Many employees are worried about their jobs. The Generation Z is also affected by layoffs. However, young people have found an alternative to studying and office work: a job in the trades, which is considered crisis-proof.
However, young people have found an alternative to combat AI. They are trading their university places for jobs in the trades. The main reasons are financial considerations, better job market opportunities in the trades, the influence of technology and social media, as well as a shift in values regarding work and quality of life. This is reported by the magazine Businessinsider.com.
The trades are suddenly becoming attractive to young people again
This is what Generation Z is doing: More and more young people are deciding against a traditional university education and opting instead for a career in the trades or in other “blue-collar” jobs. “Blue Collar” refers to jobs in the trades. In contrast, jobs in offices or administration are referred to as “white collar.”
What are the reasons for the decision? According to surveys, fewer and fewer Americans believe that a college education is worth it, especially if loans need to be taken out for it. Confidence in the “return on investment” (ROI) of a college degree has significantly declined: many no longer believe that they will ever recoup the money they invest in their education.
On the other hand, jobs in the trades not only promise a stable income, but also offer a direct entry into the profession or the option for self-employment. Professions in renewable energies, construction, electrical engineering, plumbing, and transport are particularly in demand.
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
High demand for skilled workers in the trades because the Boomers are about to retire
The demand for jobs in these areas is very high, as many individuals from the Boomer generation are nearing retirement or have already stopped working.
However, the transition is not always easy: young people report that trades still carry a worse reputation than a university education. Many parents still prefer a traditional university path for their children and reject vocational training or a trades job.
In a 2023 survey by Jobber, a software for home workers, among American high school students, many stated that the trades are burdened with prejudices (via Jobber.com, PDF file):
74% stated that they believe choosing a trade school instead of a four-year college carries a stigma.
79% said that their parents want them to go to college, while only 5% said that their parents support trade school.
AI tools like ChatGPT have revolutionized many people’s professional lives. It’s no wonder that many people fear that developments will lead to some soon losing their jobs to artificial intelligence.
Sandfall Interactive has achieved a huge hit with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Speaking of gigantic hits: The damage dealt in the role-playing game can reach dizzying heights. This led to a special kind of competition.
What kind of competition is this? Initially, the development team held an internal competition before the release. As Guillaume Broche (CEO) and Nicholas Maxson-Francombe (Art Director) revealed, the developers tried to deal as much damage as possible in a single hit (via YouTube).
Players reportedly managed to break this record just a week after the release (via YouTube). However, a developer did not give up the fight and developed a friendly rivalry with a player, much like between anime characters such as Goku and Vegeta.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – JRPG with French Flair has Release Date
Players and developers compete for highest record
How did the competition go? The VFX artist from Sandfall Interactive, Leo Paris, was the record holder in the studio and was likely disappointed when players broke his record. He faced off against another player named Schrodingersba4 on X in a duel.
The two continually responded to each other with images of their highest damage. The last entry that MeinMMO could find was on May 1, 2025 (via X). On that day, one of them achieved an incredible damage and revealed how they did it.
Who is the current winner? Leo Paris achieved a hit with 4.3 billion damage. However, he did not use Maelle, but Sciel. He accumulated 99 stacks of prophecies with her and was in twilight mode. In addition, he had already started New Game +.
As Paris revealed, it took him over an hour to prepare this attack. His competitor, with whom he dueled, had only the following words left: “Holy Christ.”
In Albion Online, the developers talked about the next big update for the MMORPG. They want to improve exactly the points where most players struggle.
What kind of MMORPG is this? The sandbox MMORPG Albion Online comes from the German developers of Sandbox Interactive. For years, it has been one of the most popular MMORPGs on Steam and offers a mix of sandbox and PvP focus, but also enough content outside of the battlefields.
The last major update in the MMORPG was the big Rogue Update, which introduced a gameplay mode centered around stealth operations. Since then, the developers have been working on the next update, which has now been introduced.
You can watch the trailer for the Rogue Update here:
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Albion Online presents major rogue update in trailer
Help where it’s needed
What will the next update bring? The developers of Albion Online introduced their new update in a video on YouTube. This time, they looked at the points where most people get stuck or even leave the MMORPG.
They noticed that the sandbox aspect that characterizes the MMORPG likely overwhelms many players. For many of them, it’s already over after leaving the tutorial. Therefore, the developers had already added a quest system some time ago that helps new players.
This will be expanded in the next update “Abyssal Depths” and will lead players further into the game after the tutorial. It showcases dungeons and explains the crafting of advanced items, before slowly transitioning into the familiar quest journal that promises rewards all the way to the endgame.
What is there for veterans? Those who have been playing Albion Online for a while likely know the hurdle of getting to endgame PvP. The MMORPG relies heavily on risk and reward for its endgame content. When players die, they often lose their entire inventory as well as their gear. However, victories feel much more rewarding.
To encourage more players to engage with these contents, the developers want to introduce new PvPvE dungeons in the next update that allow players to fight against each other but also against monsters, similar to what happens later in the endgame content. As a reward, rare loot is expected there.
In addition, players can expect general improvements such as a revamped learning point system, a new batch of crystal weapons, an optimized combined tracker in the HUD, and an overhauled categorization system in the marketplace.
This obituary is a personal letter to my colleague and friend Schuhmann – written from the perspective of a companion who owes him a lot.
On May 2nd, I received the call that made time stand still for a moment.
Without warning, I was told that your heart suddenly stopped beating and that you are no longer with us. I still remember how my hand instinctively found its way to my own heart. At that moment, I felt a piercing pain go through me.
With you, I lost not only a colleague. I lost a friend who had a profound impact on me both personally and professionally. Without you, I would not be where I am today. I am not alone in my grief. On the contrary.
Because you, dear Schuhmann, shaped our entire editorial team and MeinMMO like no other.
Our shared journey
Eight years ago, I started working as a freelance writer for MeinMMO alongside my studies. After our boss Dawid brought me on board, he sent me directly to you without any detours. I was to reach out to you for the correction of my first text and show me the job.
