I always thought Star Trek was the cheap Star Wars, but a particular episode convinced me otherwise

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes has never seen Star Trek; to him, it always looked a bit trash. He also had no interest in the series, but a friend forced him to watch a specific episode.

Although my father is a big Star Trek fan, the franchise has always been uninteresting to me. Even though the series have little in common, I long thought that Star Trek was just the cheap version of Star Wars. It didn’t look as good, I found the tight-fitting costumes a bit silly, and there are countless series and films, which made researching them turn me off.

However, a good friend insisted that I check it out. The series is humanistic and has a positive tone. For months he bugged me about a specific episode. I should just watch The Measure of a Man (in German Who Owns Data?), and after that, I would understand why Star Trek is so fascinating.

What is the episode about? The episode belongs to Starship Enterprise: The Next Generation and is the 9th episode of the 2nd season. Even the author of Game of Thrones helped in the creation of the episode.

The android Data is to be disassembled and examined by a scientist, but he refuses. The question arises whether and what decision-making power Data has over his own body.

At first, I thought it was going in the direction of What can AI do? What is its purpose? But it was quite different. I was fascinated and excited.

Start video
Star Trek: The Next Generation – Trailer for Season 5

An optimistic view in not-so-optimistic times

How was the episode? Although the set design and the somewhat theater-like acting did not quite meet my taste, I quickly found the basic premise quite interesting. Although Data is artificial intelligence, it is much more about his freedom as an individual in a large construct.

He is different from other crew members and does not understand some human traits, but throughout the episode, it is repeatedly clarified that he does indeed develop emotions. He does not show them like a normal human, but within him lie memories and connections to other people.

Even though I did not know the characters, I was invested in the trial concerning Data. This trial quickly shifted from his function as an android to the question: What qualifies a human to be a thinking being? This is still a relevant topic today, and the execution worked for me without problems.

What I liked most was the overall atmosphere. The theme is treated in a deeply human way; there is always a certain optimism involved, and even the slightly exaggerated dialogues fit well. Amid the seemingly only bad news these days, it was a great and pleasant change.

My friend described the core idea of Star Trek as: The tomorrow can be better and just after one episode, I can completely understand it.

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What is your favorite and which Star Trek movies and series can you recommend? Feel free to write it in the comments. Also, MeinMMO author Linda ventured into the world of Star Trek in 2023, but with a comedy series: I have never watched Star Trek, but I found ‘Lower Decks’ amazing

Even the villain of the episode is not fundamentally demonized. Data shakes his hand and wants to help him with research in the future.

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I was a fool: Star Trek and Star Wars have hardly any similarities

I can only speak for the one episode, but Star Trek is something completely different. In Star Wars, one can argue that it is not really a science fiction film, but the philosophical approaches of this episode fit the genre.

Sci-fi works often pose philosophical questions and deal with what it means to be human. Star Wars has many adventure elements, with political ones in the prequels, but the concept of Human is not questioned or analyzed.

Both have a completely different approach, but both simply have a Star in their name. Star Wars depicts a conflict between two parties that never ends, but Measure of a Man is not only a human story; it is deeply optimistic and made me think.

My friend described the core idea of Star Trek as: The tomorrow can be better and just after one episode, I can completely understand it.

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What is your favorite and which Star Trek movies and series can you recommend? Feel free to write it in the comments. Also, MeinMMO author Linda ventured into the world of Star Trek in 2023, but with a comedy series: I have never watched Star Trek, but I found ‘Lower Decks’ amazing

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. IMDb
  2. Titelbildquelle: Amazon Prime Video Deutschland auf YouTube

Here are 7 underrated settings of Dungeons & Dragons that make the Sword Coast look old

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 7 minutes

Many adventurers are drawn to the famous Sword Coast of Faerûn in Dungeons & Dragons. In addition, there are numerous settings for the tabletop role-playing game that are just as exciting.

What settings are available for Dungeons & Dragons? The Forgotten Realms are one of the most popular settings of Dungeons & Dragons and represent a sort of “standard setting”. This includes the continent Faerûn with the notorious Sword Coast, which is the setting for many adventures. Many games, such as Baldur’s Gate 3 or the MMORPG Neverwinter, also focus on the Sword Coast.

Famous locations along its coast include Neverwinter, Waterdeep, Baldur’s Gate, or Luskan. The Icewind Dale in the north of Luskan is also one of the popular settings in Faerûn and the Forgotten Realms.

The stylistic focus is on a classic high fantasy world with ancient gods, powerful organizations, and political intrigue, making it a frequent first point of contact for players of Dungeons & Dragons.

However, there are also settings outside of Faerûn that are just as exciting but are often overlooked. Therefore, we present to you 7 underrated settings that often fly under the radar for many players and belong to the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons.

[toc]

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Eberron

Dungeons & Dragons - Campaign Setting Eberron
Eberron

Eberron is a planet with its own cosmology. This offers a setting that can be classified more as a steampunk or noir fantasy setting. At its center are political conspiracies and modern magic technologies.

Instead of classic castles and knight armors, players can expect a magically powered, industrially shaped world. Society uses everyday magic such as magic-powered trains, airships, and magical communication systems. Classes like the Artificer embody this interplay of magic and technology and fit perfectly into this setting.

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The planet is in a fragile peace after a long war – a perfect stage for espionage, conspiracies, and power games. With unique races like the Warforged and psionically gifted Kalashtar, as well as significant places like the giant Sharn or mysterious ruins of the jungle continent Xen’drik, Eberron offers countless adventures.

Religion here is based solely on faith, not on provable divine existence – creating room for doubt and fanatical cults. Eberron thus offers a mix of steampunk and magitech flair, immersing players in a world with a suffocating apocalyptic atmosphere.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Forgotten Realms Wiki
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Player organizes a large LAN party for Path of Exile, gaming with 50 gamers into the new season, even the developers celebrate it

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

For the players of Path of Exile, the season start is always an event. A gamer wanted to make the launch of “Secrets of the Atlas” even cooler and invited 50 gamers to a LAN party.

What was the LAN party like? At the start of the new season “Secrets of the Atlas”, there was a large LAN party in Wrocław, Poland. 50 gamers gathered to experience the start of the season together. Among them were professionals as well as beginners who only knew the second part of Path of Exile.

It was not only the participants that were special, but also that there were prizes to be won on-site. Both the developers of Grinding Gear Games and the sponsors from Endorfy provided rewards for the gamers. Instead of rewarding the best players, there was a bounty to be won at the LAN party.

There were bounties for example for having one’s character die in a certain act or for managing to keep one’s character alive the longest until the end of the LAN party.

