Solo Leveling is not as successful in Japan as in the rest of the world, and has even been altered in many places

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Few anime fans can avoid the series Solo Leveling. The anime has become one of the most popular series from Japan within 2 seasons. However, in its home country, Solo Leveling is only average.

How successful is Solo Leveling? Not everyone can understand the hype surrounding Solo Leveling, including our MeinMMO editor Niko Hernes. Nevertheless, the series has become a global success. At this year’s Anime Awards by Crunchyroll, Solo Leveling even won the award for best anime of 2024.

Even more impressive: the anime is now the most-watched series on Crunchyroll. The 2 seasons featuring Sung Jin-woo have generated more views than all seasons of the long-running anime One Piece. This is an impressive achievement.

However, Solo Leveling is less successful in the country where it was produced. Many aspects of the series had to be altered specifically for this country.

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

Solo Leveling is Average in Japan

How is Solo Leveling received in Japan? In an interview on YouTube, two employees from the studio responsible for adapting Solo Leveling had to answer several questions. Atsushi Kaneko is the animation producer involved and was asked if there was anything that surprised him about the anime adaptation.

As he revealed, he found the reaction in the rest of the world particularly surprising. He did not expect such success:

The way the anime Solo Leveling was received in Japan was not different from other anime. So when we learned how extraordinarily popular the series became among our global Solo Leveling fans, this difference in reaction was honestly very unexpected.

He would have been curious from the beginning about which fans would be more excited about the anime. And as it turns out, this was not a time-limited hype.

Are there differences in Japan? For Japan, the anime was indeed altered in many aspects, which is why Japanese viewers get to see a different version (as seen on X).

  • Many names were changed, including Jeju Island (in Japanese: Kanan Island) and all characters (Sung Jin-woo became Shun Mizushino).
  • Solo Leveling no longer takes place in Korea, but in Japan. Therefore, the story no longer unfolds in Seoul, but in Tokyo.
  • In contrast, the Japanese, who are depicted as incompetent traitors in the anime, are now from the country DFN. The capital of the country is De Facto City. The names of the Japanese hunters were also changed.

The reason for this is likely the tensions that Korea and Japan have had for many decades. These can be traced back to the war crimes Japan committed against Korea during World War II.

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And even though the story was altered for Japan, the series was less popular in the land of animes. Despite its great popularity, a third season has not yet been announced, even though there is enough material from the manga. You can find all the information about this on MeinMMO: Solo Leveling Season 3: Release, Streaming and Leaks Overview

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

A Pokémon game grows on Twitch by 1,200% because German streamers are really struggling with it

Johanna Johanna Reading time 3 minutes

German Twitch streamers, like Max “Trymacs” Stemmler and Florian “Varion” Kiesow, are currently facing a particularly tough Pokémon challenge. They are suffering live on the platform and their viewers are excited.

How are the Twitch streamers suffering? Currently, German Twitch streamers in Pokémon games are making it particularly difficult for themselves through self-imposed rules. These are known as Pokémon Nuzlocke challenges. Since players in Pokémon games cannot generally set a difficulty level, they are making the game harder in their own way.

In Nuzlocke challenges, Pokémon are treated as if they have only one life. If a Pokémon faints in battle, it is considered dead and cannot be used for further battles. Additionally, only the first Pokémon encountered in each area may be caught. This limits the selection of Pokémon.

All Pokémon must be given a nickname, so that players become more attached to the Pokémon and the potential death of the pocket monster hits harder emotionally. This is the basis of the challenge, which can be further refined.

This Pokémon challenge is particularly suitable for Twitch, and some German streamers are currently in a Pokémon Nuzlocke fever.

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

Twitch Germany plays the more difficult Pokémon

A Pokémon Nuzlocke challenge is a very good game to play in a Twitch stream. The tension is generally higher in this type of Pokémon game, as it can be over at any moment.

Moreover, the Twitch chat can be easily involved, as Pokémon need to be given nicknames. Pokémon can either be named after viewers or viewers can suggest particularly funny names for the Pokémon.

Who can you watch live during the challenge? Currently, at the end of June 2025, Trymacs, Chefstrobel, and Rumathra are playing a trio soul-link challenge with the edition Pokémon FireRed. This is particularly difficult as the Pokémon teams of the three are connected. For example, if a Pokémon from Trymacs’ team dies, the corresponding Pokémon from Rumathra’s and Chefstrobel’s teams can no longer be used.

There have already been some blunders from all participants during the challenge. One blunder by Chefstrobel is captured in the following YouTube clip:

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This is already the third Nuzlocke challenge that Rumathra and Trymacs have taken on recently: Previously, the two played through Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon Black/White 2 as a soul-link challenge.

Streamer Varion is also attempting the hardcore Nuzlocke challenge. In Pokémon FireRed, but alone. He has already had several attempts, but this does not diminish his enjoyment of the challenge.

Which game is growing on Twitch? Due to the enthusiasm of Twitch streamers, Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen has gained almost 1,200% in average viewers on Twitch in two weeks. The interest in the game has likely grown in part because of these tougher challenges.

Source: SullyGnome

Nuzlocke variants for even greater challenges

These are the variants: Nuzlocke challenge is not the same as a Nuzlocke challenge. There are many different ways to make Pokémon games harder, including the following:

  • Hardcore Nuzlocke: Pokémon may not exceed the level of the Pokémon of the next gym leader and item use is restricted.
  • Soul Link: Two players play Pokémon and each Pokémon is “linked” with the other player’s. If one Pokémon dies, the other dies with it.
  • Wedlocke: Pokémon are “married” to each other and may only be switched out with each other in battle.
  • Egglocke: Only Pokémon obtained from eggs may be used. These can be sent to the player by others, for example.
  • Monolocke: Only certain Pokémon of one type may be used. This challenge is sometimes also called the “gym leader challenge”.

If your interest has been piqued: You can check out more variants at Nuzlocke University. Of course, you can also create your own rules that have to be followed.

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During the trio soul link challenge of Trymacs, Rumathra, and Chefstrobel, there was a funny moment when Trymacs and Rumathra questioned their colleague about his Gengar tattoo. You can read more about it on MeinMMO: German Twitch streamer has tattooed Pokémon, gets questioned by his colleagues, knows almost nothing about it

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Nuzlocke University
  2. Trymacs auf Twitch
  3. Varion auf Twitch

Player from Dune: Awakening builds gas station with free access: “The sign is great, I have never seen anything like it”

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

A player from Dune: Awakening offers free access to fuel at their gas station. A sign indicates the service, even though this feature is actually yet to come.

What kind of gas station is this? It consists of 2 pumps, a canopy, a storage chest with vehicle fuel cells, and … a sign that prominently displays the letters G A S. The English word “Gas,” meaning petrol.

