Getting started in World of Warcraft has never been easier than now

Now is the perfect time to embark on World of Warcraft. Let’s look at why getting started is worthwhile now.

With its lifespan of almost 21 years, World of Warcraft is one of the largest and oldest MMORPGs on the market – and surely the game that everyone has heard of at some point.

  • But hasn’t the train for starting WoW already left?
  • If someone hasn’t played so far, can they still join in?
  • Isn’t it all way too complex and vast, don’t you have to buy dozens of addons?

We want to address the most important reasons why WoW is currently in excellent shape to finally take the plunge into the world of Azeroth. Along the way, we will debunk a few myths and explain why it has never been easier to step into World of Warcraft.

Start video
WoW: The War Within – Forces Within

World of Warcraft – Why Now?

The fact that now is such a good time to start playing World of Warcraft has several reasons.

The best endgame state ever: Especially the endgame of the game, meaning everything you can do at max level, is more diverse and complete than ever before in the history of MMORPGs. Whether you’re interested in large raids, dungeons, or solo content – everything is open and offers appropriate progression. For really good gear, it is no longer necessary to prepare for raids many nights a week. You can also succeed alone or in small groups, and a variety of content offers something for every playstyle.

Good story entry: The story of World of Warcraft can seem relatively confusing and convoluted because it is often told in pieces. The addons are often only loosely connected, and the relevant characters frequently change. With the current addon cycle “Worldsoul Saga,” this is different. The War Within was the beginning of a three-part epic, which will soon continue with “Midnight.” Those who join now can comfortably play the story of The War Within and then almost seamlessly continue with Midnight.

WoW Xalatath Holding with smirk title 1280x720
The story is being well explained, thanks also to the new lore-walking quests.

Preparing for housing: In a few months, the biggest feature ever will start in World of Warcraft: Player housing. This has been requested by many fans for two decades and is finally coming with the new expansion “Midnight.” Even the first preview of the feature makes it clear that it fulfills all dreams and far exceeds the community’s expectations. It could be the most extensive housing ever in an MMORPG and might even overshadow the grand model WildStar.

Level event with a lot of gear: Currently active is the event “Winds of Mysterious Luck”. With this you not only get more experience points but also find additional rewards in many enemies. This ensures that you always wear solid equipment that is appropriate for your level. XP accumulates faster and more efficiently, allowing you to quickly advance to the endgame.

The Grindfest from July 21 to 27
In this week, exciting articles about MMORPGs await you every day. Included: a time travel through the history of online role-playing games, as well as nostalgic retrospectives, streaming evenings, interviews, columns, and analyses.

Here’s the program for the large MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO

Additionally, you can also use the coming days to collect a respectable number of mounts or transmog templates, so your character always has the perfect look. Because until July 29, the event grants you increased drop chances for mounts and transmog rewards. It’s worth diving deep into the variety that WoW has to offer.

A nice side effect: If you farm old dungeons and raids for the rewards, you also earn a nice sum of gold along the way, making your entry into World of Warcraft even easier.

WoW Alexstrasza Blood Elf Cheer title 1280x720
Leveling goes fast – and there’s bonus loot too.

Isn’t it super expensive and do you have to buy a lot?

Anyone looking at the list of addon releases can almost hear their wallet crying. There have been a total of 10 addons for WoW so far – and do you have to buy them all?

No, you don’t. For World of Warcraft, you pay a monthly subscription that costs between 11 and 13 euros.

Note: The subscription fees can theoretically also be paid with earned in-game gold and by purchasing a “WoW” token. However, this is rather unrealistic for newcomers – and would likely reduce the enjoyment of the game since a large part of the time would have to be spent just farming gold.

In addition to the subscription, only the current expansion needs to be purchased. Currently, that would be “The War Within,” in a few months it will switch to “Midnight.”

The next expansion is already almost at the starting line.

The costs for WoW thus amount to 13 euros per month, and roughly every two years a new expansion needs to be purchased for €50 – €60.

Considering that some people have over 720 days of pure playtime in WoW – that’s over 17,000 hours – one can spend a lot of time in the game and be well entertained for the invested money.

What’s not going so smoothly?

Although World of Warcraft is currently in very good shape, there are still a few issues.

Especially leveling for new accounts – without the currently running event “Winds of Mysterious Luck” – can be difficult because players are forced to level their first character in “Dragonflight” and may encounter an item bottleneck that slows down progress. Although this is currently being corrected by the running leveling event, Blizzard still needs to find a long-term solution.

WoW Blood Elf Angry Orc Laugh title 1280x720
The toxic community – it exists, but it is no bigger or smaller than in other games. You have to filter.

Moreover, there is often criticism regarding the “toxic community.” However, it must be said rather neutrally that the WoW community is hardly different from other MMORPG communities.

It is definitely worth looking for a guild that plays on the same wavelength early on. This significantly reduces the chance of getting into conflicts. Some veterans, who have been playing for 21 years, often lack the necessary patience for newcomers – but at the same time, as a newcomer, you should not be rushed and explore everything at your own pace.

It usually helps tremendously if you clearly communicate that you are new to the game. The willingness to help is then significantly greater when everyone knows that you are simply new to Azeroth.

Essentially, when you start WoW, you should mainly enjoy the time. There is almost an endless amount to discover, and the magic of the first weeks quickly fades if you spend too much time with guides, tips, and instructions from other players.

Explore Azeroth at your own pace, take a closer look at what you like. You’ll have all the time in the world later for guides and data simulations when you delve into the depths of the endgame.
But be warned: once you start with WoW, you will be trapped in the 10 phases of every WoW player forever.

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

Players are according to Ubisoft “very sensitive to” the quality of the games, your comments should be a risk factor

In a new financial report, Ubisoft explains to its investors which risks can lead games to fail, and your feedback is part of that.

What kind of report is this? As a major gaming company, Ubisoft is also publicly traded. This means that anyone who wants to can purchase shares of the company. In order for shareholders to know which risks affect the company and how it is currently performing, the company regularly publishes new financial reports.

The current report (via Ubisoft.com) goes into great detail regarding the risks of developing new games. Your expectations and feedback are one of many reasons that can lead a new game to fail.

Start video
Insider says: Ubisoft has only one chance in 2025 – and the future of the company could be decided as early as next month

Many risks in game development

Which risks stand out? Ubisoft addresses many of the risks in game development in its report (via Ubisoft.com). It describes that simultaneous releases, issues with server providers, or new legislation pose risks for new titles.

Some of the risks, the company writes, also lie with the player. The company states in the financial report: “In a highly competitive environment where players pay much attention to the quality and content of the games, the success of a video game depends as much on the efficiency of its development process as it does on its market release.”

Furthermore, Ubisoft mentions factors that should not suit you in new titles. These include bugs and poor (server) performance in the first hours of gameplay, promises that did not make it into the final game, lower quality of the title than previously communicated, or when the competition offers a comparable, better product.

Even when games are released too early and are not yet refined, or when they are sold too expensively, Ubisoft claims that this can lead to problems with the community.

What impact do comments have? If something about the title does not suit you for any of the reasons mentioned above, or even for a completely different issue, you let Ubisoft know. Accordingly, comments from players, videos from influencers, or poor reviews from the press are another risk factor for Ubisoft.

