The romances in Baldur’s Gate 3 have their own quirks, which we, as players, learn to love. However, one possible romance defines the term “toxic relationship” more literally than one might think at first glance.
Which character is being referred to? It is Minthara, the Drow companion in Baldur’s Gate 3, who can be recruited for your party with the right approach. However, she is not only a potential team member, but can also become a romantic partner for the player character if she takes a liking to them.
A player and Minthara fan shared on Reddit that he experienced a strange situation in the game: “I kissed Minthara after a long rest when I woke up. After the kiss, I got the effect ‘poisoned’ and took 2 damage… Was her morning breath that bad?”
However, the community explains to him what Minthara would have said upon inquiry. The poison was not, in fact, a coincidence.
Here you can see the animated short film to Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3:
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Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3
Poison that is supposed to benefit you
Why is Minthara’s kiss poisonous? In fact, the poisoned state after Minthara’s kiss is a rare situation but does not occur without reason. Because if you explain to Minthara that you feel strange after the kiss, she is not surprised at all.
This is because she still had a bit of poison on her lips. She explains that she always takes a little bit of it with her meals to build her own immunity. Moreover, she thinks it would benefit the player character as well. So this is, at least according to Minthara’s mindset, a specific, somewhat strange form of care.
How do players react to the scene? Under the post of the confused player, it becomes clear how rare, yet sought-after, this interaction with the Drow is:
TheCrystalRose writes: “Congrats, you just received a very rare kiss. Apparently, there is only about a 1% chance that it gets triggered.”
Lonely_Misfortune replies: “The gods were right to chain Prometheus. I’ve been kissing Minty for 10 minutes just to get this 1%. Some knowledge should never be shared.”
Minthara is perfect for a “dark” campaign or as a companion in a “Dark Desires” playthrough due to her ambitions and goals. However, even if you play a good-aligned character, you don’t have to miss out on having the Drow as a team member. There are various methods for both play styles, but in both cases, you have to forgo different things. Here on MeinMMO, you can learn how to recruit Minthara and what the consequences for your gameplay are: Baldur’s Gate 3: Player creates overview of Minthara’s recruitment, showing everything you lose and gain
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pokémon GO celebrates its anniversary and brings along some Shinys and strong bonuses with a fitting event.
What kind of event is this? Pokémon GO was released in July 2016 and therefore celebrates its 9th anniversary in July 2025. There will be a “9th Anniversary Pokémon GO Party” event in the game from July 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM until Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 8:00 PM.
In addition to some new and familiar costumed monsters, some of which also have an increased Shiny chance, there will be a Shiny debut and many strong bonuses.
Start video
Pokémon GO starts new season Pleasant Days – Trailer for the season
9th Anniversary Pokémon GO Party – All Content
Which Pokémon is available for the first time as Shiny? During the event, you can obtain Gierspenst in its Shiny form for the first time. To obtain Gierspenst, you need to use the coin pouch, for which you must connect Pokémon GO with Scarlet or Violet. You can also receive the monster at golden PokéStops.
What new costumed monsters are there? A total of 3 Pokémon will be available in new, costumed variants during the event. These are Bisaknosp and Bisaflor with party hats and Gierspenst with the 9th anniversary coin. This variant of Gierspenst can also appear as Shiny.
What bonuses are there at the event? There are some active bonuses during the event:
PokéStops can become a golden PokéStop without using a Gold Lure Module
increased chance of encountering Pikachu with cake hat and Evoli with party hat as Shiny
Gierspenst with the 9th anniversary coin can receive a special background
increased chance to become lucky friends
increased chance of obtaining lucky Pokémon when trading
Friendship levels increase faster when opening gifts, trading Pokémon, and through joint battles in raids and gyms as well as trainer battles against each other
you can receive 9, 99, or in some cases even more Gierspenst coins when spinning golden PokéStops
Party hats on the map that trigger items or encounters with event Pokémon when tapped
halved hatch distance for eggs (from July 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM to July 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM)
double catch XP (from July 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM to July 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM)
double catch Stardust (from July 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM to July 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM)
Which Pokémon are available at the event? You can encounter costumed event Pokémon both in the wild and in raids during the event.
In the wild:
Bisasam with party hat*
Glumanda with party hat*
Schiggy with party hat*
In 1-star raids:
Pikachu with cake hat*
Evoli with cake hat*
All monsters marked with an * can also appear as Shiny.
Free research and field research: All trainers will receive a free, limited-time research during the event. Rewards include Stardust, experience points, and encounters with Bisasam with party hat, Woingenau with party hat, and Gierspenst with the 9th anniversary coin.
Additionally, there will be field research that can also reward you with encounters with event Pokémon.
Masterwork research: For $4.99 (about €5), you can also obtain a new masterwork research called “Fulfilled Wish”. Here you will receive a Shiny Jirachi. If you purchase the research before the event, the following bonuses will also be active during the event:
double duration of incense and daily adventure incense
double duration of lucky eggs
More event content: For $1.99 (about €2), you can purchase an event ticket, which grants you 1 Super Incubator, 1 Dyna Mushroom, and an encounter with Gierspenst with the 9th anniversary coin.
Additionally, during the event, there will be a bracelet for each team in Pokémon GO for your avatar, as well as event stickers when spinning PokéStops and opening gifts.
MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz extensively played the beta of Chrono Odyssey on Steam and sees primarily one thing that makes this MMORPG better than many other online role-playing games.
While you can find all the currently known information about the new MMORPG on our overview page for Chrono Odyssey, this should be about a personal first impression: what did I really enjoy during my countless hours with the beta version and where do I see potential stumbling blocks?
Unfortunately, there are more than enough construction sites. After the preliminary reports from various content creators, I had already gained the impression that Chrono Odyssey perhaps should not be aiming for a release in 2025. This assessment was reinforced by the beta.
If this wasn’t a several-month-old beta build that all players with an invite tested over the past days, a lot of work still awaits the developers. Chrono Odyssey urgently needs optimization and fine-tuning in graphics, animations, AI, and performance.
Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert of MeinMMO. He has been dealing with the best genre in the world almost daily for 16 years. His private first contact was in 2005. Since then, he has accumulated several years of playtime in various online role-playing games and has played almost every relevant genre representative of the past two decades at least for a while.
The latest trailer from the Summer Game Fest 2025:
Start video
Chrono Odyssey: Trailer from Summer Game Fest 2025 shows action-packed battles and a dark world
Apply, polish, apply, polish …
What worries me particularly is that the challenges and activities on one hand are tough and demand quick reactions and precise movements from us players. On the other hand, the gameplay does not have enough polish to even allow that. As a result, Chrono Odyssey can be quite frustrating at times.
