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.
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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”.
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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.
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
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:
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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.”
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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:
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If you don’t like the future of MMORPGs, perhaps it’s worth taking a look at the history of online role-playing games:
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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
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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:
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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.”
The genre of MMORPGs has been stagnant for years. While there are currently many exciting projects in development, even these have frustrating meme potential.
What is the current occasion for the discussion? The post on Reddit by SrGrafo refers to a video by YouTuber Lucky Ghost, who recently provided an overview of the most exciting upcoming MMORPGs on YouTube.
The message of the attached meme image: The games all somehow look the same. The result: More than 4,600 upvotes (which is a lot for the MMORPG subreddit) and over 380 comments. Remarkably, the thread creator provides countless additional comic memes in the comments, criticizing the state of the genre as well as current projects like BitCraft Online.
How is the community responding specifically?
Mehfisto666 writes on Reddit: “We’ve been playing old MMORPGs for 30 years and now 10 old-school-like MMORPGs are coming out at once.”
Wadarkhu jokes on Reddit: “In the next video: 10 MMOs that were canceled.” Jzerox8K adds under the post: “Plot twist: It’s the same video.”
sampaiisaweeb sees on Reddit a culprit: “MMOs will always be formulaic, and that’s due to WoW. Once a new MMO breaks out of that mold AND is very successful, it will set the new standard. It also doesn’t help that UE5 games have a certain visual similarity due to their hyper-realistic style.”
Both-Award-6525 criticizes on Reddit: “Most MMORPGs released in the past 5 years have been Pay2Win MMOs from Korea. I have zero hope for a good MMORPG […].”
Chrono Odyssey does not seem typical of MMORPGs from Asia with its fantasy-sci-fi-cosmic-horror mix:
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Chrono Odyssey: Trailer from Summer Game Fest 2025 shows action-packed battles and a dark world
Depressing, yes, but …
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate this? It is really depressing:
Since World of Warcraft, the genre of MMORPGs has indeed evolved – for example, in terms of story presentation or combat systems – but other genres have made significantly greater strides.
Most MMORPGs that have been released in the past decade or are announced for the next 1-2 years come from Asia – which always brings particularities that make it harder for them in the western market. This was also a topic in this GameStar Talk.
Many still unfinished MMORPGs currently in early access fall short of fan expectations – Pantheon, Corepunk, The Quinfall, BitCraft Online, or Pax Dei, for example.
As game development becomes increasingly expensive and complex, the genre seems to even regress in certain areas. An example: Black Desert has been king of action combat systems for many years, and all subsequent games have been worse. Many players even focus on reviving the old-school experience of the past, but often fall short of their predecessors like RuneScape, Tibia, and others.
However, the truth is that Asian publishers like NCsoft and Kakao Games are targeting the western market with their upcoming projects more rigorously than in the past. This can be seen with titles like Aion 2 and ArcheAge Chronicles, which place a much greater focus on story and PvE content than their predecessors.
And: With projects like the Lord of the Rings MMORPG, Guild Wars 3, the Warhammer MMORPG, or the MMORPG for League of Legends, ambitious genre representatives are finally being created again in the West, for which we can at least hope that they can become highlights for the beleaguered genre. Unfortunately, it will likely take several more years before we can play these – if at all. For now, let’s keep our fingers crossed that they don’t face the same fate as the ZeniMax MMORPG.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Online role-playing games that have received a sequel are relatively rare. For the MMORPG Theme Week 2025, MeinMMO looks at some of the attempts and explores why there has never been a World of Warcraft 2, for example.
When looking at future release lists, the same picture has emerged for many years: sequels to well-known franchises, as far as the eye can see! This includes many franchises that have meanwhile transformed into services. Such as FIF … pardon … EA Sports FC, for example. The NBA2K series. Call of Duty.
However, there is a genre that has only occasionally played the seemingly safe sequel card since its inception: the genre of MMORPGs. And when someone has tried to give an online role-playing game a second part, it mostly backfired.
Or they pulled the handbrake early and stopped the attempt – as with EverQuest Next or Landmark or Ultima Online 2 and Ultima X: Odyssey (via Wikipedia).
Who is analyzing this? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO. He has been dealing with the best genre in the world almost daily for over 15 years and has played all major (and some of the less important) new online role-playing games since the launch of World of Warcraft – often into the endgame or over many months and years.
For the MMORPG Theme Week, we illuminate some of these cases and analyze why it is so difficult to develop a sequel for a game like World of Warcraft. You can jump to the sections that interest you the most via the summary.
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EverQuest versus EverQuest II
EverQuest II was certainly not the first sequel in MMORPG history (for that title, Astonia III, the sequel to Mercenaries of Astonia from 1998, and The Legend of Mir 2, both released in 2001, might compete), but it was the first for one of the most important genre milestones.