Similarly, the launch of a video game can be affected by […] negative reviews, whether from the press or from players, which are amplified through social media and review platforms, potentially damaging the game’s image or even the brand’s reputation.

Ubisoft in its financial report at Ubisoft.com

Above all, the so-called “bashing” is a risk for Ubisoft. This does not refer to individual or constructive critiques, but rather to “massive, often intense, and organized campaigns of criticism against its [Ubisoft’s] products, teams, or public statements”.

These frequently occur “in social media, on content-sharing platforms, or in certain specialized media, particularly following strategic decisions, technical issues with games, or statements perceived as controversial by certain segments of the public,” Ubisoft writes in the report (via Ubisoft.com).

According to Ubisoft, “the changed perception of the video game industry as a cultural and artistic medium […] has also led to an increase in criticism [of Ubisoft]”.

Ubisoft sees its analysis accordingly considering shitstorms as a risk, which, according to the report, can not only damage a game release but, in the worst case, also harm Ubisoft’s image. These could diminish customers’, business partners’, and other stakeholders’ impressions of the brand, Ubisoft writes.

Ubisoft clearly describes in its report that the video game market is changing and that buyers are becoming more sensitive about which products they buy and when a title becomes successful. Just recently, Ubisoft ensured further fan outrage: Gamers are currently upset with Ubisoft because they demand that you destroy games – but that is common practice

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

CEO of Twitch hosts own charity stream, ignores “the most basic rules of Twitch etiquette”

On Twitch, there are various things that are not fundamentally forbidden but are received negatively by the majority of the community. The CEO of Twitch is now being criticized for self-promotion, even though he did it for a good cause.

What did the Twitch CEO promote? On July 19, Dan Clancy, the CEO of Twitch, held his own stream as part of the GCX Charity Marathon. Between July 14 and 21, various Twitch streamers streamed and raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As of the latest update (July 21, 2025, 11:06), the charity event has generated over $355,000 in donations.

Before his stream, the CEO promoted it, but not through booked campaigns or partnerships, rather in the chats of other streamers. This does not sit well with many, as it breaks one of Twitch’s most important etiquettes.

Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google

Twitch CEO makes shameless self-promotion

How did he self-promote? Zach Bussey, a news channel about Twitch and streamers, posted a chat excerpt on x.com. There, a user named DJClancy writes: I shamelessly go into the chats of streamers I know to ask for raids when they are done. DJClancy is Dan Clancy’s channel. In the screenshot, you can even see that the CEO received a Timeout.

In his own stream (via Twitch), around 00:25:00, you can also see him reading the message aloud before seemingly posting it in other chats.

Zach Bussey comments: This is so disrespectful and ignores the most basic rules of Twitch etiquette. (Source: x.com).

Dexerto reports that this message was likely posted to at least 5 streamers, including Gassymexican and Fanfan.

Is this forbidden? Generally not. Self-promotion in the streams of others, such as asking for raids or viewers, is not forbidden according to Twitch’s guidelines. However, if such messages accumulate, it could quickly be considered spam, which would indeed be forbidden on Twitch.

Besides that, this form of self-promotion is not well-seen by the Twitch community.

How does the community react? The community strongly criticizes this self-promotion, especially the irony that it comes from the CEO himself. There is considerable criticism from Twitch streamer Gothalion (Source: x.com). He questions why the CEO did not proactively prepare collaborations with companies or crossovers with other streamers. Other users also comment under the tweet, wondering if the CEO of Twitch should not have significantly more options to generate attention.

So far, neither Dan Clancy nor Twitch has commented on this. In the past, Clancy regularly appeared publicly to present new features on Twitch, which previously led to a bizarre situation: CEO wants to show a new feature of Twitch but only finds half-naked women in the feed – This is how he explains it

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

A Chinese anime is celebrated for its animations, but the author had to make “painful compromises”.

Lord of the Mysteries is an anime from China (Donghua) that recently launched in Germany. It was celebrated beforehand for its animation, but there is one drawback.

What kind of “anime” is this? In the Donghua, Zhou Mingrui lives in modern-day China, but is reborn in the body of Klein Moretti due to an incident. Klein lives in a world that could originate from Victorian England in the 19th century. There are steam engines, warships, and other traces of the emerging industrialization everywhere.

This world is inhabited by Beyonders. These are people who gain superhuman abilities by drinking special potions. There is a complex system with 22 paths, divided into tiers of power. 

Klein must discover how he died and what the Beyonders have to do with it. The anime was already celebrated beforehand for its animation, which is said to have an even higher frame rate than Solo Leveling. However, there is also a drawback for which the screenwriter apologizes.

Start video
Lord of the Mysteries: Trailer for the Donghua with great animations

Lord of the Mysteries goes too fast

What is the drawback? Gideon-Liu is the screenwriter of Lord of the Mysteries. He recently admitted on social media that he is not as satisfied with the first three episodes as he is with the rest of the Chinese anime.

The reason for this is the approach in anime, as often the first three episodes determine how good a series is and whether viewers stay engaged (via X):

The script is an art bound to certain requirements, and the end of the clown fight in episode 3 was a tough assignment. This corresponds to the widely accepted “three-episode rule,” according to which viewers judge anime/Donghua.

Of course, one regrets the first three episodes – painful compromises had to be made. Personally, I am more satisfied with episodes 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Regarding difficulty, episode 1 was by far the hardest.

In the first three episodes, the pacing of the developments is said to be much too fast for some viewers. On X, some fans write that they found the story too rushed. However, with the quick handling in the first three episodes, fans know right away what awaits them with the Donghua.

Gideon-Liu can at least reassure that the pacing slows down again from episode 4. This way, viewers can enjoy the story of Lord of the Mysteries at a suitable pace. If you watch the series, you should keep this in mind.

Chinese animes are becoming increasingly popular. To Be Hero X also comes from the country. The series has the unique feature that fans can already help determine how the Donghua will continue. You can find out how this is arranged here: In a new series, you can decide how strong the characters are for season 2

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

In einem neuen RPG spielt ihr einen Fuchs, der aus dem Knast ausbricht, bekommt Traumwertungen auf Steam

In the role-playing game “Back to the Dawn” on Steam, you are transported as a fox into a high-security prison and must escape. The game is well-received by many gamers and receives positive reviews.

What kind of game is this? Back to the Dawn is a story-driven RPG with stealth, puzzle, and point-and-click elements, in which you take on the role of an unjustly imprisoned animal journalist or a secret agent. The two are represented by an anthropomorphic fox and a panther. The other inmates are also inspired by animals.

The RPG is set in a high-security prison from which you want to escape. Your task is to find evidence of your innocence, build relationships with fellow inmates, pit factions against each other, and ultimately find a way to freedom, be it through escape, influence, or violence.

The title launched on November 3, 2023, in Early Access and celebrated its full release on July 18, 2025. Since then, around 9,162 players have joined the adventure simultaneously (see SteamDB, as of July 21, 2025, 11:00 AM). Until July 31, 2025, you can purchase it at a discounted price of €16.57, after which it will increase to the regular €19.50.

The gameplay resembles classic RPGs, focusing on sometimes consequential decisions. How you proceed, who you ally with, and which skills you develop greatly influence the course of the story. Whether through stealth, manipulation, or brute force, any means is fair as long as it brings you closer to the truth.

A concept that obviously resonates well not only with critics but has also sneaked into the hearts of many players.