Here you can see what “Secrets of the Atlas” is about:

Start video
Path of Exile shows new Mercenary Season “Secrets of the Atlas” in the trailer

Pizza, Hotdogs and Path of Exile

How did the LAN party go? At LAN parties, it’s about more than just gaming. On Reddit, the organizer Piotr Maciejczak shared some statistics from the event. There were of course many different foods and drinks, but it seems that hotdogs were the hit instead of pizza. According to Maciejczak, 130 hotdogs were consumed during the event.

Of the 148 characters created, 104 died. This is tragic because the LAN participants all played in a private hardcore league where death means elimination. The bounties only offer a little comfort.

At the end of the event, participants visited the zoo in Wrocław and looked at the meerkats. Even the developers were touched by the LAN party and commented under the Reddit post: “Congratulations on this successful event. We are glad you had so much fun and look forward to the next one!”

Who is behind the event? The organization of such a large LAN party is spearheaded by the Twitch streamer and creator of the Polish “Cmentarzysko” league, which is a private league for players from Poland. The fan of Path of Exile has always dreamed of a LAN party at the season start but never managed to convince his friends:

A real LAN party had been a dream of mine for a long time. For years I tried to convince my PoE buddies to have a real league start in LAN style: someone brings their computer, we fill the pantry with drinks and snacks and just play 16-hour sessions. For a long time, this was just a dream that never came true.

Piotr Maciejczak on Reddit

Now the content creator was able to fulfill his dream and has a positive outlook. In his conclusion, he writes: “Path of Exile is often seen as a single-player game, but there is just something about it that makes it best when you have someone to talk to, to tell about a ‘fat’ item drop or to ask for help when you get stuck on your build. This event fulfilled all those social needs in the best possible way :)”

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A large LAN party with many gamers at the same time and a load of pizza, hotdogs and soft drinks, as well as prizes, sounds like a dream for many in the comments. One gamer fulfills this dream for his son: A player has assembled a gaming setup of 9 PCs because his son wanted a LAN party for his birthday

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit
  2. Titelbild via YouTube Piotr Maciejczak

A father claims his daughter tried to play a “prank” on him by plugging a USB killer into his car: now the entire car’s electronics are ruined

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A daughter decided to play a “prank” on her father by installing a USB killer in his car: Now the entire electrical system of the car is allegedly ruined. This is reported by the father, who describes the situation on Reddit.

What does the father report? A user reports on Reddit that his daughter wanted to prank him. In English, he uses the word “prank.”

He explained that he had been listening to music via a USB stick, but his daughter replaced that memory stick with a USB killer. USB killers are devices that connect via the USB port and then destroy the device with increased voltage if there is insufficient overvoltage protection.

Car broken technology Reddit
The image on Reddit shows the vehicle’s lights illuminating and the indication of the defect in the middle.

He himself writes about it:

Now the entire electrical system of the car is broken (all lights on the dashboard are on and the engine refuses to start) and to make things worse – fuses were intact.

You can’t verify it 100%, as the original post has been deleted, but it can still be accessed via digital archiving (via Archive.is). The user profile has also been deleted by now. The deletion itself cannot be verified, it only says on Reddit that “This post has been removed by Reddit’s filters.”

Is there any chance for the car? Yes, some users recommend in the community that the owner should remove the battery for a few minutes and then reconnect it. Then the control unit in the car, briefly ECU (short for “electronic control unit”), gets a chance to restart. In the best case, only the USB port and the radio are damaged, but not the rest of the vehicle.

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Can you really destroy a car with a USB killer?

What are USB killers? A USB killer is a device that looks like a regular USB stick but contains capacitors that generate high voltage and discharge it abruptly over the data lines of the USB port. Generally, such devices are compatible not only with computers but with all devices that have a USB port.

Can they damage cars? Yes, according to a technical article on Securityaffairs.com, such a killer can also be used on a modern car: The circuits in current vehicles that have USB ports (for example infotainment, diagnostics, or charging ports) can be permanently damaged by a USB killer if no special protection is implemented.

The destruction usually affects the main board or the control unit behind the USB port. In cars, this can mean that the infotainment system, USB charging functions, or even central control units fail if they are interconnected. Whether safety-critical systems are also affected depends on the specific vehicle architecture and how strongly the electronic systems are interconnected. In the worst case, there is a total loss of the vehicle.

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The YouTuber Manny Khoshbin owns a rare Bugatti Bolide, which is worth about 4 million euros. But he has to change the tires every 58 kilometers because they wear out so much. The price per set of tires: about 7,000 euros: YouTuber has a luxury car worth 4 million – But to drive it, he has to pay 7,000 euros every 58 kilometers

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

Because he drinks too much alcohol and harasses women, a Twitch streamer is being kicked out of his organization

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The Twitch streamer and esports player Joseph “mang0” Marquez behaved so inappropriately during an event hosted by streamer Ludwig Ahgren that his esports organization expelled him. Ludwig also took appropriate action and will no longer invite him to future events.

Who is it about? mang0, whose real name is Joseph Manuel Marquez, is a Twitch streamer and esports player in the game Super Smash Bros. Melee. He has participated in some major competitions, such as The Big House, and is under contract with the esports organization Cloud9.

His Twitch channel has over 500,000 followers and in the last year he managed to attract an average of 690 viewers with his gameplay of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Rivals of Aether II, or Marvel Rivals (Source: SullyGnome).

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Organization and fellow streamer distance themselves from mang0

What was the incident? The event Beerio Kart, hosted by streamer Ludwig Ahgren, invited various streamers to play Mario Kart World and drink beer. After a certain time, mang0 began to sexually harass some of the attending female streamers.

He made obscene gestures over their heads and repeatedly pressed a pillow against his groin. He also did not refrain from constantly touching the hair of streamer Emily “ExtraEmily” Zhang. Throughout the entire time, he was only covered with shorts and otherwise naked.

Esports organization expels mang0: The incident in the livestream had consequences. The esports organization Cloud9, for which mang0 plays, announced on X that they will terminate his contract. They further stated that the behavior displayed by mang0 is completely unacceptable and they have a “zero-tolerance” stance on it.

What does fellow streamer Ludwig say about the incident? Since the event was organized and hosted by streamer Ludwig Ahgren, many in the community naturally asked for his opinion on the matter. He announced that mang0 will no longer be invited to his events.

Even during the stream, when mang0 was harassing women, Ludwig intervened. For example, in one scene he actively tried to push mang0 away from Emily and to cover up the whole situation as best as he could.

Furthermore, it seemed that there was a personal note in Ludwig’s response to the incident: His own father died from alcohol addiction at only 44 years old. Ludwig believes that the “low point” for his father was his own death and he hopes that mang0’s low point is exactly this situation now, so that he can improve in the future (Source: YouTube).

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What does mang0 say about it himself? mang0 also spoke out on X in several posts. He apologized to everyone involved whom he had harassed with his behavior and assured that he has already personally apologized to them. He also asked his family and especially his son for forgiveness.

mang0 has realized that he has an alcohol problem, wants to improve in the future, and will take a step back from social media and streaming in general for now.

