours, and other content in the coming month in Pokémon GO. If you want to know what they are, feel free to take a look at our overview with all events in August 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

Star Wars 7 ignored a rule by George Lucas that made his own episodes unique

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

The majority of movies from Star Wars were created under the direction or at least the oversight of George Lucas. With the sequels, the director had no say, which immediately led to a significant rule being disregarded.

George Lucas was the sole ruler over the brand and the story since the release of the first Star Wars film. That changed in 2012. Lucas sold his work to Disney, thus relinquishing control over it.

It didn’t take long before new films were announced. In 2015, “The Force Awakens” launched the first of three new episodes – the beginning of the sequel trilogy.

Episode 7 received a lot of positive feedback upon release. To this day, the film has a critic score of a remarkable 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. This places it on par with Episode 5, with only Episode 4 rated slightly higher at 94%.

Users gave Episode 7 a score of 84% on the same platform. However, this positive impression did not hold up over the years. Especially after the release of Episodes 8 and 9, many fans’ opinions of the sequels deteriorated.

And even George Lucas himself is not a huge fan of it. Particularly Episode 7 does not adhere to a rule that previous films made special.

On MeinMMO, you will find a ranking of all Star Wars films.

Start video
English trailer for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars must be original

What does George Lucas think about Episode 7? In a conversation with Charlie Rose, which you can see on YouTube, George Lucas talked in 2015 about the sale of Star Wars to Disney. He explained that he had ideas for Episode 7 that were ignored by Disney.

The company had its own vision for continuing the saga. The result was a film that Lucas could not relate to. The reason: “The Force Awakens” relies heavily on nostalgia. The storyline resembles that of Episode 4 in many ways and offers a lot of fan service.

Lucas remarked:

They (Disney) wanted to make a retro film. I don’t like that. With every film, I made a great effort to make it different.

George Lucas aimed to surprise his audience with each episode in his films. Even if certain motifs like the Death Star reoccur, there were usually new aspects of the story illuminated.

This is particularly evident when comparing the classic trilogy with the prequels, namely Episodes 1-3. The latter sensibly expands the universe and gives Star Wars a clearer political component. Lucas successfully distinguished himself from his own films.

More on the topic
More on the topic
A villain from Marvel was obsessed with the Fantastic Four and a real super genius – Yet, the creators of the new film simply cut him out
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
If you pause Star Wars 5 at a certain point, you will witness the terrible fate of one of the greatest bounty hunters in the galaxy
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
The biggest hater of Star Wars 8 is Mark Hamill himself, that’s why he just thought up his own story for Luke
von Christoph Waldboth

That Disney, on the contrary, made a film that deliberately recalled Episode 4 was not liked by the creator of Star Wars. What do you think about it? Were you bothered by the extensive fan service, or did it not matter to you? Feel free to share your opinion with us in the comments. Lucas knows another trick for successful films: George Lucas is known for bad dialogues in Star Wars, but his secret for a good film is something else altogether

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. fandomwire.com
  2. Titelbild: Star Wars auf YouTube

The new leak about Battlefield 6 looks so good that even skeptical players find it hard not to be excited

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

A new leak about Battlefield 6 provides various insights into the gameplay of the shooter. The shown clips are well received by fans.

What is this leak about? After the first trailer for Battlefield 6 was released on July 24, leaks regarding the gameplay began to accumulate. The posted clips show various recordings from the game, taken and shared by players in the test environment Battlefield Labs introduced for Battlefield 6.

Some of the gameplay clips are very well received by fans of the shooter series. A post on Reddit, showcasing the immersion of the game world, has over 15,000 upvotes on Reddit. Another post, showing actual gameplay of a capture round, garnered over 9,000 upvotes.

Start video
Reveal-Trailer zu Battlefield 6

Urban combat in a war-torn city

What exactly is shown in the leak? Looking at the gameplay leak of the capture round, we can discover various interesting details about the game.

  • The played map is urban; we see house-to-house combat and destroyed streets as well as buildings.
  • There is a scoreboard; 32 vs. 32 is played (64 player servers).
  • The gunplay feels “simple” and intuitive, allowing casual players to manage the recoil; the time-to-kill is relatively low.
  • The movement and general motion of the characters feel a bit slower, heavier, and thus more realistic.
  • The soundscape contributes to immersion and creates the typical Battlefield feeling – you are right in the middle of a battlefield and chaos erupts.
  • The HUD is tidy, not overloaded, and fits well into the game’s action.
  • A player drags his injured comrade to cover and revives him – we can see how effectively the new feature can be utilized.

Overall, the gameplay resembles Battlefield 3 and 4. Both games were somewhat slower and more realistic compared to Battlefield 2042, focusing on a present-day rather than futuristic setting, and highlighting the strengths of the series. Battlefield 2042 had strayed more from the Battlefield DNA.

You can watch the clip on Reddit here:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Reddit content

“Exactly what we wanted”

What does the community say about the gameplay? Many players cannot help but acknowledge that the shown gameplay, despite all skepticism, actually looks quite good. One player writes: “This is exactly what we wanted.” Another responds: “This looks like a finished game.”

Special praise is also given for the graphics, described as “amazing.” Furthermore, the rough design of the urban map is convincing. It is well received that it truly looks like a war-torn city. Under the clip that showcases the immersion of the game on Reddit, one player admits: “It is very hard not to be hyped.”

The most notable criticism is directed at the gunplay. It is said to be not powerful enough. One player writes that during his playtest, it felt like he was shooting with toy guns made of plastic. At least it should now be possible in Battlefield 6 to play on servers where the weapons are tied to classes: New Battlefield announces a feature ahead of its beta launch, and this could cause problems

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

PS Plus Essential: Games in August 2025 – Release, Rumors and Speculations

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 3 minutes

PS Plus Essential will present its new games for August 2025 in a few days. MeinMMO summarizes all known information and explains which games could be included in the Essential bundle in August 2025.

What does the schedule look like?