Since there is currently no way to place real signs in the world of Arrakis or label boxes, the creative player Gaudette233 came up with something and arranged the small wall lights to form the letters.

According to the post, everyone has access to the contents of the chest. It’s a nice gesture – the “Small Vehicle Fuel Cell” would cost 500 Solari at any vendor. Depending on the player’s base position, this can actually be really helpful during the rather long exploration trips through the Haga Basin, saving a lot of frustration and even virtual lives.

In the screenshot that Gaudette233 uploaded to Reddit, you can check out this little gem.

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

An inspiring idea

How is the community responding to the gas station? With more than 1,500 upvotes and over 110 comments.

  • mousetrappen celebrates on Reddit the sign: “The sign is great. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
  • Personal_Ad9690 adds on Reddit: “We urgently need signs. I would love to open an item shop.”
  • SadisticPanda404 also wants to do something good, as they promise on Reddit: “I am currently moving from near the Anvil to Mysa Tyrill. […] I will keep the generators running, refill the blood reserves, install more fuel cells, and the base will have 200,000 ml of water that will be publicly accessible. […] I hope to set up a series of small bases with water and fuel in the north and the far west of the map, along with power, so vehicles can be safely stored in case of sandstorms.”
  • OlderGamers writes on Reddit: “Nice! I also have a water station that looks like a gas station. I will, of course, steal your idea for the sign.”

The developers are already planning to significantly improve the base/resource management, for example, by allowing storage chests and vehicles to be named.

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There are always comparably beautiful actions from the community of Dune: Awakening. MeinMMO has already reported about a player who wants to help newcomers on Arrakis: A player from Dune: Awakening is setting up a rest stop in the starting area, providing newcomers with water and gear

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

Pokémon GO: New promo code gives you an item for your avatar

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO there is a new promo code. We will show you what it is and what you will receive.

There are always promo codes in Pokémon GO that allow you to receive free rewards in the game. These can be useful items or nice accessories for your avatar.

Currently, there is a new promo code that you can redeem:

  • MLBxPOKEMONGO

What’s in the code? If you redeem the code, you will receive a baseball cap for your avatar.

Does the code expire? You have until September 28, 2025, to redeem the code and collect your accessory.

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

How to redeem the promo code in Pokémon GO?

While you could previously redeem the codes directly in the game with Android devices, you now have to redeem codes in the Pokémon GO web store. It no longer matters whether you have an Android or iOS device.

  • Open the Pokémon GO web store
  • Log in with your game credentials if you are not logged in yet
  • Enter the code above and redeem it
  • Open the game to collect your reward

If everything worked, you will receive positive feedback in the web store and a notification when you open the game, informing you that you have received a reward. Additionally, the items you received will be displayed on the screen. Alternatively, you can also check your journal to see if you received the reward.

In rare cases, it may take some time for the reward to arrive in your game. If that happens, wait a few minutes and then reopen the game.

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This weekend, the global part of GO Fest 2025 is taking place in Pokémon GO. This is the largest event of the year, coming with all sorts of content. If you want to know what those are, feel free to take a look at our overview with all information about Pokémon GO Fest 2025.

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

Players pay 26 euros for a free MMORPG on Steam, praise the gameplay, but are still angry

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

The new MMORPG BitCraft has launched on Steam and fans praise the gameplay. However, server performance and monetization are currently causing issues.

What kind of MMORPG is it? BitCraft Online is an ambitious survival MMORPG from Clockwork Laboratories that entered Early Access on Steam on June 20, 2025. It features a graphic style reminiscent of Zelda. All players work together in a single, changeable world to build settlements, create an economy, and compete for territories.

Players can take on various roles such as crafters, traders, or monster hunters, and survival plays a central role. Another unique feature is the developers’ intention to provide the game’s code as “Open Source,” allowing others to learn more about MMO development and potentially contribute to its further development. The controls are done via mouse clicks (Point-and-Click) instead of the usual WASD controls.

Here you can watch the new gameplay trailer for Bitcraft:

Start video
BitCraft Online: New Gameplay Trailer Prepares for Early Access on Steam

26 Euros for a free game

Why do you pay for a free MMORPG? BitCraft is only available in Early Access on Steam. Similar to Path of Exile 2, only players who support the developers gain access. The Early Access fee is €26, even though the MMORPG itself is intended to be free at release.

On Reddit, some players find this questionable. User Duex puts his finger on the wound: “$30 Alpha with wipes, but don’t worry, the cash shop is already fully implemented.” User AdFit9091 also states on Reddit: “I’m not paying $30 [price in the USA] for a game that will ultimately be free. Also, I’m not a big fan of click games.” The controls have been a common source of frustration in the past.

How is the MMORPG received? The release over the weekend didn’t go smoothly. While many gamers praise the MMORPG, there were also the typical genre server issues at launch for BitCraft. This has resulted in varied reviews on Steam.

User Starwolf states on Steam: “It’s incredibly grind-heavy, but I like it. A great secondary game for relaxing. The community also seems very active and nice. It’s like Albion Online meets Runescape without PvP.”

In contrast, Wirbelloser rates it on Steam: “Unfortunately currently unplayable. A connection error after another. I spent 6 hours on the loading screen. I cannot recommend it right now. The game has potential but was simply released too early in Early Access.”

Mythix is also frustrated on Steam:

I like this game, but in its current state, I cannot recommend it. It is only playable for 10-20 minutes at a time, and then I have to log off and quit Steam to completely close all processes and restart everything. I can’t immerse myself in the game when I have to reboot so often. The latency becomes unbearable.

There is a memory leak issue that is still unresolved. I want to support the developers because I think this could be a great game, but buy it only if you’re prepared for serious latency and bugs. Or wait a few months, see if the reviews improve, and then buy it.

Shortly after the release, according to SteamDB, 3,867 players played the new MMORPG at peak times, and on Steam, the new title has a total rating of 70% positive. Despite the criticism, there is frequent praise for the progression systems in the MMORPG as well as the fact that you can really change something in the game world and the cooperative aspect which is essential and well implemented. According to fans, the MMORPG manages to combine grind well with progression and demonstrate what has been achieved.

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BitCraft aims to appeal primarily to traders, crafters, and players for whom social aspects are by far the most important in an MMORPG. Whether the developers can resolve the issues quickly enough and whether a player base can solidify remains to be seen. Another MMORPG tested the waters over the weekend: Chrono Odyssey has a lot of potential in the beta, but one thing the new MMORPG does really well

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

A player in WoW has collected 10,000,000 fish – Community asks confused: “But why?!”

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

In World of Warcraft, anyone can achieve a record. You just have to set a goal. No matter how fishy the goal may be.