During our first encounter, I cheekily threw at your feet that you had to teach me everything you knew because that was the boss’s instruction. You were amused about that for years afterwards.
But that’s exactly what you did. You showed and taught me everything you knew about writing, storytelling, journalism, and video games. You knew so damn much.
Whether it was about how to spark curiosity with a headline, how to find a strong entry into a text or why one should simply leave out clichéd phrases. In the early days, you went through each of my texts with me sentence by sentence and were a strict teacher. Sometimes I cursed your harsh words, but only for the moment. Because in the end, it made my work better and changed my perspective on the job that I originally started just alongside my studies.
With your constant ambition to create the best possible website for video games, you inspired and captivated me. It didn’t take long until I pursued that dream myself.
Things progressed to the point that a few years later, I became the editor-in-chief and led the editorial team and MeinMMO together with you. You were always fully engaged with the day-to-day happenings, close to the people, the articles, and the community. I, from the background, had the overview and a little distance. Meanwhile, you were always my direct link to the editorial team.
When I had spent a few hours in meetings, I usually received several messages from you about what was happening in the editorial team, what annoyed or pleased you. Often, I had a reprimand from you waiting if you disagreed entirely with one of my decisions. You could always pinpoint exactly where it hurt, and that was good. Because that way, we could always continue to improve and develop.
Little by little over the years, we became more and more of a unity that puzzled over MeinMMO together. We advised each other on which topics we should report, which upcoming games would be important to us, how we could develop certain team members in which way. And eventually, we also started talking about this and that that had nothing to do with work. Almost every day, we exchanged at least a few words, even if it was just sending each other a couple of silly videos to make the other laugh.
The fact that none of this works anymore is such a profound cut. It feels like I’ve lost a part of myself – both professionally and personally.
What you meant for MeinMMO
There are reasons why I heard so often after your death that you were the heart of the editorial team. You were already with MeinMMO long before me.
You helped build the website 11 years ago and were the first full-time editor with a permanent employment contract that our founder Dawid hired back then. Many came since then – and some also left again. But you stayed.
You often told me about the time of building it and how you were initially skeptical about whether it would all work out. The competition and the offerings from other gaming websites were great, many of them had been established for years. To assert oneself as a newcomer in between required ambition, cleverness, diligence, and passion – qualities that you brought to work every day until the end and also expected and fostered from others.
You told me that you wanted to be a journalist all your life. You recognized a chance here to fulfill your wish and did everything to ensure that it would ultimately work out. And it did.
There are things that are obvious on the outside.
You gave MeinMMO amazing texts, more than 14,000 to be exact. It always seemed like the good topics, the words, and the ideas just flew to you. But that’s exactly how you recognize the best. Time and again, I was amazed at where you unearthed the curious and exciting stories and how you recognized them. You drew your inspiration from the real lives of gamers – from their forums, comments, concerns, joys, and stories. That made you a special journalist because you were always close to the people – and the mere facts-news rather bored you.
More than 5,000 comments made by you underline this. You always engaged with our community and consistently responded to criticism and feedback. Many times, you also stood up for our authors when their texts were criticized.
The numbers, data, and facts also show us that your texts alone reached more than half a million people every month. You worked hard for that. From a small fan blog about MMORPGs to a professional gaming editorial team that is recognized in the scene. You were the first employee and paved the way for almost 30 more who are now full-time staff and freelancers with us.
And then there are the things that are not obvious on the outside.
What you meant to the editorial team as a person
When I delivered the heavy message of your death to the team, it was completely silent and time stood still again for a moment. In the silence, I saw grief, disbelief, shock, pain, and tears.
Because you were so much more than the editorial lead who managed the daily business and the content planning of the site. When I said you were my link to the editorial team, I meant every single person in the team. I know few people who possessed as much empathy as you did. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so good at reaching so many people with your texts.
You immediately sensed when someone in the team was feeling bad, and we both might have to look the other way when the last text of the day wasn’t finished. If you suspected that something was wrong with someone, you immediately told me about it and we would discuss what we could do to help. And so, you conducted many personal conversations with each individual in the team.
Every morning, you opened the day with an analysis of the previous day and our content. You always had a silly joke ready. That often led us all to roll our eyes (which delighted you) but also made us laugh simultaneously.
You said outright when you didn’t like something in our content, and you slammed your hand down forcefully. That way, you often metaphorically shook the editorial team to shape the best possible MeinMMO every day. But you never did that without helping every individual improve their work. Simply complaining without rolling up your sleeves was never your way.
What you often found hard to express in person landed with me. You proudly told me whenever someone published a particularly good text or had a clever idea to help the editorial team. I can’t count how many times in the last two years you told me how great the team has developed. In doing so, you named each person in the editorial team and emphasized what each contributed individually.
Unconsciously, you prepared everything for this moment when we can no longer access your expertise and knowledge. That’s what made you a great mentor and boss.
What remains of you
As sad as the last weeks without you were, there was also so much warmth in them. Because if I can say one thing with certainty now: You’re not truly gone and will never be.
We can still read your texts, countless comments, and the chats with you. But that’s not even the most important thing.
In the past weeks, I’ve realized what you truly left behind as a legacy and how valuable it is. I notice it in how our editorial team has come together even closer, and we all continue to live out your dream.
Your ambition and your passion to bring out the best in us and our editorial team every single day are already being passed on by your junior editors. Just like the knowledge you gifted us.
I for my part will still often hear your voice. Especially when I want to take radical measures too quickly again. You could be explosive in the foreground; I was often it secretly in the background – only visible to you. Your admonishing words in my ear: Do you really want to press the nuclear button right away, or should we first try another way? This admonition will accompany me far beyond MeinMMO in my life.
I wish you could have read the farewell words that so many people left for you on the following page. But I am sure you knew what you meant to us. Our bond needed no words; it could be felt.
In conclusion, there is only one thing left to say:
Thank you, Schuhmann. For everything.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Admittedly, 9 Kings did not convince me at first with its early trailers. However, the developers at Sad Socket provided me with a key, allowing me to check out the game a bit earlier.
