During the Showcase event of the Summer Game Fest, host and moderator Geoff Keighley talked about how some small teams have recently released impressive games. While this is true, his choice of words caused some developers to feel displeased.
What did Geoff Keighley say? The creative and moderating mind behind the Summer Game Fest and the Game Awards explained at the current showcase that the gaming year 2025 is characterized by surprising successes of smaller game projects.
As a crowning example, he mentioned the fantastic Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which he stated would be a “monumental achievement” by “a team of less than 30 developers.” However, this is not entirely accurate. Between 10 and almost 40 developers are said to have been part of the core team during production (via X).
In addition, there are also numerous external contributors like animators, testers, and musicians. In total, about 80 creative minds are thought to have contributed to the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Those who play Clair Obscur feel empty… for reasons:
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinterlässt bei den Spielern eine Leere
A Dangerous Myth
What is the problem? Nowadays, almost no game appears without the extensive work of external staff and partners. Nonetheless, their contribution to development is often overlooked. Mike Bithell, Game Director and founder of Bithell Games, explains on bsky.app:
It’s incredibly noticeable how often ‘and an army of outsourcers outside America and Western Europe’ is left out of these team sizes. That’s the part I find real uncomfortable.
Developer Localthunk, who you might know from their hit Balatro, knows this all too well (via bsky.app): “People and media often say Balatro was made by ‘one guy’. I feel like that unfortunately may be stoking the flames of this David vs. Goliath narrative a tiny bit No it was not ‘one guy’, look at the dang in-game credits.”
In addition, Geoff Keighley also claims that Schedule 1 was supposedly made by a solo developer. However, the credits actually list two other artists who took care of the visual style and music.
Games Licensing Producer and Consultant Mike Futter sums it up on bsky.app:
I was really uncomfortable with this as well. And not just because the math doesn’t math. One dev plus nine friends working with him is 10 people… not one. Expedition 33 is a triumph, but it wasn’t made by 30 people. Contractors provided vital labor. This is a dangerous path we’re walking.
What do you think: Should the work of external staff and partners be brought more into focus and considered? Or are you satisfied with the view of the core team and the discussion is excessive?
Let us know in the comments! Either way, the RPG by Sandfall Interactive is definitely worth a look if you have no allergy to turn-based combat. If you want to give it a try, you can find useful guides for getting started here: All builds, tips and guides for Clair Obscur Expedition 33 at a glance.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A company from Wales tried the 4-day work week and has now abolished it. Employees can now work 7 days a week.
What kind of company is that? Lumen SEO is a marketing agency from Cardiff (Wales) that specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This means they help their clients optimize their websites so that they are better found on Google.
Lumen SEO was founded by Aled Nelmes, who also leads the company as CEO. Nelmes is regularly active on the social network LinkedIn, providing insights into his approach as the head of the company – such as the thoughts and background behind the introduction of the 4-day work week.
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
CEO abandons 4-day work week
Why does the CEO find 7 days better? Lumen SEO relied on the 4-day work week until last month. However, a month ago, Nelmes explained in a post on LinkedIn that he would abandon the 4-day work week and instead shift the company to a kind of 7-day model.
Instead of working on four fixed days, the company has now agreed on a week from Monday to Sunday, where each employee must complete a total of 32 hours per week. When, where, and how the individual employees fulfill these 32 hours is left up to them.
So employees could work 8 hours on 4 individually selected days, or about 6 hours one day, and then 10 hours the next. Those who wish can also stretch their 32 hours over 5 days, working about 6.4 hours per day.
Why this change? In his post, Nelmes explains that the switch has several reasons, including greater flexibility, as it helps employees perform better. Other reasons include women’s menstruation and the weather. Childcare is also an important reason. This makes the company more attractive as an employer for mothers and fathers.
Does it work? In another post on LinkedIn, Nelmes explains what he thinks is necessary for this principle to work for a company.
He is convinced that this way of working is special and therefore requires special people. There have been some employees that the company had to let go. Even though there weren’t any dismissals, these former employees were not suited for the 32-hour work week.
His employees therefore need to work well independently and be able to assert themselves, as time is “limited and therefore valuable.” Clear communication is important.
The first episode of the Warhammer 40,000 series Kill Lupercal has been released. But the series faces a potentially big problem: Everyone who is likely to watch it knows how it will end.
What kind of series is this? Kill Lupercal is an animated series set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Its first episode was released on May 28, 2025, on WarhammerTV.
You can watch a trailer for Kill Lupercal here:
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Kill Lupercal: The Official Trailer for the New Series in the Warhammer 40,000 Universe
Fans are unlikely to be surprised by the story
What is the series about? As the name suggests, it is about the hunt for Horus Lupercal – the greatest traitor to the Imperium of Man. One aspect could be problematic: Every fan already knows how it will end. So here is a spoiler warning.
The traitor Horus Lupercal is not killed at this point: he is, after all, the main reason for the Horus Heresy. Once you realize this, the name of the series seems more amusing than exciting. Fans also allow themselves the occasional joke about it:
Under a Reddit post on r/Warhammer40k, PVA_Blood comments: “Oh boy, I hope they manage to kill Lupercal. I have a bad feeling about that guy.”
AFrenchLondoner agrees and writes: “He sounds like a real threat.”
These comments started circulating under the first trailer on YouTube:
kabriii speculates, like the master detective that he is: “Hmm … I have a feeling that Horus won’t die in this series.”
BiomechanicalBrick asks: “And which horse told you this rumor” – in the original English comment, the words for horse and rumor sound similar to Horus Heresy.
Does this have to be a problem? It can be, but it doesn’t have to. Anyone just looking for cool action with the Imperium’s titans or wanting to see some of their favorite characters in motion can still have fun with Kill Lupercal.
To watch the series, you need a Warhammer+ subscription. It costs €6.49 per month and offers access to a variety of animated short films, exclusive shows, and more. You won’t find the series on other streaming services. The target audience is clearly hardcore fans, who are already well-versed in the lore. The series may therefore struggle to attract new viewers.
