New shooter launches with nearly 8,000 players on Steam – Overwhelmed with positive reviews because fans fear it could die quickly

On July 22, Wildgate was released on Steam and for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. This is a new multiplayer shooter developed by Moonshot Games – a studio that belongs to the game studio Dreamhaven, founded by former Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime.

What is Wildgate about? In Wildgate, you take on the role of a space crew that pilots their spaceship in first-person perspective through procedurally generated maps, searching for the most valuable object in the universe: the artifact.

The first player to defeat all opponents or escape with the artifact through the namesake Wildgate emerges victorious.

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Wildgate zeigt Gameplay im Trailer, sieht aus wie eine Mischung aus Concord und Overwatch

Hero shooter meets Sea of Thieves in space

What sets Wildgate apart? You spend the approximately 20-minute matches not only in your spaceship but also explore various celestial bodies in search of the artifact and loot that you can use to upgrade your world sailor.

Before a match begins, you also select a hero who is perfectly tailored for specific roles of space piracy with passive abilities, such as defending your own ship. After all, you are not the only ones hunting for the valuable artifact. You will repeatedly encounter other spaceships that are also controlled by players.

In true “Sea of Thieves” fashion, you naturally try to capsize your opponents’ star cruiser with various cannons or go aboard their ship as space pirates, clawing victory through classic shooter action and firepower. But you shouldn’t forget the maintenance of your own ship and must extinguish fires and repair damage.

Fans want to save Wildgate from Concord’s fate

How is Wildgate received? Wildgate recorded around 7,800 players on Steam on release day. More than 700 of them left a positive review. The reviews are full of praise, describing it as “the most fun in years” and calling the shooter “a refreshing change”.

  • “The best PvP multiplayer game in years. Please don’t let this game die.” – via Steam
  • “Wildgate reminds me of the times when FPS games felt almost magical, interesting, and a bit quirky – and not like an endless battle against a matchmaking system for rank points, with preset and overused strategies.” – via Steam
  • “This game is definitely worth your time and money. Wildgate has captivated me in a way that no game has since the original Overwatch in 2016. The characters are unique and relatable, the gunplay is really good (both in ship battles and on foot).” – via Steam
  • “There’s a lot of potential here. A truly fresh PvP experience with surprisingly deep gameplay for a first release.” – via Steam

Since the game is so well received by players, the community naturally hopes for the success of the space shooter and wants to prevent it from dying quickly. After initial mixed reviews in the first hours after release, a fan called on the game’s subreddit to write a positive review. On Steam, some reviews center around the core message “Please don’t die”.

Criticism of Wildgate mainly revolves around the in-game shop. Additionally, some players note that it’s not as fun to play solo as it is with friends because communication and teamwork are very important.

Colorful hero shooters have recently been struggling. The peak of the misery was represented by Concord in 2024. The shooter flopped so hard that Sony took it offline just 2 weeks later: Sony’s new shooter is taken offline after just 12 days – Players get their money back

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

How is the world’s most beautiful MMORPG doing six months after the release?

8 months after the release, the most beautiful MMORPG in the world has established itself on the market and is now taking its first steps towards expansion. But while new regions are enjoying their own servers, criticism of the monetization of World of Jade Dynasty is growing.

What is the status of the MMORPG? World of Jade Dynasty was released in China on December 19, 2024, and was considered a complete success shortly after its launch. Just one month after launch, the MMORPG had recouped its development costs – and was explicitly highlighted as a showcase title by the developers in the Year in Review from Perfect World.

Now, more than half a year later, the next phase begins: the expansion. The game will be released in additional regions around China. These include new servers in:

  • Macau
  • Taiwan
  • Hong Kong
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia

While these are not yet western markets, it is the first step in that direction. And especially Hong Kong and Singapore raise an exciting question about whether the game will actually receive an English localization there – which could be a strong indication of a global release.

Here you can see how beautiful the characters in the MMORPG look:

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The new MMORPG World of Jade Dynasty shows in the video how beautiful its characters look

Season change in the most beautiful MMORPG

What is happening in the game itself? The first season of World of Jade Dynasty is over, and the current content has long been conquered by the players. The developers have just released the second season of the MMORPG with fresher challenges and new content. The mood of the community over the past few months has shifted towards anticipation and impatience because the developers have taken quite some time with the major update.

And although the developers emphasized in the Year in Review that World of Jade Dynasty is to be developed as a prestige project in the long term – with new story content, major updates, and an active role of the community – it remains to be seen how Season 2 will affect long-term motivation. The start of a new season is always an impetus, but the challenge lies in keeping players engaged beyond the first weeks and avoiding a renewed phase of stagnation that was noticeable after the first season.

Nevertheless, the MMORPG remains stable even after half a year. In China, it continues to be among the most popular online games (via 17173.com). But with routine comes criticism – especially regarding monetization. The start of Season 2 will show whether the new content is sufficient to silence this criticism or if old discussions will flare up again.

The grinding festival from July 21 to July 27
In this week, you can expect exciting articles every day around the topic of MMORPGs. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, nostalgic retrospectives, streaming nights, interviews, columns, and analyses.

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

What criticism is there? In the post on Baidu Tieba, many players discussed the monetization system. For Chinese players, there are currently too few exclusive, expensive skins intended for wealthy buyers. The game offers outfits that are too cheap, which would often return – basically the opposite of FOMO, the fear of missing out. For them, the most beautiful MMORPG in the world offers too few options for the “whales”.

What sounds like a dream for many players in the West is seen differently by players in China. They are used to different monetization systems. This is also shown by the biggest competitor, Swords of Legends Online. The MMORPG that had to close in the West in 2023, remains popular in China.

The users often compare the two games due to the Wuxia genre, but criticize World of Jade Dynasty precisely for lacking content and outfits in the shops compared to it. SOLO is ahead in this area, as the MMORPG was released in China in 2019 and has since been able to shine steadily with updates and expansions.

World of Jade Dynasty convinces visually time and again.
The world of Jade Dynasty looks fascinating.

A look into the future

What is the status of the release in the West? With the opening of the new servers, the expansion of World of Jade Dynasty into new markets begins. Especially the servers in Hong Kong and Singapore could be potential test markets for an English version, as English is one of the official languages in both countries. If the game actually appears there with English localization, it would be a strong sign, perhaps even the first tangible harbinger of a Western release.

This idea is not completely far-fetched. There have been early hints that the developers are also thinking outside of China. The Nvidia video demonstrating real-time lip syncing with English audio output remains one of the clearest signals that a global version is being worked on.

In the game files of earlier beta versions, folders for NA, EU, and TW have already been discovered – a technical hint that these regions have been at least in planning for some time. Additionally, Perfect World even advertised World of Jade Dynasty on English social media profiles around the launch. While it has become quiet there since then, the videos and posts are still accessible.

Here you can see the aforementioned video from NVIDIA GeForce :

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Conclusion

After 7 months, it shows: World of Jade Dynasty has managed to transform the hype into a stable player base. The MMORPG remains economically successful, is being further developed technically – and with the new servers takes the first noticeable steps towards internationalization. Now it’s crucial for the developers to quickly release new content and not let the pause before the next major update become too long.

Despite the great success so far, the MMORPG does not necessarily have to launch in the West. The final confirmation is still pending here. The upgrade from Unreal Engine 5 to Unreal Engine 5.5 is also still pending – a step that is expected to further enhance the already beautiful MMORPG technically: The most beautiful MMORPG in the world has launched

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

Confusion, panic, as if hit by a truck – Affected individuals paint a grim picture of the recent layoffs at Xbox

In early July 2025, the bombshell dropped at Microsoft once again. Thousands of employees had to go, once more. Many employees at ZeniMax were also caught in this. Now, those affected are speaking about one of the worst days of their lives.

