The favorite Tiefling from Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t so nice, reveals the voice actor

Karlach from Baldur’s Gate 3 is simply kind-hearted. Or is she not? The voice actor reveals details about the Hellspawn Tiefling.

When thinking of characters from Baldur’s Gate 3 that one simply must love, most will immediately think of the companion Karlach. The Tiefling barbarian is simply full of positive energy, always a little too cheerful, and has her heart in the right place – well, at least in a figurative sense.

However, Karlach isn’t as “good” a character as we all thought she was. The voice of Karlach revealed this in an interview.

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

Where did the info come from? The site TheGamer has already published excerpts from an interview that will be released later. It focuses mainly on Karlach and the role of her voice actor – many details about the character who is so beloved by fans.

Karlach was cruel to survive

What was said? Samantha Béart, the voice actress of Karlach, was asked what the biggest misconception about Karlach is and gave a clear answer:

That she is this really sweet, nice, always cheerful person. I believe she was a completely different person in hell.

Players get to know Karlach, after initial accusations by Wyll, as a very lovable Tiefling who has just escaped from hell. But she hasn’t always been like this:

I imagined that when you are locked in this high-security prison, with no hope of escape and you have to do all these terrible gang things to survive – and then you finally get out. “You know what? I get to decide who I am now. And I am not that person anymore. That person was how I got through a phase of my life. But now I’m not doing that anymore.”

I think she was quite a piece of work in hell. She had to be. She is someone who just didn’t talk much. She kept her head down to get through all of that.

Karlach’s biggest problem in the game is that her heart has been replaced by a hellish machine. This allows her to excel in combat, but her life in the world has a time limit – sooner or later she has to return to hell. Unless you make a really dark decision

At that time, a major criticism was that Karlach experiences a rather dark story and, unlike most other characters in the game, cannot have a “happy ending.” Because Karlach’s endings are, in most cases, either highly dramatic or uncertain for the future.

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

Many can finally enjoy WoW again thanks to a feature: “Thank you, developers”

A feature in World of Warcraft allows many to enjoy the game again who have felt excluded for a long time. Blizzard got everything right here.

World of Warcraft is quite complicated. Newcomers have a hard time, but even veteran fans are often overwhelmed by the complexity. It is even worse if one has physical or mental limitations that make playing even more difficult.

A feature that the developers recently introduced has now been highly praised. We are talking about the controversial “One-Button Assistant”, which essentially takes over the game rotation. You can then focus entirely on dodging, positioning, and interrupts, or simply the boss abilities. Since this option has become available, many who previously had no chance can also enjoy WoW again. For instance, Jhadd0326 writes in the WoW subreddit:

I was a cutting-edge raider and had a 3,500 rating, but now I’m a disabled veteran with brain damage. I just returned to WoW and it’s such an overwhelming experience for me. I’m shocked at how much worse I’ve gotten at the game. I sit in raids and am confused about which buttons I need to press, it’s just embarrassing. The single-button assistant completely solves the problem for me and it is what it is, but I’m really grateful for this option as it allows me to continue playing WoW. Thank you, developers (…), that was a really good accessibility idea.

Many praise the feature – more can enjoy WoW again

Other commentators also praise the feature.

  • “I am 23 and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that affects my joints and energy – honestly, the best feature for us!” – rieveriie
  • “For my wife, this has been a true game-changer, she can’t focus for more than 10 minutes at a time. Now she can simply focus on not standing in the fire while still doing good damage. Personally, I think this is a fantastic feature that was long overdue.” – scud121

In the community, there are rumors that the one-button feature was implemented in preparation for a console version of World of Warcraft. However, stories like these show that the feature primarily serves accessibility, allowing an entirely new group to finally have fun in WoW again.
Many are actually doing significantly better with the one-button assistant – but they don’t want to hear that.

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

Can you play Cyberpunk 2077 with a 13-year-old graphics card? Expert tests it, the result is disillusioning

An expert tests whether one can still play Cyberpunk 2077 with an old graphics card. And he is disappointed. Even with features like AMD’s FSR, not much can be done if the graphics card is simply too old.

GCS Hardware, a hardware-focused channel on YouTube, tested whether it is still possible to play on a very old graphics card. He chose Counter-Strike 2, GTA V, Cyberpunk 2077, and Doom 2016 for his test and tested the games on a GTX 660.

The GTX 660 was released on September 12, 2012, and was considered an affordable and fast graphics card for Full HD gaming for under 300 Euros.

However, in the end, he was mainly disappointed with Cyberpunk. Because AMD’s “wonder technology,” FSR, cannot save a 13-year-old graphics card anymore.

Start video
Cyberpunk 2077: The Ultimate Edition trailer shows a ‘City of Dreams’

With a 13-Year-Old Graphics Card and FSR Against Cyberpunk 2077

What is FSR anyway? FSR is a so-called upscaling technology from AMD and is the counterpart to Nvidia’s DLSS. The principle behind it is: A game is rendered in low resolution, such as Full HD, and then scaled up to a higher resolution, such as 4K. This allows games to run smoother, as the graphics card doesn’t have to calculate as many pixels.

While Nvidia relies on a closed system with DLSS, supporting only in-house and somewhat recent graphics cards (RTX 2000 series and above), AMD took a more open approach with the first two versions of FSR: FSR 1 and 2.1 also supported graphics cards from Nvidia and Intel.

How the tests went: The YouTuber tried to use FSR to increase performance but found that FSR did not bring any additional FPS improvements:

  • Cyberpunk 2077 performed the worst with only 10 FPS or 15 FPS at the lowest possible settings at native 1080P.
  • The performance mode FSR 2.1 could boost performance into the low 20s.
  • The game eventually crashed with FSR, ending with a black screen. XeSS and FSR 3.1 were practically unsupported

What does the test show? Upscaling technologies are always considered “wonder technology” to squeeze more FPS out of older graphics cards. However, the test by the YouTuber clearly shows that there are very pronounced technical limits:

The attempt to use FSR upscaling in Cyberpunk 2077 and CS:2 shows that the GTX 660 is simply too old to effectively execute modern upscaling technologies. This is due to technical features that the old graphics card can no longer support.

Many users looking to buy a graphics card are currently leaning towards Nvidia. Because here, you get more features. But this could change now, as AMD is making a huge leap forward in software: Nvidia graphics cards could soon lose their main selling point compared to AMD.

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

Whoever wants Total War: Warhammer 3 completely pays over 200 euros even on sale – Here are the most important DLCs for every playstyle

For Total War: Warhammer 3, there are now 28 paid add-ons that bring new races or commanders into the game. MeinMMO editor and Warhammer expert Benedict Grothaus explains which of these you actually need and which you can do without.

[toc]

Of all the games in the series, Total War: Warhammer 3 has the most players on Steam according to steamcharts and has a rating of 83% positive based on the recent 944 reviews on Steam (as of July 1). Accordingly, the game is quite popular.

One reason for the great success is the massive Immortal Empires campaign featuring over 280 factions that play against each other on the entire Warhammer world map. This mode is free for all owners.

Total War: Warhammer 3 is often available at a low price during Steam Sales, but there’s a catch: the base game offers relatively little. If you want the full experience, you will pay over 200 euros for the entire collection with all DLCs on sale.

Since players looking to jump in may not know what else they need, you will find here a list of all factions and DLCs according to their strengths and weaknesses. After over 570 hours just on Steam and about 200 more in Game Pass, I have spent dozens of hours with each faction or against them.