There were only five and a half years between EverQuest and EverQuest II. According to the developers at the time, the sequel was not supposed to replace the first game but complement it, as they wanted to target a different audience with part 2.
Internally, however, they likely expected that all players from EverQuest would switch to EverQuest II, as Executive Producer Jenn Chan reveals in a video interview on the YouTube channel MinnMax from November 19, 2024:
“EverQuest II was a curse for EverQuest. Because we thought that everyone would leave EverQuest and switch to EverQuest II. But that did not happen” – via YouTube. Instead, the two games cannibalized each other. A mistake they do not want to repeat with the new EverQuest MMORPG.
This year, development of the new EverQuest MMORPG is set to begin.
Guild Wars versus Guild Wars 2
The ArenaNet team did a somewhat better job with the sequel to Guild Wars. There are more than 7 years between Part 1 and Part 2. Additionally, both games differ significantly in areas such as the structure of the game world (instance-based gameplay vs. open world).
And perhaps most importantly: The first Guild Wars was not a service game in the modern sense. After the three campaigns Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall, only the expansion Eye of the North was released. After 2007, the first Guild Wars was practically finished. There were only a few bonus missions and story content such as “War in Kryta” to prepare for the transition to the second part.
Guild Wars 2 continues to receive regular expansions and updates – here is the trailer for the latest content patch Remorse:
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Guild Wars 2: Repentance – Trailer for the Second Update of Janthir Wilds
However, the developers shelved a planned fourth campaign for Guild Wars called Utopia in 2007 to focus entirely on the production of its successor. The fact that they are looking for a sandbox expert for the now announced third part could mean that the series wants to reinvent itself again.
The grinding festival from July 21 to 27 In this week, you can expect exciting articles every day about the topic MMORPG. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, as well as nostalgic retrospectives, streaming evenings, interviews, columns, and analyses.
Similar to Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV can coexist quite well to this day. The simple reason for this is that there are more than 8 years between the two MMORPGs from Square Enix, in which the genre has developed significantly.
The trailer for the original version of Final Fantasy XIV:
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Final Fantasy XIV Trailer for Version 1.0 Shows a Past Era
Additionally, Final Fantasy XI has only served a relatively small niche outside of Japan. The later releases on PC and Xbox 360 did not change that. Certainly, Square saw a lot of untapped potential after the success of WoW, considering the prominence of the “Final Fantasy” franchise.
By that time, Final Fantasy XI was already 11 years old and had become quite rusty in gameplay. The more modern Final Fantasy XIV, on the other hand, was more oriented towards the colorful theme park that EverQuest II, WoW, and Co. had set. In the end, success proved Square right: By January 2024, over 30 million players are expected to have played FFXIV.
On the next page, we continue with another negative example, the lessons from the past, WoW 2, and already announced MMORPG sequels.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the new movie about Superman and Creature Commandos, the new DC universe by James Gunn has begun. Soon, the universe will be visited by a “hero” who is not exactly known for good deeds.
Which hero is it about? Peacemaker, played by John Cena, made his first cinema appearance in 2021 as a character in The Suicide Squad by James Gunn. Just a year later, a TV series about the silly anti-hero, who is not exactly heroic, followed. This makes him similar to the Guardians of The Galaxy by James Gunn.
In his series, Peacemaker does not act alone. He has his own group, which also includes Vigilante, a crazy admirer who dresses as a superhero. His best friend and sidekick is not a human, but the eagle Eagly, who occasionally listens to him but mostly just accompanies him.
Peacemaker originally belonged to the old DC film universe, which James Gunn is now renewing. First, there was the series Creature Commandos, and lastly in July 2025, the first film of the new universe: Superman.
It seems that Gunn does not want to part with Peacemaker, as the anti-hero makes it into the new universe with Peacemaker Season 2. This is already shown in the first official trailer.
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Peacemaker Season 2 – Trailer for the Continuation of the Silly Superhero Series
Peacemaker is set to turn its back on his original universe
What can be seen in the first trailer for Season 2? Actually, everything should be fine for Peacemaker. The villains were defeated in the last seasons, and now he can relax. But his life does not seem to be going well. His beloved does not want to be with him, and the terrible deed of his past is haunting him. Forgiveness does not seem possible.
Fortunately, Peacemaker comes into possession of a dimensional portal that transports him to another universe. There he experiences love, great fame, and everything seems perfect. But with portals and new worlds also come new problems.
The first trailer for Season 2 seems to continue exactly the atmosphere one knows from the first season. Peacemaker is not showing his smartest side, and his silly friends are just as over-the-top as in Season 1. However, there also seems to be an emotional component again, which is a hallmark of James Gunn.
In Season 2, there will likely again be no shortage of action aimed at adults. The most exciting part are the portals, as one does not just see one, but a large room with many gates, not all of which seem harmless.
