Fans cheer in ARC Raiders, believe the developers finally listened to them with a change

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

The player base of ARC Raiders is pleased with a decision from Embark Studios that addresses one of the major criticisms from the community: The voices in the game suddenly sound more, but finally human.

What change is the ARC Raiders community happy about? The developers of ARC Raiders have decided to re-record some of the AI-generated voicelines in the game and provide them with real voices from voice actors. This was revealed by Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz.

Some players in the shooter have already noticed this, as they now know why some voices suddenly sounded so different. They express on Reddit that they have already noticed that characters like Celeste or Shani sound a bit better since the last updates and indeed sound like a human. 

In the interview with the CEO, however, it becomes clear that despite the previously existing criticism from the community, it is not a pacification method, but was done out of self-interest.

Start video
ARC Raiders shows new Hurricane condition and hints at a new enemy

Embark does not want to replace humans

Why did the creators of ARC Raiders decide to do this? So far, Embark Studios has relied on AI as a technological tool for voiceovers for ARC Raiders as well as another of their games, “The Finals.” Generative AI was not used in this process. Instead, they worked with real and paid actors, whose voices they licensed for text-to-speech technologies with their permission. These were mainly used for the ping system,


However, the studio has now re-recorded a lot of voicelines in the game directly from human speakers, in order to replace previous AI lines.

There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that’s just how it is. We consider [AI] primarily as a production tool. We can test things internally. We can try 15 different lines without recording them and then know what we need to record. It’s also a workflow for us, but not a replacement for actors. We do not unconditionally believe in replacing humans with AI all the time.

Patrick Söderlund in conversation with GamesIndustry.biz

A decision that is well received by the player base: Based on the reactions on Reddit, this decision by Embark was a correct and necessary approach. It not only improves the overall mood in the game but also sets a sign that is significant in the current time of continuously increasing AI usage:

“The sooner people, companies, and organizations recognize that AI is merely a tool and should not be a replacement, the better,” writes 5ivepie. 

The use of AI has been a frustrating thorn in the side of many players so far. That’s why they are even happier that Embark is not only changing its approach but also addressing the voicelines retroactively:

“They just keep winning. I do have many small criticisms, but that was the biggest,” finds syd_fishes.

More about ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders: Find Tester Matrix – Here’s how to collect them for the project
von Christos Tsogos
ARC Raiders: A Situation Description – Here you will find the Scanner
von Christos Tsogos
ARC Raiders: Patch Notes for Update 1.23.00 – These Errors Have Been Fixed
von Christos Tsogos

ARC Raiders does not have a quiet community; rather the opposite. Many players do not shy away from expressing their criticism to highlight problems in the game. However, some players do not want criticism that escalates into “whining”, and reprimand their own player base: Players of ARC Raiders can no longer stand the community’s whining, blaming their frustration on the wrong people “It’s not the developers who are the problem”

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

The best anime character dies in episode 1, but you feel him throughout the whole series

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 4 minutes

MeinMMO demon Cortyn reflects on the best anime character of all time. At first glance, he seems totally ordinary.

Spoiler warning: This article is about the series Oshi no Ko. If you haven’t watched it for some inexplicable reason – you have been warned.

Okay, okay. I know. The title of this article is already going to cause stress in the comments, and some of you probably have ChatGPT open to send a prompt like “Explain to me in 10 paragraphs why Cortyn is talking nonsense” and post the result in the comments. After all, everyone has a favorite character in some anime and considers that person the “best” character.

But let me explain to you why, in my view, it’s Ai Hoshino from Oshi no Ko and why exactly one episode was enough to grant her this rank.

Start video
Oshi no Ko – the trailer for the 3rd season of the dark revenge anime

Who is Ai Hoshino? Ai is the star of the idol group B-Komachi. At just 16 years old, she has already gained great fame. However, her life is about to fall apart when she becomes pregnant – which is an absolute “no-go” in the idol scene, especially at such a young age. But she has twins and continues to push her career forward – until she is murdered by a stalker at the age of 20.

However, Ai is not outstanding in most areas. She is not particularly intelligent and even quite irresponsible, as she becomes pregnant at only 16. She is also not willing to step back in her career for her children and burdens others with this responsibility, who end up suffering. Ultimately, she is even so “naive” as to open her front door to a stranger – and pays for it with her life.

Yet Ai is the born idol, the born star. She is beautiful, possesses seemingly endless charisma, and is the perfect liar, giving her fans and the public exactly what they want – a perfect illusion.

Oshi No Ko Key Art titel title Try2 1280x720
Full of energy, in a good mood, and quite silly – Ai Hoshino.

One episode to define the entire series

Ai dies in episode 1 and thus exits. She is the trigger for her children’s revenge quest and the hunt for the actual murderer. However, through Ai’s murder, she becomes a kind of divine presence, whose influence resonates in all the characters and has many consequences.

Of course, this is not just due to Ai’s character, but to the story of Oshi no Ko as a whole. The story primarily deals with characters who were somehow influenced by Ai:

  • The two children who witnessed her death.
  • The producers who worked with her.
  • The employees of her agency who were responsible for her.
  • Fans from back then who have never fully gotten over her death.

There is a trope in the series called “Woman in the Fridge.” This term describes a recurring cliché in many series and films: women who typically suffer something gruesome at the beginning of the story. Be it murder, rape, or abduction. Typically, the woman and her fate only serve as motivation for a (mostly male) protagonist to embark on a revenge quest – but then the woman has no further significance and is often not mentioned again.

Anime Oshi no Ko Ai Death
The eerie image of Ai’s corpse remains in memory throughout the series.

However, with Ai in Oshi no Ko, this is not the case. Yes, she dies in the first episode, and her death is the motivation for her children’s planned revenge. But she is much more than that. Although Ai is only seen in the first episode, she permeates every episode of Oshi no Ko, can be felt everywhere, and influences the actions of so many characters. This is likely also the reason why Ai is still present in the opening of seasons 2 and 3 – even though she has long “exited” the story.

In every single episode, Ai somehow “hovers” over the entire plot. Sometimes indirectly through the character development of others, and sometimes more directly when someone refers to her as a “legendary idol”.

I can’t think of any other character with as little screen time as Ai who has had such a drastic impact on the plot, the emotional world, and the development of all involved characters. Even now in season 3, this feeling persists and even continues to grow.

Cortyn’s Anime Recommendations:
More on the topic
5 grandiose anime with women who would do anything for their love
von Cortyn
More on the topic
5 Anime that prove to your parents that they no longer expect anything from you
von Cortyn
More on the topic
The 5 Best Isekai Anime That Every Fan Should See
von Cortyn

Oshi no Ko and Ai have set new standards for me

With each episode of Oshi no Ko that I see, my opinion is cemented more: This is one of the best, if not the best anime I have ever seen. I don’t know of any other series that manages to blend so many different genres so elegantly without feeling overloaded or chaotic.

Oshi no Ko is simultaneously drama, comedy, romance, murder mystery, and psychological thriller. A combination that seems completely chaotic at first glance, yet masterfully woven into an elegant, nerve-wracking series.

And above all of this, Ai hovers, even though she has been dead for a long time.

I can only repeat what I have said so many times: If you haven’t given Oshi no Ko a chance so far because you find the starry eyes weird or because an idol series initially puts you off – give it a shot. You definitely won’t regret it. Because one of the last episodes was even the best anime episode I have ever seen.

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

The 5 Worst Experiments from Fallout Ranked

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 5 minutes

The wasteland of Fallout is a place where the worst sides of humanity come to light. This is evidenced by a multitude of experiments, of which we present five of the most horrifying in this ranking.

How was the ranking created? If you delve into the cruel experiments from Fallout, you quickly realize that this is a bottomless pit. In the post-apocalypse, human life is not very valuable and is regularly used for various tests.