If you or someone in your environment is also struggling with an alcohol or other addiction problem, you can find help and support at kenn-dein-limit.de and bundesdrogenbeauftragter.de.

It remains to be seen how mang0’s behavior will develop in the future. It seems to be quite common to drink while gaming, at least in Europe. You can read more about it in the following article on MeinMMO: How common is it to drink a beer while gaming? Study provides answers

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Cloud9 auf X.com
  2. Mang0 auf YouTube (Bildquelle)
  3. Ludwig React auf YouTube
  4. C9mang0 auf X

Players from Dune: Awakening use beginner items until the endgame, better versions end up in storage, waiting there for the ‘final boss’

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

Do you also know this from a game? You collect special consumables like powerful elixirs, high-quality potions, or ammunition with additional effects to use them later when they are really useful – which often never happens. Players from Dune: Awakening are currently experiencing the same.

What type of consumable item is it? The medkit, which can easily be crafted from plant fibers, is one of the first items that can be crafted in Dune: Awakening. Using the bandage immediately restores health points and continues to do so over a certain period.

Through the combat category, upgrades like the medkit Type 2 can be learned over time, which are just a bit more complicated to produce (plant fiber plus 2x micro-sandwich cloth per kit). However, those who frequently visit enemy bases and stations are likely to find many improved medkits there.

However, many players seem to do it like the author of these lines: Even after dozens or even hundreds of hours of gameplay, the regular medkit is still in use, while the better variants that have been accumulated over time sit in a storage chest gathering dust. This is currently reflected in a community discussion.

A few tips for Dune: Awakening in video form? Here you go:

Start video
Dune: Awakening: 7 schnelle Tipps, die das Spiel euch nicht verrät

Typical Gamer

What do players of Dune: Awakening report? It started with Force_Weilder21, who explained in his initial post on Reddit that he would only use the regular medkit even in the endgame because it is so easy to obtain and reliably does its job – especially when the passive talents for more healing have been learned.

In the comments, many players explain that their experiences are no different.

  • NearlyNormalJimmy writes on Reddit: “That’s exactly what I do too. The Type-1 medkits are so easy to craft and can be looted from so many NPCs that it just makes sense to use them.”
  • SpecialistSix adds on Reddit: “This is literally the only thing I use, because all the others don’t make sense in terms of healing amount and resource consumption. I always carry a few stacks and can easily craft more at any time.”
  • NesuneNyx explains on Reddit where this comes from: “In the last more than 30 years, I’ve learned through MUDs, TTRPGs, JRPGs, and MMOs to save all my elixirs and good potions for the fights against the final boss, only to promptly forget to use them in those fights. I won’t be breaking this habit anytime soon.”
  • Hardcore_NPC points out on Reddit that the medkits not only heal: “They are essential for removing poison and the fire debuff.”
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Diverse players also explain that they would exclusively buy the medkits from merchants, as they constantly need plant fibers for other things like filters or carpets. How do you approach the use and acquisition of medkits? Do you always use the available item? Is the standard kit sufficient for you? If you are interested in what the future of the survival MMO brings, check here: Dune: Awakening reveals plans for the near future, set to receive new story and PvE content every 3 to 4 months

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

WoW: Even Blizzard ignores the Jailer, omitting him in new quests

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The Jailer in World of Warcraft is so unpopular that even the developers no longer mention him for his grand ‘masterstroke’.

The story of World of Warcraft had story ideas that were better received and some that were not. The Jailer belongs to the latter category. For many, he has retroactively ruined the stories of notable characters such as Sylvanas, Arthas, or Uther.

At least Blizzard seems to want to quietly correct this mistake now – because in new quests, he is no longer mentioned at all.

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Why is the Jailer so unpopular? There are many reasons. The most important one is probably that an attempt was made with the Jailer to reinterpret many well-known stories from the Warcraft lore in a new light and create new context. Therefore, the Jailer was the ‘mastermind’ pulling the strings in the background – basically since the beginnings of Warcraft.

This also retroactively ruined the development of characters like Arthas or Sylvanas, as their actions were no longer independently motivated, but had long been planned by the Jailer.

Where is he now ignored? Anyone looking at the new feature of ‘lorewalking’ can replay the story of Arthas Menethil and his journey to the Lich King. In doing so, one experiences it not only in some new (and some old) quests but can also permanently pepper the storyteller Cho with questions if one wants more details.

The curious thing is: In all the many pages of text, the Jailer or the Shadowlands is not mentioned a single time. Although these connections should be clear to a lore seeker like Cho, the Jailer gets no mention at all.

Because in the ‘new’ story, the Lich King, the Helm of Domination, and also the blade Frostmourne actually only exist because the Jailer orchestrated it.

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This is how the community reacts: If you look into the WoW subreddit or other social media, people seem to welcome the step of leaving the Jailer out of this narrative. If at all, there are mostly ironic posts mentioning that it is a ‘shame’ that ‘this great and brilliant character is not mentioned at all.’ After all, he is a villain that has been ‘carefully built up over 15 years.’

One concludes with the saying: ‘As a community, we need to ensure that such an iconic character is no longer ignored by Blizzard and that Blizzard gives him the love he deserves!’

What is your opinion on the Jailer from Shadowlands? Is it a good decision to mention him as little as possible in the current story? Or should we bite the sour apple and build upon him now that he has been created?
A bit different behaves Xal’atath in the next patch …

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

The new role-playing game based on The Expanse not only takes inspiration from Mass Effect, but also from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Soulslikes 

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

Several weeks ago, the role-playing game based on the series “The Expanse” was introduced for Steam. Now the Creative Director talks about details and shares information that mainly revolves around the inspirations for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.

What is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn? The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is supposed to be a role-playing game that will expand the story of The Expanse. You take on the role of a mercenary and build a crew with your spaceship. As for the story, the core focuses on political tensions. Since you will be traveling with your crew for a long time, there will also be a touch of romance.

As our shooter expert Dariusz Müller noted, the mix of The Expanse resembles Mass Effect – this includes the romance, the third-person perspective, the cover mechanics during battles, and the overall interaction with the crew.

The Creative Director of the role-playing game has now revealed new details and mentions further sources of inspiration that players might discover in the game.

Start video
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn – Announcement Trailer from the Summer Game Fest

Great inspirations like Baldur’s Gate 3

What new information is there? The Creative Director of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Alexander Mishulin, spoke in an interview with CNET about the upcoming game. Some of the questions revolved around inspirations and what players can expect from the new role-playing game based on the popular series.

Especially RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 have helped realize the cinematic story around the allies. But Japanese titles like Persona 5 also served to make the characters you need to interact with more vivid. The Director had the following to say:

“I’m not saying that we are taking anything from, let’s say, Persona 5, but the approach, the idea that the characters are at the heart of the story and how they develop throughout the story until the end, is somewhat similar.”

