In Monster Hunter Wilds you cannot always withstand all attacks from your prey. The solution: the Superman Dive or the thrust jump. This mechanic can save your life, and those who master it will become immortal.
What is the thrust jump feature? In the fight against all monsters, hunters can block attacks, dodge, or even perform a dramatic thrust jump to avoid damage.
The latter must be learned because if executed correctly, you can skillfully ignore entire attacks that can even be deadly. In experienced hands, this feature is the gateway to immortality, but how exactly does it work? We show you what you should know.
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: Trailer for Title Update 2 shows Lagiacrus in action
How to become immortal in Monster Hunter Wilds
How do I use the thrust jump correctly? To be able to use the thrust jump, you need to have your weapons holstered and run away from your target. Then press your dodge button once and you will perform the “Superman Dive”.
Even though this dive is often annoying when you accidentally engage, while you actually wanted to follow the target, the feature is essential for battles against tougher monsters. The dive makes you temporarily invincible.
The reason is the short, almost 3-second window during which you are invulnerable. During this time, the world around you may go to ruin, but you remain unscathed. Therefore, it is important to memorize the attack patterns of your hunted monster and know which attack you are dodging and which you are withstanding.
The best dodge window is just before you are about to be hit. Perform your dive in any direction and try to reposition yourself. To improve your dodging maneuver, you can also utilize the effect “Fate Jump” to extend your thrust jump distance when you leap towards the monsters. Talioth arm guards, for example, have this effect.
The thrust jump is particularly worthwhile for players who have no means to block attacks from enemies. Have you also used the jump often or are you rather a more aggressive player focused on taking every hit? You can find more about Monster Hunter Wilds here: Monster Hunter Wilds: All High-Rank Armor Sets Overview
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, many trainers are currently hunting Shiny Gimmighoul. However, it arrived late – and it probably won’t last long.
Which Shiny is it about? Currently, the big party for the 9th anniversary of Pokémon GO is happening. Various bonuses are available during the event. One of them: Shiny Gimmighoul has made its first appearance in the game.
The event started on July 1 and runs until Sunday, July 6. Then it will end at 8:00 PM.
And then, according to the current status, it seems that Shiny Gimmighoul will also come to an end. This is suggested by a recent message from the development team.
Start video
So sah das Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris aus
Pokémon GO activates Gimmighoul late, and you should hurry
As the Niantic Support reported on social media, the shiny Gimmighoul did not appear on the first day of the anniversary event. Because of this, it is supposed to remain available for one more day.
A slightly more detailed version of the message is currently making the rounds in the Subreddit for Pokémon GO. It is clearly specified there that Shiny Gimmighoul will now be catchable until Monday, July 7, at 8:00 PM. You can attract the Pokémon using the coin pouch, or you might find it at a golden PokéStop where a golden lure module is active – if you are lucky.
This, however, does not apply to the special Gimmighoul that is currently roaming around with the coin for the 9th anniversary.
What’s the catch? In the comments, some users point out that this message also ultimately confirms what some have already suspected: Shiny Gimmighoul is apparently only catchable during this event. After that, according to the current status, it will probably be deactivated again.
This would mean that you actually only have time until Monday evening to obtain it. After that, you’ll have to wait until a new event brings the shiny Gimmighoul variant back.
This would place Gimmighoul in a category of Pokémon that can only be obtained in shiny form at certain times. Another example of this would be the shiny Oddish or Meltan.
What is your Gimmighoul status? Do you have it, and maybe even the Shiny variant? Are you trying to get it by next Monday evening? Tell us in the comments! And we will also summarize the upcoming dates where you can catch more Pokémon: Check here for the list of all events in July 2025 at Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
According to a media report, things don’t look good for Battlefield 6. While EA is betting on high player numbers, it seems that the developers at DICE are more concerned with creating a good game, but right now things are not going well.
What is this report about? An insider involved in the development of Battlefield 6 reached out to arstechnica.com and spoke about the difficult conditions. According to him, things are really not going well for the new Battlefield.
He reports of massive stress and burnout among the staff due to high pressure. There are long working hours, also because people have to work early in the morning and late at night due to various time zones.
According to him, the single-player campaign was supposed to come from the studio Ridgeline Games, which was shut down in February 2024. The work was then simply divided among the other studios and is currently behind schedule by two years.
Here you can see what is currently being tested in Battlefield:
Start video
EA stellt Battlefield Labs im Video vor
400 million US dollars for 100 million players
What does EA expect from Battlefield 6? According to the report, EA has invested 400 million US dollars in the development of Battlefield 6. A record budget for Battlefield. But with the budget come high expectations. The internal goal is said to be to reach 100 million players.
In comparison, the insider states that Battlefield 2042 has reached about 22 million players, and the most successful Battlefield had around 30 million players. The player numbers are supposed to be achieved mainly through a free battle royale mode, similar to how Call of Duty succeeded with Warzone years ago.
The goals are more than ambitious. Not only does the insider himself find so, but also most of his colleagues, as he says. Only a few really believe that it is possible to reach 100 million players, even with a free battle royale.
There is also contention about this: According to the insider, there is significant tension between the Swedish Battlefield veterans at DICE and the parent company from the USA. While DICE insists on creating a good game and believes that this is the only way to achieve success, the project managers appointed by EA seem to be more concerned with numbers than with good features.
The internal problems are not limited to the work environment and budget. The report from arstechnica.com also reveals a chaotic process. EA uses a system of milestones that projects must achieve. However, for Battlefield 6, these phases were apparently approved, even though important requirements were not met.
Elias “EliasN97” Nerlich is the first German to receive a very special award from Twitch for his success as a streamer. With his awarded trophy, he now considers himself part of an elite circle of only 13 Twitch channels worldwide.
What has the German Twitch streamer accomplished? On Tuesday evening (July 1, 2025), EliasN97 posted on his Instagram account showing him joyfully holding a heart-shaped trophy in 2 pictures. In a third image, the award is seen in front of 2 other heart-shaped trophies he received for 5 million and 50 million hours of watchtime on Twitch.
What does watchtime mean? The watchtime on Twitch refers to the total duration that viewers have watched a stream. It is an important factor for streamers as it indicates how popular a channel is and how engaged the community is.
EliasN97 is the first among German streamers to have reached this enormous watchtime. In his thank-you note on Instagram, EliasN97 addressed his community, but also his critics, and caused some confusion with a statement.
Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google
Words to Fans and Critics, Confusion About a Postman
How does the streamer react to his award? In his post, the streamer expresses his gratitude. He particularly remembers his early days and numerous critics who told him that one could not succeed with streaming and ridiculed him.
