I have completed all Souls games 100% – Is Elden Ring: Nightreign worth it for Souls fans?

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

Many fans of the Souls genre will be asking themselves about Elden Ring: Nightreign: Is this game for me, even though it takes a different approach than Dark Souls? Our Souls expert Christos Tsogos, a long-time fan of the genre, has taken on the question and provides you with an answer.

Who is writing here? Christos, one of the Souls experts from MeinMMO. My journey with the genre began back with Demon’s Souls on the PS3. From there, I progressed through all the Dark Souls titles, Bloodborne, and of course Elden Ring – along with their respective DLCs.

I have completed every game at 100%, collected every achievement, and spent hundreds of additional hours raiding worlds and stealing players’ souls. So, I should have a good sense of what the community in the genre wants.

When it comes to Elden Ring: Nightreign, it’s not surprising that fans are skeptical. After all, the spin-off is supposed to diverge significantly from the beloved Souls formula. Therefore, I want to clear up your question marks and explain whether the game is for you or not.

Start video
Elden Ring Nightreign: In the new multiplayer mode, you must summon comrades!

Is Elden Ring: Nightreign Worth It for Souls Fans?

Since the announcement, I’ve been gathering every bit of information about Nightreign and was even able to participate in the developers’ network test. At first, I was skeptical, but the closer we get to the release, the clearer my impression of the game becomes. In my view, there are now two potential concerns for Souls fans regarding Nightreign:

Is this game for me, even though there isn’t a vast open world to explore?

To the first question, I can tell you right away: If you want to explore a huge world like Lordran, Yharnam, or the Lands Between and lose yourself in it, then you’re in the wrong place with Nightreign. The size and extent of the maps will be significantly limited to make the rain mechanics meaningful.

Elden Ring: Nightreign HUB title image
A Night Lord awaits behind this gate

However, what might be interesting are the maps themselves. They are supposed to be procedurally generated and provide variety through different biomes. While this can’t replace a vast world, it might still encourage fans to explore the small maps repeatedly.

The shooter Helldivers 2 demonstrates this with its maps. While they are always consistent in terms of biomes, their procedural generation keeps them feeling fresh and gives the impression that you are always discovering something new.

Will the game become monotonous once I’ve defeated all the bosses?

The second important question concerns replayability. The goal of Nightreign is to defeat all Night Lords. But what happens once you’ve defeated them all? FromSoftware has anticipated this as well, offering the following features to keep you engaged:

  • There will be various skins from Dark Souls that you can earn for your Nightfarer
  • Each Nightfarer has its own story that can be explored as you continue playing
  • You can try out different builds and also take on challenge runs
  • A DLC is also planned and will provide new content once the game is released

FromSoftware is already aware in advance that Nightreign needs to offer something that fans can engage with for a longer time. After all, the bosses alone won’t last long.

More on the topic
More on the topic
An expert on Dark Souls was allowed to play a new version of Elden Ring: Nightreign for 4 days, answering the community’s questions
von Christos Tsogos

Concise Conclusion: Should I Join in as a Veteran?

If you’ve played all the Souls titles from FromSoftware and are looking for a nostalgic trip with old bosses, you will have fun with Nightreign. Especially if you can even wear iconic armors like those of Solaire.

However, if you are looking for an Elden Ring 2 or Dark Souls 4, you will be disappointed by Nightreign. The game focuses more on short, memorable experiences rather than a long journey that concludes with a dark ending.

I must finally say: The base game of Elden Ring impressed me back then, as FromSoftware is known for initially downplaying its products just to surprise fans with their vast scope. I think it will be similar with Nightreign.

The network test was surely just the tip of the iceberg, and there will likely be much more in the game that will leave us speechless. I am definitely excited and will be there at release. Do you want more information about Nightreign? Then check here: Elden Ring: Nightreign – All information about release, gameplay, and price

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Here are the 5 strongest Hunters from Solo Leveling that Jin-Woo meets at the Hunter Association

Esmeralda Eickemeyer Esmeralda Eickemeyer Reading time 5 minutes

In the Anime Solo Leveling, there is hardly an organization as influential as the Hunter Association. As Jin-Woo begins to establish himself in the upper ranks of the organization, he encounters some of the most powerful hunters in Korea.

Attention Spoiler: The article may contain spoilers about the Solo Leveling anime seasons 1 and 2.