Be it because you get stuck on edges or the inputs for jumps, dodges, and blocking are not responsive enough. Be it because the stuttering animations of the enemies are sometimes hard to read, or because the frames per second drop at the wrong moment.
Here, it unfortunately becomes very clear that the game comes from a new studio that wants to launch an ambitious AAA MMORPG across multiple platforms with their very first project and is likely to be overreaching.
The world of Chrono Odyssey is indeed atmospheric, but not nearly as pretty as the first trailers promised.
A touch of Betweenlands
But the truth is also that despite the numerous flaws, I had fun with Chrono Odyssey. The main reason for this: the game world and how motivating and rewarding it feels to gradually uncover it.
This starts with the setting, which mixes fantasy, science fiction, and cosmic horror. This mix is not only expressed through the story and the design of the creatures, but also through some impressive areas and structures that feel wonderfully alien and already have a strong pull from afar.
As a result, Chrono Odyssey does a great job of guiding me not just through symbols on the map or on the compass but also through the distinctive “Points of Interest” – similar to how its great model, Elden Ring, succeeded in the Betweenlands.
Exploration worth it
But it is not only important how players are guided through the world, but also that exploration feels rewarding. Chrono Odyssey can score points here as well. What I particularly like is that at every corner, you might stumble upon stronger adversaries that are tough but promise good rewards in return.
In a forest area, I encountered a giant spider that was currently engaging with some undead. I took advantage of the distraction to land a few hits on its back. However, not much happened to its health bar; I was still poorly equipped. However, I got caught by its poison cloud. Argh. Dead. Back to the next respawn point.
As deadly as the spider: a giant scorpion.
I marked the location and returned later to take revenge on the spider. With success, although it was a tedious fight. At the last percentage points, another player even helped me. The reward was a hefty armor upgrade. Cool! 10 out of 10. Would do it again.
And if it’s not a special opponent that you find while exploring, it might be a dynamic world event, an NPC that turns out to be a quest giver, the entrance to a trial, a time portal or a labyrinth, or a hidden treasure.
Read the dialogues and quest texts! The strong focus on exploring the world is also reflected in the design of many quests. Although there is a quest tracking via compass and world map, players are not always guided by the hand everywhere and at all times.
Sometimes you have to read dialogues and quest texts carefully to know exactly what you need to do and where. If you always skip conversations, you might quickly miss an NPC’s hint that there are dragon eggs on a nearby hill, for which you can earn a reward – an extra quest that can be tracked is not started through this info.
This mix of an unusual setting, exciting “Points of Interest,” and motivating exploration makes Chrono Odyssey much better than most other MMORPGs, where you often just work from quest hub to quest hub.
But that alone will not be enough for Chrono Odyssey to captivate a sufficiently large number of genre fans at the global launch. Therefore, I hope the developers take the time to address the uncovered construction sites and conduct further tests.
If this then leads to a release in 2026, it would be a shame (because a poor MMORPG year in 2025 would become even worse), but from my point of view, it would still be a step in the right direction. There have been enough mediocre online role-playing games over the past decades that quickly disappear into obscurity.
In Dune: Awakening, players often used a feature for map switching, which might make one think there were also survival elements. A player has now risked their Ornithopter and found out: Everything is harmless.
What feature is it? Those who fly to the edge of the Harkonnen Basin in Dune: Awakening land in a kind of overworld mini-game for map switching. Here, you see your own aircraft on a map with important locations of Arrakis marked on it.
Using mouse control, you can fly your aircraft to regions like the Deep Desert, the cities of Harko City and Arakeen, and the Harkonnen Basin. Later, further locations are expected to be added with updates.
However, there are more places on the map to fly to, namely water and fuel stations. While moving on the map, your aircraft apparently consumes these two resources and must be regularly refilled. At least that’s what one might think.
Now a player has found out what actually happens when you let your tanks run empty.
This is what the future of Dune: Awakening looks like:
Start video
Dune: Awakening – Das ist die Zukunft des MMOs
Survival? Not really.
What happens when the tanks run empty? Many players’ first instinct is likely to be: If fuel runs out or the water gauge hits zero (so the character is dehydrated), then the hero loses their vehicle and dies. But that is not the case.
The YouTuber Vash Cowaii recently tested in a stream (via Reddit) what really happens when fuel and water run out in the mini-game. Instead of a lost Ornithopter or a dead character, almost nothing happens. The video shows that the aircraft with an empty tank simply flies slower. The Ornithopter does not crash, nor does it sustain any damage.
Vash Cowaii explains in the video that when the water tank hits zero, there is just a message indicating that this is the case. Otherwise, the gauge had no effect. More than slower flying and a message from the game asking to refill water is what players need to worry about.
But what if you then arrive on a map? According to a comment from the thread creator on Reddit, you retain the fuel and water levels you had when leaving the previous map after landing on another map. The mini-game itself has no influence on the “real” game world.
Even if the mini-game mechanics will later be supplemented with more points through updates, their purpose at present seems to be more to make the journey between locations fitting for the story in the game.
Do you want to take away the lifetime of friends, family, or even bitter enemies? Then lure them into Anime – with these 5 series, the entry is a success.
Every long-time fan knows that the world of anime can be vast, colorful, and quite confusing. Especially from the outside, anime can often seem like “just kids’ stuff” (Hello, Pokémon!) or “20 minutes of shouting at mountains” (Hello, Dragon Ball!). Yet the world of anime has so much more to offer.
However, sometimes it’s difficult to get others excited about this hobby. The right entry point is tough, and “veterans” in the field often can’t see the forest for the trees.
That’s why we’ve picked 5 anime series that are especially suitable for beginners. With them, you can entice previously reluctant people into your favorite pastime and gradually push them into the wonderfully terrifying abyss that will consume their entire lifetime.
If your acquaintance is a Harry Potter fan, these 3 anime might also help:
Start video
3 Animes that you should know as Harry Potter fans
One-Punch Man
Alternative names: OPM, One Punch-Man Genre: Action, Comedy Episodes: 12 Stream available on: Crunchyroll
One punch is all Saitama needs.
Saitama is an average guy with a quirky hobby – he likes to play superhero. But after years of training, he suddenly gains a power. In exchange for his hair, he has the gift of defeating everything and everyone with just one punch. A seemingly great ability that plunges his life into boredom, as he can no longer enjoy fights. Yet others want to learn under him; after all, he is the strongest superhero in the world – the One-Punch Man.
Why is One-Punch Man suitable? One-Punch Man is a good entry into the world of comedy anime without relying too heavily on well-known clichés from this genre. Since it involves superheroes and is a parody of them, it’s easy to draw connections to other movies or series.