The patch notes for update 36.00 in Fortnite at a glance. We show you all the changes of Chapter 6 Season 3 that await you.
Important: This post is still in progress and will be completed piece by piece.
What happens today in Fortnite? Epic Games has hosted a major live event to conclude the Star Wars season, where players stormed the Death Star and challenged Emperor Palpatine. After the event, however, the servers became unreachable, and since then fans have been patiently waiting for the start of Chapter 6 Season 3. To keep you entertained and to know what has changed at the start, we give you an overview of all patch notes of the season: Super.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new season, should you have missed it:
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Fortnite showcases its Battle Pass for Chapter 6 Season 3 in the new gameplay trailer
All patch notes from update 36.00
The map of Chapter 6 Season 3
In the patch notes, Epic Games revealed its new map. This includes all new POIs listed. Additionally, you can now take a closer look at the individual biomes that Epic Games has implemented. The following places can be visited upon landing:
Resistance Base
Shiny Shafts
Outlaw Oasis
Crime City
Shogun’s Solitude (NEW)
Canyon Crossing (NEW)
Flooded Frogs
Supernova Academy (NEW)
Lonewolf Lair
Brutal Boxcars
Foxy Floodgate
Demon’s Domain (NEW)
First Order Base
Pumped Power
Utopia City (NEW)
Shining Span
Kappa Kappa Factory
Outpost Enclave
New feature: Hero Ranks
Hero Ranks are the new feature for superheroes in Chapter 6 Season 3. When you perform good deeds, you rank up and receive 100 condition per level, as well as hero supplies that you can open and loot. Each player starts at rank C. Depending on the rank, hero supplies contain the following loot:
Hero Supply (Rank C) (can be opened immediately!)
Uncommon Weapon
Uncommon Consumable
Maybe also a Blessing!
Hero Supply (Rank B)
Rare Weapon
Rare Consumable
Highly likely a Blessing
Hero Item
Hero Supply (Rank A)
Epic Weapon
Epic Consumable
Guaranteed Blessing
Hero Item
Hero Supply (Rank S)
Legendary Weapon
Legendary Consumable
Guaranteed Blessing
Hero Item
There is also Rank S+, but at this rank, you simply receive all missed blessings
Fortnite has revealed the upcoming skins from the Battle Pass for Chapter 6 Season 3 in its new gameplay trailer. It’s about superheroes and fighting evil. We show you the trailer and all the new skins in our overview.
What skins can I expect in Chapter 6 Season 3? In the latest trailer for Chapter 6 Season 3, the theme surrounding the superheroes is revealed. Along with new powers that players will soon be able to wield, there are also new skins that are designed to fit the superhero theme.
The trailer demonstrates and names all the skins again. There are a total of four female and four male characters. You can expect the following:
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Fortnite showcases its Battle Pass for Chapter 6 Season 3 in the new gameplay trailer
Robin
Haylee Skye
Ziggy
Synthwave
Killswitch
Lightrider
Morgan Myst
Superman
What skins could still appear? According to leakers (via X.com), many more skins are expected to appear in the shop through collaborations. In addition, a new season for the OG mode is also planned. You could expect the following skins:
New skin for The Traveler
New skin for Teknique
New skin for Omega
deadmau5
One Punch Man
King of the Hill
Cleveland from Family Guy
Bob from Bob’s Burgers
However, it is not entirely clear what other skins Epic Games has in store. The developers are currently entering many collaborations with other gaming and film brands. It is therefore very likely that you will see more skins that you recognize.
When does Chapter 6 Season 3 start? The new season is set to start on Sunday, June 8, 2025. According to the countdown, the time is set for 2:00 AM. Whether Epic Games will stick to this is still unclear. Do you want to stay awake with us and experience the start of the new season? Then feel free to check our live ticker. We offer you the latest leaks for the upcoming season there: Fortnite: Servers are not responding – Everything about the server status and duration for update 36.00 in the live ticker
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Fortnite, the servers were shut down after the live event of Chapter 6: Galactic Battle. Now the servers are unresponsive and everyone is asking: When can I play again? Therefore, we are covering the server downtime with our live ticker.
Saturday, 07.06.2025
8:30 PM
After the live event, fans can no longer play a round of Battle Royale. You can only observe the new map from a distance with Superman.
That’s why we are here for you and provide you with the necessary information regarding the downtime and when you can play again. There are also some leaks, so feel free to join us!
What did I miss? Fortnite celebrated its live event for the end of Chapter 6: Galactic Battle. Fans could destroy Emperor Palpatine’s Death Star. After the event, Epic Games deactivated its servers, and since then players have been unable to log in for a round of Battle Royale.
When does the downtime start? The downtime started after the live event ended.
When can I play Fortnite again? That depends on the duration of the downtime. If you try to log in, you will immediately be greeted by a countdown. This ends around 2:00 AM German time. It is therefore quite possible that the servers will be brought back online tonight.
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The final showdown „Sabotage of the Death Star“ – Fortnite: Galactic Battle gameplay trailer
When will patch notes be released? As with every new season or chapter start, there will also be a large and extensive list of patch notes with Chapter 6 Season 3, so players know what has changed. We will list the patch notes as soon as they become known.
What’s included in update 36.00? As previously confirmed by leaks, the suspicion that Epic Games is basing an entire season only on superheroes has been confirmed. It revolves around an academy where new heroes learn what it means to uphold justice. Accordingly, there are even skins like Superman and Robin and various superpowers to see.
Fortnite: Patch 36.00 – What skins will be available?
What do we know about the skins? As usual, Epic Games showcases its new skins from the upcoming battle passes in the latest trailers they release. Therefore, you can expect the following skins:
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A player bought a new gaming keyboard on Amazon. When he opened the delivery, he found that his package contained 5 of them. Unfortunately, the Reddit community has bad news for him.
What did the player order? The buyer from the UK ordered a gaming keyboard from Razer, specifically the Ornata V3 X. Price: £51.98, around 60 Euros. Everything seemed to be normal during the order.
