As in any game, many fans of Elden Ring: Nightreign wonder if modding is possible in their game. We provide you with an answer, show you useful mods, and explain the consequences of your actions.
Can mods be installed? Yes, there are mods for Elden Ring: Nightreign that can be installed. If you look at Nexus Mods, you will currently find (as of June 3, 2025, 3:36 PM) a total of 46 mods, each with different functions.
Since each mod works differently and therefore has different installation instructions, we cannot provide you with a guide on how to install these mods. However, you need not worry, as the installation instructions are often written out on Nexus Mods. You will often find these explanations under the “About this Mod” section.
What consequences should I expect? In fact, there are consequences if you install mods and then want to connect to the official servers of FromSoftware.
As in Elden Ring, such mods and cheats can lead to temporary or even permanent bans from the servers. It is important, if you want to use the mods, to disconnect your connection to the FromSoftware servers and disable the anti-cheat.
Which mods are useful? Among the 46 mods, there are many small things to improve the game, but X of them stand out particularly:
However, you can also do without mods and instead find out which class is the best. Our Souls expert Christos has looked at all 8 characters and ranked them in a tier list. You can find more about it here: Elden Ring Nightreign: Tier List of the Best Classes
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On the Nintendo Switch 2, you can also play old games from the original Switch. MeinMMO explains what you need to know if you want to play old titles, what happens to save games, and if you need specific hardware.
MeinMMO explains which games are actually functional on the Switch 2 and what else you need to consider if you want to play old games on the new Switch.
Nintendo showcases the Switch 2 for the first time in a trailer
Nintendo Switch 2: Backward compatibility for old games
Digital or physical: The Switch 2 supports both physical cartridges and digital games from the original Nintendo Switch.
Which games are backward compatible? Most “Switch 1” games, currently over 15,000 titles, including all major releases, run flawlessly on the Switch 2.
Which products do not run on the Switch 2? Currently, according to Nintendo, 6 products from the Switch are NOT backward compatible (Publisher in parentheses):
Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit (Nintendo)
Niconico (Dwango)
ABEMA (Abema TV)
Hulu (Hulu)
Crunchyroll (Crunchyroll)
InkyPen (InkyPen)
Which games have issues? Currently, about 100 games have compatibility problems. Nintendo has released a list of faulty games. Some games are expected to be fixed by the launch of the Switch 2, while for others, it is unclear whether a bug fix will ever come. However, it is important to note that the games on your old Switch will continue to be fully functional.
Do games with their own hardware work? Yes, Nintendo has already confirmed that many old games that rely on specialized hardware or accessories will continue to function on the Switch 2 (via nintendo.com).
Will my online subscription continue? If you have subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online on the Switch 1, you can also use the subscription on the Switch 2 at no extra charge. Some new features of Nintendo Switch Online can even only be used exclusively on the Switch 2. You can only use the online feature of GameShare with a subscription.
In Pokémon GO, a new season is starting. We take a look at some of the highlights. Which Pokémon should you catch?
A new season “Delightful Days” has begun in Pokémon GO.
It started on June 3rd at 10:00 AM and will run for nearly three months. Plenty of time to catch many Pokémon. But which ones are particularly worth it?
From the announcement of the season, we can already pick out some highlights. Therefore, we will take a closer look at a few Pokémon: Which ones should you pay special attention to?
Zacian and Zamazenta – Crown Forms
Start video
Pokémon GO starts new season Pleasant Days – Trailer for the season
Zacian and Zamazenta have been around in Pokémon GO for a while, but the crown forms are appearing in the game for the first time this year. According to current information, they will be among the best Pokémon in the PvP Master League.
Both will appear at the GO Fest in their special crown forms, in raids. From these raids, you can obtain the necessary energy to change the forms of the monsters.
Voldi and Bellektro
The little electric dog comes from the Pokémon games Sword and Shield. Unsurprisingly, it also belongs to the Electric type.
While Voldi primarily impresses with its cuteness, its evolution Bellektro is known for its speed: According to the Pokédex, it can enhance its legs through electricity, allowing it to run fast and long distances.
With both, you probably shouldn’t expect top attackers. But collectors can look forward to something new here.
Voldi, Bellektro, and Nigiragi (Image source: pokemongo.com)
Nigiragi
With Nigiragi, you probably shouldn’t hope for great attacking abilities, but this Dragon-Water Pokémon is also something for collectors.
Nigiragi has three different forms: the hanging, the curved, and the stretched form. Here too, you can do some serious collecting.
Hisui-Dressella
Dressella in the new trailer
Dressella, as an evolution of Lilminip, is already in the game, but the Hisui form is still missing. Hisui-Dressella brings the type combination of Grass and Fighting.
Looking at the previous Hisui forms, it is likely that we will not evolve Hisui-Dressella but will have to catch it in raids.
Miniras
Miniras is a dragon that evolves first into Mediras, then into Grandiras. Grandiras is a Dragon-Fighting Pokémon that belongs to the “pseudo-legendary” Pokémon: monsters whose stats are so strong that they should actually be legendary.
Other monsters from this line include Dragoran, Trikephalo, Knakrack, and similar ones. These monsters in Pokémon GO are also known for being very rare for a long time – just like Miniras.
However, this is changing now as it will have its own Community Day on June 21st in Pokémon GO. So you can catch it in large numbers – and also secure the Shiny!
Gierspenst
The little coin Pokémon unexpectedly appeared in Pokémon GO some time ago, with a special debut and especially a special way of catching. It is not easy to obtain, and its evolution Monetigo is even more complicated.
To what extent it will be highlighted in this season is still unclear, but it is noticeable that it is visible in the trailer. Additionally, its golden PokéStops appear in the season graphics.
Some players suspect that it will play a role as Pokémon #999 during this year’s Pokémon GO anniversary. That would make sense, as we are celebrating the ninth birthday of the game.
Lunala
Lunala in the new trailer
It is also unclear how Lunala will be involved in this season, but it appears at the end of the trailer. This Pokémon could only be obtained very limitedly before, by evolving a Cosmog into Lunala – and that was also only rarely possible.
