Update 1.15.0 for ARC Raiders is out now and brings new cosmetic items as well as some bug fixes. More about what exactly is changing can be found here in the overview.
What kind of update is this? On March 10, 2026, at 11:00 AM CEST, Patch 1.19.0 for ARC Raiders was released. This includes new cosmetic items and bug fixes and is 894.6 MB on Steam. What changes and what patch notes you can expect can be found here in our overview.
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ARC Raiders shows new Hurricane condition and hints at a new enemy
ARC Raiders: Patch Notes for Update 1.19.0
What do the patch notes say? The patch notes show some adjustments that may interest you, mainly bug fixes for annoying issues (Source: arcraiders.com):
New cosmetic items:
Devotee outfit set. (see title image)
Two new hairstyles.
A bug was fixed that incorrectly displayed the selling value in the inventory when selecting equipped mods.
A bug was fixed that allowed the same item to be shown multiple times in the sales and recycling popup.
A bug was fixed that could incorrectly display the player’s coin balance after selling items with durability.
A bug was fixed that allowed players to put the grappling hook into the vault bag when pressing the tab key while using it.
A bug was fixed that could cause players and ARC to get stuck in a door frame in the auditorium on Stella Montis.
A bug was fixed that displayed two interaction prompts for the comet.
An exploit on the zipline at Blue Gate was fixed.
A bug was fixed that caused some water on the dam battlefields not to freeze during the cold snap.
A bug was fixed that caused the lightning of the electromagnetic storm to appear too frequently.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was a massive success for its developers from Sandfall Interactive. However, there is currently a dispute over the name “Clair Obscur”. The author of a comic is said to be prohibited from using it, but the situation is unclear.
What is the dispute about? In a series of posts on X.com, Olivier Gay commented on a letter from a lawyer representing Sandfall Interactive. In it, the company supposedly demands that he remove his graphic novel “L’Académie Clair-Obscur” from circulation.
According to the letter, the comic is supposed to benefit from “the undeniable success of the game.” But determining who is right is not as simple as the developers also note.
Here you can watch the trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – JRPG with French Flair has Release Date
Everyone has a point
Who was there first? According to Olivier Gay, he pitched his graphic novel to the publisher Drakoo in 2019 first. This led to the graphic novel “L’Académie Clair-Obscur” in March 2024. At that time, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had not yet been introduced, which only happened in June 2024.
Even though Olivier Gay was there first, the developers from Sandfall Interactive secured the trademark rights to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. For Olivier Gay, it is clear: he does not want to engage in a legal dispute. He writes: “I have neither the energy nor the money to conduct a legal battle, especially against French studios that I highly respect.”
Thus, he is willing to rename his comic and continue it under a different name.
How are the developers responding to the situation? The developers from Sandfall Interactive published their own post on X.com on Monday. In it, they acknowledge the discussion and explain that they are in contact with Olivier to strive for a fair solution for both parties.
It is clear that Olivier Gay’s book bears no similarities to Expedition 33. The book describes the experiences of a group of students in a magical school – it is thus more similar to Harry Potter than its namesake.
The name Clair Obscur is also the French translation of the Italian word “chiaroscuro”. It describes the juxtaposition of light and darkness from the Italian art history of the Renaissance.
Thus, it is not a name creation of the developers or the author, but an existing term that the developers, however, want to continue using as a franchise title for their future games, as Polygon.com explains.
Whether the comic has to change its name or whether the developers and the author will come to a different solution remains open. What is clear is that the developers want to continue releasing more games with the title, and most likely people think of Expedition 33 when they hear Clair Obscur. Clair Obscur Expedition 33: All builds, tips and guides at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Valve has released new figures on Steam – and they show how gigantic the platform has become. Players downloaded over 100 Exabytes of games, updates, and data in 2025.
What data has Valve presented exactly? In its annual retrospective on Steam, Valve published new statistics alongside numerous updates. It shows that platform users downloaded a total of about 100 Exabytes of data in 2025.
This continues a trend that has already become apparent in recent years. In 2024, the total download traffic was around 80 Exabytes according to Valve (Annual Report 2024).
Data Volumes in Comparison
How large is this data volume really? The number initially sounds abstract, as very few people encounter such large units as Exabytes in their daily lives. One Exabyte equals one billion Gigabytes.
On average, Steam players download about 274 Petabytes of installations and updates daily according to Valve. That corresponds to more than eleven Petabytes per hour. Even per minute, the data amounts are still around 190,000 GB.
1 Petabyte consists of 1,024 TB and is a number with 15 zeros. In daily life, you would normally never encounter such a huge number. 1 Exabyte has even 18 zeros, making it even larger. As a comparison: One million only has 6 zeros.
For comparison: The entire global internet traffic amounts to between 17 and 33 Exabytes of data daily according to various network analyses (IbisWorld & economyinsights & AppologicNetworks). This means: Steam alone already generates a significant share of what is transmitted worldwide over the internet every day.
Even compared to large internet nodes, the number seems enormous. At DE-CIX in Frankfurt, one of the largest internet nodes in the world, data volumes of similar dimensions are handled daily. There, peak values reach several hundred Petabytes per day – a range that also includes the daily international Steam downloads (Ip-Insider).
Another comparison shows how many games could be behind this data volume (the report does not clearly indicate whether other tools and software from Valve were also included): Most AAA titles today are 100 Gigabytes or larger. A good example is GTA V (Enhanced Edition) with about 105 GB download volume (Steam). If only games of this size were downloaded, 100 Exabytes would theoretically correspond to about a billion complete game installations.
Why are downloads on Steam growing so rapidly? Five years ago, Steam first surpassed the mark of 25 million simultaneous active users. Since then, according to the platform’s data, the number has increased by about 3.4 million annually and now reaches peaks of about 42 million simultaneous active users. The download figure has also increased significantly from 80 Exabytes in 2024 (Steam).
The strong increase in numbers is mainly due to the development of the platform itself. Steam is now considered the largest internet distribution platform for PC gaming worldwide and offers tens of thousands of games. At the same time, the games themselves are getting larger.
Crimson Desert has been building anticipation for its release on March 19, 2026, with its sheer amount of content and features for years. But what does the core gameplay look like that shapes your experience in Pearl Abyss’s new open-world adventure?
You can expect activities such as arm wrestling, archery competitions, gambling, or fistfights on the continent of Pywel. You can tame horses and hunt wild animals, expand your own camp, farm, fish, or send your clan members on missions.
But what is the core experience of Crimson Desert? What are the key features that play an essential role in your adventure? That’s exactly what we will clarify below! You can jump to the areas that interest you most via the table of contents.