However, when the package finally arrived, he was astonished to find that he had received a multi-pack with 5 of the same keyboard.
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Wir packen die Switch 2 aus: Das ist im Karton
“Has anyone experienced something like this before?”
He reveals all this in a Reddit post on r/pcmasterrace, which he introduces with the phrase: “Amazon really screwed up….in my favour”
The buyer with the Reddit username Polybius1985 asks the community: “Has anyone ever had anything like this happen to them? Because this is a first for me….”
In the comments, there’s also a user who claims to work at Amazon. He explains how this might have happened:
This box is called a Master Pack (Multiple Set) and the Amazon Picker accidentally scanned the ASIN on the outside of the box but didn’t even bother to open the box to pick a single unit.
What is the bad news? On one hand, the player paid £52 for a membrane keyboard – a major sacrilege for many PC gamers who swear by mechanical keyboards.
“52 pounds for a membrane keyboard ?!”, asks Reddit user t1609
Apocalypse_0415 writes: “Its membrane, sell all and buy mechanical”
“On one hand you got 5 membrane keyboards for the price of 1. On the other hand you got 5 membrane keyboards”, says seanc6441
However, the buyer defends himself: He says this was the bundle price including a Deathadder mouse. “I didn’t get 5 of them too unfortunately”, he adds.
But more seriously, there’s a note that the buyer likely won’t be able to keep the keyboards. Since he lives in the United Kingdom, he will have to return the goods, as another Reddit user explains.
When buying a new keyboard, there’s a lot to consider. This is especially true if you want to use it not only for work but also for gaming. If you are currently looking, our tech expert provides some important tips for buying a gaming keyboard.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Borderlands receives thousands of negative reviews on Steam, while the best part of the series is actually free right now.
Which game is it about? The Borderlands series is very popular among shooter fans, and especially Borderlands 2 is considered one of the best loot shooters of all time by genre enthusiasts.
On the review platform Metacritic, the game has a strong score of 89 on PC and is thus rated higher than competitors like The Division 1 (80) and 2 (82) or Destiny 2 (83). Borderlands 2 is especially loved by many players for its humor and characters like Handsome Jack. The variety of playable builds and the large selection of weapons are often praised as well.
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Looter-Shooter Borderlands 4 showcases its action-packed gameplay in the trailer
Borderlands 2 for free on Steam, but players still complain
Players left hundreds of negative reviews on Steam and accused the game and the development studio of spying on players and their data due to a clause in the changed terms of use. Several reviews stated that the Borderlands games would install spyware.
Additionally, players feared that a new clause could harm the modding community of the games and that players could now face penalties for using mods.
What is the latest development? The situation between Gearbox and the players escalated when a Borderlands discount promotion started on Steam on Thursday, June 5, 2025, whereby Borderlands 2 is free. Anyone who secures the game by June 8 can keep it.
Since then, a large number of negative reviews have been added across the entire franchise again. Borderlands 2 was particularly hard hit. In the past 30 days, the second part of the series received over 8,500 negative reviews. The entire franchise reached over 12,000 criticisms in the same period.
In the most recent negative reviews of Borderlands 2 on Steam, players write that they don’t even want the game for free. One user says: ‘Don’t buy or take it for free. Contains spyware and blocks mods.’ Another comments: ‘Nice 100% discount promotion. Still spyware.’
Now the developers have responded to the players’ accusations in a statement.
This is what the developers say: Gearbox has published an official statement on Steam regarding the community’s accusations, addressing the concerns about spyware and mod bans.
Regarding the spyware allegations, the developers say:
Take-Two does not use spyware in its games. Take-Two’s privacy policy applies to all labels, studios, games, and services across all media and platform types, such as console, PC, mobile app, and website. The privacy policy identifies the data activities that may be collected; however, this does not mean that every instance is captured in every game or service.
Take-Two lists these practices in its privacy policy to provide transparency to players and to comply with its legal obligations. Take-Two collects this information to provide its services to players, including the protection of the gaming environment and player experience. You can read more about this in the privacy policy.
For example, player and device identifiers are partially collected to ensure that the game is compatible with each player’s media, platform, or website browser type. It allows us to better understand how players play the games and to personalize the user experience (such as displaying usernames!). Account access information is collected from users who choose to create accounts with Take-Two and its labels.
Moreover, the developers stated that they only take action against mods that provide players with an unfair advantage or negatively affect the gameplay of other players. Single-player mods are generally not subject to penalties:
‘Take-Two’s terms of service prohibit mods that allow users to gain an unfair advantage, negatively impact other users’ ability to enjoy the game as intended, or grant users access to content that the user is not entitled to. We do this to protect the integrity of the gaming experience for all users. Take-Two generally does not take action against mods that are meant solely for single-player mode, are non-commercial, and respect the intellectual property rights (IP) of their labels and third parties.’
With its quirky setting and overwhelming hype, the shooter ARC Raiders could become a real summer hit on Steam. However, players who believed in a surprise release were disappointed.
What game is it about? The extraction shooter ARC Raiders has all the ingredients for a big hit: The developers have already proven with The Finals that they can create fun shooters, and the limited playtest in May thrilled thousands of players.
According to SteamDB, more than 150,000 players are following the game’s hub on Steam, and even more likely have it on their wish list. Since the shooter already seemed quite finished, the rumor mill was buzzing at the Summer Game Fest 2025: Is a shadow drop on the way?
The hype was fueled by a post from Geoff Keighley on X, showing a chicken on stage at the Summer Game Fest. This was interpreted as a nod to Scrappy the Rooster, who brings you materials in the game. The community was therefore sure that something big must be coming at the event.
In fact, Embark had something to announce – but instead of a spontaneous release, there was “only” a trailer, and the information that the launch will take a few more months, namely until October 30, 2025.