For him, the most important thing since his beginnings 7 years ago has been his community and the fun he has with his viewers. He is glad when people can temporarily block out the stresses of everyday life in his streams. He thanks for the last years and is also grateful for everything that is yet to come in the future.
What is the deal with the postman? In one sentence, EliasN97 emphasizes that this special trophy is possessed by only 12 streamers and 1 postman.
In numerous comments, fans congratulate the streamer, but also direct some kind words to the postman. Other users wonder in the comments what is the deal with the postman and are interested in the account of the famous package deliverer.
“Props to the postman”
“GG to the postman”
“Why actually 1 postman?”
“Does anyone know this postman?”
This is probably not really about a postman, but very likely the streamer is making a joke here. EliasN97 suggests that his postman also briefly got to hold the trophy while delivering it.
Palworld is currently enjoying a lot of attention: Over 100,000 players were back on Steam hunting monsters. What is the occasion?
This is how the numbers of Palworld are developing: Most will probably still remember the incredibly successful launch of Palworld. At its peak, over 2 million people were playing the game.
In the meantime, things have calmed down a bit and Palworld usually sees between 30,000 to 50,000 players. But now and then, there’s a spike – like last weekend.
Just last Wednesday, it went up to over 80,000, continued to rise, and on Sunday there was a peak of 122,512 players. That is the highest player count since January 2025.
And the reason? It probably lies in the collaboration with another very popular game.
Start video
Palworld shows collaboration with Terraria in the gameplay trailer
Palworld and Terraria collaborate – apparently with success
On the platform “Bluesky“, the Communications Director “Bucky” from Pocketpair shared a message with Terraria creator Redigit. There, they expressed that they are simply big fans of Terraria and wanted to ask if a crossover would be possible. There are many Terraria fans: To this day, the game from 2011 is rated “Overwhelmingly Positive” on Steam, with 97% positive reviews since its release.
By the way: Terraria is also set to receive a new update, featuring Palworld elements. It will be exciting to see how player counts in Palworld continue to develop. Right now, just over 57,000 people are online to enjoy the update. We will keep monitoring the situation! And while we are on Steam: Here is a Batman game on Steam that wants to impress with its story.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Almost every gamer from earlier times knows the following situation. You sit at home on Christmas or your birthday and wonder if you will receive the most important gift of all: the first console. What logo was on the box could almost end up in a religion on the playground. That is no longer the case today.
What decision is one of the most important for gamers? Besides the first starter Pokémon, for many gamers, the first dilemma was: Which console will be my first?
The Reddit user Deadshot5 recalled this question from earlier days with a meme in the gaming subreddit. With over 50,000 upvotes and more than 2,000 comments, many gamers became nostalgic and commented on the order in which they owned consoles or how extreme their decision was.
Why was this decision so important back then? At that time, there were exclusive titles that were genuinely exclusive. There are still some today, although very softened. Games like the “Marvel’s Spider-Man” series or God of War were released on PC several years after their PlayStation exclusive release. Xbox even releases their games directly on PC. Nintendo still holds on to their exclusivity.
Besides the exclusive titles, there was also the issue with multiplayer. If you wanted to play with your friends, you had to own the same console. However, this problem was almost entirely resolved in 2017 with one of the most hyped games of all time, establishing a technology that is supposed to put the console war on hold for a long time.
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
What do gamers say about the topic of console wars and crossplay? In the comments under Deadshot5’s Reddit post, many share their experiences on this topic. The user UnderInteresting describes the devastating consequences of the ancient console war (Reddit.com):
I lost a friend because of that when I was about 12 years old. So stupid when I think about it today.
Another user named anonnemous shares his console story and gives a glimmer of hope for a future without this topic (Reddit.com):
I switched to the Xbox 360 back then because all my friends in middle school had them, otherwise I would probably have stayed with PlayStation. Nowadays, with all the crossplay games, kids hopefully don’t have to make this decision anymore.
The Miracle Called Crossplay
When was crossplay first used? With crossplay, the decision for or against a console becomes irrelevant. The ability to play with other players on different platforms has existed for over 20 years.
The first game to use this technology was the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI. From 2002 to 2006, the game was released in different regions on PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox 360, and offers crossplay between each of these platforms.
Only in 2017 did crossplay go mainstream with Fortnite Battle Royale. Whether you own a PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, a PC, or just a smartphone, you can play Fortnite with anyone.
Is the choice of console still important today? No. Definitely not as important as it once was. Crossplay and the fact that many developers are opting for less exclusivity make the console war feel like a relic of the past. However, there are still pure exclusive titles like the new Mario Kart, which is only available for the Switch 2.
What was your first console and have you since parted ways with it, or are you still a supporter of the first brand? Let us know in the comments and share your own console war stories.
Every year, various games are nominated and awarded at the Game Awards. One of these games was Dave the Diver in 2023. This title had the chance to take home the best Indie Game award, but the game’s creator believes the team has nothing to do with indie.
What kind of game is Dave the Diver? In Dave the Diver, you play as diver Dave. He runs a sushi restaurant with his friends, but to provide fresh ingredients for his dishes, you need to go diving. So you venture into a mysterious Blue Hole and collect various fish for your specialties.
The game managed to sell over 1 million copies just a week after its release in 2023, and even our MeinMMO editor couldn’t resist the allure of diving. Due to its sudden success, Dave the Diver was also nominated for the best Indie Game of the year at the Game Awards 2023. However, the creator of the game insists: His game is not an Indie Game.
Start video
Trailer for Dave the Diver: In the Jungle
Nomination Doesn’t Fit the Game
What did the creator of Dave the Diver reveal? In an interview with the gaming site “4Gamer” (source: 4gamer.net), the creator of Dave the Diver, Jaeho Hwang, was asked about the controversy, as he claims his game is not an Indie Game.
He himself stated: “I wonder if people think of us as an indie studio just because we develop games in a small team, or because our graphic style and gameplay systems are unique.”
He further elaborated: “For some reason, we were also nominated for the best Indie Game award, which led some people to ask: ‘Hey, isn’t this a Nexon game?’, but it’s not like we applied for the award ourselves (laughs).”
The studio behind Dave the Diver, Mintrocket, is a subsidiary of the large company Nexon, which generates up to 2.1 billion euros annually – so it’s not a studio that had little resources for development. But why is the game still considered indie?
What is indie and what is not? When a game qualifies as an Indie Game cannot be precisely determined, as everyone has a different definition of it. Even the host of the Game Awards, Geoff Keighley, commented on the definition.