The nice thing about World of Warcraft is that everyone can set their own goals. Whether it’s great achievements in dungeons, a large pet collection, or a stuffed toy box. Some love to fish. However, some may love fishing a little too much and basically do nothing else.

A player proudly announces that he has achieved a “World First” achievement. Because he is the first player to possess a very specific fish 10,000,000 times.

How crazy WoW can be is also shown in this video:

Start video
WoW mal so richtig ehrlich erklärt

What has happened? In the WoW subreddit, the player Grozez shows a screenshot of his bank, which is quite stuffed – namely with countless stacks of 1,000 fish. His entire bank and also the inventory of his character are filled.

According to his own statements, he has now collected over 10,000,000 fish on his account and is reportedly the first character worldwide to achieve this goal.

The screenshot shows only a fraction of these fish, just the maximum that can be collected on a character.

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Link to the Reddit content

What kind of fish is this? The “Lost Sole” actually has no great significance, and the wordplay gets a bit lost in the German language. In the English original, the fish is called “Lost Sole”, similar to “Lost Soul”, a lost soul. This is a pun and was often referenced during Shadowlands – one is supposed to save lost souls in the Shadowlands, but some have misunderstood it.

The fish does not have a particularly large gameplay use. It can be used for a handful of recipes, but the demand for it should be extremely low.

How did he collect the fish? Some note in the comments that collecting so many fish has been mathematically difficult since the release of Shadowlands. After all, one would have had to spend 8 hours a day fishing and approximately pull in a fish every 5 seconds.

However, Grozez openly admits that he did not fish all these fish himself. A large part was purchased from the auction house, and he is also known for his collecting passion on his realm, so other characters support him.

Two years ago, he announced in the subreddit that he was the first player to possess over 5 million of these fish – and now he apparently doubled that amount.

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The community is excited and confused: The reactions from the community are largely amused. More than 3,500 upvotes speak for themselves.

  • “You are single-handedly going to crash the market for Lost Soles.” – Cloud_N0ne
  • “Men will literally farm 10,000,000 Lost Soles instead of going to therapy.” – StandUpPeddlingMode
  • “You were so focused on the question of whether you COULD do it that you didn’t even think about whether you SHOULD do it.” – Mathias Bold

Do you also have an unusual collecting passion in World of Warcraft? How do you spend your time in Azeroth? Can you relate to such a fishy hobby or does the mere thought of so many fish in your inventory already make you break out in a cold sweat?
For fishing in WoW, you only need one button – but the rest of the game now also functions with just one button. So much so that Blizzard had to intervene directly.

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

A Sith Lord from Star Wars lost half of his body, yet survived and was even more sinister upon his return

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 3 minutes

Darth Maul is a memorable villain from the movies and series of Star Wars. But some fans still wonder how he could survive his supposed death in Episode 1.

The Star Wars prequels faced a lot of criticism over the years. They were poorly written, the characters were uninteresting, and the execution was far weaker than in the classic trilogy.

However, the antagonist from Episode 1 is praised. Darth Maul not only looks intimidating, but his fighting style is also impressive. He battles with his double-bladed lightsaber and confronts Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master Qui-Gon Jinn during the film. This led to one of the best fights in Star Wars.

In the film’s dramatic finale, Maul manages to kill Qui-Gon Jinn, one of the most powerful Jedi. In response, Obi-Wan goes into an extreme battle frenzy and defeats Darth Maul in lightsaber combat.

He is anything but gentle with the Sith: Maul’s body is sliced in mid-air, and both parts fall into a deep shaft. Fans long thought it impossible for the Sith to survive that. But then the character returned in the series Clone Wars.

Even today, some fans still wonder how Reddit user RealisticAd4054 believes Maul survived the fall.

Start video
English trailer for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

The Hate of the Sith

How did Darth Maul survive? The Sith was severely injured but concentrated all his hate on Obi-Wan, who had done this to him, and managed to survive thanks to the Force. His battered body made its way to the garbage planet Lotho Minor. There, Maul lived in exile.

He received new, artificial legs and regained his strength. Meanwhile, Maul’s hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi grew stronger. He thirsted for revenge and decided to finally kill the Jedi.

For this, he even wanted to create his own army. Although he ultimately failed to eliminate Obi-Wan, there was another encounter that ended badly for Maul. He fled from a fight and lost his artificial legs in the process. With the help of Pre Vizsla, the leader of the Mandalorian faction “Death Watch”, Maul received a replacement.

Together they formed an alliance they called the “Shadow Collective”. However, Vizsla later betrayed them, imprisoning Maul and his brother Savage. The two managed to escape, and Maul killed the Mandalorian.

Some time later, the Sith and Obi-Wan faced each other again: Darth Maul killed Duchess Satine Kryze from the planet Mandalore in the presence of the Jedi. This was a major defeat for Obi-Wan and was enough for Maul as revenge. The consequence of this was that Darth Sidious sought out Maul and stripped him of power. He also killed his brother Savage.

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By the way: In response to his question about how Maul survived the fall, the Reddit user receives mostly funny answers, which we don’t want to withhold from you. Here is an excerpt:

  • “Palpatine spent years training him to avoid falling into pits without legs,” writes DaSuspiciousFish.
  • “It’s simple, you use a Force push before you hit the ground,” suggests x246ab.
  • “It’s quite simple: While you fall, you grab your lower half, hold it back onto your upper body and weld everything with your lightsaber. Of course, it takes a few practice runs to get it right,” explains Shiriu00.

Since Darth Maul is popular among fans, many surely enjoyed that the Sith made a comeback and was seen more. And through the use of the Force, many things in Star Wars can be explained. Despite all the coolness and power of Darth Maul, he didn’t make it into our ranking on MeinMMO – others were simply better: 10 strong Sith Lords from Star Wars that even Yoda would fear

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

Pokémon GO Fest 2025 with and without ticket? Here are the differences

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

Also this year’s Pokémon GO Fest you have the opportunity to purchase a ticket. We have looked at the differences with and without a ticket for you.

When does the event take place? The big, global GO Fest 2025 will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, and Sunday, June 29, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

As in previous years, there are content available for free to all trainers as well as those for which you must purchase the ticket for the GO Fest.

We have summarized for you the different contents available with and without a ticket.

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

All bonuses with and without tickets compared

In the following table, you can see at a glance which contents are available only with the ticket and which are waiting for you without a ticket.