The trailer now hints that we will get a new chance to obtain Lunala. This time, maybe in raids?
Articuno with Special Background
Many of you may already have this Pokémon. But if not, you can now get it quite easily: The free GO Pass in June rewards you with an Articuno at level 100. It even comes with a special background if you need a special collecting incentive.
Articuno is a legendary Ice-type Pokémon from the first generation that has many fans. If you still don’t have it, make sure to complete the GO Pass during the month.
More interesting Pokémon: In addition to those mentioned so far, there are a few more highlights that we will quickly list here.
After Gigantamax Gortrom, Liberlo and Inteleon also enter the game in their Giga forms. You can catch them if you have enough players – since defeating Gigantamax monsters is pretty difficult. At least you can now do it from a distance.
Speaking of Gigantamax: according to the trailer, we can expect a Gigantamax return of Lapras.
Mehikel appears worldwide at the GO Fest if you have a ticket. It has only been available at Safari events until now.
Clavion also appears for ticket holders at the GO Fest. It has only been available in France until now.
And finally, you can also catch Volcanion at the GO Fest – with a ticket.
Some Pokémon have thus been announced, but we firmly expect that further interesting Pokémon and debuts will appear in the game during the season. As always, we will keep you updated! And if you want to know what’s coming up next: Here are all events in Pokémon GO in June 2025.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Elden Ring: Nightreign there are up to 8 classes with which you can plunge into the fray, but not all are meant for every play style. We show you the best classes in our tier list and explain what strengths and weaknesses you can expect.
How did the ranking come about? The ranking was compiled by our Souls expert Christos. To reach an informed judgment, he compared things like versatility, the effort to master the class, and the advantages and disadvantages of each class.
Additionally, he unlocked each class and tested them in co-op as well as solo to see how well they actually perform. Feel free to leave your opinion about the respective classes and discuss it with other players in the comments. But now let’s get to the ranking.
Start video
The launch trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign shows atmospheric scenes and boss fights
Rank S – The best classes for all occasions
Wylder
Wylder
Why is the Wylder so good? The Wylder is the all-round class and one of the most beginner-friendly classes available in Nightreign. His claw shot makes him very mobile, as he can use it for movement as well as in combat to pull enemies towards him or temporarily latch onto them to close distances.
As far as damage is concerned, he can deal considerable damage. When the Wylder uses his ultimate ability, the Charge Strike, an iron spike is rammed into your enemies with a large explosion – in the best case, they will be knocked back to make room for a critical hit.
Last but not least, the passive ability “Sixth Sense” comes into play, allowing you to survive a fatal hit. This is very practical for both veterans and beginners, as it allows you to enter combat more relaxed and tolerate the occasional mistake.
Pro
Sixth Sense forgives mistakes
Ulti is strong to unbalance enemies
Focus on strength weapons to deal a lot of stance damage
Very mobile thanks to claw shot
High stamina allows for many attacks
Contra
Focus on melee combat
Low FP, thus poorly usable for talents and magic
Rogue
Rogue
Why is the Rogue so good? The Rogue is simply a walking bulldozer that crushes every enemy into the ground. You have a lot of health, great balance, and the power to wield devastating weapons effectively. But let’s move on to his skills, which emphasize his power even more.
First comes his character talent, the Revenge. This skill allows you to give your enemies a headbutt that deals little damage but can impair enemies in their stance. In the best case, you can even land a critical hit after a Revenge. With his passive skill, you will additionally not be knocked out of your Revenge even if one of the Night Lords hits you with full force.
Regarding his ultimate ability, you summon a giant gravestone out of nowhere. This deals significant area damage, increases balance for you and your allies, and also creates a platform to temporarily escape the fight. Overall, the Rogue is an aggressive tank that can take a lot of punishment but can also deal it out. You can even run into a horde of enemies and hardly need to fear dying.
Pro
Can take a lot of hits
High damage
Can break the stance of enemies and bosses with ease
Ulti can be used defensively as well as offensively
Excels with weapons that require high strength
Contra
Often plays like a sluggish tank
Ranged combat, magic, and talents suffer from low FP
Shines mainly with aggressive players
Rank A – Solid classes that are difficult to master
Iron Eye
Iron Eye
What makes Iron Eye good? The Iron Eye is a solid class and the best choice if you want to play a ranged character. Equipped with his bow, he attacks his enemies but is not averse to stepping into melee to eliminate his opponents. Through his passive ability, Iron Eye also discovers more loot than others, which benefits his teammates.
Due to his background as an assassin, Iron Eye possesses the talent “Marking”. With this ability, enemies are marked with a dagger. This marking creates a weakness that can then be destroyed to stagger enemies.
In the ultimate ability, you shoot a supersonic arrow through everything that lies on the trajectory of your projectile. This can be useful for breaking weak points, eliminating groups of enemies, or bringing back distant and concealed allies to life. The Iron Eye is thus a very effective class, especially for those who prefer a tactical approach.
Pro
Finds more loot for himself and his allies
Safe combat from a distance
Can stagger enemies
Wounded allies can be easily revived with a well-placed ulti
Contra
Has low health points
Problems with stamina
Does not have much balance
Passive playstyle may be boring for some
Executor
Executor
What makes Executor good? The Executor is one of the best classes in the game when it comes to fighting enemies, but only if you can master him.
One of the most important talents is the cursed sword of the Executor. Players can draw the sword and parry almost any attack at the right moment – even those from bosses and spells. If you parry consecutively, the blade glows, and you can unleash a strong counterattack that can kill or knock back enemies. Unfortunately, drawing the sword slows your movement.
With the ulti, you transform into a beast of the crucible and can crush enemies, deal heavy damage to bosses, or bring back allies. The form is somewhat clunky, but with some practice, you will also learn to be quick on your feet with it.
The Executor naturally has a high arcane scaling, which benefits players who rely on status effects. Bleeding, poison, rot, and frost can thus be activated much faster.