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Das Multiplayer-Extraction-Adventure ARC Raiders im Trailer – erscheint noch 2025
Players convince themselves of a shadow drop, are disappointed
How is this being discussed now? Many players are disappointed that they cannot dive into the world of ARC Raiders this weekend. They really cannot understand the decision to hold the shooter back for so long:
FPS Frontline writes on X: “Feels like a missed opportunity. You should have gone on the offensive.”
HCTHEMC asks on X: “Devastating disappointment. Your other game, The Finals, is dead, what are you waiting for?”
Anil K also does not understand the decision: “LOL. Didn’t feel like they needed that much time?” (via X)
Some fans are now even worried about ARC Raiders. They fear that Embark has killed all the hype surrounding their shooter. One user writes on X: “You messed it up, folks. Killed the momentum of the potentially biggest game of the summer.”
The chosen release now brings ARC Raiders into a highly competitive release window, after Borderlands 4 and Marathon, and close to the expected Call of Duty for late autumn. One user even calls it an “impressively bad decision.” (via X)
However, the announcement probably hits no one harder than the guy on Reddit, who announced in advance that he would cut off a testicle if there was only a trailer at the Summer Game Fest.
Is the decision really that bad? Of course, one can only speculate about what exactly motivated the decision-makers to set the release date so far ahead. However, one must also concede that gamers do not always know what they really want.
While many are now saying that ARC Raiders is already more finished than some AAA games, it’s questionable how long this enthusiasm would have lasted had Embark really released the shooter unfinished.
After all, MMO players are notorious for sweeping through every new content within hours and then complaining about content emptiness until the next update – only to do it all over again.
So it may well be that the decision pays off in the long run when ARC Raiders launches finished and perhaps even has some future content up its sleeve. However, player reactions indicate that there may need to be improvement in communication with the community.
Players of the new survival MMO Dune: Awakening were surprised by a server down. A player is now complaining on Steam that he will lose a lot of loot because of it.
When did this server down occur? As PCGamesN reports, on this Saturday (June 7, 2025), the servers went offline at 10 AM CET for about two and a half hours. Although the servers are back online now, some players were caught off guard by the maintenance work.
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Das neue Survival-MMO Dune: Awakening im Launch-Trailer
Many were caught off guard by the server down
Some players report that they were completely surprised by this server down. One is really annoyed because he lost a lot of loot.
Wolvark writes in the discussion area on Steam: “WTF at least notify somehow. I was going back after dungeon run with full loot and I got disconnected on sand. Everything will be gone now omg.”
Others point out that the developers did give some advance warning:
Retro responds to Wolvark’s post: “There is a message in the login screen long before the server down.”
Kozferatu adds: “There was a notification flashing up on upper right hand side of screen every 10 min or so warning of the shutdown for almost 2 hours beforehand.”
Here, the experiences of the players diverge: some saw no warning at all, others had both the message and a countdown. Yet others had read the message at the beginning but did not notice the countdown in the game.
Many would like Funcom to communicate this more clearly in the future:
kritze writes: “guess 98% of the players here does not spend hours in the login screen and honestly, i play since 4 hours and NO notification.”
Angry Skeletor adds: “MMO type games had notification or messages letting players know that the server will going offline……25 years ago. It seems like an oversight on the devs part.”
For some players this is especially frustrating, as Funcom already took down the servers for two hours surprisingly. Players on Reddit also reported not being warned in-game about the upcoming server downtime — even though this had already worked during the beta.
It seems, then, that the developers still need to make some improvements in this area.
In the meantime, some players are dealing with the error code 3C4. This may mean that your server is currently offline or that you cannot connect to it.
To fix 3C4, you can try the following fixes (via Game8):
Update and restart the game launcher
Ensure that the game is updated to the latest version
Check internet connection
If none of this works, reinstall the game
First, check if the servers have been taken offline by the developers due to maintenance. This will save you a lot of stress during troubleshooting. Everything you need to know about the release of Dune: Awakening is summarized here: Dune: Awakening – All about the release on PS5, Xbox, and PC
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
During the Summer Game Fest 2025, Ian Proulx, the CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, was on stage at the live event. He had an important announcement to make.
His stage appearance was not just about the announcement. He started by expressing the profound thoughts of many shooter fans and ended with an announcement about Splitgate 2, which for many players means the exact opposite.
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Splitgate 2 shows the gameplay of the new classes in the video
“Make FPS great again”
What did the developer say: In the shooter community, there are some thoughts and wishes that have been bubbling up for years among various players, including the wish that Respawn and EA would finally announce Titanfall 3.
Ian Proulx addresses these thoughts in his speech and presents himself wearing a hat that says: “Make FPS great again.” He briefly shoots at Activision and Call of Duty.
Everything started so well, but the last sentence of the speech made the previous words completely superfluous and ineffective for many shooter fans. You’d better read for yourselves:
When we started with Splitgate in our dormitory, we just wanted to develop a game that we could play with our friends, and 20 million of you played with us. Now, with the help of our great community, we have developed Splitgate 2. Why? Because I grew up with Halo and I am tired of playing the same Call of Duty every year, and I wish we had Titanfall 3. With Splitgate 2, we asked ourselves how we could take portals to the next level. What if you could travel through portals to entirely different worlds? So we combined the action and movement of arena shooters with the scale and intensity of something much bigger. Splitgate Battle Royale launches now free-to-play.
So Splitgate 2 launched on the night of June 7 as a free-to-play title for Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and in the Epic Games Store – with a new battle royale mode in tow. The classic arena mode is also included and is expected to receive updates in the future.
This is how the community reacts: The announcement was not well received in the shooter community – especially after the big claims and the “Make FPS great again” hat. On Steam, the game received around 3,000 negative reviews. Players write there:
“The launch was the worst thing that has happened to the game so far. What were they thinking with this battle royale nonsense after preaching that they wanted to bring back arena shooters? That silly hat didn’t help either. The cash shop reeks of ‘Spectre: Divide’ level ridiculousness.”
“Bro wears a ‘Make FPS great again’ hat and makes the most expensive store I’ve ever seen, and releases an unfinished battle royale.”