What exactly happened?

In the wake of the first reports about the layoffs, it came to light that Microsoft officials may have acted questionably in this difficult situation. Xbox chief Phil Spencer gushed in his memo to employees, informing them about the planned savings, that Xbox could showcase “more players, games, and playtime than ever before.”

Additionally, employees were reportedly blocked early from the internal Slack channel and their email access, even before it was clear what was going on. According to affected reports, this was only clarified hours later.

Microsoft has been at a disadvantage to Sony for years when it comes to console sales:

Start video
It is official, the console war is over: Phil Spencer says in light of the PS5 that he no longer wants to bring all players to Xbox

A major, lasting damage for ZeniMax

What else are those affected reporting? A report from gamedeveloper.com now provides specific statements from various former and current employees of ZeniMax who comment on the events surrounding the recent wave of layoffs at Microsoft.

According to several anonymous sources, Microsoft’s communication policy on the day of the layoffs caused confusion and panic among almost all employees. No one knew where they stood. There was no verifiable information. At the same time, they were isolated from all official channels. One person explained that after the ordeal, they felt like they had been run over by a truck.

ZeniMax employee Page Branson recounts one of the worst days of her entire professional life. In her assessment, the layoffs have also significantly weakened ZeniMax, as many of those affected had been absolutely crucial to the success of Elder Scrolls Online and had been an integral part of the studio for up to 15 years.

What was lost that day in terms of experience and knowledge, Branson continues, is irreplaceable. Those who remain can only pick up the pieces. Negative impacts on the overall workflow have become immediately evident due to the loss of actually indispensable employees.

Autumn Mitchell, Senior QA Tester at ZeniMax Media, harshly criticizes the leadership:

This is not okay. This was not normal. I don’t care how often they do it to make it seem normal – it is not normal. The way they do it is inhumane. I don’t care how often they say it is dignified or that they want to do it respectfully – it is not.

Autumn Mitchell to gamedeveloper.com

By the way, the two union members are sure that the wave of layoffs would have been even more devastating without the support of organizations like the “Communications Workers of America” (CWA). Now, they fear that the streamlining will only lead to needing to take on even more tasks – to somehow cover for the missing employees.

The remaining employees are expected to somehow continue releasing award-winning games. I don’t really know how that is supposed to work. It looks like many people are switching between projects to take over the position of someone who was laid off – and they will probably take a good six months to figure out how to effectively fill this role.

Autumn Mitchell to gamedeveloper.com

Mitchell compares the current situation to looking at a graveyard: “The atmosphere is terrible. It is grotesque. People are stressed. They are crying. For many of us, these were some of our best friends. They are our housemates. In my case, it was my partner – my partner and I worked together and he was laid off. And I am not an isolated case.”

The responsible editor from Game Developer has requested a comment from Microsoft regarding the statements and criticism. So far without success. How little the officials can empathize with the situation of the affected is shown by this message: Microsoft lays off 9,000 employees – an Xbox executive advises the laid-off: AI can help during the tough times

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

Former race car driver is more successful as a meme, now wants to tell you even more about your cars

For over a year, there has been a commercial from a car dealer that will go down in the history books of memes. The star of the show: former racing driver Ralf Schumacher. More commercials are set to come.

Who is it about? The former racing driver Ralf Schumacher has been appearing in commercials for the car dealer wirkaufendeinauto.de for about a year now. His career as a racing driver spans approximately 11 years, during which he was able to secure several Grand Prix wins.

However, he was never as successful as his brother. Michael Schumacher won the World Championship title 7 times, whereas Ralf Schumacher did not win it even once. Yet, the younger brother can now achieve more fame in a different way, at least on the internet, with a series of commercials for the car dealer wirkaufendeinauto.de.

The commercials are particularly memorable for their nearly identical sequence: A character doesn’t know how or where to sell their car, and Ralf Schumacher appears on screen and asks, “Do you want to know how much your car is worth?”. Then, the website of wirkaufendeinauto.de is promoted.

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“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real

“Still want to know how much your car is worth”

What does Ralf Schumacher plan? The former racing driver recently shared a reel on Instagram, where he seems to be on the set of a shoot for more commercials from wirkaufendeinauto.de. He states, “Since I still want to know how much your car is worth, we are making a new set today, as you can see in the background. So new spots are coming soon. I hope you will like them.” (Source: Instagram).

Ralf Schumacher seems to be aware that his appearances and his recurring phrase, “Do you want to know how much your car is worth?” seem to be establishing themselves as cultural heritage in terms of memes. The commercial is often played, especially on YouTube, as an advertisement before videos, so many people know it.

How does the community react? The community seems to appreciate under the Instagram post that Ralf Schumacher understands that the internet finds the commercials funny:

  • xmx.edgior.xmx writes: “Cool🔥 This is how everyone should deal with memes, lots of love❤️”
  • bademeister_flo thinks: “So cool that he just gets it and continues, or maybe precisely because of this, still enjoys it.”

At the same time, many compare Ralf Schumacher with Marcel Davis. Another character from well-known commercials, but from the company 1&1. Marcel Davis is regarded as cultural heritage in terms of memes, and Ralf Schumacher is on the way to being a contender for such a place. This is also noted by sjard_roscher, who writes on Instagram: “The day will come when we will miss him like Marcel Davis.”

Someone who has also found a place in meme culture, or at least brings a lot of nostalgia, is Benedikt Weber. The former host of Art Attack had to prove, however, that he could craft, after viewers realized almost 20 years later that it wasn’t actually him crafting in the show: The hero of your childhood led you astray; almost 20 years later, he’s making it right on YouTube.

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

A player has spent 35,000 hours in Ark: Survival Evolved, now advises against buying it on Steam because a new patch has ruined everything

Players who negatively review a game with thousands of hours on Steam often receive funny looks from the community, but in this case, the reason for a negative review lies in a new patch for Ark: Survival Evolved.

Who is it about? A new negative review has appeared on Steam for the survival dinosaur game Ark: Survival Evolved. The special thing: The author has spent over 35,000 hours in the game. That’s about 4 years of their life that the player has dedicated to the survival game.

Anyone who believes that someone who has spent so much time in a game must like it is right, as the user’s review refers to the latest patch, which has destroyed everything for him.

Here you can watch the trailer for the new DLC:

Start video
ARK: Survival Evolved showcases the new underwater expansion in the trailer

A patch frustrates the fans

What’s up with the patch? The player negatively reviews Ark: Survival Evolved after his many hours of gameplay because the latest patch with the DLC “Ark Aquatica” is causing issues. The DLC, which was supposed to be a thank you for 10 years of Ark, has rendered most of the existing modifications for the survival game unusable.

Modified servers where many players experience the survival game are no longer usable, and the community faces the major challenge of getting everything up and running again due to the patch.

The player with his 35,000 gameplay hours also faces this challenge. He writes (via Reddit), that he operates a custom server, which provides Ark: Survival Evolved with many modifications that no longer work. He even goes so far as to ask for a refund after all those hours.

How does the community react? The community’s accusation that the developers did not pay attention to releasing the new DLC with minimal compatibility issues is also reflected in the Steam reviews. There, the game has dropped from 84% of all-time ratings to only 69% of recent ratings (around 5,000 reviews) — a decline of 15%. Overall, the game has received more than 550,000 ratings over the entire period.