In the overview, you will find all factions for a specific playstyle with a brief description. However, a few notes:

  • All factions are fundamentally military; Warhammer does not work without war. Only the focus is a bit different.
  • Almost every faction has access to diplomacy and trade, but it is more or less relevant for the respective races.
  • Some factions as NPCs have different options than players; only player races are described here.
  • Most races have several strengths and focuses, which is why you can find almost all of them in more than one category.
Start video
Total War: Warhammer 3 – Launch Trailer Immortal Empires

The Offensive Races and their DLCs

As already mentioned, every faction is initially military. Some place more emphasis on infantry, others on cavalry, chariots, magic, or artillery. For the overview, I decided to further subdivide the category into factions that are more war-seeking (offensive military) or can defend their positions well (defensive military).

Khorne

  • included in Total War: Warhammer 3 (base game)
  • focus on melee units and monsters, ranged combat is hardly available
  • gains bonuses through constant war and combat
  • can develop certain units
  • additional legendary commander in the DLC Skulltaker – Omens of Destruction

Chaos Dwarfs (DLC)

  • included in the DLC Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs
  • focus on artillery, gunpowder units, and heavy armor
  • greenskin units as support with a unique hero
  • without war, your economy will likely collapse
  • secondary strength: economy

Empire

  • included in Total War: Warhammer
  • balanced roster with many different wizards and war machines
  • one of the strongest artillery in the entire game
  • always start in conflict zones that require diplomatic or military solutions
  • secondary strength: diplomacy
  • additional commanders in the DLCs The Grim & The Grave, The Hunter & The Beast and Elspeth – Thrones of Decay

Beastmen (DLC)

  • included in the DLC Call of the Beastmen
  • do not have settlements but form “Hordes” instead
  • training of new units and building structures mainly within the army itself
  • balanced unit selection
  • focus on ambushes and raids
  • additional commander in the DLC The Silence & The Fury

Chaos Warriors (DLC)

  • included in the DLC Chaos Warriors, additional commanders in the DLC
  • only have “black towers” as large settlements and otherwise play with vassals
  • versatile unit roster depending on the respective lord/chaos god
  • can develop certain units
  • secondary strength: diplomacy
  • additional commanders in the DLC Champions of Chaos

Chaos Daemons

  • included in Total War: Warhammer 3 (base game)
  • versatile unit roster made up of units from all chaos gods
  • can dedicate themselves to a god or worship all
  • access to special chaos blessings and enhancements for the commander

Greenskins

  • included in Total War: Warhammer
  • focus on melee infantry with ranged as a weaker support
  • can call WAAAGHs to recruit additional armies
  • must wage war,
  • no access to trade with other factions
  • additional commanders in the DLC The King & the Warlord, The Warden & the Paunch and Gorbad – Omens of Destruction

Lizardmen

  • included in Total War: Warhammer 2
  • balanced unit roster with many flying units, monsters, and wizards
  • blessed units as special elite troops
  • have access to special rituals to gain advantages in the campaign
  • additional commanders in the DLCs The Prophet & The Warlock, The Hunter & the Beast and The Silence & The Fury

Norsca (DLC)

Vampire Coast (DLC)

  • included in the DLC Curse of the Vampire Coast
  • focus on ranged combat and artillery as well as monsters, no cavalry
  • can summon units without recruitment time (necromancy); stronger units where large battles have been fought
  • legendary commanders and admirals can upgrade their ships for recruitment on the go
  • ship abilities grant advantages in combat
  • leaders can occupy officer positions for various bonuses
    Leaders have loyalty and can mutiny if approval is too low
  • can obtain special units and commanders through infamy or parts of the pirate song
  • secondary strength: economy

Dark Elves

  • included in Total War: Warhammer 2
  • balanced roster with strong units in every area
  • leaders can gain “Names of Power” to receive advantages
  • leaders have loyalty and can betray you if it drops
  • Black Arks that sail the seas and can reinforce or fully build armies from there
  • access to rituals for various bonuses at the cost of slaves
  • secondary strength: economy
  • additional commanders in the DLCs The Queen & The Crone and The Shadow & The Blade

Skaven

  • included in Total War: Warhammer 2
  • fundamentally weak units focused on huge masses and summons
  • no flying units and no cavalry, only monsters
  • usually fight ambush-style, even in attack, if possible
  • commanders have loyalty and can betray you if loyalty decreases
  • sub-cities as a special game mechanic that can call entire armies
  • secondary strength: economy
  • additional commanders in the DLCs The Prophet & The Warlock, The Shadow & The Blade and The Twisted & The Twilight

Skaven are an interesting race in themselves, as they are characterized by cowardice and ambush. They have their own god, who has now ascended to chaos god status in Age of Sigmar.

Of all the races in Total War: Warhammer 3, the commanders of the Skaven likely have the greatest differences in playstyle, ranging from inventors with weapons of mass destruction to crazy biochemists to assassins. Especially if you only know Warhammer 40,000, you should check out Skaven: One of the coolest races from Warhammer will remain unknown to you if you only play Warhammer 40,000

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

A feature annoys players in Diablo 4, appears everywhere and disturbs during looting and leveling

With Season 9, Diablo 4 has received new content and revised old mechanics. A particular feature has come into focus, as it has suddenly appeared more frequently and is seriously annoying players during loot and leveling.

Season 9 started in Diablo 4 on July 1, 2025 and has introduced new content into the ARPG. Among other things, there are Horadric spells to enhance your builds. The Nightmare Dungeons have also been overhauled: new affixes on the seals and so-called “Escalation Nightmares,” where you run through three dungeons consecutively.

But a pesky mechanic that you encounter in battles against monsters seems to have been revised. Players believe it is related to the seasonal feature.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows Horadric spells and new endgame content in the trailer for Season 9

Hellbinders slow you down in battles

Which mechanic is plaguing players? In Diablo 4, there are attacks from monsters that slow you down or completely impede you, including the so-called Hellbinders. They spawn directly in combat and chain your character to a sort of pillar. Before you can move on, you either have to destroy the pillar or use a skill that makes you “unstoppable.”

On Reddit, a user posts a picture of this very feature and asks, “Worst new feature in Season 9?” Their opinion: You already get frozen and slowed down, now there’s another affix. It feels like an artificial gameplay delay. The community explains: This feature is not new, but it is definitely occurring much more frequently now.

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What do other players say about it? Other players in the comments of the post are also sure that Hellbinders spawn much more frequently than before. Actual_Class9995 comments, “I’ve only been here since the last season and I might have seen them a few times. Now I’ve experienced more of them in three days than in the whole Season 8.”

And Woozletania reports, “I did a Nightmare Dungeon today – four groups with Hellbinders. In a single dungeon. That’s a bit excessive.”

What can you do about it? Effects like “unstoppable” are currently worth their weight in gold. Other users advise: If you deal enough damage, Hellbinders won’t last long anyway. And TheRealMortiferus even suspects that this was intentionally designed by the developers so that you use Horadric spells to counter annoying control effects from enemies. These two spells are particularly helpful:

  • Thunderous Particle (Infusion): Deactivates all opposing suppression effects for 8 seconds
    • is very effective against Hellbinders
  • Glowing Remnants (Infusion): Deactivates all opposing Frost Wind effects for 8 seconds

Horadric spells are the central seasonal feature in Season 9, and their buffs can significantly ease your life. Many of them make you unstoppable or break down enemy barriers. You can find out how to obtain these spells and what effects they bring here: Diablo 4 Horadric spells: How the mechanics work in Season 9

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

George Lucas wanted to introduce a Sith woman in cinemas after Episode 6 who trained a descendant of Luke Skywalker

If you don’t feel like dealing with the new series and movies from Star Wars, you can choose from a whole range of comics, books, and games that tell different stories. A particular Sith made life quite difficult for Luke’s descendant in one of these stories.