The main playground for this is the Vaults, which were specifically built by Vault-Tec to conduct various experiments. Some of our placements come directly from the underground bunkers, while others took place at various locations in the wasteland.

The exact selection is based on the author’s opinion and is therefore subjective. If you have your personal “favorites,” feel free to share them with us in the comments.

Start video
The official trailer for Fallout Season 2 takes us back to the apocalypse

Before we start, here is a list of our “Honorable Mentions,” which fell out of the ranking due to the sheer number of potential candidates:

  • Drug experiments in Vault 95 and Vault 106
  • Scientists without moral boundaries in Vault 4 – known from the Amazon series
  • An open door transforms the residents of Vault 12 into ghouls
  • Sex experiments in Vault 69
Fallout Robohirn
Image source: Synonymous on YouTube

Rank 5: Tortured Souls in RoboBrains

  • Known from: Fallout 1, 2, Tactics, 3, New Vegas, 4 (DLC Automatron)

RoboBrains are actually not intended as a classic experiment, but the result can certainly be considered one, with all the terrible consequences for the subjects. Essentially, real human brains are combined with robots to create the optimal soldiers in the fight against China.

The robots operate on a tracked chassis and have two arms that can move objects or carry weapons. The brains are housed in a glass sphere at the top of the construction and come from incarcerated criminals in military prisons, whose heads are surgically opened and their contents removed.

The result is often far from optimal. Despite efforts to choose only healthy brains and erase the memories contained within, problems arise. Often, the brains are traumatized by the procedure, attempt to commit suicide, or act very violently in their new forms.

In summary, here, cruel experiments are initiated with prisoners, their identities erased, and their waking consciousness stuffed into a prison of technology.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbild: Prime Video auf YouTube
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

Overwatch chief should meet Blizzard’s goals or 1,000 employees get fired, now an insider reveals who was behind it

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

Former Overwatch chief Jeff Kaplan explained in a podcast interview why he decided to leave his game and Blizzard. He did not name a name. However, well-known industry insider Jason Schreier speaks up.

What does Jason Schreier reveal? The closely connected investigative journalist, author, and industry insider Jason Schreier posted on Bluesky. In doing so, he wants to clarify one thing regarding current reporting surrounding Blizzard and Jeff Kaplan.

Kaplan, the former Overwatch chief, broke his silence in a podcast interview with Lex Friedman on YouTube and revealed that he was given an ultimatum by a CFO of Blizzard: If Overwatch did not earn a certain amount, then 1,000 people would have to be laid off, and the blame would solely fall on Kaplan. However, Kaplan did not name a name.

Jason Schreier reacted to a post to correct the mentioned responsible person for this ultimatum:

It was not Dennis Durkin, but Armin Zerza, CFO and COO of Blizzard.

Jason Schreier Blizzard CFO Bluesky Post
Jason Schreier’s post on Bluesky

Armin Zerza served as Chief Commercial Officer at Activision Blizzard before being appointed Chief Financial Officer in April 2021 (Source: LinkedIn). This corresponds exactly to the period when Kaplan left the Overwatch team.

Schreier adds that he deals extensively with Zerza (whom he calls “perhaps the most controversial figure in Blizzard’s history”) in his book “Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment”.

Start video
Everything about Overwatch in 2026 in a quick overview

Kaplan calls it “the biggest ‘fuck you’-moment” of his life

What did Kaplan say about his decision to leave? Kaplan revealed in the interview on YouTube that the team had to dedicate more and more resources to the league due to false expectations regarding the launch of the Overwatch League. 

He states himself that, accordingly, other plans for Overwatch 2 were thrown out the window and the team was simply treading water. New game content lost priority in order to create skins, mechanics, and further content for the Overwatch League.

However, the decisive moment for Kaplan to leave the game was the conversation with the CFO, who according to Schreier was Zerza:

He said: ‘Overwatch has to make at least this and that much in 2020 and every subsequent year the amount X.’ And then he added: ‘If you don’t reach this amount, we will lay off 1,000 people and that will be your fault.’ And that was the biggest ‘fuck you’-moment I’ve ever had in my career; it felt surreal to be in that position.

Jeff Kaplan in the podcast interview with Lex Friedman on YouTube
More about Overwatch
The voice behind the most annoying hero in Overwatch loves her role, even though she terrorizes players
von Cedric Holmeier
The former Overwatch chief talks about Blizzard: “The biggest ‘fuck you’ of my life”
von Cortyn
Blizzard has quietly announced the first mobile game that I really want to play
von Cortyn

Overwatch 2 has had a tough time since Jeff’s departure: promises were postponed and not fulfilled, unpopular changes caused frustration among fans and the mood sank significantly.

However, Overwatch recently experienced a kind of renaissance. The 2 was removed from the name, new characters were introduced, and even former players became curious again after years of absence. Even MeinMMO editor Caro vowed never to play Overwatch or similar hero shooters again, but weakened when shown a new face in the game: After 2,500 hours in Overwatch, I never wanted to play a hero shooter again, then they showed me a cat… with jetpacks

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

GTA 6 needs to learn one thing from Crimson Desert, even if it annoys some players

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of Crimson Desert have prevented early access for buyers of physical copies of their title, and this could also become important for GTA 6.

Since the existence of game consoles, gamers have wanted to get a glimpse of the latest hype title as early as possible. While there used to be long lines in front of stores, the hype has since shifted. Today, players try to watch all sorts of guides and videos before release to get the best start.

One trick to get started earlier has been simply buying a physical copy of the title. Often, retailers send the title a few days before release, simply because they know that customers don’t like it when the disc arrives only after release.

Thus, there are often one or two leaks from gamers who can play early, while others still have to wait. But Crimson Desert has now prevented exactly that.

Here you can watch a trailer for Crimson Desert:

Start video
Crimson Desert: Launch trailer shows new bosses, dragon action and the storming of a moving train

No more early access

How did Crimson Desert solve this? The developers of Crimson Desert have equipped their physical copies with protection against early access. As a user on X.com shows, who has already received a copy, the developers have implemented a safeguard that prevents early access.

When he started the game, a message popped up: “Please be patient until your adventure begins. On March 19 at 22:00 UTC, the battle for the protection of Pywel begins.” So he could not start earlier or do anything else.

How are players reacting to this? Players have mixed opinions about the developers’ method. On X.com, user @show_desk2k is frustrated that not the entire game is on the disc, but that a part still needs to be downloaded. The “always-on” requirement also bothers him.

Others on Reddit, however, believe it is right that everyone can start at the same time. They argue that other developers should take a cue from the implementation, such as Rockstar.

More on the topic
A fan of Crimson Desert frees you from the generic cliff, lets you create your own protagonist who doesn’t even have to be male
von Caroline Fuller
Crimson Desert saves your performance by making “useless” stuff disappear – Stranding players on a deserted island
von Cedric Holmeier
The dragon in Crimson Desert obeys you only for a short time, an item can change that
von Cedric Holmeier

A model for GTA 6

Will this also be the case for GTA 6? Whether the developers of GTA 6 will take the same step as the developers of Crimson Desert is unclear. Since the release of GTA 5, back on the PS3, a lot has changed. It is conceivable that they want to reduce leaks about the game as much as possible.

Fans are also on board. On Reddit, they discuss the possibility and generally find it just that everyone should be able to start at the same time. User Reddit user Mr-Rocafella writes:

The biggest video game release of all time? Check.

Prevent leaks at all costs? Check.

An easily implementable strategy to prevent early access? Check.

After seeing “Crimson Desert” and the issues with the YouTube trailer at Rockstar, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.