  • PS Plus: Games available from Tuesday, August 5, 2025
    • Available around 12 noon
  • Possible announcement: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
    • Reveal of the games often around 5:30 PM

Further down, you will find community speculations about which games could go live at the beginning of August. Until then, remember to add the current games to your PS Plus library.

PS Plus Essential: All games that could come in July 2025

What games are there? Generally, it can be stated that Sony often assembles a bundle for PS Plus consisting of one strong title and two weaker games. So far, however, no official information has been released, which is why we have to rely on fan, YouTuber, and insider speculations. The final lineup may still change.

For our selection, we have compared various opinions and compiled the most frequently mentioned titles.

Grand Theft Auto 5

In Grand Theft Auto 5 (short: GTA 5), it is an action game set in the open world of the fictional city of Los Santos. The map is heavily inspired by the real city of Los Angeles. The story revolves around the criminal activities of three very different characters who collaborate to carry out major heists and resolve personal conflicts.

In the open world, you can also find a bunch of different activities and side missions, such as car races, buying and selling real estate, and causing chaos with various crimes. With the three different characters, you have a solid selection of various mechanics and play styles.

Additionally, you can dive into chaos through the integrated online version in multiplayer, completing various missions together and building your own businesses. Since its release in 2013, the game has been regularly updated with new content.

Start video
Grand Theft Auto 5: Trailer for Next-Gen Update for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

Atomic Heart

Atomic Heart is a first-person action game with role-playing elements set in an alternative version of the Soviet Union in the 1950s. The story takes place in a world where technology is extraordinarily advanced and intelligent robots are part of everyday life. As a player, you take on the role of a Soviet special agent investigating a research facility where an experiment has gone catastrophically wrong.

The game combines shooter gameplay with melee combat, supernatural powers, and a dark atmosphere. Enemies are often strange creatures or malfunctioning machines that you fight against with an arsenal of homemade weapons and special abilities. Atomic Heart places great emphasis on tactical approaches, resource management, and exploration of labyrinthine levels.

EA FC 25

EA FC 25 is a football simulation game and the direct successor to EA FC 24. It comes from the long-standing FIFA series, which continues without the FIFA license after the name change. The focus is on authentic football experiences with licensed teams, leagues, and stadiums from around the world. Players can compete in various modes, including career mode, Ultimate Team, and online matches.

The gameplay focuses on fluid movements, realistic ball physics, and tactical teamwork. Through regular updates and seasonal content, the game remains current and varied even after release.

In addition to the competitive sports aspect, EA FC 25 also offers many opportunities for customization and collecting. Especially in the Ultimate Team mode, it’s all about building an individual team from real players, collecting cards, and competing with others.

Start video
EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for the career mode

Other Possibilities

In addition to these favorites, there are also a few other games that fans frequently mentioned as potential possibilities:

  • Assassin’s Creed Mirage
  • Resident Evil 2 Remake
  • Silent Hill 2
  • Helldivers 2
  • Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
  • Lords of the Fallen
  • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Dragon’s Dogma 2
  • Pacific Drive
  • Outer Wilds
  • Lies of P
  • Subnautica
  • Hades
  • Goat Simulator 3
More on the topic
The Stardew Valley with corpses suddenly announces a sequel after 8 years, gives away part 1 on Steam and PS5
von Ody
Is RAM too expensive for you? Here are 5 alternatives to game without an expensive gaming PC
von Benedikt Schlotmann
With a simple tip, you can get strong games without spending a lot of money
von Caroline Fuller

More about PS Plus: Do you want to know which PS Plus subscription suits you best? MeinMMO introduces you to all PS Plus options and explains which one is best for you: PS Plus subscription: Essential, Extra or Premium – Which package is right for me?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit
  2. GamingByte via YouTube
  3. Playstation World via YouTube
  4. RoadBlockers Gaming via YouTube

A mission in Helldivers 2 is so hard that the developers have to intervene, players are still hopeless

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

In Helldivers 2, many players are currently fighting not only against the enemies of democracy but also with their nerves. Over-Earth has given them an important mission, but fans already know that defeat is inevitable.

Which general order is being referred to? Over-Earth has issued a new general order to its soldiers. The goal is to decimate enemy parties and weaken them. Helldivers must therefore engage in combat against the Screamers, Stakeholders, Factory Stalkers, Flesh Mobs, and Leviathans and systematically eliminate them.

So far, the Helldivers have been successful, but one type of enemy is causing them problems: The necessary kills of the Leviathans – which is way too high. These ships are complex and cannot be defeated with regular weapons. Up to 3.75 million units should be defeated, but so far the Helldivers have only achieved 440,000 destroyed units. The goal is therefore much too unrealistic.

Players are reaching their limits, but the developers are now coming to help and try to support the overexerted Helldivers.

Start video
Helldivers 2 shows its new war bond “Control Group”

Arrowhead helps, but it’s not enough

How have the developers helped? To prevent the Helldivers from capitulating from exhaustion, Arrowhead has reduced the required number for the Leviathan kills by 60%. Now, 1.5 million kills are necessary instead of 3.75 million. One might think this would turn the tide in the Helldivers’ favor, but opinions are divided.

What do fans say about the mission? For many, the adjustment to the general order is not enough to secure a victory. Leviathans are not easy targets that soldiers can take down with their regular weapons. They are far too well-armored and require armor-piercing weapons to defeat them. For this reason, players are already accepting defeat on Reddit:

  • “While we may not fail as clearly, we will still fail.” – Ciabs
  • “Even 500,000 would have been too much, if not for the people who wanted to fail intentionally.” – Jagick
  • “OH, so failure wasn’t guaranteed, MO, did they really believe this nonsense would be possible? That’s even dumber.” – Epicgoodone
  • “Even if it could be reduced by 90%, it would still fail. People just have no interest in hunting Leviathans.” – Nknk-
  • “Standing immediately after a failed assignment in front of an impossible goal just doesn’t feel good. Especially not for someone who needs the medals.” – TheRealPitabred
More on the topic
2 Years After Release, Helldivers 2 Presents Its First Roadmap, Showing That They Listen to the Players
von Cedric Holmeier
“Must be arrested” – a fundraising campaign in Helldivers 2 went so wrong that players are now demanding harsh consequences
von Caroline Fuller
Players in Helldivers 2 threaten generous Helldiver who wants to point out bugs to the developers for $1,000
von Sophia Weiss

Although the fight is not over yet, many soldiers are concluding this general order. It remains to be seen whether the tide could still turn, but many do not hold out much hope.