ContentAvailability
Wild Pokémon with the themes “Sword” and “Shield”With and without ticket
Pokémon in rotating habitatsWith and without ticket
Raid battles of levels 1, 3, and 5With and without ticket
Chance to encounter Shiny Rocara and FrospinoWith and without ticket
Incense lasts for one hourWith and without ticket
Team play duration increased to 8 hoursWith and without ticket
Snapshot surprisesWith and without ticket
Field researchWith and without ticket
Special research for the mysterious monster VolcanionOnly ticket holders
Special research Sword or ShieldOnly ticket holders
Mähikel and Clavion appearOnly ticket holders
Smoke attracts special PokémonOnly ticket holders
Increased shiny chance for all monstersOnly ticket holders
Hourly challengesOnly ticket holders
Habitat-specific collector challengesOnly ticket holders
3 encounters in snapshot surprisesOnly ticket holders
Increased buddy hearts in all interactions with your buddyOnly ticket holders
Up to 9 free raid passes per day at gymsOnly ticket holders
40 gifts can be opened per dayOnly ticket holders
6 special trades per dayOnly ticket holders
Half the stardust cost when tradingOnly ticket holders

Exclusive monsters for ticket holders

If you purchased the ticket, you can also attract the following Pokémon using incense. This does not apply to the daily adventure incense.

Exclusive monsters on both days:

  • Qurtel* (Habitat Moonless Volcano)
  • Mähikel* (Habitat Electric Dojo)
  • Pachirisu* (Habitat Hypnotic Tundra)
  • Clavion (Habitat Fairy Marsh)

Exclusive monsters on Saturday:

  • Icognito D*
  • Icognito E*
  • Icognito H*
  • Icognito I*
  • Icognito L*
  • Icognito S*

Exclusive monsters on Sunday:

  • Icognito D*
  • Icognito O*
  • Icognito R*
  • Icognito S*
  • Icognito W*

All monsters marked with a * can also appear as shiny.

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Is the ticket required for the event? No. You can also participate in the event without the ticket. Only if you want to receive the exclusive ticket content at the GO Fest must you purchase the ticket.

How can I purchase the ticket? If you want to get the ticket, you can do so at the Pokémon GO web store. The cost of the ticket is €16.49.

The GO Fest 2025 is approaching rapidly. But even outside the biggest event of the year, there are some activities and events waiting for you in Pokémon GO. If you want to know what they are, take a look at our overview on MeinMMO with all events in June 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

The head of a popular zombie game is surprised that not more developers are copying their open world

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

Dying Light: The Beast franchise director Tymon Smektała shares in an interview his opinion that he finds it surprising that not more studios copy the open-world approach of the game series.

What kind of open world do the games of Dying Light offer? Developer Techland has established an open-world concept with the Dying Light series, where you can practically walk or climb anywhere in the game – from the city center to rooftops or in tight niches.

The Dying Light: The Beast franchise director Tymon Smektała expressed in an interview with Gamesradar+ (via YouTube) surprise that other studios have not yet adopted this “go anywhere” approach.

Start video
Dying Light: The Beast shows its mix of open-world and action-survival horror in the trailer

Dying Light as a pioneer for open worlds?

Why is he surprised by this? In the interview, Smektała mentions that the games surrounding Dying Light have always been good at breaking through the “usual walls and corridors” that restrict player direction in open-world games. This gives players a freedom that did not exist before the first Dying Light.

“Dying Light suddenly became a game where you can climb on everything, go anywhere you want, and see the world from the other side, from any viewpoint,” he says in the interview. He wonders and is surprised that not more developers pursue this approach, as he does not understand why so few studios would give players this freedom.

Games like Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty are the few exceptions that also follow this path. Similarly, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom move in this direction, although it is again limited by the stamina of the protagonist Link.

With the latest installment, Dying Light: The Beast, this approach is once again followed. Smektała hopes that the team can also open mental drawers for other developers and provide more room for innovation and freedom.

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Dying Light: The Beast is set to be released on August 22, 2025, on Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. It serves as an expansion for Dying Light 2 but is also intended to function as a standalone. Some players may even receive it for free: Techland is already giving away a not yet released game to its biggest fans

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

Escape from Tarkov gets an improvement in the new update that can save your life

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

Escape from Tarkov will receive several changes in the June update that are meant to have a positive impact on the game. One aspect could determine life and death.

What kind of update is this? The extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov has received its major patch 0.16.7.0, the June update. It is part of a series of updates leading up to the release of version 1.0.

The most striking new feature is the change of seasons – just like in our real world, it is now summer in the game as well. This offers visual variety. However, what may be more important to players are the rest of the changes that are intended to further improve the shooter.

Particularly regarding sound, players should pay close attention.

Start video
Escape from Tarkov teases in the trailer ‘On the Edge of Darkness’ the new map Terminal

More immersion through better sound

What does the update bring? The centerpiece of the patch is the improved sound system of the game. It has been expanded and enhanced to increase immersion even more.

Sounds heard in the game are expected to sound generally better. This is especially true for sounds produced behind an obstacle such as rocks, vehicles, or walls. In Escape from Tarkov, accurate listening is vital for survival. Those who can perceive an opponent through the soundscape have a clear advantage and can better protect their own life and loot.

The artificial intelligence of opponents has also been improved. Bots are now better at opening doors and interfere less in boss fights. Smaller issues with the AI have also been resolved.

Additionally, there are some further improvements aimed at making the game more enjoyable – such as the ability to find items in the inventory using a search field. Graphics issues and several other technical aspects have also been addressed by the developers.

The exact patch notes can be found on the official website of the game.

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Ein neuer Extraction-Shooter könnte tatsächlich mal wieder ein Erfolg werden, erinnert an Escape from Tarkov – Zeigt sein Release-Datum für 2025
von Alexander Mehrwald
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With the new update, summer has begun in Escape from Tarkov. Are you active players of the shooter? Feel free to write us in the comments what you think of the changes. The game has ongoing events, but not all end happily: An event in Escape from Tarkov promised you a lot of loot, but 65% of the players went home empty-handed

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

In the new role-playing game about Digimon on Steam, it will be darker again and there is a good reason for it

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

While Pokémon continues to appeal to younger players, Digimon has long taken a darker path. Digimon Story Time Stranger on Steam will be no exception, and there’s a good reason for that.

What kind of game is Digimon Story Time Stranger? Digimon Story Time Stranger is a turn-based role-playing game where you can collect, train, and strategically battle with over 450 Digimon. You travel between the real world and the digital world Iliad to stop a threat that endangers both worlds. Your choices impact the course of the story and the bonds with your Digimon.

In contrast to Pokémon, which Digimon is often compared to, the franchise surprisingly takes a darker turn with games like Cyber Sleuth or Hacker’s Memory. Themes such as loss, loneliness, and death are often explored more deeply, and the franchise is more aligned with our ‘real world’. Therefore, many view Digimon as the better alternative.