Which Sith Lord is it about? Before Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars from Lucas Arts, there were countless books and comics alongside the Star Wars movies that also told stories after Episode 6. The non-canonical ones are called Legends.

Over 100 years after Episode 6, the story of Cade Skywalker is told in the comic series Star Wars: Legacy. Cade Skywalker himself was not your typical hero with many problems, but one of his problems was Darth Talon, a Sith Mistress whom George Lucas even wanted to bring to the big screen.

Start video
Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi – Trailer

A powerful Sith woman

Who is Darth Talon? Darth Talon is a female Twi’lek, a species that is often enslaved, and she was born into the Order of the One Sith. The leader of the Order was Darth Krayt, and he lived by the Rule of One. He was on top, and under him, there was supposed to be blind obedience among the Sith and other followers.

She was trained to be an assassin under Darth Ruyn. She had a great affinity for the Force and proved her loyalty by killing her master. After that, she was directly subordinated to Krayt, carrying out missions for him. After a defeat, she was spared by Krayt to find Cade Skywalker and turn him to the dark side because he was a descendant of Vader.

He was captured, and to draw him to her side, Talon was supposed to become his mistress. Cade was trained in the teachings of the One Sith, and they grew closer. Despite their affair, Talon did not believe that Cade would turn to the dark side.

One day he escaped, and she was severely injured in the process. After she healed, she was supposed to continue the hunt for Cade. But Cade had a new target: he wanted to kill Darth Krayt. In an attack, Talon tried to defeat Skywalker’s descendant, but he had become too powerful.

She failed to protect her master, and Cade killed Krayt in a final battle. The Sith Empire was destroyed, and Talon hid with other Sith until they could strike back.

A character that even George Lucas wanted to bring to film

Darth Talon was also supposed to be realized in a movie. George Lucas originally had different ideas for the sequels (Episode 7 to 9) than Disney. As Filmstarts reported, George Lucas had plans for a story set shortly after Episode 6. While Leia and Luke wanted to rebuild the Jedi and the Republic, Darth Maul would have established himself as the leader of the Sith and founded a criminal syndicate.

In the course of this, he would also have had a student named Darth Talon, who is also a Twi’lek. As can be seen from concept art of a canceled video game (via artstation.com), she would have had red skin and the Sith tattoos, like those known from Maul.

Darth Talon might return soon. In 2026, a new animated series titled Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is set to premiere on Disney Plus, showcasing how Darth Maul built his criminal syndicate, which can be seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

There is currently no official trailer, but at the Star Wars Celebration Japan event, attendees were able to catch a first glimpse at the series. According to reports (via bespinbulletin.com), the trailer features a student of Darth Maul who looks like a younger version of Darth Talon.

While it would not be the story from the comics, her character would find its way into the current canon in a different way. Darth Maul is a character in the Star Wars universe who somehow always returns: A Sith Lord from Star Wars lost half of his body, yet survived and was even more vicious upon his return

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

„Would have a deterrent effect“ – A million gamers unite to save their favorite games, now the European Gaming Association responds

Gamers want to enable a bill with a petition that prevents the shutdown of games, and the European gaming association has responded.

How do gamers want to save the games? The YouTuber Scott Ross, aka “Accursed Farms,” started an initiative called “Stop Killing Games,” under which a petition was launched on August 1, 2024.

This petition aims to ensure that publishers are encouraged to offer games in a playable state even when development on the games has stopped. To achieve this goal, it was necessary for the petition to collect one million signatures by July 31, 2025, so that the European Union could discuss the proposal as a draft bill. The petition’s goal was recently reached after YouTubers and Twitch streamers came to help.

The racing game The Crew is one of the games that serves as motivation for the initiative. Ubisoft took The Crew offline and removed it from the buyers’ libraries. Even players who purchased the game physically can no longer play.

Start video
The Crew: The trailer for the racing game MMO

Video Game Association in Europe is not on the side of gamers

What kind of association is this? After the petition collected one million signatures, the European video game association “Video Games Europe” has now commented on the initiative (via videogameseurope.eu).

Video Games Europe represents the interests of the video game industry at the European level. It is the primary lobbying organization for the industry in Europe and negotiates with the European Union to safeguard the interests of publishers and developers. Video Games Europe also manages the PEGI system, which aims to establish a unified youth protection in Europe.

The association is not an institution of the European Union, but a privately held interest representative.

What does the association say? Video Games Europe has published a five-page statement in which they comment on “Stop Killing Games.” In it, the association explains that a bill as requested by the petition could have a chilling effect on game design.

Moreover, the association believes that the decision of when to cease support for a game should remain in the hands of the companies.

Thus, the association is likely not a supporter of the bill, even though it does support professional efforts to preserve video games.

Companies should have the right to make decisions

How does the association justify its position? The association is convinced that companies must have the freedom to decide for themselves when the financial support of a game is no longer worthwhile. The statement reads:

“The right to decide how, when, and for how long online video game services are made available to players is essential to justify the associated costs and to promote ongoing technical innovation.”

Furthermore, the association states that such a law would harm the development of games:

Imposing a legal obligation to maintain server support indefinitely or to develop online video games in a specific technical manner that allows for permanent use would increase the costs and risks associated with developing such games. It would have a chilling effect on game design and serve as a hindrance to providing such games in Europe.

For the association, it is clear that such a law would mean a significant intervention in the development phase and would additionally disregard concerns about player safety and technical security.

Currently, there are still concerns about whether there could be issues with the petition. Since it is a political process and not a petition on a little-known and unofficial petition platform, fake signatures could distort the outcome and mean a failure of the initiative: One of the most important petitions for gamers has still achieved its goal, but there could be a problem

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

Microsoft lays off 9,000 employees – an Xbox chief advises the laid-off: AI can help through the tough times

The laid-off employees at Microsoft don’t need to be sad. They can use Microsoft’s AI to seek help.

It reads a bit like the dystopian future that sci-fi authors have always warned us about. But at Microsoft, 9,000 employees were laid off across various fields. Executive Producer Matt Turnbull had some “great” tips on how those affected should cope: they could use Microsoft’s own AI so they wouldn’t feel so bad.

World of Warcraft and thereby Blizzard are now part of Microsoft:

Start video
WoW mal so richtig ehrlich erklärt

What’s going on at Microsoft? It was recently announced that 9,000 employees across various sectors were laid off at Microsoft. This also included game development, such as the promising MMORPG Blackbird, which has now been completely canceled.

Due to the many layoffs, there are now numerous developers looking for new jobs or simply experiencing existential fears because they lack income and thus their foundation for living.

Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing (not affected by the layoffs), subsequently gave some tips that sparked a lot of outrage.

What did Turnbull say? Turnbull’s post largely reads like advertising for various AI tools, such as ChatGPT or also Microsoft’s Copilot. He primarily gives suggestions on how to use AI to get through a difficult time now. On Bluesky, Brandon Sheffield captured Turnbull’s post:

Matt Turnbull Quote
Matt Turnbull’s LinkedIn tips. (Source: Brandon Sheffield on Bluesky)

Noteworthy passages include particularly questionable segments, such as some suggestions for prompts to direct at the AI to seek help and support:

“I have issues with impostor syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe my experiences in a way that reminds me what I’m good at?”