When does Season 2 of Peacemaker premiere? In the USA, Season 2 of Peacemaker is set to start on August 21, 2025, on HBO Max. When the season begins for us is currently unknown. However, Season 2 is expected to air on Sky or WOW. One can assume that the series will likely launch simultaneously.
How does Season 2 fit into the new universe? As James Gunn has already announced, Peacemaker seems to land in the new universe. Whether he stays there and how he fits into the future of the DC films will probably be revealed at the end of the season. With Rick Flag Senior, there is definitely a character involved who has already appeared in Superman and Creature Commandos.
Gunn confirmed (via Gamesradar), that most things from the first season are canon and will be included in the new universe. Smaller things, like the constant jokes about Aquaman, will not be part of it. He does not exist in the new universe at all.
Many of you might know Yu-Gi-Oh! from the anime on RTLZWEI. If you are as clumsy as MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen, you might have thrown away your old cards with which you battled on the schoolyard. But that would be no excuse to start with the card game today.
A silly mistake I made in my youth was throwing away my collectible cards. I used to collect TCGs like Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! because I was a huge fan of the associated animes. On my TV, the channel RTLZWEI played over and over, and even off the screen, I wanted to immerse myself in the animes.
It was just dumb that at some point it became “uncool” to duel each other with cards during recess. So, I threw away my entire collection – which is probably why I lost valuable cards.
That would probably be the reason why I started collecting Magic the Gathering as an adult – the mistake from my youth weighs too heavily. But recently I got the chance to take a look back into the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game.
Konami provided us with a total of six decks. Four of these decks are designed for beginners, two of them have more complex mechanics. I will tell you how complicated the decks have become and whether it is even possible for fans of the anime back then to get started today.
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Yu-Gi-Oh! – Official trailer for The Dark Side of Dimensions (2017)
Yu-Gi-Oh! is easy to learn, but hard to master
Many of you might still remember how the duels in the anime deliver. Each round a card is drawn, monsters are summoned, and trap and spell cards are activated. Over time, however, new rules were added, for example regarding the maximum number of cards in a deck.
Moreover, the anime did not always adhere to the rules of the official card game. But that’s not a problem. Especially the starter deck, which simulates a guided duel, helped me.
Konami designed a starter deck intended for two players. It explains step by step what mechanics exist, how to calculate damage, and how to perform basic summons. The manual is designed like a comic. After the test duel, I felt extremely well prepared.
The starter deck manual for 2 players is a guided duel.
For actual dueling, the 2-player starter deck is not a good solution. Players who are already familiar with the rules and just want to quickly look up terms won’t find anything useful in the 2-player set. However, for players who haven’t had any contact with the card game for decades, this box is perfect.
For such players, the God starter decks with Obelisk the Tormentor, and Slifer the Sky Dragon are more suitable. I also remembered these two decks from the anime back then. They were among the strongest creatures in the game, alongside Exodia.
I played several matches against friends with these two decks. Although I had trouble understanding the text on some cards, the majority was understandable. At times, I really felt like Yugi, summoning Slifer the Sky Dragon. All that was missing was the Duel Disk.
However, it became clear with these starter decks that they really only serve as a foundation and need to be optimized with additional cards. With the Obelisk deck, I noticed that I had no chance if I didn’t draw the God card. The deck was completely focused on drawing that card. If the heart of the cards let me down, it looked bleak for me.
Additionally, there was a monster named “Demaskierter Drache” through which I can summon another Wyrm monster with 1,500 or less DEF upon death. After checking twice, I found out: There is no other monster that fits that description. Great.
What also stands out to me: Over the years, either my eyes have gotten worse or the card texts have gotten smaller – maybe even both. Many of the cards feature such a gigantic long text in an even smaller font than I am used to from Magic. One has to concentrate extremely hard to both understand the text and be able to read it.
On the left, you see the card text from Yu-Gi-Oh!, on the right, it’s compared with Magic the Gathering.
Furthermore, Konami sent us two more Structure Decks for testing: One is the Blue-Eyes White Destiny Deck, where I realized how many variations of the White Dragon with the cold gaze there actually are. The other deck, Beware of Traptix, was filled with cute anime girls, which of course delighted me as an anime author.
What I also noticed is: In contrast to other trading card games like Pokémon or Magic, there are no particularly beautifully designed cards (Borderless or Full Art) that cover the entire card. Instead, nostalgia kicked in when I recognized a monster from back in the day. You can tell that Yu-Gi-Oh! is more intended for playing than for collecting.
At first, I found it significantly more difficult to understand the card texts with the Structure Decks. Because here, in addition to normal, flip, and tribute summons, synchro summons and XYZ summons are also included. The latter are my personal end boss, as it took me a long time to even understand the principle.
But with the duels and after a revelation, the duels run much more smoothly. I have yet to encounter the absolute end boss of the game, the pendulum summons, through the decks. Even the starter handbook admits that they are extremely complex.