[toc]
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Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
Key Feature 1: The Main Story
The story revolving around Kliff and his Graymanes is the red thread that leads you from the beginning of the game to the end. You can look forward to stylishly staged sequences, fully voiced dialogues, and plenty of quests. Through the main story missions, you will gradually learn about important systems and skills of your main character.
The main story guides you through the various regions of the continent Pywel. As you progress in the story, you will solve puzzles, help the residents of the game world, defeat various bosses, and ultimately combat a larger evil that threatens not only the Graymane clan but the entire world.
If you want, you can fully concentrate on this main story and ignore many of the optional quests and activities. However, since there is only one difficulty level, it may happen that you eventually hit a wall, for example, in the form of a story villain who will ram you into the ground without mercy in seconds.
How you can overcome such a hurdle is what Key Feature 4 is about. According to current estimates, a playthrough in Crimson Desert with a strong focus on the main story will take about 50 hours. You can read more about it here: Playtime – How much content is in the action-adventure Crimson Desert?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes grew up with many anime classics that focus on epic battles. But there is only one that has the truly best ones, and this classic is returning to Netflix with a new season in less than 2 weeks.
Which anime is it? At 6 years old, my father showed me, probably a bit too early, Dragon Ball Z. Since then, I’ve been a fan of mostly action animes, even though it has become somewhat less in recent years.
But I simply enjoy well-thought-out and choreographed fights. In fact, I have a clear favorite: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The anime based on the cult manga by Hirohiko Araki does almost everything right and even surpasses animes like Dragon Ball, Naruto, or Solo Leveling with its fights.
With Steel Ball Run, the anime returns on March 19, 2026, and promises to deliver its best element in top form.
You can watch the trailer for Steel Ball Run here:
Start video
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure continues with Steel Ball Run on Netflix in the next round
Nothing is like JoJo
What is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anyway? The anime, animated by David Productions (Cells at Work, Fire Force), is based on the manga by Hirohiko Araki, which started in 1987. Unlike other long works, the manga is divided into parts, each telling different stories at different times.
At the center is always a JoJo who is related to the Joestar family. So in Part 1 it’s about Jonathan Joestar, in Part 6, however, about Jolyne Kujo. Steel Ball Run is Part 7 of the manga. Unlike in the previous parts, there are no direct connections to the previous stories in the universe in the new part.
In Steel Ball Run, Johnny Joestar is in focus. After an attack, he is paralyzed, but as a jockey, he still wants to participate in the Steel Ball Run, a horse race across the USA. Along the way, he meets allies but also many adversaries.
A horse race sounds like an unspectacular premise, but it fits perfectly with the fantastic fights of the series, which are filled with surprises and thus put any other anime fight to shame.
Why are the fights in JoJo’s so good? While Parts 1 and 2 offered more classic fights with breathing techniques (yes, like in Demon Slayer), Araki introduced the stands in Part 3. This is a special ability that usually manifests through a summoned creature. While they were initially muscular brawler skills, the manga and anime took a completely absurd turn in the best sense with Part 4.
Stands are not just combat skills; they represent the user’s personality and offer many different applications. Sometimes you can attack opponents with guilt, while someone collects trinkets with an army of small beings. This is all not useful for a direct fight, but it always puts the heroes in exciting situations.
The fights in JoJo’s are not just brawls with the strongest abilities; they are puzzles that the characters must solve to win. I never know what to expect next. But no matter how ridiculous a stand is, I can usually be sure that it will be creatively implemented. This makes JoJo stand out from all the other animes I have seen in my career.
Additionally, each part has a different premise. Part 4 was a slice-of-life story in a small town, Parts 1 and 2 were about super vampires, and Part 5 tells a mafia story. This also constantly recontextualizes the abilities.
That’s why I’m also really looking forward to Steel Ball Run. The horse race combined with stands can only yield creative results, and among many fans, Part 7 is considered the best part of the manga.
Do you have to watch the previous seasons/parts to understand Steel Ball Run? No! While Parts 1 to 6 were loosely connected, Part 7 takes place in an alternate world. So you can also jump in with Steel Ball Run.
A player chooses round by round in ARC Raiders to leave other Raiders in peace. Now this intention has been broken for the first time and another player met a lightning-fast end due to their weapon. The player was not only horrified by their act but also by what awaited them afterwards.
What terrible thing did the player do? The player and Reddit user Arlendius informed the ARC Raiders community that he killed his first other Raider in the game. “That was not intentional,” the player reassured, sharing a clip as evidence that showed the incident.
In the clip, you can see the player busy looting while another friendly Raider waves in his vicinity. There is no firefight or paranoid staring happening.
The relaxed situation is broken by a fireball rolling into the hangar. Arlendius draws his Anvil, aims, and fires – but just before the shot hits the rolling ARC, the other player runs directly into the crosshairs. He goes down and Arlendius must realize: That was just his first PvP kill in the game.
Here you can watch the entire clip:
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“I think it was an empty run,” Arlendius writes. “He had no augments or shields on his body and that’s probably why he went down after just one shot.”
He admits that despite the unintentional headshot, it was really a funny situation. The community also finds this coincidence amusing but knows what it means for the usually peaceful player.
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ARC Raiders has an incredibly peaceful community – Even the developers are surprised
A friendly, peaceful PvE coexistence is initially a thing of the past
What does the blunder mean for the player? The community can hardly grasp the extent of this misfortune and finds the situation just as entertaining as the player himself. However, they are aware of what this means for the actual PvE player:
“Off to the PvP lobbies with you,” writes Light_Shrugger, and wewerboy explains: “This is the moment the game decides that you have completed your training.”
By this, the players mean the so-called “Aggression-based Matchmaking” in ARC Raiders, which finds like-minded lobbies for you based on friendly or aggressive gameplay behavior. Players who tend to kill other Raiders or play sneakily will face similarly aggressive players accordingly.
How does the usually peaceful player respond to this consequence? Arlendius writes that he has already felt the consequences of his act, and that promptly:
“I was immediately killed in the next match. I just let it happen. I deserved it.”
Despite the matchmaking misfortune that he initially has to “nurture” back with good and merciful behavior, the community cannot help but continue to revel in the clip on Reddit.
“I have watched this way more times than I should have. It just gets funnier,” admits MySabonerRunsOlapido.
“The resigned shot at the fireball speaks volumes. I can almost hear your sigh,” writes Delicious-Diver-1579.
“A direct headshot from the Anvil, without a shield. At least he didn’t suffer; he was gone in an instant,” says Runnin_Wizard.