He stated that he ultimately decided to leave it up to the jury’s decision, as “independent is a broad term” and “can mean different things to different people.”
Whether it’s the art style, the budget, the team size, or the gameplay mechanics – everyone has a different interpretation. But if you were to go by team size, then Baldur’s Gate 3 would also be considered an Indie Game. You wouldn’t have thought so, right? Despite its gigantic scope and richness, the gem from Larian Studios is also an Indie Game.
In Dune: Awakening, the developers released the major July patch. However, a feature that was prominently improved is now causing frustration among players.
What is this feature? The developers of Dune: Awakening released the major July update on July 2, 2025, which had previously been tested on the test server. Among the key changes presented by the developers is the point:
“The interaction with vehicles has been improved. It should now be easier to enter them from different angles.”
However, this feature is now increasingly causing issues. A user was even turned into worm food by a bug.
Here is what you can expect in the future in Dune: Awakening:
Start video
Dune: Awakening – Das ist die Zukunft des MMOs
Glitches are causing problems
What does the problem look like? Those currently trying to enter a vehicle from a greater distance may encounter a new bug. As user MaxwellJones117 vividly demonstrates on Reddit, characters are currently sometimes unable to enter the vehicle.
Instead, players are teleported around the shell and can only break free with great effort. This also means that they are unable to move freely for some time and cannot enter the vehicle.
In the case of the user, his character was so bugged that he could no longer escape from the sandworm. He and his Ornithopter, along with the equipment, seem to have been lost forever.
In the video from user MaxwellJones117, you can see the bug:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How are players reacting to the new problem? On Reddit, the post by MaxwellJones117 received over 2,000 upvotes, and other players are also reporting new problems with their vehicles.
Videogameist says on Reddit: “The same thing happened to me. Lol. Luckily, I was in an outpost where I was being shot at and not in Shais Sand. It seemed to happen when I jumped and tried to enter the Thopter.”
funkwumasta says on Reddit: “I’ve seen other videos where people were bugged in the sand, and the glitch seems to dissolve just before being eaten. It’s almost like an additional ‘get lost’ from the server.”
juicy_chase says on Reddit: “I might need to take a few days off until this is fixed by a hotfix, because if this happens to me, I’ll probably just stop playing. I don’t have much time to play and just got my Ornithopter, that would set me back significantly.”
So far, the problem has not been addressed by the developers. It is not listed among the known issues or server alerts. It is unclear if the developers are already working on a solution.
The First Descendant is primarily known today for one thing: pretty young women in charming outfits. In this spirit, a new crossover with two popular characters is also coming. Fans are already sharing their wish for the next one.
What kind of game is this? The First Descendant is a free loot shooter that will be released on Steam in Summer 2024. At its release in July, it managed to attract 260,000 players, but most of them have since left. The Steam rating is currently only 56% positive.
Players can soon look forward to two new skins. These are 2B and A2, two androids from the RPG NieR: Automata by Square Enix. The skins will be released with the update for Season 3: Breakthrough on August 7, 2025.
You can watch the trailer for the “The First Descendant x NieR: Automata” crossover here:
Start video
The First Descendant: Offizieller Trailer zum Crossover mit NieR: Automata
Fans are already wishing for the next crossover
What does the community say about it? From the comments under the trailer on YouTube, great anticipation can be read:
“2B has been waifu icon for 10 years by now.. and i’m here for it” (necrotic256)
“Everyone gangsta until 2b whips out the Akimbo” (SockRayBleu)
Others are amused that 2B now appears in numerous games.
“bro this is the 53th collab, nier automata is becoming the most collabbed game of all time” (hapiel8759)
“2B can’t keep getting away with this. She’s in literally every single game at this point.” (jamtea573)
“2B be hopping to one gooner game to another, and I’m not mad” (RamonXick)
Now that the androids from NieR: Automata are in the game, all that’s missing is a crossover to the “gooner trinity”, as YouTuber ERAL782 puts it – and that would be Stellar Blade. By the way, the game recently received a crossover DLC with NieR: Automata.
“Soon, The First Descendent x Stellar Blade” (mikachuuu_)
“Now we need and stellar blade collab” (metropece)
The development of Warcraft Rumble is being discontinued. Less than 2 years after launch, the mobile game is now dead.
For many, it was already foreseeable, now it has been officially announced: The game known to many as “Warcraft Mobile” is practically history. There will be no new content anymore. However, the game will still receive small updates that will activate recurring in-game events or bring systemic adjustments. But there will be no new content.
Warcraft Rumble even had raids:
Start video
Warcraft Rumble: The Trailer for the 1st Raid Molten Core
What kind of game was Warcraft Rumble? In Warcraft Rumble, players collected various characters from the Warcraft universe (the so-called “Minis”) and assembled armies from them. These armies had to be placed tactically while managing resources like gold, all while trying to counter the enemy’s units.
There was both a long PvE campaign and very comprehensive PvP.
New Minis could be earned in-game or bought in the cash shop. When players owned the same Minis multiple times, they became stronger and gained new abilities. This also meant: Those who spend a lot of money had stronger Minis with more abilities.
What was the problem with Rumble? Rumble had several issues that made success difficult.
With Rumble, Blizzard tried to jump on the mobile trend that started about 10 years ago – but with a significant delay. Many had already found their mobile games and were happy with them. There was little incentive to switch.
Rumble was indeed fun – until the grind began.
Additionally, they had directly alienated the large PC community of Blizzard – because Rumble was not playable on PC at the beginning (or only with emulators). This left the “core community” out, even though that was later resolved.
Another problem was: Rumble was not the type of “Warcraft Mobile” that the community desired. There were repeatedly rumors of a Warcraft Mobile, which had built high expectations. That in the end, it was just a collection game with a large pay-to-win cash shop caused a lot of resentment.
What does Blizzard say? After the launch of Warcraft Rumble in November 2023, the game is now facing closure after just 20 months. Blizzard commented on this:
Since launch, Rumble has struggled to find solid ground regarding our ambitions for long-term success and for a time we listened to player feedback, refocused some areas, and tried new approaches. Some of this work showed progress, but ultimately it was not enough to put the game on a path to sustainability.
Cortyn says: I also played Warcraft Rumble at launch and was relatively entertained. However, the game did not manage to keep my interest for long and quickly became a very tedious grind, where I was reminded every 5 minutes that I could make it easier on myself if only I spent more money in the shop.