The new DLC “Ark Aquatica” receives a rating of “Extremely Negative” from fans and only has 12% positive reviews from around 1,300 reviews. In addition to the severe problems that the DLC causes with mods, users also describe it on Steam as “Empty. Superficial. Boring.”

What are the developers doing? The developers of Ark: Survival Evolved continue to work on the DLC to fix the issues and improve quality. They write on Steam: “Our top priority remains the resolution of a problem with the game engine in the live version of ARK: Survival Evolved[…]”.

Mods are also addressed: “A solution to prevent mods from crashing immediately is still being worked on, and we look forward to releasing an update as soon as possible.”

It remains to be seen whether the developers of Ark: Survival Evolved will manage to restore compatibility with the mods so that their players are happy. Until then, the new DLC and the game will likely continue to be punished with poor ratings. The announcement of the new DLC already caused anger: Everything about the new expansion to ARK makes the fans angry: “This is disgusting”

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

„Als würde man mit einem Freund sprechen“ – Einsame Kinder geben ihre echten Freunde auf, weil sie lieber mit KI reden wollen

Children are increasingly talking to artificial chatbots. And this has consequences for child development. Researchers warn that chatbots are not suitable for conversations with children.

The British organization “Internet Matters” has investigated the use of AI among children and adolescents aged 9 to 17. In their report “Me, Myself and AI Research”, several things were established:

  • According to the report, 67 percent of surveyed children aged 9 to 17 regularly communicate with AI.
  • More than a third of these users (35 percent) say it feels “like talking to a friend.”
  • 12 percent stated that they talk to these bots because they have no one else to talk to.

But this leads to several problems: On one hand, parents do not notice or understand how their children spend their time there, and on the other hand, children are using an AI that is being used for the wrong purposes.

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

Through AI, children learn about a type of person that does not exist in real life

What are children doing? Many children seek out artificial chatbots as conversation partners to discuss emotional topics. Topics that one normally talks about with close friends.

The chatbots are happy to answer these questions, as they are designed to always be friendly and accommodating. Artificial intelligence rarely disagrees and often confirms the user’s actions.

The problem that arises from this: Many of these children learn to communicate only with a type of person that does not exist in real life. People who are always friendly and accommodating and who hardly ever disagree. Gen Z also trusts AI very strongly for this reason, even though AI is not really honest. Because AI is a reflection of one’s own actions.

Researchers warn according to the English-language magazine Vice.com already: Vulnerable children are now posing emotionally complex questions to systems that are designed for interaction and not for human understanding.

AI has become an important part of everyday life for many people. But for young people, ChatGPT has not only become a help but a “life coach” as well. This is explained by Sam Altman, the head of ChatGPT: Generation Z no longer makes important decisions in life by themselves, but asks ChatGPT for help

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

For a long time, Monster Hunter Wilds has been under criticism, but a new outfit makes players forget everything

The Fire Festival has arrived in Monster Hunter Wilds and brings a summery flair to the game. One aspect is particularly well received by players – even if it leaves a sour taste for some.

Which outfit are the fans celebrating? On Reddit, fans are mainly excited about the new outfits that the Festival of Unity: Fire Festival has brought. In particular, the bikini of the blacksmith Gemma stands out, which has particularly captured the players’ attention; you can see it on the title image, for example.

The outfit consists of a revealing bikini and an open overall with hot pants that barely cover the buttocks. In the thread, several players report seeing other hunters standing in front of her with binoculars.

The outfit must be activated for the event period by talking to Gemma. Then you can choose which clothing she should wear. Many players are so hyped about the outfit that they even claim it compensates for all the game’s flaws. However, for others, it also leaves a sour taste.

Start video
The Festival of Concord: Fireproof – Trailer shows a summer event in Monster Hunter Wilds

“I forgive you for everything, Capcom”

What does the community say about Gemma’s outfit? The community on Reddit celebrates the outfit. Many also have fun with the fact that it is particularly short and provocative, especially when Gemma bends over the forge:

  • RegalizOscuro posts in his thread a photo of the outfit with the words: “I forgive you for everything, Capcom”
  • KillerPalkia comments: “I just always use the water gun emote on her.”
  • VictusFrey writes: “I’m sure players won’t skip the blacksmith scenes today.”

However, there are also some critical voices who find the outfit tasteless or believe that a good outfit does not compensate for the other flaws of the game. Others complain that the outfit is not part of the in-game rewards of the event but must be purchased as DLC for about €6 if one wants Gemma to wear it afterward:

  • Hikaruhiyoko2 explains: “Uh… I wouldn’t say you should forgive everything just because a NPC skin is behind a paywall. I mean, sure I would understand if it were free for everyone.”
  • factually_accurate_1 says: “They forgive Capcom for charging $6 for digital breasts that are probably going to sell millions? Sure.”
  • Fragrant-Band-7295 complains: “Breasts don’t give me higher FPS, Capcom.”

The outfit is part of the currently ongoing Festival of Unity: Fire Festival, which runs until August 6, 2025. There are many different rewards, activities, and quests awaiting you, and the Great Place is immersed in a fiery summery flair. All information can be found here: Monster Hunter Wilds: Fire Festival has started – All about rewards and quests

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

The producer of Solo Leveling wants everyone to know the anime, compares himself to Dragon Ball and One Piece

Solo Leveling is one of the most successful animes of recent years. A producer has particularly high ambitions for the 3rd season of the series.

What did the producer say about the anime? Atsushi Kaneko is one of the producers behind the Solo Leveling anime, where fans are waiting for the announcement of season 3. The anime is so successful that it broke an all-time record and even became the anime of the year. Kaneko is aware of this, which is why he has developed high ambitions.

He revealed in an interview with ScreenRant at Anime Expo that the anime is supposed to be as successful as the greatest animes of all time:

Although I am thrilled with the response, I personally feel that the series is not yet known to everyone. Solo Leveling is not yet widely known in Japan. As a Japanese person living in Japan, the anime is not at the level of Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Naruto. But when the third season comes, I really want to break through that barrier.

Even people who are unfamiliar with animes have probably heard of Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Naruto. The producer of Solo Leveling hopes that the series revolving around dungeons full of monsters will one day become just as known. But first, a third season must be announced.

Start video
Solo Leveling: Trailer for Season 2 Arise from the Shadow

Solo Leveling refuses to announce Season 3

What is the current status? Although season 2 ended earlier this year, there is still no information about a 3rd season. Unfortunately, no further continuation was announced at Anime Expo, which means that in 2025, only the online festival from Aniplex in September may remain for an announcement.

The announcement is highly anticipated because there was only a one-year pause between seasons 1 and 2. If season 3 were to appear at the same pace, it would have to start in January 2026. But this time, the pause between the seasons is longer.

Instead, fans of the anime can look forward to several video games. At Anime Expo, Solo Leveling Karma was announced. This is a roguelite action RPG in the style of Diablo, where players take on the role of protagonist Sung Jin-woo. However, a storyline is told here that has not been seen in the anime yet.

Another game that fans can look forward to is Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive. However, players should keep in mind that there are two versions of the video game and that they should not be confused: The game for Solo Leveling is currently free, but you should not confuse it with the coop game on Steam.

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

Pokémon GO gives you Liberlo, Gortrom, or Inteleon – Which monster is worth it the most?

In Pokémon GO you can currently receive a Gigantamax Pokémon. But which one is worth it the most?

Yesterday the Pokémon Presents took place. During this event, a new promo code was released for Pokémon GO that you can redeem for free. This gives you the opportunity to receive a free, limited research.