Although One-Punch Man is rather shallow in terms of entertainment, it provides an adequately exciting story and thus a good entry point into the world of comedy anime.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
During a conversation on the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, Geoffrey Hinton, the so-called “Godfather of AI”, warns unequivocally of rapid changes in the labor market due to artificial intelligence, which could cost millions of jobs.
Who is Geoffrey Hinton? Geoffrey Hinton is one of the most significant figures in the history of artificial intelligence. As a co-developer of modern neural networks, he laid the groundwork for many of today’s AI technologies with the breakthrough of AlexNet in 2012.
For his research achievements, he received numerous awards, including the Turing Award – the most prestigious award in computer science – and the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024. His work at the University of Toronto and at Google Brain made him one of the most important pioneers of AI research (via MIT).
Start video
“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real
People can be displaced from sectors
What exactly did Hinton say on the podcast? In the 90-minute conversation with the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, Hinton expressed concern about the speed at which AI could replace human workers. According to him, particularly affected are jobs based on routine and simpler intellectual tasks. He literally speaks of a “10 to 20% chance that AI will completely displace humans” (via Diary of a CEO).
However, Hinton also notes that it depends on future developments. It is a conjecture that could be shaped with enough research and resources to cause less harm to humans.
Which jobs are considered relatively safe by Hinton? Despite the rather gloomy outlook, Hinton also sees areas where AI will increasingly play a supportive role. Especially in healthcare, artificial intelligence could improve the work of doctors rather than simply replace them. A key term here is efficiency.
AI could automate administrative tasks in healthcare or assist in diagnoses, while the human factor – empathy, decision-making ability, and understanding complex individual situations – remains intact.
We could get five times as much healthcare for the same price, and that would be great. There is almost no limit to how much healthcare people can accept.
Geoffrey Hinton
Additionally, professions requiring manual dexterity and physical presence, such as plumbers or caregivers, are considered relatively protected from automation, according to Hinton.
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What else does Geoffrey Hinton say about AI development?
What were the differences in development? In the podcast, Hinton not only talks about possible job losses, but also addresses fundamental differences in dealing with AI safety. His assessment of Google and OpenAI became particularly clear: while Google acts quite cautiously to protect its reputation, OpenAI has consciously taken risks to be faster. Especially regarding safety (via BusinessInsider).
Hinton praises Google’s internal development culture, which, according to its own statement, allows ethical debates, but expressed caution regarding the moral compass of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman – with a “We’ll see”.
Hytale was a game that had great ambitions. It wanted to be a sandbox RPG and was heavily reminiscent of Minecraft. Numerous fans eagerly awaited it, but now the developers have some bitter news.
What kind of game is this? Hytale was announced in 2018. It was supposed to be a sandbox RPG set in a procedurally generated fantasy world. Visually, the comparison to Minecraft was obvious. The developers of Hypixel Studios were inspired by their own Minecraft server ‘Hypixel’ and wanted to create a standalone game.
Their ambitions to create a better Minecraft were high. Many players were excited by the trailer released on YouTube in 2018, which garnered over 61 million views. Hype was created. The release was scheduled for 2021, already under Riot Games, who had acquired Hypixel Studios a year earlier.
The release did not happen. In the developers’ updates from 2022, it was mentioned that the technical framework of Hytale would be rebuilt from the ground up. The developers did not provide a new release date. This situation already raised skepticism within the community.
The concerns have now been confirmed: The development of Hytale is being canceled and the studio behind it is closing down.
Start video
Hytale – Trailer zum Minecraft-MMORPG
The Reasons for the End
How did this happen? The CEO of Hypixel Studios, Aaron Donaghey, reached out on x.com in a long post to the community.
In it, he explained that work on Hytale will be halted. The studio will gradually shut down over the coming months.
The CEO also directly cited the reasons for this decision, which he says was anything but easy. According to him, the ambitions of the studio had increased significantly over time. The envisioned vision had changed and the game the developers had in mind became increasingly complex.
By the time of the engine switch, it became clear that Hytale would need much more time to meet the developers’ expectations. Although the developers tried to adjust the game’s size and timeline to make quick progress, this would have required compromises that would have turned Hytale into a different game. Furthermore, more investors were needed to financially support the project.
Hypixel Studios emphasizes how hard the decision was:
We still believe in Hytale. We believe in the team and are forever grateful to every member, past or present, who has poured their love into the game. We are also incredibly proud of the work we have done: the world we envisioned, the risks we took, and the heart we put into this project. None of that can be taken from us.
How are the players reacting? Understandably, the news has sparked disappointment among waiting fans. However, there is also anger and confusion. Under the CEO’s post on x.com, users share their thoughts:
“You brought this on yourselves. It’s very sad to see how this game falls victim to excessive ambition and hype,” writes NOI2Z.
“I’m not sure how you can say: ‘We still believe in Hytale,’ but throw away 8+ years of work without showing or revealing anything,” finds Absolutely Alpha.
“I don’t get it… the tens of millions of views on the trailer, the overwhelming support for years (despite the lack of updates), backed by Riot Games, and not even an Early Access…?” writes Snipper.
“I don’t understand how a game of this magnitude, backed by so much money, cannot even produce a single playable demo or gameplay material,” comments Mura_VT.
MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes has spent a lot of time with ranked modes in video games. In League of Legends or Overwatch, he invested thousands of hours fighting against others. Actually, he has sworn off it by now, but a completely different genre has brought him back.
What is the problem with ranked modes? I have spent about 6,000 hours in League of Legends since 2014, most of that time in ranked. At the release of Overwatch, I spent several hundred hours in the competitive area. But in recent years, I have become increasingly frustrated by it.
My biggest problem is team play. It’s not about having bad luck with bad teams that you can’t carry alone, but about the mindset when playing with such a team.
Ranked modes have a fundamentally high potential for frustration. Especially in LoL, a match can take 40 minutes. If you lose, you haven’t just wasted time, you also drop in rank. This creates pressure because you want to perform for the other team members as well. If you lose because you might be having a bad day, generally the whole team loses.
This pressure affects me. I don’t want to die, make mistakes; after all, I’m not only playing for myself. This is no longer fun for me, even if I win. Therefore, I decided not to play ranked modes anymore. I simply found relaxed online gaming better after such a long time.
But that changed when I started getting more into fighting games. Tekken, Guilty Gear, or Mortal Kombat brought back the competitive fun for me, but without the constant frustration.
Start video
Tekken 8 Gameplay – Game Awards Trailer
I can only be angry with myself
Why does the ranked mode work better in fighting games? The main argument for my thesis is the format. You play 1 against 1. The advantage is that if you make mistakes or lose, you can only be angry with yourself.
There is no team to blame, justified or unjustified. At the same time, the pressure is also missing. If you make a mistake, you get punished, but no one else does. You can’t write GG Bad Team or spam pings. Plus, there are no toxic teammates.