Pro
Strong in one-on-one combat
Can parry almost any attack
Beast form makes you a powerful tank to save allies
High chance to trigger status effects on enemies
Contra
Cursed sword slows you down
Beast form is clunky
Class is only powerful when you learn to parry, which is difficult
Guardian
Guardian
What makes the Guardian so good? The Guardian is the second tank on the list, but this one focuses on a more defensive playstyle. The Guardian has a lot of stamina and the highest number of health points of all classes – he is designed to take damage.
As an eagle, this class naturally possesses wings that he can use in combat. With the skill “Tornado,” a whirlwind is summoned that pulls enemies to the center and deflects projectiles. The ulti, on the other hand, is a strong option to achieve two things:
Rush into an area of enemies and take control of the area
Revive allies
The second point is very practical, as no matter how many health bars your colleagues possess, if they are on the ground, they can both be revived with an ulti if they are within the impact radius. This can decide victory or defeat in critical situations or during the final boss fight.
Pro
Has the most health points and forgives many mistakes
Effective tank/supporter
Can dominate the battlefield with his skills
Perfect for drawing aggro from bosses
Also aggressive playstyle possible
Contra
Has no dodge roll
Often plays like a sluggish tank
Poor magician and little FP for effectively using talents
Rank B – Good classes, but not for all occasions
Countess
Countess
What makes the Countess solid? With the Countess, you have a solid choice as a fighter/support. In combat, she deals less damage compared to the listed tanks, but her skill “Reenactment” repeats the last executed attacks, effectively doubling the damage.
As a supporter, she can make herself and allies invisible for a certain time thanks to her ulti. This can be especially useful when you want to escape critical situations or revive allies.
What makes the Countess even more interesting is her passive ability “Balance”. With this, you can dodge twice in a row and in general reduce your stamina consumption during these actions and while attacking. The Countess has much more FP compared to the other classes, so a hybrid build of magic and melee is worthwhile here.
However, one of the most significant downsides is her available HP and the lack of talent to withstand hits, as she cannot do that. In capable hands, the Countess can deal well in a group, but solo, it is difficult to survive with her.
Pro
Versatile playstyle possible
Can act as a supporter
Doubling damage thanks to skill
Very agile and mobile
Contra
Few health points
Strengths are mainly evident in a group
Little damage without “Reenactment”
Poor at breaking stances
Low balance
Rank C – Strong classes but too niche
Hermit
Hermit
Why is the Hermit niche? The Hermit is the sorceress par excellence, and she demonstrates this with her skills on the battlefield. She marks her enemies with her ulti “Soul Blood Song” and ensures they take more damage – additionally, the LP and FP of the sorceress are restored.
In Limveldt you will also find various wands that can perform different types of magic. Depending on the element, you can absorb this with the talent of the Hermit and then create your own magic that can debuff enemies or bombard a large area. This can be powerful, but only if you are in a group and have the time to execute the action – solo, it’s almost impossible.
Lastly, she can restore FP for herself and allies through her affinity traces. All in all, the Hermit is solid, but only if she is in a group. Alone, she often has no chance, as she has far too little health, relies on FP, and almost gives way in melee.
Pro
Strong damage
Focus on safe ranged combat
Constantly has the opportunity to regenerate LP and FP
Possesses a variety of options for casting elements through sorcery
Contra
Few health points
Without FP, you’re in trouble
Unsuitable in close combat
Ghost
Ghost
Why is the Ghost niche? The Ghost is the summoner in the group and can summon useful spirits in battle with her skills that are versatile. To do this, she uses her lyre and can choose between a Pagan, a large colossus, and a gigantic skeleton. Each of the spirits has different fighting styles and robustness.
What makes this class invaluable in the group is her ulti “Immortal March”. With this skill, you and your group become temporarily immortal. Used correctly, this skill can decide life or death.
The Ghost can be effective in both melee and ranged combat, but her low health points force her to avoid direct confrontation with an enemy and prefer to act in the background as a supporter.
Pro
High FP for miracles and sorcery
Can make the group and herself immortal
Can summon spirits
Contra
Has low health points
Defense is very weak
Spirits do not withstand much damage
These were all classes from Elden Ring: Nightreign in our tier list. Do you agree with our ranking, or do you think a class has been treated unfairly? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments and tell us your favorite class: Elden Ring: Nightreign – Change skins and unlock the dressing room
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player achieved what would be a tough challenge even for many trio groups in Elden Ring: Nightreign: He completed a run without leveling up.
What did the player accomplish? The content creator and self-proclaimed “Souls Simp” Youwy demonstrated in a YouTube video how he completed a “Darkdrift Knight” run in Nightreign alone as Executor, without using any runes to level up. Even when he faced Fulghor, he was still at level 1 – and he managed to do it anyway.
He owed this to a good sense of timing and enemy abilities, as well as clever preparation of items and skills, which he started before the actual run in the “Round Table Hold”.
Here you can see the launch trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign:
Start video
The launch trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign shows atmospheric scenes and boss fights
The power of good preparation and the right items
How did he succeed in the run? Youwy shows in his 47-minute video how he made it through the two day-night cycles and the boss fight, even though he was at the lowest character level. Here it must be emphasized that Youwy simply proves to be a good player. But that’s not all.
He used the relics “Night of Miasma” (from “Fissure in the Fog”) and “Night of the Wise” (from “Sentient Pest”), along with another relic, which caused his weapons to trigger additional effects such as poison, bleed, and frost damage. Additionally, they gave him more HP, FP, and stamina.
In the game, he relied more on the high Arcane stat and the Executor’s katana instead of his ultimate beast form.
What does the YouTuber say about his success? Even though the YouTuber can prove his success with the video, he is aware that he died several times. He would have preferred a “cleaner” run:
“The first day was a bit rocky, I died about a thousand times. It was not a death-free run. Maybe I will do a ‘death-free level one run’ next time.”
If you want to attempt a solo run yourself, you can find out in our YouTube video how to play solo best.