[toc]

How were the characters selected? This article refers to the events in the Solo Leveling anime seasons 1 and 2. Throughout the story, the main character Jin-Woo encounters various members of the Hunter Association. This is a government organization that oversees the hunters, gates, and guilds in Korea. They play a central role in managing the threat posed by dungeons and work closely with guilds and high-ranking hunters to protect the population.

Some of these hunters that Jin-Woo encounters accompany him briefly, while others leave a lasting impression. For this list, 5 individuals were chosen who stand out due to their strength, presence, or influence on the storyline.

Our list is an arbitrary order of the individuals and is not ranked by strength or level.

Start video
Solo Leveling: Trailer for Season 2 Arise from the Shadow

Go Gun-Hee

Who is he? Go Gun-Hee is the chairman of the Korean Hunter Association and, despite his advanced age, is among the most powerful hunters in the country. His character embodies experience, strategic foresight, and a quiet authority. 

Even though he no longer actively participates in fights, his influence over the hunter community remains unbroken. As the highest representative of the Hunter Association, he bears the responsibility for South Korea’s defense against the magical gates and monsters – his decisions determine life and death.

Why is he so strong? Go Gun-Hee was once an active S-rank hunter with immense power and counted among the strongest. Although he is limited due to his age, his former combat strength is still felt through his presence.

Particularly noteworthy is his instinct for emerging threats and extraordinary talents: he is one of the first to recognize the true potential of Sung Jin-Woo.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

WoW admits: The housing system was inspired by WildStar

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of World of Warcraft have taken a look at other MMOs when it comes to housing. They openly admit: WildStar was an inspiration.

When World of Warcraft announced some time ago that after decades of hesitation it would finally introduce player housing, there was great anticipation. However, there were also many concerns – as many feared it would just be “Garrison 2.0”.

As more and more information became available, we at MeinMMO said: This looks exactly like WildStar’s housing. Now the developers admit: Yes, we know that one.

Start video
Spieler-Häuser in WoW werden das „ehrgeizigste Feature, das es jemals gab“

What happened? In recent days, several content creators from various countries had the chance to take a closer look at World of Warcraft’s housing and grill the responsible developers with questions. Many details came to light, including the sources of inspiration that were used.

Where was this said? The two YouTubers Dratnos and Preach had the opportunity to speak with Toby Ragain, the Lead Designer for neighborhoods, and Jay Hwang, the Design Lead for decorations.

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During the conversation, it was about all the possibilities and systems that had to be created for housing. The multitude of decorations was particularly mentioned – as during development it became apparent that they needed this or that object. To this, Jay Hwang said:

That’s how we ended up with the feature list. Again and again [during development], we said: Oh, that would be so useful. Add it to the list. Or we need this too. Add it to the list.

This is also based on the fact that we played all these other games, like WildStar or Final Fantasy. All these housing games, where we said to ourselves: “I love that they have this here. But can we make it even better?” And that’s how it developed.

The parallels to WildStar will likely be immediately noticeable to most when they first experience housing. The freedom to adjust the size of all objects and to move them with precision in the space strongly resembles the former MMORPG by Carbine, which unfortunately has sadly met an inglorious end.

More about WoW:
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz
WoW: Midnight Tier List – Ranking of the Best Classes for DPS, Tanks and Healers
von Christos Tsogos
Blizzard promised quick updates with WoW Midnight without loss of quality – The endeavor has failed
von Karsten Scholz

If in a few months you get to work on the housing feature and find that it somehow feels a lot like WildStar – there’s a clear reason for that. The developers of WoW know this game and found the housing so good that it will also be present in WoW. However, fans already see a problem with housing…

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

MMORPG on Steam wants to do it like Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Going offline in June to come back better than ever in 2026

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In a few weeks, the servers of Fractured Online will go offline. But not forever! Like Final Fantasy XIV and the “A Realm Reborn” version, there should also be a successful comeback here.

What is planned for the relaunch? MeinMMO had already reported that Fractured Online has received new owners in March 2025 and that they are planning a comprehensive relaunch for the MMORPG. In a video on YouTube, the specific details were revealed a few days ago:

  • On June 15, 2025, the servers of Fractured Online will be shut down.
  • Until then, it will no longer be possible to invest money in the free-to-play MMORPG.
  • The relaunch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, with the first tests of the new version planned for the 3rd quarter of 2025.