Both aspects create in me the effect that I enjoy learning more about the game – but without the frustration in the back of my mind. What moves should I use when, which match-ups are good for my character? These are questions you can also ask in LoL. But in fighting games, team composition and communication with others don’t matter.
Combos in fighting games have an almost endless potential for different strategies and your own creativity.
A thrilling dynamic arises, completely without chats or pings. I learn which moves the opponent is using, but he learns as well. Even though you fight against each other without communication, mind games also arise. I try to outplay the opponent not just in the game but also on a mental level.
As a result, I have an incredible amount of fun even with my many losses. Don’t get me wrong. It often takes a while for a fighting game to click. But the cliché get up and keep going works perfectly in this genre and is rewarding. This is also because a match only lasts a few minutes.
The personal affinity makes me forget the weaknesses
Fighting games also have weaknesses in this area. Often, the ranking point distribution is opaque, and patches can ruin your favorite characters. But personally, I can overlook that because this genre has accompanied me my whole life.
Since I can remember, I have played fighting games. Be it with friends, family, or even with my grandma on the couch, or now currently online in ranked against others. Fighting games just have an impenetrable fascination for me.
This is not only due to the playable characters, which often range from silly, cool, or just incredibly absurd. But also due to the music, the stages, and the completely crazy lore that sometimes lies behind it. A bear that has learned karate? That sounds like the best game of all time.
Because of the personal connection, I can forgive the frustration factors more easily than in League of Legends or Overwatch. Another advantage is that new fighting games regularly come out. This makes it harder for me to lose interest, because they differentiate themselves despite being in the same genre.
A Tekken is fundamentally different from a Mortal Kombat or a Street Fighter. At the same time, you learn basic aspects in all games that you can use in other titles, even genres.
This assessment is only personal. Many love to play in ranked with a fixed team, and I can understand that. Winning a tight match in the end with a 5-man squad of friends is an incredibly satisfying feeling.
A study by MIT examined individuals who use ChatGPT for certain tasks. Here, researchers found that these individuals exhibited lower brain activity than others and even became lazy after several months, preferring to rely on AI rather than getting things done themselves. However, the study has a catch: the data set is currently very small, consisting of only about 50 individuals.Nonetheless, the lead author of the study stated that they did not want to wait any longer to publish.
An MIT study (short for Massachusetts Institute of Technology) examined how AI like ChatGPT affects individuals and their ability to think.
Although the study is not very extensive and therefore only limited in its significance, the results are partly concerning. You can find the MIT study in PDF format.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
50 Individuals Required to Write Essays: ChatGPT Users Perform the Worst
What did MIT do? Specifically, they wanted to investigate the effects of using AI in school assignments as more and more students are utilizing AI. This has gone so far that universities are expelling students for using AI.
In the study, 54 participants aged 18 to 39 from the Boston area were divided into three groups and asked to write a total of 3 essays. This involved 20-minute essays on the topic of the ethics of philanthropy, which can provide very complex discussion opportunities.
The first group was to use ChatGPT.
The second group was to use Google as a search engine.
The third group was to use no aids for their essays.
The researchers used an electroencephalogram (EEG) during the test, which measures and graphically represents the electrical activity of the brain. Overall, the brain activity of the writers was recorded in 32 regions of the brain.
It was found that the ChatGPT users exhibited the lowest brain activity of the three groups and “consistently performed worse on neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.” Over several months, the ChatGPT users became lazier with each subsequent essay and frequently resorted to copy-and-paste by the end of the study.
The study suggests that the use of so-called “Large Language Models” (short: LLM) could harm learning, especially for younger users. This is also why Nataliya Kosmyna, the lead author of the study, deemed it important to publish the study, despite the data set being so small (via time.com):
What really motivated me to release the study now, before I wait for a complete peer review, is that I fear that in 6-8 months, some political decision-maker will decide, ‘let’s set up a GPT kindergarten.’ I think that would be absolutely bad and harmful. Developing brains are the most at risk.
How did the AI participants perform? The group that wrote essays with ChatGPT produced all very similar essays, lacking original thoughts and relying on the same expressions and ideas. By the time of the third essay, the results were increasingly poor, and the participants let the AI do all the work. A similar result was also found by a teacher who had to review an exam essay by ChatGPT: The texts seem superficial and, according to the two English teachers who were supposed to review the essays, “soulless.”
How did the third group perform? The brains of the group that worked solely with their own thoughts showed the highest brain activity. The researchers also found that the third group was more engaged and curious, took more personal responsibility, and were more satisfied with their essays.
Eigentlich kommt Dune: Awakening gut an und zehntausende Spieler haben ihren Spaß mit dem neuen Survival-Spiel. Auf einigen Servern sind aber offenbar Griefer unterwegs, die nur ein Ziel haben: anderen den Tag vermiesen. Und das mit Erfolg, wie es aussieht. Ein Spieler beschwert sich über eine Gilde, die fleißig Libellen-Helikopter stiehlt, obwohl das eigentlich gar nicht gehen sollte.
Am meisten Spice findet ihr in der Tiefen Wüste, einem offenen PvP-Gebiet. Hier sind nicht nur Sandwürmer eine Gefahr, sondern auch alle anderen Spieler.
Ihr erreicht die Wüste nur mit einem Ornithopter, einem persönlichen Flugzeug, das ihr selbst bauen müsst. Genau hier gibt es nun aber Ärger: auf Reddit teilt ein Nutzer mit, dass es eine Gilde gibt, die andere Spieler am Rand der Wüste abfängt und ihnen das Flugzeug klaut. Die Beute lagern sie dann auf einem Schrottplatz, der den Ludolfs Konkurrenz machen würde:
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Wie ist sowas möglich? Es gibt nur begrenzt Eingänge zur Wüste, an denen ihr spawnen könnt, wenn ihr sie ansteuert. Das macht es den Griefern – oder „Hackern“, wie der Nutzer sie nennt – leicht, potenzielle Opfer abzufangen.
Der Nutzer erklärt: Die Griefer würden mit einem Exploit oder einem Hack die Zugangsrechte umgehen, sobald ihr Ziel ins Gebiet lädt. Sie steigen einfach ein und fliegen dann via Speedhack davon, um ihre Beute auf einem großen Haufen zu „lagern“ – schön mit Energieschild, damit man noch Blick auf sein gestohlenes Gut hat.
Andere Nutzer stimmen zu, dass das kein Einzelfall sei, zumindest auf dem genannten Server (Asia: Bifröst), aber ein großes Problem. Die entsprechende Gilde habe man schon gemeldet, aber passiert sei noch nichts.