How does the community react to the run? In the comments under the YouTube video, other players celebrate the streamer’s success and are already looking forward to more:
“It’s just a matter of time until we get the ‘Starter Level One No Upgrade With Connected Eyes Three Players But Only One Plays Dancepad Controlled One-Legged Goldfish On A Unicycle In A Sensory Deprivation Chamber Untouched Consumables Only Run,'” writes Wombattus.
“Sometimes I can’t survive the first night, and Bro is out here doing it alone at level 1… WP,” congratulates syfayre3957.
“Now we need Duchess at level 1 only with her starting weapon,” writes joaquincaceresguibovich3182.
In Nightreign there are penalties for players who leave matches early. We explain what that means and what you need to prepare for.
What happens if I leave a match in Nightreign? If you want to leave an ongoing expedition early, you will receive a warning from the game that you will be subject to a penalty (a so-called Leave Penalty), with the question of whether you really want to do that. If you do this for the first time, you will only receive this warning.
However, if you repeatedly leave matches with other players, you will receive a ban of 10 to 15 minutes. The more often you quit, the longer and harsher the imposed penalties will be.
Start video
Is Elden Ring: Nightreign worth it for Souls fans?
What you should know about the Leave Penalty
Does this also apply to unintentional disconnects? Yes and no, if you leave an expedition early due to crashes or internet problems, nothing will happen as long as it doesn’t happen frequently in a short time. Because then the system can no longer distinguish whether it is intentional or not, and you must expect a penalty.
However, in many cases, you can rejoin your old lobby after some crashes, thus avoiding the penalty in this case – not always, but often. This depends on the time you let pass. If your team is still in the same round, you have the chance to rejoin.
Can I still play with a penalty? If you are subject to a Leave Penalty, you can still play solo and offline. However, online matches are blocked for the duration of the penalty.
Do I also have to expect penalties if I am not the first to leave? Currently yes. The penalty does not depend on whether you are the first, second, or even the last player to leave the match early. Whether this aspect will be adjusted in the future so that the last player can leave the match without penalty is currently unknown.
Does the game become easier if a player leaves the match? Not currently. So you have to deal with the increased difficulty that arises from having one less player.
And what happens if you purchase a paid upgrade for a game to the Switch 2 version: Can you still use the game on the old Switch?
Start video
Nintendo showcases the Switch 2 for the first time in a trailer
You cannot play Switch 2 games on the original Switch
Can you play Switch 2 games on the Switch 1? No, that is technically not possible. On the one hand, the hardware of the Switch 1 is too weak and cannot handle the new games anymore. On the other hand, the hardware of the two generations is not compatible with each other (via nintendo.com). This also causes some issues with the backward compatibility of the Switch 2.
Can you use GameShare as a “trick”? No, because Nintendo has already made it clear: Sharing exclusive titles from the Switch 2 on the weaker original console is not possible. You can only share “Switch 2” games with Switch 2 consoles.
Can you still play games on the Switch 1 after the upgrade? If you purchased the upgrade for, for example, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you can still play the title on the old Switch. However, you will have to forfeit the new features of the Switch 2.
Elden Ring: Nightreign has not been out long, but promises fans upcoming content and features, giving players a reason to be excited for the future. One of these features is something fans have been demanding since the release.
What have fans demanded? Elden Ring: Nightreign launched with two modes – the Trio and Solo mode. However, those who want to team up as a duo must either add a random player or be out of luck.
Although implementing such an additional mode seems sensible, it was not planned for the release. Many fans find this puzzling, as not everyone has two friends to play with, and those who want to play solo will have a hard time.
But fans no longer need to hope for a duo mode, as it is already in development, as a new post from FromSoftware has stated.
Start video
The launch trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign shows atmospheric scenes and boss fights
A look at future content for Nightreign
What has FromSoftware announced? In a post on X, the developers from FromSoftware thanked fans for their interest once again. They managed to sell 3.5 million copies and are pleased with the game’s success. Additionally, they also provided a glimpse of future content for Elden Ring: Nightreign. The following could be gathered:
Clarification that a DLC is expected to be released this year
A two-player mode is also expected to be implemented
Release date unclear
Improved versions of the existing Night Lords are to be introduced
The meaning of this remains unclear. Adjustments may be possible as they are too difficult.
Why was there no duo mode at release? In an interview with IGN, Game Director Junya Ishizaki stated that they did not consider the duo mode for release. The reason for this was the enemies and parameters that need to be adjusted.
The hell unleashes its demons and only a pact with the devil can save humanity. This is the world of Hellslave: A dark role-playing game on Steam, which you can now get for free and keep forever.
What kind of game is this? Hellslave is an RPG dungeon crawler from developer Ars Goetia. The game was released on May 26, 2022, on Steam and has received “very positive” reviews. Just recently, the developers announced a sequel.
Currently, you can get Hellslave on Steam for free. If you add the game to your library by June 16 at 10 AM, you save nearly 20 euros.
The indie studio derives its name from the similarly named part of a grimoire from the 17th century. The Ars Goetia describes the 72 demons that King Solomon supposedly summoned, bound, and made work for him. So it’s no surprise that Hellslave revolves around demons and evil powers.
Here you can see a trailer for Hellslave:
Start video
Hellslave: Launch trailer for the dark RPG on Steam
Only a demon can stop the invasion from hell
What is the game about? Demons from hell invade the world and devastate everything in their path. To save humanity, you must fight fire with fire: You forge a pact with the devil and worship one of six powerful demons to gain special powers.
If you worship Lucifer, your strength lies in physical combat. In addition, the lightbringer grants you the power of light.
Leviathan allows you to play as a powerful sorcerer who draws on cosmic energies.
Baal allows you to be particularly stealthy and poison your enemies.
In addition to the powers granted by your demon, you customize your character with active and passive abilities. These allow for powerful synergies that help you defeat enemies like zombies, ghosts, and demons.
YouTuber and professional game master Ginny Di convinces her grandma to Dungeons & Dragons. And she proves to be a top-notch role-player, from whom one could learn a thing or two.