Electronic cigarettes are considered an environmental issue. A YouTuber has now used discarded products to power a small car.
Disposable electronic cigarettes, known as vapes, have long posed a growing environmental problem and a risk for waste management. Disposal is difficult.
YouTuber Chris Doel has now used 500 discarded vapes to power a car. He managed to drive 18 kilometers with them. This is reported by Techspot magazine.
Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
Powering an apartment or even a car with old electronic cigarettes
What exactly did he do? Each disposable cigarette contains a rechargeable lithium cell. However, these cells are thrown away after the device is used, even though they are rechargeable and still functional.
YouTuber Chris Doel therefore began extracting the cells from the vapes, testing and grouping the functional ones, and using them in successive energy projects. In initial projects and further tests, he managed to power his house with a homemade battery.
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He has now put these experiments into his latest project. The homemade battery now forms the core of his latest test platform: a Reva G-Wiz, a lightweight electric microcar from the early 2000s. The Indian car brand no longer exists today and is now called Mahindra.
Doel mounted his modified battery in an aluminum housing, wired the cells for voltage stabilization in series-parallel groups, and installed the unit in place of the original batteries. The converted car started without any problems on the first attempt. A nice detail: The car is charged via USB-C.
During his test drive, Doel reached nearly 60 km/h and traveled about 30 kilometers.
Kill Bill is, like most films by Quentin Tarantino, a very stylish work. Not entirely innocent of this is the actress Lucy Liu, who vetoed the costume of her character, thus creating a small reference.
Who does Lucy Liu play in Kill Bill? The American actress portrayed the character O-Ren Ishii in Tarantino’s revenge epic.
The killer is not only part of the assassination squad “Deadly Viper,” but also becomes the leader of the Yakuza due to her ruthless nature.
Lucy Liu’s appearances in Kill Bill are memorable. On one hand because she is incredibly brutal even by Tarantino standards, and at the same time cunning and highly intelligent. On the other hand, because she simply looks cool due to her appearance.
But it wasn’t always meant to be that way. Lucy Liu revealed in an interview that Quentin Tarantino originally had a completely different outfit in mind than the one seen in the finished film.
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Kill Bill 1 – Trailer to Tarantino’s action masterpiece
A Reference Among Gangsters
What did the actress say? In a conversation with Vogue, Liu recalled the creation of Kill Bill. The kimono she wears as O-Ren Ishii wasn’t actually planned that way:
Originally, Quentin wanted me to wear something completely different, namely this kind of communist gray [outfit]. […] I saw something entirely different and simply realized that [O-Ren] exuded an elegance and femininity that I wanted to maintain.
Lucy Liu
Instead, Liu suggested an outfit that corresponded more to the character’s Japanese origin: a kimono. The first appearance with it in the film occurs at minute 53:09. In a scene showing O-Ren Ishii during a Yakuza meeting, she wears the kimono.
And indeed in black with a white undergarment. This is no coincidence. Liu explained in the interview that the choice of colors was made very consciously. She had suggested to Tarantino to orient towards Pulp Fiction.
There, the two characters Jules and Vincent wear black suits with white shirts underneath. Just like O-Ren Ishii, they are also killers.
Tarantino was convinced by the suggestion, and thus we see O-Ren Ishii in these first scenes in the mentioned outfit. Later, when she meets the “Bride” (Uma Thurman), the look changes.
Black and white switch places – now the kimono itself is white and the undergarment is black. Consistent with this, the fight between the two women takes place in an idyllic snowy garden.
Lucy Liu believes that the choice of the kimono has changed the perception of the character. What the originally intended outfit would have looked like can be seen in the form of her accomplice and right-hand woman in the film, the character Sofie Fatale. She wears the simple dark gray costume that was presumably also intended for O-Ren Ishii initially. Another actress was not allowed to participate in Kill Bill, as she was said to be too good according to Tarantino.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The players of Path of Exile have recently been quite frustrated with a bug while looting. However, the developers used the problem to prove how quickly they can solve it.
What was the bug? Recently, there have been increasing reports of a bug while looting in Path of Exile. Players hovered over an item with the mouse but were unable to pick it up. It seemed as if the item was simply not selected, even though the mouse was pointing at it.
However, this did not happen every time, but only occasionally, which made it somewhat difficult to describe at first. A player documented the issue and posted it on Reddit. The post gained the attention of many players who were able to confirm the problem themselves, but they didn’t have to wait long for a solution.
Here you can see the bug:
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How did the developers react? While the post was gaining more and more attention and other players were describing the annoying problem, the developers were already working on finding a solution.
The bug fix didn’t take long, about three hours after the post was created, community manager Natalia_GGG responded on Reddit: “Hey, we just released a fix for that!”
This once again proves how quickly the developers tackle problems that annoy players. It is therefore hardly surprising that there were a dozen hotfixes on the release weekend of the new season Mirage that resolved similar issues.
Here you can see the trailer for Path of Exile: Mirage:
Start video
Path of Exile shows new league “Mirage” in trailer – brings changes for the endgame
How are the players reacting to the developers’ help? While players were extremely annoyed by the original bug, they are also very pleased with the quick fix. The comment from community manager Natalia_GGG received nice responses and praise for the quick problem resolution.
Overall, the mood and opinion about the season start is exceptionally good. The developers have fewer bugs and problems than usual, which the players appreciate. Currently, players are experiencing a successful season in Path of Exile.
In Pokémon GO a thrilling debut has been announced. It is a new form of one of the most popular monsters ever.
New monsters are continually being released in Pokémon GO. These can be regular debuts as well as those that bring new forms and variants or Shinies into the game.
Now, the debut of a new form of a monster has been announced. And it is none other than probably the flagship of the entire franchise: Pikachu. If you want to catch it, you will have to hurry.
Start video
Pokémon GO Fest 2026 comes with Mewtwo and Zeraora
3 Hours for a Form
What kind of form is this? On Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, you can challenge the Gigantamax form of Pikachu for the first time and, after a successful battle, add it to your team. It is available in the form of a Dynamax Battle Day for the first time in the game.
With a bit of luck, you can also obtain the monster as a Shiny. While you can normally evolve Pikachu into Raichu, this is not the case for the Gigantamax form.