In an interview with Game Spark, producer Ryosuke Hara confirmed that Digimon Story Time Stranger will also be no exception and explained that there’s a good reason for this.

Start video
Digimon Story Time Stranger: English Trailer for the Anime Game

A Dark Atmosphere for Longtime Fans

Why is the new Digimon RPG also dark? In the interview with Game Spark, producer Ryosuke Hara explains that there were several reasons for the decision to focus on adults and older teens as the target audience.

On one hand, it’s increasingly difficult nowadays to target children and teenagers specifically. Young people are becoming interested at an early age in games that are actually aimed at older players. On the other hand, the target audience that is interested in Digimon today consists of those who grew up with it:

First of all, we believe that the generation that should be most enthusiastic about the Digimon IP is the one that liked Digimon back in the day. With everyone’s help, we want to make Digimon more exciting together and expand it to a wide range of age groups.

They want to work with the “more adult” direction of the game to ensure that it appeals to as many different age groups as possible, but at the same time, it should not be too mature for young people to play.

The primary target group is also the longtime fans, but the game should also be made interesting for newcomers, for example, by having the world of Digimon be completely new for the protagonist.

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The first insights into Digimon Story Time Stranger are well received by fans. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes is also very excited to finally dive back into the world of Digimon after 8 years. In his article, he explains why he is particularly excited: I’ve played over 200 hours of an alternative to Pokémon, and after 8 years, the successor I’ve been waiting for is finally coming out

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

Microsoft plans to lay off numerous employees again, the community is not surprised by this

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

Microsoft is expected to experience another wave of layoffs next week. The development division is affected.

What is happening at Microsoft? A report by Jason Schreier for Bloomberg anticipates another round of layoffs for Microsoft employees.

This affects the Xbox Gaming Division, which includes Xbox Game Studios among others. A significant portion of the workforce is expected to be laid off.

Layoffs are unfortunately not a rarity in the current gaming industry. Studios are constantly being downsized or completely shut down. In Microsoft’s case, this would be the fourth wave of layoffs in the past 18 months. For example, in January 2024, 1,900 employees were laid off.

Start video
Fable – Xbox Games Showcase

The community believes it knows the reason for the problem

What does the community think? On Reddit, the news is already being discussed vigorously. Many users express their regret and emphasize how depressing it must be to constantly fear the next wave of layoffs. Even if one may keep their job at the moment, things could look different in a few months.

That there will again be numerous layoffs surprises few. Many users cite Microsoft’s large acquisitions as the reason. Expensive acquisitions like that of Activision Blizzard in 2023, which cost $69 billion, would be creating financial pressure.

This is what users think:

  • “The fourth layoff in 18 months? If they keep this up, there will be no employee left in the gaming department,” writes Muakaya18.
  • “I guess the billion-dollar acquisitions didn’t bode well for the bottom line. No game developer has made so many layoffs in such a short time. Too bad Phil (Spencer) & Co. at Microsoft are always protected,” finds IsamuAlvaDyson.
  • “I really wonder what the point of these acquisitions was in the end. They hardly make exclusives from these companies anymore, have either closed some studios or laid off a boatload of people, and it feels like they hardly try anymore,” says RJE808.
  • “After Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin, no layoff from Xbox will shock me anymore. It’s still incredibly annoying, but that’s just normal for them,” writes alyssa-is-tired.
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There is still no official statement from Microsoft on this matter. Next week will show how extensive the layoffs really are. In any case, it is an unpleasant situation for those affected. Other studios are not faring any better. Currently, news is circulating about a game that will not be released after years of work: A game wanted to be better than Minecraft, but after 10 years of development, the studio suddenly closes and fans receive nothing

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

Dune: Awakening Server Down on June 24 – Everything about the Server Status and Hot-Fix

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of Dune: Awakening have spontaneously announced the shutdown of the servers for the survival MMO. MeinMMO provides you with all the known information.

Why is there maintenance? The developers of Dune: Awakening announced the shutdown of the servers for the survival MMO at 3:30 PM with only 22 minutes of notice.

The reason for the server downtime, according to the developers on Discord, is disappearing vehicles that are getting lost in several sieches. To fix this problem, the developers are deploying a hotfix.

How things will continue in the future with the survival MMO can be found here:

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

Disappearing vehicles and little information

How long will the maintenance last? So far, the developers of Dune: Awakening have not announced how long the maintenance will take. The servers will be shut down at 3:30 PM German time, and only afterwards do the developers want to inform the players with updates about what will happen next.

It is also entirely unclear whether other changes will be made. In recent days, the developers have announced many changes, some of which could already be activated now.

Earlier today at 5:00 AM German time, there was the weekly reset, which changed the map Deep Desert and the resources in the Hagga basin with the Coriolis storm.

As soon as the developers provide an update or patch notes, we will update this article accordingly.

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The upcoming changes also include a divided endgame area. The Deep Desert was previously only accessible to PvP players, but now the developers have announced that they will open the endgame of Dune: Awakening more for PvE players and split the endgame map into two. How this will be implemented and what other changes are to follow in the endgame can be found here: Players complain that the endgame in Dune: Awakening consists only of PvP – Now the developers respond

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

The role-playing game of Warhammer 40,000 on Steam has already occupied me for 285 hours, now it will probably be another 100 more

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 4 minutes

With Rogue Trader, Warhammer 40,000 has had a strong representative on Steam for over a year now. MeinMMO editor and Warhammer expert Benedict Grothaus has already completed numerous playthroughs of the game and soon another will follow, as the role-playing game is getting a new DLC. Initially, it didn’t sound that exciting at all.

For me, Rogue Trader is one of the best games of the last few years. I love Warhammer, I love role-playing games, and Rogue Trader even does a few things better than Baldur’s Gate 3.

What makes the game so special is the atmosphere: Warhammer is a harsh, grim world without kindness, and Rogue Trader captures that exceptionally well. There are various degrees of brutality, but hardly any ‘good’ path. You have to like that, but it is worth it.

The characters, the story, and the class system combine here into a game that I can wholeheartedly recommend. With Void Shadows, the first DLC was released in 2024, which excited me immensely back then and which I was allowed to play in advance.

Now, on June 24, 2025, the second DLC, Lex Imperialis, will be released, and this time I couldn’t get a look at it beforehand. Although I was initially a bit disappointed by the new companion, I am now sure that I urgently need to start (and finish) another playthrough.