The impostor syndrome occurs when people doubt their own skills despite their success and abilities. They fear that someday it will be “exposed” that they are not as good as others think – even though this is completely untrue.

He also argues that one could use the tools to alleviate the “emotional and mental burden associated with job loss.”

Where was this said? Matt Turnbull wrote the lengthy post on LinkedIn, but after some harsh criticism, the post was deleted. However, it has been captured by many users and continues to circulate on the internet.

The internet and those affected react in disbelief: The reactions are largely negative, especially in the gaming subreddit. People accuse Turnbull of being unable to “read the room” and that it is cynical to recommend Microsoft products to those who have just lost their jobs – especially when one (i.e., Turnbull) still retains his job.

  • “Anyone telling laid-off people to talk to a computer algorithm for therapy is just insane.” – Magnon
  • “Bro, what the hell. I had to look at the exact quote because I thought it must have been taken out of context. But no, the post says exactly that.” – Alundra828
  • “I’m convinced that people in power positions eventually become psychopaths. You really must be completely disconnected from reality.” – MuptonBossman

The whole incident – along with the layoffs themselves – certainly generates a lot of negative headlines surrounding Microsoft. Furthermore, things are currently also odd among the games, as a security vulnerability in Call of Duty allows your teammates to take over your PC.

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

Activision brings Call of Duty: WW2 to Game Pass on PC, must take the game offline 5 days later because it poses a risk to your gaming PC

Actually, Call of Duty: WW2 should provide you with a great time, but a security vulnerability poses a risk to players’ PCs.

What is happening with CoD WW2? On July 1st, Call of Duty: WW2 became available in the Microsoft Store and Game Pass on PC. PC players could now play the Activision shooter through the subscription.

CoD: WW2 was released back in 2017. The game immerses players in the setting of World War II and offers a campaign as well as a co-op mode with its own story – making it interesting even for Game Pass subscribers who are not interested in multiplayer combat.

However, Activision has now announced that they have taken the shooter offline in the Microsoft Store and are investigating reports of an issue with the game (X.com).

Start video
Activision shows the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in the trailer for the Xbox Showcase 2025

WW2 becomes a risk for your gaming PC

What is the problem? In recent days, there have been reports from players who were hacked through the Game Pass version of Call of Duty: WW2. According to some users, the reported incidents could be possible due to an exploit in the anti-cheat system. In this case, attackers could take control of the victims’ PCs. One player writes on Reddit:

“I played Call of Duty: WW2 today, which was released in the Game Pass a few days ago. I was excited, searched for a game on ‘Shipment’, and started playing. Suddenly, my command window opened with a message that said: ‘Marc E. Meyer has just executed an RCE on your system, please contact Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.’ A website of a lawyer named Marc E. Meyer also opened. I know this could be a troll, but I thought Microsoft’s services were secure.”

Other players have also fallen victim to the same supposed “troll.” One user even posted a video of the situation on X.com when suddenly his command line opened with the text. A user on Reddit also explains that the problem is not new and affects other “Call of Duty” titles as well. However, the Steam versions are safe:

“Ironically, the Steam version of WWII is fine since it uses dedicated servers. When the game was ported to Game Pass in the Microsoft Store, it was switched to P2P matchmaking, making it vulnerable to RCE exploits. This affects not only WWII but every CoD that uses P2P matchmaking, such as MW2, MW3, Ghosts, Advanced Warfare, BO3, and Modern Warfare Remastered.”

P2P stands for “Peer-to-Peer.” In this type of matchmaking, one of the players becomes the host of the lobby, and the player’s PC takes on the role of the server.

Attackers can do more than just troll

Why is this a risk for players? What players are experiencing is referred to as Remote Code Execution (RCE), which translates roughly to “Code Execution from a distance” in German.

In an RCE, attackers remotely penetrate the victims’ system through a software vulnerability and take control. They can then make changes to the system, install malware, steal data, and activate the microphone or webcam. Additionally, they can completely block or disable the system.

While the current reports seem to be just a troll scaring players with trivial and harmless messages or pop-ups, the troll’s actions have shown what danger players are exposed to due to WW2.

If you wanted to play Call of Duty in the coming days, you might want to stay away from older titles and Game Pass versions. Instead, you could take another look at Black Ops 6. The mid-season update has just been released. You can find the most important information here on MeinMMO: CoD: Black Ops 6 Season 4 Reloaded has launched – All important information in 2 minutes

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

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners gets a second season – Producer admits: “I wanted to make the world sad”

The story of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners continues. Initial information makes it clear that we can look forward to many innovations in the next anime.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is one of the anime adaptations of video games that has turned out really well. Not only has the animation style of the series been praised, but also the great depiction of the world of Cyberpunk 2077 and the dark story with a tragic ending.

For a long time, it was speculated whether there would be a second season. Now it is clear: Yes, it is already in production.

You can see the trailer for the first season here:

Start video
Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Fans of the RPG epic celebrate the Netflix trailer, but also hope for a cool story

What has been announced? Via X, the account of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners announced that a second season is in production. Additionally, the first poster artwork by animation studio Trigger has been released – they had also created the first season and are therefore also responsible for season 2.

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What is season 2 about? The exact contents of the second season are not yet known. However, it has already been announced that it will be a “standalone” story spanning 10 episodes. This means that the story will largely be detached from the characters of the first season or the video game.

They pose the question: “If the world is blinded by spectacle, what extremes must you push to give your story meaning?”

So we can look forward to new characters, a lot of action, and plenty of drama.

It is supposed to be a “raw chronicle of redemption and revenge” – themes for which there is plenty of room in the Cyberpunk universe.

“I wanted to make the world a little sadder”

Meanwhile, producer Bartosz Sztybor gave some insight into the development of the first season at Anime Expo. In response to the question of whether he had ever considered telling a positive or more cheerful story, he said:

I am from Poland. People in Poland are sad. They are born sad and they die sad. So I just wanted to make the whole world sad… when people are sad, then I am a little happy.

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Even if Sztybor says this with a wink, he likely succeeded in his mission – after all, the finale of the first Cyberpunk season is quite emotional and also makes it clear why a second season will likely focus on a new group of characters.

If you yourself happen to have too good a mood because of the summer temperatures and, like Sztybor, take a mischievous pleasure in feeling a bit of pain and sadness, then we have here 5 anime that are guaranteed to break your heart – but are still worth every second.

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

The first players were excited about a new MMORPG, but you will never see it

The new MMORPG from the creators of Elder Scrolls Online would have been a real hit, say early testers. Xbox chief Phil Spencer is said to have been convinced as well. Nevertheless, Microsoft has halted development.

Which game is being talked about? Project “Blackbird” was an AAA MMORPG that was in development at ZeniMax Online Studios – the creators of Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), which was released back in 2014.

After 7 years, Blackbird has been completely canceled. The reason was a wave of layoffs: Microsoft laid off a staggering 9,000 employees, with ZeniMax Online Studios being affected as well.

In Elder Scrolls Online, the first part of the new seasons of the Worm Cult is currently running:

Start video
The Elder Scrolls Online: Seasons of the Worm Cult – Part 1 – Release Trailer

Even hard-to-convince critics loved Blackbird

Blackbird would have been really good! This was the opinion of at least the first testers, according to Xbox insider SneakersSO. He reacted to a post by Matt Fior, who announced his resignation as president of ZeniMax Online.