Whether Rockstar Games will really orient itself to the release of Crimson Desert remains unclear. However, it is not unlikely, as the hype surrounding the story is immense and could be broken by leaks a week before the release. When there are news about GTA 6, you can find out here: The head of GTA 6 reveals when it finally starts and when we can expect trailer 3

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

The voice behind the most annoying hero in Overwatch loves her role, even though she terrorizes players

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

One of the most controversial characters in Overwatch is probably the Jetpack Cat. The actress who lends her voice to the character has been particularly excited about the role.

Who are we talking about? Jennifer Hale is a Canadian-American actress and is considered one of the most well-known voice actors in the video game industry. In film and television, she is known as a voice actor for many characters, such as Avatar Kyoshi in Avatar, Sam in Totally Spies!, or Aayla Secura from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

While she has voiced characters like Commander Shepard in Mass Effect or Bastila Shan in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in video games, her new role is controversial. She voices the Jetpack Cat from Overwatch in the English voiceover.

Although she is already heard as Ashe in the game, the actress specifically auditioned for the role of Jetpack Cat, as she explains in an interview with Gamesradar.

I love it, I swear. I am so grateful that we had only a pretty short lead time between recording and release because it was very hard for me to keep quiet about it. I have put in a lot of work, but for this project, I thought to myself, “Guys, I’m a cat – meow!”

Jennifer Hale in an interview with Gamesradar on Tiktok

Here you can watch the trailer for Overwatch:

Start video
Overwatch shows 5 new heroes coming with Season 1: Conquest

A Controversy That’s Fun

Why is the character controversial? The Jetpack Cat divides the Overwatch community. The character is one of the most banned characters in the game and has split the community like hardly any other hero (Source: Blizzard).

A major issue with the cat is probably the physics. “Fika,” as the cat is called, has a small hitbox and is therefore harder to hit than other characters. Even professionals have a hard time with her.

Furthermore, many players have recognized the troll potential of the cat and use her abilities to pull enemies, but also friends, into the depths of the maps or just to annoy.

How does the actress see it? In the interview on Tiktok, the voice actress expresses her joy about the role. When asked how it feels to play such a controversial role, she says, “Oh, it’s perfect, it’s absolutely poetic.”

The actress sees the whole controversy calmly and simply enjoys being able to voice a cute cat. In the interview, she joyfully reflects on her role.

More on the topic
“Is like normal sports”: LoL pro clarifies to retirees what actually esports is
von Nico Scheibel
Former employee of GTA 6 is just as excited about the new trailer as you are, but warns: “This is not what the whole world looks like”
von Caroline Fuller
“Are you running out of ideas?”: No Mans Sky brings unexpected update, even Palword is puzzled
von Nico Scheibel

Hardly any character has divided the community as much as the Jetpack Cat “Fika”. For some players, however, the cat was also a reason to check back into the game. So also with MeinMMO editor Caroline Fuller: After 2,500 hours in Overwatch, I never wanted to play a hero shooter again, then they showed me a cat … with jetpacks

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

If you downloaded the wrong game on Steam a year ago, look for the FBI now – And yes, Valve emphasizes, this is the real FBI

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

The FBI is looking for players who have downloaded one of seven possible games. You could help with an investigation.

The title image is a symbolic image. It comes from the TV series “FBI: Special Crime Unit”.

Why is the FBI looking for you? The FBI is searching for potential victims as part of an investigation, who downloaded games via Steam that were infected with malware.

On the FBI website, it states:

“If you and/or your minor relatives were harmed by the installation of one of these games or have information that is relevant to this investigation, please fill out this short form.“

The curious thing: On Reddit, players report receiving an email from Steam, in which the company explicitly emphasizes that they can confirm that the website is from the real FBI. Some players apparently thought that a message from the FBI must be a phishing email.

Start video
Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer

What is malware? Malware refers to malicious software such as viruses, trojans, and spyware, which attackers can use to steal data or damage systems.

Multiple games on Steam infected with malware

Which games are involved? The US federal agency states that the following games have been identified as harmful:

  • BlockBlasters
  • Chemia
  • Dashverse/DashFPS,
  • Lampy
  • Lunara
  • PirateFi
  • Tokenova

The FBI believes that Steam users were targeted between May 2024 and January 2026. The games are no longer available on Steam.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Dev from Germany learns on Twitch how often his game has been sold on Steam – And over 31,000 people are happy for him
von Lydia
More on the topic
Crimson Desert: Denuvo – All you need to know
von Benedikt Schlotmann
More on the topic
Steam consumes such an absurdly high amount of data that you have probably never heard of such a large number
von Claudio Niggenkemper

Is this relevant for German players as well? Yes, German Steam users can fill out the form if they have information that could help the FBI’s investigations. In the form, there is an extra line where you can select the country you live in.

On MeinMMO, we already reported in 2025 about the game PirateFi after it was taken offline on Steam. It was already warned that the game could have infected Steam users' systems with malware. MeinMMO’s tech expert Benedikt Schlotmann also has some tips for you on what you can do if you are affected. Here’s the article: A game on Steam infected gaming PCs with malware: Here’s what you can do if you’ve been affected

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

New MMORPG on Steam looks like WoW, will soon let you test on the servers for days

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 5 minutes

It’s time for our MeinMMO format “MMORPG News in 5 Minutes”. We summarize the most important news about the best genre in the world. You can expect an exciting playtest, many updates, the end of an era, and some construction sites in WoW Midnight.

Highlights of the week:

What else happened? On March 19, 2026, Crimson Desert will be released as the quasi-sequel to Black Desert. The open-world adventure was originally supposed to be an MMORPG as well but evolved into a pure single-player experience during development. We went on a quest to find out how much MMO is still in Crimson Desert.

The launch trailer of Crimson Desert gets you ready for the upcoming release:

Start video
Crimson Desert: Launch trailer shows new bosses, dragon action and the storming of a moving train

The end of an era in Lost Ark

What happened with the major MMORPGs:

On the MeinMMO YouTube channel we regularly publish videos about the best genre in the world. Currently, we take a look at the new WoW expansion Midnight:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube 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 YouTube content

What happened with the smaller MMORPGs:

  • The developers of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape announced new subscription prices. Despite the hype around the current changes in MMORPGs, there is a lot of criticism right now.
  • On March 11, Update 47.1 for Lord of the Rings Online was released, including 10 new missions and explorations in Mûr Ghala, fresh tasks for the Spring Festival (running from March 12 to March 31), and more. The patch notes can be found on lotro.com.
  • For Star Wars: The Old Republic, Update 7.8.1 titled “Mystery of the Mistress” has been released. Look forward to new story content, companion missions, the spring event, and more. The patch notes can be found on swtor.com.
  • Players of Project: Gorgon are excited about an engine upgrade, adjustments to the Redwing Casino, boss changes, and more. More about the update can be found on Steam.
  • The Sony developers are currently celebrating a new milestone: Phantasy Star Online 2 now has 12 million registered users worldwide. This impressive number is celebrated with login bonuses, boosts, and more. You can find the details on pso2.com.
  • With Floral Fury Online, a new indie MMORPG launched on Steam on March 10. The price: ten bucks. Some of the promises: physics-based action combat, procedural dungeons, PvP arenas, and a player-driven economy.
  • The new Corruption update also launched this week for the console versions of Star Trek Online. Additionally, the celebrations for the 16th anniversary are currently taking place. You can find the info on playstartrekonline.com.
  • A new update for Final Fantasy XI is live, expanding the trust system, among other things. The patch notes can be found on forum.square-enix.com.
  • For The Quinfall, patch 1.0.0.17 has gone live, including skill adjustments, bug fixes, and more. You can find the patch notes on Steam.
  • The developers of EVE Online have revealed some of their plans for the summer expansion, focusing primarily on the introduction of military campaigns and improved accessibility to faction battles. More on this at eveonline.com.
  • Sword of Justice has received a new update 1.2.0 with a new martial arts rogue, new areas, and more. You can find the patch notes on swordofjustice.com.
  • Neverwinter has received a new expansion with 32.5. Its name: Tempus Arena – The Slaughterhouse. The highlight features include celestial insignia, celestial mounts, the revamped slaughterhouse, the improved queue window, and changes to the cleric. For the patch notes, visit playneverwinter.com. Additionally, you can find the launch trailer on YouTube.
Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube 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 YouTube content