Even though I cannot speak for everyone, I believe that this aggressive monetization and the many small but noticeable “pay-to-win” aspects have caused the Blizzard core customer base to have little interest in the game. For everyone else, there was no reason to take a closer look at Rumble – because it “only” did what many other mobile games had already done.
A user on Reddit reports about his expensive high-end PC, which no longer starts after a failed BIOS update. Despite numerous repair attempts, he is now seeking help to get his computer running again.
On Reddit, the PC builder shares the endless odyssey with his PC. He earns his living with 3D graphics and wanted to build a particularly powerful workstation. Cost: around $20,000 – about €17,000. The dream PC was meant to handle not only every rendering project with two RTX 4090 graphics cards, a huge amount of RAM, and an extremely expensive CPU but also be future-proof.
Nvidia is now facing competition from Intel, which is entering the GPU market with its Arc graphics cards. Check out the video on Intel ARC.
Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video
Between High-Tech and Mystery
These components are installed: Initially, the computer ran stably, first on an open test bench and then installed in a Corsair 9000D.
Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7975WX
Graphics cards: Two NVIDIA RTX 4090 (currently only one installed)
Memory: 512 GB DDR5 ECC-RAM
Motherboard: ASUS Pro WS WRX90E-SAGE SE
Case: Corsair 9000D
Power Supply: MSI MEG Ai1600T Titanium (originally Silverstone HELA 2050R)
Storage: Two Corsair MP700 PRO NVMe SSDs with 2 TB and 4 TB (not installed yet)
Accessories: Extensive custom water cooling, UPS, spare PSU, premium cables
This is how the failure occurred: After seven months, disaster struck. One of the SSDs was not detected, and the user tried to resolve the issue with a BIOS update. Instead of using the recommended flashback function, he used a tool within the running system. The update froze, the computer crashed, and could only be forcefully powered down.
Since then, the PC fails to start properly and hangs at Q-Code 92 during boot-up.
How was the problem addressed? On suspicion, the user sent the motherboard for repair and received a replacement board, but the error persisted. Even replacing the RTX 4090 did not yield any improvement. The originally installed card was later inspected by a repair service with no findings.
As a result, he replaced nearly every component: new CPU, new RAM, new power supply. He tested different RAM slots, rebuilt the system in minimal setup, flashed multiple BIOS versions, and disconnected all peripherals, but the system continued to freeze.
In total, he had three different ASUS motherboards in use. Two of them were replacement units via ASUS customer service, but none could get the PC running. A repair service suspected a defect in the board’s chipset but could not confirm it due to a lack of suitable test hardware.
What is the cause of the failure? The cause of the problem remains a mystery. Q-Code 92 indicates a fault in communication between the CPU, motherboard, graphics card, and power supply, particularly in the area of PCIe connections. A severe defect in the motherboard or even a BIOS problem that cannot be resolved despite multiple attempts is possible.
As the exact source of the failure is unclear, troubleshooting remains difficult and frustrating. The user already suspects that even the replacement motherboards from ASUS could be faulty. Without access to special diagnostic tools, it is nearly impossible for him to find the defect himself.
What happens next? Despite countless hours filled with frustration and hope for a solution, the error persists. Now he can only rely on the help of the community, hoping that someone can crack the mystery of Q-Code 92 and finally bring the dream PC back to life.
Meanwhile, the first proposed solutions from the community are gathering under the Reddit post. The magazine tom’sHardware has already reported on the case and suggested several solution ideas. Whether one of them is the crucial hint remains to be seen. We will keep the story in view and update the article as soon as there are new developments.
The new event “Steel and Scales” in Pokémon GO is part of the “Hyperbonus” and definitely lives up to its name. Gramokles finally enters the game and brings many bonuses.
When does the event start? “Hyperbonus: Steel and Scales” starts on July 22 at 10:00 AM. It ends on July 27 at 8:00 PM.
But what does the event bring? A lot of highlights – including the long-awaited debut of Gramokles, strong event bonuses, and pretty cool Pokémon in the wild. We summarize all the content here for you.
Gramokles, Duokles and Durengard finally appear in Pokémon GO
This is Gramokles: You know Gramokles from the games “Sword and Shield”, and it fits like hardly any other Pokémon – because it resembles a sword very much. It is of Ghost and Steel type, just like its evolutions: Duokles and Durengard.
With the start of the event, you can obtain Gramokles from level 1 raids or as a reward from the PvP league. For the evolution, you need 25 candies for Duokles and 100 candies for Durengard.
The event graphic shows Gramokles, Duokles and Durengard Image source: pokemongo.com
The special thing: These three are the last Pokémon missing in the Kalos Pokédex of Pokémon GO. With them, you can obtain a new medal for a complete Pokédex.
The second special thing: Durengard is a special Pokémon in “Sword and Shield” that takes on different battle styles through the ability “Tactic Change”. It remains to be seen if and how this will be implemented in Pokémon GO. At least since Morpeko has the ability to change forms in battle.
Strong bonuses complement Steel and Scales
Bonuses: In addition to the new Pokémon, you can grab strong bonuses in the Hyperbonus event. You will receive:
Four times XP for catching
Four times Stardust for catching
An increased shiny chance for Kindwurm and Tanhel
Icognito U in raids also has an increased shiny chance
New shiny: Meikro debuts in its shimmering form. This way you can catch it shiny before its upcoming Community Day, if you’re lucky.
Strong Pokémon: Some of the best Pokémon are also appearing in the wild. Possible shinies are marked with an asterisk*.
Magnetilo*
Dratini*
Stollunior*
Kindwurm*
Tanhel*
Kastadur*
eF-eM*
Meikro*
Milza*
Viscora*
In raids, you will encounter:
Icognito U*
Kaumalat*
Klikk*
Kapuno*
Gramokles
Panzaeron*
Caesurio
Tandrak
Tortunator*
As usual, there are collector challenges and special field research that you can complete.
All in all, it is a very strong event that brings many exciting Pokémon. However, Hyperbonuses are also known for bringing powerful Pokémon. By the way, there are more Hyperbonus events. Another one was recently announced: The Hyperbonus titled “Hisui Celebration” brings you the Hisui form of Zorua and more content.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Currently, the Summer Sale is running on Steam, bringing great offers. For under ten euros, you can immerse yourself in an engaging Batman story.
What kind of game is this? This is Batman: The Telltale Series on Steam, which you can currently get for the price of 5.99 euros in the shop. That’s cheaper than the average price of a döner, which is between 8 and 9 euros (Source: newsroom.justeattakeaway.com).
In the Batman Telltale game, you take on the role of Batman and experience an engaging story whose direction and outcome you determine yourself.