As part of this research, you can obtain a Gigantamax Pokémon: Cinderace, Gardevoir, or Inteleon. But which of the Pokémon is worth it the most? We have taken a look at this for you.

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

3 strong Gigantamax Pokémon to choose from

How strong are the Pokémon as attackers? All 3 Pokémon, which are the final evolutions of the starters from Generation 8, are strong attackers in their respective types. Gardevoir is a Grass attacker, Cinderace is a Fire attacker, and Inteleon is a Water type.

Each of the individual Pokémon is among the strongest attackers in the area of Gigantamax Pokémon. From this perspective, you can’t go wrong with any of the 3 Pokémon, no matter which one you choose. However, Inteleon has the highest attack stat of the 3 Pokémon.

How good are the Pokémon as defenders? If you want to use one of the Pokémon as a defender, there are bigger differences here. While Inteleon has the highest attack stat of the 3 Pokémon, the values in the areas of defense and HP are lower than those of the other two Pokémon.

Cinderace can position itself in the middle of the 3 Pokémon, and Gardevoir is the best of the 3 Pokémon for the defender role. So if you’re generally just looking for the strongest defender for your team, you should especially take a closer look at Gardevoir or Cinderace.

Which Pokémon is the most worth it now? In summary, all 3 Pokémon are strong attackers, although Inteleon has a slight edge here. As defenders, Gardevoir and Cinderace are somewhat better.

However, it is also important to consider what your Dyna and Gigantamax team looks like so far. For example, if you already have strong attackers of the Fire and Water types, you should rather consider taking Gardevoir to complement your current team with a strong attacker and cover more types.

In addition to the new code, there are currently many other contents, events, and raids waiting for you in Pokémon GO. If you want to know exactly what they are and when they take place, feel free to take a look at our overview of all events in July 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

Housing in WoW hat eine massive Einschränkung – Nicht alle Charaktere bekommen ein Haus

Housing will be the new mega feature in World of Warcraft. However, a “small thing” is already bothering us. Not all characters will get a house.

Longtime fans of World of Warcraft have hardly awaited any feature as eagerly as the Player Housing. With Midnight, it is finally time for our WoW heroes to have their own home. Since it has been decided to take over the “WildStar Housing” practically 1:1, the system will likely make most players happy.

However, there was one major blow that is already dampening the housing experience. Each account can have a maximum of 2 houses.

Start video
Spieler-Häuser in WoW werden das „ehrgeizigste Feature, das es jemals gab“

Two houses per account leaves many characters homeless

In total, an account will be able to own only two houses (via icy-veins), one house on the Alliance side and one on the Horde side. From the perspective of players who enjoy roleplaying in World of Warcraft, this limitation is quite significant and leads to some uncomfortable decisions.

I can only take myself as an example. Over the years, I have played several characters in RP and many of them I still play repeatedly today. I have long imagined what kind of house the different characters would live in:

  • My Night Elf mage would live in a semi-ruined wizard tower, reminiscent of the surroundings of Darkshore and adorned with various Azshara decorations.
  • My Draenei should have a very small house consisting of only two rooms and barely equipped with the essentials. Perhaps a human house, since she lives in Stormwind.
  • My Blood Elf warlock should own a larger estate in the Immersang Forest, of course with an extensive study, but also some occult spaces for summoning demons and exploring fel magic.
  • And my demon hunter wants some kind of fel-corrupted place (perhaps an old Legion ship), where she can hang up the skulls of her slain demons.

The problem: Only exactly two of my characters will get their house. Since we can only have one house on the Horde side and one house on the Alliance side, it is simply not possible to implement all these ideas.

WoW TWW Login Screen Blood Elf Amazed title title 1280x720
My witch might have to face disappointment – since not everyone will get a house.

Honestly: This has already put a damper on my excitement. Especially it bothers me because so much from WildStar has been adopted in housing. There, if my memory doesn’t fail me completely – this limitation didn’t exist. Each character could have their own house.

I had hoped that this would also be the case for World of Warcraft. The reason for this is the server load, which is likely higher for WoW than for WildStar. But I believe that solutions could have been found here, such as “private” houses or the option to quickly switch between multiple saved houses. Something I still hope for.

Many characters will not have a house

With this decision, I also feel a bit betrayed by Blizzard. Because the developer preview articles repeatedly talk about how housing should be “for everyone” or how every hero should have a place in Azeroth.

But that is exactly not the case when only 2 characters per account can have a house or when they come up with an explanation out of thin air as to why all my Alliance characters live in one big shared house.

Instead of savoring my anticipation now and imagining how the individual houses of my beloved characters will look in detail, what secret passages I will build or what hidden ritual rooms I will hide, my thoughts primarily revolve around the question: Who will not get a house?

I don’t want you to misunderstand this: I am still very excited about housing and will certainly invest hundreds of hours into it. But before that can happen, I first have to think about which of my characters will actually get a house – and who will be left out. This is a disappointing setback for an absolute hype feature that, in my opinion, simply didn’t have to be, and it also dampens my desire to farm housing items now.
How do you see it?

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

A player experiences the most unlikely traffic accident in Dune: Awakening, making the developers the “greatest griefer” on Arrakis

In Dune: Awakening a player experienced perhaps the most unlikely traffic accident imaginable. The developers are to blame, though bad luck surely played the biggest role.

What happened to the player? In a post on Reddit, user MonsterArcher shared a video showing him in flight through the deep desert. While he is focused on his surroundings and potential ground hazards, there is suddenly a loud bang.

The bang comes from a crashing spaceship that has just spawned. The player quickly looks around to see where the spaceship might land; after all, there is potential loot waiting! But in the next moment, he is rammed by the burning object and violently taken out of the air. His ornithopter crashes to the ground.

After the accident, the player can respawn, but his vehicle is heavily damaged. In the final scenes of the clip, it becomes clear that the attempt to repair the ornithopter fails due to a lack of materials.

You can watch the clip yourself here:

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Link to the Reddit content

Low Chances but Still Not Impossible

What are the chances of such an accident? In the comments on Reddit, user Monowakari took the effort to calculate the chance of such an accident. He clearly states that many of the figures are just estimates as he lacks tools to perform accurate measurements.

The calculation suggests that the chance of being hit by one of the approximately eleven spaceships crashing per hour in a 500 km² desert is about 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 1,000,000. Thus, such an accident would be about as likely as being struck by lightning (chance 1 in 200,000 via Chip.de).

How do players react to the accident? Some players are shocked that one can have such bad luck, while others explain that they have experienced similar situations. Some even joke about the player’s potential loss of their ornithopter:

  • nightwarmedsoul teases the user on Reddit: “Excuse me, sir, we’d like to talk to you about extending your thopter’s warranty.”
  • notatechnicianyo says on Reddit: “I wondered why the ship was getting bigger. Then it hit me.”
  • adarragh21 recounts on Reddit: “The same thing happened to me within half an hour after I got my first thopter. It only damaged the tail, but I haven’t stopped looking up since.”

But even the developers find themselves in the players’ crosshairs. Although the comments were made in jest, the developers of Dune: Awakening are ultimately responsible for the crashing, burning spaceships:

  • Rasples1998 finds on Reddit: “Griefers are getting more creative /s”
  • 2Sleeepyy blames the developers on Reddit: “Turns out Funcom is the king of griefers.”