After just a few rounds, it became clear to me: 9 Kings is incredibly addictive.
Who is writing here: MeinMMO author Johanna actually enjoys playing RPGs or hides behind her teammates during a round of Fortnite. Roguelikes were rather low on her Steam library list. But if a game manages to trigger her release of happiness hormones, she won’t say no to this genre either.
With the trailer, you get a first impression of the game:
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9 Kings: Trailer for the Royal Roguelike on Steam
Protecting the kingdom using cards
What is 9 Kings about? The indie game 9 Kings is a roguelike in royal form. At the beginning of each run, you can choose which king you want to play as. Three other randomly selected kings will automatically become your enemies.
You need to fight them again every year, which corresponds to one round. Of course, you and your opponents become stronger each time.
Each king can be leveled individually, unlocking new abilities for the respective throne holder. Additionally, each king has different card sets.
The Blood King starts with these standard cards.
Per round, you can play one card. You can either improve your existing troops with it or build new units. The game gives you many options to combine different units and abilities.
After each victorious battle, another random card can be chosen. Depending on which king the battle was won against, you can choose from that king’s card repertoire.
Here we can choose between three cards from the Blood King.
A run represents one year, which can be played through at any difficulty. After that, you can continue playing, but the difficulty increases significantly.
At the end of a run, you must fight against the boss of one of the enemy kings.
What makes 9 Kings so special? The different abilities and unique card sets of the kings make the runs interesting. Even at the choice of the king, you have to consider which direction you want to take.
For example, the Blood King gives a lot of focus on sacrificing cards. With the King of Greed, you can accumulate a lot of money to buy more and more cards from the dealer.
The best part: The cards of the kings can also be combined with each other. For instance, you can couple a Thief card from the King of Greed with the Vampirism card from the Blood King. The combination possibilities are thus enormous.
The only flaw: I would have liked a better way to differentiate the troops from one another. The pixel graphics of the troops are so simple that I can’t recognize any particular features at first glance that would help me quickly distinguish the units.
9 Kings may initially seem inconspicuous, but beneath its simple appearance lie complex combination possibilities that make it extremely fun to find the best one for yourself.
Overall, I can understand why HandOfBlood is so keen on roguelikes: Done right, these games offer a high potential for addiction. After every failed run, the question arose for me: “Can I do better if I position and combine differently?”
And each time I wanted to find the answer to that question.
Will you play the game or have you already tried it? Let us know in the comments! HandOfBlood seems to be very excited about the game as well. The game was presented at Caggtus, although the YouTuber himself was not present, he still managed to advocate for it: HandOfBlood misses his new game at Caggtus, only calling for good reviews
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Through the new 64-bit servers, The Lord of the Rings Online experienced something like a third spring recently. However, many players who would actually like to play an MMORPG in Middle-earth are still staying away – this is shown by a current community discussion.
What is this discussion about? It was triggered by the recently released Update 44.2 for The Lord of the Rings Online. This is a comparatively small patch with the following highlights:
The kinship custody is now correctly transferred with the guild leader and is located in custody in the target game world. Any items that disappeared from kinship custody during the transfer of the guild leader must be reported to customer service.
The 14th reward track for legendary items is here with new rewards.
“Dun Shûma, the Fortress of the King” is now available on difficulty level 3.
In addition, there are various other smaller bug fixes and adjustments. You can find the German patch notes on lotro.com.
The trailer for the current expansion of The Lord of the Rings Online:
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Lord of the Rings Online: Trailer for Morgoth’s Legacy Prepares You for the New Expansion
“This would be the game for me,” but …
Back to the discussion: A fan of the game also linked the patch notes on Reddit. However, the comments under the post were not about the new features but rather about the reasons why one does not play The Lord of the Rings Online, although one would like to play an MMORPG in Middle-earth.
Fr0zenYeti writes on Reddit: “All they have to do is improve the UI for higher resolutions, and I’ll give this game a fair chance”
clocktowertank supports this on Reddit: “The text size and the chosen fonts are more than awful for readability. Do you wear glasses when you play? Because it is an incredible strain on the eyes when trying to read anything in this game when you usually play in 2K or higher.”
KingBastok also believes so (via Reddit): “Improved UI and HD pack, and so many people would play.”
Gardevoir_Best_Girl sees it the same way on Reddit: “I really wish they would improve the UI, then this would be my main MMO. Another year, another ‘no’.”
MarchAgainstOrange explains on Reddit: “I believe this would be the game for me if I could overcome the server lag and the presentation.”
While The Lord of the Rings Online has made a technical leap forward with the more modern servers, Gambrinus explains on Reddit what the problem is there:
It has helped somewhat, but the problem is that the 64-bit servers are now overcrowded, which makes things worse again. Unfortunately, the current problems are likely too deeply rooted in the code and architecture to be easily fixed, and they certainly won’t spend a lot of money (which they probably don’t have) on a new architecture.
What about the new MMORPG from Amazon Games? The last sign of life came in August 2024. At that time, Vice President Christoph Hartmann stated that they are still in a very early development phase and are still trying to find the special spin for the new MMORPG set in The Lord of the Rings.
Sony is shutting down its loyalty program on the PS4 and PS5MyMMO summarizes all the important information for you.
Sony launched a digital bonus program for loyal players on the PS4 and PS5 in 2022: “PlayStation Stars.” However, four years later, they are shutting down the loyalty program in its current form. In an official blog post, Sony stated that they will be shutting down the system.
Start video
Sony releases the official reveal trailer for the PS5 Pro
What happens to your points and collected trophies on PS4 and PS5
You should do this: If you are indeed a member of PlayStation Stars and still have points left, you should use them for collectibles and other items. Because they will expire in the end. However, you still have a good year to spend your points: On November 2, 2026, it will be over for good.
What happens to my trophies? Sony promises that you will still have access to your digital collectibles and trophies. After July 23, 2025, there will simply be no further campaigns through which you can unlock new items.