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Dune: Awakening: So funktionieren die Zugangsstufen
„Wir melden diese Typen seit einer Woche“
In den Kommentaren rät die Community, Screenshots und andere Beweise zu sammeln und die Griefer bei Funcom zu melden. Genau das sei schon passiert, aber noch gebe es keine Reaktion seitens der Entwickler.
Andere meinen: so etwas dauere. Erst müsse man das „Loch“ stopfen, also per Patch verhindern, dass solche Hacks oder Exploits weiter funktionieren. Danach käme dann die große Bannwelle.
The developers of Dune: Awakening have revealed exciting statistics about the enormously successful launch of the survival MMO. MeinMMO summarizes the most important points for you.
How successful is Dune: Awakening? According to the developers, around 1 million players have ventured to Arrakis so far. This is not only a pleasing result for Funcom considering the purchase price of at least 49.99 euros. Never before has a game from the Norwegian developers launched so successfully.
For comparison: The also successful Conan Exiles managed to reach this milestone only after a year. Neither The Secret World, Anarchy Online, nor Age of Conan achieved this.
This is the future of Dune Awakening:
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Dune: Awakening – Das ist die Zukunft des MMOs
Almost as many sandworm victims as players
What else has Funcom revealed? The announcement about player numbers is accompanied by many other statistics. Here’s a selection:
The sandworms are the deadliest danger, having stripped more than 816,000 survivors to their underwear.
For comparison: The also dangerous sandstorms have only caught 66,883 characters.
The most popular class is the Bene Gesserit (31 percent). The Mentat is the least chosen (20 percent). Swordmaster and Trooper are almost tied – 25 versus 24 percent.
More than 517,000 ornithopters are flying over the sands of Arrakis.
zoidburgh197 wants to know on Reddit: “Who are the monsters that suck blood from desert rats?!?!?”
FearlessFrank99 writes on Reddit: “Very interesting. I like such statistics; it’s fun to look at them. I would be curious how many of these 1 million players have actually built Thopters. Because the number of built Thopters is another metric. Personally, I have built 4 Thopters so far.”
Gorrir believes on Reddit that many of the sandworm deaths were intentional: “I believe most of them aren’t even accidents. I did it three times, first to see what happens, and then twice to keep eye contact.”
In Diablo 4, you can craft the coveted Mythic Uniques with runes. A player now wants to know how to best farm the crafting mats, but the community advises him against it directly.
With the runes, you also have the opportunity to craft certain Mythic Uniques. However, you will need very specific, sometimes legendary runes that you have to gather painstakingly.
A player plans to create a Shroud of False Death. For the mythic chest piece, he needs not only two Pristine Sparks but also a whole bunch of runes – including six of the legendary Bac rune. When he asks the community for tips, he gets a pretty clear answer: He can forget about targeted farming.
In a thread on the subreddit for Diablo 4, the user Infex_plays asks for an efficient method to farm runes. He is still quite new to the game but has already completed some content. However, he is having trouble with the runes.
What does the community specifically say about the runes? The top comment with over 150 upvotes comes from dRaftom. He says: “You buy or trade them… Forget targeted farming.” And Jack_Harb adds: “The funny thing is: You don’t. There’s no way to farm targetedly.”
He then explains that you can use certain tributes in the undercity of Kurast to increase the rune drops during the run. World bosses are also worth it, because they drop tributes. But it’s not really effective.
Gaindolf mentions that dungeon bosses also drop runes. And drexsudo69 shares that he prefers this method – simply because runes feel more like a bonus there. Players farm many bosses anyway to get strong Uniques.
A few users recommend completing the season journey instead and farming the seasonal reputation – preferably with multiple characters. This way, you can secure a Pristine Spark each. With two of these sparks and 50 million gold, you can craft a random Mythic Unique at the blacksmith, completely without runes.
Where can you find runes? Runes of every rarity drop from monsters throughout Sanctuary. You can also make them at the jeweler from other collected runes or trade runes with other players. There are also certain activities and locations where you are guaranteed to get them – such as from the chests of the Whispering Tree or from world and dungeon bosses. However, whether they will be exactly the runes you need is not guaranteed.
Treasure goblins in Diablo 4 can also have runes in their inventory – provided you catch them in time. A greedy goblin in Diablo 4 is said to be “the rarest enemy in video game history.” Players now claim: No one has probably ever seen him.
In the comment, drexsudo69 expands on his thoughts:
It’s pretty pointless to farm for specific runes. The chance of getting exactly the ones you need is really low, and the effort isn’t worth it if you’re just doing it for the runes. It’s best to just collect them along the way and then buy or trade for the ones you need.
A few users recommend completing the season journey instead and farming the seasonal reputation – preferably with multiple characters. This way, you can secure a Pristine Spark each. With two of these sparks and 50 million gold, you can craft a random Mythic Unique at the blacksmith, completely without runes.
Where can you find runes? Runes of every rarity drop from monsters throughout Sanctuary. You can also make them at the jeweler from other collected runes or trade runes with other players. There are also certain activities and locations where you are guaranteed to get them – such as from the chests of the Whispering Tree or from world and dungeon bosses. However, whether they will be exactly the runes you need is not guaranteed.
Treasure goblins in Diablo 4 can also have runes in their inventory – provided you catch them in time. A greedy goblin in Diablo 4 is said to be “the rarest enemy in video game history.” Players now claim: No one has probably ever seen him.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many companies rely on Generation Z for their revenue. However, another generation is financially much more interesting: Boomers have larger financial reserves and account for more than half of the spending in Germany.
In the areas of economy and consumption, many companies focus on Generation Z. Yet, Boomers are much more important for the domestic economy but are often underestimated. While 90% of the advertising budget is used to attract trendy 25-year-olds, only 10% of the budget is utilized to persuade the more affluent Boomers.
Generation Z is a good option for the economy. Because Gen Z does not save but focuses on “Doomspending”: pushing credit cards to the limit and spending money recklessly. However, Boomers have significantly more financial resources, which the economy often fails to reach since it overly focuses on young people.
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Boomers spend more money but are underestimated by the economy
A study by PricewaterhouseCooper indicates that Boomers, on average, spend the most money in everyday life. People aged 55 to 75 mostly shop in physical stores, but 62% also shop online once or multiple times a month.
However, the purchasing power is much more important: Households with individuals aged 55 and older account for more than half (54 percent) of all private consumption expenditures. Generation Z, in comparison, spends significantly less.
Experts see the problem primarily in the fact that many companies and the advertising industry still prefer to target young customers. Nils Giese, the managing director of the Frankfurt communications agency Edelman, stated to the Tagesschau:
If we just look at the facts: Only five to ten percent of global marketing budgets are focused on the so-called baby boomers, even though this target group represents more than half of private consumption. This is, of course, a very large discrepancy.