Regarding builds, The Expanse is said to be inspired by Soulslikes. There are no classes, but the possibility to create builds around your favorite weapons that you would like to fight with.

This allows for a lot of freedom and the opportunity to thrive in the game as you wish, without regretting it later.

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It remains to be seen what further information the developers behind The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will publish. Until then, feel free to check out the series. Our shooter expert Dariusz Müller reports on the details: A series on Amazon Prime is perfect for passing the time until Starfield.

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

Daybreak sues popular private server for EverQuest, other fan projects take a summer break for safety’s sake

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

The fan project “The Heroes Journey” is intended to infringe on intellectual property and cause irreparable damage. Therefore, the company behind EverQuest is now suing the operators of the private server.

What is “The Heroes Journey”? The private server relies on the open-source environment EQEmulator, like various comparable fan projects, to combine the classic EverQuest experience with some meaningful adjustments, such as in the class system or loot.

THJ is said to be the largest of its kind, with regularly around 2,000 players, a previous peak occupancy of over 4,500 concurrent MMORPG enthusiasts, and more than 25,000 members on the official Discord channel.

Both EverQuest MMORPGs are still live and receive regular updates:

Start video
Trailer for the 21st expansion of EverQuest II: Scars of Destruction

What is known about the lawsuit? The lawsuit filed by Daybreak Game Company (formerly Sony Online Entertainment) in California can be found via courtlistener.com.

The company behind brands like EverQuest and PlanetSide calls “The Heroes Journey” an unauthorized and illegal EverQuest emulator that would infringe on intellectual property and cause immediate as well as irreparable damage.

Meanwhile, Daybreak’s lawyers apparently tried to keep the case behind closed doors, seek a preliminary injunction against the emulator, and unmask the currently anonymous co-defendants. However, all three motions have reportedly already been denied by the presiding judge.

The defendants meanwhile expressed themselves quite confidently on the Discord channel of “The Heroes Journey”: They have great lawyers, the advantage of facts on their side, and a strong belief that the responsible people will recognize that they are fans and not enemies.

Preparation for the “EverQuest Reboot”?

Why is there a lawsuit? Apparently, “The Heroes Journey” is currently the only EverQuest private server being sued by Daybreak. According to massivelyop.com, sources speculated that this might be because the operators may have accepted “donations” in exchange for in-game currency and other items for sale in the game.

Two other EQEmulator-based projects – Quarm and Wayfarer’s Haven – went offline shortly after the lawsuit was filed, but reportedly were not sued by Daybreak. According to the respective operators, it is more a pause out of pure caution. They would adhere to all rules, take copyright seriously, and not generate any kind of profit.

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Perhaps Daybreak is now also addressing the private server issue because a new EverQuest has been known to be in development since this year. It is not intended to be a third part, but rather a kind of modern reboot of part 1. This would automatically make all privately operated servers, where one can play the first EverQuest, compete. More about this: New MMORPG to EverQuest is supposed to be a modern reboot for part 1, one detail raises skepticism

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. The Heroes Journey
  2. massivelyop.com
  3. reason.com

PewDiePie was once the King of YouTube, leaves the Top 10 of the Biggest after 12 years

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

If you are on YouTube, you will have heard something about the YouTuber “PewDiePie” sooner or later. He is a legend and many know him from his old gameplay videos of Minecraft or Amnesia. He was once among the biggest YouTubers on the platform, but after 12 years, that has now changed.

Who is PewDiePie? PewDiePie (real name: Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg) is one of the most famous YouTubers in the world. In 2010 he founded his channel “PewDiePie”. His program was mainly about Let’s Plays of Minecraft, the horror game Amnesia, or other games. After 2 years, PewDiePie reached his first million subscribers, and the numbers kept rising.

Several years passed until in 2014 he had over 27 million subscribers – at that time he was one of the YouTubers with the most subscribers on the platform. He was able to maintain his position for many years, but then the YouTuber distanced himself from his work.

In 2022, the creator explained to his fans that he wanted to continue on YouTube, but not to become bigger. Instead, he wanted to make videos for fun.

This is also reflected in his output. Since then, PewDiePie has only sporadically released individual videos on various topics – like moving to Japan or building his own gaming PC.

Since he stopped releasing videos regularly, he slowly fell down the top 10 most subscribed channels. Now, after 12 years, he was even completely removed from the ranking.

Start video
YouTuber reveals secret Minecraft feature that hardly anyone knows about

PewDiePie drops out of the Top 10 with the most subscribers

What place does PewDiePie occupy now? PewDiePie is currently in 11th place. Above him are 10 other YouTubers from around the world, offering different formats. This last happened in 2013.

In 1st place is the famous Mr. Beast with his crazy videos, in which he invests a fortune, to realize them – he has 408 million subscribers.

In 2nd place is T-Series, an Indian channel with 297 million subscribers, which mainly focuses on music.

In 3rd place, Cocomelon has made itself comfortable. This is a famous channel with videos for toddlers, featuring animated children, adults, and animals in their daily lives.

In 10th place is the South Korean channel that pushed PewDiePie out of the ranking: 김프로KIMPRO relies mainly on YouTube Shorts and publishes short, funny videos.

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von Johanna
YouTuber arrested for a “prank”, commits another offense by uploading the video
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2 years ago, 2.50 € plunged German Twitch into chaos, now the chairs are flying
von MeinMMO

You might think that this is the end of a legendary era. Nevertheless, PewDiePie posts one or the other video about his private life. When you look at his views, you can tell that many fans have not forgotten him and are eagerly waiting for what the YouTuber has to share. PewDiePie played not only Minecraft but also Fortnite, and even on Twitch. You can find more about it here: PewDiePie plays Fortnite tournament, destroys Twitch, then leaves

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

Dune: Awakening lets you test the first major update on a new test server, look forward to numerous improvements

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 19 minutes

The developers of Funcom have provided a public test server for Dune: Awakening where you can test the new features of update 1.1.10.0.

How do I access the test server? In your Steam library, you will now find a new entry named “Dune: Awakening Public Test Client.” This is 37.24 GB in size and will grant you access to upcoming updates for the survival MMO.

The developers emphasize that this is a platform where preliminary versions of updates should be tested. So expect problems, which can then be reported via the “Bug Report” option in the game.

[toc]

A look at the future of Dune Awakening:

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

Dune: Awakening – Update 1.1.10.0

What new features can I look forward to? The patch notes for the first update are very extensive, as the developers are planning adjustments for all areas of the survival MMO. They themselves highlight the following innovations as highlights.