Who is Ginny Di? Ginny Di is a well-known content creator from Denver (USA), who has made a name for herself primarily through her work around Dungeons & Dragons, cosplay, and music. On YouTube, she offers tips on role-playing, character development, and shares creative content like music videos and comedy sketches.
In addition, she also works as a professional game master for pen-and-paper sessions. She is particularly known for her elaborate costumes – from well-known franchises to original characters, and she collaborates with major brands like Critical Role or Steamforged Games.
To introduce her work to her grandma, she suggests to the 97-year-old that they play a round of D&D together and show her what she does for a living. The outcome shows not only that Dungeons & Dragons is not a matter of age, but also that many people have better role-playing abilities than they realize.
You can watch her video here:
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How did the round go for her grandma? To not overwhelm her grandmother right at the start, Ginny Di thought about how to make the concept as “grandma-friendly” as possible. She referred to a well-known video by Jon Bernthal on YouTube, in which he explains the basics of Dungeons & Dragons in just a few steps with help from Deborah Ann Woll.
Instead of overwhelming her grandma with all the complex rules and the extensive rulebook, she focused on the core experience of D&D: storytelling and interaction with the game world. Therefore, she omitted a character sheet for her grandma and handled it herself, letting her grandmother just roll the dice.
The adventure followed a 6-step plan, where she could try out and learn a different part of the gameplay in each step. Additionally, she created index cards with brief notes that should give her player an overview of the main things she had access to, such as “sword”, “health potions”, or “magic ring”.
Ginny Di’s 6-step plan for the session with her grandma (via YouTube).
How did the 97-year-old play? As preparation for her first session, she learned how to look up rules in the book, how to hold a sword, and how to roll the dice correctly. Things that every role-player should know, really. She played a 97-year-old elf named Fragonia (name chosen by herself), who encounters a giant spider in the woods as a ranger and ultimately meets a powerful sorceress in her tower.
During the session, Ginny Di gives her all sorts of liberties in what she wants to do and takes suitable opportunities to let her roll the dice and explain to her why and for what she needs to roll now. The 97-year-old proves to be remarkably creative and quite ready for combat. She interacts with the NPCs as if she had never done anything else and finds effective solutions for the problems that present themselves to her.
As the cherry on top, she casually writes her backstory, in which she lost her cousin Thermopolis. She asks clever follow-up questions and plays like an experienced pen-and-paper player. In the epic final battle, she cuts off both arms of her opponent with a spectral sword before driving the sword through her heart.
In Helldivers 2, the battle for Over-Earth raged on. The brave warriors of the guided democracy defended Over-Earth against the Illuminated. With their struggle for the city of Equality-On-Sea, they have made it into television.
What kind of city is this? The valiant soldiers of Helldivers 2 recently fought not only in the home galaxy, but on the home planet, Over-Earth. However, the Illuminated’s attacks seemed to be too strong. One by one, more and more cities fell into the hands of the enemies.
The last bastion for the Helldivers is the mega-city Equality-On-Sea, which is located on the world map where Shanghai stands in the real world. The relentless battle for the last major city of mankind not only brought many Helldivers back into the game (via SteamDB), but also showed how well humanity stands together when it comes to the whole.
You can see more about the enemies of Over-Earth here:
Start video
Helldivers 2 reveals the new enemy faction in the trailer for ‘Omens of Tyranny’
From Helldivers 2 to Television
What’s going on with television? The battle for Equality-On-Sea, the in-game counterpart to Shanghai, also spread among the city’s residents. The 25-million-people metropolis has its own local television station, which usually reports on the happenings in the city.
However, the fact that the world is currently defending its city as the last bastion of humanity against virtual enemies was worth a feature for the television station. In a news broadcast (available on kankanews.com), the two hosts discussed the battle for Over-China, as the city is also referred to by players.
The hosts explained (via Reddit) how all cities fell one by one and that the players did not follow the developers’ plan to ultimately fight over Stockholm, the seat of the developer studio. Instead, the last bastion became the metropolis of Shanghai.
The battle for Over-China was decided on May 30, 2025. To save the world, players around the globe collaborated.
Especially the collaboration between Chinese and American players was praised by the hosts in the feature. They had coordinated to fight the enemies during their respective daytime and allow the other players a break at night. For the final battle on Friday, 130,000 players worldwide were active at the same time and successfully defended Equality-On-Sea and thus Over-Earth.
After the successful defense of Over-Earth, the galactic war is far from won. While the Helldivers were busy defending their homeworld, bugs and robots continued to spread and are just waiting to face the soldiers of Over-Earth again. How the attack on Over-Earth occurred, you’ll find out here: The new update in Helldivers 2 brings back the greatest threat to humanity
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There are many games in the shooter genre that aimed to overshadow CoD, but none were as promising as XDefiant. The shooter had strong potential and had also sparked the interest of fans, but now it is set to be shut down in less than 24 hours.
What is XDefiant?Ubisoft released a first-person shooter called XDefiant on May 21, 2024. The game was supposed to bring the genre back to its roots by traditionally foregoing SBMM (Skill-based Matchmaking) and focusing on fun gameplay. There were classes as well, but in the form of well-known factions from Ubisoft games – such as Far Cry or Splinter Cell.
Many dubbed XDefiant the ultimate CoD killer and although the shooter was often postponed by Ubisoft, it had a great chance to provide competition to Activision’s shooter. Unfortunately, the success did not last long and many issues led to the decline of its fanbase.
Ubisoft decided in December 2024 to bury XDefiant in June 2025 and take it offline. Now fans have less than 24 hours left to play the shooter before the developers take the servers offline.
The cutoff date is set for June 3, 2025. The official Discord states that the servers will shut down at 9 AM PST. That is 6 PM our time.
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XDefiant Game Overview Deep Dive Trailer
Many issues that Ubisoft could not resolve in time
However, the joy was short-lived, as players gradually disappeared. There were many issues that Ubisoft did not address, including:
The poor netcode, which did not register many hits
No progression in matches like kill streaks to work towards
Far too little content to satisfy fans’ thirst
Release on Steam was ignored
Moreover, Ubisoft missed the opportunity to fill the gap that CoD left behind with its titles at that time, as many fans had had enough of Modern Warfare and wanted to play something that was fun.