You can get a first impression in the launch trailer:

Start video
Launch trailer for Back to the Dawn shows prison escape in fox fur on Steam

“This game is the best RPG I’ve played in the last few years, except maybe Baldur’s Gate 3”

How is the game received? Even during its time in Early Access, Back to the Dawn was able to gain many positive voices. It won the Steam Silver Award in 2023 as the top Early Access title of the year (see Steam). It has also received several awards, nominations, and finalist positions in the indie sector.

The reviews on Steam come with stellar ratings. Around 92% of all reviews (currently about 4,825, as of July 21, 2025, 11:15 AM) are positive, giving the game an overall rating of “very positive.” The critical focal point is often the time management feature, which some find stressful. Others see it as an incentive to replay the game more frequently:

  • The Hungry Werewolf writes, for example: “The time limit isn’t scary; it just means that you can do different things on repeat playthroughs, and I think that’s great. And otherwise? Yes, the game is really fun.”
  • shaosc3 praises: “This game is the best RPG I’ve played in the last few years, except maybe Baldur’s Gate 3.”
  • Ironbound describes: “I stumbled upon this gem by chance and can’t recommend it enough. Imagine Prison Architect crossed with Disco Elysium and a touch of Zootopia. It’s packed with deep RPG mechanics, a great story, and solid gameplay. Ridiculously cheap for what you get. I absolutely love it.”
  • SoulessBlade criticizes: “The game is really good so far, but the time limit ruins all the tension for me.”
  • grubby justin makes you think: “I appreciate the work and quality of the game, but I’m not a big fan of the time management aspect. The rest of the game seems great, but this element just makes it too stressful and takes the fun away for me. However, if you don’t mind the time management, I can recommend the game 100%.”

Also, there are currently some indie gems on Steam that you can purchase at a lower price and have a lot of fun with if you like the premise and gameplay. There is also a survival hit currently on sale, which recently received a successful new expansion: Complex survival game on Steam is 97% positive, has a big discount just in time for the new expansion

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

Bungie is said to have secretly weakened the Guardians in Destiny 2, clarifying now why some changes are missing in the patch notes

The new expansion of Destiny 2 brought many changes, but some of them that fans have discovered were not listed in the patch notes. Fans believe that Bungie is hiding something, but now a studio employee is clarifying.

What was “hidden”? When the new expansion “Beyond Fate” was released, guardians noticed that some changes made by Bungie were not recorded in the patch notes (Source: Reddit). Many guardians referred to these as “Stealth Nerfs”, which means changes that are concealed because they could weaken the guardians and cause turmoil.

While Bungie had already spoken out in some Reddit posts to clarify the accusations, there is now a large, final statement from Principal Communications Manager dmg04 explaining what these nerfs are all about.

Start video
The launch trailer of “The Edge of Fate” showcases the new expansion of Destiny 2

The patch notes were gigantic

What did dmg04 have to announce? The Principal Communications Manager addressed Reddit with a huge statement regarding the accusations of stealth nerfs. First, he wants to apologize on behalf of the studio for the stealth nerfs that have occurred in the past. The team is working to improve the processes so that this never happens again.

However, dmg04 indicated that this is not a case of stealth nerfs but rather an oversight. There was a gigantic list of patch notes, and some points were overlooked and not recorded.

The following is what dmg04 announced on Reddit: “This was one of the (if not THE) longest patch note submissions we ever had, and although we hoped we addressed all points, we admit that we overlooked some important ones.”

The team is now working on listing the missed changes and explaining them to the fans. However, dmg04 cannot yet say when exactly this will happen.

What do fans say about the statement? They thank dmg04 for the update and information, but they are unsure how such significant changes can be released under the radar of Bungie without any of the developers noticing. They are skeptical and let their opinions run wild on Reddit:

  • “So all Warlock nerfs were ‘missed changes’? Didn’t anyone notice that the Warlock range was incredibly short when all these nerfs were planned? Sure. And are the values that don’t work as explicitly promised (new 70=old 100) just a typo?” – AWildeOscarAppeared
  • It’s crazy to think that things that were supposedly meant to be buffed for Warlocks are actually nerfs. How could that be overlooked? – HamiltonDial
  • “There are practically never stealth buffs that are ‘missed’ in the patch notes. It is always stealth nerfs that are ‘missed’. Strange how that works.” – tintedlenz
  • “It’s an accident if it happens once or twice, but this is routine. The communication between teams is fundamentally broken at best, or it is being deliberately hidden because they know it will have negative consequences in the worst case.” – catchemist117

In addition to the nerfs, there was also a new campaign with “Beyond Fate”. For many fans, a reason to check back in – but how good is it really from a gameplay perspective? Our shooter expert Dariusz took a look at it: Beyond Fate is a great expansion for Destiny 2 – unless you’re hardcore gamers like me

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

Eines der erfolgreichsten MMORPGs aller Zeiten verzichtet jetzt auf ein Feature, das an einigen Problemen des Genres schuld sein soll

The developers of Old School RuneScape are embarking on an experiment and removing a feature from some servers of the popular MMORPG, which has many fans but also many critics.

What is this feature? It involves the ability to apply cosmetic skins over the actual equipment, allowing players to customize their character’s appearance without having to adjust their strength. In WoW, this feature is referred to as Transmogrification and was introduced with the Cataclysm expansion in patch 4.3.

This is exactly the feature that the developers of Old School RuneScape wish to forgo in an upcoming experiment. Specifically, there will be “Cosmetic-Free Worlds” from July 28 to September 30, where cosmetic adjustments for equipment, icons, teleportations, animations, and other areas will not be visible.

Pets will also not be available on these servers. A complete list of the restrictions can be found on runescape.com.

The Steam trailer for Old School RuneScape:

Start video
Old School RuneScape – Trailer for the Steam Release

What is the goal of the experiment? The developers have repeatedly received feedback from the community that cosmetic items negatively impact the personal gaming experience. Through the test, the team wants to find out:

  • What does the game feel like without the currently available cosmetics?
  • Which cosmetics are missed or appreciated as visible?
  • What are the players’ thoughts on the visual identity and style of the game when only the “more realistic” items are present from the gameplay?
  • How many players use the cosmetic-free worlds, how many return to the cosmetic-free worlds, and how long do they play on these?
A high for the 12-year-old MMORPG: According to ChaseYoungHTTR, there were 200,000 players online in Old School RuneScape simultaneously over the weekend (July 19-20, 2025) (via Reddit). Currently, according to runescape.com, there are still strong 122,544 (July 21, 2025, 9:52 AM). Additionally, Old School RuneScape consistently ranks among the 10 MMORPGs on Steam with the best ratings.

Clothes make the man, and brings money

Why can cosmetics be a problem in MMORPGs? Before the ability to apply cosmetic items over the actual equipment of a character, many avatars looked similar; however, it was possible to directly see which content they had played and which challenges they had mastered. Some players miss this visual feedback.

Additionally, many MMORPGs have started to closely tie cosmetics to their monetization with the introduction of these items. While Pay2Win or Pay2Progress offers that directly affect progress or character strength continue to be strongly criticized, the sale of cosmetic items has become widespread.

This also means that designers spend a lot of time designing cosmetic skins to attract as many players to the shop as possible. The appearance of earnable clothes often suffers as a result. In some MMORPGs, even high-level heroes wear better rags until they invest money in the shop. This devalues every item they can earn in the game.