When it begins to come out just how fucking incredible the title he was working on was that got axed today.

Source: NeoGAF

The game received some of the best reactions from playtesters that he had heard in years. And that is not easy to achieve anymore. “It takes an absolute truck load to have folks heap praise on an MP playtest in modern times,” the leaker continues.

  • SneakersSO had previously correctly leaked Xbox’s multiplatform plans, so his word carries weight. (Source: videogamer)

Xbox chief Phil Spencer is said to have been excited as well. How Jason Schreier reported for Bloomberg, Spencer played the title at a presentation in March. The CEO reportedly had so much fun that Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Game Studios, eventually had to take the controller away from him to continue with the meeting.

A mix of Destiny 2 and Blade Runner

What kind of game would Blackbird have been? Jason Schreier provides some information on this as well:

  • Blackbird would have been a “third-person, online looter shooter” in a brand new engine. Schreier compares the game to Destiny 2.
  • The aesthetics of the game are described as “sci-fi noir” and compared to films like Blade Runner.
  • The game would have placed a strong emphasis on vertical movement: players would have run up walls “like superheroes” and swung around large buildings with grappling hooks.

For ZeniMax Online, things are currently looking bleak. Microsoft is cutting hundreds of jobs, even though the development of Blackbird was actually going well. You can read more about this in this article: Developer studio of Elder Scrolls Online loses hundreds of employees, although their new MMORPG was supposed to take off

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

WoW: The only class without a raid buff feels betrayed by Blizzard

Death Knights in World of Warcraft still have no raid buff. Blizzard sees a solution for this – but it makes Death Knights unhappy.

When forming a good group for a raid in World of Warcraft, different things are usually considered. Typically, you want a character from each class to cover all raid buffs. But one class has no such “raid buff.” Blizzard acknowledges this and states that one of its abilities is basically a buff for the whole raid. It’s a bit absurd considering that this ability has little utility in the next raid.

Start video
WoW mal so richtig ehrlich erklärt

What are raid buffs? Raid buffs, or most commonly “group buffs,” are different strengthening effects that benefit the entire group. Some buffs are direct:

  • Priests increase the stamina of the group, Shamans increase versatility.

Other buffs are indirect or debuffs on enemies, from which all still benefit:

  • Demon Hunters increase the magic damage taken by enemies, Monks increase the physical damage taken by opponents.

So all classes in World of Warcraft have a special benefit in the raid that a large part of the group benefits from. Only one class cannot do that: the Death Knight.

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What does Blizzard want to change? Blizzard acknowledges in the preliminary patch notes for Patch 11.2 that Death Knights do not have a “real” raid buff in the classical sense but see an ability that essentially replaces it: Death Grip.

Death Grip allows the Death Knight to pull an enemy to their position. This is particularly strong when you need to bunch many enemies in one place or when it comes to fast, precise positioning of enemies.

The catch is, however, that bosses and most “leader” NPCs are immune to Death Grip. Typically, only smaller enemies, or “adds,” can be pulled in fights with Death Grip.

This seems particularly absurd to many when looking at the next raid, Manaforging Omega. In all boss fights there, there are only a few adds – and when there are, they already have mechanics that either prevent the use of Death Grip or make it unnecessary.

The community is angry, calls for more: In the WoW subreddit, the topic is being discussed vigorously. Many Death Knights wish for simply a bit more and are concerned about their place in the raid. Because if all the other classes have a useful buff – why should you take a Death Knight? Some of the comments:

  • “Classifying Death Grip as a raid buff is just like classifying Rallying Cry or Totem of Spirit Link as a raid buff. And the classes still have real raid buffs.” – Alex_Wizard
  • “How can anything that does not directly strengthen other players count as a raid buff?” – Cloud_N0ne
  • “Ah, a classic. You just love to see something like this.
    They probably need another Shadowlands to wake up hell in some respects, because they’re getting arrogant again at BfA level.”
    – Kurthalos

Death Knights are apparently not particularly satisfied with Blizzard’s decision. However, “DKs” are not doing as terribly as they might sound – because there is one class that is currently much, much less popular than the Death Knight.

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

We tested which Legion of the Space Marines from Warhammer 40,000 we belong to and now my boss is worrying me

Sometimes there is knowledge that allows one to sleep more peacefully. The MeinMMO editorial team has taken the official test to find out which Legion of the Space Marines from Warhammer 40,000 the editors belong to. Warhammer expert Benedict Grothaus expected some results, but there are a few concerns with the boss. Although he himself shouldn’t be too loud…

The idea was actually quite simple: I accidentally discovered that Games Workshop offers a test on its official website to find out which Legion you belong to. With several questions, you are assigned to a Legion at the end.

I submitted the test to the editorial team, just to see what would happen. I expected entertaining answers and a bit of banter with which I could impress my colleagues.

Here you can find the official Legion test from Warhammer

Of course, it’s all about promoting the current “Horus Heresy” set, which recently introduced Space Marines in even bulkier armor. The test is short and entertaining, but the results are surprisingly accurate.

But now I’m not so sure what lies dormant in the authors and editors of the site.

Start video
The trailer for the new edition of the Horus Heresy in Warhammer 40,000

MeinMMO consists of heretics and traitors

According to the official test, over half of the editorial team belongs to the traitors. To explain: At the beginning of the 31st millennium, Horus Lupercal, one of the sons of the Emperor, orchestrated a massive betrayal.

Starting with a virus bomb that wiped out thousands of loyal Space Marines, he weakened the Imperium and then struck. The goal was to overthrow the Emperor because, according to Horus’ vision, humanity and the universe were slowly perishing.

Many Primarchs joined Chaos and betrayed the Imperium to follow Horus. The Great Brother War nearly destroyed the Imperium. And almost all of us here at MeinMMO belong to one of the traitor Legions, with the most represented being:

  • the Sons of Horus
  • the Emperor’s Children
  • and even some Death Guards
  • surprisingly, we have no Word Bearers at all

At least a handful of people from the editorial team have proven loyal to the Emperor:

  • Dariusz, our shooter editor, appropriately belongs to the Imperial Fists
  • Tech-Benedikt, MMORPG expert Karsten, and our all-rounder Ody belong to the Dark Angels
  • Jasmin, who has a big heart for anime, is an Ultramarine
  • Christoph is apparently our lone Space Wolf
  • our video producer Anna belongs to the Iron Hands
  • and Alex, who supplies you with cool D&D stories, likes to ride with the White Scars

However, we also have three people in the editorial team who belong to a Legion that makes me very skeptical, and two of them are in key positions…

Don’t trust the editor-in-chief!

MeinMMO’s editor-in-chief Leya apparently belongs to the Alpha Legion – the Space Marines about whom no one really knows if they are loyal or heretical. This is actually good, because she is not necessarily a Chaos supporter.

But with the Alpha Legion, it’s the case that deception and secrecy are their great weapons, and they rarely tell the truth. They mislead you, and sometimes you don’t even notice it.

Since I learned this about Leya, I’m no longer so sure if her assignments to me are really just assignments, or if there’s more to it…

The second member of the Alpha Legion is our managing editor Sophia Weiß, who can troublingly identify with the Legion, as she says. Unfortunately, this dual leadership structure aligns quite well with Alpharius and Omegon as the Primarchs of the Alpha Legion.