However, the study by PwC emphasizes that Boomers do not simply spend money but are also considered a very frugal generation overall. Boomers value preserving and passing on their wealth, but are also willing to invest long-term.
Generation Z and the so-called Boomer generation differ significantly from each other, particularly when it comes to the purchase and consumption of certain goods. This is evident in the direct comparison of the generations. We present to you items that are used or purchased daily by “Boomers,” which, however, hardly play a role for Generation Z: 6 items that Boomers spend money on every year that Generation Z would not do today
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The current antagonist in World of Warcraft is seen in a completely different light. Have we been mistaken about her?
Xal’atath is the current, major threat in World of Warcraft. One that is supposed to span the entire “World Soul” cycle. Even in Patch 11.2 Spirits of K’aresh, the strange Void creature in the body of a dead elf will play a role again. But probably a different one than the community expected.
Spoiler Warning: This is about the story content of Patch 11.2 Spirits of K’aresh.
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WoW: Xal’atath and the Destruction of Dalaran
Who is Xal’atath? The exact origin of Xal’atath has long been a mystery. Initially, she was the artifact weapon of the shadow priests, but over the years, she has received much more background story. She is now the antagonist of the World Soul saga.
Because she has often carried the nickname “Herald of Dimensius” in the past, many assumed that her ultimate goal was to bring the Void Lord Dimensius to Azeroth to devour the World Soul.
But now it turns out: No, that is not the case at all.
What does Xal’atath do in Patch 11.2? She is our ally. The spacewalker, the mentor of Alleria, reaches an agreement with Xal’atath. She will help us understand the events on K’aresh and try to prevent the Void Lord Dimensius from being resurrected by the Shadow Keepers.
The Shadow Keepers are trying to manifest the Void Lord again. If they succeed, he would likely then set his sights on Azeroth – something that would mean death for all the inhabitants of the world.
But here comes the twist: Xal’atath doesn’t want that either! She apparently has completely different plans for the World Soul of Azeroth and did not intend for it to fall victim to Dimensius.
Therefore, she supports us in Patch 11.2 and bestows the artifact cloak, the “Rishii Wrap”, with her power. This allows us to enter the astral realm and ultimately gain access to the raid, and thus also to the oversized raid boss Dimensius.
Is Xal’atath now “good”? No. She does not make a 180° turn and her actions are not forgotten. She has the blood of many beings of Azeroth on her hands, and especially the mages of the Kirin Tor are not likely to forget the destruction of the city and the killing of so many colleagues so quickly.
The events of Patch 11.2 seem to be a clear case of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” It is, therefore, merely a temporary alliance for the purpose of a single goal – it is highly likely that Xal’atath will betray us soon and follow her own plans again. Whatever those may be.
At least shadow priests can be happy, as they can once again work side by side with their former “Knife Wife”. Although at this point, it is still unclear what plans Xal’atath is actually pursuing. We will probably learn that in Midnight, as the next expansion brings the Void over Azeroth – along with the long-awaited housing.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The books and movies about The Lord of the Rings are full of memorable characters. One villain particularly stands out – although he was once one of the good ones.
Who is meant? The Witch-king of Angmar plays an important role in the events of The Lord of the Rings. As a servant of Sauron, he is tasked with finding the One Ring. This means that the Fellowship around Frodo is hunted by the Witch-king and his Ringwraiths throughout Middle-earth.
The leader of the Nazgûl also makes a great impression because his appearance is quite eerie. However, the origins of the character are anything but that. Because in reality, the Witch-king was a man who was once a king.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Trailer (German)
The Rings of Power
Who was the Witch-king? His true name is not known. We only know that he was a king of men. Presumably, he belonged to the Númenóreans, those men of the West, which also included Aragorn or Sauron’s Mouth.
When the Rings of Power were forged, followers of various peoples received one each. Among them were the Elves, the Dwarves, and the Men. In total, nine Rings went to the nine kings of men.
What the peaceful peoples of Middle-earth did not know: Sauron had secretly forged another, far more powerful Ring. I am of course talking about the One Ring. Thanks to its power, Sauron was able to dominate the other Rings.
The king of men, who would later become the leader of the Nazgûl, was corrupted and bound to Sauron. He and the other kings of men transformed into undead spirits.
In their new form, they began to serve Sauron faithfully.
The War Against Men
What happened next? As is well known, Sauron was defeated at the Battle of the Last Alliance. He lost his body and his power vanished. The Witch-king remained vigilant and did not retreat – unlike the other Nazgûl.
He moved to Angmar in the north of Middle-earth and built a fortress called Carn Dûm. Driven by the will to increase his own power, he created an army of Orcs, Trolls, and other beings. With this, he intended to destroy the Men of Númenor.
The Witch-king began a war against the kingdoms of Cardolan, Arthedain, and Rhudaur. The people of Cardolan and Rhudaur soon met their demise. Only Arthedain remained steadfast for a while before this realm also felt the might of Angmar.
Just a few years later, he succeeded in capturing the city of Minas Ithil in Gondor. He gave it a new name: Minas Morgul. There, a confrontation occurred between the king of Gondor, Ëarnur, and the Witch-king. Ëarnur wanted to face the Nazgûl in single combat because he had mocked him in the past. After the man had crossed the gates of Minas Morgul, he was never seen again.
What happened next? When Sauron returned many years later and sought the One Ring, he sent the Witch-king and the remaining Nazgûl to find the powerful weapon. They visited the Shire and hunted Frodo and the other Hobbits.
On Weathertop, there was a direct confrontation that the Hobbits survived only because of Aragorn’s assistance. Nevertheless, the Witch-king managed to severely wound Frodo. The Morgul blade would have killed him had it not been for Glorfindel, who brought the wounded to Rivendell. In the film, Arwen takes on this task.
Time and again, the Witch-king appeared throughout the course of the story. He brought terror to Middle-earth and ultimately took part in the battle on the Pelennor. There he met his end.
How did the Witch-king die? He actually wanted to confront Gandalf and had already managed to destroy his staff. Then, however, the army of Rohan arrived before Minas Tirith. The Witch-king set out to kill King Théoden of Rohan. Unfortunately, he succeeded.
Subsequently, Éowyn and the Hobbit Merry attacked the Witch-king. Together they brought him down. The Nazgûl mocked them and believed himself to be safe. For he knew the prophecy of Glorfindel, which said that no man could kill him. To his misfortune, he faced no man: Éowyn removed her helmet, revealed herself as a woman, and killed the villain once and for all with her sword.
Thus, one of the most iconic villains of Middle-earth met his end. Ultimately, his trust in the prophecy regarding his death was a great weakness. Éowyn showed that she is a strong warrior, even though she was always underestimated as a woman in Middle-earth. That is why she also appears in this list: The 10 strongest men from Middle-earth in ranking
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Grim Dawn is the ARPG on Steam for players who enjoy playing offline and place little emphasis on seasons and the ladder. The game is set to receive a new expansion this year, and it’s expected to be massive.