Being hit by a crashing, burning spaceship and ending up stranded in the deep desert is likely one of the most unlikely things that can happen to a player in Dune: Awakening. Instead of being stranded in the desert, a player is sad and tries to find Ben: Player worries about his neighbor in Dune: Awakening, his “message to Ben” goes viral

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

Throne and Liberty will not be the only big MMORPG without housing and battlefields, but players fear: It’s coming too late

The developers of Throne and Liberty have discussed the upcoming changes to the MMORPG. Look forward to the premiere of housing, a new 24v24 battleground mode, and Hyperboost servers.

What are the plans for summer? The people at Amazon Games are planning a series of innovations that are set to land on the Throne and Liberty servers over the coming weeks and months:

  • A new magic-based support weapon called “Orb” will help you heal and prevent incoming damage.
  • Throne and Liberty will feature housing. Every player can unlock their own home through a new storyline and decorate it with furniture. The house should also provide a real benefit, and players can have multiple homes in different regions.
  • Collecting will be expanded with new resources and a progression path. The new resources can be used to craft furniture for the new homes through a new profession.
  • The developers will fulfill a frequently mentioned wish from the community by introducing battlegrounds, starting with a 24v24 format. More modes are expected to come over time.
  • The team wants to make it easier for newcomers and returning players to catch up with the current content. For this purpose, they are introducing new Hyperboost servers with accelerated progression and Hyperboost events for existing servers.
  • A new achievement system is set to be introduced to make it more worthwhile to play old content and explore all regions in depth.
  • The dimension checks will receive a comprehensive overhaul to make them more attractive to players, such as through significantly better rewards.

When are the contents planned? All these contents are expected to come with the major content update in September. In July, the artifact system will first be revised and extended with a new interface. Additionally, this month, the summer event with an Amitoi Arena will kick off.

Start video
Throne and Liberty: Trailer shows regions of the Wilderness of Talandre expansion

From Hype to Skepticism

How does the community respond to the plans? In several discussions on Reddit as well as under the latest developer video on YouTube, the community is currently discussing the innovations. While many praise the plans and are particularly excited about the premiere of the battlegrounds, others look skeptically at the roadmap.

  • Appolinerfs is excited on Reddit: “Great news, I’m hyped for the battlegrounds!”
  • jlfbalo celebrates the announcement on Reddit: “Fantastic in every way – some old players might return because of all these new contents, especially due to the new weapons and battlegrounds, and there is something for new players with the upcoming hyper-boost.”
  • K4musX2 writes on YouTube: “Holy moly, what a huge update and a win in every way! Great job, guys!”
  • Prize-Orchid8252 is skeptical on Reddit: “Finally some good news … but maybe it’s too late.” Prp_Ckn agrees on Reddit: “This is coming way too late.”

A major problem for Throne and Liberty is that they have lost a very, very large part of their community since the launch. Currently, only a small fraction of players log in regularly. Amazon Games needs to make a real effort to reverse this trend. More on this: Throne and Liberty has lost 95% of its players, no longer the most played MMORPG on Steam

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

Twitch streamer praises FC 26 for new career feature – wants to tell EA 2 things that would make the mode even better

EA FC 26 has shown an interesting new feature for the career mode in the first trailer – and the German Twitch streamer Simon “GamerBrother” Schildgen really likes it. However, for a realistic gaming experience, two changes are needed that have been missing in the mode for years. He even wants to personally address his requests to EA.

Who is this Twitch streamer? GamerBrother is one of the most well-known content creators in Germany. Especially regarding EA FC 25, he ranks among the most watched streamers worldwide according to sullygnome.com.

Currently, his content in FC 25 is focused on the career mode. His career streams as fictional manager Rüdiger Rammel excite many fans each year towards the end of the season. Accordingly, he knows the ins and outs of the mode, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

On Twitch, the streamer reacted to the first trailer of FC 26 and also discussed the changes for the career mode in the new successor. He has uploaded the highlights and key statements of his reaction in a video on his YouTube channel (Source: youtube.com).

What new career feature does GamerBrother praise? In the career modes for FC 26, there is supposed to be a transfer market for managers. Until now, only players could change clubs, but now coaches can also take over new teams.

GamerBrother expects this to bring more variety to the mode, as each coach since FC 25 has their own tactics. He sees the change as a win for the mode.

Additionally, live challenges have been announced that must be fulfilled in the short or long term throughout the season. He does not consider this new feature particularly noteworthy. No further announcements for the career mode have been made so far.

According to GamerBrother, there are still two much more important things that EA should change, which he wants to clarify personally with the responsible parties.

Start video
EA SPORTS FC 26 | Offizieller Enthüllungstrailer

2 things would make the career mode much more dynamic

What 2 changes should EA make to the career mode? First, GamerBrother demands a more dynamic development potential for players.

So far, the potential of players has been predictable and unfolds the same way every season. Exceptions only occur if one plays with the professionals in their own team, as they might take significant development steps with regular playtime.

The talents with the greatest potential in the career mode for FC 25, who play in other teams, never exceed their predicted peak.

Secondly, he demands accessible statistics of players in other leagues and clubs.

These should also contribute to a more dynamic gaming experience according to GamerBrother’s statements. From time to time, one could observe which players are currently performing and then purchase these top performers for their club to benefit from their current form.

According to GamerBrother, these changes should not pose significant difficulties in times of advancing artificial intelligence.

Can the demands be implemented? GamerBrother follows up with EA

This is how GamerBrother wants to advocate for the changes at EA: In the live stream, the content creator emphasized that as a career player, he knows what fans demand and that he is committed to serving his EA FC community.

Since the beginning of the week, the streamer has been invited by EA Sports to Canada to attend an event for the new FC 26. He hopes to discuss his demands with the responsible staff for the career mode so that his requests at least get noticed.

To what extent his attempts have been successful will certainly be announced by the streamer soon. However, until the respective deep-dive trailers in the coming weeks, GamerBrother will likely remain silent on the EA side.

Fans disappointed with the previous changes

How the community reacts to the announced changes: Under the YouTube video of the streamer, many players express disappointment at the few announced changes for the career mode:

  • erzwald9174: “To be honest: the trailer is certainly cool, but if you want a career mode, this game is simply a disappointment year after year.” (via YouTube)
  • MFieldHD: “For ten years, we’ve been begging without fun for a new career mode, but apart from the unnecessary negotiations, they have changed nothing.” (via YouTube)
  • jayaries21: “What has been shown for the career mode so far is absolutely hyping me 0.0%.” (via YouTube)

EA has presented itself as fan-friendly and receptive to criticism with the first trailer. Therefore, it is possible that further adjustments for the career mode will follow that have not yet been announced.

Whether at least the changes requested by GamerBrother will be included in the career mode remains to be seen. The deep dive trailer for the career mode is expected to be released in early August 2025. By then, fans will find out if further adjustments will be made. Overall, EA Sports has not skimped on innovations in the first trailer for FC 26: “The best trailer in 8 years” – EA FC 26 shows over 20 innovations in just 2 minutes

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

Mega Dragonite from Pokémon Legends A-Z finally has what I always felt was missing

In the recent Pokémon Presents, the Mega Evolution of Dragonite was introduced, which will make its debut in Pokémon Legends A-Z. MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya thinks it couldn’t have been done better.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who was confused when I first saw Dragonite in Pokémon Red or Blue.

I have always liked the design. I mean, just look at it:

You just have to love Dragonite, with its rounded shapes and button eyes. The cute appearance has always been a misconception, as Dragonite is also a powerful dragon.

However, looking at its pre-evolutions Dratini and Dragonair can also cause confusion as to whether you got mixed up in the evolution line and whether somewhere in the drawers of developer studio Game Freak a blue, agile dragon is collecting dust as a design.