To ensure you don’t go under in the fight against the enemies of democracy, you should be well-equipped. Feel free to use our tier list of the best weapons, which was, of course, created democratically: Helldivers 2: Tier List of the Best Weapons and Grenades for Every Mission

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

An MMORPG from Germany is being attacked by hackers, the developer says: “Funny that this always happens after a ban wave.”

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Albion Online, the servers were temporarily offline over the weekend. The reason was a hacker attack, and the developers believe they know who the attacker is.

What kind of attack was it? The game servers of Albion Online were affected by a DDoS attack over the weekend. The MMORPG, developed by Sandbox Interactive GmbH from Germany, recorded an extremely high number of requests to their game servers, causing them to collapse under the load.

The reason for this was a so-called DDoS attack, where hackers target servers simultaneously with hundreds of thousands or even millions of devices by bombarding them with requests. The attack can usually be quickly mitigated by server operators.

The attack on the Albion Online servers lasted about a day. During this time, many players were unable to log into the MMORPG and repeatedly received error messages. However, the developers already have an idea of who might be behind it.

Start video
Albion Online presents major rogue update in trailer

The timing is suspicious

Who might be behind the attacks? In an update on AlbionOnline.com, the developers provided ongoing updates about the server issues. There, a possible culprit is mentioned who may be behind the attacks. Community Manager “TinyHamsterHat” states: “Funny how these things always seem to happen around major RMT ban waves…”

The Community Manager reveals that they likely just conducted a new ban wave recently, which affected accounts involved in RMT. RMT stands for “Real-Money Trading”, which in Albion Online is likely primarily conducted by farm bots that farm resources, monsters, or dungeons and sell the items for real money.

The hackers behind the attacks may have been significantly affected by the new ban wave and may have suffered corresponding financial losses. The attack on the servers could represent an act of revenge, likely to retaliate against the ban wave. Whether the two events are indeed connected is unclear.

More on the topic
Elder Scrolls Online is getting a new zone like never before, supposed to be the highlight of Season 0
von Karsten Scholz
WoW Patch 12.0.5: Release date, Patch notes, Highlights – what you need to know about the next update from Midnight
von Karsten Scholz
MMORPG raised over €200,000 from fans, is now shutting down but will let you keep playing forever
von Cedric Holmeier

What do I need to know about Albion Online? The MMORPG from Germany has been around for 8 years and is currently probably more successful than ever before. In 2024, they broke the new player record and their all-time high. Something that many new MMORPGs fail to achieve after release.

Since its release in 2017, the MMORPG has steadily grown and has captivated more players with new content, and aims to continue doing so in the future. What makes the MMORPG successful and why it has succeeded where many others have failed, you can find out here: “Bigger, bolder, and more vibrant than ever before” – MMORPG from Germany achieves what the competition fails to do

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. albiononline.com
  2. mmorpg.org.pl

Many companies are bringing their people back to the office, but tech CEOs have figured out how to take advantage of working from home

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Remote work is controversial. Many employees think it’s good, companies reject remote work. However, some tech CEOs have now realized that remote work can be exploited to save costs.

Many CEOs reject remote work because they consider it less productive. However, many employees counter that remote work is significantly more flexible. Researchers have now found that people who work remotely feel better.

However, the new trend among tech CEOs is “Borderless Talent”: this allows bosses to embrace remote work while saving money and resources. However, this is not a good development for the work location Europe and Germany.

Select a MMO video…

New employees in remote work, but no longer at an expensive location like Germany

What is “Borderless Talent”? The English word refers to the practice of seeking and hiring talent regardless of their geographical location. Since companies have become significantly more flexible thanks to remote work, a company may transition to hiring individuals who work in other countries.

Thanks to remote work and the fact that many are no longer dependent on an office, companies are beginning to look for workers abroad. This is because many companies find regions like Europe or the USA significantly less attractive than, for example, Latin America or Africa. This is due not only to more relaxed labor laws, but also lower wages. This has been reported among others by 3Djuegos.com.

For companies, this means not only creating more competitive and cost-effective teams but also keeping the corporate apparatus running around the clock, as employees on different continents work at different times.

In the tech industry, this is seen as a great advantage. Jeremy Johnson, CEO of the AI-powered tech talent marketplace Andela, explained to CNBC.com:

Once you realize that you don’t need to be in the same office five days a week to build a compelling company culture, feel connected to the mission, and solve complex problems, you begin to realize that there are great people everywhere in the world.

Others consider “remote work and offshore talent essential for companies” (via entrepreneur.com).

What are the drawbacks of the trend? Employers can tap into cheaper labor from low-wage countries. This increases the pressure on local salaries, which is particularly problematic in expensive locations like Germany.

Germany is no longer considered one of the most attractive locations for international top talent according to the current OECD ranking, as other countries offer more flexible working conditions or lower labor costs.

And there is one more drawback: compliance with German labor, social, and tax standards becomes more complicated with cross-border employment. Companies might be tempted to opt for locations with lower regulatory burdens for cost reasons (via Haufe.de, PDF file).

More on the topic
A new setting makes Crimson Desert even more immersive, and we show you how to set it up
von Christos Tsogos
Forget the Steam Machine: Players are waiting for another device from Valve and it could sell like hot cakes
von Benedikt Schlotmann
Crimson Desert: The best settings for the most FPS
von Benedikt Schlotmann

A company is abolishing remote work to save costs. However, employees are fighting against the employer’s plans. With surprising consequences: a quarter of the workforce resigns and strikes shake the company: A company abolished remote work and now has an unusual problem: 25% of employees resign

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

Dragon Ball would have ended 34 years ago if it had been up to a legendary editor

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Currently, Dragon Ball is in the midst of the story of Dragon Ball Super. However, an editor who was involved in the early days of the manga wished for a quicker ending.