Is it still worth starting today?
If you want to play casual matches with your friends and have some experience with other trading card games, you have the best prerequisites to get started with Yu-Gi-Oh!. It requires some time to understand the different types of summons. However, the principle of how damage is calculated is easy to grasp.
If you have no experience with collectible card games at all, you will need a bit more time to get into the card game. With the manual, it’s easy to get accustomed to the rules. However, looking up specific rules that you’ve forgotten over time is more tedious with this.
To reach tournament level, you will need to invest much more time and money than the pre-made decks offer. So if you want a full entry and to become a professional player because you loved the anime back then, then you have a long way ahead of you.
Even in the anime, Yugi and his friends started small. They had to work their way up through various tournaments to become top duelists. Who has the best statistics at the end of the original anime, MeinMMO reveals: The Top 5 duelists from Yu-Gi-Oh! show who is truly the King of Games
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Currently, it seems to be the perfect time for games from Asia. A new action RPG that is set to be released on the PS5 has now shown over 20 minutes of gameplay. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was convinced after just 5 seconds.
Which game is it? Phantom Blade Zero was originally announced in 2023. Back then, the action RPG from China showed off a dark look and a setting that seemingly mixes folklore with historical background.
Even in the first trailer, the game, which looks a bit like a Soulslike, presented itself with elaborate animations that seem to wonderfully stage the battles.
Now, over 20 minutes of gameplay has been released, and after just the first 5 seconds, I have to say: This could be my game of the year. That’s not only due to the visuals but also because of the look of the fights, which remind me of old classics.
Here you can watch the announcement trailer of the game:
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Phantom Blade Zero Announce Trailer
After the first seconds, you know where the journey is headed
What does the new gameplay video show? IGN India released a nearly 22-minute exclusive gameplay video of Phantom Blade Zero. In it, you see fights against regular enemies as well as larger bosses.
Even the first 5 seconds immediately catch my eye. The character jumps onto an opponent, stabs him with his sword, only to turn his attention to the next enemy after another button press. The character performs a twist in the air, jumps behind him, and finishes him off with a fine animation.
I was immediately reminded of Kung-Fu movies from my childhood that my father enjoyed watching. It’s not about realistic fight movies, but about classics that focus on spectacular jumps and choreographies with swords.
Well-known examples would be Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or House of Flying Daggers. Like these films, Phantom Blade Zero seems to belong to the Wuxia genre. This genre mixes historical backgrounds with supernatural elements. One could say, these are the classic Chinese superhero stories.
In the gameplay video, you repeatedly see spectacular animations that vary significantly depending on which weapon you carry or which opponent you face. Even just watching, I feel the excitement of the battles. I’m fully engaged. This is likely also due to the sound of the weapons and fights. Additionally, there is the soundtrack in the video that captures the setting well.
Phantom Blade Zero looks to me like a subgenre of a Soulslike. Not every hit has to be perfect, but almost every hit looks damn good. I am not alone in this opinion.
You can watch the gameplay video here:
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Players are convinced too, not just by the animations
What does the community say? The mood under the YouTube video is quite positive. Especially the animations of the fights are well received.
@DarkRaider-Z writes: Every normal move looks like an ultimate special move.
@JapanDaisukiii is impressed by the details visible in the fight: I’ve never seen a game that is this detailed. When he fought against the boss, he pushed his weapon so far that the dust covered our camera, and we couldn’t see anything anymore. That’s so cool!
@ac5b0se is reminded of iconic actors: It’s like back when I was a kid and watched movies with Jackie Chan or Jet Li. Man, I love these animations.
@mohammadalirashed3103 praises the soundtrack that can be heard: The soundtrack is fantastic; it sounds like an electro/heavy-metal version of Chinese folk music. Games developed in China are reaching unprecedented levels of quality, and I am excited about it.
Among the comments, there is also praise for the one who played the showcased gameplay, as he seems to master the combat system quite well.
Tibia is one of the most successful games from Germany. MeinMMO has talked with CipSoft for the current Grindfest theme week about the beginnings of the MMORPG, the hurdles overcome, and current projects.
In our special on the history of MMORPGs, the name Tibia is mentioned several times. Released in 1997 and still playable today, this online role-playing game from CipSoft is one of the first Free2Play representatives of the modern MMORPG era, which Meridian 59 had initiated a year earlier.
Additionally, the first mobile MMORPG comes from Regensburg. TibiaME was launched in May 2003 as a mobile spin-off of Tibia. The franchise currently boasts over 32 million players and more than 200 million euros in revenue. In 2019, Tibia won the German Developer Award in the “Long-lasting Hit” category.
On the trail of the secret in “Tibia Talk”
During the Grindfest, MeinMMO had the opportunity to speak with CipSoft about the beginnings of the studio, the creation story, and the evolution of Tibia. Managing directors Benjamin Zuckerer and Stephan Vogler provided exciting insights behind the scenes of one of the most successful game companies from Germany.