Important information at a glance:
PlayStation Stars will no longer accept new members for this version of the program.
If members cancel their PlayStation Stars membership from today, rejoining this version of the program will no longer be possible, and the members will lose all earned points.
Current PlayStation Stars members can still collect digital collectibles and points and upgrade their status until July 23, 2025 (at 7:59 AM PDT | 3:59 PM BST | 11:59 PM JST). After this date, there will be no new PlayStation Stars campaigns available, and no additional rewards or status benefits can be earned anymore.
This version of the PlayStation Stars program will completely end on November 2, 2026. Current PlayStation Stars members can continue to redeem points as long as their points do not expire by then.
Greg “Ghostcrawler” Streetwas in China to visit some colleagues at NetEase.His enthusiastic praise for the expertise of the Chinese MMORPG developers has encountered resistance.
Since November 2023, it has been clear that he can rely on the Chinese corporation NetEase as a strategic partner. You know, that’s the company with which Blizzard had some beef for a while, causing World of Warcraft and Co. to not be able to appear in China for a long time.
The exact nature of the collaboration is unclear. At the time, Ghostcrawler commented on the partnership as follows:
We want to show the game to the community early and often to ensure that we are on the right track and to consistently incorporate feedback. This is possible because NetEase is a strategic partner who understands our vision and gives us the creative freedom, resources, and support we need to be successful.
First gameplay from the prototype of Ghost – a very early version of the MMORPG:
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Ghost: Gameplay from the Prototype of the New MMORPG by Ghostcrawler
What does Ghostcrawler report from his visit? In the course of this collaboration, the lead developer was now in Hangzhou and Guangzhou to chat with his colleagues from NetEase in person. His subsequent conclusion on X:
Their MMO design is about 10 years ahead of the West, while ours feels a bit frozen. I learned a lot and ate a lot of delicious food. I will be back soon!
Under the post, Greg Street faced some backlash, but many questions were also raised to delve deeper into the reason for this statement. Additionally, some fear that Ghostcrawler might adopt some “bad habits” from Asian MMORPGs for Ghost.
A perpetual hater commented on X: “Your design could be 100 years ahead of the West and the West will still be more successful because the East has proven to be greedy when it comes to MMOs.”
Griffin Best hopes on X: “Please no Auto Play or Pay to Win, that is widespread there.”
SyphinB3 writes on X: “I disagree with the current MMO formula from the East. Aside from the graphics, the fantastic character customization, and the combat, they don’t seem to be able to get the systems right, nor can they develop a strong endgame. It always ends up being a resource grind to level the equipment […].”
How does Ghostcrawler respond to the comments? True to Ghostcrawler’s style, he is very communicative, providing various answers and explanations. In a post on X, the developer explains, for example:
I’m not saying you should love Chinese MMOs if you live in the West. You’re probably not their target audience anyway. I’m just saying that as a designer, I really appreciate the depth of their design, especially the horizontal progression, which is something the game I worked on, WoW, struggled with.
In another post on X, Street adds that Ghost will target a Western audience, so he will focus on payment models, art design, and character progression that are specifically tailored for the West. NetEase is a Chinese publisher that would like to have more of these Western games in its portfolio, the developer further states.
What is interesting in this context: More and more Asian companies are looking to achieve greater success with their MMORPGs in the West and are also adjusting their design orientation for this purpose.
Aldi is betting on cashless stores with an entry fee in London. The Brits are only partially enthusiastic about it. The requirement for card-only payments is also not to everyone’s liking.
What kind of system is this? Aldi Süd has tested a new model in a store in Greenwich, London: Anyone who wants to shop at the Aldi store must pay an entry fee to even enter the store. Aldi calls this principle “Shop & Go.”
The entry fee or deposit is 10 British pounds (approx. 12 euros). Once you have finished shopping, the deposit is deducted from the total purchase. The remainder is refunded. In Aldi’s terms and conditions, it says:
If you spend less than 10 [British] pounds – or nothing at all – the difference will be refunded, but the timing of the reimbursement is controlled by your card issuer.
No more long lines at the checkout, as everything happens automatically and digitally
Why is Aldi doing this at all? With this model, they want to promote contactless payments and especially avoid long waiting lines. Because in the store, everything is automated: there is no human staff at the checkout, and payment is automatically deducted from the account or credit in the app.
Upon entering the store, the AI-controlled cameras track the items taken from the shelves, and the total amount is deducted from the customer card upon leaving the store.
The deposit of 10 British pounds is, by the way, intended as a security for the operator to ensure that the payment method can indeed be charged and that the customer does not end up at the checkout unable to pay for their purchases.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Criticism from customers and the British press against Aldi
Since the introduction of the new system, there has been criticism from customers and journalists from the UK. This has been reported, for example, by the British magazine GBNews.com. Some customers report that they were charged multiple times upon attempting to enter the store, particularly if they accidentally pressed the app button more than once. According to Express.co.uk, this advance payment in the app was disabled in May 2025.
Another problem: When you want to help other customers, for example, with hard-to-reach products, the AI does not recognize that as help, but instead charges the helping person for the purchase, even if they did not actually buy the product.
No plans for Germany with cashless systems
Does Aldi have similar plans for Germany? No, Aldi has no plans to introduce such a system in Germany. The German-language magazine IT Boltswise reports that the new concept remains limited to the UK: Aldi has no plans to implement it in Germany.
In Utrecht, the first “Shop & Go” store of Aldi was closed at the end of 2024, according to the German-language magazine Lebensmittelzeitung (Paywall). According to the company, the concept is not profitable and will not be further expanded.
German customers will therefore continue to wait in line at the checkout when they shop at Aldi.
By the way, supermarkets are also posing problems for Generation Z. Young people primarily shop online. The corona pandemic has only intensified this trend. However, as soon as young people have to go to a “real” store, it becomes embarrassing or uncomfortable for many: Gen Z explains that their new nemesis lurks at the cheese counter and in the supermarket
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player on Reddit reports about his first experience with an ending in Baldur’s Gate 3 that has reached very few players – or perhaps no one wants to reach it at all. Because it really affected him emotionally.