When should Dragon Ball have ended? According to a former editor of Dragon Ball named Kazuhiko Torishima, the manga should have ended after the Freezer Saga. The corresponding chapters were released in 1991, which means that, according to him, Dragon Ball should have ended 34 years ago.

Nothing can be learned from Dragon Ball. But while reading it, one forgets everything else, and that is enough! The author clearly struggled, so Dragon Ball should have ended with the Freezer Arc.

However, Dragon Ball is still an ongoing manga. Currently, fans are waiting for a continuation of Dragon Ball Super, which went on a break because the creator of the manga passed away. Additionally, the successor of the mangaka first drew his own work, which he recently introduced.

Eichiiro Oda, the mangaka of One Piece, was also present during the interview. He agreed that manga is only meant to kill time. However, he did not comment on the possible ending of Dragon Ball.

Who said that? The X user sandman_AP is an insider in the anime industry. He quotes from a book full of quotes from Kazuhiko Torishima. He was the responsible editor of the Dragon Ball manga from 1984 to 1995 and worked closely with Akira Toriyama, the creator of the universe.

Since Torishima experienced the beginning of the manga series, the Freezer Saga, and subsequent story arcs, he can probably best assess when the manga should have ended. For his life’s work, he was even awarded (see j-mediaarts.jp). 

Start video
Dragon Ball: This is what the Z in the title stands for

The creator of Dragon Ball had the same opinion

What did the creator himself say about it? Akira Toriyama, the mangaka of Dragon Ball, actually wanted to finish the manga a long time ago. However, he would have let the story live for one more arc and would have ended it after the Cell arc.

As other former editors report, the pressure on Toriyama was so great that he added the saga to Majin Buu. This also makes it clear that Son-Gohan was supposed to be the successor of Son-Goku.

According to editor Torishima, Toriyama had no original ideas left after the Freezer arc. Perhaps Toriyama held the same opinion since he wanted to end Dragon Ball shortly after the victory over Cell.

Does Torishima not think much of Dragon Ball? Torishima’s quote sounds harsh. However, he shows in other interviews that he has a high regard for Dragon Ball. For example, in a recent interview, he states that the fights are extraordinary. As a counterexample, he cites Demon Slayer, stating that there is “room for improvement” (via X). 

More about Dragon Ball
An episode of Dragon Ball is so rare that it was only aired once, and that was only in Japan
von Jasmin Beverungen
Which Dragon Ball anime is the best? The ultimate ranking of all series
von Jasmin Beverungen
The appearance of Goku’s cloud in Dragon Ball was no coincidence, Akira Toriyama just wanted to work less
von Jasmin Beverungen

The fights in the Demon Slayer anime are celebrated by fans. The reason for this is the animations that occur with the breathing techniques. These did not exist in the manga, which is why Torishima’s criticism may be justified: Demon Slayer deceives its viewers in the anime about what fans love the most

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

Developers of Expedition 33 visit the makers of Final Fantasy – New ideas for brilliant games

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Two developer teams inspire each other with ideas. Final Fantasy and Expedition 33 come together – what will this lead to?

If you were to ask people who has released the best RPGs in recent years, you would probably hear names like Sandfall (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), Larian (Baldur’s Gate 3), or Square Enix (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth). If these developers come together, it can only mean good things – even if it’s just for the exchange of ideas.

Start video
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinterlässt bei den Spielern eine Leere

Who visited whom? The developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 visited the studio of Square Enix to talk with some of the leaders. From Sandfall Interactive, the Game Director Guillaume Broche and Producer Francois Meurisse were present, while from Square Enix, the chief developers of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Naoki Hamaguchi) and the Director of Visions of Mana, Ryosuke Yoshida, were present.

Are they developing a game together? No, that’s not the case. The meeting was merely a “creatively enriching exchange of visions and ideas”.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitter content

For the developers of Expedition 33, this trip is likely also a small dream come true. After all, they drew a lot of inspiration from Final Fantasy (such as part 10) for Clair Obscur and oriented themselves accordingly. Moreover, despite the current gaming trend, they opted for a turn-based combat system. Exactly what fans have wanted from the Final Fantasy series for years.

More news on MeinMMO:
A new setting makes Crimson Desert even more immersive, and we show you how to set it up
von Christos Tsogos
28 years old MMORPG is re-released, earning up to 6 million euros daily
von Niko Hernes
Windrose: All ships in the list – These are the best
von Christos Tsogos

That developers visit each other happens quite often. In the gaming industry, such meetings are usually exactly that: an exchange of ideas and concepts so that both sides can learn from each other and possibly develop fresh ideas in exchange with others in the industry.

Finding their own inspiration – a dream for many

This is how the community discusses it: The meeting is also being discussed in the communities of the games, such as in the Games subreddit. Most celebrate the fact that this meeting took place and believe that it must have been fantastic for the Sandfall team:

  • I can hardly imagine the range of positive emotions someone must feel, who first plays someone’s game, gets inspired to create their own game, and then gets to meet those people in person. That must feel incredible. -Delicious-Steak2629

If we get a “Final Fantasy XVII” that returns to its roots and opts for a turn-based combat system in the next few years, it is quite conceivable that we owe it to the success of Expedition 33 and this visit.
Whether Final Fantasy will have a turn-based future, Square Enix has already responded to that.

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

Player takes 2 weeks off from Dune: Awakening, discovers brazen burglars upon his return, simply locks them up

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Dune: Awakening a player has logged back into Arrakis after two weeks of vacation. However, upon his return, he encounters brazen burglars for whom he finds a creative solution.