Even better: The second part, Batman: The Enemy Within, is also on Steam reduced to 5.99 euros. If you buy both games in the bundle, you pay 11.72 euros.
With the trailer for Batman: The Enemy Within, you get a first insight into the Telltale game:
Start video
Batman: The Enemy Within liefert euch eine packende Geschichte rund um den Superhelden
Batman at night, Bruce Wayne during the day
What happens in the game? In the Batman Telltale games, you play not only as the hero Batman but also as Bruce Wayne. While the activities of the hero Batman may be more exciting, both narratives contribute equally to the game. The Telltale games primarily do one thing: they tell their players a story where the players can actively participate.
In the Batman Telltale games, you appear not only as Batman but also as Bruce Wayne.
In the first part of the Batman Telltale games, you uncover in five episodes that not only the usual suspects, like the Penguin or Carmine Falcone, have dirty dealings, but also the parents of Bruce Wayne. During their lifetime, they were deeply involved in the underworld of Gotham City, or so it seems. The truth needs to be uncovered as Batman, but also as Bruce Wayne.
The game ends with a teaser for the next game The Enemy Within. Here, Batman faces his old nemesis: the Joker. However, you can influence how the Joker develops in this game.
Let me say this: a rivalry doesn’t necessarily have to develop between Batman and the Joker. This offers a rarely chosen perspective for the Batman universe and makes the game’s story particularly special.
The Joker has two different paths he can take in the Telltale games.
The main gameplay of both games consists of two essential things: point-and-click mechanics to find hidden clues and choosing from various dialogue options.
Each action has a direct impact on the game events. So, it’s worth not just playing through the game once but multiple times to see all dialogues and possible endings. At a price of 6 or 12 euros, it’s definitely worth it.
Jim Gordon is, of course, also part of the Batman Telltale games.
Who should get the game? If you want to experience an exciting story about the Dark Knight and are not deterred by slower gameplay mechanics, the Batman Telltale games are definitely for you.
After the new round of layoffs at Microsoft, a key developer is now also leaving ZeniMax Online Studios. Fans of Elder Scrolls Online can understand this.
Who is it about? The head and long-time developer Matt Firor has announced his resignation from ZeniMax Online Studios. Matt Firor has worked there for 18 years and has been the face of Elder Scrolls Online for many fans.
Here you can see the first season of the new update cycle of Elder Scrolls Online in the trailer:
Start video
The Elder Scrolls Online: Seasons of the Worm Cult – Part 1 – Release Trailer
A Departure Like an Earthquake
Why is he leaving the studio? Although he has been known for 18 years as the face and head of several MMORPGs, Matt Firor today announced his resignation on the official X.com account of Elder Scrolls Online.
He writes there that he is leaving the studio at the end of the month and that the new studio head will be Jo Burba. Susan Kath and Game Director Rich Lambert are to support the new head.
He himself wants to continue to cheer on the team and the fans and is confident that not all stories in Elder Scrolls Online have been told yet. According to his statement, he has spent thousands of hours in ESO and is sure that the community will continue to make the game a success.
How are players reacting to the resignation? Players are surprised by the resignation, although for many it was not completely unexpected after the large layoffs at Microsoft. Besides the layoffs, the new MMORPG from ZeniMax Online Studios has also been canceled. Development had been underway for 7 years and the MMORPG was supposed to become an important player as a AAA project with its own engine.
With the resignation, alongside sadness, there is also some concern among fans about Elder Scrolls Online on Reddit:
Maximus_Rex: “They canceled his other MMO, so I would probably leave too.”
Mirra1002: “My goodness. I wonder what this transition will look like… and it’s hard for Matt. Really a big shock.”
drmstix303: “This doesn’t feel like a warm farewell. Probably a ‘step down or we’ll fire you’ mandate from Microsoft. It’s just so sad.”
ZombieCrow: “Understandably, if they destroyed my passion project, I would leave too. Thank you for all the great years!”
JediDruid93: “Layoffs and now the studio head resigns? I foresee a big negative change coming to ESO soon.”
So far, there is no information that anything will change in the short or long term at Elder Scrolls Online, but it cannot be ruled out.
In a new soulslike on Steam, you fight as a soldier of World War I against legendary figures from Slavic mythology – and that from the back of a huge wolf.
Which game is being referred to? The game in question is Chains of Lukomorye, an upcoming third-person shooter from the developer studio Forge Ahead. You will be able to play this alone or with another player in co-op on Steam.
You can watch the announcement trailer for the game here:
Start video
Chains of Lukomorye: The announcement trailer for the new third-person shooter on Steam
Slavic Mythology in World War I
What is the game about? Chains of Lukomorye takes place in an alternate timeline of World War I. Instead of ending the war in a traditional way, the Allies performed a magical ritual. While it did end the war, it also shattered reality, allowing mythical beings to enter the world.
Players take on the role of a soldier who wants to retrieve his wife from the realm of Lukomorye. By your side is Sirin – a winged being in the form of a woman. A screenshot also shows the main character fighting from the back of a large wolf.
In Chains of Lukomorye, you will encounter figures from Slavic mythology: some are friendly towards you, others are not. Confirmed bosses include Leshy (the inspiration for the forest guardian from The Witcher 3) and Nightingale of the Robber.
In which game set in World War I can you shoot enemies from the back of a large wolf with a repeating rifle?
The boss battles are said to be challenging, and if you believe the Steam tag, then you can expect a new soulslike here. Baba Yaga with her house on chicken legs also appears, but it is still unclear whether she will be a friend or foe.
A figure who should ideally be a friend is Bayun. “Can you befriend the giant black cat?” asks torley under the trailer on YouTube. Let’s hope that the developers don’t take too much inspiration from Dark Souls and Sif – this fight was so sad that you didn’t even want to finish it.
When is the game coming out? The developers have not announced a release date yet, nor have they indicated a general release timeframe. Whether the game will be available on platforms other than Steam is also not known.
Final Fantasy XIV broke records in player numbers with the expansions Shadowbringers and Endwalker. However, the new one Dawntrail is suffering from player attrition, and it seems the veterans are the ones dropping off right now.
What are the current player numbers? According to the latest census from the blog Lucky Bancho, the player numbers for Final Fantasy XIV have once again decreased. The total number of active characters is currently 948,098, which is over 46,000 fewer than in March 2025. At that time, the overall total globally dropped below 1,000,000 for the first time since 2021.