Which ending did the player reach? In a Reddit post, the player Ok_Preparation6937 reports on an ending that has been reached by relatively few players. It is the ending “Whole the Dad”: The Dark Urge takes over the Nesserbrain in Bhaal’s name, ascends the Blood Throne – and ultimately destroys the world and all life. An ending that one could easily give the title of the “most evil” ending.
While you think about the coming, glorious deaths, Father sends a foreboding of your red-glossy fate: You are the end. The last living being, while all others were killed by your hand. Alone, amidst their bile, at the end of eternity. Then, and only then, will Father be proud.
Narrator from Baldur’s Gate 3 during the ending “Whole the Dad”.
However, the player felt a little differently than his character at the end of his run: “I just want to cry.” (via Reddit)
Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 from Baldur’s Gate 3:
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Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3
Reactions range from fear to euphoria
How did the player feel about his ending? The player writes that the ending completely overwhelmed him:
“I reached an ending that only 3% of other players have gotten. But I feel empty and it was a terrible ending because it was so evil. […] I just have … I have never been able to choose the evil path in games, a nod to Larian for creating a truly damn evil ending.”
He also adds that he is now playing a run in Honor Mode, where he plays a Dark Urge, who rejects his past and his father.
What do other players say about this ending? In his post, he also asks other players of the subreddit if anyone has played the same ending and if they regret it. The reaction is mixed, but sometimes significantly more euphoric compared to the author of the original post:
“After the ending, I had to take some time. It was so far removed from humanity, brutal and abominable at the same time. […] Otherwise, they really nailed it. To become the Absolute and the complete, squandered emptiness of everything. Brilliant” writes tarpex.
“My first campaign. I do not regret it. I have done it so many times already. Send help, I must be broken”, writes ghostarray.
“While I love achieving successes, I am unable to play through an evil run. Therefore, I am very glad about people like you who dare to do it and people who enjoy it. So I can see it”, writes Darth_Peregrine.
Baldur’s Gate 3 allows players to become a hero and savior of Baldur’s Gate or its destroyer. There are surprisingly few moral boundaries set for them here – which many of them gladly accept. Those who want to learn more about the possibilities of an evil finale in Baldur’s Gate 3 can read more here on MeinMMO: Baldur’s Gate 3 shows a new evil ending – and it is really dark
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a study, over 2,300 people were paid to refrain from using Google and instead use an alternative. Despite financial incentives, most returned to Google after a short time.
What study is this about? Researchers from Stanford, MIT, and Pennsylvania conducted a study a few months ago (via nber.org) in which 2,354 US internet users were paid to stop using Google. Instead, they were instructed to use Microsoft’s search engine, Bing. The aim of the study was to find out how ingrained Google is in users’ daily lives and whether financial incentives are sufficient to change search behavior permanently.
Not only researchers or browsers collect data. In this video, you can see how students spied on pedestrians with a hidden camera and AI.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
The Power of Search Lies in the Familiar
This is how the study took place: The participants were divided into three groups, each receiving different financial incentives to use Bing instead of Google. The goal was to investigate the motives behind Google’s strong market position and to understand how users might respond to regulatory interventions. The study focused on three factors:
the active choice of search engine
the change of default search engine
the amount of the switching bonus
The incentives were equivalent to 1, 10, and 25 euros, and the results were surprising: In the group with 1 euro, 32% of the participants chose Bing, with 10 euros it was already 64%, and in the group with 25 euros even 74%. This shows that money can motivate a change of search engine in the short term.
How long or intensively Bing should be used is not described. The information suggests that participants were observed over a period of two weeks.
What results did the study yield? After the study was completed, many users lost interest in Bing and switched back to Google. The reasons are simple: Google has become a habit for most users. Many find the search engine to be faster, more reliable, and better tailored to their needs. The setting of the default search engine also has little effect on user behavior, as many quickly revert the change.
How can Google assert itself? Besides habit, Google benefits from its extensive ecosystem. Services like YouTube, Gmail, or even Android are closely linked to the search engine, creating strong loyalty. Technically, Google is predominantly faster and often provides more relevant search results. This makes it difficult, according to the study, to convince users to switch, even if they theoretically try alternatives.
Is there real competition for Google? Besides Bing, there are search engines like DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, or Startpage, which focus primarily on better privacy. Nonetheless, other providers have so far struggled to gain significant market share according to statistics from statcounter. However, recent statistics show that more internet users have switched to other search engines than in the last ten years. In the last three months of the previous year, Google’s market share fell below 90 percent for the first time since early 2015.
The study illustrates how difficult it is to sustainably break entrenched user habits even through monetary incentives. Mozilla and its browser Firefox could be seriously at risk if the US justice system enforces its plans against Google. This is because many users are so accustomed to Google that a switch without comprehensive information and motivation is hardly feasible. At the same time, other projects are also closely intertwined with Google, making the transition even more challenging.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
PS Plus Essential will present the new games for June 2025 in a few days. MeinMMO summarizes all known information and explains which games could be included in the free bundle in June 2025.
What does the schedule look like?
PS Plus: Games available from Tuesday, June 3, 2025
PS Plus Essential: All games that could come in June 2025
What games are there? Generally, it can be stated that Sony often assembles a bundle of one strong title and two weaker games for PS Plus. However, no official information is known so far, which is why we have to rely on the fans’ speculations. The final lineup could still change.
For our selection, we compared a wide range of opinions and identified the most frequently mentioned titles. These include predictions from YouTubers Gaming Byte (via YouTube), Gaming Kestin (via YouTube), RoadBlockers Gaming (via YouTube), PlayStation World (via YouTube), as well as various threads on Reddit and posts on x.com.
Until Dawn Remastered
On the occasion of the film released on April 24, 2025, based on the game, the remaster of Until Dawn represents a potential candidate for the free games in June 2025. Until Dawn Remastered is a revised re-release of the horror adventure Until Dawn from 2015.