In an open letter, the developers then described the end of the shooter. They could not achieve a stable position in the genre and: “The journey became too exhausting to continue.” The shutdown of the servers was dated for June 3, 2025. However, fans could try out the content of Season 1-3 that Ubisoft had already completed at the time.
When exactly will the servers be shut down? The official Discord stated the time as 9 AM PST. That is 6 PM our time. Until then, you should still have time to play the shooter.
A shooter went viral in 2022 because gamers wanted to return to their childhood rooms, yet the game still failed. However, the developers don’t mind that.
What kind of game is this? Hypercharge: Unboxed is a shooter where you take on the role of a toy action figure and dive into various toy battles. These lead you into a family’s garden, a toy store, or a child’s room. You can play in co-op against AI or other players.
The game went viral on Twitter (now X) in 2022. In a post discussing Hypercharge: Unboxed and the developers, there were numerous positive impressions. The post garnered over 380,000 “likes” and 43,000 retweets (via X).
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Hypercharge: Unboxed – Steam Release Trailer
What’s the status of the shooter? After the big hype, however, there was no success on Steam, so Hypercharge had almost consistently under 100 concurrent players. Nevertheless, the shooter later also released on Xbox and on May 30, 2025, on PlayStation.
In social networks, some players criticize the game and the developers for the PlayStation release, as they bring the toy shooter to a new platform even though the game is nearly dead on the old platforms. The developers have now commented on the topic.
“We made the game we always wanted as kids”
What do the developers say? The developers explain that they are happy, even without millions of players or sales. They are satisfied as long as someone enjoys playing the game in couch co-op with their child (via X).
Moreover, the developers emphasize that they are not lazy, but rather just a small five-person team that works hard to bring the game to the three big platforms. Generally, their work is not about financial success:
We don’t need millions of players online at the same time. Hypercharge is not a purely online game. You can play it however you want. And honestly, that’s perfectly fine. I’ve said it before, and I will keep saying it until my death. Making games has never been about getting rich, becoming famous, or having the most concurrent players.
For us, being rich means waking up every day and doing what we love, with the people we love. It means creating something meaningful. We made the game we always wanted as kids. […] As long as we can pay our bills, feed our families, and continue to create what we hold dear, then yes, in our eyes, we are already rich. That’s what success means to us.
Additionally, the developers state that it’s not a problem if they lose money or miss millions of players because they don’t rely on a free-to-play model and microtransactions. This allows them to continue sleeping soundly, as they don’t “violate what they believe in.”
What lies ahead for Hypercharge: Unboxed is currently unclear. There is no roadmap because the developers don’t want to commit to deadlines. The PlayStation release was the next major, important step that they have now successfully completed. According to the developers, the shooter has sold over 40,000 copies there in 3 days (via X).
Regarding player numbers, it is of course still unclear how long the small development team will continue to support the game and whether further content updates will follow. Personally, I had already anticipated in 2023 that the final death of Hypercharge could be imminent. You can read my failed prediction here: 5 Online Shooters that could die in 2023
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A company must file for bankruptcy. For years, it had offered AI services that were actually performed by humans. Companies like Microsoft are said to have invested millions in the company.
More and more companies are relying on AI or offering services that utilize AI. However, one company has now been exposed for not providing real AI services but secretly employing hundreds of workers instead. Even Amazon secretly relied on real employees while claiming to use AI.
The London-based company Builder.ai was temporarily valued at 1.5 billion US dollars before it had to file for bankruptcy. This was reported by the English-language magazine Dexerto.
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
The company’s ‘neural network’ actually consists of 700 human employees
What was the promise? The company Builder.ai claimed that its in-house AI service “Natasha” was able to create applications with artificial intelligence. Natasha promised to create programs in record time – from developing app designs to writing code.
High investments in the company: Reports indicate that Microsoft supported the “neural network” with an investment of 455 million US dollars, leading to a valuation of the AI company between 1.3 and 1.5 billion US dollars. Additionally, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is said to have invested 250 million US dollars.
Other investors are mentioned who reportedly pumped millions into the AI company.
Former employees report: The company never relied on AI
It has now been made public that the money did not go into AI but into around 700 employed workers. A comprehensive report on this is provided by the English-language magazine Binance.com, which also cites several former employees and insiders. They stated: At Builder.ai, only humans and no artificial intelligence may have worked from the very beginning.
Several former employees claimed that it was impossible that management was unaware of the ongoing fraud and simply ignored it. After working at the company for two years, they saw hardly any finished projects.
According to the English-language magazine Bloomberg, Builder.ai allegedly collaborated with VerSe, a social media startup based in India, to artificially inflate its sales numbers, billing each other regularly similar amounts between 2021 and 2024. However, VerSe has vehemently denied this practice and labeled the accusations as “baseless and false.”
League of Legends used to look very different. This refers not only to the game, the animation of the champions, or the launcher, but also the lore once followed a completely different idea. The players themselves were mainly in focus.
What was the role of the players in the past? League of Legends launched on October 27, 2009, and over the years became one of the biggest online games of all time. Back then, the game was different. While it had the typical 3 lanes, the graphics, the animation of the characters, and the launcher still evoke nostalgia for many players.
But the beloved lore, which was recently seen as a series in Arcane, was also a bit different, and at its center were even the players as summoners.
Nowadays, the lore is also presented in trailers:
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Welcome to Noxus – Opening Video for the First LoL Season 2025
The Summoners had total control
What were the Summoners? To contextualize the battles between 2 teams full of champions, the players were called Summoners. This is also where the term Summoner Spell for abilities like Flash comes from. The Summoners can also be seen in the first LoL trailer.
2 teams represented each a faction of an ancient war, fighting against each other on the Summoner’s Rift. The minions, towers, and also champions were in the lore summoned tools of the players. Battles on the map were meant to resolve political conflicts without putting Runeterra in danger (via League of Legends Wiki).