Our brothers and sisters from GameStar are much tamer

As a comparison, I sent the same test to our colleagues at GameStar and waited for the results. Little surprising for me but surely interesting for you: Almost all editors at GameStar are loyalists of the Imperium.

Almost all of them came out as Legions like the Dark Angels or Ultramarines. There are also two Imperial Fists, one of whom is Dimitry Halley, the editorial manager. Even one Salamander and one Raven Guard can be found, and Ann-Kathrin Kuhls, the team leader for GameStar on YouTube, is particularly proud to say she is a White Scar.

However, the stain of Chaos also sits with GameStar: they have one Thousand Son and two members of the Alpha Legion. But I won’t reveal who that is.

As much as I wonder about some results: I shouldn’t shout too loudly. According to the test, I am the only one in both teams belonging to the Night Lords. That’s fitting, but probably not the best sign for my colleagues.

For everyone who doesn’t know the name: the Night Lords are essentially the space super-vampires. The specialty of the Legion is psychological warfare and terror. These are the guys whose armor is stuck with the flayed skin and torn flesh of their enemies while they attack. And yes, I actually like the Night Lords…

The official personality test only includes the Legions of the Space Marines during the Horus Heresy, which means no successor Chapters or splinter groups. However, back then as now, the Chapters consist entirely of men: What happens when a woman wants to become a Space Marine in Warhammer 40,000?

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

The elaborate quest in Dune: Awakening causes frustration for players, yet one still completes it

In Dune: Awakening, a player has completed perhaps the most complex quest in the game. Many fans are wondering why the player put themselves through this and are reacting frustrated to the quest.

What kind of quest is it? In Dune: Awakening, there is a quest in the endgame where you have to submit a Cutteray MK6. The tool is particularly expensive, and many refuse to complete the task for this reason. The mission comes from the bulletin board and can be completed at any time.

To craft the Cutteray MK6, you will need:

  • 50x Plastanium Bars
  • 30x EMF Generators
  • 30x Cobalt Paste
  • 6x Thermo-reactive Beam Amplifiers:
  • 9x Thermoelectric Coolers
  • 27x Spice Melange

The reward is only a laser weapon, which is not appealing to many players. For these reasons, the quest remains dormant in the logs of many gamers. One player has now, to the surprise of the community, actually completed it.

Here you can see what changes are planned for Dune: Awakening in the future:

Start video
Dune: Awakening – Das ist die Zukunft des MMOs

Expensive quest causes frustration

What did the player do? The player Olaknox posted a screenshot on Reddit, showing him submitting the requested MK6 Cutteray at the mission board on the bulletin board. He writes: “Here’s your stupid Cutteray MK6. This pains me as a solo player.”

Especially as a solo player, it is even more remarkable to spend so many resources on a quest whose reward is only a weapon that many do not want. Accordingly, users also reacted on Reddit:

  • anglingTycoon: “This quest was painful to submit. I think it was worth it. The only problem is that you can’t repair the Lasgun; once it’s broken, it’s broken.”
  • CherryMyFeathers: “I would never do that. The 700 XP aren’t worth it.”
  • IAmARobot0101: “OMG, worst quest ever.”
  • MyAssPancake: “I can’t imagine not completing a quest. However, I’m worried I’ll get bored once I’ve finished all the quests.”
  • Single_Company7491: “Isn’t that the quest line to get the Lasgun, which only makes sense if you want to use it?”

Especially in the endgame, there is a lack of quests and quest givers in Dune: Awakening. However, anyone who really wants to complete all of them cannot avoid donating their MK6 Cutteray, even if it is so expensive. Perhaps the solo player can enjoy their new laser weapon. If not, they could maybe pet a giraffe: A player experiences something strange in Dune: Awakening, sees a huge giraffe, and the community immediately knows where it comes from.

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

Player with extra thumbs cannot properly use Steam Deck, but Reddit surprises him with a creative solution

An unusual problem, a helpful community, and a creative solution. The Reddit community helped a Steam Deck player with two thumbs to better operate the controller.

The user Alpha-Quartz posted a message on Reddit, asking the community for advice. He talks about his rare uniqueness: On his left hand, he has not one, but two thumbs. “I have an abnormal hand where I have two little thumbs instead of one big one, specifically on my left hand,” he explained. For him, this is not just a visual detail but a real problem when gaming on the Steam Deck.

Those interested in the Steam Deck can watch the trailer for the Steam Deck OLED here.

Start video
Check out the official trailer for the Steam Deck OLED

How community creates new things from differences

What was the user looking for? Alpha-Quartz was looking for solutions on Reddit to better operate his Steam Deck. Specifically, he was looking for a thumb extender or an easy way to reposition the left stick so that he could better use the handheld console. The left analog stick is too close to the screen for his two thumbs, making it difficult to reach and operate.

These solutions brought the community: The reaction didn’t take long. The next day, a user named SpecificGreen9140 presented a DIY solution. He had designed a gadget using a 3D printer: two offset circles that can be directly attached to the stick. This shifts its range of motion to the left – exactly what Alpha-Quartz was looking for.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Another user, Woogies, picked up the design and improved it. He made the shape more ergonomic, so that the adapter sits better in the hand. This led to a small modding chain. More and more users developed their own variants, tested them, and made them available to the community.

Among them was also a version for players with normal hands. One user humorously wrote:
“I printed something for people who want to use SpecificGreen9140’s helper but only have one thumb on each hand.” SpecificGreen9140, who had designed the first thumb adapter, commented: “I’m totally rotting in hell, I laughed so hard.”

How did the search end? Alpha-Quartz was deeply impressed by the community. “I was only expecting a few tips. Instead, I received hundreds of suggestions and 3D print models.”
The quick and creative help completely surprised him. For him, it was not just a technical solution but also proof of how helpful and resourceful the gaming community can be.

Also GamesRadar took notice of the post. An editor got in touch with Alpha-Quartz to ask about the current status. The player explained that he was still working on the perfect solution. He has already printed two versions himself, but the attachment to the Steam Deck is still not optimal. Nevertheless, his mood remains positive: “At this point, I am simply overwhelmed by the amount of support and positive spirit. I am at a loss for words.”

Such stories show how flexible and adaptable gaming can be today, especially when creative minds use their skills to help others. With gadgets and custom mods, even unusual physical conditions can be mastered. At the same time, many people utilize gaming not only at their desk or on the couch but increasingly in bed. But researchers regularly warn that such electronic devices have no place in the bedroom.

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

“Save them, Bucky” – DOOM creator loses publisher support, might get help from Palworld

A developer studio must announce that they are no longer receiving support from their publisher, but the Palworld developers could help with their own publishing company.

Which developer studio is affected? The developer studio Romero Games, founded by one of the DOOM creators John Romero and his wife Brenda Romero, had to post sad news on X: The financial support from their publisher is ending.

Currently, Romero Games was working on their new shooter. Although, as they explain in their post, every deadline was met and they often received a lot of praise for their work. It was a decision made at a “higher level within the publisher” that they, as a developer studio, had no influence over.

Romero Games does not mention an official reason, but it is likely that the recent mass layoffs at Microsoft could have something to do with it. One of the artists who was employed at Romero Games, Christoph Redl, confirmed on X that he lost his job due to layoffs at Microsoft/Xbox.