What kind of game is Grim Dawn? In 2016, the ARPG “Grim Dawn” was released by the developer studio Crate Entertainment. The game represents a classic ARPG, featuring its own story, various classes, and the ability to develop intricate builds.
What’s interesting about the game is its approach to filling the genre, as it does not rely on a ladder, which eliminates the need to create a new character every season. Thus, seasons do not exist; instead, there are DLCs that expand the story, introduce new items for builds, and present new bosses.
Even today, the “offline” ARPG stands strong with a 93% rating on Steam and the label “very positive” – many refer to the game as the competitor to Diablo. A new DLC is set to be released, and it represents the largest content update from the developers so far.
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Grim Dawn: The Trailer to Forgotten Realms
Largest map ever and packed with new items and bosses
What will the DLC contain? The upcoming expansion is called “Fangs of Asterkarn,” and it is expected to bring a plethora of new content to the game. In a developer update, the developers shared small details about the current status of the DLC. They discussed new details (source: forums.crateentertainment.com).
One of the most interesting aspects of the DLC is its size concerning accessible locations. It is said that it will surpass all previous DLCs and have an approximate size of 3.55 km². To fill this area, 54 new bosses will be ready to challenge you.
There will also be no shortage of items, as the developers have created over 380 new ones with which you can expand or refine your builds. For story fans, there will be plenty of content, as there will be 47 new main and side quests, and this number is expected to increase over time as the developers continue to polish the expansion.
When does the DLC launch? Initially, the DLC was set to be released in 2024, but the release date was chosen generously, considering the extent of the expansion. For this reason, the developers have moved the release to fall/winter 2025. So you still have a little while to wait before you can test the DLC. In the meantime, we recommend the following ARPG if you’re looking for an alternative: Players rave about Last Epoch on Steam, but they are sure: Path of Exile 2 should not be like that
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The endgame of Dune: Awakening is currently causing discussions within the community. Especially PvE fans feel disadvantaged, while the controversial Landsraad system is also under criticism. Now the developers are speaking up with concrete plans.
What is being criticized?
A large part of the endgame in Dune: Awakening takes place in the Deep Desert. There, players collect the Spice, the most important resource in the world, which is necessary for various things.
The current PvP focus is strongly on aerial combat in this area. Solo players have a hard time here, as those traveling alone often have little chance against organized groups or large guilds.
In a message on the website for Dune: Awakening, Creative Director Joel Bylos is addressing the community now and reporting on the plans for PvE and PvP content. The goal is for PvE players to also experience the endgame and have access to the content.
The Deep Desert will get PvE zones
According to Bylos, they still firmly believe in the vision of the Deep Desert as the centerpiece of the endgame: a location that resets weekly, full of rewards, risks, and variety. It should always be worthwhile to enter “the most dangerous part of the most dangerous planet in the universe.”
What do the developers have planned for PvE fans? PvE players will essentially get their own areas in the Deep Desert where they can farm resources. Bylos specifically writes:
In the near future, some areas of the Deep Desert will be marked as “partial war zones (PvE)” where players can explore testing stations and harvest T6 resources without being exposed to the danger of unwanted conflict. It is important to emphasize that the top gameplay levels are balanced for guilds and groups – so those playing solo will still find it grindy.
Bylos emphasizes that important hotspots, such as Landsraad control points, shipwrecks, and the largest spice fields within this area of the Deep Desert will remain marked as “Assassins’ War (PvP)” and thus as areas with high risk but also with high rewards.
Furthermore, the Creative Director explains that PvP is only supposed to happen if all parties want to fight over the location. Players should always be able to retreat with their collected loot. “Those who are smart and vigilant do not have to fight if they do not want to. Those who flee must interrupt their current task, but it should always be a decision,” he writes.
Additionally, Funcom plans to regularly add endgame content and PvE content. This will be done through free updates and in the form of DLCs and expansions, Bylos writes.
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Dune: Awakening: 7 schnelle Tipps, die das Spiel euch nicht verrät
Ornithopters should not dominate battles
Here’s how PvP is being adjusted: Funcom plans to make PvP battles more balanced and is making adjustments accordingly in Dune: Awakening. Ornithopters will always be important for traveling in the desert, but they should not be the dominant force in combat.
Adjustments include:
The speed and agility of scout ornithopters with missile launchers will be reduced
Missiles from scout ornithopters will generate more heat
Boosters will now provide a maximum speed bonus regardless of wings, ensuring that ornithopters with boosters are the fastest vehicles in the game
A new T5 infantry rocket weapon will be introduced to improve the dynamics between vehicles and ground troops
Ornithopters will always be important for traveling in the desert, but they should not be the dominant force in combat
Additionally, there will be changes to mechanics such as respawn times, vehicle storage, hand scanners, and other mechanics that are currently being abused in the Deep Desert
A mechanic that griefers currently exploit is stealing ornithopters from other players when they enter the Deep Desert with them (via Reddit).
Landsraad system as a framework for endgame activities
What is being changed in the Landsraad system? The Landsraad feature is currently the only endgame content that goes beyond pure grinding and does not rely on PvP. You complete weekly tasks to help your house gain supremacy. However, guilds have a massive advantage here and can complete tasks almost directly.
Here’s what Funcom is planning now:
The activities should become more diverse with the expansion of the game world
There should be more dungeons with bosses dropping endgame loot
There should be more quests with specific requirements and more delivery missions with non-stackable components
If there will be raids, there should also be tasks linked to the Landsraad
Essentially, the Landsraad system should serve as a structural framework for all endgame activities
The next Spotlight Hour in Pokémon GO is right around the corner. During this, you’ll encounter Furfrou and receive an XP bonus.
What kind of event is this? The Spotlight Hour is a 60-minute event that takes place every week on Tuesday. In addition to a Pokémon that is in focus and appears in very high numbers, there is also a bonus active during the event.
The Spotlight Hour on June 24, 2025, will bring you Furfrou. This Fire-type Pokémon originates from the 1st generation and can evolve into Arcanine. It also has a Hisui form, which, however, cannot be caught during this event.
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Pokémon GO starts new season Pleasant Days – Trailer for the season
Spotlight Hour on June 24, 2025 – Start and Bonuses
When does the Spotlight Hour start? As usual, it kicks off at 18:00 with the Spotlight Hour. An hour later, at 19:00, the short event ends.
What bonus is active? If you evolve Pokémon during the event, you will receive double the amount of experience points. It doesn’t matter which monster you evolve: The bonus is active for every evolution you carry out.