Start video
Der Trailer zu Lex Imperialis, dem 2. DLC zu Warhammer 40.000: Rogue Trader

New Companion, New Class, and 15 Hours of Story

Owlcat is known for the consistency in the DLCs. Typically, a new companion, around 15-20 hours of additional story, and new gameplay content such as a new class come into the game. That’s exactly what Lex Imperialis brings:

  • Solomone Anthar, a former officer of the Adeptus Arbites, comes as a new companion. He brings a personal quest line with him and will be available as a romance option.
  • Appropriately for the Arbites, the Overseer comes as a new archetype in the second tier. Thus, there is one class less than with Void Shadows, but “tier” companions come into play:
    • Overseers have the Cyber-Mastiff, a cybernetically enhanced dog.
    • Psionics get a “Psyber” raven that enhances their powers.
    • Cyber-eagles accompany officers and agents to debuff, attack, or hinder opponents.
    • As well for officers and agents comes a servo-skull swarm that masters area attacks and protection skills.

The Overseer comes with various playstyles but will apparently be a kind of tank – especially with the new weapon that is also coming into play: Shields. With shields, you can completely block attacks, but they cost two weapon slots (the off-hand in the first and second weapon set).

Special skills come into play for shields that are built around the new block mechanic. This new weapon type is available for all players, not just DLC owners.

A Coop Shooter Excites Me for Space Police

What personally surprises me is how much the new companion has fascinated me in the past weeks. When Lex Imperialis was first announced and I heard about the Adeptus Arbites, I was initially … not particularly impressed.

The Adeptus Arbites is something like the highest court chamber and at the same time the police of the Imperium. Arbitrators are the archetypical “judges, jurors, and executioners” in one and are thoroughly unfriendly individuals.

Exactly that’s how they are supposed to be: When chosen, the Adeptus Arbites take only the meanest class tyrants from the Schola Progenum to train them as Arbitrator. In comparison: Even the fanatic Adepta Sororitas mostly come from the Schola Progenum.

Any temporary judges with oversized pistols, an inflated ego, and a sense of justice that only distinguishes between “my opinion or execution” usually don’t appeal to me at all.

Then Darktide came along, the coop shooter set in Warhammer 40,000. Arbitrators are available as a new class in Darktide just one day before the release of Lex Imperialis. I tested the class there and am absolutely thrilled:

  • “By default”, Arbitrators come with classic police equipment like batons, pistols, and shields, something you would also expect from real-life police.
  • But since this is Warhammer, the Adeptus Arbites also hands thick shotguns, assault rifles, and even bolters to their enforcers.
  • In addition, there’s the cyber-dog. Normally, I find animal companions boring, but a cybernetically enhanced attack dog with steel jaws is incredibly metal.
  • Oh, and just for background: The Adeptus Arbites also has tanks, combat aircraft, and other military equipment …
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Already 285 Hours and Many More to Come

So far, I have spent 285 hours in Rogue Trader according to Steam, with my first playthrough alone taking about 180 of them. Since then, I have repeatedly started again and looked at new features – such as the brilliant changes to the ship with many rooms that I have always wanted to see.

A complete second playthrough has so far been absent, especially since I already knew the end of Void Shadows. Now … the new DLC is completely unknown to me.

As the story of the expansions is always embedded in the main story, Lex Imperialis gives me a reason to start all over again and see what has changed. To my delight, a second season pass has already been announced with two more DLCs, so starting again will be worth it at the latest for the Definitive Edition in 1-2 years.

For me, Rogue Trader is already one of the best games of all time and especially in the Warhammer universe – particularly because it excellently reflects how the world is. I’m even more excited that Owlcat has already announced the sequel: The first role-playing game for Warhammer 40,000 was a huge success on Steam, now the creators are bringing the next one, improving many things

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

„You have seen us fans and the industry“ – There is so much Kpop in the new record movie by Netflix

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

A new animated movie by Sony Pictures Animation and currently number 1 on Netflix is exciting fans. But how many references to K-Pop culture are actually in the film? 

Which film is being discussed? The animated movie “KPop Demon Hunters” is currently the number 1 in the top 10 movies in Germany on Netflix and has a rating of 7.9/10 on IMDb (based on 5,307 reviews), 3.8/5 on Letterboxd (based on nearly 84,000 ratings), and 96% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics (23) and 90% (about 500) from audiences.

While the film is receiving good reviews from audiences outside the genre on Rotten Tomatoes, K-Pop fans are especially thrilled. One fan even admits that the film “truly understands the fans and the industry” (rjcooper14 on Reddit) – but how many references to the culture surrounding the music genre can actually be found in the film?

Here you can see the trailer for KPop Demon Hunters from Netflix:

Start video
The trailer for ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ on Netflix shows action in the exciting animation style of Sony

An animated film that did its research well

What references can be found in KPop Demon Hunters? In a post from the “kpop_uncensored” subreddit, NatureSimple729 mentions various fandom references that appear in the film:

  • Fan signing event: At a signing event, fans line up to meet the two K-Pop groups in the film, “Huntrix” and “Saja Boys,” to get autographs.
  • Fan wars on Twitter/X: Fans express themselves loudly and in large numbers regarding the rival groups.
  • Music shows: The groups compete weekly, with one weekly winner.
  • Viral dance challenges: The Saja Boys’ dance to “Soda Pop” goes viral after their first public appearance and starts its own dance challenge on social media.
  • A K-Pop idol at the Met Gala: Huntrix member Mira was dressed in a sleeping bag as a guest at the Met Gala.
  • “Shipping”: Despite their rivalry, fans start to read and (mis)interpret the smallest signs, leading to Rumi and Juni, as well as other members of the groups, being interpreted as a couple. Shipping (from the English term “relationship”) is used when two people are seen as a couple, or when someone would like to see them as a couple.
  • TWICE poster: In one scene, the Huntrix idols walk down a hallway where a poster of the real K-Pop group TWICE hangs.

What influence did the culture have on the character design? In an article from Forbes, the film’s director, Maggie Kang, talks about the design decisions regarding character development. In response to fans’ speculations that the film’s characters resemble real K-Pop personalities, she says the following:

I think I enjoy discussing that there are so many specific archetypes that every group has. It’s fun to see how this conversation evolves, as everyone selects the right member that fits this archetype and this kind of role and look for each group.

Maggie Kang, Director of KPop Demon Hunters (Source: Forbes)

The protagonists of the film, the Huntrix idols, are meant to resemble members of groups like ITZY, BLACKPINK, and TWICE.

For the Saja Boys, inspiration is said to have been drawn from groups like Tomorrow X Together, BTS, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, BIGBANG, and Monsta X.

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KPop Demon Hunters has been available on Netflix since June 20, 2025. If you have seen the film and are also interested in other animated projects from the streaming service, you can read our suggestions for more animated series on MeinMMO here: 5 great animated series for adults that you can currently stream on Netflix

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit
  2. Forbes
  3. Titelbild: Tudum / Netflix

After the Pokémon GO Fest 2025, there are 3 new events – Under one condition

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

The Pokémon GO Fest 2025 is approaching. And depending on how well the trainers perform here, there will even be rewards afterwards.