What stands out particularly is that while there are rising numbers of new and returning players, it appears the veterans are leaving: While there were still over 890,000 long-term characters active during Patch 6.2 in Endwalker, there are now only about 740,000 at Patch 7.2. And the differences between Patches 7.0, 7.1, and 7.2 are significant, too.
It is actually completely normal for Final Fantasy XIV that player numbers decline during the patches. However, the departures of veterans have been significantly lower in all previous expansions.
Start video
The new trailer for Patch 7.2 of Final Fantasy XIV shows the new, highly anticipated content
The numbers reveal: The largest player decline in 8 years
Where do the numbers come from? Square Enix does not publish official numbers regarding players or characters. However, the Steam player numbers via SteamDB are available. There, the game recorded an all-time peak of 95,150 concurrent players about 3.5 years ago.
Lucky Bancho uses publicly available data from the official community site, the Lodestone, for its statistics. You can check what exactly they analyze to calculate their numbers beneath.
This is how Lucky Bancho categorizes the data
Maximum level is 70 or higher (excluding exactly 70) OR the job is a job that cannot be unlocked in the Free Trial OR the character belongs to a Free Company (FC).
HP, level, and experience points have changed since the last survey (16.03.).
The number of companions (Minions) and mounts has changed since the last survey.
New characters that were not present in the previous survey.
Characters with public profile, Minions, and Mounts in the Lodestone.
Owns at least one mount.
Characters that leveled a job with a Jumping Potion at the time of data collection (indicated by main weapons with item level 390 at level 70, IL530 at level 80 or IL660 at level 90) are excluded.
Based on this data, the player numbers for Final Fantasy XIV currently look like this:
The blue bars represent new players, the red ones are veterans, and green are the returnees. The bar on the far right is a forecast by Lucky Bancho itself.
The numbers are not official, but they likely come quite close to the actual number of players. It is important to note though, that these numbers are based on characters. Per service account, between 8 and 40 can be owned. Therefore, the actual number of people playing is probably lower, as many Warriors of Light can be played by one person over time.
Unlike in previous expansions, in Dawntrail, it is primarily the veterans who are leaving the game in larger numbers: Patch 7.0, the release of the expansion, boasted around 1,020,000 long-term players (Lucky Bancho). In the subsequent update 7.1, the number already fell by 170,000 to 830,000 characters (Lucky Bancho). In March, there were only 760,000 players (Lucky Bancho), while now, after Patch 7.2, there are only 740,000.
Looking at the current bar chart, it becomes clear that these losses are the largest in a long time.
The great story MMORPG is losing exactly that: The good story
Why are players leaving? There are several reasons for the current player attrition. Very prominently, the main story, which was highly celebrated until 6.0 and that every MMORPG player must complete to a certain extent, has seen a drop in quality. Streamer Zepla also counts this as a reason.
Unfortunately, a single raid series is probably not enough to excite a large part of the players. Dawntrail’s story does not currently reach the heights of Shadowbringers or Endwalker, which drove the strong player increase starting in 2019. Too much RNG may also ruin the fun for even the hardest grind fans. In fact, it has already come to the point where the director and producer of the MMORPG apologized in the last stream: The head of Final Fantasy XIV admits that they have become too comfortable – this is supposed to change in the MMORPG now.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Behind many tier lists for Baldur’s Gate 3 often lie opinions and analyses from experts, sometimes even hours of testing. A German researcher found that wasn’t enough: He mathematically calculated the best classes with a tool. MeinMMO was allowed to ask him a few questions.
In the end, the Druid in the Circle of the Moon takes first place. You can see more results on YouTube. Johannes Pfau was available for MeinMMO to answer some questions about his tool, his research, and his connection to gaming.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Reset Character and Choose New Class
“No player wants to just watch while their teammates clear every fight”
MeinMMO: For people who have absolutely no idea about math: How does your tool work?
Johannes Pfau: In principle, there is a simulator (as a backend) and an interactive visualization (as a frontend). The simulator is connected to a database that knows all executable actions, spells, attacks, and passive talents or class abilities of the game. Now, let’s say every character build consists of (at least) one class, and thus receives a set of skills and passives. Now the frontend gives you 2 options: You can either explore what happens when you chain your favorite skills together – or let the autocomplete find the skill sequence that leads to the most damage dealt.
In principle, it’s a small, classic AI that knows the expected values of the skills and tries a few steps into the future to see what is most worthwhile. For example, it knows that it’s sensible to cast the spell Hex before another spell or attack, and not afterward. And of course, this also works with other buffs, debuffs, or more complex mechanics, and over several rounds.
So I have just modeled all classes, spells, talents, etc. in BG3, and asked the simulator to give me the best strategy for each class, along with the respective damage value at the end. You can look at various scenarios… For example, to find the potential to deal as much damage as possible in one round (Nova), or to calculate which classes consistently deal a lot of damage over 10 rounds.
Depending on the scenario, such as the number of opponents, their resistances, stats, other group members, etc., you obviously get completely different numbers, so one must not lose sight of the big picture when claiming class X deals more damage than all others. And of course, one must also always say – damage is not everything, and maximum damage is not always the most interesting strategy.
MeinMMO: How did you come up with the idea of calculating the classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 based on their strength?
Johannes Pfau: In a rather grand way, I could say that science is fundamentally about finding information or evidence where there is much uncertainty and differing opinions. And to be honest, there’s seldom such a lack of consensus as in the opinions of player communities regarding which classes/characters/builds/etc. are actually “the best.” If you look at 10 different tier lists, experience reports, or guides, you’ll get 10 completely different perspectives. Even though there is often much truth in them, most games lack a standardized benchmark that could lend weight to statements.
Especially with big questions like balancing, I find it interesting when one can argue backed by evidence. So I connected it with a study that aims to unite many different dimensions of balancing (see: Progression Balancing × Baldur’s Gate 3: Insights, Terms and Tools for Multi-Dimensional Video Game Balance on dl.acm.org). Now one could argue about whether Baldur’s Gate 3 is perfectly balanced or should be – but I think, especially when playing in multiplayer, no player wants to just watch while their teammates clear every fight. And in the end, I’m just a big fan of the game, the studio, and the genre, and love to combine hobby and profession.
Originally, our tool comes from the world of Guild Wars 2, where there is fortunately already a good way to create such benchmarks in-game. However, that wasn’t enough for us, as we wanted to investigate: What are the theoretical limits of a class, even if human players struggle to reach them?, and: What happens to the damage potential of the class when the next announced balance patch goes live? In one of my publications, I showed that players who engage with the tool learn more (meaning their in-game performance improves) than those who simply learn by playing (see: Damage Optimization in Video Games: A Player-Driven Co-Creative Approach on dl.acm.org).