What happened with the MMORPGs in development:

  • MIR4 is one of the most popular MMORPGs on Steam. Meanwhile, the developers are already working on the 5th part of the MMORPG series. Now, however, the development appears to have been stopped.
  • An analysis from China has looked at the upcoming MMORPG releases and estimated how significant the releases will really be. Surprisingly, Aion 2 does not take the first place.
  • With DreamWorld, a new sandbox MMO has launched on Steam in Early Access. The access price: almost 30 euros. The focus is supposed to be on base building, crafting, and survival. The first reviews are “mixed”.
More about MMORPGs:
More on the topic
The 10 MMORPGs on Steam with the best ratings in March 2026
von Alexander Leitsch
More on the topic
The 10 MMORPGs with the most players on Steam in March 2026
von Karsten Scholz

With that, we have summarized the most important things that have recently happened in the world of MMORPGs.

What have you been happy about this week? What have you been upset about? Let us know in the comments. If you are looking for an overview of the history of online role-playing games, you will find it in this comprehensive special: The History of MMORPGs – From Habitat to Throne and Liberty, and everything that happened in between

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

Complaining helped: WoW reduces housing costs by up to 93%

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The new decoration items in World of Warcraft were extremely expensive. Now Blizzard has responded and reduced the prices – up to 93% have fallen.

Housing fans were very excited about the latest expansion of World of Warcraft. But quickly there was a big dampener, because all the cool decorations had exorbitant prices. You would have to invest a lot of time just to farm a single piece of furniture – not to mention if you wanted several at once. Now Blizzard has quietly reacted and massively reduced the prices.

Start video
WoW: How to quickly farm 500 mysterious sky shards for the mount “Echo of Aln’Sharan”

What was the problem? Housing items cost a large amount of Voidlight Marl. This resource is quite exhausting to farm. Depending on what you wanted, you had to complete up to 30 world quests to buy a single item. A huge effort just to have one single housing object. This is especially a problem because usually you need several items of the same kind to really experiment and let your creativity run wild. The outcry in the community was correspondingly large.

Housing, as it should have been from the start

How did Blizzard react? On 13.03.2026 around 6:30 PM, a small hotfix was rolled out to the realms of World of Warcraft. The change affects almost all housing items that can be bought with Voidlight Marl from various vendors. Where prices of 750 to 2500 Voidlight Marl were common before, many items are now reduced to costs of 150 to 250 Voidlight Marl.

More about WoW:
WoW: A NPC in Midnight remembers you and you surely hate him
von Cortyn
WoW: World First! Team Liquid takes the victory, this time really
von Cortyn
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz

Cortyn says: I am quite happy that Blizzard reacted so quickly here and listened to the community. Most housing fans do not want to farm their decorations for weeks and months, but want to get the decorations quickly to spend even more time in housing with them. Therefore, it is nice that we did not have to wait for a big patch, but rather received an immediate response.

And even though I don’t believe that my Mecker Wednesday had a large share in this decision, because I got really upset about this problem – it still feels good if feedback from the community leads to positive changes in WoW so quickly.

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

Diablo 4: Slaughterhouses – How to find the keys and become the Butcher

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

In Diablo 4 you will become the iconic Butcher with Season 12. How you can find his slaughterhouses and get the right keys for them, you will learn here.

On March 11, 2026, the “Season of Slaughter” started. Content-wise, it literally revolves around bloody mayhem. The highlight is that for the first time in the series’ history, you can step into the shoes of the Butcher yourself.

How can I become the Butcher? There are three ways to play as the Butcher:

  • Slaughterhouses: In these dungeons, you are constantly active as the Butcher and take down enemies with special attacks.
  • Shrines of Slaughter: You can find these in the Hell Floods (marked by a special symbol). Activate them with a “Meaty Offering” to transform yourself.
  • PvP Areas: Collect “Wildness” on the Fields of Hatred. For the most brutal player, a Butcher Idol appears, allowing him to transform into the Butcher.

Below, you will find out how to get into the slaughterhouses and where to receive the keys for the gruesome dungeons.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows new content from Season 12, the Season of Slaughter, in the trailer

Farming Keys for Slaughterhouses – Here’s How It Works

Where do I find the slaughterhouses? You can only enter the special dungeons after completing the seasonal quest line and collecting the respective keys. You then activate the keys in your inventory, similar to keys for Nightmare Dungeons. After that, you can click on the map symbol to teleport directly to the dungeon.

In the slaughterhouses, you are constantly active as the Butcher, taking down groups of enemies, including Wanderers and Adventurers. You use special attacks from your customized skill bar for this. Your goal in the slaughterhouse is to eliminate as many enemies as possible in about 3 minutes. As loot, you receive bloodstained items.

Where can I get keys for the slaughterhouses? You can obtain keys for the slaughterhouses from various sources:

  • Seasonal Quest Line: Your first slaughterhouse keys and the task to enter a slaughterhouse are obtained within the seasonal quest line.
  • Hell Flood: Keys drop from elite enemies, normal monsters (especially at active Shrines of Slaughter), and from Hell Flood chests.
  • Seasonal Rank: At the Brutality Table in Gea Kul, you receive rewards when you collect “Brutality” in kill streaks. The rewards may also include slaughterhouse keys.

Therefore, it is advisable to spend time in the Hell Floods to farm slaughterhouse keys. Activate the Shrines of Slaughter with Meaty Offerings or join other players who are doing the same.

With special keys, you activate the slaughterhouses.
As the Butcher, you have your own skills, including Chains.
Slaughterhouses earn you bloodstained items.

Collecting Meaty Offerings and Fresh Meat

Where do I get Meaty Offerings? To use the Shrines of Slaughter, you need one Meaty Offering each. You can mainly find these in Hell Flood chests. They can also drop as a reward in the slaughterhouses or randomly in Nightmare Dungeons.

What do I need Fresh Meat for? When you eliminate enemies as the Butcher, “Fresh Meat” drops. This is a seasonal currency that you can exchange with Kael Rills, the “Butcher” vendor in Gea Kul, for bloodstained items. You select a category and receive a random item – similar to the Curiosity Dealer with Obolis.

More about Diablo 4:
More on the topic
Diablo 4 Season 12 – everything about the start, release date, and the PTR
von Nicole Wakulczyk
More on the topic
Diablo 4 Endgame Tier List: The Best Builds for All Classes in Season 12
von Nicole Wakulczyk

Season 12 not only brings the Butcher as a playable form into the ARPG. He also permanently joins as a new Hideout boss in Diablo 4 and comes with his own Uniques. You can find out which bosses currently exist in Diablo 4 and what items they drop in our overview: Diablo 4 Boss Loot Table: List of all bosses and their drops in Season 12

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

Crimson Desert on PS5: Finally there is real gameplay from experts, but one piece of information is still missing

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

The well-known experts from Digital Foundry were allowed an extensive look at the PS5 Pro version of Crimson Desert. Information about the regular PS5 version is still missing.

Developer Pearl Abyss has now published the official specs for the PS5 version and shown some details. However, there is still a lack of solid information regarding the console version.

What was tested and who was allowed to test it? Now the team from Digital Foundry was able to see the action-adventure on the PS5 Pro. Digital Foundry is known for its extensive game tests and is considered reputable in its field.