Start video
Update 0.5.0 for Palworld finally lets you play with friends on other platforms

Palworld developer could save Romero’s game

What gives fans hope? Under the post on X, in which Romero Games shares the sad news, the Palworld developer John Buckley responded:

“I would love to learn more about this project if possible” (Source: X)

There is a suspicion that the Palworld developer wants to offer their help. Earlier this year, the developer studio behind Palworld, Pocketpair, announced its own publishing company: Pocketpair Publishing.

With this, Pocketpair aims to support indie games. Something that John Buckley has likely been planning for some time.

Under John Buckley’s post, fans are excited about the possible support. Evan Olmstead writes, for example, on X: “Save them, Bucky!”

Romero Games has not officially responded to the inquiry from the Palworld developer. It remains to be seen whether a collaboration can take place; however, it does not seem entirely unlikely. The game Palworld has recently enjoyed a significant increase in players. The reason for this is the collaboration with another game. Read more about it here on MeinMMO: Steam: A crossover boosts Palworld, suddenly over 100,000 players are back

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

Throne and Liberty has lost 95% of its players, is no longer the most played MMORPG on Steam

For a long time, Throne and Liberty was not just one, but the MMORPG with the most players on Steam. However, the player numbers now constitute only a small fraction of those achieved at release. 

How many players does Throne and Liberty have? In the last 24 hours (as of June 4, 2025), the MMORPG from South Korea reached a peak of around 16,800 players. This is a far cry from the number of players it attracted at release – around 336,000 (Source: steamdb.info)

  • Throne and Liberty has thereby mathematically lost about 95% of its players on Steam since release

Even if we only look at the player numbers of the last months, a decline is noticeable. Since March, the number of players has continuously decreased, causing the game to drop significantly in our ranking of the 10 MMORPGs with the most players on Steam.

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

Why are player numbers currently declining so sharply? The big difference compared to the numbers at release could simply be due to the fact that Throne and Liberty is a Free2Play title.

  • Without upfront costs, players are more likely to try out a game, especially since Throne and Liberty is also expected by MMORPG players
  • Many players may have recognized over time that Throne and Liberty is not for them. This need not be a bad thing, but could be related to the fact that trying it out incurs no financial risk

Another reason might be the last expansion. Wilderness of Talandre was released in March and brought many players back, at least for a short time. This is also not uncommon for MMORPGs: 

  • When there is new content, many players check back in who are otherwise not very active. But once they are through with the content, they often leave again
More on the topic
Throne and Liberty: Wilderness of Talandre is massive! All the important details about the major expansion of the MMORPG
von Karsten Scholz

Players complain for a long time about too much work

On the other hand, more and more veterans are expressing their frustration about Throne and Liberty. Recently, in the reviews on Steam, you find more and more players who have invested over 1,000 hours into the MMORPG but still give it a thumbs down.

Steam user ic3asada writes after about 1,087 hours that Throne and Liberty feels way too much like work – which the developers also acknowledge. However, it does not seem to improve enough on this front.

  • “If you had a life outside the game and didn’t complete the daily tasks, you quickly fell behind. All these dungeons, daily quests, the Abyss, and more – just to keep up with the others – felt like an annoying obligation.” (Source: Steam)

VorenC reports similar sentiments and also addresses the monetization:

  • “Started in October. There were fun times, but the game has been designed as a money trap from the beginning. It has only gotten worse lately. You have to pay to keep up – and it’s not just a few 20 dollars here and there.” (Source: Steam)

By the way, have you already heard that Throne and Liberty might get a sequel? At least some job postings from the developer NCsoft suggest this. You can read more about it in our article on MeinMMO: Throne and Liberty is supposed to get a sequel with Unreal Engine 5 and the development of the new MMORPG is set to begin soon

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

13-year-old MMORPG benefits from the discontinuation of its successor, has never had so many players on Steam

It’s time for our MeinMMO format “MMORPG news in two minutes.” We summarize the most important news about the best genre in the world. Look forward to WoW: MoP Classic, a sign of life from Bellatores, a new player record, and much more.

The highlights of the week:

What else has happened? MeinMMO met the well-known WoW streamer AnnieFuchsia at the TwitchCon 2025. Together with our editor and streaming expert Lydia, she talked about her love for World of Warcraft and her greatest successes in the MMORPG.

The class trailer for the Wukong from Black Desert:

Start video
Black Desert: Trailer for the new class Wukong shows furious staff action

Teaser hints at new class for Guild Wars 2

What happened with the big MMORPGs:

  • Are fans of Guild Wars 2 looking forward to the first new class in 8 years? A post from the developers on X hints at this. In about a week and a half, we will know more.
  • With just one button, many players in World of Warcraft are stronger than their colleagues. A whole 75% leave them behind without mastering their class.
  • One class in World of Warcraft is more popular than all others. No wonder, because after the rework, almost everyone wants to play it.
  • Newcomers are quitting World of Warcraft for being too hard. Don’t believe it? Just try it out, what’s wrong.
  • Rare mounts can be found in World of Warcraft a lot more frequently in just a few hours. You can find the exact details here. We will tell you which mounts you should farm now. A simple addon makes it easier for you to farm mounts. You can see at a glance what you still lack.
  • If World of Warcraft HC isn’t hard enough for you, you can make it even harder. But a warrior pushes all limits here.
  • When the chapter Gold Road brought the new writing system to The Elder Scrolls Online there was a lot of criticism. The fact that you should pay extra for the ability to create new skills did not sit well with many players. More than a year later, the developers are changing exactly that.
  • Additionally, the Vengeance campaign for Cyrodiil has returned in ESO. It runs until July 8, 2025, and is also available on consoles this time. You can find all details at elderscrollsonline.com.
  • There was also a preview of update 47 and the upcoming dungeon raids. Where? Also on elderscrollsonline.com.
  • Final Fantasy XIV recorded player number records with the expansions Shadowbringers and Endwalker. However, the new expansion Dawntrail is now suffering from player loss during the patch cycle and it seems that the veterans are dropping out.
  • The real money shop of Final Fantasy XIV is the Moogle Station, which now offers a new outfit. Players are complaining a lot about it, even though they can relatively easily build it for free in the MMORPG.
  • On forum.square-enix.com you can now find the German summary of Producer Letter LIVE Part 87. There you will learn more about the implementation of player feedback for Patch 7.25, cosmic exploration, and Patch 7.3 of Final Fantasy XIV.
  • On July 8, the MogMog collection of Final Fantasy XIV will start. The event will run until the maintenance work of Patch 7.3. What else you need to know can be found on finalfantasyxiv.com.
  • For New World, there was a preview of the castle map for flag capture at newworld.com and what is planned for Season 9.
  • From July 10 to July 31, the event Da Vinci’s Favor runs in Throne and Liberty. The event improves rewards, weapon mastery, equipment slots, and storage. It also brings bonuses for Amitoi, contracts, and dimensional coins. You can find the details at playthroneandliberty.com.
  • On July 1, the third part of the 2025 roadmap for Lost Ark was released. For the coming months, a new progression system, new endgame content, the Valkyrie class, and much more are planned. You can find all details on Steam.