“‘Make FPS great again’, and then they release a battle royale mode and call a mode ‘OG Splitgate’. Yeah, you can keep your Temu-Apex.”
“Unfortunately, 1047 decided to chase trends and develop another battle royale instead of doing something new. […] There’s nothing ‘OG’ about this, it’s the usual modern game-as-lazy-service nonsense.”
“Making a joke on stage about the state of the FPS genre and then immediately releasing another battle royale mode and adding a $70 cosmetic package to the game is one of the worst PR moves I can imagine for such a small studio.”
The criticism of the shop is based on the high prices for cosmetic content. Already, there is a package that costs around 70 euros. The package is currently discounted and usually costs around 115 euros. For that price, players get 4 weapon skins, one portal skin, and one character.
This is what MeinMMO’s shooter nerd Dariusz thinks: The criticism is not unexpected, as the idea of “combining the action and movement of arena shooters with the scale and intensity of something much bigger” is nothing new. It is exactly what Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends did 5-6 years ago. That Ian Proulx says on stage that he wants to play Titanfall 3 and then develops an “Apex Legends with portals” seems absurd. One knows that Apex Legends is, in a way, the successor to Titanfall 2 and takes place in the same universe, but as a battle royale, it is a completely different game than Titanfall and does not fulfill the fans’ wish.
Elden Ring:Nightreign is full of little secrets and hidden features. However, behind some are functions that can give you significant advantages.
What secrets are hidden in Nightreign? Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a bunch of details and hidden features on the large map of the Lands Between that can only be discovered through careful exploration, a lot of experimentation, or by chance.
That’s why we’ve put together 8 tips that you shouldn’t miss and that will give you significant advantages on your expedition through the Lands Between.
[toc]
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Elden Ring Nightreign hides good loot in the tutorial
Hidden map leads you to guaranteed talismans
If you’re exploring forts or large strongholds, you should visit the highest towers. Because there you will find a map that shows you the exact location of scarabs nearby. This is important, as when you defeat them, they will guarantee you talismans as loot.
They are important because they bring many passive upgrades that can significantly affect the gameplay. So, you should always take this opportunity. While you can also find scarabs in the “wild”, the map provides you with the exact locations easily.
Alternatively, here are potential locations of the scarabs:
If you’re currently exploring a fortress, you should definitely keep an eye out for a more hidden chest. Because in this one, you will often find the stone sword keys that you need for special challenges at the statuettes. Depending on the statue, you may need several.
The statues automatically spawn powerful bosses, from whom you can loot special items. The chests are usually found on the upper floors of the fortresses, but also in churches on the second floor or behind the altar. So, in many fortresses, you can hit two birds with one stone and collect the keys as well as the map for the scarabs.
Red hand on passive weapon abilities
Many might have noticed it, but there is no explanation for it in the game itself. On some weapons, you find a red symbol in the shape of a hand at the top right corner of the passive abilities.
This means that the ability associated with the symbol is only activated when you have the weapon equipped in your main or offhand. The effect also applies when you wield the weapon in both hands. This allows you to give your chosen “main weapon” a significant boost, depending on what passive ability it is.
It doesn’t really matter whether the weapon with the passive ability is particularly powerful, because you technically do not have to use it, just have it equipped.
In Nightreign, it’s part of the game to occasionally kick the bucket. However, if you die in close proximity to sites of grace, you can even resurrect yourself – without the help of your teammates.
While you don’t have unlimited time for this, if you act quickly enough and crawl into the radius of grace, you will be automatically resurrected. Unfortunately, this often cannot be precisely coordinated and timed, but being aware of it can provide a significant advantage.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Summer Game Fest 2025 was full of highlights for MeinMMO author Ody. However, the biggest one is the unexpected sequel to an anime Soulslike on Steam – and it looks really good too.
There were quite a few exciting announcements at this year’s Summer Game Fest: Some of them I had already expected, others not so much. But if someone had told me beforehand that a trailer for Code Vein 2 would be shown, I wouldn’t have believed that person – not because the game wouldn’t deserve a sequel.
Code Vein was released on September 27, 2019, on Steam and is rated “very positive” there: 84% of players give it a thumbs up. By the way, if you want to catch up on the game, you can currently get it on sale on Steam for only €7.49.
You can watch the trailer for Code Vein 2 here:
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Das Anime-Soulslike Code Vein 2 im Reveal-Trailer
Great story and characters, but the combat was lacking
A brief overview of the story of the first part: We awake as an immortal revenant with a thirst for blood in a post-apocalyptic world. A substance called Ichor gives us tremendous powers, which we use in the fight against the “Lost”.
Over time, we meet other revenants. Some of them help us in the fight against the Lost, while others are hostile to us.
Characters and story were the best parts of the game for me and also the reason why I spent around 80 hours in the game. The combat still had a lot of room for improvement. It often felt rather sluggish and boring, although the animations were not bad.
However, the trailer for Code Vein 2 gives hope that some of the greatest weaknesses of the predecessor have been addressed:
The combat looks significantly more spectacular, yet still tactical. The game still looks like a Soulslike and not like an action RPG.
While we were quite on foot in the first part, part 2 gives us a stylish motorcycle.
How well the combat feels in the finished game, I obviously can’t say yet: I haven’t been able to try it myself yet. I also don’t know if the characters and the story will captivate me as much as in the predecessor.
The first trailer already makes me optimistic. With all the new features, the unmistakable style of the predecessor still comes across very well and that’s exactly what I want as a fan: Code Vein better, more refined, and also a bit more impressive.
Without the experiences that Larian gained from another role-playing game, there probably would never have been Baldur’s Gate 3 in this form. You can now buy this game on Steam with a hefty discount.
Which game is being talked about? This refers to Divinity: Original Sin 2. The role-playing game was released on September 14, 2017, on Steam and can be played both solo and in co-op mode. Original Sin 2 was the last release from Larian Studios before they began work on Baldur’s Gate 3 (short BG3).