Who is it about? It is summer, and many people take two weeks off. So does user Blasmere, who did not log into Dune: Awakening for two weeks. During this time, his base’s generators ran out of energy, and his taxes were long overdue.

The bases appeared abandoned. This mechanic is supposed to ensure in Dune: Awakening that building spots become free again when players leave the survival game. But looters can also rejoice because those who are away too long lose control over their items.

With the various access levels of Dune: Awakening, you can secure your base:

Start video
Dune: Awakening: So funktionieren die Zugangsstufen

Brazen burglars cause trouble

What is it with the burglars? When player Blasmere logged back into Arrakis after his two weeks of vacation, he had to refill his bases and also pay his taxes. He did so, but at one of his bases, he noticed other players. Looters who wanted to grab his items.

The player initially confronted the burglars politely and explained to them that the base was not abandoned. The power had also been restored in the meantime. But instead of just leaving, the brazen burglars started insulting the player.

The player opened the door for them, which had been locked due to the restored power, and wanted to throw the burglars out, but the rascals refused to leave. So the player had an idea.

He closed the door again and locked the burglars inside. Due to the restored power and the paid taxes for his bases, there was no way out for the burglars. They didn’t want to leave the base, and now they were trapped inside and couldn’t steal anything. Their only way out is to press the respawn button, though they will lose some of their loot, or a trick that the community reveals.

How do players react to the story? While the mechanics surrounding base decay in Dune: Awakening are controversial, many players celebrate the harsh consequences for the brazen burglars who did not seize their chance to escape. On Reddit, fans write:

  • Hensenenenen: “Which server are you on? Planning to host visitors to see how people live in a cage? Like in a zoo. I would pay some Solaris to grab popcorn and watch them panicking from the outside.”
  • Galatyer: “Appropriate response. If someone did the same to me, I would have locked my doors and watched their panic too.”
  • Schtuka: “I also went on vacation yesterday. I refueled all generators and shut down all machines so that the Pentas don’t fail when a single generator is exhausted. I hope that doesn’t happen to my base.”

But the burglars could escape with a trick if they know it. Drughi21 writes on Reddit: “Unfortunately, they can just change the Sietch and then switch back without loss. You always respawn at Griffins [Trading Post] when you switch.”

More on the topic
There is currently a golden age for survival games on Steam, and not just thanks to Windrose
von Ody
Dune: Awakening finally overcomes its identity crisis, fulfilling the greatest wish of PvE players
von Cedric Holmeier
Player loses hundreds of hours of work in Dune: Awakening because cheaters raid his base
von Cedric Holmeier

Burglars and looting are part of Dune: Awakening. But there’s also a lot of positive in the survival game. For example, the successful search for Ben, which even the developers participated in: The developers of Dune: Awakening help in the search for a missing player, and now there is a good ending

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

A villain from Marvel was obsessed with the Fantastic Four and a real super genius – Yet, the creators of the new film simply cut him out

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

The new movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” currently delights both critics and fans. However, we have to do without a villain whose scenes were even filmed. He is one of the smartest minds on the planet.

Which villain is it? We are talking about Ivan Kragoff alias Red Ghost. The character is already quite old, having been created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963. He made his debut in “Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #13”.

Before he became Red Ghost, Ivan Kragoff was a Russian scientist who was very fascinated by the Fantastic Four. His obsession grew to the point where he became thoroughly consumed with the superheroes.

Kragoff wanted to replicate the accident that granted the Fantastic Four their powers. With the help of the Soviet government, he constructed a spaceship and selected three monkeys to embark on the mission. The scientist, along with the animals, shot himself into space.

There, the spaceship and crew encountered a cosmic storm that caused Kragoff and the monkeys to transform. The scientist became Red Ghost, and the animals became Super-Apes.

Start video
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – The new Marvel film will be released in theaters on July 25

An Untouchable Super Brain

What abilities does Red Ghost possess? The incident turned the scientist into a nasty antagonist and granted him superpowers. This included his untouchability. The atoms inside his body were altered by cosmic radiation, allowing Red Ghost to become untouchable as needed.

He was also inherently very intelligent and counted among the smartest minds on the planet. Especially in the fields of physics, engineering, and rocket science, few could compete with him.

The creators of the new movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” wanted to incorporate Red Ghost into the film and even filmed some scenes that would have appeared at the beginning of the story. He was played by none other than John Malkovich. Unfortunately, the scenes with the Hollywood star fell victim to the editing process.

Director Matt Shakman discusses Red Ghost in more detail in a conversation with Brandon Davis on YouTube:

We had an opening scene with a lot of action surrounding Red Ghost. John Malkovich gave an incredible performance. There was just so much material as we tried to get to this moment in the present where their world changes due to the pregnancy.

The pregnancy of Sue Storm is referred to here. Earlier in the film, there is a montage of the Fantastic Four’s actions – unfortunately without Red Ghost. In the end, there simply wasn’t enough time to give the character ample space.

More on the topic
More on the topic
The strongest ally of the Guardians of the Galaxy is not Groot, but a silly guy with color on his face
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
The last movie of the “Fantastic Four” was poorly received by audiences; the new film is said by critics to be one of the “best things Marvel has ever done”.
von Benedikt Schlotmann
More on the topic
The first Star Wars movies were so good because George Lucas adhered to a simple rule
von Christoph Waldboth

What would have happened in the scene? Director Matt Shakman further explains how Red Ghost’s appearance would have looked:

We had Red Ghost trying to steal a rocket ship with his monkeys, and Reed trying to defeat and outsmart him. We see snippets of that in the montage of the [Ted Gilbert Show], you can see how he kicks one of the monkeys into the water.

Thus, fans will not get to enjoy Red Ghost in the theatrical version of the film. However, the scene may appear at a later date in a director’s cut or on any Blu-ray releases. What do you think of the decision to cut the villain? Feel free to let us know in the comments. The film has at least already accomplished one thing: With the new film of the Fantastic Four, Marvel finally breaks a sad critic’s curse

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gamesradar.com
  2. Marvel Wiki

Pokémon GO: How to get the new monster Tentacool – All information about Adventure Week

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, a new event is starting. And it brings you a new monster and another one that is shiny for the first time.