Unfortunately, the sale of cosmetic goods generates so much money in many games that hardly any developer will be willing to give it up in the future. After all, there are more than enough players who are eager to visually customize their characters. Additionally, many genre fans prefer a Free2Play model. They can much more easily live with cosmetic sales than with Pay2Win or Pay2Progress.

Therefore, it is all the more surprising that the developer Jagex is implementing this experiment to scrutinize cosmetic items. That changes are expected at RuneScape under the new CEO have been clear since June: MMORPG primarily financed through microtransactions, but they are not well received – developers explain that they want to make changes

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

One third of Gen Z is afraid of making phone calls: Google wants to take advantage of this fear to make money

Young people fear phone calls. And Google sees this as a potential business opportunity to make money. To address this, they offer a new digital assistant that young people are supposed to use to get tasks done.

About a third of young people between 18 and 34 fear phone calls. This is mainly because many young people fear receiving bad news:

  • 23% of 18 to 34-year-olds never answer a phone call.
  • About 61% of this age group prefer to receive a message rather than a voice call.
  • More than half of 18 to 24-year-olds believe that a call out of the blue means bad news.

Google sees a new business opportunity in these concerns to attract new customers to its platform.

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

Virtual Assistant to Reserve Restaurants or Cancel Doctor Appointments

What does Google do? Google aims to provide young people with a new way to engage in so-called asynchronous communication. To this end, Google intends to offer a new digital assistant. This has been reported by the English-language magazine Fastcompany.com.

The idea behind this digital agent is that Google’s artificial intelligence calls a restaurant to reserve a table, cancel the next doctor’s appointment, or simply have a quick chat with a business. So far, the concept is only available in the United States.

When and if this feature will come to Germany is not yet known. Initially, the feature is supposed to be available only in the USA. However, it could well be that in the future you will hear not a person, but an AI on the other end of the line.

A trend seems to be particularly popular among young people of Gen Z: job ghosting. This is indicated by survey data from a platform that questioned applicants and companies: 78% of all applicants are said to have intentionally ignored the employer: Gen Z has a popular trend: They do not attend job interviews

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

The History of MMORPGs – From Habitat to Throne and Liberty, and Everything in Between

The roots of the MMORPG genre run deeper than you might think. Join us on a journey through the history of online role-playing games – from the 1960s to 2025! You’ll encounter the most significant milestones, remarkable curiosities, and exciting analyses!

MMORPGs, or “Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games”, are online role-playing games that immerse you in their respective persistent worlds where you can encounter a large number of other players. The term “persistent” specifically refers to the progress of your character as well as the game world, which continues to exist even when you are offline.

When players today discuss the beginnings of the MMORPG genre, titles like Meridian 59 and The Realm Online from 1996 or Ultima Online, which was released in 1997, quickly come to mind. However, the roots of online role-playing games go much deeper. They trace back to the 1960s.

In the following, we want to take you on a journey through the history of MMORPGs. From their beginnings to the current status today. We focus on the defining milestones, important games, and remarkable curiosities. You’ll learn how the genre has changed over the decades.

The Grinding Fest from July 21 to 27
This week, exciting articles about MMORPGs will be waiting for you every day. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, as well as nostalgic looks back, streaming evenings, interviews, columns, and analyses.

Here’s the program for the big MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO

You can easily jump to the sections you are interested in via the table of contents:

[toc]

Students set the spark … out of boredom

In the early 1960s, the University of Illinois introduced the teaching and learning system “PLATO” (via Wikipedia), which had communication functions that were later developed into emails, chat rooms, remote screen transmissions, and more.

Bored students, however, used PLATO to connect via the network to engage in simple battles together or against each other. Later networks like Arpanet (via Wikipedia) built on this and enabled the development of the first multiplayer games such as Maze War, which originated in 1974 at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

This first milestone offered a graphical, virtual 3D maze that players explored from a first-person perspective. And not alone, but with other players who were sitting at other PCs within the network. Such a thing had never been seen before!

Our MMORPG talk from Caggtus 2025:

Start video
MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz and MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski discuss the current state of MMORPGs

MUDs – the Multi-User Dungeons conquer the universities

Maze War was the predecessor of the so-called MUDs, i.e. Multi-User Dungeons. These are games that allow multiple adventurers to explore some form of dungeon or virtual world simultaneously. The first of its kind, MUD1, emerged in the late 1970s. The focus was still on social interaction. Up to 36 players could play at the same time.

In the 80s, the new genre gained significant popularity as affordable home computers became available. At the same time, the first commercial projects came onto the market. Among them was the text adventure Sceptre of Goth, released in 1983, which was based on the popular pen-and-paper role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, bringing up to 16 players into the dungeons at the same time and even offered PvP. The cost: just under 3 US dollars per hour.

Lucasfilm Games as a Technical Innovator
Today, when one hears of Lucasfilm Games or LucasArts, one immediately thinks of various Star Wars games or adventure classics like Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

However, even before all these renowned milestones, George Lucas’s video game division had already established a name as a technically adept game studio. An example of this is the online RPG Habitat, which was released in the USA from 1986 to 1988 as a beta version for QuantumLink (an online service for the Commodore 64) and was then referred to as a “virtual online environment with multiple participants.”

Habitat is considered the first MMORPG with a graphical interface, reminiscent of the style of Maniac Mansion or Labyrinth. There were customizable avatars, text chat, quests, trading of goods, marriage communities, and much more. Those who want to learn more and see screenshots from the game should definitely visit c64-wiki.de.

Another commercial but graphical multi-user dungeon came out in 1985 and is called Island of Kesmai. The game featured character creation (choosing class, race, and gender) and a chat room. In the virtual world, consisting of 5 regions with 62,000 locations, up to 100 players could roam simultaneously.

Additionally, there were about 2,500 creatures as well as NPCs. Rewards could be earned through quests. The MUD utilized ASCII graphics to represent player characters, world boundaries, opponents, and loot. Interested players could experience Island of Kesmai through the CompuServe online service, for about 12 US dollars per hour.

The first believable online worlds

In 1989, the text-based online RPG Avalon: The Legend Lives was released, featuring remarkable systems for economy, agriculture, and jobs. On top of that, there was a player-controlled government, with ministers and elections, as well as conquest battles involving entire legions, trenches, minefields, and fortifications.

In short: The developer aimed to create a believable world in which players could lead a virtual life (via Wikipedia). Avalon: The Legend Lives was thus an evolution of Habitat from 1986, which hit a similar note and offered many freedoms. So many that gangs and in-game organizations quickly formed.

Also noteworthy from this time is Kingdom of Drakkar, which emerged in 1989 from the text-based MUD Realm from 1984, and attracted players with 2D graphics. Players could choose between races as well as classes and genders. There was loot. PvP was possible, but prohibited.

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

Player in Dune: Awakening creates their own Pikachu, lets it be eaten by the greedy sandworm

In Dune: Awakening, there are many creative builders showcasing their skills in impressive constructions. One has expressed themselves in a way that is typically seen only in Minecraft.

What kind of artwork is this? In Dune: Awakening, a player recently got quite creative. With the limited options provided by the survival game, the builder created a canvas along with a large artwork. For this, they placed various light blocks in the shape of a big wall.