What bonuses are there at the event? As usual, there are a whole range of additional bonuses during the Dynamax Battle Day, which will be available during the event and partly already in advance. During the 3-hour event, the following bonuses will be active in the game:
the collection limit for Dynamax particles is increased to 1,600
Power sources regenerate much more frequently and there are more of them available
you will find Gigantamax Pikachu at all Power sources
8 times the amount of Dynamax particles from Power sources
optional, paid research for $4.99 (about €5), where you receive a Dynamax mushroom, 25,000 experience points, and 6,400 Dynamax particles
Additionally, during the time from 12:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the day of the event, the following bonuses will also be active:
you will receive double the amount of Dynamax particles when walking
1/4 of the usual walking distance is required to receive Dynamax particles while walking
The limit for daily remote raids is also increased from March 28, 2026, at 2:00 AM to March 29, 2026, at 5:00 AM from 10 to 20.
On the day of the event, you can also conduct 3 special trades.
How strong will the monster be? It is still uncertain how strong Gigantamax Pikachu will be in the end. However, it is expected to be found in the upper ranks of the list of Dynamax attackers of type Electric.
Your best options currently are Gigantamax Rhyperior as well as Zapdos and Raikou in their Dynamax forms.
When will the monster return? When you will have the opportunity to obtain the monster again is not yet known. If you want to have it, you should take advantage of the event to avoid waiting an eternity.
In addition to the debut of Gigantamax Pikachu, there are several other contents waiting for you in the coming weeks. This naturally includes events, raids, and more Dynamax monsters. What exactly awaits you in the game can be found in our overview with all events in March 2026 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some players of the preview version of Crimson Desert have looked at the in-game encyclopedia of the open-world adventure and found exciting statistics that underscore the size of Pywel.
Where do the numbers come from? In the preview version of Crimson Desert, selected players not only had the opportunity to play the open-world adventure, they were also able to look at many of the menus. Under “Others” they found a knowledge section where the game documents all discovered content of Crimson Desert.
What do the numbers reveal? The almost 3,000 entries are apparently distributed as follows:
468 characters
110 factions
573 territories
397 life forms
75 bosses
28 mounts
430 adventure entries for regions (173), secret places (34), caves (133), and more
150 collectible resources
94 collectible items
347 crafting blueprints
214 memory fragments
Start video
Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
“That seems suspicious”
How does the community react to the numbers? Under the post by Zephryss on X as well as under the post by Ninjago on X, many players express that they find these numbers rather off-putting.
Novak writes: “Yes, and that’s exactly why I won’t play it. I want to have fun, not go to work.”
Mimiga is skeptical: “Just because it’s a lot doesn’t mean it’s good. That’s the part that worries me, that everything feels very quickly boring. I prefer little, but good content over MASSIVE but empty content.”
Gooboberti admits: “Like how they categorize everything. Let me guess… these mounts are just different colors of the same 5 options. The 110 factions? How can that make sense?”
However, there are also many players who are extremely excited about Crimson Desert and its enormous scope.
Chosen Fallen writes, for example: “I just hear way too many good things about the game, that seems suspicious.”
FAR Labs celebrates: “75 bosses over 573 territories, that’s world design on another level.”
Mr. Barge can’t wait for the release: “I’m more than hyped. I’m clearing my calendar for the rest of the year because I want to bring the game to 100 percent.”
What else is known about the scope and size of Crimson Desert?According to Marketing Director Will Powers, Crimson Desert is supposed to be about twice the size of the playable open world of Skyrim (about 37 km²) and also larger than the map of Red Dead Redemption 2 (about 75 km²). It is likely to take about 2 hours to ride from one end of the game world to the other on horseback.
He also admitted that you can easily spend hundreds of hours in Crimson Desert. However, if you only focus on the main story and some side quests, you can also “complete” the game much faster.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Boys ends in 2026 with Season 5, but the series from Amazon still introduces new characters. As the final trailer reveals, a new villain joins the ranks of Homelander and he could become quite dangerous.
Which villain is it? On March 6, 2026, the final trailer for Season 5 of The Boys was released. There, one can see how extensive Homelander’s power is. Additionally, one can see how he strengthens his own ranks. On one hand, there is Soldier Boy, and on the other, Oh-Father is shown for the first time.
Previously, in a poster (Source: x.com), the Supe was seen with a Bible on Homelander’s side. However, the latest trailer presents another scene with him, indicating that he will probably not get the exact role from the comics.
You can watch the final trailer here:
Start video
The Boys shows in the final trailer for Season 5 how far Homelander has come
A religious leader with evil intentions
Who is Oh-Father? He made his first appearance in the comics in The Boys No. 45 in 2010. In the comics, he is the leader of the Capes for Christ, a religious cult of Supes that is obviously connected with Vought.
There, the Supe regularly collected sidekicks whom he abused. Homelander even confronted him in the comics about getting his addiction under control. In the comics, he sides with Homelander and tries to seize power with him. Even if Homelander is quite power-hungry and would do anything for it, he has never done such evil things.
As an ally, he is quite useful to him: he is not only superhumanly strong, but he can also fly, and his fanatical followers should not be underestimated. Especially the last aspect could become significant for Season 5.
How does Oh-Father fit into the universe of The Boys? The Capes for Christ organization has already appeared in the series. In Season 1, the character Ezekiel is introduced, who leads the fanatically religious group. However, in Season 4, he is killed by Butcher.
Thus, one can assume that Oh-Father will now take over the leader role. Comparing an image of him on x.com with Homelander’s appearance on a stage at the beginning of the trailer, it can be assumed that Christianity in the USA will become a topic for the consolidation of Homelander’s power.
In WoW Midnight you return to northern Lordaeron to protect Silvermoon and especially the Sunwell from the encroaching Void. This Sunwell has often been the target of destructive forces – and at one point literally walked across Azeroth. Players lament with a hint of bitterness: we won’t hear much about that in Midnight.
The history of the Sunwell is as long as it is tragic. With the help of water from the Well of Eternity, the then-ruler Dath’Remar Sunstrider created the well to provide his people with a new source of power.
Over the years, the Sunwell has repeatedly been the target of various attacks, including by Arthas Menethil, the Lich King, and soon after by Kael’thas Sunstrider, the Prince of the Blood Elves. Since then, his people have not been too fond of him.
Particularly during the last attack and the attempt to bring the demon Kil’jaeden to Azeroth, the Sunwell has been irrevocably changed and has become what you now know in Midnight. At least almost… because there is still one detail that the game is currently withholding.
Start video
WoW Midnight – The opening cinematic of the new addon shows the attack on Silvermoon
Anveena Teague, the Living Sunwell
What’s the story with the girl? Here it gets a bit tricky because technically this girl is no “girl”; the entity has only chosen such an outward appearance. It is actually the essence of the Sunwell itself, or at least parts of it.
The free energies were shaped by the red dragon Korialstrasz (or “Krasus”) into a form: a blonde farm girl from Tarren Mill, Anveena Teague. To protect and disguise her, he gave the illusion parents and a small house near the settlement.