What kind of event is this? The event is called “Adventure Week”. There has been an event with this name in previous years. The 2025 edition starts on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM and ends on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 8:00 PM.

How to get Tentacool? In the event, you can catch Tentacool for the first time in the game. The Pokémon has been around since Generation 9 and has the types Ground and Grass, with Tentaroo as its evolution.

You can find the Pokémon in the biome “Forests and Green Areas”. If you want to catch it, you should look out for it in that area. However, it spawns less frequently than the other monsters that can appear in that biome during the event.

Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus

More content from Adventure Week

Which monster will appear shiny for the first time? In addition to the Tentacool debut, there is also a monster that can appear shiny for the first time in the event: Ahnja. You can find the monster in the biome “Beaches and Waters”.

Which Pokémon are in the event? Not only Tentacool and Ahnja are waiting for you in the event. The following Pokémon can appear in the respective biomes during the event.

Biome Cities:

  • Snubbull*
  • Unratütox*
  • Pygraulon*
  • Thermopod
  • Psiau* (rare)

Biome Forests and Green Areas:

  • Raffel*
  • Hefel
  • Olini*
  • Blipp
  • Tentacool (rare)

Biome Mountains:

  • Hippopotas*
  • Rotomurf*
  • Geronimatz*
  • Skorgla* (rare)

Biome Beaches and Waters:

  • Iscalar*
  • Garstella*
  • Araqua*
  • Sankabuh*
  • Ahnja*

All monsters marked with a * can also appear shiny.

What bonuses are available in the event? Within the event, you can look forward to the following bonuses:

  • double XP for catching Pokémon
  • Incense lasts for 2 hours when activated during the event (excluding daily adventure incense)
  • Event field researches with stardust, special candies, and event Pokémon as rewards
  • free time-limited research with 1 incense, 4 special candies, event Pokémon, and other rewards

Paid time-limited research: For $1.99 (about €2), you can also purchase a paid time-limited research. Here, you can expect 3 lucky eggs, 4 special candies, and encounters with event Pokémon as rewards.

If you purchase the research in the Pokémon GO web store in the form of the Hyper Ticket Box, you will also receive 3 super potions.

More on the topic
New hints indicate research with Mega Mewtwo in Pokémon GO
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon GO: Mega Alakazam Counters – the 20 best attackers in the raid guide
von Patrick Freese
Pokémon GO: How to make the most of the hatching day with Riolu
von Max Handwerk

The Adventure Week marks the end of events in July 2025 in Pokémon GO. But the next month is again filled with many events, raids, and other content waiting for you. What they are and when they take place can be found in our overview with all events in August 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

Last chance in WoW: You only have 2 days for rare mounts

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The big collecting event in World of Warcraft is coming to an end. If you haven’t got everything yet, you need to step it up.

In recent weeks, significantly fewer characters have been seen in the capital city of Dornogal in World of Warcraft. However, looking at the friends list revealed that most were venturing into old areas or visiting old raids. Because a bonus called “Bounty of the Collector” greatly increased the drop chance of mounts and transmog items. But soon the event will end. Now is the last chance to grab some cool mounts.

Start video
Nur im Juli 2025: Diese 3 Mounts in WoW solltet ihr jetzt farmen

What exactly is this bonus? The “Bounty of the Collector” increases the chance of a rare mount dropping in all dungeons and raids before the Dragonflight expansion by a solid 5%. So if a mount has a drop chance of 0.7%, it rises to 5.7% during the event. This already makes it quite likely to obtain the mount if you farm the corresponding dungeon or raid with multiple characters.

Additionally, all bosses also drop double the amount of transmog loot. This way, you can particularly quickly gather old tier sets as well as special weapon skins and massively expand your wardrobe.

When does the bonus end? This Wednesday morning, specifically on July 30, 2025, the event will end in the morning hours. Accordingly, you should make the most of today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday) to farm particularly sought-after mounts and replenish your collection.

As for whether and when the event will return, that is still unclear. However, since this bonus was extremely well received by the community, it’s only a matter of time before Blizzard activates the increased drop chance once again. Perhaps during the “Midnight” expansion.

More about WoW:
Blizzard wins lawsuit against Turtle WoW, forcing the largest private server for Classic Plus to settlement
von Karsten Scholz
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz
After Nostalrius came WoW Classic, now the end of Turtle WoW must lead to WoW Classic Plus
von Karsten Scholz

Community wants the event to be permanent or part of the Timewalking

The event was so well received by many that they believe this bonus should remain active. This would prevent the FOMO of the event and at the same time encourage people to continue playing old content. However, there are also alternative proposals in the WoW subreddit on how to make the increased drop chance a permanent feature of World of Warcraft:

  • “The best way is to activate this bonus for the content currently undergoing a timewalking. This gives people goals and certain areas would be populated during that time.” – TheShipNostromo

An idea that others also appreciate.

  • “It would be less overwhelming this way. I admit I have trouble deciding what to farm from all the options. Each timewalking has a cycle of about 4 months before it becomes active again (outside of the timewalking event), so there would still be enough ‘FOMO’ to draw people in. That would at least be a healthy middle ground.” – Amelaclya1

How did you enjoy the mount collecting event? Were you able to collect all the mounts that have slipped through your fingers over the past years? Or did you have no luck even with the increased drop chances and still couldn’t get your favorite? If you want to farm something quickly, these 3 mounts are particularly worthwhile.

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

A shooter player has forever changed how MMORPGs and other games are played on PC

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

Nowadays, you can control your character in almost all PC games using the WASD keys. Often, this is even the default control method – in combination with the mouse. However, this was not always the case.

In the 1990s, the first MMORPGs and their predecessors emerged. But if you remember games like Meridian 59, Neverwinter Nights, or Ultima Online, one thing should stand out: You did not control these games with WASD.