However, it is important to note that they were only allowed to test the Pro version by Pearl Abyss. The regular PS5 is nowhere mentioned. We are still waiting for solid information on how well the game runs on the regular PS5.

Start video
Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video

Crimson Desert is “definitely a phenomenal experience.”

What do the experts praise? The testers commend that Crimson Desert looks really nice on the PS5 Pro and is equipped with a level of detail that one does not expect from the PS5 Pro:

Pearl Abyss also ensures even more richness of detail by using displacement mapping to an extent I’ve never seen before, simulating depth within the textures, allowing every stone and brick to stand out in detail.


Both balance and quality mode make a good impression according to testers and deliver a stable frame rate without having to sacrifice many details. The promised frame rates are reportedly achieved: 60 FPS in performance mode, 40 FPS in balance, and 30 FPS in quality.

Overall, the testers give a positive verdict on the PS5 Pro version. They write in their blog: “For owners of a PS5 Pro, Crimson Desert definitely offers a phenomenal experience.”

The official video from Digital Foundry has been embedded for you. The video is in English, but you can see the impressions in the video:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube 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 YouTube content

Frame drops in plenty of chaos and a few technical issues

Where are the problems on the PS5 Pro? Performance issues mainly occur when there is a lot happening. The tester cites the battle for Bughill, which should be located at the Gunlore Outpost. Here, the FPS drop significantly, hovering around 36/37 FPS.

Currently, there are also a few issues with VRR. Since there is officially no support for Low Frame Rate Compensation (LFC), experts claim that there is often significant screen tearing on the PS5 Pro. LFC is a feature of VRR and is meant to usually prevent this and cushion severely dropping frame rates.

However, the experts point out that the PS5 Pro is officially supposed to support the feature and therefore hope for an improvement with a future patch. Pearl Abyss might still provide this function.

Another problem that occurs repeatedly and can be seen in the video: excessive “pop-in” of details in the game. Sometimes details or content are only loaded after getting close enough. This can certainly disrupt immersion in the game world.

What information is missing? Digital Foundry received the version for the PS5 Pro. There are still no impressions regarding the performance on the regular PS5 – a piece of information many players are waiting for. One user under the video with over 2,000 upvotes writes: “I am patiently waiting for the basic PS5 analysis.”

More on the topic
A transitional solution was so good that it is still found on many of your laptops 32 years later
von Claudio Niggenkemper
Tech YouTuber wants to know how much distance the gaming PC should really have from the wall, gets help from NASA
von jan hartmayer
A player has already achieved 100% in Crimson Desert on the PS5, must have played almost every waking hour for it
von Cedric Holmeier

Crimson Desert is an action-adventure with role-playing elements and an open world. It comes from the developers of Black Desert and is set to be released in 2026. We at MeinMMO will reveal everything about the release date, the editions, the trailers, and more: Crimson Desert: All about release, platforms, editions & multiplayer at a glance

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

Blizzard is already demanding a lot of money for skins in Diablo 4, completely overdoing it with new cosmetics: “I can get 2 AAA games for that”

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

Expensive skins in Diablo 4 are regularly a topic of discussion among players. Currently, fans are complaining about cosmetics in the shop, for which one could easily buy two new games.

This is what the skins in Diablo 4 are all about:

With the start of Season 12 in Diablo 4, new skin sets and bundles also came to the shop. This time it revolves around a collaboration with DOOM: The Dark Ages. And anyone looking to snag suitable armors, pets, and a mount will have to reach deep into their pockets.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows new content from Season 12, the Season of Slaughter, in the trailer

A complete skin set – or two new games

How expensive are the skins? It depends on how much you want to buy. A special DOOM armor set for a single class costs about 25 euros, and it can only be used by that class. Alternatively, there is a large bundle for all seven classes at the price of 5,700 platinum (about 50 euros).

If you also want to buy the matching pets and/or the mount, you’ll have to spend money again. Each pet costs you 2,500 platinum, or 2,800 for the mount, so roughly 25 euros each.

If you want the full program, meaning all seven class sets in a bundle, both pets, and the mount, you will end up with a proud total of 125 euros.

Are there also free cosmetics? In fact, the DOOM collaboration also offers free content:

  • From March 11 to March 15, 2026, you can pick up three free emblems in the shop.
  • Throughout the season, there is an event reliquary through which you can earn 10 cosmetics. For this, you collect “Dark Ages” currency from champion and elite enemies.
  • At hideout bosses, you can find special DOOM chests that contain uniques with exclusive transmogs.
More about Diablo 4:
More on the topic
Diablo 4 Season 12 – everything about the start, release date, and the PTR
von Nicole Wakulczyk
More on the topic
Players regularly complain about expensive skins in Diablo 4, but they would still spend money on a feature
von Nicole Wakulczyk
More on the topic
Diablo 4 sells expensive skins in the shop, but fans say: With the Paladin, the free stuff is much cooler
von Nicole Wakulczyk

This is what the community says: The pricing policy is being hotly debated on Reddit. Many players emphasize that for the 50 euros that the bundle costs, they would rather buy a new game. For comparison: The “Game of the Year 2025”, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, costs about the same on Steam as the armor bundle.

On Reddit, the user asmallman calculates that for 125 euros (armor bundle plus pets and mount) you could almost get a yearly subscription for World of Warcraft or two current AAA titles.

Even big fans of Diablo and DOOM express their disappointment on Reddit and find the prices completely outrageous. Additionally, players critically note that the Warlock, who comes into the game with “Lord of Hatred” in April, apparently goes empty-handed with this bundle.

The standard edition of the expansion “Lord of Hatred” costs around 40 euros, which is actually less than the armor bundle. However, you get a new class, a new area, and a lot of new content for Diablo 4. You can find all important information on the release, price, and contents of the second DLC in our overview.

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

ARC Raiders: A Symbol of Unity – Here you will find the Outpost

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

In ARC Raiders Speranza needs your help again. This time it is about the quest “A Symbol of Unity” and an outpost that many players find hard to locate. 

What do you have to do for the quest? Celeste sends you on a quest to find a special flag and then hang it at the same building. The task states:

  • Reach the Formical outpost in the Dam battlefields.
  • Look for the flag at the Formical outpost
  • Raise the flag on the small platform overlooking the Red Lakes.

Once you have completed all the tasks, you just need to report your progress to Celeste. However, many players have trouble locating the exact location. Therefore, we will show you where you need to go.

Start video
Marathon will learn from the mistakes of ARC Raiders and take a tough stance against cheaters

Here you will find the Formical outpost

To find the outpost, you need to visit the map “Dam battlefields”. A specific map condition is not important. However, make sure that you spawn near the location by the control tower or test farm. Otherwise, you will have to take a march of over 1,000 meters, which can be very annoying.

ARC-Raiders-Outpost-1
This is what the outpost looks like
ARC-Raiders-Outpost-2
Here you need to open the bag
ARC-Raiders-Outpost-3
This is where you hang the flag
ARC-Raiders-Map-Quest-Outpost
That’s where the outpost is located on the map

Once there, you need to take the southern entrance and look for a bag in the corridor that is on a bed. Interact with it and then collect the flag. Now continue through the corridor in a northeast direction until you are on the small platform outside the outpost. Now interact with the pole to your left and raise the flag. Now you just need to extract and turn in the quest to Celeste.