The game follows a group of teenagers who must survive a night in a remote mountain lodge – threatened by supernatural dangers and their own decisions. It relies on cinematic presentation, quick-time events, and the “butterfly effect” system, where every decision influences the course of the story.
The remastered version offers improved graphics, modern technology, and partially revised animations, but retains the original gameplay.
Start video
Until Dawn is back and shows improved graphics in the trailer for PS5 and Steam
EA F1 24
Another candidate is EA F1 24. The predecessor was already included in the free games for PS Plus Essentials last year, so it makes sense that this year the 24 version could follow the same path (via PlayStation Blog).
EA F1 24 is a racing simulation based on the official Formula 1 season 2024. The game allows you to take on the role of a real F1 driver or a self-created character and participate in races on all official tracks.
In addition to a realistic driving experience, F1 24 features a revamped career mode, improved vehicle physics, current teams and drivers, as well as various multiplayer options. It was developed by Codemasters and published by Electronic Arts.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
A third frequently mentioned candidate is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2.
It is a 2D platform fighting game where you battle with well-known characters from Nickelodeon series like SpongeBob, Avatar, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or Jimmy Neutron.
The game offers revamped mechanics compared to its predecessor, new special moves, a single-player campaign with roguelike elements, and an expanded online multiplayer with crossplay support. It was released on November 7, 2023, for various platforms.
Other possibilities
In addition to these favorites, there are also a few other games that fans frequently mention as potential options:
Fortnite and PUBG are among the biggest and most important shooters of the last 10 years. Another shooter tried his luck at the same time, but despite good ideas, he sank. Now the developer talks about that time.
Which game is it about? As the new genre of battle royale games rapidly grew in 2017, titles like PUBG and Fortnite quickly experienced a hype that continues to this day. However, a now-forgotten shooter was also seeking its success back then and found a swift end.
The talk is about the arena shooter Lawbreakers, which was released in August 2017. Its lead designer, Dan Nanni, recently spoke in an interview about that time and how he felt about the fight against the giants.
Here you can see the trailer for Lawbreakers:
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Lawbreakers showcases itself in the cinematic trailer of 2017
The Year of Giants
How did the release of Lawbreakers go? Although Lawbreakers was able to pique the curiosity of hundreds of thousands of fans with a strong cinematic trailer, the developers failed to establish a player base for their arena shooter. According to SteamDB, only 7,579 gamers played simultaneously at peak times, while the competition could excite millions of players.
It wasn’t just Overwatch, man. It was PUBG […] PUBG was on top, and at that time Fortnite was transitioning from Save the World to its Battle Royale. And that went into the stratosphere, right? And then Overwatch came and we all just sat there thinking: ‘Oh man, what have we done? We’re like this tiny minnow and around us are barracudas and sharks.’
Lawbreakers only lasted about a year after its release before the servers were shut down. The shooter was not perfect and could measure itself with a rating of 76 from critics at that time (via Steam). But in the end, the competition prevailed.
What lessons does the game designer draw from history? For Dan Nanni, with Lawbreakers also disappeared the work of 5 years into the drawer. In the conversation, he said: “You learn a lot from it […] You learn that no matter how well you play, you have to pay attention to the market. You can easily sink.”
The designer believes that his game would have a better chance today. “Players are more willing to support side titles,” he said in the conversation, likely meaning that players used to have a fixed title that they played continuously. Today, however, gamers are more flexible and switch more between titles.
It would probably have gone a little better [if we had launched today] […] Because then we wouldn’t have been on the rise of Fortnite… I think ideally we wouldn’t have launched when Overwatch was still at its peak, because we were too closely associated with Overwatch. And the problem was this: Gamers want to play with their friends, and if there is a game that their friends are playing that is similar to the one you are playing, you will go there and play where your friends play.
New Enchantments in World of Warcraft pose a simple question: Which Corruption Enchantment is the best?
In World of Warcraft, Corruption Enchantments are back. They originally appeared in Battle for Azeroth, but in light of the revamped Disturbing Visions, they are now available again in altered form. We will tell you how to obtain the new enchantments and which one is the best.
Start video
Only 6 people have a success in WoW – and they don’t know why
One Enchantment Outshines the Rest
Which enchantment is always worthwhile? If you are looking for an enchantment that achieves good values in all cases, then simply choose the “Greater Rune of the Void Ritual” with absolutely any character. This enchantment grants you a strong bonus to all secondary attributes at regular intervals and is suitable for all classes and specializations.
The greater enchantments will only be accessible in the coming weeks. Until then, you will have to make do with the smaller version.
Note: Keep in mind that Blizzard could still change the balance. As for the release (05/21/2025), the information is correct.
Why is the Void Ritual so strong? There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the effects are not as strong as they were in Battle for Azeroth. The “big death ray”, in other words, Twilights Devastation, is just a shadow of its former self – and this applies to nearly all enchantments. While there are specific situations where other enchantments can be slightly stronger, across various combat situations – such as a dungeon or raid – the Void Ritual remains the strongest.
Additionally, pure “damage” enchantments for tanks and healers have been nerfed by 30% since Battle for Azeroth. This is not the case for the Void Ritual, where only secondary values are increased.
At the beginning, Augermu only sells the weak enchantments.
How to obtain the new enchantments? The new Corruption Enchantments are only available for the head slot – you can only use one enchantment per character.
Start the quest line for the Disturbing Visions in Dornogal and simply follow the storyline. For one of the last quests, you need to collect 8 Bloodstone Residues from the Disturbing Visions. Once you’ve done that, you can purchase the minor enchantments. If you complete the follow-up quest, you will also be able to purchase the greater enchantments.
Minor enchantments cost 500 Offset Corrupted Relics
The relics can be obtained from the Disturbing Visions. You can farm them endlessly and also send the corresponding enchantments to alt characters since they will be bound to the Warband.
Unlocking the greater enchantments in the first week might be challenging, as you will receive a new talent tree that has a weekly cap. For most people, it will be enough to obtain the minor enchantments in the first week and then focus on the greater ones in week 2 or 3.