The launch trailer for the early access version of Fractured Online:

Start video
Fractured Online – Early Access Launch Trailer

Changes Require a Relaunch

Why the relaunch? In the video, the developers mention two main reasons for needing to take the MMORPG offline for a certain period:

  • The technical backend is outdated, has security vulnerabilities, and cannot be properly updated or improved by the new owners. The move to a new backend system has already begun.
  • Many systems in Fractured Online will change drastically, including progression mechanics, leveling, PvP, building, the class system, and more. There will also be significant visual changes, such as with the models and the game world.

The adjustments are so extensive and profound that they cannot simply be implemented into the existing live service. There will even be a new product page on Steam. Those who have invested money in the game, such as purchasing Fractured Online or the VIP mode, will continue to benefit from it. More details about the relaunch are expected in the coming months.

What do I need to know about Fractured Online? The MMORPG by Dynamight Studios has experienced turbulent years. Although they celebrated early access on Steam in 2022, the launch was under a bad star. There were many issues and technical problems. In January 2023, the team decided to return to closed development.

In November 2023, they celebrated a rather successful comeback. The poor Steam reviews from launch (only 27 percent positive) climbed to a balanced 56 percent. Additionally, player numbers were finally high enough to pay salaries and other obligations. However, the highs did not last long.

More about Fractured:
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von Karsten Scholz
New MMORPG on Steam gets one of the most important comfort features ever, currently costs no more than 2 Euros
von Karsten Scholz

Player numbers plummeted again due to ongoing issues. The developers struggled for the survival of the studio. Ultimately, the mentioned takeover by “Happy Cauldron Games” occurred in March 2025.

By the way, this turbulent scenario has been the case for most Kickstarter MMOs in the last 13 years. Fractured Online is one of the few projects that ended up being released and is still playable today. What happened to the other 23 games, you can read here: 24 Kickstarter MMOs that wanted your money – A financial review after 13 years with a frustrating balance

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

An influencer has been marketing expensive luxury products to German Twitch streamers for years – Now he is trying it with the Americans

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

A German influencer is known for selling expensive luxury goods, especially to Twitch streamers. Now he wants to try his luck internationally and has already achieved some initial success.

Who is it about? Marc Gebauer is a German influencer known for his trade in luxury items. His shop mainly features expensive watches and perfumes.

In the German influencer scene, Marc Gebauer has made a name for himself and regularly supplies German Twitch streamers and YouTubers with expensive goods. After moving to Las Vegas in the USA, Marc Gebauer wants to make a name for himself internationally as well.

Trymacs has also been repeatedly asked by Marc Gebauer if he would like to buy a watch from him:

Start video
Vom Pizza-Lieferant zu einem der größten deutschen Twitch-Streamer – Leben und Karriere von Trymacs in 2 Minuten

Community mocks Marc Gebauer

How does Marc Gebauer plan to make an international breakthrough? To build an international reach, Marc Gebauer launched a TikTok channel in February 2025, where he speaks exclusively in English. This way, he addresses an international audience and presents his products in the videos.

The problem: his own community. When they discover his English TikTok channel, they can’t resist using the comment section. However, the majority write in German, causing the channel to partially miss its purpose.

In the comments, Marc Gebauer has to endure quite a bit of mockery:

  • Jason writes (via TikTok): “This account is now the property of the Federal Republic of Germany”
  • guglok writes (via TikTok): “Nice here. But have you ever been to Baden-Württemberg?”
  • zargonv1 comments (via TikTok): “This was a good attempt”

After some time, the influencer asks his community to please write only in English on his international channel. However, the next step for the community is to start writing in English only on the German channel.

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Many comments can also be found under this TikTok that poke fun at the influencer.

“This is your work”

Besides all the joking from the community, they also do something good: They regularly tag international influencers under Marc Gebauer’s videos. Ultimately, with success.

YouTube streamer IShowSpeed reacted to a perfume recommendation for him, which Marc Gebauer has captured in a video (via TikTok). Although he is somewhat offended by the name of the perfume, the mere reaction to Marc Gebauer could be a starting shot for his international reach.

Marc Gebauer is very pleased with this reaction, as he shared in another TikTok. He thanked his community: “This is your work”. Furthermore, he promised his community a surprise as a reward if they order something from his shop.