  • Sandworms now linger near spice fields that have been recently harvested.
  • The frequency of Harkonnen attacks on certain Atreides bases (and vice versa) in Hagga Basin has been reduced.
  • The “Play Now” button in the main menu has been set to filter out private servers.
  • When the streamer mode is active, the name of the map creator is hidden if the player created the map. Additionally, the name of the sector in the Deep Desert is now hidden in streamer mode.
  • Items from the vehicle inventory of the Ornithopter can now be listed and claimed in the trading post.
  • The PvE area near the shield wall has been expanded to cover rows A, B, C, D, and half of E in the Deep Desert.

Other exciting adjustments include:

  • The developers are removing restrictions for visiting other sietches. You can now also claim land in other sietches in your world.
  • After dying due to a Coriolis storm while offline, affected players are now moved to Hagga Basin, so the respawn menu displays all respawn points in Hagga Basin.
  • The icons for buffs and debuffs have been visually improved for better readability.
  • There are balancing adjustments for various class skills.
  • Improved interaction with vehicles. It should now be easier to enter them from different angles.
  • When leaving an Ornithopter in the air, they now drop straight down instead of gliding endlessly. This should prevent them from getting lost in cases of disconnection, crashes, or if the player accidentally exits.
  • Control points in the Deep Desert are now PvP areas.

You can find the full patch notes for update 1.1.10.0 on the following page and on duneawakening.com.

More about Dune:
There is currently a golden age for survival games on Steam, and not just thanks to Windrose
von Ody
Dune: Awakening finally overcomes its identity crisis, fulfilling the greatest wish of PvE players
von Cedric Holmeier

What do I need to know about Dune: Awakening? The new survival MMO from Funcom was released on June 10, 2025, for PC and takes you to the desert planet Arrakis. However, it does not follow the well-known storyline from the books or movies, but rather an alternate timeline where Paul Atreides was never born.

Hunger, thirst, sun, aggressive enemies – from the very first minute, survival is the focus of Dune: Awakening. As you build better tools, gear, bases, vehicles, and weapons, you will simplify your daily life, allowing you to increasingly focus on exploring the game world, mastering dungeons, or experiencing the story.

In large parts of the game world, you can encounter a maximum of 39 other players. Exceptions include the two faction capitals and the Deep Desert, a vast endgame area where PvP is active almost everywhere and which changes fundamentally each week due to a storm. You can learn more in our overview: Dune: Awakening – Everything about the release on PS5, Xbox, and PC

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2

PS Plus Essential: All free games in July 2025 for PS4 and PS5 – This time with a great action RPG, with a new season

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

Games for PS Plus Essential in July 2025 for the PS5 and PS4 have been officially announced. We present the games briefly and show you when they will be available.

What PS Plus games are available in June 2025? There are again three games that you can get with the PS Plus Essential subscription in July 2025.

  • Diablo IV | PS5, PS4
  • The King of Fighters XV | PS5, PS4
  • Jusant | PS5

When will the games be available? The games are always available from the first Tuesday of the month:

  • PS Plus games available: July 1, 2025, around 12:00 PM

All Important Information about the Free Games of PS Plus Essential in July 2025

Here we briefly introduce you to the three games:

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

Diablo IV (PS5 / PS4): Diablo 4 is an action role-playing game where you fight against hordes of monsters with a self-chosen hero, collect loot, and improve your character. The game takes place in a dark fantasy world, focusing on fast-paced combat, exciting loot, and an open game world.

It features five classes like Barbarian, Sorceress, or Necromancer and can be played solo or online with others. Diablo 4 starts on July 1, 2025, coinciding with the release of the free games.

The King of Fighters XV (PS5 / PS4): The King of Fighters XV is a classic 2D fighting game where teams of three fighters compete against each other.

It comes from SNK and continues the storied fighting game series. The game offers fast, tactical battles with a wide selection of characters from various SNK series, a continuous story, and both local and online multiplayer modes.

Jusant (PS5): Jusant is a serene, atmospheric climbing game where you ascend a tower influenced by various biomes and puzzles.

The gameplay focuses on precise climbing, exploration, and solving environmental puzzles, accompanied by a wordless, emotional story.

More on the topic
The Stardew Valley with corpses suddenly announces a sequel after 8 years, gives away part 1 on Steam and PS5
von Ody
Is RAM too expensive for you? Here are 5 alternatives to game without an expensive gaming PC
von Benedikt Schlotmann

What else should I consider? If you haven’t claimed the games from last month for PS Plus yet, you should hurry. Once the new games are available, the old ones will be taken down. If you want to get the games, you will need the paid PS Plus subscription for your PS4 or PS5.

More about PS Plus: Do you want to know which content belongs to which PS Plus subscription and which is best for you? MeinMMO presents all PS Plus options and explains which one suits you best: PS Plus Subscription: Essential, Extra or Premium – Which package is right for me?

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

In EA FC 25, players could spend over 500 euros on a feature – fans fear: ‘It will get worse’

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 3 minutes

On Reddit, the community discusses a feature that has become increasingly expensive during the course of EA FC 25. Fans fear that it might become even worse for the successor, as it could become even more costly.

What feature is being discussed? The Evolutions (EVOs) are one of the most popular features in EA FC. Since their introduction in FC 24, they have become a staple in Ultimate Team.

What is an EVO? With this feature, you can upgrade players. They receive better stats, PlayStyles, player roles, or even new positions depending on the EVO. EVOs can be free or paid (coins or FC Points).

The introduction of EVOs in EA FC was driven by many fans’ desire to develop their favorite players from lower-tier clubs into real stars. However, with EVOs, you can also upgrade already strong players, which can become quite expensive.

If you want to fully utilize the feature, you can spend over 500 euros in Ultimate Team.

How does one reach over 500 euros? A user on Reddit took the effort to present the cost evolution of EVOs month by month since the release of FC 25. According to his calculations, 241 EVOs have been completed in Ultimate Team so far. Altogether, 435 British pounds (approximately 510 euros) could be spent for the required 60,900 FC Points or over 12 million coins.

The bar chart presented in the post provides a good overview:

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Link to the Reddit content

Further insights into the evolution of EVO costs were:

  • from the start of EA FC 25 until February, the number of free EVOs prevailed
  • since March, the number of paid EVOs compared to free EVOs has doubled (exception April)
  • by the end of January, there were only 7 EVOs that cost over 100,000 coins, since March there have been more than 7 EVOs each month costing over 100,000 coins
  • the cost of EVOs has nearly tenfold since October (295,000 coins); June: 2.9 million coins; and June is not over yet)
Start video
Tips for a Perfect Start in EA FC 25 – Ultimate Team

Developments lead fans to fear worse for FC 26

Why do fans believe it will get worse? The top comments under the post count on the current developments pointing towards more paid features and microtransactions, and they believe it will be even worse in FC 26:

  • CrashTASMaster: “The fact that this game now offers microtransactions is becoming increasingly concerning over time. I knew it was going downhill when purchasable kits and tifos were introduced with additional SP challenges, while players lacked the necessary SP for the season pass.” (via Reddit)
  • StockTemporary5278: “This is a pattern. Offering insane cards for FC Points or coins, even though FC Points are clearly the better option.” (via Reddit)
  • FIGJAM17: “Next year will be even worse. Paid pass from the start, paid SBCs, paid Evos.” (via Reddit)

Fans are addressing multiple issues here, all relating to benefits that can be purchased with additional coins or FC Points. Whether it’s extra season points to level up the season pass (“purchasable kits and tifos with additional SP challenges”) or the costly upgrade to the premium pass (“paid pass”).