The areas such as Bilgewater, Demacia, or Noxus existed, as did the corresponding locations of various champions. The champions themselves had lore, but it wasn’t followed as consistently as known today.
Great lore stories were told at that time through the Journal of Justice. From the perspective of the summoners, writings about various champions did not always revolve around serious lore. Morgana, for instance, was once a bikini model for a magazine (via Leaguepedia).
In 2014, however, Riot changed the direction of the lore.
The remnants of the summoners can still be found in the game
What happened to the Summoners? As uppercutcrit.com reported in 2020, Riot completely restructured the lore in 2014. To give the champions more importance, the summoners were removed from the lore because they were described as powerful wizards. The champions simply appeared as puppets next to them.
After 2014, individual champions and regions were given more history and background. The series Arcane shows what can arise from it. However, it should not be forgotten that there are champions who still have no real lore. A well-known example would be Shaco.
But in the game, some remnants of the summoners can still be discovered. For one, there are the summoner spells and runes, with which powerful wizards used to influence the match and their champions.
In the old LoL lore, Nocturne tormented various summoners with nightmares. To this day, the champion still has the voice line in English: Am I frightening you, summoner? (via League of Legends Wiki).
What is the state of the lore today? Friends of the world of Runeterra are having quite a good time. With Arcane, parts of Zaun were turned into a series, and with The Universe of League of Legends, a vast repository of lore texts, short stories, and comics has been created. In addition to this website, there are also books and games to experience.
Former standard, now nearly gone:A few years ago, microSD cards were indispensable in smartphones. For reasons of security, compatibility, and designthey are hardly available anymore.
Why have microSD cards disappeared from smartphones? Just a few years ago, the microSD card was the easiest way to upgrade your phone. Many devices offered only around 8 or 16 GB of internal storage – too little for music, photos, or apps. With a memory card, you could upgrade inexpensively and offload content (via Gadgethacks).
Today, it looks different. In Android flagship smartphones like the Galaxy S25 or the Google Pixel 9, you will find no slot for the small memory card. The development is not a coincidence: manufacturers no longer want to offload storage, but control it – primarily for security and design reasons.
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What does the N symbol on your phone mean?
Less is sometimes more
What is behind the renunciation? An important factor is the housing design. Many modern smartphones rely on so-called unibody constructions. The back can no longer be removed; everything is firmly built in, and little to nothing is replaceable for laymen. This not only looks more premium, but also provides protection against water and dust. Additional openings, such as for microSD cards, are rather of hindrance.
The protection against water and dust is measured using the IP standard. The IP protection class (Ingress Protection) for smartphones indicates the protection type of a device against foreign bodies (dust, touch) and liquids. It is specified by a two to three-digit number, where the first digit indicates dust protection and the second indicates water protection (via Xataka).
The software also plays a role. Since Android 6.0, Google has restricted the use of SD cards for apps. External storage is slower and can cause issues, for instance with updates or security features. Therefore, manufacturers are now relying on faster internal storage systems, which provide more stability and less support effort (via XDA-Forum).
By the way: Apple has pursued a more consistent strategy since the introduction of the first iPhone in 2007: The internal storage was and has always been fixed and cannot be expanded with memory cards.
Are there still smartphones with a microSD slot? Yes, especially in cheaper devices or certain niche models. If you really want to use a memory card, you can still find models with a slot from manufacturers like Motorola or in Samsung’s Galaxy A series (via Samsung). But even here, the card can often only be used for media like photos and music – apps must now remain internal.
In general, there seems to be a certain market for this somewhat outdated storage variant. On Reddit, users discussed it and shared their experiences about one and a half years ago.
The trend among manufacturers is, however, clear: the slot is almost completely disappearing from today’s smartphone models. And with it, a piece of flexibility that is no longer necessary – smartphone optimization has advanced far too much by now.
Speaking of optimization: prices have been noticeably rising for months. To better manage his finances, MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested various applications. One of them remained permanently on his smartphone, and regularly at the end of the month, there was some money left over: I use a free app on Android and save around 30 euros every month with it
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Maplestory is probably the most famous and popular old school MMORPG in Korea. It holds a position there similar to WoW here. However, unlike World of Warcraft 2, the developers took the risk of publishing a sequel to Maplestory. However, that ended in failure.
How did Maplestory 2 perform? Maplestory 2 was supposed to build on the success of the original and finally implement the game world in 3D graphics. The developers promised great success when the MMORPG launched in Korea in 2016 and in the West on Steam in 2018. After an excellent start with over 42,000 players on Steam, it was the largest MMORPG on Steam for a short time.
But then the player numbers kept declining (via SteamDB). Just half a year after launch, only about 2,000 players were left, about as many as in the original Maplestory (via SteamDB).
The predecessor of Maplestory 2 is still running today:
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MapleStory introduces Arteria, the Moving Fortress
The End for Maplestory 2
How did Maplestory 2 fare in Asia? The MMORPG performed worse in China and Korea than the predecessor. After the shutdown on Steam, the next to go were the servers in China in 2022 (via MMOCulture).
Now the last servers in the homeland of South Korea have also been shut down. There are no official servers of the game operating anywhere in the world anymore.
Why did Maplestory 2 fail? As a Korean MMORPG, it is hardly surprising that Maplestory 2 relied heavily on grinding. Too much, as many older posts from players on Reddit illustrate. The 3D graphics of the sequel did not appeal to every veteran either (via mmorpg.com).
A player with over 1,100 hours in the MMORPG sees it the same way. He complained in his review about botting, a toxic community, sold dungeon runs, and too many luck-based systems that spoil the fun with long streaks of bad luck (via Reddit). Although many of the problems arise from players breaking the rules, the developers seemed to be inactive for too long.
Here you can see the last moments of the MMORPG:
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How is it going with the predecessor? While the successor was actually intended to benefit from the well-known and popular predecessor, the opposite has happened. After a short trial phase, many players returned to the original.