You can watch the nearly 70-minute talk below – enjoy!
https://youtu.be/TFkxBtmFm74
MeinMMO on YouTube: The MeinMMO YouTube channel has been around for a while, but we have been noticeably expanding it for several months, investing more time, energy, and passion into our videos.
Much like on the website, the channel focuses on online multiplayer games, gaming culture, and communities. Feel free to visit us on YouTube and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss our new videos!
A new class was recently added to Tibia with the Monk:
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Tibia: The successful fantasy MMORPG gets a new class
What should I know about CipSoft? CipSoft was founded in 2001 in Regensburg, Bavaria, after the MMORPG Tibia, released in 1997, had developed into an enduring success. Accordingly, the studio has been able to grow sustainably, with currently more than 100 employees.
The upcoming MMO Persist Online started as a hobby project by two long-time CipSoft employees. This is possible because the team is allowed to use 20 percent of their working hours for their own game ideas. Also cool: Employees share in the success of the independently operating company and are expected to receive ten (!) additional monthly salaries in 2024 alone.
Final Fantasy XIV has been one of the best and most well-known MMORPGs on the market for many years. MeinMMO author Nico Scheibel now sees it the same way. But he had to overcome some initial hurdles.
With just an axe in hand, I was brought to the harbor city of Limsa Lominsa. My first impression was rather disappointing. The many cold and colorless stones hardly gave me the feeling of being in a fanciful world.
Skeptically, I walked to the first quests of the main story and, unfortunately, had to realize that many cutscenes were missing voice acting. This unfortunately did not help identify with my character and get to know the world of Final Fantasy XIV.
Who is writing here? MeinMMO author Nico Scheibel has been playing video games since his early childhood. Besides classics like Zelda or Mario, he got lost in MMORPGs early on and preferred spending his time in virtual worlds. In addition to relaxed grinds in FFXIV, he spends too many hours in various MOBAs.
After taking on the first quests, I ventured into the vast regions of Eorzea, and again I noticed something bothering me. The so-called tab-targeting felt slow and sluggish.
Pressing a skill in the right order every 2.5 seconds was boring. Especially coming from another MMORPG like New World, which has a fun action combat system. When I realized that the generic story beginning of “A Realm Reborn” left me cold, I put FFXIV aside again. A second attempt came only a few weeks later.
The trailer for the current patch 7.2 for Final Fantasy XIV:
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The new trailer for Patch 7.2 of Final Fantasy XIV shows the new, highly anticipated content
The second and final attempt
When I got bored in the endgame area of New World, friends convinced me to give FFXIV a second chance. “It gets better,” they said. But I wanted to judge that for myself, and since I’m happy to give a second chance, I started the MMORPG again.
Due to my initial aversion to the harbor city and because I aimed to take on the healer role for our group, my buddies advised me to travel to the forest city of Gridania.
When I arrived there, I was immediately overwhelmed: The music, the tree houses, the green ground, and the entire atmosphere felt just homely, almost like the Shire from “The Lord of the Rings.” With my new job as a White Mage, I found much more enjoyment in the combat system. Healing and supporting the group was exactly my thing.
The forest city of Gridania
Although I still didn’t find the story of “A Realm Reborn” captivating, Final Fantasy XIV was able to truly grab me at one point. The last cutscene of the base game, followed by the iconic Heavensward trailer, made my eyes shine. Now it really gets going!
The first experiences with the community
While the stories of Heavensward and Stormblood were up next, I started dealing with the content outside the main story. Raiding, crafting, gathering, or rather heading to the next house party in the neighborhood?
While I was searching for every opportunity to grind something, I noticed how caring the community in FFXIV is. At every corner, someone is there to briefly help you with something or simply gives away minions, mounts, or gil.
These little interactions between players make the world feel so alive; be it just a quick exchange of emotes or a whole group of small Lalafell looking for the next petting session.
The grind fest from July 21 to 27 This week, exciting articles about MMORPGs are expected every day. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, nostalgic retrospectives, streaming nights, interviews, columns, and analyses.
Many video games have beautiful and great worlds, but with Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix has created something that many developers can still learn from. I have never experienced such an immersive world.
After I learned that there was a disastrous version 1.0 of the MMORPG and that it was not simply thrown in the trash, my curiosity was awakened. While I was reading about the stories of the Seventh Umbral Era in Eorzea, I realized how intricate and deep the world actually is.
The world map of Final Fantasy XIV
With the help of a three-part encyclopedia, almost every little detail is adorned with lore and new details. A multitude of short stories provide more background information about our beloved characters, and the cookbook lets you dine as if you were in the kitchen of Limsa Lominsa.