Where is Anveena now? The story of the “farm girl” is mostly told in the comic “Dragon Hunt.” She becomes a pawn of various powers, including the traitor Dar’Khan Drathir, whom you are supposed to kill in the starting area of the Blood Elves for a quest since TBC.
Dar’Khan tries to claim Anveena’s power for himself to become a god – which works at first but then goes wrong and awakens the power of the Sunwell in the girl itself.
However, Anveena also appears in WoW. During The Burning Crusade, Anveena can be seen at the Sunwell, where she aids you in the battle against Kil’jaeden and sacrifices her life.
As a result, and with the help of Velen and the untainted heart of the naaru M’uru, the Sunwell is not only cleansed but is also infused with the power of Light from then on. It becomes a new source of strength for the Blood Elf paladins, the Blood Knights.
When Kil’jaeden wanted to come to Azeroth, Anveena had to sacrifice her life.
“I don’t think Blizzard remembers her”
The premise of the new expansion and everything you currently do in Midnight somehow aims at the Sunwell and its protection. Lady Liadrin calls upon the Army of Light to protect the well while the Void tries to destroy it.
It would thus make sense for Anveena to at least be mentioned somehow – however, fans consider this unlikely. On Reddit, a user asks why Anveena is not mentioned anywhere. In the responses, users agree:
“My goodness, Anveena only appeared at the very end of a raid. Unfortunately, she will never be mentioned again.” – TheWorclown
“I don’t think Blizzard remembers her at all. If the Sunwell Trilogy were to be released today, people would call it ‘bad fanfic’ because Anveena was not an original concept and Knaak created her for his comic so Kalec would have a love interest.” – elenthiel
Even Kalecgos, who does not know that a part of Anveena lives on in him, has moved on since then and shortly after began to court Jaina Proudmoore – of whom he himself says she resembles Anveena.
It is still just past midnight (forgive the pun) and not even the first raid is open. Therefore, it is not completely ruled out that Anveena may still appear, especially with regard to the Sunwell and its history. Elves have always had a tendency towards this: WoW: How Elves have been messing around with great wells for 10,000 years
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new extraction shooter Marathon is clearly different from the competition in one point, and players appreciate that.
What is the difference? The thrill of extraction shooters like Marathon often lies in losing your gear and loot when you die. Thus, every death represents a setback, which can also be frustrating.
At the same time, players consider whether it is necessary to take the best gear for each round or if they should rather bring a sparing kit to reduce risk.
In Marathon, however, players have recognized a completely unique rhythm that sets it apart from the competition. The title forces players to sacrifice their gear without inducing frustration.
Here you can see the trailer for Marathon:
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Bungie presents Marathon in the launch trailer
Less frustration and more risk
How is this in Marathon? As players explain in a post on Reddit, Marathon wants players to enter raids with good gear. You should not save your equipment, but rather risk everything and lose it if necessary.
To prevent this from becoming frustrating, there are easier ways to quickly obtain good loot compared to the competition. There is only a short wait time to play the Rook, the Scav class in the game. With it, players can earn a lot of loot without risk.
At the same time, the risk is heightened by the fact that Marathon does not offer a secure stash. While the genre pioneer Escape from Tarkov provides containers with some slots for loot that remains even when the character dies, Marathon is harsher in this regard.
How do players feel about this? Players appreciate the new direction that the extraction shooter is taking. The developers have succeeded in redefining a component of the genre and thus standing out. Players react on Reddit:
proudownerofatumor: ”The game provides an absolutely insane amount of gear even for the average player. I currently have over 40 reward caches from my faction lying around because my safe is already full, and quests reward you with tons of random and diverse items that allow you to quickly get back on your feet, even after losing your stuff. […]”
Eldorren: Basically, I play as many kits as I can until I can’t anymore, and then I just do a few Rook rounds to gather. Repeat and start over. I thought they designed it this way at least? I mean, it makes sense. […]
onesillyman: “I think the lack of a secure stash definitely contributes to that.”
RestaurantSmooth: “Marathon might be the first game that actually forces you to overcome the fear of gear. […] the entire design seems to be aimed at helping one get over gear fear. You should risk your kit, lose it, learn, and try again. It’s actually kind of refreshing compared to games in which people just hoard their best gear forever. […]”
The German Twitch streamer Honeypuu has been harassed by a man over the internet for some time. Videos directed at her keep appearing, even though she does not respond. The YouTuber and streamer Jasmin Gnu addressed the issue and publicly condemned the behavior of fellow streamers.
Important Disclaimer: This article deals with the topics of stalking and cyberstalking. If these topics affect you, it might be better to skip this article.
What is the situation? The Twitch streamer Honeypuu has been pressured online by a man for about a year. The man appears to believe that he is in a relationship with the Twitch streamer and regularly uploads videos directed at her online. The videos include declarations of love as well as videos in which he ends the supposed relationship.
Honeypuu and the man have never met, spoken, or otherwise interacted. Nevertheless, he seems to be jealous when the Twitch streamer collaborates with other male streamers in her streams.
The YouTuber and Twitch streamer Jasmin Gnu created a video on behalf of her fellow streamer discussing the case and its impact. In the YouTube video, she lets various people comment on the situation.
Stalking and cyberstalking are criminal offenses and cannot be compared to a harmless prank or similar. According to the Criminal Code, a person who commits stalking can be punished with up to 3 years in prison, and in serious cases with up to 5 years of imprisonment.
Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google
Absolutely insensitive
How is the situation fueled? This situation alone is bad enough for the person affected, but it is further exacerbated by the fact that the public is watching and also intervening, according to Jasmin Gnu.
In the comments under the man’s videos as well as Honeypuu’s own, there are numerous comments that further fuel the situation. For example, there are inquiries about a meeting between the two.
Even large German Twitch streamers comment on the situation, but not to support their colleague, rather by making fun of it.
Honeypuu was asked about her supposed cyberstalker by her Twitch colleague Knossi during a Twitch stream. Streamers also made fun of the situation in the context of the game Make It Meme. However, some other participating members, like EliasN97, did stand against this behavior.
You can watch Jasmin Gnu’s video here on YouTube:
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Jasmin Gnu sharply criticizes this behavior in her video: First of all, I and many others find it absolutely insensitive to address her about it in the stream in front of so many viewers, because if it were genuinely about the person, it could have definitely been asked privately. (Source: YouTube from minute 16:00).
She further states: And with exactly such streams, so many new people have become aware of the topic, without it being put into context, saying: People, stalking is not funny. There is a person suffering because of it, do not support it and please do not fuel the situation. (Source: YouTube from minute 18:58).