Currently, you can save a lot at Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Steam. The role-playing game costs only €13.49 instead of €44.99 until June 9, 2025.
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Divinity: Original Sin 2 Trailer
The game is by no means as well-known as BG3, but it laid a very important foundation for its success. Much of what fans love about the new Baldur’s Gate has its origins in this series – and was refined in part 2.
What is the game about? You play a group of so-called Source Mages. As such, you possess particularly powerful abilities. However, these will lead to your downfall: After the death of the Divine, the Void comes, and you are blamed for it.
As in BG3, you have the choice to play a pre-made character or create your own. This character can be quite wild: Do you want to play a flesh-eating elf or a skeleton resurrected from the dead? This decision affects how the world reacts to you – and how you interact with it.
Top-notch role-playing in the shadow of an even better one
Is the game still worth it today? Many players’ answer to this question is yes. The game has an overall “very positive” rating on Steam, and even the recent reviews are still “very positive” at 91%.
Steam user Lamiroir_ has put 390 hours into the game at the time of his review: “The story, the companions, the character-building, the world, the voice acting, the music – EVERYTHING is absolutely top-notch in my opinion.”
ghost writes after 135 hours in the game: “I started playing this game after I finished Baldur’s Gate 3, and I wonder why I missed it before.”
However, the comparison to BG3 can also become a downfall for the game:
Gravy gives a thumbs down after 24 hours and writes: “I’m roughly halfway through Act 2, and the nicest thing I can say about Divinity 2 is that Larian learned a lot about what to avoid when developing Baldur’s Gate 3.”
So you should be clear about what to expect here: a very good role-playing game that does not always reach the quality of BG3. For example, not all dialogues are voiced, so you will have to read complete conversations at times. In addition, you experience a standalone story that has nothing to do with the world of Baldur’s Gate or the characters within it.
The Summer Game Fest 2025 took place last night, bringing numerous important gaming announcements. However, the most viral moment on Twitch was an unintended highlight.
On June 6, 2025, the Summer Game Fest was one of the most important gaming events of the year. Up to 167,000 people tuned in live to the Twitch channel of the Game Awards, in addition to countless viewers on various streams reacting live to the show.
Such a reaction delivered the most viral moment of SGF 2025.
From the perspective of an MMO site, Chrono Odyssey was certainly one of the highlights of the Summer Game Fest 2025.
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Das MMORPG Chrono Odyssey zeigt sein Gameplay im Trailer
What was the biggest moment? One of the announcements at the Summer Game Fest 2025 was the survival game Scum, which finally revealed its official release after 7 years in Early Access. You can learn more about the game from our colleagues at GameStar.
The announcement was accompanied by a post on the official X account of Summer Game Fest. However, the linked account was not that of the game. Instead, the channel under the name “SCUM” shares very graphic, NSFW content.
Viewers alerted the streamer Stormfall33, who, like many others, was watching the event live with her fans. Her amused reaction has garnered nearly 90,000 views (as of June 7, 2025, 10:30 AM), making it not only the most viewed clip of the Summer Game Fest but also of the entire day on Twitch (via TwitchTracker). You can watch it here:
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The post has since been edited and now leads to the actual game, but the memes will likely accompany Scum for quite some time. Some phrases from the announcement, such as “Endure Hardship” or “No Hand-Holding, Just Pure Endurance,” read somewhat differently in light of the linked account.
Despite this rather unplanned highlight, the Summer Game Fest 2025 certainly had a lot to offer in terms of games. For those who didn’t spend the night with Geoff Keighley, we have a handy overview right here on MeinMMO: Summer Game Fest 2025: The most important info at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
How is it actually decided what loot the bosses drop in World of Warcraft? There are many rumors about this – but the truth is quite simple.
In the history of World of Warcraft, there have been many myths and a lot of “half-knowledge,” especially during the vanilla era of the game. One particularly popular myth dealt with how loot was created in the game. The rumors became so intense that Blizzard had to explain how and when loot is generated.
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WoW admits: When it comes to housing, it was inspired by WildStar
What was the myth? During the time of the first major raids – namely Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, and Ahn’Qiraj – there were many rumors about how exactly it is determined what kind of loot is dropped by bosses. Particularly common theories were:
The loot depends on the exact timing of the mob kill.
The loot depends on the person who delivers the killing blow.
The number of individual members of different classes decides which loot drops.
However, the most common theory back then was: The character who enters the dungeon or raid first and thus generates the “ID” of the instance also influences the loot. For example, if the protection warrior goes into the raid first, there’s a higher chance of getting the stylish mage sword. But if a hunter enters first, the priest’s mace is more likely to drop.
All these theories led the community to repeatedly ask: When is it actually really decided what loot a boss drops today?
If the warrior goes in first, then there’ll be priest loot, right? OR?!
No character can influence loot
How is loot generated? Blizzard explained almost 20 years ago how loot is actually generated and at which moment (via bluetracker.gg):
Loot is determined at the moment a creature spawns. The moment a creature appears in the world, dungeon, or raid, it has already been decided what loot will drop.
The random factor is based, as so often in the digital realm, on the time that is taken as the basis for a random number generator. This makes it nearly impossible to influence.
What about quest items? Some doubted this statement from Blizzard at the time. Because if loot is really determined at the moment of a creature’s spawn – then what happens when you accept a quest and need to obtain quest items from enemies? Because then you would have to defeat all enemies first so they respawn with their quest items.
Blizzard clarified here: No, mobs with quest items always have these with them. However, they are “hidden” if you haven’t accepted the corresponding quest.
Of course, there are now many more factors that influence loot generation. Systems like “Personal Loot” ensure that only loot can drop that will actually be used. However, old game content that relies on the “Legacy Loot” system should still function just as Blizzard explained back then.
In “Mythic+” dungeons, loot is created at the moment you defeat the last enemy of the dungeon and fulfill the requirements for the reward chest. Because with the spawn of the chest, the loot is generated. Therefore, you can sometimes unlock achievements (like reaching a new item level) before you have opened the chest. Because at the moment the chest appears, the loot already belongs to you and is already linked to your character.