What is the Premium Pass? The paid season pass has become a reality in FC 25 since April 2025. It is a premium variant that promises additional bonus content to the normal season pass. The player has the choice to spend 500,000 coins or 1,000 FC Points for the upgrade or to revert to the usual contents for free.

User StockTemporary5278 addresses another problem. There are now numerous EVOs that would cost relatively many coins but are offered for comparatively fewer FC Points. A good example of this is the current Shapeshifters-Striker-Force-EVO, which can be unlocked either for expensive 500,000 coins or for “only” 1,000 FC Points (9.90 euros).

This could lead players to choose the easier route and invest real money in EVOs.

More on the topic
EA FC 25: Griddy to Glory – here is how to unlock the goal celebration for FC 26
von Thomas Dummer
EA FC 25: Player Group 23 for SBCs – What is behind the condition?
von Thomas Dummer
Pre Season in EA FC 25: Here’s how to quickly earn rewards for FC 26
von Thomas Dummer

We will have to wait and see what direction EA will take with the EVOs in FC 26. If the trend continues towards a larger share of paid EVOS, the celebrated feature could lose much of its appeal. Currently, it is indeed difficult to even acquire many coins in Ultimate Team to afford the EVOs. This was also acknowledged by a well-known content creator: Streamer criticizes EA FC 25: “TOTS rewards ruin the game”

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

„I will never be able to queue again“ – LoL player mourns his best friend with whom he spent 11 years dominating silver

Nico Scheibel Nico Scheibel Reading time 2 minutes

In League of Legends you don’t play alone, but together with other people. Just like in real life, friendships or even relationships can form. A player is now saying goodbye to his long-time friend with whom he has played LoL for many years.

Which players are involved? In the Subreddit of League of Legends, a post has been made that evokes many emotions. The player Kanajin bids farewell to his best friend Sean “Moneehan”. In his text, he describes that the two have shared a great passion for League of Legends since their studies in 2014.

In the last 11 years, the friends have played several hours a week together, allowing them to stay in touch after their lives took different directions.

Together with the two champions Velkoz and Zyra, the friends made the silver rank uncertain. Like every evening, Kanajin and Moneehan wanted to meet and disrupt the rift of summoners. Unfortunately, Sean “Moneehan” passed away that day due to a car accident.

Kanajin wrote the following about his time with Sean and League of Legends:

Even despite all the toxicity, the intentional teammates, and the crazy patches, this game provided me with a beautiful place to spend time with my friend, and for that, I will always be grateful. In my gratitude, however, I do not believe that I will ever be able to queue again. His spirit will always be present in the rift of summoners, his laughter when a skillshot misses, his joy in the howling abyss when everyone just rushes in and enjoys the chaos of ARAM.

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

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

Sean will also be honored by the community

How is Sean honored by the community? His favorite champion was Zyra, the Thorn Queen. In the sad story of his friend, Kanajin thanks everyone and encourages the community to play Zyra in his honor.

Under the Reddit post with over 7000 upvotes and more than 250 comments, players gather to remember Kanajin’s friend. The user Massive_Ambition_754 wrote the following (via reddit.com):

My condolences. In honor of Moneehan, I will play a round of Zyra today. I’ve never played the champion before, but I’ll do my best.

Another comment under the farewell letter was from a former friend of the two from their studies. The user Grenwenfar commented (via reddit.com): Rest in peace, Dick Punch. I miss you, brother.

Kanajin, the author of the post, explained that Grenwenfar was indeed an old friend. The three LoL fans used to play a trio of the champs Shen, Galio, and Nocturne and called the trio “Dick Punch”.

In a comment (via Reddit), Kanajin explained that even Riot reached out to him and purchased flowers for his friend’s funeral.

More about League of Legends
“Let us at least choose”: League of Legends tests new Battlepass, players want the old one back
von Nico Scheibel
LoL changes a champ after 14 years, brings urgent rework – fans criticize: The greatest problem still persists
von Nico Scheibel
Dog streams LoL on Twitch and plays better than many human players
von Christoph Waldboth

Online games like League of Legends are no longer just a simple pastime. These games have become a sort of playground where you can meet with your friends, as in childhood.

Especially in adulthood, people find little time to meet with their friends or family. Games like LoL are therefore a nice way to also build and maintain a real and deep friendship over long distances. Two players even insulted each other throughout an entire match, only to later marry: LoL: Support and ADC insult each other throughout an entire match, marry 6 years later

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

Player reaches his personal milestone in Final Fantasy 14, solves a problem that many fans struggle with

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

A player shares his success that he has achieved in Final Fantasy 14. Many are happy for him because he is finally rid of a particular problem that many players struggle with.

What has the player achieved? On Reddit, a user shows his screen, where all the fighter jobs from the MMORPG can be seen. Here it shows that he has managed to bring every fighter to maximum level. The current maximum is 100. The exception is the Blue Mage, which has already reached level 80 at the maximum level.

As the thread creator writes, it took him several years to achieve this. Exactly how many, he does not reveal. But already he has solved a major problem that many other fans are likely to recognize from their own gameplay experience.

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

Player levels to maximum, creating a lot of space

What problem is he rid of? Each of the combat jobs has suitable equipment at different levels. To avoid having their character run around with armor and weapons that are far below their level, many players hoard several pieces of equipment in advance at different levels.

Since multiple jobs share equipment, it should only be sold or discarded once all jobs have exceeded those level limits. However, this takes up a lot of inventory space, as a character can possess multiple pieces of armor, accessories, and weapons.

However, when all jobs reach level 100, there is no longer a need to keep the equipment from lower levels. As user MissRobinRainbow aptly notes, the best part is making space in the chests. 

The thread creator also agrees and states that his equipment chest has never been so empty. Others, on the other hand, describe what a liberating feeling this is.

What’s next? His next goal is to level up the crafters to maximum level as well. However, according to another user, that is even easier, as crafters level up faster.

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von Karsten Scholz
The 12 Best Free-to-play MMORPGs 2026 in Comparison
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With a bit of luck, you might soon be able to play the largest new MMORPG 2026 on PC
von Karsten Scholz

Others write that resource collection is the real endgame. When items are dismantled, the gathering skill increases, which can be leveled up for each job. To reach maximum level in all classes here, countless items must be gathered.