The world with all its stories simply fascinates me. After more than 3,000 hours, I still like to log into FFXIV and feel a sense of comfort and home. Even the harbor city of Limsa Lominsa has grown dear to me over time, and every visit feels like a nice trip to the big city when you usually just wander around cozy Gridania.
If an MMORPG evokes such a feeling, the developers can gladly pat themselves on the back.
One brings shadow, one brings the light
Warning, spoilers: This section contains spoilers for the main story of Shadowbringers and Patch 5.3
With the Shadowbringers expansion, I believe the creatives at Square Enix have outdone themselves. The entire drama and development of characters like Ardbert or the Crystal Exarch to the antagonist Emet-Selch and the fate of the first shard is something truly special.
A snippet of the Shadowbringers trailer
Through the newly gained knowledge of the Ascians’ motivations and backstory, they were no longer just the big bads who want to destroy everything, but rather human-like.
The entire adventure of the first shard ended in a finale that I still like to look back on. The dungeon “The Battle for Norvrandt,” where you must fight alongside all the familiar characters from Norvrandt against the Warriors of Light from Elidibus, is a true cinematic experience. I was even more overwhelmed by the subsequent trial against the first of all Warriors of Light.
Music that tells stories
Many of the soundtracks by lead composer Masayoshi Soken are more than just music; they tell a story about characters or the world. If you listen closely, there is a lot to discover between the lines and notes.
In addition to the stories told by the lyrics, there are also purely musical Easter eggs to be heard. For example, certain melodies from earlier soundtracks can be found in new works, or the music contains light foreshadowing, which you only notice when the story reaches a certain point.
With emotional piano tones, epic battle music, and rocking guitars, the composers have turned Final Fantasy XIV into a musical masterpiece that I have joyfully listened to for years.
Advance until the end
Warning, spoilers: This section contains spoilers for the main story of Endwalker.
Whether it was the first trial where almost everyone thought, “Now already?” or the long path to the end. Endwalker simply captivated me. The story ends with a great and emotional conclusion that cost me a tear or two.
The wallpaper after the Endwalker credits
After hundreds of hours with the beloved characters, I was truly sad that it was over.
Endgame for everyone
Aside from the story, I particularly enjoyed raiding. After the tab-targeting initially felt dull and boring, I must admit that I really like it today. The fixed jobs with their optimal rotations just feel right and are easy to learn but difficult to master.
In addition to raiding, there is still incredibly much to do in Eorzea. It’s up to you whether you want to mindlessly grind for the next glowing weapon, try your luck at the Gold Saucer, or simply go on the next big fishing trip with your friends. In our endgame guide, you’ll definitely find the next big grind.
Final Fantasy XIV has something to offer for everyone and a world where one can feel at home.
Thank you for this great MMORPG
Not only the director Yoshi-P or Square Enix make Final Fantasy XIV the best MMORPG I have ever played, but also the players, that is, you.
FFXIV is like a big playground full of wonderful play equipment and attractions – a place that evokes memories of the best childhood days with friends. It is all the more astonishing that a simple MMORPG allows me to experience similar feelings once again. Fortunately, I gave the game a second chance back then!
Feel free to share your own thoughts on Final Fantasy XIV in the comments and why you like or dislike the MMORPG!
The developers of Ashes of Creation have postponed the launch of the third phase of Alpha Two for the second time. For many genre fans, it seems clear: The MMORPG will never be released in a reasonable state.
The responsible parties also explain the second postponement by stating that they want to take enough time to launch the next Alpha phase with sufficient refinement and optimizations.
Compared to the currently running phase 2, Ashes of Creation is expected to take a significant step forward with the upcoming milestone and offer significantly more content – for example, a second starting area, additional races, and comprehensive adjustments or expansions for core areas such as economy, crafting, and nodes.
The Rogue is the latest class from Ashes of Creation:
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Ashes of Creation: Trailer shows gameplay of the rogue class
Skepticism dominates the comments section
How does the community react to the postponement? Certainly, there are fans who appreciate that the developers are taking an additional 3 weeks to optimally prepare the ambitious MMORPG for phase 3. However, in a current discussion by reps_up on Reddit, many harshly criticize the postponement and the entire project.
BroxigarZ writes on Reddit: “I have said this a million times, and I will continue to say it – Ashes of Creation will never be released in its final form.” As evidence, he refers to the mathematics and points to other MMORPGs that were in development for much shorter periods. According to his calculation, AoC cannot be released before 2040 based on current progress.
Silveryo draws a conclusion on Reddit: “Everything indicates that Steven is hiring noobs. And the more noobs you place on a project, the worse it will get and the longer it will take. […] Hiring good game developers and designers seems difficult nowadays, especially considering why many other projects fail.”
Braveliltoasterx has a different theory on Reddit: “The reason they are so slow is that people keep giving them money! If no one were buying the alpha and skin packages, they would damn well hurry up.”
ballsmigue compares AoC on Reddit with another crowdfunding project: “Fantasy Star Citizen – It will never come out.”