I always wondered what happened to the wings on its head and why only antennas remain. The orbs that Dragonite grows into Dragonair are also missing in the final stage. The color change from blue to orange is also quite radical.

Mega Dragonite picks up the “missing” design elements

When I watched the Pokémon Presents last night, my heart melted instantly. There’s now new information about Pokémon Legends A-Z, including the significance of Mega Evolutions. In this context, Mega Dragonite was revealed as well. And now take a look:

The design of Dragonite has hardly changed. He is still the friendly, round dragon. But a few elements from Dragonair are adopted, giving him an almost angelic look.

The antennas of Dragonite return as wings, which appear widely spread and fluffy. The orb on the tail has also been revisited, shimmering bluish. Additionally, there are a few extra wings on the legs and arms. The cross stripes on the belly are now jagged, making Dragonite almost look agile! Almost.

Enhanced Kindness is Brutal

I have to laugh when I find the description of Mega Dragonite. It states that the kindness is even enhanced, for which Dragonite is known. The following description is given:

For Mega Dragonite, a quick end to a Pokémon battle is a kind gesture towards its opponent. Its kindness grows through Mega Evolution and it attacks opponents with strong moves and a smile. However, if it feels that someone is in trouble, it rushes to help that person immediately – even if it is in the midst of a fierce battle.

Official Website of Pokémon Legends A-Z

So, if you encounter a Mega Dragonite in Pokémon A-Z, be careful that it doesn’t beam you back to nothingness with a kind Hyper Beam while smiling at you with its enhanced kindness.

According to the new information, Mega Evolutions will probably function like some kind of raid bosses in the city of Illumina City. You can see all about that in our overview of the latest Pokémon Presents:

Pokémon Legends A-Z reveals how important the Megas will be.

I have already seen many discussions online about the design of Mega Dragonite. I clearly belong to the camp of fans of the design. What about you?

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

The shooter that wanted to save the genre lost 90% of its players 7 weeks after release and is now going back to beta

Splitgate 2 was promoted at the Summer Game Fest 2025 as the shooter that wanted to save its genre, but now the game is trying drastic measures to save itself. It is even going back to beta.

What did I miss about Splitgate 2? At the Summer Game Fest 2025, the CEO of Studio 1047 Games, Ian Proulx, took the stage and gave a compelling speech about the decline of the shooter genre. It needs change to make FPS great again. This change was presented by the CEO, as Splitgate 2 was announced right after.

The game is supposed to have not only its well-known area mode with portals but also a battle royale, as well as battle passes and skins for sale. A bitter disappointment for many shooter fans. Splitgate 2 advertised itself as the salvation of the genre, but now, 7 weeks after its release, the game has lost 90% of its players on Steam (Source: steamcharts.com).

With an open letter, the studio has now spoken out to discuss future plans and save its game.

Start video
Splitgate 2 announced with new cinematic trailer

“We have experienced many dark days and made many mistakes.”

What have the developers announced? In an open letter on Steam (Source: store.steampowered.com), Studio 1047 Games addressed the current state of Splitgate 2. The team admits that they released the game too early. For this reason, it’s going back to beta. During the beta phase, key points that fans have criticized will be adjusted, including:

  • Revise the progression system
  • Implement more portals in maps
  • Simplify monetization
  • Focus more on classic modes

Additionally, more focus should be placed on the community, and development should return to its roots, as was the case with Splitgate 1. There should be more surveys and playtests. The goal is to combine the DNA of the first installment with the improvements from part 2.

Since the loss of the player base has also caused financial problems, the studio had to take measures to continue developing Splitgate 2. Therefore, some positions in the team were eliminated. It was also announced that the OG Splitgate servers will be shut down in a month.

What happens next? Splitgate 2 is still supposed to remain playable. Additionally, Chapter 3 is planned to be released. Bug fixes and significant changes are also still to be made, but afterwards, the priority will be on the development of the shooter.

According to the studio, the beta phase is expected to last until spring 2026, but that is not set in stone yet. It remains to be seen whether these changes will provide the breakthrough the developers are hoping for. In the meantime, we have compiled a large list of the best shooters of 2025 in case you are looking for an alternative: The 25 best shooters of 2025 – These PvP and PvE games impress with their gameplay

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

The new update of Lost Ark is a win for solo players and makes gold sellers cry

On July 23, 2025, the update “Welcome to Paradise” for Lost Ark will be released, and in many ways, the patch notes actually read like heaven on Arkesia.

What do I need to know about the new update? In order to bring the extensive update “Welcome to Paradise” to the Lost Ark servers, there will be a long maintenance period of about 10 hours on July 23, 2025. Maintenance will start at 9:00 AM. Therefore, no one will likely be able to try out the new content before tonight.

The highlights of the update include:

  • A new experimental solo content called “Paradise”, consisting of a series of seasonal, weekly challenges. Through these, you can earn various rewards without the need for groups, which will help you in the progression of your heroes. Sometimes you will have to fend off waves of enemies, sometimes defeat bosses in duels, and sometimes fight through 100 levels.
  • As part of the new solo content, you will earn the seasonal equipment “Legacy of Paradise”, which consists of 6 pieces and can be upgraded and modified. Through this equipment, you will also unlock special effects.
  • Since many rewards from “Paradise” are character-bound, this new feature also reduces the pressure to min-max, eliminating the need to farm with various twinks for the main character to get the most out of the new content.
  • With Aegir Solo, another Legion raid section is now available to all soloists with sufficiently strong gear (item level 1,660+). Additionally, some other solo content is now easier or more rewarding.
  • Several events are starting to help you prepare your characters for endgame – such as the Event Power Pass, Mokoko Challenge Express, Mokoko Bootcamp, or the Growth Support Mission event. All these events provide you with additional rewards, allowing you to efficiently increase your heroes’ item level.
  • The new update brings various improvements to the UI and various menu areas to make them clearer and better structured or to provide additional information. The entire achievements section will also receive an overhaul.
  • The developers are introducing character-bound gold for various features to combat the illegal sale of gold for real money.
  • The new update includes a free legendary skin for all players.

In addition to all this, there are countless balancing adjustments for classes and content, 4 additional hairstyles, and improvements for almost every area of Lost Ark. You can find the very long patch notes at playlostark.com.

There is a live-action trailer for Lost Ark:

Start video
Lost Ark Live-Action Trailer

“Finally a really big update”

How does the community rate the update? On Reddit, the update is already being discussed, as well as under the new video section of “Eye On Arkesia” on YouTube. Many players praise the developers for the current information density and many of the new features.

  • Known-Meeting3702 writes on Reddit: “I love the proactive communication we’ve received. Regardless of whether everyone likes what is being said or not, communication is simply important.”
  • Ricky-Doo-Dah-Grimes is looking forward to Reddit, especially about 2 things: “Free legendary skin next week and changes that combat alt-roster gold. W AGS.” Editor’s note: The W stands for Win, AGS stands for Amazon Game Studios. Thus, the player is praising the publisher of Lost Ark.
  • sparycz praises on Reddit: “After a long time, there is finally a really big update. Nice!”
  • Zealousideal_Wash_44 explains on Reddit: “The gold sellers are already whining on Discord about this update. I hope there will be a mass ban of second accounts, making it a BIG W +++.”
  • KeenZorse comments on YouTube: “I am really excited about Paradise, no P2W, just relaxed gameplay, sounds like fun.”