This coming weekend, on June 28 and 29, 2025, the global GO Fest 2025 will take place, the biggest event of the year in Pokémon GO. In addition to various monsters and new forms of Zacian and Zamazenta, there are many other contents.

Part of this are the global challenges that take place every hour. To participate in these, you must have purchased a ticket for the GO Fest. If all trainers worldwide successfully complete these challenges together, there will be up to 3 events after the GO Fest.

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

Hyper Bonuses after the GO Fest

What kind of events are these? A total of 3 events can be unlocked by trainers who have purchased a ticket for the GO Fest. These events will then be available to all trainers, not just those with a ticket.

The first event is called Hisui Celebration. If it is unlocked, it will be active from Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM until Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM. The name suggests that Hisui monsters will be in the spotlight.

The second hyper bonus is the “Steel and Scales” event. If it is activated, it will take place from Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM until Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Exact contents of the event are not yet known. Steel might refer to Steel monsters, while Scales could refer to Dragon or Water monsters.

The last hyper bonus is called “Primal Raid Day.” When this event is unlocked, it will take place on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The name suggests that Dialga and Palkia in their primal forms may be the focus of this event.

How are the events unlocked? In order for the events to be unlocked, all trainers worldwide who hold a ticket for the GO Fest 2025 must complete a certain number of global challenges.

If 15 are successfully completed, the Hisui Celebration will be unlocked. At 30 global challenges, the “Steel and Scales” event will be added. And if 45 challenges are completed, the Primal Raid Day will be added.

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Until the start of the GO Fest 2025 next weekend, you can occupy yourself with another event. And that brings you a total of 6 legendary monsters that you can defeat and catch: In Pokémon GO you can now hunt 6 legendary Pokémon – Legacy of Antiquity starts.

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

Final Fantasy XIV Director Admits We Have Become Too Comfortable – This Should Change for the MMORPG Now

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

Since the launch of the Dawntrail expansion, the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV has been receiving negative feedback. In the last livestream, producer Naoki Yoshida addressed the feedback and admitted: They have become too complacent.

Why has Final Fantasy XIV been receiving negative feedback since Dawntrail? Final Fantasy XIV is currently under criticism because many players are dissatisfied with the quality of content since the launch of the new expansion Dawntrail. In particular, the comparatively weaker story, the lack of endgame content, the excessive simplification of classes, and the lack of activities that feel fresh and new are under fire from critics.

Even after the latest patch 7.2, which brought Kreszentia, a particularly highly anticipated content and was a hope for many fans, there continues to be negative feedback from the community. In particular, fans complain about technical issues, balancing problems in the latest content, and an overall decline in game service quality.

For example, the new content in Kreszentia was perceived as too difficult and unbalanced – it was completed worldwide only about 400 times in the first 23 days, which is extremely low by FFXIV standards (via Gamesradar+).

The head of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P), apologized in the last producer letter (via YouTube) and promised to focus more on quality, accessibility, and community feedback in the future. Many players see the apology as a right step but now hope for noticeable improvements in the upcoming patches (via Reddit).

Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural

“It feels like we’ve gotten a little too used to things and have grown too complacent.”

What does Naoki Yoshida say about the criticism? In producer letter 87, head Naoki Yoshida directly addresses the latest criticisms and admits that they rested too long on their success and became accustomed to too many things:

I feel that the quality of our service has declined lately. I am truly sorry. […] It feels like we’ve gotten a little too used to things and have grown too complacent.

Yoshida explains that the team has grown significantly, and the processes did not function as they had envisioned. They want to refocus on this. They want to continue offering entertaining and exciting content and are committed to improving this in the future.

What is supposed to change in the future: The team aims to respond more frequently and faster to feedback from the community, particularly regarding technical issues and imbalances in content balancing. Additionally, they want to align more closely with the community to ensure content that is also well-received in terms of quality.

Following this explanation and the promise of improvement, he directly addresses recently received feedback on the two major new contents “Kreszentia” and “Kosmo Exploration“. The listed problems are to be solved with patch 7.3 at the beginning of August.

Also, with changes and new features, they want to respond to the community’s criticism. Patch 7.3 is supposed to provide a solution for the long-standing issue of Viera players with headgear.

In addition, a “whiteboard” tool is in development that could benefit raiders and players of other challenging content. It is intended to provide the ability to devise strategies in advance and possibly also display them within the content. However, this will not be part of the next patch.

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With the apology from producer Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy XIV aims to continue its closeness to the community and even strengthen it in the future. A well-known YouTuber about Final Fantasy XIV sees a problem precisely in this: Famous YouTuber about Final Fantasy XIV criticizes precisely what players love about the developers

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Final Fantasy XIV via YouTube
  2. Reddit
  3. Übersetzung von _miuna via Discord

Twitch streamer wins the European Championship with his team 2 times in a row, yet they are not allowed to play with the big teams

Nico Scheibel Nico Scheibel Reading time 2 minutes

The Spring EM in League of Legends concluded on June 21, 2025, crowning Twitch streamer Caedrel’s team as champions for the second time in a row. However, despite these successes, his team cannot play in the LEC.

Which team is involved? In November 2024, Twitch streamer Caedrel founded the LoL team Los Ratones. Already in their first EM in March 2025 (via lol.fandom.com), Los Ratones showed what they are capable of and won the tournament with a 3-0 finale. In June 2025, they followed up with the Spring EM (via lol.fandom.com), where Los Ratones again dominated and secured the finale undefeated.

Why can’t Los Ratones compete with the greats? The EM of League of Legends is a so-called Tier-2 tournament. The tier describes how good the respective teams and their players are. A Tier-1 tournament would be the LEC in Europe or the largest LoL tournament in the world, the Worlds.

To compete in the LEC, the team needs an official spot. These spots cannot be earned through play but must be acquired by paying a million-dollar amount. In the case of Los Ratones, founder and coach Caedrel stated that he would need to put down 20 million euros to bring his team into the LEC. In an interview, Caedrel (via esports-news.co.uk) discussed the system behind the LEC and the spots for the teams:

“The problem we have now is: We play Best-of-Ones in the NLC, then go to the EU Masters, win, and that’s it. That’s the ceiling. And currently, we keep running against this ceiling because everything above is franchised and revolves around business. It’s all about sustainability and profitability. There are no tournaments, no third-party competitions, no qualifiers, nothing.”

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

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

Los Ratones has few options to reach the top

What paths are there for Los Ratones to join the LEC? The fastest way to get into the LEC is simply to pay the money. However, this option is not available for Caedrel, as the 20 million euros would not be financially viable.