To turn the wall into a piece of art, the player used various blocks such as windows, chests, or shields for the eyes.

As artwork, they created a Pikachu from Pokémon, behind which the Shai-Hulud, the giant sandworm, is sneaking up and already opening its mouth to devour the Pokémon immediately.

Here you can see the Reddit video where the builder presents their canvas:

Recommended editorial content

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

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

No Prize Despite Creativity

Can he achieve something with his artwork? Currently, the first major community event from the developers is running in Dune: Awakening. Players are to showcase their skills and build beautiful bases for the Harkonnen and Atreides factions, or create a neutral base.

Under the Reddit post from the user, some are encouraging him to enter his artwork in the building competition, but the artist declines. He believes his canvas is beautiful, but does not fit the theme of a faction base.

Nevertheless, the players encourage him to submit his creative artwork to at least receive the weapon skin as a reward for an honorable mention from the developers. However, whether the player complied with the request remains unanswered.

Here you can see what the future holds for Dune: Awakening:

Will the player create more artworks? He is not sure, as another artwork would mean the destruction of the Pikachu. The player writes on Reddit that he only has three building spots, and two of them are needed for bases in the Hagga Basin and the Deep Desert.

To create a new artwork, he would therefore have to destroy the old one, and he himself states that he does not know if he could bring himself to do this. Creating another artwork would also be expensive, as the player utilized all maximum possible expansions of the bases to construct the Pikachu in the sight of the sandworm.

The new building competition of Dune: Awakening attracts many creative architects from their bases to show how well they can truly build. Those who want to participate in the building competition to snag one of the prizes should not take too long: The developers of Dune: Awakening are awarding the first weapon skin only to creative builders, causing some trouble

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

An unpopular arc from One Piece becomes important for the big finale, as many fans have overlooked it

One Piece is a long-running anime and has some arcs that are considered filler. However, with the new chapter, one of the filler arcs suddenly becomes important.

Which arc is it about? In the “Long Ring Long Land” arc, the Straw Hat Pirates must compete against the Fox Pirates in a Davy Back Fight. This is a competition in which two different pirate crews participate. The captain of one crew challenges the captain of another. If the challenge is accepted, there is a competition over three rounds.

The challenger determines how the individual games of the competition will look. The loser of the Davy Back Fight loses a member of their crew to the other team. Foxy and Luffy face off in such a competition in the anime. However, Luffy must realize that Foxy does not play fair.

The arc is considered one of the least popular storylines among fans. Even we at MeinMMO actually recommend that you don’t watch the arc if you just want to see the main story. But the new chapter shows that even such an insignificant arc can suddenly become important.

Start video
One Piece Film: Gold – The trailer for the anime movie

Unpopular arc becomes important for brutal pirates

Why is it suddenly important? In the new chapter, the background of Rocks D. Xebec is revealed. He collected his crew through such Davy Back Fights by winning the battles and taking members from the opposing team. 

This is how he built one of the most powerful crews. These include:

  • Whitebeard
  • Kaido
  • Big Mom
  • Buckingham Stussy
  • Shiki

Those who have watched the filler know how such battles work and that they can be unfair. But don’t worry: You don’t necessarily have to catch up on the filler arc. 

Do I need to catch up on the arc now? The manga briefly explains how a Davy Back Fight works and how Rocks got his pirate crew. It is also suggested that the pirates do not care about the life of their captain. With this, you know the essentials needed for the story. However, if you want to learn more about these battles, feel free to watch the arc.

Those who watch the storyline as an anime will also discover a particularly funny mistake. One of the Straw Hat Pirates has suddenly doubled, if you look closely: Anime from One Piece contains a mistake – You suddenly see a popular character double

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

Join our survey: Which announced MMORPG are you looking forward to the most?

Although new releases for the MMORPG genre are currently scarce, there are various exciting titles with a lot of potential on the list of online role-playing games that are currently in development. To kick off the MMORPG theme week on MeinMMO, we want to know which upcoming MMORPG you are looking forward to the most.

The most beautiful adventures of our favorite MMORPGs will eventually run out. But the next world is already eagerly waiting to be discovered by you. 

Do you want to dive into a beautiful and large world like in Ashes of Creation or would you rather become the next hero in small indie projects? The future for the MMORPG genre looks exciting, with new games for well-known franchises, as well as completely new worlds. As part of our MMORPG theme week, we want to know which upcoming MMORPG you are particularly looking forward to.

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

Here you can find the program for the big MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO

Which MMORPGs are available for selection? We have compiled a list of the officially announced MMORPGs for you. Some of them will be released this year or are already available in an early access version.

Others, like the Warhammer MMORPG by Jack Emmert or the “League of Legends” MMO, which is taking longer than expected, will likely remain in development for quite some time.

Start video
The MMORPG Chrono Odyssey shows next-gen graphics in the trailer

We want to hear your opinion

Each of you probably has an MMORPG you are waiting for. But which of the announced MMORPGs can you hardly sit still for? Choose an online role-playing game of the future that you are particularly looking forward to!

Feel free to tell us in the comments why you are looking forward to certain MMORPGs or why you are skeptical about them. You can also mention online role-playing games that you are really excited about, but which we haven’t included on our list.

MMORPGs can be quite a hurdle for new players and can feel overwhelming due to the plethora of content. Thus, it is even more important to get a good introduction to the genre without wanting to flee immediately. MeinMMO has introduced you to 5 MMORPGs to get started in order to get to know the genre: The 5 best MMORPGs for beginners

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

Warhammer 40,000 now offers wearable helmets from Space Marines, the first comes directly from a well-known hero

Games Workshop has announced several new products for Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 – including something that hasn’t existed before: helmets. And they’re not just for decoration; they actually work. A whole series is planned, but even the first one is likely to excite fans.

This is what Games Workshop has presented:

  • At the Summer Preview on July 18, 2025, the creators of Warhammer showcased a ton of new products for the world, the tabletop, and everything around it – including an army of evil dwarves that is causing excitement.
  • In addition to new figures, which is what Warhammer is primarily known for, there was also a very special announcement: a wearable helmet.
  • In collaboration with JoyToy, Games Workshop is releasing Space Marine helmets with some features that can actually be worn. The first one presented belongs to a legendary man.
Warhammer 40k titus helm

This is the helmet: The piece is inspired by the helmet of the legendary Lieutenant Titus, the hero from Space Marine 2. Titus was with the Deathwatch for a while, but the design is based on his original armor.

Accordingly, the helmet is in the colors of the Ultramarines, the chapter to which Titus belongs: the base is blue, adorned with white stripes and a red line in the middle – so the color combination for a lieutenant. In the center, a silver skull is prominently displayed.

Although the helmet is meant to be a decorative item, it can actually be worn, for example, at conventions. The eyes light up when powered by an integrated compartment with AAA batteries, and the helmet itself is adjustable with a headband.

There should even be enough space under the helmet to wear in-ear headphones if you want to game in cosplay, as suggested by Games Workshop. For the nerds: the model is a type X “Tacticus” helmet.

Normally, fans have to build their helmets themselves:

Start video
Twitch: HandofBlood throws himself into a special outfit for Space Marine 2

Titus’ helmet is just the first of many

Together with the helmet, you can purchase a stand on which to display the armor piece, complete with Ultramarines emblem and decoration. In the official store, you can already pre-order the helmet for the proud price of €159.99 in a bundle with a shirt. We don’t yet know the delivery dates.