Moreover, the public creates more memes and especially AI-generated images of the two together. This behavior, both from viewers and other content creators, fuels the situation and gives the man more attention, Jasmin Gnu claims.
Both stalking and cyberstalking should never be underestimated. Past incidents have shown how dangerous a parasocial relationship or stalking can become. For example, the case involving the Twitch streamer Emiru, who was touched without her consent by a man at TwitchCon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Only a year after Wilds, fans can indulge in Monster Hunter Stories 3. Although it’s just a spin-off, the RPG has already been one of the biggest highlights of the year for MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, because it excellently implements grinding and leveling.
What kind of game is Monster Hunter Stories 3? Superficially, the game resembles the RPGs of Pokémon or Digimon. As a human, you have multiple monsters with you and complete quests or follow the story in turn-based battles.
The special thing about Monster Hunter Stories 3 is how the mechanics of the main series are implemented. They are not just laid over like a skin, but are utilized for the turn-based combat system.
The game will be released on 03/13/2026 on the Nintendo Switch 2, Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. I was able to test the game for MeinMMO on the Switch 2.
For me, Stories 3 is the best part of the series and one of the best games in the entire franchise, which I had a lot of fun with and will continue to enjoy in the future. That has already been evident in my preview of the game, but while continuing to play, I was especially impressed by the dull grind in the open world.
Seldom has an open world been so enjoyable and motivated me to grind and level up without forcing me to do so. This became my favorite game on the Nintendo Switch 2.
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Monster Hunter Stories 3 shows habitat restoration in trailer
Stories 3 follows a similar principle for its game world as Monster Hunter Wilds. There are larger areas than open worlds, where you can fight roaming monsters, complete side quests, or steal eggs and gather resources in monster caves.
On paper, this sounds like a pretty lame open world, but the RPG masters the gameplay loop that makes grinding so enjoyable. The most important point is: Nothing is unnecessary.
The main aspect of the monster caves is obtaining new monsters. In ordinary, rare, and super-rare caves, you can grab eggs and hatch them in the stables.
When entering a new area, it immediately awakens my explorer’s instinct. Which monsters live here? Which monsters can I get? As a fan of the series, I also pondered which monster could be hiding in unknown eggs.
Even after 40 hours, I enjoy grinding through the different areas, because Monster Hunter Stories 3 always has a reward for the player, even later in the game.
Every monster in Monster Hunter Stories 3 has something to offer.
Even useless grind offers me something
If you read about exploration instinct, you might wonder what it looks like afterward. How good is the open world and the grind in it when you already know which monsters are present in an area? In short: I love the different areas and the gameplay loop.
The different monsters have 3 x 3 gene slots that determine what passive and active skills they have. If you have, for example, 3 fire skills in a row, the monster receives a bonus.
Depending on the rarity of an egg, there are also rarer skills. These can be easily inherited to other monsters to improve your creatures and build builds. Additionally, the new feature of habitat restoration has been added. The areas are divided into different habitats that you must unlock by defeating certain monsters.
In these habitats, you can release your monsters to improve a population. This also makes monsters that you may not need useful. Moreover, the different elements represent another facet of your team building.
Habitats have different elements, and monsters can take on these elements. If you found a Tobi-Kadachi in a fire habitat, it might not only have thunder as an element but also fire. In the habitats, you can also create monster populations just to create your favorite creature with a completely different element.
This is not only incredibly satisfying for fans who already enjoyed building in the main series, it allows you to utilize even useless monsters and experiment with the habitats.
In the open world, you will find not only monsters but also collectibles, hidden places, and side missions.
An Incredibly Satisfying Gameplay Loop
Grinding monsters for your own armors and weapons, collecting eggs, and restoring the habitats are all individual aspects that are already fun on their own, but Stories 3 creates an incredibly good gameplay loop and connects everything together.
In the open world, you can now freely switch between your 6 monsters and fly, climb, or swim while doing so. This works without load times, and everything ran smoothly for me even on the Nintendo Switch 2.
In the habitats, you have your own camps where you can forge, hatch eggs, and manage the habitats themselves. Everything is in one place, and in combination with the grind mechanics, it creates a flow that kept me engaged for hours:
I fly through the open world, fighting monsters and collecting eggs.
I return to base, craft new weapons, and check out my new monsters.
I see if the monsters are worth it for my team or inherit genes.
I use the monsters for the habitats and head back into the world to get new eggs and test new weapons and monsters.
Without load times and thanks to comfort features like the instant death of monsters that are significantly weaker, everything goes pretty quickly, and you are constantly rewarded.
Leveling your own monsters goes quickly as well, because even if you only pick up herbs, you earn experience points. This way, you can quickly try out new monsters without having to level for annoyingly long.
But don’t worry: Despite some grinding sessions, I never felt over-leveled because most battles, especially in the story, do not revolve around whether your monster uses excessively powerful attacks.
The battles are mostly like a puzzle. You have to strategically attack different parts using various weapons and elements to defeat the opponent. In this regard, tactics and your knowledge of weaknesses are more important than your level or that of your monster.
The beautifully animated Kinship Attacks provided me with a regular visual treat, which already looked great in part 2:
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For me, Stories 3 quickly became my favorite for the Nintendo Switch 2. I continued the story on the TV and enjoyed the effect-heavy Kinship Attacks that could come from animes, and when I wanted to grind a bit, I switched to handheld mode and watched a series in the meantime.
I liked the graphics both on the big TV and on the Switch 2 screen, and I barely noticed any technical shortcomings, so I can highly recommend the game to anyone who has a Switch 2.
I focused heavily on the grind in this review, but I also really liked the story and the characters, and anyone who just wants to play a good RPG story will also find what they’re looking for here.
In Marathon there are currently 27 weapons that you can pack into your loadouts, but which of them are actually the best options? Find out in our Tier List.
How is this Tier List created? MeinMMO author Christos has extensively dealt with the weapon meta of Marathon since the release. Weapons he could get his hands on were tested on players as well as UESC units to get a feel for them. The remaining specimens were assessed through recordings from other players and opinions from the community.
With years of experience in the shooter genre, it was easy for him to create a ranking to show you which weapons you should consider for your loadout or not. With our directory, you can also quickly jump to the individual weapon types, as we list every strong weapon in their category aside from the Tier List.
[toc]
Update, March 31, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.