Another way would be for Los Ratones to be signed by a large team or organization to secure a spot in the LEC. Caedrel commented on both paths in the interview with Esports News UK:

So these are the only options we have: Sitting here and repeatedly hitting this damn ceiling unless A) you pull 20 million out of your ass and flush it straight down the toilet or B) a generous hand reaches down and says: Give us your brand.

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Los Ratones wants to continue participating in the EM and the NLC (Northern League of Legends Championship) despite this hurdle to compete with the best. Los Ratones has already won the NLC in Winter and Spring 2025 and played in the finale against the German LoL streamer and pro NoWay: Twitch streamer builds his own team in LoL, fights in the finals of his league against NoWay, fans celebrate: ‘Was so satisfying’

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

Game Two continues, loses large part of the team – fans criticize ÖRR for “profound misunderstanding of societal developments”

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

On June 21, 2025, the penultimate episode of Game Two aired live on ZDFneo. On June 23, 2025, there was an update from the editorial team regarding the future of the popular gaming show.

What does the future hold for Game Two? Since June 2024, it has been clear that the contract between Game Two and ZDFneo will expire in summer 2025. On YouTube and rocketbeans.tv, the editorial team has now explained, just before the airing of the final episode on June 28, 2025, what the future holds for the beloved gaming format.

The TL;DR: Game Two will continue, but differently than before.

Despite much support and promising discussions, the team was unfortunately unable to find a potential partner for the continuation of the format.

As they believe in the project and its relevance in the German media landscape, they now want to ensure that Game Two has a future through their own efforts, but also with the support of fans. Anyone who wants to help can now support the project through a membership in the Rocket Beans Supporters Club with a monthly contribution – more about this on rocketbeans.tv.

However, without secure support from public broadcasting (ÖRR) or a comparable partner, the Game Two team will have to adapt and scale back. A sad consequence of this: a large part of the editorial team will unfortunately have to leave Game Two.

Editor-in-Chief Tim Heinke emphasizes in the video how difficult this is for everyone involved: “This is really, really bad, because we as a team have become very, very close, and of course Game Two would never have been possible in this form without all these people.”

Here you can watch the entire statement from Tim Heinke:

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Game Two Moves

How are fans reacting to the announcement? Under the video on YouTube, many viewers explain that they want to financially support Game Two in the future. At the same time, the ÖRR is receiving quite a bit of criticism from the community.

  • sephentos21525 comments on YouTube: “I can hardly understand that millions of euros are invested monthly in mostly outdated formats (some would call them retirement formats), while at the same time there are complaints about the diminishing influence of linear television. In a time when video games have surpassed the film industry in economic importance, their potential remains largely unrecognized by the ÖRR. The fact that formats like Game Two, which capture the spirit of the times and reach young target groups, are not financed shows a deep misunderstanding of societal developments. A disgrace for the ÖRR in Germany.”
  • Dandolos98 adds on YouTube: “I find this very weak from the ÖRR. Exactly this money serves to preserve art and culture, and editorial processing of video games is a part of it because video games are art.”
  • elschlonzo8746 laments on YouTube: “I have been watching the show for almost 20 years. Spending less money and doing more hack jobs won’t change anything. But the departure of the crew breaks my heart.”
  • YunaMoon_93 is also visibly emotional: “Honestly, I have a few tears in my eyes. I feel infinitely sorry for everyone who cannot continue to be part of the team. My husband and I look forward to a new episode of Game Two every week; for so many years it has always been a joy. It is a real shame that such good formats, which really interest people, especially younger generations, are not supported! We will continue to support you and keep our fingers crossed for the future!”

Games are art and move millions of people – and one of the biggest blockbusters of the future will certainly be GTA 6:

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What is Game Two? Game Two is currently the only offering on German free TV that deals with the gaming market. It gained attention in October 2023 for a documentary about Gollum: This should have actually been the first AAA game of a Hamburg studio, but sealed its end.

The weekly episodes of Game Two have summarized the most important gaming topics of the week since 2016 and more than 380 episodes. In doing so, the team presents new games in an equally entertaining and informative manner and reviews them.

On the YouTube channel, there are also lively panel formats where editors discuss specific topics in catchy takes or have to guess top lists. Or it will again be Unspielbar where a colleague is tortured in a game where they have to master a particularly difficult passage.

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For a long time, Simon Krätschmer was also among the regular moderators of Game Two, who once co-designed the predecessor format GameOne and has recently attracted attention for thoughtless remarks: One face of German gaming is in financial trouble, facing harsh criticism

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

Because they were burned out, they canceled their game and worked on a fun project: It sold 1 million copies on Steam

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

On Steam, a studio is currently celebrating a big hit, even though the project was not taken seriously. The game has now sold over 1 million copies and the developers can hardly believe their luck.

Which game is so successful? This is PEAK, a new game on Steam. The game throws you either solo or in a co-op squad on an expedition. The goal: reach the peak of the mountain located in the middle of a deserted island.

Although it is not a major AAA title, PEAK managed to sell over 1 million copies in its first 6 days – surprising even the developers (Source: x.com). What’s interesting is that PEAK was not a planned game, but rather a fun project by the developers.

The studio initially had other plans regarding their future games, but they faced some issues.

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PEAK zeigt sein spaßiges Gameplay auf einer spannenden Expedition mit Freunden

Studio is burned out, even loses funding

What happened to the studio? In a blog post (Source: store.steampowered.com), there were new background details about the studio “Aggro Crab”. Before PEAK, they worked for over 3 years on realizing their Soulslike “Another Crab’s Treasure” – the Crab Dark Souls.

Afterward, they intended to move directly into the development of another big game, the sequel to Going Under. They even had a partner for funding. However, as development progressed, the studio’s opinions diverged from that of the partner, and he dropped out.

After several months of the studio unsuccessfully searching for a new partner, they scrapped the sequel to Going Under. They admitted that the team was burnt out. It was not a good idea to jump from one big project to the next – the developers were exhausted.

To bring back the fun in development, they implemented a new tactic. Instead of creating a large game, they realized two smaller projects, one of them even in less than a month. These games were meant to serve only as fun projects. They were Crashout Crew (not much known yet) and PEAK, which is currently a successful game.

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What does the future hold for the studio? The new tactic has borne fruit, as the team plans to work on a third project, this time a big game. What the title is supposed to be is still unknown, but the fact is that the developers have found their passion again.

They are already looking forward to what the future will bring, urging their fans to follow them on Steam and social networks to not miss any news about their future plans.

Another indie game was developed by just one developer, and in it you take on the role of a small-town dealer, building an empire in a Breaking Bad style. You can find out more about the game here: Developer showcases his work on Schedule 1 on Twitch, reveals the release timeframe

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