BuffaloJ0E716 criticizes parts of the community on Reddit: “How blind must one be to still believe that this game will ever get a successful full release? Are there really still people holding on to that?”
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate the criticism of the postponement? I can understand the frustration of many genre fans. Major MMORPG launches, especially from the West, have become rare.
Time and again, exciting projects are canceled before release. Often, there is a lack of money to complete development. And where revenues are already flowing, there have been consistent progress, yet after many years, there is no foreseeable release.
However, I cannot agree with the currently very harsh criticism of Ashes of Creation. For example, one cannot compare the development of a WoW with today’s MMORPGs, as BroxigarZ does.
The duration and costs of game development have skyrocketed over the past decades. Additionally, MMORPGs have always been among the most elaborate, complex, and expensive genres to develop.
Where 3 to 4 years used to be the standard, it is now rather 8 to 10 years – if one wants to keep up with the big players. That’s why hardly anyone makes large online role-playing games anymore. Perhaps AI can help accelerate developments in the future… but will everyone like that?
What speaks for Ashes of Creation: The developers document the development progress relatively clearly, they allow testers to freely report from the alpha, and one could recently observe significant progress. Anyone who does a little research beforehand doesn’t buy the unknown cat in the bag.
Zombies are now indispensable in the video game industry. There is a great action game currently on sale for PS4 and PS5, but escaping from the undead is harder than one thinks.
What game is it? In 2022, Dying Light 2 was released, a zombie game that doesn’t just focus on mindless shooting or exploration like in Resident Evil, but on parkour and vertical level design.
The best part: You can experience the entire game in co-op, but the zombies in Dying Light 2 are not slow corpses; they remind one of 28 Days Later.
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Everything you need to know about the new survival game Dying Light 2 – with gameplay
You can’t just hide on the rooftops
What kind of game is Dying Light 2? Dying Light 2 takes place 20 years after the events of its predecessor, and the zombie virus has wiped out most of humanity. You play as Aiden, who takes care of various deliveries of goods and messages.
As is usual in a post-apocalypse, there are not only nice survivors. In addition to the undead, there are of course opposing factions that get in your way and exploit the post-apocalyptic situation for their own purposes.
The main stars are of course the zombies. They are not slow here, but quite fast and remind one of the movie 28 Days Later. Thus, fighting is not always the right way to solve every situation. Sometimes it’s worth it to simply run away.
In addition, there are parkour abilities that allow you to jump on roofs, as well as other means of transportation like zip lines. However, you can also actively defend yourself against the undead. With various melee and ranged weapons (and an effective kick), you can also traditionally deal with zombies.
If you don’t feel like jumping from roof to roof alone, you can also play the game with up to 3 friends. However, keep in mind that only the host retains progress.
How much does Dying Light 2 currently cost on PS4 and PS5? Currently, the game is discounted by 65% in the PSN Store and costs only €24.49. If you have a PlayStation Plus-subscription, you only pay €20.99. The offer is valid until July 31, 2025.
In line with the great MMORPG theme week, genre enthusiasts from MeinMMO, GameStar, and GamePro reveal which online role-playing game sparked their love for fantastic online adventures.
With their vast worlds and large player populations, MMORPGs potentially offer an experience that cannot be found in any other genre. There’s simply something special about being part of a community for weeks, months, and years and making a name for yourself on a server.
To experience friendships and relationships forming all around you. To be able to encounter foreign avatars everywhere in the world, with whom you can interact via chat, emotes, or gameplay. To develop a character through your actions and achievements that truly means something to you.
The Grinding Festival from July 21 to 27 In this week, you can expect exciting articles every day on the topic of MMORPGs. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, along with nostalgic reflections, streaming evenings, interviews, columns, and analyses.
Many MMORPG enthusiasts fondly remember their first time. The one online role-playing game where they first experienced what is possible in the genre. The one where they simply had the best time ever.
In line with the great MMORPG theme week, editors from MeinMMO, GameStar, and GamePro remember which online role-playing game sparked their love for fantastic online adventures. First up is video editor Magdalena from GameStar.
Which MMORPG do you fondly remember? In which world was it your first time? Share it in the comments!
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The best thing about New World is … chopping wood
Game: New World | Developer: Amazon Games | Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox | Release Date: September 28, 2021 | Model: Buy2Play
Magdalena Ihsen: New World undoubtedly has its weaknesses – but one thing was never up for debate: chopping wood was and is great. Really. I mean that completely seriously – and maybe a tiny bit in love. It doesn’t feel like a tedious side activity, but like a fully-fledged part of the game world, executed with a lot of attention to detail.
The gameplay trailer for New World Aeternum:
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New World Aeternum: Well-Staged Gameplay Trailer for Launch
Hardly anything has captivated me as much as the feeling of roaming through the forests with an axe in hand. Always searching for the next tree. The rhythmic swing of the axe, the rich sound upon impact with the bark, and finally the satisfying crack as the tree slowly falls – it was almost meditative.