Start video
Marathon will learn from the mistakes of ARC Raiders and take a tough stance against cheaters
Marathon: Tier List of All Weapons
In this list, you will now find all weapons in their respective ranking tiers. The “S” tier represents the best of the best, while “C” houses the worst weapons. In the ranking, the feel of the weapon, possible modifications, magazine size, and other parameters are of course taken into account. For this reason, we chose the following ranking:
– Tactical NK Sidearm – Overrun SG – Conquest LMG – Avenger LMG – Copperhead SF
This was the compact Tier List in the table. Now we will go into the individual categories and explain to you which weapons belong to the best in the current meta.
Best Assault Rifle: M77 Assault Rifle
M77 Assault Rifle
Why is the weapon so good? The M77 is a powerful assault rifle with a high rate of fire and damage. The rifle can easily take down opponents with purple armor in less than 2 seconds. It has solid accuracy and handling but possesses a small magazine that can be offset with a suitable mod.
Alternative: You can gladly use the Impact as an alternative, though it has a slower rate of fire.
Best Machine Gun: Heavy Demolition LMG
Heavy Demolition LMG
Why is the weapon so good? The demolition machine gun has the slowest firing rate of all machine guns, but that’s exactly what you need. With its sluggish firing rate, you can fire more accurately at your enemies. It also has the highest damage of all available MGs. It has controllable recoil, but a slow reload animation. Anyone who likes to play with MGs should definitely rely on this model.
Alternative: As an alternative, the Conquest LMG is a good option as it serves as the middle ground among the three available MG options in terms of recoil, damage, and firing rate.
Best Precision Rifle: BR33 Burst Rifle
BR33 Burst Rifle
Why is the weapon so good? The BR33 is a laser in terms of firing rate and stability. The rifle fires short but fast bursts that barely sway your aim and deal substantial damage. Whether in combat against UESC units or Runners – anyone will buckle when you can handle this rifle. So if you’re looking for a powerful weapon for long-range combat, this is the right rifle for you.
Alternative: The BR33 is a unique weapon due to its firing mode, but if you want a rifle of the same category, you can go with the Repeater SPG. This rifle is, as the name suggests, a repeating rifle with immense power that can take out some enemies with just one shot.
Best Pistol: V11 Punch
V11 Punch
Why is the weapon so good? Solid damage, high firing rate, and battery-operated, the V11 Punch stands out. The pistol is the exact weapon you want when looking for an option for your backup compared to the two remaining options of its kind. It’s reliable and efficient and can be smoothly handled even in heated battles.
Alternative: If you’re looking for a more powerful weapon, you should rely on the Magnum MK. However, pay attention to its recoil; it can reward precise shooters, but first, you need to know how to handle it.
Best Railgun: Ares RG
Ares RG
Why is the weapon so good? The Ares can perform stronger than the Zeus Railgun due to its slightly higher damage. Its operation is the same: you aim at a target, charge up a shot, and then fire. Railguns are rather niche compared to other weapons, but if you enjoy working with such devices, you should stick with the Ares.
Alternative: V00 Zeus RG, but with lower damage.
Best Shotgun: WSTR Shotgun
WSTR Shotgun
Why is the weapon so good? Do you need a shotgun that can take out any opponent with a salvo? Then take the WSTR Shotgun. This monster can dismantle even armored foes effortlessly with just a few shells. No matter how good your enemies are, it’s already over when they look down the barrel of this weapon. Currently, this weapon is also one of the top-tier examples for loadouts – so if you want to keep up with the endgame Runners, you should take this weapon with you.
Alternative: A solid alternative is the Misriah, even if it’s not quite as strong as the WSTR.
Best Sniper Rifle: Distance Shot
Distance Shot
Why is the weapon so good? The Distance Shot is a semi-automatic sniper, and that makes it the top choice for loadouts. Its firing mode can also forgive mistakes if you don’t hit a shot precisely. Its damage falls far behind the Outland, but due to its dynamic playstyle, it can compensate for this shortcoming.
Alternative: If you prefer a slower playstyle and want damage of overkill height, you should use the Outland.
Best Submachine Gun: Reaper SMG
Reaper SMG
Why is the weapon so good? Compact, always accessible, and an all-rounder for short and mid ranges. That’s exactly what the Reaper is. Every Runner has probably held this weapon at some point. It has a solid magazine size, strong damage, and a competitive firing rate to keep up with other categories. If you don’t want to take a pistol as a backup, you should opt for the Reaper.
Alternative: A decent but less accessible alternative is the KBZF SMG.
These were all weapons in the ranking along with explanations of why they are the strongest options in the current meta. Note that the ranking may change at any time if Bungie nerfs the weapons. Therefore, we keep an eye on the patch notes and adjust our list accordingly. You can find more about Marathon here: Marathon: Tier List of Classes – All Runner Classes Ranked
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The “Stop Killing Games” initiative is taking the next steps and had the opportunity to speak with Members of the European Parliament. Meanwhile, more should happen than just the offline mode.
What is it about? The citizens’ initiative around Stop Killing Games made a lot of noise in 2025. Almost 1.3 million EU citizens signed the initiative in favor of preserving video games.
This goal has been achieved, and the EU Commission is now legally obligated to address the issue. The authorities have until July 27, 2026, to provide an official response and decide whether and which new consumer protection laws, such as a requirement for end-of-life patches or an offline mode, will be drafted.
However, serious discussions have already taken place.
Can you actually bequeath your Steam account?
Start video
A user asks Valve if he can bequeath his many games on Steam – they reply
YouTubers in Brussels
What were those discussions about? YouTubers Ross “Accursed Farms” and Josh Strife, along with other supporters of the initiative, were in February in the EU Parliament in Brussels. There, they officially spoke with Members of Parliament about their project and also held a press conference.
One constant hurdle is that Members of Parliament are often not hardcore gamers, and the initiators must first explain to them why the topic is so important. Here, the YouTubers found good conversation partners especially with the Pirate Party, as they frequently deal with IT issues.
However, there have not yet been any tangible results from the discussions. Josh Strife explains in the video that the visit to the Parliament and the discussions aim to raise awareness of the problem among the politicians and to find allies.
In his video on YouTube, he also provides a positive conclusion to the visit, although some viewers had hoped for more:
My goal is to clearly define expectations on both the political side and among the players. If I succeed in that, I will be satisfied. I tried to explain it to people in exactly that way: After the stream, some people came up to me and said: I can’t believe the stream went so poorly. My response was: On the contrary – it went brilliantly.
How will it proceed? For the movement against the lobby of video game publishers to take off, there is a new plan. Two NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are to emerge from the initiative in the USA and the EU. Their long-term goal should be to advocate for digital consumer rights and the preservation of games as cultural assets through professional lobbying.