According to Games Workshop, more helmets are planned, likely from other chapters of the Space Marines – there are plenty of them and each has its fans. Which helmets will come next and when is still unknown.

There haven’t been any major reactions to the helmet yet, but cosplay is a big topic in the community. In particular, helmets seem to be in demand; one user on Reddit has a whole collection of them.

At the moment, Games Workshop is presenting a ton of new products, alongside the helmet from Titus and the Chaos Dwarves, such as the Idoneth Deepkin for Age of Sigmar and new armies, models, and rules for all existing realms.

However, the focus is primarily on Age of Sigmar and the Horus Heresy, which has recently received many new contents. Just a few weeks before the Summer Preview, Games Workshop presented Saturnine armors from the time of the Great Brother War and set new standards: Warhammer 40,000 shows how absurd the world can really become, introducing almost colossal Space Marines

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

New boss in WoW copies Final Fantasy: “We are so screwed”

The next big raid boss in World of Warcraft takes inspiration from Final Fantasy. But fans are celebrating it: “Finally a real boss fight!”

The next big boss in World of Warcraft is Dimensius. He is a Lord of the Void and essentially the first and so far only Lord of the Void that we have really interacted with. He is the central antagonist in Patch 11.2 Spirits of K’aresh. However, he brings something that fans of Final Fantasy are likely to recognize – but that makes the fight even better in the eyes (and ears) of many fans.

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

What has been released? In the latest version of the PTR (Test Server) for Patch 11.2, many pieces of music have been added. This includes the musical accompaniment for the boss fight against Dimensius. To summarize the voices from the community: What bangers.

For the fight against Dimensius, a total of 30 minutes of music is available, divided into 14 individual pieces. Even though the songs are all very similar, there are fine differences – some pieces sound a bit more hopeful, while others sound significantly more negative.

What’s exciting here is that the music is not just “ambient” music that plays quietly in the background – rather, choirs are employed that do nothing but sing the name of the boss.

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 do the lyrics sound like? It is quite difficult to make out the exact lyrics of the music without official lyrics, as the singing is often drowned out by the instruments. However, the repeatedly sung name of the boss, Dimensius, can be clearly heard. Additionally, the Latin words “Mundus Devora,” which roughly translates to “Devour the World” – very fitting for someone who calls himself “Dimensius, the Devourer of All.”

Where does this music genre come from? That the actual boss music consists of a choir singing the name of the boss is something that gaming veterans will recognize, especially from JRPGs. Particularly Final Fantasy VII with the fight against Sephiroth and the – absolutely legendary – soundtrack “One Winged Angel” is likely burned into the memory of most players.

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

Community reacts enthusiastically: The new music style is being received extremely well by fans, at least in the WoW Subreddit.

  • “Holy shit, Dimensius 12 is REAL raid boss music.” – P-Two
  • “Yeah, you just know you have lost when the boss music sings the name of the boss in chorus.” – Xeroticz
  • “I think Dimensius 12 is one of the best, if not the best piece of music ever in World of Warcraft.” – DELUXExSUPREME
  • “A full orchestra, a choir singing… random things in Latin?? Yes, we are totally screwed.” – Paraxon

What is clear is that Blizzard is taking a different direction with the music, possibly just as a trial. That something can be extremely successful and engrave itself into the memories of fans is not just the case with Final Fantasy, but was also popular with Baldur’s Gate 3. There, the devil himself sang his own boss music.

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

LoL player plays WoW for the first time, is angry about how much was “stolen” – user responds: “Better not tell him anything about Warhammer”

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

The discussion, however, goes even further in the whole thread, and especially further back, because according to fans, Warcraft itself was not even the beginning of the whole story – but Warhammer.

… and without Warhammer, there would be no Warcraft

Several users discuss in a lengthy comment thread about the origins of the whole thing. Much of what you know from Warcraft is very similar to content from Warhammer. A user compares:

  • Zergs are like Tyranids
  • Protoss are like Eldar
  • and Space Marines are… like Space Marines

By the way, Space Marines themselves had a precursor: Thunder Warriors, who were already genetically enhanced superhumans, but too unstable.

Even the units of the fantasy world are partially identical. This is because Blizzard once wanted to have a license for a Warhammer game but did not get it. As a consequence, they simply made their own game, but kept the already created designs.

It wasn’t quite like that, though. A developer explains: Allen Adham, one of the founders of Blizzard – then still Silicon & Synapse –, genuinely wanted to make a Warhammer game. However, the studio had previously released two licensed games with moderate success. Many developers resisted the idea and pushed to create their own world: Warcraft.

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

The discussion, however, goes even further in the whole thread, and especially further back, because according to fans, Warcraft itself was not even the beginning of the whole story – but Warhammer.

… and without Warhammer, there would be no Warcraft

Several users discuss in a lengthy comment thread about the origins of the whole thing. Much of what you know from Warcraft is very similar to content from Warhammer. A user compares:

  • Zergs are like Tyranids
  • Protoss are like Eldar
  • and Space Marines are… like Space Marines

By the way, Space Marines themselves had a precursor: Thunder Warriors, who were already genetically enhanced superhumans, but too unstable.

Even the units of the fantasy world are partially identical. This is because Blizzard once wanted to have a license for a Warhammer game but did not get it. As a consequence, they simply made their own game, but kept the already created designs.

It wasn’t quite like that, though. A developer explains: Allen Adham, one of the founders of Blizzard – then still Silicon & Synapse –, genuinely wanted to make a Warhammer game. However, the studio had previously released two licensed games with moderate success. Many developers resisted the idea and pushed to create their own world: Warcraft.

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

The discussion, however, goes even further in the whole thread, and especially further back, because according to fans, Warcraft itself was not even the beginning of the whole story – but Warhammer.

… and without Warhammer, there would be no Warcraft

Several users discuss in a lengthy comment thread about the origins of the whole thing. Much of what you know from Warcraft is very similar to content from Warhammer. A user compares:

  • Zergs are like Tyranids
  • Protoss are like Eldar
  • and Space Marines are… like Space Marines

By the way, Space Marines themselves had a precursor: Thunder Warriors, who were already genetically enhanced superhumans, but too unstable.

Even the units of the fantasy world are partially identical. This is because Blizzard once wanted to have a license for a Warhammer game but did not get it. As a consequence, they simply made their own game, but kept the already created designs.

It wasn’t quite like that, though. A developer explains: Allen Adham, one of the founders of Blizzard – then still Silicon & Synapse –, genuinely wanted to make a Warhammer game. However, the studio had previously released two licensed games with moderate success. Many developers resisted the idea and pushed to create their own world: Warcraft.

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

What do League of Legends, World of Warcraft, and Warhammer have in common? Surprisingly a lot, as one player has found out. After initially being a bit upset with his MOBA, the community explained to him how all the worlds are connected.

This is what the player experienced:

  • On Reddit, a new player shares that after a long time in League of Legends, he plays WoW Classic for the first time, which is the “old” version of World of Warcraft – similar to the LoL bully Tyler1 before him.
  • After four months of completely immersing himself in the MMORPG, he notices more and more similarities between LoL and WoW.
  • His “discovery” is no surprise, especially for veterans of the games, but it sparks a discussion about the origins of the worlds.