More on the topic
ARC Raiders: Hurricane Caches – Every Location on All Maps
von Christos Tsogos
ARC Raiders: Farming Blueprints – How to find plans for the Anvil, Wolfpack, and more
von Christos Tsogos
ARC Raiders: Patch Notes for Update 1.23.00 – These Errors Have Been Fixed
von Christos Tsogos

That was all the important locations for the quest “A Symbol of Unity” in ARC Raiders. Besides this mission, there are also other quests that you can complete. If you are also looking for solutions for those, we have the suitable guide overview for you: ARC Raiders: All guides, tips, and lists at a glance

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

Player is left hanging by his buddy in ARC Raiders, but understands why everyone loves the shooter

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

ARC Raiders shows gamers why the game can be fun even when playing without friends.

How was the player left hanging? A player named “lowercaselemming” reports on Reddit that he wanted to play ARC Raiders with a buddy, even though he usually doesn’t play games that involve PvP.

This buddy, however, was busier than expected on the agreed day and left the poster hanging. He had no choice but to play his new game alone. And in doing so, he learned firsthand why the shooter is so popular.

Start video
Spieler in Arc Raiders schreit so laut um Hilfe, dass der Nachbar die Tür aufbricht

Not only helpful, but also natural and immersive

How did he understand why everyone loves the shooter? The first few minutes of the player in ARC Raiders were chaotic. He had to first navigate the menus, understand the different weapons of the game, and learn what he could defeat with his loadout and what he could not. During this time, he was completely on his own and “was destroyed by a couple of PvP players”.

At some point, he reached a quest that required him to find a courier. However, he had no idea what a courier was, but just hoped for the best. Maybe he would randomly find what he needed.

Then he stumbled upon a stranger player. Both signaled that they were peaceful and briefly spoke to each other. “lowercaselemming” explained that he was new to the game and was currently trying to figure out what a courier is.

“Ah, yes, those are those little crashed black UFO things. Just keep an eye out for black smoke, and you’ll find them,” the stranger replied. Then they exchanged some loot and went their separate ways, but thanks to the information from the stranger, “lowercaselemming” was able to find a courier shortly after and complete his quest.

And that’s how he understood what makes ARC Raiders so popular:

“I was not only able to interact with someone who didn’t immediately try to kill me when they saw me, but I could even get help and information from them in a way that felt immersive and completely natural. I can’t imagine having such an experience in another game. I think it’s great and am looking forward to more.”

More on the topic
More on the topic
A new kind of players in ARC Raiders is even worse than the rats camping at the exit
von Dariusz Müller
More on the topic
ARC Raiders: Locked Gate – Time and where to find the keys
von Christos Tsogos
More on the topic
“The developers are not the problem” – Because he is sick of his teammates’ complaints, a fan of ARC Raiders reminds the community who is really at fault
von Caroline Fuller

The community agrees, sharing their own experiences

How other players react: In the comments of the post, many players share similar experiences in ARC Raiders and agree that this makes the game special.

One user says that friendly players are the reason he plays the game, and some of his best experiences in gaming have come from meeting strangers during solo rounds. Another adds that it gets even better when he fights alongside other Raiders against the big ARCs like a queen.

In ARC Raiders, probably every player has had a similar experience, including MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller. Here you can read about his experiences in his first rounds in the Hurricane: ARC Raiders: After 2 rounds in the Hurricane, I realize: Embark is creating something with the shooter that no other game can

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

I share a trait with “Nami” from One Piece on Netflix, but we are not alone

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The second global popularity poll for all characters that have ever appeared in the manga of One Piece is currently running. The actors from the Netflix series also participated in the poll, revealing which favorite characters they voted for. MeinMMO editor Jasmin is completely enthusiastic about Emily Rudd’s choice, the actress who plays Nami.

Which characters did the Straw Hats vote for? In a video on the official YouTube channel of One Piece, the actors present their results. You can watch the video here:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube 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 YouTube content

It turns out that none of the actors voted for their own characters. Instead, some curious figures were chosen:

  • Iñaki Godoy (Luffy) voted for Mister 13 from the Baroque Works. This is a little otter in pajamas.
  • For his counterpart, Taz Skyler (Sanji) voted for Miss Friday as his favorite character, a flying vulture that Mister 13 uses to fire at his opponents with a machine gun.
  • Jacob Romero voted for the Straw Hats’ ship. The Flying Lamp accompanies the pirate crew on the first leg of the Grand Line.
  • Mackenyu, on the other hand, chose Kozuki Oden as his favorite character. He was a legend from Wano Kuni who sacrificed himself for his people.
  • The biggest surprise for me: Emily Rudd (Nami) revealed that her favorite character is Perona.

Rudd explains that she really loves Perona and also the Thriller Bark arc. The ghost princess is simply wonderful. And with that, she struck a chord with me, because I love the ghost princess so much that I named my gamer tag after her.

Start video
One Piece: Netflix shows new trailer for season 2 with Nico Robin

Perona is the coolest, prove me wrong!

Who is Perona? Perona is one of the antagonists from the Thriller Bark arc. She ate a Devil Fruit that allows her to summon ghosts, which can manipulate the emotions of other people. This way she can plunge her enemies into deep depression, for example.

In the arc, her fight against Usopp is a spectacular spectacle. She is actually superior to the sharpshooter, but through a trick he manages to knock her out and thus take her out of action for some time.

What makes her so special? Perona’s unique character only becomes clear after the time skip, as she transforms from an enemy into a loving and caring helper. 

After Bartholomew Kuma has spread the Straw Hat crew across all islands, she ends up on an island full of battle-hungry mandrills together with the unconscious Zoro. There, she takes care not only of Zoro but also of Dracule Mihawk, whose home is on the island.

Later, she even ensures that Zoro makes it back in time for the reunion with the rest of the crew. As if that weren’t enough, she even helps the pirate crew escape.

The fact that Emily Rudd and I are not alone in our choice is reflected in some comments on Reddit. Here, some fans are surprised that she didn’t choose her own character but can understand her choice well. There are even more fans of Perona here.

More about One Piece
The Netflix series about One Piece already hints at Luffy’s strongest form in season 2, which only appears in episode 1071 of the anime
von Niko Hernes
One Piece announces a new series with Lego, giving me a brief scare that luckily subsided
von Jasmin Beverungen
One Piece Anime Remake auf Netflix: Release, Trailer, and More in the Overview
von Jasmin Beverungen

Originally, Perona was supposed to become even more important to the story of One Piece than she is now. She was planned as a member of a well-known group that is currently standing up to the Marines: The creator of One Piece originally depicted the legendary criminal guild of Buggy with 4 members

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

Dawn of War 4 wants to take a feature of the original to the next level – makes it so good that first players want to spend more time with it immediately

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

Even the first Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War enhanced its battles with cool animations, but the new Dawn of War 4 aims to take it even further. Early game testers have responded very positively, as they definitely want more of it.

What kind of feature is this? Real-time strategy games (RTS) usually do not shine with complex combat animations. Each unit has a selection of animations that play in sequence during combat – without reacting much to enemy attacks. If a unit is out of hit points, it simply falls over dead, and that’s it.

However, the first Dawn of War introduced a feature that is still very rare in RTS games today: Sync-Kills. These are elaborate finishing animations that replace the usual attack animations for the final hit on an enemy. In the realm of strategy games, such sync kills can be seen in the Total War games, for example.

The developers of Dawn of War 4, the German studio KING Art, want to focus even more on special combat animations than any previous installments in the series. In addition to sync kills, the melee combat itself is supposed to look more cinematic. According to early players, the developers seem to be on a good path with this.

Even the gameplay trailer for Dawn of War 4 looks like a cinematic:

Start video
Der Gameplay-Trailer zu Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War 4 sieht aus wie ein Cinematic

Testers want longer battles to admire the animations

What do these players say? First of all, no, you didn’t miss a shadow drop. Dawn of War 4 has still not been released, and a release date is still pending. However, there have already been some closed alpha tests, as Senior Game Developer Elliott Verbiest explained in an episode of Deep Strike. That is an interview format on Warhammer TV.