“Some weeks of development time surely went into it”
MeinMMO: A small personal question: How did you actually come to your profession? Sounds like a dream for many academic gamers.
Johannes Pfau: I started in the German game industry and took the opportunity to create AI tools (reinforcement learning) that automatically or semi-automatically tested our games (see Automated Game Testing with ICARUS: Intelligent Completion of Adventure Riddles via Unsupervised Solving on dl.acm.org). This alleviated a huge workload for our game testers (and opened new ways to thoroughly test games) and showed me that this is what I would like to do professionally.
Since such tools are often experimental, the academic world seemed to be the right path for me. Getting in wasn’t much different from other fields: Sure, I had a very good degree and industry experience, but definitely also some luck that at that time a doctoral position became available that more or less matched me – and luck that I already had contacts who pointed it out to me.
And when so much passion and ambition flow into a dissertation, it tends to turn out well… well enough that I had no significant problems finding my follow-up jobs in the USA and now my permanent position in the Netherlands.
MeinMMO: How long did it take you to develop the whole thing and what was the hardest part?
Johannes Pfau: As mentioned, it all started in the context of Guild Wars 2 when my colleague Manik started with the simulator (now backend) (on github). That was about 2 years ago, and surely some weeks of development went into it. At that time, the simulator could play a predefined skill sequence and calculate damage curves, but not more. When I stumbled upon it, I really wanted to make it interactive so that it would be easy to use and anyone could quickly try out what strategy with which build would work well.
Of course, this also took a few months, then we added a study on top of it and published it (see: Damage Optimization in Video Games: A Player-Driven Co-Creative Approach on dl.acm.org). Last year, while I was working on a Baldur’s Gate 3 run with my wife, I was wondering how various classes could be optimized and how difficult it would be to apply our GW2 tool to BG3. Well, most internal functions are written rather generically, and the biggest difference here was likely that you had to swap a real-time combat system for a turn-based one, but in principle, every turn is just a (discrete) unit of time.
The most time-consuming part was thus not rebuilding the system but rather incorporating and verifying each individual build, skill, spell, feat, etc. in Baldur’s Gate 3 into the system. To save time and ensure compatibility, all these things can simply be loaded and interpreted from JSON files.
Calculating the damage of, for example, a fireball is then relatively intuitive, as it is described in the wiki, rulebook, or in-game: 8D6 means 8 times 1-6 damage, so something from 8-48, with an expected value of 28 in the middle (minus the probability that the target succeeds on a saving throw). It gets more complicated when various mechanics influence damage, hit chance, triggered effects, etc., which not only need careful implementation but should also be tested (ideally compared against in-game numbers). As a quick example, a level 12 Evocation Wizard could therefore do the following in every round:
Have their Water Elemental execute a slam that increases all subsequent cold damage by +100%
Alternatively, have this one multiattack increase by +183%, if it used Slam in the previous round
Have their Ice Mephit(s) cast a Chromatic Orb that can knock the opponent down, making them more vulnerable to attack rolls
Cast a Chromatic Orb or Cone of Cold themselves, which could also be enhanced by the passive ability Empowered Evocations
Let up to 3 summoned skeletons (and maybe a mummy) hit as well
Gale, attempting to follow the mathematics behind his class.
And that’s without the influence of items or external buffs. Finding the strategy that optimizes damage here is therefore not completely trivial (especially since about 100 other spells would be at one’s disposal).
This tedious work, entering and checking everything, ultimately took the longest, about another 1-2 months – but naturally, ideas and impulses always came up in parallel to add or change functions in the tool to best represent all the mechanics. In the end, I always find it important to have a system that I also enjoy using myself.
“I catch myself thinking about how I would simulate a game”
MeinMMO: What data can I extract with the tool besides pure combat strength? Can it be built “universally” for other analyses?
Johannes Pfau: Nice question! I hear from many communities that there’s always a cry for damage, and when I play a game for myself, I often feel the urge to find (and be able to execute) an optimal offensive strategy. However, once you reach the point where many mechanics in the game and boss mechanics are trivialized by too much damage, you’re likely harming yourself and your gaming experience more than the opponent. And although this is certainly the main application of this tool, it is not the only output that can be generated. In theory, the healing done could also be a parameter that could be output – however, healing is often much more situational, since one could argue that you always need damage and healing only when it’s necessary.
It also shows how long (calculated over combat time) certain buffs and debuffs can be actively maintained with your build and rotation, which is particularly interesting in MMOs. But of course, it can be expanded at will. Instead of only looking at a fixed opponent, you can simulate a whole range of enemies and check how many of those fights a build would achieve (success rate) or how long one could survive (survivability).
Or you compare different agents, such as an AI that plays optimally against a strategy that simply executes random actions/spells. If the gap between these two performances is not particularly high, it suggests that this build is relatively “simple” to play – while a high variance between the two would suggest that this build requires more thought. Since such games aim to appeal to various player types, this is also an interesting metric for balancing.
Ultimately – if you had recorded logs of fights, you could also find out what players do wrong or suboptimally (since you can calculate the optimal comparison value in the background). Either to learn from it oneself or to understand when players prioritize flair over optimality.
MeinMMO: How difficult would it be to rebuild the tool to work for ALL role-playing games?
Johannes Pfau: As I’ve somewhat mentioned earlier: Not immensely difficult. I actually find myself mentally catching thoughts when I play anything else about how I would likely simulate it. The “hardest” aspects would be two things:
Accurately capturing and entering any game mechanics (actives, passives, buffs,…) (tedious work)
Knowing the fundamental damage calculation formula
(In GW2, for example: Damage = (Weapon Damage * Strength * Skill Coefficient) / (Target’s Armor Value) * Modifiers)
(In BG3, mostly the expected value of the dice roll, where depending on the damage type the hit rate (Attack Roll: Miss/Hit/Crit), (Spell Save: Miss/HalfMiss/Hit) is taken into account)
Wikis often form relatively quickly that simplify information finding significantly, although you still have to check them again.
MeinMMO: Two final questions: What is your favorite class in Baldur’s Gate 3 and what is your favorite role-playing game?
Johannes Pfau: Both are very difficult!
In terms of flavor, I thought I would be a fan of the Warlock – however, the limited spell slots don’t really allow you to dive much into the beautiful debuffs of the class, and you end up getting lost in the Eldritch Blaster or Pact of the Blade attackers, because you don’t have to manage resources there. The Wizard has a nice range, but I never feel like I can typically only perform one action per round, and the subclasses lack a bit of identity.