This way, even more rights for gamers could be demanded and promoted by the NGO in the future.
At the same time, the industry resists, continuing to argue that a requirement for the preservation of games would make live-service games unpredictably more expensive – also in terms of licenses for music and trademarks.
ARC Raiders is a shooter that offers a different experience for various types of players. A Raider has always relied solely on his own skills to face the dangers of the game, showing little mercy to others along the way. Until he finally recognized what the other side looks like.
What does the player report? The player nve729 informs the ARC Raiders community on Reddit that he plays alone 99% of the time and enjoys it as a PvP fan who shoots at opponents without hesitation as soon as he sees them. However, he had a realization he wanted to share with the rest of the player base. For the first time, he made an exception and hesitated to shoot.
For “some reason,” he decided not to kill an enemy player because he thought their skin looked cool. And as it turned out for him, it led to “the best session he ever had with a random player.”
The other Raider was looking for a Leaper to take down, so the two set off to tackle it together. After they successfully returned to Speranza, they added each other as friends and continued to play as a duo for another three hours.
“I love gaming. I love ARC Raiders,” nve729 concludes his post. He has been playing extraction shooters like Hunt: Showdown for years, but never experienced such a spontaneous and great situation as he did in ARC Raiders. And he is not alone in feeling this way.
Start video
ARC Raiders has an incredibly peaceful community – Even the developers are surprised
Teamwork doesn’t mean you have to give up on PvP
What ultimately made the solo player have so much fun? Just because nve729 plays alone 99% of the time and enjoys it with a focus on PvP, playing as a duo meant he didn’t have to completely give up his usual playstyle. He describes how he and his new friend experienced the craziest duo PvP battles, and other players in the community can support that.
“Duo PvP is really great,” writes Funter_312 in the Reddit thread, “3v3 feels like ‘Go Random Bullshit’, like the other team is throwing a million Poké Balls at you. 2v2 is usually a great mix of weapons, gear, and attention.”
Other Raiders are puzzled as to why the player discovered so late how great teamwork can be in ARC Raiders. Such situations are not only a side effect of the extraction shooter but a deliberate mechanic.
What makes the community smile? Of course, in ARC Raiders, players can decide for themselves how friendly and helpful or lethal they want to be. However, the ARC Raiders community is so friendly, that it surprised even the developers. The fact that the player was so taken aback by the appeal of teamwork is almost amusing to the community.
“ARC Raiders is made for this kind of interaction,” explains Dalionking225, and wvtarheel writes: “I believe the trend of players becoming increasingly friendly, which Embark has observed, is mainly because… it’s fun. I play PvP and also some PvE, both are enjoyable in their own way. It’s great that we can switch back and forth between both depending on what we want to achieve in the game.”
Whether one prefers to pursue PvP or PvE in ARC Raiders is up to each player. It is no coincidence that the gameplay in ARC Raiders is summarized as PvPvE due to the multiplayer aspect, but also the ARCs as a common threat. Depending on how one behaves in the game, similar lobbies can be expected: A developer reveals: The matchmaking in ARC Raiders assesses very closely how mean you really are
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The world of Fallout is inhabited by many characters who act morally questionable. A particularly insidious specimen is a scientist who comes from Bavaria.
Who is this scientist? Stanislaus Braun is a character from Fallout 3. The scientist was born in the Bavarian town of Kronach. He had already worked for the Vault-Tec company before the Great War in 2077.
This company is very important in Fallout because it was responsible for the famous bunkers called Vaults. In fact, Stanislaus Braun was instrumental in the creation of the Vaults.
Outwardly, they were supposed to provide a safe refuge from the falling bombs – but in reality, they were meant to conduct questionable experiments on the inhabitants. Braun himself commissioned these attempts and communicated with the respective Vault overseers.
Braun was also responsible for other accomplishments. He invented the G.E.E.K., a terraforming module, and worked on artificial life extension on behalf of the US Army.
When the Great War finally broke out, however, Braun wanted nothing to do with any of it. He fled to Vault 112, where he found his true “destiny” – including a sadistic side.
Start video
The official trailer for Fallout Season 2 takes us back to the apocalypse
Welcome to the Simulation
What happened in Vault 112? In this bunker, Braun sought shelter from the bombs and worked on his own simulation. This means: the scientist developed virtual worlds that were inhabited by himself and the Vault’s residents.
The people lay in special chairs and were in a sleep-like state while living a second, virtual life. Braun initially worked with two simulations, which did not satisfy him.
The sadistic and malicious side of his character craved something different. Thus, Braun developed the simulation “Tranquility Lane.” The inhabitants found themselves in a typical small town of the 1950s, but without the post-apocalyptic touch of the wasteland.
Everything seemed fine here, at least at first glance. In truth, the lives of the Vault residents within the simulation were a nightmare. Braun played himself as a god there. Although he chose a nondescript form and appeared as a little girl named Betty, he acted completely ruthlessly.
Out of pure pleasure, he tortured and tormented the simulation’s inhabitants. He often killed them virtually and then resurrected them, but erased their memory. In this way, people had to experience the fear of death repeatedly, which brought great joy to the scientist.
The only way out: Braun programmed an emergency program that triggers a “Chinese invasion.” Soldiers then appear in the simulation and kill all the inhabitants, this time for good. Only Braun would survive, making him the last and only resident of Tranquility Lane.
In which quest do you encounter Braun? During the main quest of Fallout 3, the mission “Tranquility Lane” begins. You reach Vault 112 and enter the virtual world via a chair.
There, you meet Braun in the form of the girl Betty, who has already been kept artificially alive for 200 years and is indulging in his sadistic games. To reach the father of your character, who is trapped in Tranquility Lane, you must speak with Betty.
She gives you a series of tasks that essentially consist of tormenting the residents of the simulation and ultimately killing them. Now, as a player, you have the choice to either comply with this request or, after some investigation, trigger the emergency program.
If you decide to virtually kill the inhabitants, you receive bad karma added to your account. After all, they do not actually die but remain at Braun’s mercy.
Good karma is given to those who trigger the emergency program. While this leads to the death of the inhabitants, it also takes Braun’s test subjects away from him and deposes him. The neutral path is taken by only torturing some of the inhabitants virtually.
However you solve the quest, it is one of the highlights of Fallout 3 and leaves Braun in his simulation. The former scientific genius ultimately becomes a victim of his sadistic streak, especially when he must remain alone in Tranquility Lane – forever as the little girl Betty. Stanislaus Braun has rightfully earned his place in our ranking: In Fallout, there are plenty of nasty villains – but who is the worst?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