In Ultima Online, you determined your character’s movements with the mouse, while in Meridian 59 and other games, the arrow keys were the default control method. In Neverwinter Nights, even the number pad played a role. WASD keys were often just an alternative control or had to be assigned themselves.

Start video
Fortune’s Run – Trailer of the Boomer Shooter in the spirit of Doom and Quake

In a 90s Shooter, WASD Becomes Popular

In 1996, the first-person shooter Quake, developed by idSoftware, was released, featuring a roughly 5-hour single-player campaign and a multiplayer mode. Shortly after, players of the shooter held tournaments to prove their skills to each other.

In 1997, the online tournament “Red Annihilation” took place, which saw over 2,000 players participating. The final phase of the tournament with the top 16 players was held in Atlanta (USA). One of the participants was 48-year-old Dennis “Thresh” Fong.

In the tournament finals, Fong faced Tom “Entropy” Kimzey, but his opponent was outmatched. Fong won the final match 13:1 and received a Ferrari from Doom and Quake developer John Carmack as a prize for his victory.

The Grind Festival from July 21 to 27
This week, you can expect exciting articles every day about MMORPGs. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, as well as nostalgic recaps, streaming nights, interviews, columns, and analyses.

Here is the program for the big MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO

The First Professional Gamer Makes Key Mapping Modern

Since then, Fong is considered one of the first eSports athletes. The Guinness World Records even lists him as the “first professional video gamer” of all time. His success certainly drew the attention of other gamers who noticed back then: Fong does not control his character in Quake using the default selected arrow keys.

Dennis Fong actually changed the key mapping of Quake and used the WASD keys for movement. Today, it is clear that this was not entirely new and there were other players who played this way back then, but it was still rather unusual. This was set to change with Fong’s success.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Welcome to Grindfest! The program for the big MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO
von Karsten Scholz
More on the topic
10 shooters that are so beautiful that you forget to shoot your opponents
von Dariusz Müller
More on the topic
Is Deadlock, the new hit on Steam, even a shooter? This is what our expert says
von Dariusz Müller

Today, almost every PC game is controlled with WASD or at least offers this option as an alternative. It is now an indispensable key mapping in many MMORPGs, but also in shooters and other games – and Fong is credited with popularizing the use of the WASD keys for character control. And on top of that, he received a Ferrari: The first pro gamer of all time received a Ferrari for winning a tournament in Quake

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Bildquelle Esports hall of Fame

The Lord of the Rings is such a strong brand that even Amazon Games cannot harm it – These are the MMORPGs you are most looking forward to

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 13 minutes

At the start of the big MMORPG theme week, we asked you which upcoming genre representatives you are looking forward to the most. Now it’s time for the evaluation!

On the last day of our big Grindfest theme week for the MMORPG genre, we have something nice prepared for you: the evaluation of the survey about the online role-playing games of the foreseeable future that you are most looking forward to!

We focus on the top 10, the ten games that received the most votes from you. What stands out:

  • Major licenses continue to fuel the excitement of many fans.
  • Many games that have not yet been finally released, but that are already available in Early Access, have not yet managed to establish a noticeable hype for the upcoming launch – such as Pax Dei, Pantheon, The Quinfall, or Corepunk.
  • Although our survey included more than 35 games, 126 participants of the survey chose the option “A completely different MMORPG.” In the comments on MeinMMO and GameStar, titles like Light No Fire, Star Citizen, and Soulframe (none of which are true MMORPGs) or the Blue Protocol spinoff Star Resonance were occasionally mentioned. The name WoW: Midnight also came up here and there – but the survey was not about expansions.

Through our table of contents, you can jump directly to the individual games that interest you:

[toc]

If you don’t like the future of MMORPGs, perhaps it’s worth taking a look at the history of online role-playing games:

Start video
The History of MMORPGs: MeinMMO, GameStar and Uncle Barlow discuss 60 years of online worlds

Rank 10: Camelot Unchained

Setting: Fantasy  | Developer: Unchained Entertainment | Platform: PC | Status: Alpha, release planned for late 2025

Actually, the MMORPG,for which there was one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns in gaming history in 2013, should have been released long ago. However, the team led by industry veteran Mark Jacobs repeatedly got distracted, faced financial problems, or was sidetracked by other projects like the PvE MMO Final Stand: Ragnarök.

In the meantime, allegations of scams even arose. Hardly anyone believed that Camelot Unchained would ever be finished. However, after a long development time and many delays, in March 2024, there was a surprising status update from the lead developer: Camelot Unchained is expected to be finally released in late 2025. 

Typical for Camelot Unchained, the next piece of bad news wasn’t long in coming: In early 2025, Andrew Meggs, co-founder of the studio, wrote that layoffs had occurred. 24 out of 55 employees had to go.

As a result, some supporters of the project even considered taking legal action against the developer if there wasn’t a detailed timeline for Camelot Unchained in the foreseeable future. Studio head Mark Jacobs took three months to talk about the current status of the MMORPG.

More on Camelot Unchained:
26 MMOs that wanted your money via Kickstarter – A sad balance after 14 years
von Karsten Scholz
Spiritual successor to Dark Age of Camelot launches Early Access after 13 years, players trust the MMORPG “less than Ashes of Creation”
von Cedric Holmeier

According to Jacobs, the layoffs do not mean the end of Camelot Unchained. Instead, they now finally have a real game that can serve as a foundation for a great MMORPG experience. After 12 years of development. It didn’t help that the latest gameplay material from the new zone was not well received by many players.

It’s all very unfortunate when you consider that veterans are at the helm who have significantly contributed to MMORPG classics like Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online. You can find a detailed summary of the turbulent development here: What’s going on with Camelot Unchained, the great hope for true MMORPG veterans?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

The faces in the game of a legendary developer are so good that players can trick Discord’s age verification system.

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

The graphics and models of games are becoming more realistic. A game by Hideo Kojima looks so good that it can apparently trick Discord’s facial recognition.