What does LoL “steal”? In his thread, the user shows various images comparing designs from League of Legends with those he now discovers in World of Warcraft. He is not particularly happy about his discovery.

He writes: “It looks like League was strongly inspired by WoW. And that actually makes me hate LoL, but that’s not necessarily bad. Now I have found my true home.” His findings include:

  • The champion Vel’koz, who resembles the old god C’thun
  • Runes on the summoning stones in front of dungeons in WoW, which can almost be identically found at the edge of the LoL map
  • Designs of certain champions like Sion or Taric, who look similar to some characters from Warcraft (specifically: Orcs or certain crystal armors)
  • The design of certain weapons
  • The champion Skarner, who looks almost exactly like Skorpyron from the Legion raid “The Nighthold”

In the comments, other users agree but explain: It is quite clear that much is similar. After all, League of Legends only exists because of Warcraft.

Without Warcraft, there would be no League of Legends …

League of Legends is actually a standalone version of “Defense of the Ancients”, short: DotA. DotA was one of the most popular map mods for Warcraft 3 and already had an identical gameplay concept like LoL and other MOBAs do today.

Even many of the heroes and their abilities back then were adopted, not only in LoL but also in DOTA 2 and later in Heroes of the Storm. The designs were also relatively similar. A user adds:

Some of the original designers of the DotA mod were the initial designers that Riot brought in to develop League because they wanted a “spiritual successor” to DotA that didn’t require the base game [Warcraft 3], which was no longer supported by the developers. Blizzard was already focused on WoW.

By the way: One of the creators of LoL and DotA has tried another MOBA again.

In a response to this, it says: While it wasn’t the initial designers, the original creators actually came to Riot later. The similarities are therefore not surprising.

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

The discussion, however, goes even further in the whole thread, and especially further back, because according to fans, Warcraft itself was not even the beginning of the whole story – but Warhammer.

… and without Warhammer, there would be no Warcraft

Several users discuss in a lengthy comment thread about the origins of the whole thing. Much of what you know from Warcraft is very similar to content from Warhammer. A user compares:

  • Zergs are like Tyranids
  • Protoss are like Eldar
  • and Space Marines are… like Space Marines

By the way, Space Marines themselves had a precursor: Thunder Warriors, who were already genetically enhanced superhumans, but too unstable.

Even the units of the fantasy world are partially identical. This is because Blizzard once wanted to have a license for a Warhammer game but did not get it. As a consequence, they simply made their own game, but kept the already created designs.

It wasn’t quite like that, though. A developer explains: Allen Adham, one of the founders of Blizzard – then still Silicon & Synapse –, genuinely wanted to make a Warhammer game. However, the studio had previously released two licensed games with moderate success. Many developers resisted the idea and pushed to create their own world: Warcraft.

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

The discussion, however, goes even further in the whole thread, and especially further back, because according to fans, Warcraft itself was not even the beginning of the whole story – but Warhammer.

… and without Warhammer, there would be no Warcraft

Several users discuss in a lengthy comment thread about the origins of the whole thing. Much of what you know from Warcraft is very similar to content from Warhammer. A user compares:

  • Zergs are like Tyranids
  • Protoss are like Eldar
  • and Space Marines are… like Space Marines

By the way, Space Marines themselves had a precursor: Thunder Warriors, who were already genetically enhanced superhumans, but too unstable.

Even the units of the fantasy world are partially identical. This is because Blizzard once wanted to have a license for a Warhammer game but did not get it. As a consequence, they simply made their own game, but kept the already created designs.

It wasn’t quite like that, though. A developer explains: Allen Adham, one of the founders of Blizzard – then still Silicon & Synapse –, genuinely wanted to make a Warhammer game. However, the studio had previously released two licensed games with moderate success. Many developers resisted the idea and pushed to create their own world: Warcraft.

In the thread around LoL, the discussion goes even further back. Warhammer itself was heavily inspired by Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings – which in turn has deep roots in European mythology.

And at least World of Warcraft is even a little further branched, as a significant inspiration here was Dungeons & Dragons, one of the oldest and now largest role-playing games in the world. Many character stats and traits were derived from this rule set. D&D has in turn inspired much: Because of the most annoying thing about Dungeons & Dragons, we have Magic: The Gathering today and every role-player will understand this

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

The last movie of the “Fantastic Four” was poorly received by audiences; the new film is said by critics to be one of the “best things Marvel has ever done”.

On July 24, the new “Fantastic Four” movie premieres. Critics are already excited. This is mainly due to the strong cast and the great setting. The last “Fantastic Four” film from 2015 was, however, panned by critics.

What kind of movie is it? With “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” premiering in a few days, on July 24, 2025, the latest Marvel film will hit theaters in Germany. It is a reboot of the series and takes place in a world inspired by the 1960s.

The first critics have already seen the new Marvel film and rate it significantly better than its predecessor.

What happened with the last film? The last film featuring the “Fantastic Four” was released in 2015. Many critics and the audience received the film poorly: On IMDb, it only received 4.3 out of 10 stars with more than 180,000 ratings. The film at least recouped its production costs: a profit of 167.9 million USD, with a production budget of 120 million USD.

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

“First Step” impresses critics, especially thanks to the very good cast

What are the reactions to “First Step”? The critics who were able to see the film before its official premiere have so far expressed overwhelming enthusiasm. This is reported by the English-language magazine Variety.com. This is mainly due to the strong cast that the film features:

  • Pedro Pascal plays Mr. Fantastic
  • Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm
  • Joseph Quinn is Human Torch
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach is Ben Grimm (The Thing).

Additionally, the retro-futuristic setting of the 60s fits the film very well. One critic even compares the film’s visuals to those of Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”.

What do the critics say?

  • Josh Wilding (on X.com): “Nothing will prepare you for #TheFantasticFour First Steps. Pedro Pascal is the perfect Reed, but the entire cast shines and does justice to these characters. The film is funny, emotional, beautifully shot, and consistently FANTASTIC. That’s @MarvelStudios at its best.”
  • Brandon Davis (on X.com): “First Steps is visually one of the best things Marvel has ever done. Parts feel like Interstellar and demand IMAX. Galactus is fantastic. Silver Surfer looks really, really good. The VFX were often flawless.”
  • Andrew J. Salazar (on X.com): “Fantastic Four is primarily a story about family, where every team member is equally important. No one is left out; the film excels at highlighting the various bonds between Pedro, Vanessa, Ebon, and Joseph. The retro aesthetics of the 60s work on all fronts.”

We will have to wait a few more days to see if the critics are right. Because on July 24, 2025, the film opens in theaters.

The new movie about the Fantastic Four has been under observation by fans for a while. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release, partly due to an important decision: the retro-futuristic world of “First Step” was largely built authentically. As well as possible, the sets were constructed with great attention to detail in the studio halls: “The best Marvel movie of the last decade”: Fantastic Four reveals new images, creates a huge hype among fans

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

Players complain about a major weakness of Baldur’s Gate 3: The companions are too naive

Baldur’s Gate 3 is considered an absolute masterpiece and still has almost 90,000 active players even after two years. Many of these players spend hundreds or even thousands of hours in the game and point out one criticism or another, even in such a good work. One of them: The companions, who actually receive most of the praise.

What about the companions?

When are companions too naive? On Reddit, a user complains that he cannot lie. And quite literally: every word of his is taken at face value, both by enemies and companions.