What is different about the enchantments? Unlike the original enchantments from Battle for Azeroth, the new enchantments are significantly weaker. They will only account for a few percentage points of your performance. Additionally, there is the advantage that they do not carry Corruption as a downside. So, you do not have to worry about negative effects, but can consider the enchantments as a pure bonus.
It has also been confirmed that the enchantments will only be active until Patch 11.2. In the next major content update, you will no longer be able to use them. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the enchantments as an additional bonus to squeeze out a bit more performance from your character until the end of the season. We have more tips and tricks regarding the Disturbing Visions here for you.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a new action RPG for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, an evil queen turns steel into stone so that no one can oppose her. To stop her, a grumpy blacksmith and a young scholar are tasked with the challenge.
Which game is being talked about? It is called Blades of Fire and will be released on May 22, 2025, for PC (Epic Games Store) as well as for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The new action RPG is being developed by MercurySteam – the studio that also worked on the two “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow” games and most recently on Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch.
Here you can see a trailer for Blades of Fire:
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Blades of Fire: Trailer for the Action RPG on PS5
What is the game about? In Blades of Fire, you play as Aran de Lira: a somewhat aged, grumpy blacksmith who lives alone on the border of a kingdom ruled by a queen named Nerea, who does everything to stay in power.
The queen has cast a spell on the land that turns steel into stone. Now, no one is able to forge weapons. Her own army is exempt as they possess “divine metal” that shatters any blade.
One day, Aran receives a visit from an old friend. This friend brings him a very special hammer that can circumvent the queen’s spell: freshly armed, Aran sets out to overthrow the queen, accompanied by the young scholar Adso.
In combat, God of War meets For Honor
How does the action RPG play? Blades of Fire features an action combat system with a shoulder camera similar to the “God of War” reboot: strike, block, dodge – so far, so familiar. However, like in For Honor, you decide from which direction your strike will come.
If you play on the controller, the combat controls look something like this:
by pressing the X button, you attack from the left
with Y, you perform an overhead strike
if you press B, you strike from the right
As a blacksmith, you are, of course, able to craft your own weapons. You have a choice of seven weapon types – including swords, battle axes, and halberds. Over time, your weapons will wear out, so you will need to repair them regularly.
Another parallel to God of War is the young Adso. Although he is not a direct combat aid like Atreus, he diligently takes notes on everything you encounter during your journey. These can be snippets of lore or notes about enemies that will tell you how to effectively defeat them.
A major update has fans rushing to the servers of Helldivers 2. The player count has doubled on Steam, but when you take a closer look at the reasons for the increase in players, there is no reason to celebrate.
There is a valid reason why many former Helldivers are now returning to establish justice and order in the name of democracy. The fate of humanity lies in the hands of the players, and if they fail, the consequences could be unimaginable.
Start video
Helldivers 2: Das neue Update Omens of Tyranny erfüllt langersehnten Wunsch
The Helldivers could soon lose everything
Why do players need to give their all now? Helldivers is structured in campaigns. A campaign starts fresh with the conflict of one of the three alien factions and stretches until Over-Earth wins or loses. However, it currently looks like humanity is losing.
The Illuminati are currently carrying out their invasion with unimaginable war machines and mutated creatures. Civilians are trying to save themselves while Helldivers, alongside SEAF units, hold the lines and make the aliens feel the combined power of democracy.
Before the invasion, up to 80,000 players fought during peak times, and since the new update was released, the current 24-hour peak is at 163,581 players simultaneously (via steamdb.info) and that’s just on Steam – with PlayStation players, there are even more Helldivers.
So it’s a good thing that so many active heroes are trying to protect Over-Earth. If the Helldivers are successful, they might have a chance to win the war.
It has been about two weeks since the surprising release of the second trailer for GTA 6, and fans have had enough time to thoroughly dissect the video.
What detail are we talking about? Hold on tight, but there is a devastating mistake in the second trailer for GTA 6. Are you ready? Okay. Don’t say I didn’t warn you: When Jason fires his gun, his face is illuminated before the muzzle flash even occurs.
This discovery was made by GTA detective Cat_With_Banana96, who shared it on Reddit with the words: ‘I don’t know if anyone has noticed this yet, but I wanted to mention it.’ Don’t worry, Cat_With_Banana96, it seems no one has noticed it yet, as the post received almost 9,000 upvotes.
Comments like the following are piling up:
‘I can’t believe I was so excited about this damn piece of trash.’
‘That’s it, I’m canceling my pre-order.’
‘Completely broken. Unplayable.’
One user even finds another mistake: Jason’s finger hardly bends when he pulls the trigger (via Reddit). You can see all the shame from Rockstar here:
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The comments from fans are, as you might have guessed, not entirely serious. And if GTA 6 unexpectedly doesn’t turn out to be one of the most successful entertainment blockbusters ever upon its release, it will hardly be due to a light appearing a frame too early.
You can watch the almost perfect trailer again here:
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Rockstar Games presents GTA 6 in the second trailer
Although the comments in this case are meant ironically, they are in a way still a reflection of the current state of the gaming industry – because much of this has been read in one form or another regarding countless upcoming releases.
In fact, players have already emerged who have examined the screenshots on their part and found a completely rational explanation for the supposed blunder at Rockstar. Could there be another light source? Is someone possibly shooting at Jason before he pulls the trigger?
Ludwig Ahgren is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber known for being a super nice guy, playing League of Legends really poorly, and constantly losing money. In a stream, he explained why he is currently losing cash.
Who is it about? Ludwig Ahgren, the former “golden boy” of Twitch, returned to the streaming platform at the end of 2024 after a 3-year exclusive contract with YouTube. There, he immediately activated the money hack many Twitch streamers use: he uploads stream clips for secondary use on YouTube.
Like many Twitch streamers, Ludwig has a dedicated YouTube channel for such stream clips. There, 1–3 short videos appear daily. However, clever business people are currently throwing a wrench in his plans.
Ludwig has a very special… friendship? with the LoL streamer Tyler1.