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The Kick streamer xQc also reacted to Marc Gebauer’s perfume recommendation, but less enthusiastically (via TikTok). The foundations for an international reach have been laid. It remains to be seen when he can complete his first successful sale, just like the Twitch streamer Rumathra: Twitch streamer wanted to pay only 18 euros for an outing – In the end, he had a bill for 35,000 euros

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Garc Mebauer auf YouTube (auch Bildquelle)

Hayao Miyazaki hates it when Ghibli is compared to Disney

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Most of you may know Hayao Miyazaki for his animes at the animation studio Ghibli. He dislikes being referred to as “the Disney of Japan” or having Ghibli compared to Disney, despite both studios enjoying similar successes in their home countries.

Why does he dislike this description? In an interview, 44 questions were posed to Hayao Miyazaki. One of them was how he feels when someone uses the term “the Disney of Japan” for him and Studio Ghibli.

Miyazaki addresses the comparison between himself and Walt Disney, the founder of the animation studio (via discoverghibli.com):

Walt Disney is a producer, right? I am an animator on-site, or a director, so I have trouble with being compared to him. I have met some of the Nine Old Men who worked with Walt Disney. They were pioneers of Disney animation. I respect them.

Thus, Miyazaki sees himself more as an animator and director, while Disney is viewed as a company and a producer. The “Nine Old Men” refers to a group of animators who worked at the animation studio between 1920 and 1980 and were named by Walt Disney himself. They are considered legends in the studio.

Start video
Spirited Away Trailer (English)

Miyazaki does not draw inspiration from Disney films

What does Miyazaki think of Disney? Although he cannot stand being compared to Disney, he holds great respect for the work of his colleagues in America. He appreciates the pride they feel in their work.

However, even though Miyazaki has positive words for the Nine Old Men, they did not inspire his own works. According to the creator of Spirited Away, animators who are about 10 years older than him were influenced by Disney. His own sources of inspiration include:

  • The King and the Mockingbird (1979)
  • The Snow Queen (1957)
  • Story of the White Snake (1958)

The reason for this is that works like Pinocchio or Snow White cannot capture the emotions of people. In terms of depicting human hearts, the films are rather simplistic and not so entertaining. The works that inspired Miyazaki depicted human thoughts and hearts more effectively.

This led the anime legend to be touched and inspired to become an animator. He believed that animation was the best way to express human hearts.

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Hayao Miyazaki has respect for Disney’s animators, but he is not a big fan of the films himself. Even more curious is that he is not a fan of animes, despite his life revolving around anime films: The Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki is not a fan of animes, revealing how many children should watch per year

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Star Citizen has gone too far after 14 years and 800 million dollars – But actually, the community is to blame itself

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 4 minutes

After fans have invested countless millions in Star Citizen over more than a decade, they draw a line with the latest shop update. They share some of the blame for the increasingly problematic monetization – at least that’s what MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz believes.

You may have heard: The people responsible for Star Citizen want to monetize certain components of spaceships. This includes so-called “Flight Blades,” which influence the flight behavior of ships by increasing maximum speed or improving maneuverability. Weapon kits are also part of the new offering.

Anyone who dares to enter the Reddit area of Star Citizen since the announcement will find numerous discussions surrounding the recent expansion of the shop. It is once again about Pay2Win accusations, the alleged greed of the developers, and ideas for many more (sarcastic) suggestions for microtransactions that Cloud Imperium could offer in the future.

The first response from the developers to the harsh feedback is also criticized: Despite the criticism, they want to sell smaller components like the “Flight Blades” or bomb racks for real money currency aUEC from June onwards, while also making them earnable as a compromise (via robertsspaceindustries.com).

Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz has been gaming for 38 years, has been writing about games professionally for 16 years, and would really love a sci-fi MMO in the style of Wing Commander. Nevertheless, he has not invested a single cent in Star Citizen so far. Players often fall on their faces with pre-orders and crowdfunding actions. Tip of the day: Only buy games that have been officially released!

Although the Polaris cost almost 1,000 euros, it is too cheap to rank among the top 5 most expensive spaceships from Star Citizen. Here is the trailer:

Start video
Star Citizen: The new capital ship Polaris in trailer

The wallet dictates what developers dare to do

In general, I also criticize this recent announcement. The more gameplay-relevant content ends up in a shop, the more negatively it affects the player experience – always. And as soon as purchases potentially influence the strength of one’s own characters or spaceships, I see it as Pay2Win, regardless of whether these things can also be earned through gameplay.