In Nightreign, you should ideally have reached the maximum level before you face the Night Lord, the final boss of each expedition. Players have found a safe and easy way to achieve this, but fear it won’t last long.
What method have the players found? User Thellie10 shares on Reddit a discovery made by him and his fellow players. They have found a simple way to safely reach maximum level before facing the Night Lord.
The Night Lord is the major final boss at the end of each expedition and represents the third night. Once you defeat the boss of the second night, a swirling, slimy portal appears before you, allowing you to travel to the realm of the Night Lord. You can no longer go back and find yourself in a chamber where you will find a Site of Grace for leveling, a merchant, and an anvil.
You can’t prepare any further and must face the challenge with what you have at that point. However, players now suggest leaving the portal at the end of day 2 alone and instead farming the map until you reach level 15. Because after defeating boss 2, you can farm endless enemies there.
Although you will eventually die due to the approaching storm, there is no real penalty for it, and you can simply collect your runes again. The community, however, fears that this method will not work indefinitely.
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Spieler beendet Solo-Run in Elden Ring Nightreign auf Level 1
“Please don’t make this a thing”
Why does the community fear this? In the comments on Reddit, there are several users who fear through the post that the devs will notice this and remove this possibility in future patches. Because this method may not be desired by them, as it offers an easy way to safely reach level 15.
This could diminish the time pressure that the game aims to create with the approaching storm, which is somehow part of the gameplay. However, particularly solo players like to use this trick to potentially make the fight against the Night Lord a bit easier. Others do not want this tactic to catch on in multiplayer because they find it simply too boring:
MaximeW1987 comments under the post: “Please don’t do that. After the day II boss, I really don’t want to spend another 10 minutes running around the map and struggling with the storm just to farm a few runes.”
Face_Nutrients comments: “Do you realize that by posting this, you’ve ensured that it will be patched? This was actually a very useful exploit for solo. Thanks.”
MozM- adds: “Fortunately, leveling up beyond level 12 is not a real game changer as it can be achieved quite easily without any kind of exploit.”
shauny32 states: “Using exploits to win is bullshit – deal with it. Also, it’s not really an exploit. It’s all part of the game mechanics. If you want to do this brain-dead grind – go ahead. If it gets patched – it wasn’t intended, even if it falls within the rules of game mechanics.”
Whether this is actually an unintended mechanic that could soon fall victim to patches remains to be seen. Anyone who wants to use this method should perhaps hurry, given this possibility.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been officially released, and MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has already had the chance to try out the Switch 2. A few things have caught his attention. While the build quality and display in particular are impressive, there is still a question mark regarding the ergonomics.
The Switch 2 officially released on June 5, 2025, and I was lucky enough to be able to hold my console, which I ordered directly from Nintendo, early. My wife and I have already been able to play quite extensively on the new console, and we played a few rounds against each other in Mario Kart World.
In this article, you will read what first impressions I have of the console. There is a lot of good to report, but there are also criticisms of the new Switch 2. You will also soon be able to read a proper and comprehensive test of the Switch 2 on MeinMMO.
Heavier and larger than the original Switch
Nintendo Switch 2 (top) vs Switch 1 (bottom) size comparison
The obvious first. Already in the pictures, it was clear that the Switch 2 would be larger than the original Switch and the later OLED model. The Switch 1 weighs about 400 grams, while the Switch 2 is exactly 100 grams heavier. The Steam Deck weighs a substantial 650 grams more. Read more about the comparison of Switch 2 and Switch 1 in the following article on MeinMMO.
I find the slightly higher weight well resolved since it can be held comfortably with the Joy-Cons. However, my partner finds the Switch 2 almost too heavy. But she prefers to play on the TV via the docking station anyway.
Large, bright display
The Switch 2 features a large, bright display, but relies on LCD rather than OLED. In my opinion, it is one of the best improvements, especially when playing in handheld mode. So far, I have played on the Switch OLED, which has a larger display than the original Switch (6.2 inches vs. 7 inches), but still only offers a resolution of 720p.
The new Full HD display suits the Switch 2 very well and even makes my Steam Deck jealous. For me, it is already a great improvement in everyday use. In my view, the installed LCD still shows vibrant colors and is extremely stable in terms of viewing angles. I notice this when I sit next to my wife and watch her play. In particular, the increased resolution and the higher frame rate of 120 Hz provide a noticeably sharper and smoother presentation compared to the previous model, even compared to the OLED device.
However, compared to the OLED model, the display is still a slight setback, among other things, the YouTube channel GamingTech reports that the display offers a peak brightness of only 422 nits, while black is represented with 0.5 nits. This results in a contrast ratio of 844:1.
The Switch 2 gets noticeably warm in everyday use but is not loud
When the Switch 2 gets to work, it feels noticeably warm. I especially notice this in comparison to the old Switch, which mostly remained cool and only became audible with a few games (for example, with Pokémon Scarlet & Violet). However, the Switch 2 does not get as hot as the Steam Deck under load.
Despite the heat development, the Switch 2 remains inaudible. If you hold your ear directly to the console, you can hear a very faint whirring of the fan. In everyday life, however, you typically hardly notice it.
The magnetic connection of the Joy-Cons has become really good
Nintendo Switch 2 with magnetic connection and a new Joy-Con 2
With the Switch 2, Nintendo uses a new solution for connecting the Joy-Cons to the Switch. Instead of sliding them in as with the original, magnets are now used. And that feels much better.
The Joy-Cons slide smoothly into the Switch 2’s connector and make a satisfyingly click sound when they snap into place in the console. Once attached, the Joy-Cons hold securely and can only be removed with a button.
With the old Switch OLED, I always had the problem that sooner or later one of my Joy-Cons came loose in handheld mode.
A friend of mine joked that it could only be a matter of time before one of the magnets breaks or shows signs of wear if you constantly remove the Joy-Cons. But that remains to be seen in the future.