Although the MMORPG first appeared in 2003, a new peak of concurrent players was only reached on Steam in 2024 (via SteamDB). With 13,850 users, this number is certainly not above that of its successor, but besides Steam, there is also a separate launcher that many veterans use. Financially, the predecessor is also said to be doing much better (via mmorpg.org.pl)
The new season “Joyful Days” in Pokémon GO starts today, June 3, 2025. What Pokémon and bonuses can you expect? We summarize it for you.
When does the new season start? The season “Joyful Days” starts today at 10:00 AM. It will last, as usual, for three months: until September 2, also at 10:00 AM.
Trailer for the new season: There is also a small trailer for the season. There are a few highlights to see already. These include the debut of the stronger forms of Zacian and Zamazenta: King of the Sword and King of the Shield.
We also see a few new Pokémon, the return of Gigantamax Lapras, the new raid scheduling feature, Dynamax Latias and Latios, and a nod to the Pokémon GO anniversary. Additionally, there are some more things – just take a look:
Start video
Pokémon GO starts new season Pleasant Days – Trailer for the season
Moreover, there is still plenty of other information about what this new season entails. We summarize it here for you.
What to expect in the new season Joyful Days in Pokémon GO
Bonuses in the season: During the season, the following effects are permanently active.
You can do one more special trade per day
The first catch of the day brings double XP
The daily Adventure Incense has double duration – that is, 30 minutes
The GO Fest 2025: The largest Pokémon GO event of the year will take place in June 2025. It will happen on June 28 and 29, where the battle against the Crown forms of Zacian and Zamazenta will also take place. What to expect at the GO Fest 2025, you can read here.
New Pokémon: There will be a few new Pokémon throughout the new season, that’s clear. The following are already known:
Zacian – King of the Sword
Zamazenta – King of the Shield
Volcanion
Voldi
Bellektro
Nigiragi
Gigantamax Liberlo
Gigantamax Inteleon
Gigantamax Gortrom (already available)
Dynamax Brimova
Dynamax Latias
Dynamax Latios
Hisui Dressella
Exciting Pokémon: You can also see the return of Gigantamax Lapras, a Community Day with Miniras, as well as Gimmighoul, which is apparently becoming more prominent.
Features of the new season: The GO Pass is active again, even in June. Once again, you can level up and earn rewards. There’s a free version as well as a paid version.
Additionally, the already mentioned RSVP feature for planning raids is active in the new season.
And what’s next? The first month of the new season is June – and it has a lot to offer. Among other things, the already mentioned GO Fest. But that’s not all. Do you want an overview? Then best stop by here: All events in June 2025 at Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Natsu Hyuuga is the author of the light novels for The Pharmacist’s Diaries. The corresponding anime is particularly popular among fans because it features two charismatic characters. However, it actually wouldn’t have existed in that form.
The story takes place in a fictional country of the Ming era in China. Viewers follow the adventures of the young pharmacist Maomao, who became a slave in the imperial court. There, she solves several cases with her knowledge that resemble situations from Detective Conan.
She is watched by the eunuch Jinshi, who drives the ladies of the court mad with his beauty. The anime is so popular partly because of its two main characters, but they were originally supposed to be very different.
Start video
The Pharmacist’s Diaries: Trailer for Season 2 of the Anime
The pharmacist was supposed to be a mother of three
What was supposed to happen to Maomao and Jinshi? The author Hyuuga reveals in an interview that Maomao was actually supposed to live in a mining town. The pharmacist would have originally been the mother of three children and would have worked for a wealthy family whose children died from toxic gases from the mine.
Maomao was then supposed to continue solving cases related to poisons as a mother and housewife, just in the small town.
Additionally, Jinshi, the eunuch, was originally not supposed to live that long. He was supposed to be killed by his servant Gaoshun after he received the order to kill Jinshi.
Why did the author change her plans? Hyuuga thought that a big city full of poison accidents would be more terrifying. Moreover, Maomao was made into a teenager to better match the target audience.
Another significant influence were the readers themselves. In web novels, readers can write directly to the author and share their opinions, which is said to have led to the changes.
Thus, it came to pass that Jinshi didn’t have to die after all. The readers found the character and the relationship between Maomao and him so great that the author chose to show mercy and keep him alive.
A particularly popular scene between Maomao and Jinshi is the one with the frog. In this scene, a major secret of one of the two characters is revealed. Fans who already know the story from the manga have been eagerly awaiting the moment: One of the best anime from 2023 will soon show an intimate scene with a frog
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Because money is running out, many boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are returning to work. To prevent young people from facing the same “problem,” the German government intends to introduce a new program to encourage saving.
What is the problem for boomers? Several individuals who have already retired are now returning to work. The reasons are not necessarily a lack of routine in daily life, but increasing financial concerns.
Because inflation and other factors have significantly raised households’ annual expenses. So much so that many retirees can no longer afford their daily lives and return to work. This is reported by the English magazine Fortune.com.
In Germany, there is now an effort to prevent Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) from facing the same “problems.” For this reason, they want to introduce an early-start pension that is set to begin in 2026. This is intended to create a government incentive for young people to save again.
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The state wants to pay into a pension account for children aged 6 and encourage saving
How does the government plan to solve the problem? The German government has proposed an “early-start pension”: a pension program for children between 6 and 18 years old. The measures have already been decided upon and the “early-start pension” is expected to come into effect in 2026.
Unlike the regular pension pot, where a part of the salary must be set aside for the future, the state pays 10 euros per month for children in education into a pension account. By the age of 18, that amounts to 1,440 euros.
After turning 18, state support ceases, and the now-adult children are expected to contribute their personal money into the pension account to secure their retirement. Access to the account is only granted when the retirement age is reached. This aims to make saving more attractive for the next generation. Because more than half of Generation Z considers saving pointless and hardly sets aside money for difficult times.
However, there are also experts who say that inflation and rising prices rapidly erode the saved amounts if one does not keep up.
The government under Merz also calculates that these pension plans would cost the state about seven million euros monthly, which would be cheaper than higher federal subsidies for the pension insurance.