A place where some new items can be collected is Kreszentia. This is a field operation that has only been included in the MMORPG for a few weeks. All important information such as access requirements can be found here: Final Fantasy XIV: Kreszentia – All about the new field operation, the phantom jobs, and the new relic weapons

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

Player wants to impress his great love in Baldur’s Gate 3, but ends up ruining a large part of the story

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

All companions and possible romances in Baldur’s Gate 3 have various preferences and dislikes that need to be considered when flirting. A player knew exactly what would impress his great love, but now he is not so sure if that was the right decision.

What does the player report? The player and Reddit user Helpful-Lobster-6455 shares in a post that he might have committed a “horrible crime.”

He has only been playing for a short time and has only known for a few hours that he wants to pursue a romance with the Githyanki warrior Lae’zel. He quickly realizes that Lae’zel respects a willingness to use violence and wants to present himself in a good light accordingly.

In a later scene, where Lae’zel is in a confrontation with Shadowheart, the cleric tries to kill his beloved warrior. He immediately intervenes, thinking he is wrestling Shadowheart aside and that they are just awkwardly hitting each other a little. But the outcome was not only surprising but will shape the rest of his playthrough.

Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3, which also features Lae’zel and Shadowheart:

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

An “accident” with consequences

How does the player deal with the situation? At first, the player was shocked. He did not expect that his intervention would lead to a fight to the death. He took a few moments to consider whether he wanted to continue playing like this. But in retrospect, he has accepted the situation:

“Honestly, I feel pretty bad, but it was worth it. No annoying comments anymore, and I still have the artifact,” the player writes on Reddit, “Judge me however you want. I did it out of love and I am not ashamed in the slightest.”

With a bit more confidence in his decision, he wants to keep Shadowheart in memory – and therefore distributed her clothing. He gave Lae’zel the diadem and her sandals, while Gale… got her underwear. “I think purple really suits him.”

How does the community react? The Reddit community gives him their sincere praise (besides asking for pictures of Gale’s new look) for not just reloading an old save but continuing to play with the consequences. Even though he will miss out on a lot of story content due to the loss of Shadowheart:

  • Ookami01: “I would recommend keeping her alive for a later playthrough, she has a lot of content. BG3 decisions have actual consequences, which I love.”
  • Bebenten: “Honestly, that’s a great mindset. If you reload your saves based on the consequences of your actions, your actions have no risk anymore, and ultimately the choices you have to make in the game might not matter to you. Playing the way you do allows you to experience the game as organically as possible.”
  • j_sentLOTR: “Keeping Shadowheart’s camp clothing as borderline ‘trophies’ makes me laugh every time I read it because I did the same thing on my Honour run.”
  • vmar21: “I also always put Gale in Shadowheart’s underwear.”
More about Baldur’s Gate 3
Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
von Johanna
Baldur’s Gate 3: Decipher the ancient book – How to find and open the necromancy of Thay
von Fabienne Kissel
Baldur’s Gate 3: Recruiting Minthara – How to Get the Powerful Companion
von Benedict Grothaus

The player’s story is not the only one in which the romance with the Githyanki ended fatally. He might even encounter the same situation in the near future. Because to completely win Lae’zel over, one must defeat her in a duel at a later point. But for another player, that went completely wrong: Baldur’s Gate 3: “Love Duel” ends explosively as Lae’zel loses patience

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

Pokémon GO brings you new adventure effects – Here’s how to use Gigantamax and Gigantamax Attack

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO 2 monsters receive new adventure effects. We will show you which ones they are and how to obtain them.

What are adventure effects? Adventure effects are attacks by Pokémon that you can also use outside of battles. For a certain period of time, you will receive an effect that gives you advantages. In 2024, the effects were first introduced with Origin Dialga and Origin Palkia.

With Zacian and Zamazenta, there are now 2 new monsters that each receive an adventure effect. These enhance your monsters in raids and in Dynamax battles.

Start video
Pokémon GO starts new season Pleasant Days – Trailer for the season

How the new adventure effects work

How do I receive the new adventure effects? To obtain the new adventure effects, you need to perform a form change with Zacian or Zamazenta. The energy required for this can be obtained on June 28 and 29, 2025, at the global GO Fest 2025 by defeating both monsters in raids.

If your Zacian has the charged attack Iron Head, it will change to Giga Impact when you change forms. If you change the form of Zamazenta, the charged attack Iron Head will become the new attack Giga Crash. These are the charged attacks that can also be utilized as adventure effects.

What do the effects provide? If you use the adventure effect Giga Impact from Zacian, the attacks of your Pokémon will be enhanced for 6 minutes. This effect applies in both raids and Dynamax battles.

If you activate the Giga Crash from Zamazenta, the defense of your Pokémon will increase for 6 minutes. This effect also applies in both raids and Dynamax battles.

How can I use the effects? If you have transformed Zacian or Zamazenta into the form King of the Sword or King of the Shield and possess the corresponding charged attack, you will additionally need Stardust and candies of the respective Pokémon.

For each 6 minutes of effect duration, you will need 5,000 Stardust and 5 candies of the respective Pokémon.

With the previous adventure effects that are active in the game, it is possible to use the effect multiple times consecutively to increase the maximum duration. It is to be expected that this will also be the case for the two new adventure effects.

More on the topic
Pokémon GO: How to make the most of the hatching day with Riolu
von Max Handwerk
Pokémon GO: Raid Hours, Important Bosses and Counters in April 2026
von Max Handwerk
New hints indicate research with Mega Mewtwo in Pokémon GO
von Paul Kutzner

To perform the form change with Zacian and Zamazenta, you will need not only the corresponding Pokémon but also form change energy. You can obtain this on the weekend at the global GO Fest 2025 by defeating the monsters in raids: all content of GO Fest 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

The developers of Dune: Awakening warn you of a quest that makes your ornithopter disappear, but players have already found a solution

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Dune: Awakening, the developers are currently warning about a quest. Players are advised not to complete it, as it causes them to lose their own Ornithopter. The community has now found a way to avoid the loss while still completing the quest.

Which quest is it about? The developers of Dune: Awakening are currently highlighting a bug during the quest “Searching for Answers.” The quest is part of the quest line involving the NPC “Zantara,” taking place in the social hubs Harko Village and Arrakeen.

For the quest, players first need to travel to Arrakeen. Many do this with their own Ornithopter. After that, they proceed to Harko Village, where the bug occurs after the quest is completed.

Here you can see what awaits you in the future of Dune: Awakening:

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

Bug eats Ornithopter

What kind of bug is it? At the end of the quest “Searching for Answers,” you find yourself in Harko Village, but your Ornithopter seems to have disappeared. It cannot be found in the Vehicle Backup Tool or in the garages of Harko Village or Arrakeen.