Therefore, the Sorcerer is the class I’ve enjoyed the most in my runs, due to the great flexibility and strength (especially through the Metamagics Quickened/Twinned Spell) – no matter if damage dealer, debuffer, or even supporter, the Sorcerer is just fun and generous to multiclass. When I play physical classes, the Fighter is often part of the build, as it is simply too well-rounded – but in terms of design, I like the Monk variations the most.
My favorite RPG depends on the day: My guilty pleasure is definitely the Gothic series, which I grew up with as a child. The combat system is quite idiosyncratic, but seldom does anything come close to the atmosphere, quest design, and heart and soul that went into the earlier Piranha Bytes games.
However, if I look at my Steam hours (MMOs excluded), then it’s without a doubt Divinity: Original Sin II. It was no surprise to me that Larian would turn BG3’s generous budget into something wonderful. But when it comes to the combat system, D:OS2 still stands quite a bit ahead, and I’m more than curious for them to return to their roots!
The players of Helldivers 2 have numerous wishes for the shooter. However, one player wants to play it safe and chooses a path that brings the community to his side.
Who is it about? The player Hazman62 is currently getting the Helldivers on his side on Reddit. Instead of just submitting a new proposal like everyone else, he took the effort and provided a concept on how the feature can be implemented in the game.
To make it impactful, he created a presentation and explained to the community and developers on six pages why his wish is good and how it can be implemented best.
What features have already been implemented can be seen in the trailer of the Omen of Tyranny update:
Start video
Helldivers 2: Das neue Update Omens of Tyranny erfüllt langersehnten Wunsch
On the battlefield with two weapons
What weapon does the player want? Hazman62 would like the popular akimbo weapons from Call of Duty in Helldivers 2. Just like in the Activision shooter, players should be able to wield two secondary weapons simultaneously instead of a primary weapon.
The double firepower also comes with some disadvantages. The fan’s plan foresees that recoil will increase and reload time will rise. Additionally, players should not be able to have a primary weapon.
With the desired feature, instead of a new weapon, a new mode for many already available weapons in the game would come. This would also benefit those who have already found their favorite weapon.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How are fans reacting to the presentation? The fans of Helldivers 2 are celebrating the user’s proposal. On Reddit, they are already planning which weapons they will soon take into battle:
KaleidoscopeOwn7161 says on Reddit: “Wielding two Talons at once would be awesome.”
Educational-Year3146 says on Reddit: “Totally Jango Fett with it.”
HEAVYTANK1 says on Reddit: “Wielding two Ultimatum would be really fun, to be honest.”
Dapper-Wait-7717 says on Reddit: “Wielding two weapons at once would be amazing, I’ve been playing Wolfenstein lately and I swear, akimbo is so satisfying.”
The players love the concept and the idea of the implementation and hope that the developers will make the player’s dream come true.
With the presentation, the player has directly convinced the community. Whether it is enough for the developers is still questionable. The fact that memes from the community are even incorporated into the Helldivers 2 universe is also shown by the story about John Helldiver, who recently brightened a player’s day: Player receives a message from a hero from Helldivers 2 for his birthday, 11,000 fans celebrate with him
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A 59-year-old manager explains in an interview why he does not need a real work-life balance: He does not separate work and leisure, but skillfully combines both.
The English-language magazine Fortune.com spoke with Scott Mellin about his work. Mellin is the 59-year-old Chief Brand Officer of the French sports brand Salomon.
Under his leadership as Chief Brand Officer, he significantly transformed the company and turned the brand from a niche provider of outdoor sports into a billion-dollar streetwear phenomenon.
Manager emphasizes that he does not separate work and leisure
Mellin explained in the conversation that he starts his day with three to four double espressos and a ski or bike tour before arriving at the office around noon and working until the evening. He has maintained this daily structure for over 25 years.
His wife drives him to work in an electric car, and they use the travel time for their relationship. He explains: “My wife and I share a fully electric Škoda Enyaq. She takes me to work and picks me up at the end of the day. We use this time to connect.”
Mellin also emphasizes that he does not separate work and leisure – for him, nature is the best meeting room:
To be honest, I make no distinction between work and life. I love this industry and believe that the great outdoors is the best conference room. I spend the morning skiing or biking, which gives me time to think deeply about the business before I go to the office at noon.
I work into the evening or go to dinner with clients or partners. That may be different, but it’s a routine I’ve maintained for over 25 years.
Experts recommend clearly separating work, leisure, and life
What do experts think? The German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, for instance, found in a comprehensive analysis (PDF file) that those who balance work and private life are more satisfied in their jobs, more engaged, and more motivated. Companies typically benefit more from motivated and loyal employees than when the workforce feels burned out and chased by their job into their leisure time.
The magazine Clockify explains in its “Work-Life Balance Statistics 2025” that a good work-life balance lowers stress levels, reduces the risk of burnout, and decreases the chances of emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depression.
The demands for more work remind one of a young boss who, too, does not know a real work-life balance. At least not for his employees. He explains that at his company, one must work 80 hours a week. However, that receives little positive feedback. He defends himself: As a startup, one has to compete with great competition, and one must assert oneself against it: The 22-year-old boss of a company demands 80 hours a week from his employees: “We do not offer work-life balance”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In this list, we introduce you to animated films that will visually and thematically stay with you. You can decide for yourself whether in a positive or negative sense.
Animated films are often mistakenly classified as purely children’s films. However, there are enough films that use animation as a medium to tackle complex or adult themes, as well as to present sheer absurdities.
They are not shy about showing uncomfortable, grotesque, or simply strange content. For some, these are inspiring, while for others, they are simply disturbing.
The following films are examples of this type of animated film. With this list, you can find out for yourself whether these films appeal to you with their look and themes, or whether you would prefer to stay far away from them.
[toc]
Here you can see the trailer for a film in this list – The House:
Start video
The House – Official Trailer
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
“A Scanner Darkly” is a science fiction film based on the dystopian novel “A Scanner Darkly” by Philip K. Dick.
The film is set in a dystopian surveillance state where drug use and addiction shape the lives of the people. Agent Fred, played by Keanu Reeves, is undercover investigating the manufacturers of the drug “Substance T”, which causes many problems and the downfall of all existences.
However, during his investigations, Agent Fred himself becomes a consumer of this drug, which begins to split his awareness of his own identity, causing him to completely lose touch with his own personality.
The film’s peculiar look was achieved through the art of rotoscoping, a technique in which artists trace over individual frames of real film scenes, frame by frame, to better realize realistic movements.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