Some players even feel that the changes do not go far enough, as for example, the solo raids always lag a bit behind the current raid content, or because there are still contents through which unbound gold can be earned. What do you think?

If you want to jump back into Lost Ark, you should be aware that the MMORPG currently only supports English as a language as well as the English QWERTY layout for keyboards. You can find out the reasons here: The MMORPG Lost Ark eliminates the entire German language, so you don’t accidentally press the wrong key

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

Big warhammer strategy game on Steam finally removes one of its most nonsensical features

Total War: Warhammer 3 removes a controversial ability from your units. You will soon be able to test how that feels.

What ability is it about? The developers call it “pocket ladders”, but the community has nicknamed them “ass ladders”. These are the ladders that your infantry automatically takes into every siege battle to climb the enemy walls. They are called that because units pull them out of thin air – essentially, “pulling them out of their ass”.

Here you can see the latest teaser for the upcoming DLC Tides of Torment:

Start video
Total War: Warhammer 3 – The official teaser for the DLC Tides of Torment

These ladders have been a staple of the Warhammer trilogy since part 1 and are quite hated by the community:

  • They make it far too easy for attackers to overwhelm enemy settlements. The walls pose almost no obstacle, allowing you to easily penetrate the settlement from all sides, with a numerically inferior garrison being unable to do anything.
  • As defenders, you have the opposite problem. Currently, it is hardly worth holding the walls, as they can be climbed far too easily. Therefore, the better tactic is often to ignore them and defend chokepoints within the settlement. 

Both as defenders and attackers, the biggest feature of siege battles is lost – namely the defending or strategically overcoming the walls. Moreover, ladders that appear out of nowhere are not exactly immersive.

Developers let you play without the hated ladders

The developers are now reacting: And you will soon be able to test the result yourself. On July 24, 2025, the “Siege Proving Grounds” will go live – a beta where the developers will test some changes to sieges with the help of the community.

The hated ladders are now gone, but only at your request. If you want, you can enable them in the options at will. This can also be done within a campaign, but not during a battle.

If you disable the automatic ladders, you can build them as siege equipment. These are slower and more fragile than siege towers, but are produced faster. Additionally, you will not suffer heavy losses if the enemy destroys your ladders on the way to the wall.

The current model of the siege ladders in the beta is, by the way, just a placeholder. The various factions do not yet have unique designs for their ladders. However, if they are incorporated into the finished game, they will receive their own designs.

The beta runs from July 24 to August 7, so two weeks long. To sign up for it, right-click on your game, then go to “Properties” and finally “Betas”. There you can select the Siege Proving Grounds under “Beta Participation”.

About 2 weeks ago, the team behind the game announced that they would postpone the release of the latest DLC. However, they teased a series of exciting new content and the possible arrival of a fan-favorite. You can read more about it in this article: Total War: Warhammer 3 plans huge DLC for the summer, wants to spice up 2 factions, now has to postpone everything

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

Flower pots in Final Fantasy XVI looked so stylish back then that they almost ruined the whole game

Final Fantasy XIV launched in 2010 with a particular problem: the flower pots looked way too fancy. This was explained by Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida in a retrospective. The flower pots, in total, required a lot of performance.

Final Fantasy XIV was first released in 2010. However, the MMORPG was torn apart by the press and players: It was considered unfinished, buggy, and faced numerous other issues.

Later, the MMORPG was eventually taken offline to be completely revamped. The new head was Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida. Yoshida explained at that time in a retrospective (via Polygon.com) that there were several major problems. One of them was the flower pots in the game, as they simply looked too fancy.

The grind fest from July 21 to 27
In this week, you can expect exciting articles every day on the topic of MMORPG. Included: a time travel through the history of online role-playing games, as well as nostalgic retrospectives, streaming evenings, interviews, columns, and analyses.

You can find the program for the big MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO here.

You can watch the official trailer for the original version 1.0 here:

Start video
Final Fantasy XIV Trailer for Version 1.0 Shows a Past Era

Pots looked as fancy as player characters, which caused problems

What was the problem with the pots? Yoshida explained that they had been obsessed with achieving perfect graphical quality from the beginning. The game was supposed to look great, but this very decision cost a lot of processing power.

As a concrete example, Yoshida showed a screenshot of a flower pot in front of an inn from the first version of Final Fantasy 14. He referred to it as “the most beautiful flower pot in an MMO,” but then revealed that it cost a lot of performance: a single flower pot contained over 1,000 polygons and 150 lines of shader code, meaning it consumed as many resources as a single player character.

What are polygons? A polygon is the smallest unit of a 3D graphic. A three-dimensional object can consist of a few to many thousands of polygons. The more polygons, the more complex the object is. For the object to be able to move, it also requires a movement model (known as a rig).

To ensure that the game functioned reasonably, the team made a compromise: they limited the number of player characters visible on the screen at the same time to 20. This allowed them to control the processing power, resulting in the game running fairly smoothly at launch. In the end, there were more pretty graphics and less real MMO feeling.

What other problems were there? Yoshida mentioned two other reasons:

  • The then developer team lacked MMO knowledge and experience.
  • Major design flaws in the game itself. However, the developers hoped that they could fix the issues later with patches.

Final Fantasy XIV was significantly revamped and is now one of the most important, actively running MMORPGs that you can play. Whether it’s worth starting and what you need to pay attention to is discussed in the following article directly on MeinMMO: Is it still worth getting into Final Fantasy 14?

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

The most famous group of Dungeons & Dragons is going on a big tour – and you can even see them in Germany

Critical Role has evolved into the most well-known group for Dungeons & Dragons on Twitch and YouTube and is embarking on a journey to perform with their new show. Now the pre-sale for the first shows has started, but some beacon codes did not work.

Update from July 23, 2025: The pre-sale for Berlin has started again, and as a Beacon member, you should now be able to receive your tickets without any issues.

Are all tickets sold out? After about 1 1/2 hours, the event in Berlin seemed to be sold out. However, according to support from Beacon, the presale was temporarily stopped to give all other users still hoping for tickets the same fair chances. Sales resumed once the issue with the codes was resolved.

Can you buy tickets again? If you are a Beacon member and have received your code for the presale, according to x.com, you can buy tickets again since July 23, 2025, at 8:00 AM CEST.

What if I already have a standard ticket but actually wanted a VIP ticket? If you purchased a standard ticket but would prefer a VIP ticket, you can use your code again. Then send an email to [email protected] and use the subject “Critical Role VIP Upgrade” so that processing can occur before 6:00 PM CEST on July 29 and you can receive a refund for the standard ticket.

My presale code is not working? On July 22, 2025, at 9 AM German time, the presale for the Echoes of Exandria Tour 2026 started for Berlin, Edinburgh, and London. Several colleagues in the MeinMMO editorial team tried to access tickets via Beacon codes, initially unsuccessfully. There are also increasing reports on Reddit, specifically regarding the show in Berlin.

We have also received feedback from support at Beacon that the issue is known and that a solution is currently being worked on. Support asks to keep trying, even if the overall problem has not been officially resolved yet.

What can I do if my code does not work? According to the Beacon email with the codes, you should contact Beacon support directly. This can be done via the email address [email protected].

Attention: According to the Beacon website, you should contact [email protected]. Which address is generally correct is not known at this time. We have already received responses from both addresses, so both should be possible.

MeinMMO will stay on top of things and keep you updated on any news.

Critical Role live in Germany – All about the Echoes of Exandria Tour 2026

What kind of tour is this? Under the name “Echoes of Exandria,” the group is planning a tour in 2026 with 5 stops, where they will perform their new show. Standalone stories (One Shots) in the world of Exandria are to be played live on stage.