As users on Reddit report, the Ornithopter is likely lost when traveling between the cities. The developers are officially warning about this known issue on Discord, advising not to complete the quest. It states:

Completing ‘Searching for Answers’ can lead to the loss of your Ornithopter. We are investigating this issue and working on a solution. Please avoid this mission in the meantime.

How can one still complete the quest? While the developers recommend not completing the quest at all, players do not want to be stopped and have developed a workaround that should work without losing their aircraft.

As user Kashinoda explains on Reddit, after the mission where you sit in a bar in Arrakeen and see two other characters in the cutscene, you need to fly back to the Hagga Basin with your Ornithopter.

From the Hagga Basin, you then use the fast travel function to Harko Village. It’s best to leave your Ornithopter safely in your base in the Hagga Basin, ensuring nothing happens. After completing the quest, you can use your aircraft as usual.

More on the topic
There is currently a golden age for survival games on Steam, and not just thanks to Windrose
von Ody
Dune: Awakening finally overcomes its identity crisis, fulfilling the greatest wish of PvE players
von Cedric Holmeier
Player loses hundreds of hours of work in Dune: Awakening because cheaters raid his base
von Cedric Holmeier

If you are not yet involved in the quest line involving the NPC “Zantara” in Dune: Awakening, our guide to the Trials of AQL may help, where you will also find the solution to the puzzle in Trial 8: Dune: Awakening – Trials of AQL, how to find and master all 8 Trials

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

Twitch streamer Papaplatte drops out of his studies, helps student achieve top grade now

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

Twitch streamer Kevin ‘Papaplatte’ Teller was able to help one of his viewers improve their school grade with just a simple video message.

Papaplatte dropped out of his studies: Before he could establish his career in Twitch Germany, Papaplatte studied electrical engineering. After he had over 1,000 viewers for a year, he asked strangers for advice on Reddit whether he should drop out of his studies to focus on his Twitch career full-time.

Although many comments discouraged him and preferred that he continue with his studies, Papaplatte chose Twitch.

Now he is one of the most successful Twitch streamers in Germany and managed to help one of his viewers in a bizarre way to achieve top grades in school.

Start video
This is how challenges for Papaplatte became a livelihood

‘I feel manipulated’

How did Papaplatte help his viewer? In a past Twitch stream, a viewer, a student, asked Papaplatte if he could help him with his presentation. Papaplatte recorded a short video message during the stream, in which he asked the teacher to give his viewer the best grade:

(…) He [the viewer] probably didn’t put in much effort and used ChatGPT, but still, he stood here today and put in a lot of effort, and I think if you [the teacher] are considering giving him a 2, just give him a 1. (…) Just make it one grade better.

(Source: YouTube)

The viewer shared the result with Papaplatte in another Twitch stream. He sent the Twitch streamer a recorded video of the presentation, showing the clip as it was played in front of the class and the teacher.

Even though the teacher, who was heard in the background of the video, initially said, ‘I feel manipulated’ (Source: YouTube), she gave her student a grade of 1- for his presentation. How much the video message from Papaplatte really contributed to the very good grade remains questionable.

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Twitch streamer Papaplatte is not only known in Germany. He has already collaborated with the streamer Ludwig Ahgren from the USA. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: ‘And some people say Germans have no sense of humor’ – Papaplatte pranks the nicest guy on Twitch in front of over 34,000 viewers

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Papaplatte Clips auf YouTube
  2. Papaplatte auf YouTube (Bildquelle)

Hearthstone now has pets – guess how much you have to pay for them

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

MeinMMO demon Cortyn informs about a new feature in Hearthstone. This is – who would be surprised? – extremely expensive.

Even though Hearthstone has increasingly become just an occasional game for me due to its pricing strategy in recent years, where I only occasionally try a round in the Arena or check out the Battlegrounds mode, I still follow the game quite actively. That makes it all the more frustrating when new features of the game are primarily found behind a paywall, especially when the idea is actually cute.

This time’s idea: Pets. You can have a little companion on the battlefield that mimics your emotes, that you can pet, or that reacts to various moves.

In the case of Hearthstone, it is the dino King Krush, who hunters should already be familiar with.

Hearthstone King Krush
He is cute, though. But not 156-Euro-cute.

But how do you introduce this new system? Right, of course with real money. But you don’t just put 10 euros on the table for King Krush and then you have him.

That would be too easy.

A loot box that gets more expensive with every purchase

Hearthstone has come up with something new here. Something that approaches the worst Gacha systems and then adds a little more.

Because how do you get King Krush? From a loot box. Even if the loot box isn’t called that, but it is actually the “Darkmoon Faire.”

There is a prize pool with 10 different prizes. You can “pull” each time and receive one of the prizes randomly.

The financial twist: The price increases with each pull. The first time is still free. Of course, to entice you. The second pull already costs 200 Rune Stones (2 €). The third pull costs 400 Rune Stones (4 €).

Not only does the price get more expensive with each pull, but the increase is not even linear.

For the 5th pull, you already pay 1,000 Rune Stones (10 €) and for the last pull, that is the 10th, you have to shell out a whole 50,000 Rune Stones. 50 euros.

Hearthstone Darkmoon Cost
On the support page, you can see the full costs.

Even if you somehow want to paint this practice in a good light – and I wouldn’t know how to achieve that – there is even more gambling behind it. Because with 10 possible wins, not everyone has the same chance of being drawn. The rewards use different weightings. The worst reward has a weighting of 300, the best (that is, King Krush) a weighting of 1.

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156 Euros for a pet in a card game

Since King Krush has the lowest probability of being drawn (0.1% on the first pull), all interested parties can assume that they will only guarantee to receive the pet with the last pull.

This means: For King Krush, a cosmetic pet, a new feature introduction, you have to fork out a hefty 158 Euros. But it was only a matter of time until after a 60-Euro skin, a pet for over 100 Euros comes.

The fact that the prices rise each time is also an exploitation of the sunk cost fallacy, meaning the thought: Now that I’ve already invested so much money, I should just follow through until I get what I want.

And yes, of course. You don’t have to buy it. You don’t have to engage with the system. I can simply ignore the Darkmoon Faire and before I spend 158 Euros on a pet, the Nether has to freeze twice.

Nevertheless, I find it regrettable that absolutely every major patch in Hearthstone brings some new way to pour significant amounts of money into the game. I am aware that Hearthstone needs to make money, like many other free-to-play games. But looking at Hearthstone’s journey over the last few years, it’s just a shame. Because it makes all the things where we used to say: At least Blizzard doesn’t do that.

Last week I was upset about something else: Achievements. Because achievements make the player experience worse. However, it took Zelda on the Switch 2 to reveal this truth to me.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. hearthstone.blizzard.com/de-de/