What kind of facial recognition is this? Since July 25, 2025, platforms in the UK are required to protect children on the internet. Through the Online Safety Act, which was passed in 2023 (via gov.uk), platforms must implement age verification to keep children away from harmful, inappropriate, or hateful content.

This also applies to Discord. If you want to access servers and channels in the UK that offer adult content, you must provide a picture of your face or your ID. For this, Discord uses the tool k-ID.

The tool is supposed to recognize your age based on photos if you do not use your ID. To avoid possible tricks, the tool also requires you to open and close your mouth in photos. According to the official website, data is not supposed to be stored, as Discord itself explains on their support website.

However, the system does not seem to be entirely mature, as users were able to bypass it with Death Stranding.

Start video
Hideo Kojima presents Death Stranding 2 in a 10-minute long trailer

Death Stranding simply looks too good

How did users trick the system? User @DanySterkhov posted on x.com a picture of how he used an image of the character Sam from Death Stranding to convince Discord that he is an adult. First, he tried it with another picture, but then Discord wanted him to open his mouth in one of the pictures. He then used the photo mode from Death Stranding to take such a picture with his phone.

Under the tweet, there are other users who apparently succeeded. An editor from the website PC Gamer writes in his article that he supposedly tried it himself and it also worked in his case if Sam wears a hat.

The legendary developer Hideo Kojima is known for his attention to detail and his love for films. To bring the actors in Death Stranding to life, he relied on motion capture technology. This captures not only real movements but also the faces of the characters with the technique, making them look so realistic (via YouTube).

In the photo mode of Death Stranding, you can make Sam express various facial expressions, which also allows you to achieve an open mouth.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Japan established an agency for cybersecurity – discovered 9 months later that it had been hacked
von Claudio Niggenkemper
More on the topic
Cyber Security Experts Warn: CS2 Players Are the Latest Target of Scammers Seeking to Steal Steam Data
von Dariusz Müller
More on the topic
A company offers security updates for Windows 10 until 2030, although Microsoft is ending support
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Even though it is important to protect children on the internet from inappropriate and harmful content, the new systems do not seem to be mature enough to ensure that. The current example shows how easily they can be tricked. Therefore, as a parent, one should never fully rely on such systems. Besides protecting children, the Online Safety Act in the UK is also criticized.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advocates for civil rights in the information age, criticizes the law and the systems behind it regarding security, privacy, and the possibility of censorship. The human rights organization Article 19 also expresses criticism of the law and sees the danger that authoritarian states could be encouraged to use similar systems.

Security and privacy are always important topics on the internet. Some providers assure users that they completely protect them from data theft or information loss, but even these providers must concede: Telegram assures you absolute privacy, but earlier this year, 22,777 data points ended up with the authorities

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

In a survival game on Steam, you fight as crazy scientists against aliens, offer co-op with 6 friends, has 96% positive reviews

Nico Scheibel Nico Scheibel Reading time 2 minutes

On Steam, you can now live out your wildest fantasies as a scientist with up to 6 friends. Only a few aliens could disturb you.

What game is it about? The game Abiotic Factor on Steam received its 1.0 version on July 22, 2025, and was officially released. Previously, Abiotic Factor was available as an early access title. The game is a survival and crafting game with a sci-fi aesthetic reminiscent of the 90s. The game has been rated by more than 24,000 votes, of which 96% are positive.

You take on the role of a scientist created by you and are employed by the organization GATE. In a secret research facility deep underground, you work to expand human knowledge. After the lab became a cosmic battleground due to a catastrophic incident, you must fight for your survival and escape the station.

Abiotic Factor is available for €27.19 until July 29, 2025, thanks to a discount. After that, it will cost €33.99.

In the video, you can see the trailer for the 1.0 version of Abiotic Factor:

Start video
The launch trailer for the survival horror game Abiotic Factor on Steam

As a scientist, you must escape the cosmic hell

What do you do in Abiotic Factor? With your scientist, who possesses a sophisticated character progression system, you must secure your survival alone or with up to 6 friends. By scavenging abandoned offices and other locations, you can collect various resources for your escape.

As a little combat-experienced scientist, you must clear your way using ingenious or even absurd tools, weapons, and inventions. From simple nets or wooden bats to laser cannons and complex traps, everything is possible.

Since you will be stuck in the research lab for some time, you can set up your own home, because for the organization GATE, work-life balance is very important even in emergencies. If your comfort zone gets overflowed by supernatural neighbors, you can take your belongings with pickup trucks, forklifts, and teleporters and look for a new place to stay.

Players are enthusiastic about Abiotic Factor

What do the reviews on Steam say? Many Steam users report that Abiotic Factor is a unique survival game and even players who are generally averse to the genre have a lot of fun. User theLV2 writes on Steam

I usually don’t play survival or crafting games. I’ve tried many, wanted to like them, but never really found them fun. But this game got me hooked. That says a lot.

Another user named JPolito was very taken with the Half-Life inspired look and gave Abiotic Factor a chance. Eventually, he stuck to it for more than 80 hours and calls it a fantastic survival horror game (steam.com).

Gunrunner322 has already spent 385 hours in Abiotic Factor and writes the following (steam.com): “An amazing and unique survival crafting game, there’s nothing else like it out there.”

More on the topic
New survival game on Steam makes the dream of your own witch cottage come true, lets you build as if by magic
von Cedric Holmeier
A survival game on Steam has captivated me for 150 hours, making me collect villagers like Pokémon
von Linda Baumgartl
My captain wanted me to quickly write something about Windrose, but I preferred to take another round on my ship
von Benedict Grothaus

Besides a creepy horror survival game with aliens like Abiotic Factor, there are also more relaxing titles from the survival genre.

A studio in Munich has now released a playtest for Medieval Frontiers, which can be played until August 7. There, you can build a medieval village according to your wishes, similar to Medieval Dynasty: New survival game on Steam reminds of Medieval Dynasty, lets you build your own medieval village – now you can play it.

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