Improved interface and finally a smooth eShop
The improved eShop is (almost) a revelation: It finally runs smoothly and allows me to navigate through the store quickly. The old eShop drove me crazy every time. Sometimes the menu would jump back, or I wanted to go to my shopping cart and ended up back on the direct shop page. Exactly this has been tackled by Nintendo, fixing one of my biggest criticisms.
The interface (UI) of the Switch 2 is more or less identical to the old Switch, but the large, bright display makes everything feel smoother and more enjoyable. It may not necessarily be due to the UI, but it is still a positive change.
Behind ergonomics stands a question mark
Old Joy-Con (left) and new Joy-Con 2 (right) side by side.
The ergonomics is a topic where my partner and I do not agree.
My personal standpoint: I like that the Switch 2 is larger. The new Joy-Cons fit well in my large hands (7.5 inches) and the higher weight of the Switch 2 confirms my feeling that the ergonomics feel better. The old Joy-Cons always pressed uncomfortably into my palm, which is no longer the case with the new Joy-Cons of the Switch 2.
However, my partner tends to find the Switch 2 already too heavy and too large. She does praise the significantly larger display, but also mentioned that the new Joy-Cons are almost too big for her. She has significantly smaller hands (6.7 inches) compared to me. Children and teenagers may have even smaller hands and may also encounter problems in handheld mode.
Nintendo Switch 2 in the docking station
The surface of the Switch 2 and display are very fingerprint-prone
The new design of the Switch 2 is quite stylish. However, you can see every fingerprint immediately on the chassis of the Switch 2, the Joy-Cons, and the display. I never noticed this as strongly on my old Switch OLED, and even on the Steam Deck, I do not see every finger, despite the touch display.
If you primarily use the Switch 2 in the docking station, then fingerprints should only be a limited problem. However, it annoys me quite a bit in everyday life.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially released on June 5, 2025. To ensure a smooth start with the console, guides are particularly useful. If you need tips and tricks for Nintendo’s new hybrid console, you can find here a collection of all important guides for the Nintendo Switch 2 on MeinMMO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the Summer Game Fest, Dreamhaven released a trailer for Wildgate. The first-person space shooter will soon launch its first beta and is set to release in July 2025.
What kind of game is this? Wildgate is a first-person space shooter, similar to Overwatch or the recently failed Concord, which focused on similar themes and gameplay. Before the actual first-person part begins, players must dismantle the opponents with their own spacecraft. Once accomplished, the real PvP begins, where you and your team must eliminate an opposing team.
The game is developed by Moonshot Games, celebrating their debut as a game developer. It is published by Dreamhaven, a publisher founded in 2020 by Mike Morhaime, one of the original co-founders of Blizzard.
Wildgate is set to release on July 22, 2025. Before that, there will be an Open Beta on Steam.
You can get a first impression of the game with the trailer from the Summer Game Fest:
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Wildgate zeigt Gameplay im Trailer, sieht aus wie eine Mischung aus Concord und Overwatch
Treasure Hunt in Team-based Space Racing
What will the gameplay of Wildgate be like? The first-person space shooter is based on several teams in Crews of four competing against each other. The goal is to find an artifact in the dangerous zone Typhon Reach and escape through the Wildgate – or eliminate all opponents.
You can choose from currently five different Prospectors, each with their own abilities:
Venture: Regenerates health outside the spacecraft
Sammo: Defender with healing abilities
Sal: Engineer with repair and recycling abilities
Ion: Close combat specialist with high damage
Mops: Fast stealth expert
There are a total of four different ship types for the All-Odyssey:
Hunter: Light and agile
Bastion: Heavily armored with high security
Privateer: Firepower
Scout: Fast and maneuverable
Players can compete in various modes, including standard PvP matches with 5 crews. Additionally, there are matches against NPCs, a shooting range for practice, and a tutorial.
How can you participate in the beta? The Open Beta is already available via Steam. Currently, a demo can be installed through it. The actual beta is set to start on the 9th and will be live until June 16, 2025. No further steps are required besides the download via Steam.
During the Summer Game Fest 2025, Square Enix presented their new game Killer Inn. The game primarily focuses on fun in multiplayer, mixing elements from Among Us, Werewolf, and a detective game.
What kind of game is this? At the Summer Game Fest 2025, Square Enix showcased Killer Inn for the first time. At first glance, the game looks like Among Us, with a different perspective and prettier graphics, but deeper mechanics lurk within the game compared to the well-known indie title.
As seen in the trailer, the victims of the killer can defend themselves, and the game almost resembles a third-person shooter.
You can see the first trailer for the game here:
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Trailer zum Action-Game KILLER INN, in dem ihr in einem Mörder-Mystery-Spiel landet
You can aggressively confront the perpetrator, but be careful
How is Killer Inn supposed to work? A round of Killer Inn starts with 24 players. The players are divided into “wolves” and sheep. The wolves must eliminate the sheep, and the sheep must find out who the wolves are. Unlike Among Us, there is no voting to eliminate the killer; you must kill him.
The combat in the game is crucial. In a third-person view, you can defend yourself with various weapons and items or use them in combat. Stealth options and traps are also visible. The 20 playable characters have different abilities.
You should be careful, though. If you accidentally kill a hunted person while being hunted yourself, you will die as well. You should know how to lie well or be able to see through your fellow players. Each corpse brings various clues that can reveal the hunter – such as hair color or footprints.
Apart from direct combat, you can interact with other players in safe zones at NPCs, share weapons, or steal equipment. No one can be killed in the safe zones. These NPCs can also provide you with important clues about the killers.
It should also be possible to win without killing, by escaping the location as the hunted. However, you must complete difficult puzzles and challenges. Of course, there is always the risk that you might meet your end.
In the game itself, you can level up through quests and earn currency. You can find loot in boxes and the environment that is meant to support you in the murder mystery. Additionally, there are merchants in the area where you can purchase weapons.