He wishes he could give a villain false information, just to then stab him in the back. As an example, he takes a situation between Lady Aylin and Aradin: Here he wishes he could simply lie to Aradin, only to then hit him with a club.

Realistically, Aylin, as a demigod being, should be able to wipe the floor with the mercenaries anyway. Still, his companions are immediately angry because they think he really wants to sell Lady Aylin to Aradin.

Start video
Hasbro hat Pläne für Baldur’s Gate 4, doch die Fans glauben: “Ein Studio müsste irre sein, um Larian nachzueifern”

“Everyone takes you literally and there is a cascade of discontent”

In the comments, many users agree with the annoyed player. It is not just situations where you cannot directly lie to the villain. It starts with much simpler conversations.

In many conversations, you have the option to make cheeky, sarcastic or mocking comments. Often they are not that bad, maybe a bit biting, but not meant to be malicious. However, the companions do not see it that way, and there are immediately angry looks.

Only Jaheira has enough brains to understand when sarcasm is in play. However, that does not really fit into the game:

As if the 200 hours in which I was a benefactor before this situation meant absolutely nothing to the people.

Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you all possible freedoms, but here somehow the ability to actively lie is missing. In a comment, a user writes that Knights of the Old Republic 2 had two identical voice lines in corresponding situations, but one was marked with ‘[Lie]’ to make such situations clear.

Companions and their behavior are repeatedly a hot topic, possibly even the biggest. One point repeatedly comes up: the bard Alfira and that she (without mods) should be recruitable as a companion, that is simply the logical consequence. And indeed it works, even if not quite as intended: With this trick, you can get one of the most popular characters from Baldur’s Gate 3 as a companion

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

A player discovers a strange equipment slot in Dune: Awakening, receives little helpful tips from the community

A player finds an equipment slot in Dune: Awakening that he cannot use and wants to know what to do with it. The initial responses from the community are not very helpful, but it quickly becomes clear that the slot cannot currently be used. So what is it for?

Where is the strange slot located? If you open your character menu, you will find your loadout on the left side and your equipment on the right side. There are 10 different slots where you can place equipment items like pants, helmets, and so on. However, the last slot always remains empty.

A player on Reddit wanted to know what this slot is for, as he has not found a suitable item so far. The same question has come up several times in the past. However, the community’s responses are often not very helpful.

Start video
Das neue Survival-MMO Dune: Awakening im Launch-Trailer

Strange equipment slot turns out to be a placeholder

What does the community say? The first and most upvoted response on Reddit is
“Pocket Sand.” Another player explains that you could use a worm riding hook here. A third explains that it must be a slot for Zendaya.

All the answers are actually nonsense. By the way, Zendaya is the actress for Chani in the new Dune movies.

What is this slot good for? Currently, you cannot use the slot with your character at all, and several players also explain why: It is a placeholder that is supposed to play a role in the future. In an earlier version of the game, you were supposed to be able to use a backpack here, but that was probably removed due to many bugs. Someone writes, “the developers said it’s there for ‘future-proofing.'”

Another player adds (via Reddit.com):

Allegedly (so I’ve heard) this was a slot for backpacks from an earlier version of the game. However, they didn’t work properly/in a way that Funcom liked, so the backpacks were removed and replaced with vehicle storage, but the slot was kept.

It is rumored that backpacks might reappear in a future update/DLC.

In an older thread, it is said that the slot is for an item related to a supposedly upcoming third faction: the Fremen. The item for this slot would then be used to hide from other players like with the trapdoor from the movies.

A player wanted to film a bug in Dune: Awakening. Instead, he discovered a flying sandworm that definitely does not belong there. Because the huge and very dangerous worms belong in the desert sand and not in the sky. You can read more about this on MeinMMO: Player just wanted to document a bug in Dune: Awakening when a floating worm crashes the recording

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

Player finds WoW Classic Hardcore not hard enough, struggles naked to level 50 in 220 hours

Wow Classic offers quite a challenge in Hardcore. One player found it not hard enough and is fighting naked at level 50. After about 200 hours, he reached his first goal and level 50.

Wow Classic Hardcore presents players with its own challenge: Because anyone who dies in this mode stays dead and cannot be resurrected. With the so-called “Self-Found” mode, there is an additional challenge: Getting a Classic character to level 60 with just one life, but without an auction house, postal system, and trading with other players.

What sounds difficult enough for many players was not enough for one player. MeinMMO has already reported on the player who is fighting through Hardcore naked and only with fists. Now he has reached his first goal and achieved level 50.

Start video
WoW Brings Mists of Pandaria Classic

Naked and with fists at level 50 in 220 hours

The Polish-language website MMORPG.org.pl reports that the player, who calls himself “Onepunchwarr”, in reference to the anime “One Punch Man”, has now reached level 50. The player documented his progress in several YouTube videos.

In total, “Onepunchwarr” has so far needed 9 days, 7 hours, and 47 minutes. This translates to about 220 hours of gameplay. Of this, 94 hours alone are said to have been spent on the level-up between level 40 and 50, as he shows in his latest video. In WoW, you can display your playtime in the game.

What’s next? The player wants to reach level 60 with “Onepunchwarr”. However, this will probably take some time, as he needed 94 hours for just 10 levels. His biggest worry is that a sudden disconnect, internet, or power failure could ruin the work of almost 7 months. Because that is probably the greatest threat, which has already cost many a Hardcore character their digital life.

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

Complex survival game on Steam is 97% positive, has a big discount just in time for the new expansion

Rimworld now has a new expansion and is therefore significantly cheaper. Those who want to start with Rimworld should prepare for many challenging hours of gameplay, as Rimworld is highly rated on Steam but is considered complex and difficult.

The building and survival game Rimworld is one of the highest-rated games on Steam and has a positive rating of 97% based on over 180,000 reviews. Rimworld is considered extremely complex and extensive.

In Rimworld, you start with a varying number of colonists and starting materials depending on the chosen start and must survive on a hostile planet. At the same time, you need to ensure that your colonists don’t kill each other, eat each other, or come up with other foolish ideas. The goal is mostly to escape from the planet.

With “Odyssey” the next expansion for Rimworld has been released and it brings a whole bunch of fresh features, including the ability to build your own spaceships and go on exploration missions in space.

Start video
The Official Trailer for RimWorld by Ludeon Studios

Depending on the platform, you can currently get Rimworld significantly cheaper

On the occasion of the release of the new expansion “Odyssey”, you can currently get Rimworld significantly cheaper. And not only on Steam can you save right now:

  • On Steam you currently pay €25.59, which is 20% less.
  • On Humble Bundle you pay only €21.11 (-36%), but only if you have subscribed to Choice. Otherwise, you pay €26.29 (-20%).
  • At Fanatical you can save 28% and pay €23.03.

What about the DLCs? The first four DLCs for Rimworld are currently also a bit cheaper. Depending on the platform, you save between 10% (Steam) and 15% (Humble Bundle, without Choice). If you have never played Rimworld before, we would recommend starting with the base game. Because each add-on makes the already complex colony simulation even more complex and extensive.

With over 85,000 simultaneous players, Rimworld has now even set a new all-time record. What makes the game so good and why so many are currently excited about the space simulation, you can read directly with us on MeinMMO: One of the toughest simulations gets even better, breaking a new record on Steam 7 years after release

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