Start video
How the Worst Troll from Twitch Became the Face of League of Legends
Clip channels are stealing Ludwig’s viewers
What is the problem? As Ludwig explains in a recent stream, there are several so-called clip channels on YouTube that also upload his content. However, they do this much faster than he does—often, the moments are already on YouTube a few minutes after they happen in the stream.
While he only posts a few highlights from his streams, the clip channels upload a lot more. This is convenient for viewers, as anyone who misses a stream can easily watch the relevant clips on YouTube. Often, they even thank in the comments for the quick upload.
However, Ludwig himself comes away empty-handed, as the videos from the clip channels sometimes perform even better than his own. He says: “I’m being robbed. It happens on a daily basis, and it’s harming the channel.” He announces that some changes will be made on his clip channel in the future.
You can watch the corresponding clip here—on the official channel:
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What can he do? Many Twitch streamers have faced this very problem, and there are different ways to deal with clip channels. Ludwig describes his options as follows:
Alternatively, Ludwig could hire an editor to fill his channel for him. However, he might face the next problem here: the cutting debate.
It could even be worth hitting two birds with one stone and taking over the annoying clip channels directly while sharing the revenue. We also know this strategy from MontanaBlack.
What does he want to change now? Ludwig explains that the “nuclear” strategy is not an option for him. After all, the viewers of the clip channels are not trying to take his money. These channels simply provide a service he does not offer.
The streamer himself says he can’t even blame the clip channels. It’s simply a failure on his part. The channels fit better into the lives of the viewers.
Therefore, Ludwig now wants to go the route of hiring one or two of the clippers to upload videos on his channel going forward. He wants to take inspiration from one of the currently most successful streamers: Asmongold.
While the streamer explicitly states that he does not want to take over his content, the way Asmongold’s clip channel is run is exactly how his own should operate. Viewers should come to the channel and find five videos from today’s stream ready to watch.
Half Life 3 is like a myth when it comes to the gaming community. Fans have long been waiting for a sequel to the title on Steam: now for over 21 years. A former developer in retirement now reports whether he would help Valve with their sequel, but his opinion on it is already clear.
Which developer are we talking about? This is Marc Laidlaw. He was the lead writer at Valve and one of the leading developers behind the Half-Life games. The story of Gordon Freeman and the disaster at the secret facility at Black Mesa was crafted by his hands.
However, he left Valve in 2016 and dedicated himself to writing various stories. In a new interview with IGN, the veteran now talks about a possible return to Valve, should the studio need his help for Half Life 3. However, his opinion is already set.
Start video
Half Life 2 – Trailer
“The Half-Life part of my life is definitely behind me”
What did Marc Laidlaw report in the interview? IGN asked the veteran if he would agree to help Valve if they needed his assistance for the development of Half Life 3. According to him, he would decline. He felt even back then, when he was still on the team, that he would hinder the development because he had laid the groundwork.
The team didn’t need anyone saying, “Well, the G-Man wouldn’t have done that in my time.” For him, it was important to allow new ideas, and that would not have been possible with him.
He added: “Besides, I am one of the older ones, maybe not the oldest, but it’s so much work. I don’t think I could do that anymore. Although I take care of my own things, they don’t fit with others. And yes, I’m pretty much done. Maybe not entirely with games, but the Half-Life part of my life is definitely behind me.”
Nevertheless, the veteran is not completely out of the gaming industry. If Hideo Kojima contacted him and needed help polishing Death Stranding, he would be on board immediately.
21 years is a damn long time and yet Half Life remains, even though no third installment has been released, an iconic game. According to a developer from Valve, the studio is already working on Half Life 3, we just don’t know when Gabe will decide to announce the game: Valve developer says he has hints that Half-Life 3 is really being developed
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Belial is the new boss in Diablo 4. We will show you how to summon him, how to defeat him, and what you should prepare for.
How to summon Belial: To summon the hideout bosses, you no longer need special materials since Season 8. You can simply travel to Belial’s dungeon and summon him at the altar. Head to the “Palace of the Deceiver” west of Tarsarak in Kehjistan on a torment level. Once you interact with the altar, the boss fight begins.
After defeating Belial, a chest spawns that you can open with 2 “Cloaks of the Traitor” to obtain the loot. You get these from Belial when he randomly spawns after another boss fight. The boss has a special feature regarding his loot, as: You can choose it yourself – more about this below.
What level is Belial?With Season 6, Blizzard abolished the often-criticized world levels and integrated a new difficulty system. Monster levels then correspond to the level you are playing on and are no longer displayed. Belial’s level thus depends on your difficulty level, as does the level of the enemies that await you in the “Palace of the Deceiver.”
Start video
Diablo 4 shows the new level system and difficulty levels in the video
Another point is your resistance to shadow and poison. This should be at least above 70% for both so that you can start the fight more comfortably. If your resistances are not that high, you can temporarily increase your resistance with a potion – or you can also use (additionally) incense.
What should I watch out for? Belial stays in one place throughout the fight – you stand on a platform in front of him, and the boss himself stays behind this platform. Dodging by “rolling behind the boss” is not possible here. Instead, you have to move cleverly in a semicircle in front of him.
Belial strikes the ground with his fist and drags it across the platform, which knocks you back and deals significant damage. Additionally, he fires a beam that sweeps across the platform. Teleport over it or position yourself on the opposite side right away.
In between, the Lord of Lies spawns poison puddles around you. Make sure not to stand in the puddles, as you will otherwise take high damage. Avoid the waves of poison that emerge from the puddles. Furthermore, Belial summons several eyes that deal damage to you. Position yourself so that no eye is directly aimed at you.
What loot does Belial drop? Unlike the other bosses, you choose your loot from Belial yourself. After defeating the boss, you receive a list of all hideout bosses, from which you can essentially choose a loot drop. For example, if you choose Duriel, the chest drops uniques from Duriel’s loot pool. You have a chance for mythic uniques with all bosses. An overview of all loot drops from the hideout bosses can be found here: Diablo 4 Boss Loot Table: List of all bosses and their drops in Season 8
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