From these playtests, quite a bit of feedback has emerged, and one of the main points was about the animations in the battles. Early testers found them so cool that they wanted to see more of them – and asked the developers to let battles run longer.

“People found it so spectacular that they wanted to keep seeing more of it,” Verbiest explains, adding: “That really showed that we have something special here.”

This discussion also involved how to faithfully translate the four factions – Space Marines, Necrons, Orks, and the Adeptus Mechanicus – from the tabletop into the game. Space Marines are to feel like the powerful elite force that they are. However, they cannot match other factions like the Orks in sheer numbers, who overwhelm their enemies with a green tide.

The Necrons are also mentioned. They are to have a way to resurrect killed units – they are, after all, undead machine beings. Here, Verbiest explains that care had to be taken not to make this ability too powerful.

More on the topic
Lucky guy pays 22 euros for an old figure because it looked cool – Warhammer 40,000 community enviously reveals: This is a valuable treasure
von Nico Scheibel
Why does every human in Warhammer 40,000 fear the Inquisition? Someone who knows clears me up
von Benedict Grothaus
Henry Cavill is probably the most famous fan of Warhammer 40,000, these 5 celebrities serve the Emperor as well
von Benedict Grothaus

How important are sync kills to you in strategy games? Are you excited that Dawn of War 4 is going all out, or do you not really care? Feel free to let us know in the comments. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is being developed in Germany by Studio KING Art, and they know exactly what strategy game fans want.

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

Free MMORPG invites players to a playtest on Steam, aims to completely avoid Pay2Win

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

With Scars of Honor, a new MMORPG is currently in the works, which is supposed to be free on Steam and without Pay2Win. The developers have now announced a major playtest.

What kind of MMORPG is this? Scars of Honor is a free theme park MMORPG with action combat and comic graphics. Visually, the game is somewhere between Albion Online and WoW – but it is not played from the typical third-person perspective.

Scars of Honor is still in development, but it is already dear to many veterans because it is supposed to be an MMORPG that is fair to its players, apart from the hype of the big graphic marvels Aion 2, ArchAge Chronicles, and Chrono Odyssey. The aim is to completely avoid Pay2Win and offer fair monetization.

The MMORPGs from the 2000s serve as a template. Players can look forward to randomly generated dungeons for 5 players, taking down tough bosses, and showcasing their skills in classic PvP arenas. There is also a scars system – a kind of talent system with rogue-lite elements.

Here you can watch the trailer for Scars of Honor:

Select a MMO video…

Big playtest already in April

What is this playtest? Before the release of Scars of Honor, the developers need more feedback from players. Therefore, a major playtest will take place between April 30 and May 11, 2026.

The entire game in its current version will be tested. Players are expected to provide feedback on the following systems:

  • Combat and level progression
  • Quests and exploration of the open world
  • Talents and the scars system
  • Gathering and crafting
  • Procedural dungeons
  • PvP battlefields and arenas
  • Integrated voice chat

The developers hope to receive feedback from players on all these features in order to make significant changes if a system completely fails them.

How to participate in the playtest? Participation in the playtest only requires a Steam account. On the Steam page of Scars of Honor, you can simply click the green “Request Access” button and you will be registered for the test.

The developers have already announced that they will only unlock access in waves, so it may be that you join the playtest later.

More on the topic
Over 10,000 players engage in the largest battle ever in EVE Online, destroying over 40,000 € in 24 hours
von Cedric Holmeier
New MMORPG transforms your gaming room into one of the greatest animes of all time, even makes the best players sweat
von Cedric Holmeier
WoW: A NPC in Midnight remembers you and you surely hate him
von Cortyn

Currently, over 100 employees are working on Scars of Honor, suggesting that they won’t have to wait too long for the release in connection with the beta. However, when exactly that will be is still uncertain: New MMORPG on Steam is being developed by 100 people and is expected to be playable in 2026

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

If you have even a spark of humanity, you will never evolve Paras in Pokémon

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 4 minutes

The world of Pokémon is actually quite child-friendly, but some monsters hide dark secrets that are not always obvious. The latest Pokémon game, however, tries not to hide the sad fate of a certain monster.

Which Pokémon is it? The Pokédex has some dark entries that are usually not really represented in the games themselves. Sometimes you wonder why some Pokémon are allowed to roam free, while others just make you feel sorry for them.

One of the latter is the bug Pokémon Paras, which has been around since the first generation. Its Pokédex entries don’t fit a child-friendly franchise, yet even the new Pokopia doesn’t try to hide the sad truth.

Start video
MeinMMO was at the 30th anniversary of Pokémon in London

A fate like in The Last of Us

What is it with Paras? To understand how tragic the fate is, you only need to look at Paras’s Pokédex entry from Ruby and Sapphire: Paras’ back grows parasitic mushrooms called Tochukaso. They grow by absorbing nutrients from the bug/plant Pokémon. They are very valuable as life-extending medicine (source: PokéWiki).

The mushrooms on Paras’s back are thus not a direct part of it, but a parasitic organism that feeds on its nutrients. When Paras evolves into Parasect, the huge mushroom takes control. You can compare it to The Last of Us – as well as other aspects of the game.

The Pokédex entry for Pokopia states: The mushroom on Parasect’s back uses the Pokémon as a host and drains its energy. It seems to have control over the Pokémon (source: PokéWiki).

Overall, Pokémon Pokopia doesn’t really try to hide that something is wrong with Parasect.

Parasect looks harmless in Pokémon Pokopia, but something is not right with it
Poor Paras doesn’t know what awaits it

Pokopia shows the tragic fate of Paras

How does Pokémon Pokopia portray the fate of Paras? In Pokopia, Pokémon do not evolve; you can only discover evolutions in other habitats. In the cozy game, Pokémon also talk to each other, and you can see conversations between Bulbasaur and Paras.

On YouTube, the channel RandomRamShorts shows such a conversation. Paras states that it is starving. Bulbasaur is surprised because Paras just ate. Paras replies that its stomach feels empty and its back feels heavy.

Completely delighted, Bulbasaur says that this probably means that Paras’ flower is finally blooming; it was the same for it. Well, Bulbasaur, the mushroom is getting bigger, but that’s not a good sign for Paras. The dialogue shows that the mushroom is stealing nutrients from Paras and is getting larger as a result.

Bulbasaur is also a suitable conversation partner for Paras, as it also has a plant on its back. However, that seems to give it nutrients instead of draining them, when you look at the Pokédex entry from Diamond and Pearl (source: PokéWiki).

While Paras has a personality in Pokopia, the situation with Parasect is quite different. When you speak to a Parasect in Pokopia, the Pokémon sounds like a robot trying to speak like a human. You can see that here:

Pokopia Parasect Dialog 1
Pokopia Parasect Dialog 2

It is therefore strongly implied that the mushroom, which according to some entries has taken control, is trying to speak itself, even though it cannot do so as organically as Paras or other Pokémon.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Pokopia makes it so you can now get 2 Shinies and 2 special Dittos more easily in Pokémon GO
von Paul Kutzner

There are also such mushrooms in the real world

Are there such organisms in the real world as well? In the animal world, there are also zombie ants. The fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infects according to researchers’ assumptions ants in the rainforest, as National Geographic explains.

It attaches to the exoskeleton of the ant and feeds on the insides of the insect. Meanwhile, the ant is forced to go to places better suited for the fungus’s development. After the ant’s death, the body is used to emit spores again.