I spent more time in the forests than in dungeons, and I regret nothing. It was never just about materials or progress in the profession – it was this simple, calming gameplay that brought me so much joy.
I often think back to my days as a woodcutter. To the early hours in the game when the fog still hung over the treetops and I roamed the forests alone with my axe. Those moments were pure gaming joy for me – and one of the reasons why, despite all its problems, New World remains so vividly in my memory.
On the next page, MeinMMO editor Karsten continues, who lost his innocence in Azeroth, followed by MeinMMO author Paul, who knows his way around Pokémon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The story of the Souls series oozes with complexity that only a few understand. All players are thrown into the broken world of Lordran for the first time and must comprehend what is happening in the land of the gods. One thing is certain: a greedy man with great power is to blame.
What you need to know first: Those who paid sporadic attention in Dark Souls will know what it’s about. You are the legendary “Chosen One,” must defeat all the Lords and snatch their souls, and bind the fire again – all just to ensure that the Age of Sunlight can continue.
From some NPCs, one learns that Gwyn was the first Lord who could bind the fire with his power. One might think Gwyn was an honorable Lord who wanted to stop the end of the world, but… that is not the case.
Behind the facade of the mighty Sun Lord hides a cunning figure that is brimming with selfishness, greed, and fear. To understand this, we present details that are not immediately obvious but illustrate how Gwyn has plunged all beings into ruin.
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The Dark Souls Remastered in the Trailer
The impossible goal of a desperate Lord
Whoever comes to Anor Londo for the first time is greeted by a magnificent and opulent city – the city of the gods. After Gwyn ended the Age of Ancients and nearly wiped out the Everlasting Dragons, he, along with other gods, built Anor Londo to provide a home for the gods. The Age of Sunlight was born.
In the Age of Sunlight, everything seemed splendid, and it was for a long time for most gods, but not for Gwyn. The Sun Lord already knew before the war against the dragons that his age would not last forever, for there was the furtive dwarf.
The furtive dwarf
He found alongside the other Lords a very special soul, the Dark Soul. This soul, more powerful than those of the other Lords, had the potential to usher in a new age – the Age of Men.
The interesting thing about the Dark Soul was that it did not lose power when split into several parts. However, this was the case with Gwyn’s soul and the other gods.
The furtive dwarf split his soul into multiple humanity aspects and thus created humanity.
This posed a danger for Gwyn because he wanted to avoid being overthrown at all costs. The knowledge of the Dark Soul and the emergence of humanity was far too dangerous. To prevent this, the Sun Lord played the friend of the dwarves:
He established the Ringed City at the edge of the world to give the dwarves and some humans a “home”.
He entrusted his youngest daughter to the city, who sealed the place with her magic, isolating it from the rest of the world
This spell was so powerful that it lasted for millennia, preserving the city while Gwyn was long dead.
But that was not enough. Even though the remaining furtive dwarves were now “banished”, there were still humans in Lordran with their humanity, and as long as they possess humanity, they are also a danger.
To see the extent of the destruction wrought by wild humanity, one need only refer to the DLC of Dark Souls 1. Manus, the antagonist of the DLC, plunged an entire city into darkness and corrupted its inhabitants.
Gwyn knew even before the disaster with Manus that humanity could plunge entire cities into darkness, and to banish this threat, he created the Dark Sign.
He cursed humanity and ensured with this seal that humanity would come under control. The Dark Sign is also connected to the bonfires – everything that the humans possess concerning souls or humanity is slowly consumed by the Dark Sign in order to keep the First Flame alive.
One might think Gwyn has banished the darkness, but the natural cycle dictates that the Age of Sunlight must end, leaving the Sun Lord with no choice but to sacrifice himself.
His efforts were in vain, and as desperate as the Lord was, he divided his remaining power among his children and descended to the First Flame. He used his remaining Lord’s soul to rekindle the First Flame and maintain his age.
However, he did not do all this to protect all beings, but to secure the power of the gods. That this was in vain, we all see with the beginning of Dark Souls 1. No one can change a natural cycle, but Gwyn, in his pride, plunged all beings into ruin – gods, giants, and humans alike.
The consequences of his extended age can be seen in Dark Souls 3 as the world clung to life for far too long, ultimately causing reality to collapse in on itself. Whether an age of humanity would have been the lesser evil remains debatable.
Note that the lore in Dark Souls allows much room for personal interpretations. However, we have mostly adhered to details that are supported by the lore, item descriptions, and conversations with NPCs. Dark Souls also offers a wealth of bosses alongside its profound lore, but which of them is the strongest? We show you here: The strongest bosses in Dark Souls 1, 2, and 3 according to lore in the power ranking
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