If you use a Lucky Egg before your evolutions, you will even receive four times the amount of experience points for each individual evolution.
Can you catch Shiny-Furfrou? Yes. The Shiny variant of Furfrou is also active in the game. If you’re lucky, you can get this variant of Furfrou during the event.
Is the Spotlight Hour worth it? While Arcanine used to be among the best attackers in Pokémon GO, it has since been outpaced by many other monsters. As a Fire-type attacker for your raids, you should rely on other monsters instead.
It’s similar in the battle leagues. Here, neither Furfrou nor Arcanine are suitable. This applies to both the Great, Ultra, and Master Leagues.
The final evolution of Abra, Alakazam, is a strong Psychic-type attacker and is also represented in our list of best attackers in Pokémon GO. If you still need strong monsters here, the Spotlight Hour could be worth it for you.
If you have some evolutions stacked up that you want to conduct, you can optimally utilize the event’s bonus to gain some additional experience points.
The chance of finding a good weapon in Elden Ring: Nightreign is a mix of ambition and a bit of luck. And those who are really fortunate may encounter a weapon in a run that they really shouldn’t leave behind.
Which weapon is being discussed? It is the Grafted Blade Greatsword, a legendary (and therefore quite rare) weapon that one can stumble upon randomly in a run in Nightreign. It is a colossal sword that can deal significant damage, but in this case, that is rather secondary.
Because players who have come into possession of the Grafted Blade Greatsword report an unusual experience in Nightreign. The weapon possesses a passive ability that grows stronger over time.
Here you can see the trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign:
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The launch trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign shows atmospheric scenes and boss fights
Legendary weapon makes the health bar explode
What makes the weapon so strong? The Grafted Blade Greatsword has the passive ability “Power of Vengeance”. Through this effect, after each defeated enemy, all of the player’s attributes are increased: After each kill, no matter how powerful the opponent is, the player receives +0.5% to their HP; FP, stamina, and damage, as well as +1% damage resistance and resistance to other status effects.
What are players reporting? The Grafted Blade Greatsword is making its rounds in the player community on Reddit in several posts. The user Curanthir showed in a post what his health bar looks like right before the fight against the Nightlord:
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He reports how in his run with Wylder, due to his massive HP, he simply became immortal and could smash the bosses into pieces. He also emphasizes that he didn’t even need to use the sword as his main weapon for the effect; it just needs to be one of the 6 weapons in his inventory.
The Grafted Blade Greatsword is indeed a lucky find, as most players report that they have never encountered the weapon even after countless hours.
The passive ability of the Grafted Blade Greatsword is a very effective method to elevate one’s character to the same level as a boss. This can be very useful, as many of the Nightlords are really tough. Another “weapon” that can be really strong is actually not a weapon at all, but an item with a delightful sound. And it also defeats the most powerful bosses: Player defeats the final boss in Elden Ring: Nightreign with a tiny bell and a lot of patience
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Borderlands 4 recently held an event where streamers got to play the loot shooter on Twitch. Fans viewed the footage and noted many of the new features that are important for the release.
What was the event about? On June 21, 2025, during the evening hours in Germany, the “Borderlands 4 Fan Fest” took place, featuring various streamers and cosplayers. Gearbox used the event to present a new story trailer for its loot shooter and gave streamers the chance to test the upcoming game.
The event was streamed by the participating streamers on Twitch. Even though they weren’t able to showcase the game for long, fans managed to catch a glimpse of certain details from the preview. Therefore, we will show you what fans could discover from the stream.
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Borderlands 4 – Story trailer for the new installment of the loot shooter series
Better presentation for your items
The item cards provide an overview of your weapons when you inspect them on the ground or in the menu. Gearbox has ensured a better overview with Borderlands 4 and has redesigned the layout so that you can better grasp the information regarding the effects and statistics.
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Weapon components are now listed, which will describe the effect they have on the weapon. Damage, reload time, and other information about your firearm will now be represented with small icons so you can scan the important information more quickly.
Vehicles to explore the open world
A cool new feature is your vehicle in Borderlands 4. While in the predecessor you could call various vehicles at a Catch-a-Ride, you can now activate your new vehicle at any time and zoom off.
This vehicle, resembling a Sparrow from Destiny 1 & 2, can give you a speed boost, fire projectiles, and even launch rockets. So the vehicle is not just meant as a cart – you should be able to shoot people with it as well.
It is still unclear whether you can modify your vehicle, but in the predecessor, fans could at least make cosmetic and minor weapon adjustments to their vehicles – mods would therefore be conceivable.
New pastime: Fishing
A small but new feature in Borderlands 4 is fishing. Yes, every new vault hunter has a grappling hook on their wrist that you can fire to move more mobile through the map. This hook can also be used for fishing.
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How extensive the feature is, we can’t say for sure yet, but it has made some streamers smile. It’s clear you can acquire loot with it.
New movement to be more mobile
As already mentioned with fishing, there is now a grappling hook with which you can move more mobile through the map. You can then aim at anchor points and pull yourself to quickly reach higher positions or seek cover quickly. Borderlands is already known for its fast movement, but with the grappling hook, you will be even quicker on your feet. Additionally, there will also be a double jump and the ability to swim.
Mark weapons as junk immediately
Looting can be appealing in Borderlands, except when you also have to mark the new loot in your inventory. Gearbox understood this and, therefore, provided the possibility in Borderlands 4 to collect weapons and items immediately as junk. This way, you won’t have to painstakingly go through everything again to mark it and can sell your junk at a vendor with just a button press.
This is what the new selection looks like (Source: YouTube)
Moxxi’s “Encore” Machine
Farming bosses in Borderlands has always been exhausting – areas had to be reloaded and that consumed a lot of time for players, plus it was counterproductive if you wanted to farm in co-op. With Moxxi’s new machine, this should no longer be a problem.
With some cash (not Eridium, but cash), players can summon their beloved boss enemy as often as possible at this machine, even in co-op. This is very convenient and will save many players time (Source: Reddit).
ECHO-4: A new companion for all situations
If you paid attention to the trailers, you will have noticed a new cute robot. Its name is ECHO-4 and he is the new loyal companion of the vault hunter, who will help you navigate through the open world.
He can hack terminals, scan the environment, mark loot, and show the direct way to the mission. The interesting part is that it’s an optional feature. If you don’t like him or find him annoying, you can turn him off.
Combat Map + Compass
To assist with orientation, there will also be a new feature, namely the ability to play with a compass and a combat map. Fans were concerned that you would only have to play with a compass, but just recently, the CEO of Gearbox, Randy Pitchford (Source: X), confirmed that there will be an option in the settings to have both activated. The combat map is not intended to show outlines of the terrain but rather to act like a radar by marking the position of enemies that are in your vicinity.