This is like with Paras. Here, too, one can assume that Parasect is just a dead body controlled by the fungus. Besides the strange conversations in Pokopia, the eyes can also be taken as evidence. Instead of pupils, they are only white after the evolution.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Twitch streamer reports how his gambling-hating girlfriend cleaned out the casino in Pokémon
von Johanna
More on the topic
Because I wanted to catch Mewtwo in Pokémon GO, I ran over 30 kilometers in a week and now I feel really good
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Every time you evolve your Paras in one of the many games, you ensure that your beloved Pokémon actually becomes a zombie controlled only by a large mushroom. Pokopia hides in its own story a sad fate of the world, making it one of the best games in the series: Pokémon Pokopia has the best story of the franchise that reminds me of one of the best sci-fi series

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

I played Pokopia on my old Switch and I’m surprised at how little I can do

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

Pokémon Pokopia on the old Switch? Yes, that works, although only with a detour. MyMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tried it out, but the limitations are significant. Pokopia on the Switch 1 feels more like a demo than a real game. Nevertheless, you get a first impression of the game world.

Pokémon Pokopia is the first Pokémon game that is exclusively released for the Nintendo Switch 2. But thanks to GameShare, I can also “play” the game on my old Switch.

And that’s exactly what I wanted to try out: I dove into the co-op adventure with my wife and started Pokopia on my old Switch. However, in the end, the game felt more like a demo on my Switch.

Start video
With Pokémon Pokopia, Nintendo mixes two of its most popular franchises for the Switch

Pokopia on the Switch 1: The basics work, but not much more

How does that even work? The setup is really simple: I select the GameShare option in the main menu of my Switch and then choose the “Accept GameShare” option. If the game on Switch 2 is open, I will be automatically invited to the game.

Local GameShare only works on the Sandbox Island and not in the main world. If you are in the normal game world, GameShare is hidden.

What can I do? The most important thing first: I play Pokopia only indirectly on my Switch, because GameShare is a stream from Switch 2. Nothing is installed or actively downloaded on my old Switch.

Basically, I can move freely in the game world and use various abilities: I can dig up the map, sow plants, and create new habitats. I can also talk to Pokémon and add them to the Pokédex. And I have no movement restrictions: On the co-op island, I can move to the other side of the map without it bothering anyone.

I can explore the world of Pokopia and talk to Pokémon.

Which features are disabled? More or less all features that go beyond these “basics”:

  • Basically, I can only play on the co-op island; I cannot enter the open world.
  • I cannot use the workbench and craft items.
  • I cannot use the Pokémon Center, buy things, or use the PC.
  • I have no access to the Pokédex or the habitats list.
  • I have no way to create or adjust my avatar myself.
  • All items I collect during the game automatically end up in a box at the Pokémon Center.

This includes many core functions. When I play with my wife through GameShare in co-op, I have few opportunities to really participate in the gameplay. I can reshape the landscape and create new habitats, but I cannot really access any content.

Pokopia Switch 1 gameplay limitation Gameshare
Pokémon Pokopia regularly confronts me with the notice that this function is not available via GameShare.

Overall, Pokopia on Switch 1 feels more like a demo: I can walk around the map, use things, and talk to Pokémon, but that’s it. For a “real” co-op mode, that is just a bit too little.

At least: In the proper co-op mode with another Switch 2, the co-op mode is supposed to be much better and less restricted.

More on the topic
A transitional solution was so good that it is still found on many of your laptops 32 years later
von Claudio Niggenkemper
Tech YouTuber wants to know how much distance the gaming PC should really have from the wall, gets help from NASA
von jan hartmayer
User finds a rare AMD graphics card for 15 euros in the thrift store, connects it at home and it actually works
von Claudio Niggenkemper

Pokémon Pokopia is not my first encounter with Pokémon in recent days: Because in Pokémon Go you can now get Mewtwo. For me, that was the opportunity to pull out this app again. The hunt for the well-known pocket monster also had a few other positive side effects: Because I wanted to catch Mewtwo in Pokémon GO, I walked over 30 kilometers in a week and feel really good now.

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

For 15 years, Captain America was just the poster boy of the Avengers, now Marvel finally dares to do more

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

Everyone knows Captain America, but for MeinMMO editor Niko, it lacked substance for years. He often seemed like a clichéd symbol of the USA. However, Marvel gives him a new stage that makes him a damn good character.

The most famous leader of the Avengers is probably also because of the Captain America movies. He entered the MCU in 2011 after Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor. Even though I find him cool in battle and he has a strong dynamic with Bucky, I always felt something was missing.

Captain America was too perfect. The new comic Captain America No. 1 reinterprets the superhero and makes him question his own name.

Captain America (2025) No. 1 was sent to us by Panini as a review copy.

Start video
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier shows the two heroes dealing with the legacy of Captain America

What is the personal legacy?

What is Captain America No. 1 about? With the comic, author Chip Zdarsky (Batman: Failsafe) and artist Valerio Schiti (X-Men: Inferno) are redoing the classic story of Captain America. Just like in the MCU, he awakens in the present world after being frozen in World War II.

His first major threat this time is Doctor Doom and his dictatorship in Latveria. Again, he must come to terms with the new world, which is very different from what it was during World War II. Instead of becoming the leader of the Avengers as in the MCU, he goes back to the US Army, the place that was once so important to him.

But there is also a modern Captain America. Together with him, he embarks on a mission. There, he must not only get used to new methods and threats, but also question what his name and legacy actually mean.

Zdarsky does not just make a simple remake of Captain America; he tests his symbol in this story and thus creates a gripping retelling already in the first volume.

The cover of Captain America (2025) No. 1

Our victory has changed something

Instead of focusing only on Steve Rogers as Captain America, the comic also shows the story of David Colton. He was also a weak guy who desperately wanted to become a soldier to embody justice. He also received the super-soldier serum and became Captain America.

Parallel stories of the two are told: Steve Rogers, how he is adapting to the new time, and David Colton, how the horrors of war also haunt him in modern times. Doctor Doom works pleasantly in the background. It’s not really about him as a villain, but rather about the meaning of peace and of Captain America as a hero of the USA.

Both heroes question peace and the question of how wars can really be ended. In his thoughts, Steve Rogers says during a covert operation: Our victory has changed something. Why does it chill me then? Is it this new idea of freedom? The world… filled with military presence… under constant observation.

These questions feel modern, especially coming from a character like Captain America, who can certainly be described as this military presence in some stories. This elevates the character to a new level and gives me, as a Marvel fan, finally a sense of why he is such a good leader.

It should also be emphasized how Captain America No. 1 works with colors. While the panels in real-time look very bluish and cold, Colton’s flashbacks are yellow-orange in color. This replicates the old look of military films and games from the Xbox 360– and PS3-era, making the implied critique even more tangible.

More on the topic
More on the topic
I’ve always underestimated a Marvel mutant, but through a new story, I’ve come to love them
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
Marvel movies are getting worse, but thanks to 2 subscriptions I have so much fun with superheroes like never before
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
The next great Marvel hero after Captain America is not an American, but a Russian with a beer belly
von Niko Hernes

Heroes are always symbols, and those must be questioned

The actual story with Doctor Doom is okay, and the fights are not bad but also not outstanding. What Zdarsky, along with Schiti, is starting here as a series, however, is a nice example of how to elaborate on and question the symbolism of superheroes.

This way, even the poster boy of the Avengers becomes a character that can still be explored almost 86 years after the first appearance, because even someone like Captain America is not trapped in his time.

How can I read Captain America No. 1? Panini has published the first 3 issues in a German version in a collected volume on January 27, 2026. This is also a good starting point. Otherwise, the series is also available through subscription from Marvel Unlimited and on platforms like Kindle Digital, which are only available in English.

If you are collectors of single issues, you can only get them as imports. Marvel has also given Thor a new series that starts off pretty well, even though it completely rethinks the character and takes away his powers: Without the mighty Mjölnir, Thor is finally a really good superhero in Marvel

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbildquelle: Marvel Entertainment auf YouTube