What happened in the small MMORPGs:

  • In the last 30 days, an average of 10,001 players were online simultaneously – in May there were only “8,811”. It may slowly take effect that MapleStory 2 has shut down. The peak during this time is 16,855 concurrent players (source: steamcharts.com). New record! The previous all-time high was 13,831 concurrent players.
  • The “The Beach” event is running in RuneScape from June 30 to July 28, more information can be found at runescape.com.
  • On June 27, a new letter from the Executive Producer for Star Wars: The Old Republic went live. On swtor.com, Keith Kanneg provides a glimpse into the future of the MMORPG. Look forward to update 7.7.1, which will include modernizations for the Rattataki.
  • The events in SWTOR for the month of July can be found at swtor.com.
  • On June 30, the update “Abyssal Depths” for Albion Online was released, bringing the depths, the new cave of the antiquarian, and a revised game entry to the servers. You can find the official patch notes at albiononline.com.
  • Thomas Chance “Sodapoppin” Morris is one of the biggest streamers on Twitch and is primarily known for his content about World of Warcraft. Currently, “Soda” is playing Old School RuneScape and experiencing some special moments that many veterans of the MMORPG know.
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Link to the YouTube content

What happened with the MMORPGs in development:

  • The superhero MMORPG Ship of Heroes is considered the spiritual successor to City of Heroes and has a release date. The game is set to launch on Steam on August 18, 2025. You can find the release trailer on YouTube and above these lines.
  • There’s a sign of life from the PC MMORPG Bellatores (via Steam)! The game has now transitioned to Unreal Engine 5, utilizes an action combat system, and focuses on a vast world with medieval and fantasy elements. You can find the new developer update on YouTube.
  • BitCraft Online has entered Early Access on Steam and is now being actively updated. The latest patch includes the often-requested WASD controls. You can find the patch notes at Steam.
  • The developers of Chrono Odyssey have reported back regarding feedback from the beta. They explained what topics were well received and where they need to improve.
  • Players of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen can look forward to a redesign of the crafting stations. What exactly will change has been presented by the developers on pantheonmmo.com.
  • After the developers of Project “Ghost” introduced the first class with the Dreamblade, they went into detail during a livestream on YouTube about a week ago. There were background information, gameplay, artworks, design thoughts, and much more.
  • In the latest developer stream of Ashes of Creation, various important topics were discussed regarding the upcoming alpha phase. These include new races, adjustments to properties, the crate system, nodes, PvP, and guilds. Check out the video on YouTube.
  • On July 17, Star Resonance will be the quasi-relaunch for the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol. Many new details were revealed this week on ign.com. The focus remains on PvE with content for solo players and groups. However, there will also be housing, mini-games, fishing, and more. No mobile-typical auto-functions are planned.
  • In South Korea, the first tests for Aion 2 took place. Some invited players reportedly broke the NDA and revealed first details, via mmorpg.org.pl. The PvE content is praised, the graphics are said to be better than most NCsoft games, and you should be able to fly almost anywhere and at any time. It should be noted that many changes can still occur before the final launch of Aion.

With that, we have summarized the most important news that has recently occurred in the world of MMORPGs.

What did you enjoy this week? What upset you? Let us know in the comments. If you are looking for a light-hearted yet informative overview of online role-playing games, be sure to check this out: Report, columns, talks, and the top list of the best MMORPGs of all time — that was the theme week from MeinMMO

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

No P2W and focus on PvE: This is how the MMORPG Blue Protocol wants to impress you in the West

Blue Protocol was considered a failure, but a huge publisher took on the rights to the game and created a new experience from it. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is said to be a spin-off with a new story, and the CEO explains in an interview what you can expect at release.

What happened to Blue Protocol? The MMORPG Blue Protocol was supposed to have a global release, but then in August 2024 came the news, the servers in Japan will be shut down and the release cancelled.

A shock for many fans from the West, as they were looking forward to the game. However, it seems that it is not the end for Blue Protocol, as the giant company Tencent has secured the rights from Bandai Namco and developed a spin-off of Blue Protocol – Blue Protocol: Star Resonance.

It is also an MMORPG, but the game has a different story. In a Q&A with the founder of the studio “Shanghai Bokura Network Technology”, IGN asked some important questions for Western players, and the answers might please you.

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Blue Protocol: Star Resonance shows the revised version of the MMORPG with a new trailer

No P2W and focus on PvE

What can players expect? Every MMORPG has its areas it wants to explore. Either the games focus on PvE and PvP or one of the two. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance aims to focus first on PvE. It is supposed to have a casual gameplay hybrid model. The team then collects feedback from the fans and decides after release whether they want to venture into other areas, such as PvP.

Another concern of the players was whether there would be P2W mechanics that would allow other players to buy advantages with money to speed up their progress. Here too, the founder clarifies the discussion again. There will be a “pay for convenience” option, where fans can exchange their currencies. However, none of these features offers a gameplay advantage, assures the founder. These systems are mainly intended for those who have little gaming time available.

In terms of content, fans can look forward to 5-player dungeons and 20-player raids. Those who do not want anything to do with endgame can also look forward to relaxing activities like housing, fishing, or seasonal activities that rotate and can also offer freshness to veterans. You can find the entire interview on IGN.

When will Blue Protocol: Star Resonance celebrate its release? The approximate release period is set for 2025. The day and month remain hidden for now. It remains to be seen when the developers will set the release date, but until then, fans will have to be patient. Will you try the MMORPG? Let us know in the comments. You can find the best MMORPGs in our list: The 10 best MMOs and MMORPGs in 2025

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

“Flamed me more than any other person” – LoL player meets his tormentor and falls in love

The Rift of Summoners in League of Legends is a crazy place. In most cases, you get insulted by your teammates, but in one case, two players got closer and are now in a long-term relationship. An LoL player shares how he met his girlfriend.

What did the player experience? During a relaxed ranked match, Reddit user Upvibee played the champion Vayne on the bot lane (Reddit.com). When the friendly jungler wanted to gank his lane, the supporter died in the process. What happened for the rest of the match is summarized by Upvibee as follows: 

For the rest of the game, there were only angry paragraphs because of this one situation. I can’t put into words how much flame a single person can produce.

The supporter was the exact opposite of what he should have been and flamed Upvibee, as he himself says, more than any other person ever has. Who was behind the screen insulting him, he would only find out a year later.

How did he meet his tormentor? In 2017, the LoL player met a woman. The two quickly got along, and after a month, he found out that she also played League of Legends. However, after he saw her username, he was shocked.

It was the same name that the supporter used, who had insulted him most harshly a year earlier. The main champion of his new girlfriend was also the same one they had played in their first match together. 

In the video, you can see the trailer for the current Season 2 of 2025 in League of Legends:

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The launch trailer for the new Season 2 2025 in League of Legends

Love knows no bounds

What has become of the two? Upvibee further wrote in his post that his girlfriend, aside from being the crazy “League of Legends” demon, has no red flags. Eight years later, the two are still a couple. At the end of his post, Upvibee shares an important message for every player:

Always remember: You never know who you are currently insulting in solo queue; it could be your brother, your sister, or even your future wife or husband. 

The Reddit user -dus seems to have seen through the girlfriend’s plan and commented the following (Reddit.com): 

Stay alert, brother. She just decided that insulting you wasn’t enough. These eight years were just part of her plan. The big trick: seduce you, make you fall in love, marry… and then break your heart, divorce, and take half your stuff. All just because of a League game.

Aside from the usual LoL experiences, a love story like this is a welcome change. User Unusual_Gas_9756 also commented on this and wrote that he has found many friends and also a girlfriend through LoL (Reddit.com).

In 2016, Clubs were introduced in League of Legends, which were an area within the launcher. With this function, players could chat with each other and form a sort of guild like in an MMORPG. Unfortunately, this feature was later removed, but there are still stories about friends and couples who met in LoL: LoL: Support and ADC insult each other for an entire match, marry 6 years later

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