Who is participating? The entire founding cast will play, including Matthew Mercer as Dungeon Master, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Ashley Johnson, Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham, and Sam Riegel. There will also be a custom stage design.

Where is it happening? The dates are planned as follows:

  • May 26, 2026 – Atlanta, GA (Gas South Arena)
  • July 6, 2026 – Berlin, Germany (Uber Arena)
  • July 12, 2026 – Edinburgh, Scotland (Edinburgh Castle)
  • October 26, 2026 – London, England (The O2)
  • December 3, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX (Dickies Arena, with Travis Willingham as Dungeon Master)

What do the tickets cost? The prices for Germany are now known and are as follows:

  • 196.25 € – Seat Category 1
  • 167.50 € – Seat Category 2
  • 133.00 € – Seat Category 3

According to Reddit, prices in London are as follows:

  • 184 £ for the front
  • 150 £ for the first tier of the arena
  • 98 £ for the top tier of seats

At Edinburgh Castle, the situation is similar according to Reddit:

  • 180 £ for the front
  • 150 £ for the middle blocks
  • 91 £ for the cheapest seats

When and where can I buy tickets? Tickets for Germany will be available from July 25, 2025, at 9:00 AM (CEST) – you will find the sale on Eventim. Members of the paid service “Beacon” will enjoy early ticket sales starting July 22, 2025, at 9:00 AM (CEST), provided they had a valid membership before July 18.

There will also be exclusive “Fan Experience Tickets” (except for Edinburgh), which will give you the best seats in the house, a Q&A session with the cast before the show, and early access to exclusive tour items for an additional fee.

How many tickets can I purchase in the pre-sale? If you are part of the Beacon pre-sale, you can secure up to 8 tickets per member. In the general pre-sale, there is a maximum of 6 tickets. Violating this limit may lead to a ticket blocking.

Can I come in cosplay? If you want to go in cosplay, that is actually encouraged by the organizers. So don’t hesitate to come as you wish.

For more information about the respective venues, ticket sales, and more, visit the official website.

In the meantime, Critical Role has even developed their own role-playing system “Daggerheart”:

Start video
Critical Role stellen ihr neues, eigenes Rollenspiel vor: Daggerheart

From “friends playing D&D” to so much more

What or who is Critical Role? What began as a private D&D campaign called “Vox Machina” among friends has been live-streamed since March 2015 via Geek & Sundry and has captured the hearts of many fans deeply.

In 2019, Critical Role was founded as an independent company and the group moved to its own Twitch and YouTube channel. There they started their second campaign in the stream with “The Mighty Nein” and occasionally invited guests for individual sessions. As a result, they have now accumulated numerous additional formats, such as one-shots with their own rule sets, the third campaign of Dungeons & Dragons, “Bells Hells,” as well as further behind-the-scenes and talk shows.

Currently, the franchise surrounding the group includes:

  • Streams on Twitch and YouTube
  • Live performances & shows
  • Own streaming platform Beacon
  • Series adaptation of the first campaign “The Legend of Vox Machina” with currently 3 seasons
  • A further adaptation with the first season of “The Mighty Nein” is planned for late 2025
  • Two of their own role-playing rule sets named “Candela Obscura” and “Daggerheart
  • Darrington Press, the publishing company
  • An own video game that is in development

In addition to their live and video formats, Critical Role continues to work on their “D&D alternative” Daggerheart. Recently, they even brought in two absolute veterans who previously worked significantly on Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast: The most well-known group for Dungeons & Dragons is developing its own role-playing game, securing two important staff members from Wizards of the Coast

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

One of the biggest villains of DC looks like Thanos, but he is even more wicked and brutal

Thanos is one of the most important and powerful villains in Marvel, but DC also has a major villain that several heroes must confront.

Which character is it? Those who only have a passing familiarity with the DC Universe may not have heard much about Darkseid. However, this villain is one of the most powerful adversaries of the DC heroes, threatening not only Earth, but often the entire Multiverse.

Unlike Thanos, who acts out of love or what he believes to be the right ideas, Darkseid’s goal is to control the entire universe and strip it of free will. He not only has an army but also quite strong abilities.

In the new Superman movie, the hero faces a human adversary:

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Superman – Trailer for the new film of the well-known superhero from DC

A Tyrannical God

Who is Darkseid? The villain made his first appearance in the comic
Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen No. 134 (1970). Darkseid is the ruler of Apokolips, a place that exists outside the normal universe. To leave or enter this place, certain teleporters known as Boom Tubes are required.

Depending on the origin story, he is descended from the Old God Yuga Khan and is referred to as a New God. Darkseid wants to enslave all living beings and intends to utilize the Anti-Life Equation (roughly translated as Anti-Life Equation) for this purpose. This formula is said to be capable of controlling the will of others.

On Apokolips, he reigns sadistically and brutally. Most living beings on Apokolips are enslaved inhabitants who have been abducted and live a terrible life. They possess no self-esteem, and any resistance is brutally crushed.

On the other side are the Parademons. This is the bulk of Darkseid’s army. The Parademons are genetically engineered monsters that arise from living or dead inhabitants of the attacked worlds. When Darkseid unleashes his troops, they attack all living beings nearby and seize them to create new Parademons.

Additionally, there are the Furies. They stand above the Parademons and form Darkseid’s personal security force. Unlike the Parademons, they have their own personalities. They are led by Granny Goodness.

The greatest danger in Apokolips, however, is not the army; it is Darkseid himself.

A Powerful God

How strong is Darkseid? He is not referred to as the God of Evil or Tyranny without reason. He possesses a whole repertoire of abilities that make him a danger, even to great heroes like Superman.

  • As a New God, he is an entity that exists in the Multiverse, and therefore is among the most powerful beings in the DC Universe.
  • He is extremely intelligent and a brilliant strategist, and he can perceive other universes and dimensions.
  • Darkseid is immortal. He has lived for an indeterminate amount of time, gathering knowledge.
  • He is extremely resilient and immune to most energy attacks.
  • If one should manage to inflict injuries on him, he can regenerate.
  • He is incredibly fast, has high stamina, and his strength is comparable to that of Superman.
  • Additionally, he has abilities like power absorption, resurrection, flight, and the manipulation of gravity.

His most iconic ability is his special laser beams that he can shoot from his eyes. They are based on a power that he stole from the Old Gods. Unlike, for example, Superman’s lasers, Darkseid’s lasers can track their targets. You can see them guiding to hit their target without fail.

How can he be defeated? Even though Darkseid is a quite powerful being, many comics depict heroes becoming more powerful than one might expect. This includes Superman, who regularly exceeds his limits.

In many variations, Superman has the strength to keep up with Darkseid. In the film Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, we see how Superman and Supergirl together managed to drive the tyrant away. Although they did not kill him, they were able to outsmart him.

As is often the case in the comic world, it depends on the story or the universe how strong certain characters are. Powerful villains do not always have to be ruthless tyrants. Sometimes they are absurd jesters: A villain from the DC Universe is more powerful than Superman, while only being a guy in an orange pajama

In many variations, Superman has the strength to keep up with Darkseid. In the film Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, we see how Superman and Supergirl together managed to drive the tyrant away. Although they did not kill him, they were able to outsmart him.

As is often the case in the comic world, it depends on the story or the universe how strong certain characters are. Powerful villains do not always have to be ruthless tyrants. Sometimes they are absurd jesters: A villain from the DC Universe is more powerful than Superman, while only being a guy in an orange pajama

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