At the same time, I have some questions in my head:

  • Why are fans drawing a line now and not earlier?
  • And what did the fans expect would happen?

After all, more than 5.6 million supporters have clearly indicated to the developers with their wallets over the past 14 years that their willingness to invest more and more money is record-high, and that even in 2025.

Just one result of the nearly 820 million US dollars collected by players so far: Cloud Imperium has grown into a huge AAA studio over the years and burns a fortune every year just on salaries. This is money that has to regularly come in somehow, especially since not a single game has been released yet.

From my perspective, it was therefore clear that the developers would continue to expand the shop over time, especially when selling always new ships or starter packs no longer meets the targeted revenue goals. Though one could also argue that the developers are merely expanding a known monetization strategy.

The officially expressed statement from the developers regarding the criticism supports this: they are now effectively doing what they have done before with other offers, following the usual approach so that fans who want to can additionally support the development. It’s not mandatory, after all. The game isn’t even released yet. So why the fuss?

What else might land in the Star Citizen shop?

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Willingness to pay with 7 seals

The very criticism that is now taking place on Reddit should have occurred on a large scale many years ago. As appealing as the promise behind Star Citizen sounds – even to my ears, by the way – there are so many “red flags” surrounding the project – and that has been the case for many years.

Moreover, investing money in an MMO that has not yet been released is generally a bad idea. The destructively poor track record of Kickstarter MMOs from the past 13 years underscores this.

More about Star Citizen:
26 MMOs that wanted your money via Kickstarter – A sad balance after 14 years
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500 fans hold a large meeting in Star Citizen, player rants: I would prefer if the devs met
von Dariusz Müller

In short: I don’t understand why players invest horrendous sums into a project like Star Citizen, where it is uncertain whether, when, and in what form it will be released. Nor do I understand why the uproar is happening right now. The supporters made the financing model of Star Citizen possible with their wallets. You reap what you sow… or something like that.

The developers are also creating a problem for themselves: The more packed the shop becomes and the more it allows big investors to simply buy their power in Star Citizen, the more discouraging the “paywall” is likely to be for all potential newcomers at launch.

At least it seems that Star Citizen is slowly but surely becoming a real game that can actually be fun – so it’s not a scam intended to consciously pull money out of players’ pockets without delivering a playable product in the end: Players tried Star Citizen years ago, couldn’t even get through the tutorial – try it again now and are in love

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

„Make many enemies with this“ – Fritz Meinecke receives a ban for the money cheat on Twitch

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

Fritz Meinecke heralded a new era on 7 vs. Wild with his survival format on YouTube. He has now established himself in the YouTube and Twitch bubble, but he has received a very special ban from his colleagues.

What is the money cheat on Twitch? On Twitch, there are some streamers who repeatedly react to the content of others. This brings a solid financial result with minimal effort. No great new content needs to be planned and realized; instead, one can simply watch a video together with the chat in the stream.

Almost every major Twitch streamer therefore has their own YouTube channel where these reactions are uploaded for additional income. Streamer xQc believes this should be one of the core elements of every Twitch streamer.

Recently, there has been a lot of reaction in the German Twitch scene to the second season of the YouTube format “The Race”. Fritz Meinecke also reacted to this, prompting him to talk about the reaction ban imposed on him by some colleagues.

Fritz Meinecke streams regularly on Twitch. We introduce you to the 5 most relevant German streamers in our video:

Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google

“I have been issued a reaction ban”

In a Twitch stream where he reacts to the latest episode of the second season of The Race, Fritz Meinecke uses the situation to talk about the reaction ban.

He received this from some of his YouTube colleagues, but he does not mention any names. The reason seems to be the survival expert’s opinion. The YouTuber states: “I have been issued a reaction ban because they don’t like my style” (via YouTube).

What does Fritz Meinecke think of the ban? Basically, the survival expert does not mind being subjected to such a ban. Because “legally”, he does not have “the basis” to watch the content (via YouTube). He further states that he would respect the decision of others and would adhere to it.

However, it seems that Fritz Meinecke finds the ban a bit exaggerated, because he further remarks:

(…) because everyone is just pampered; everyone is washed soft and then cannot even cope with someone saying something. And I know that I make a lot of enemies because of this and that some people cannot stand me for it. Well, that’s how it is, but that’s my opinion.

Fritz Meinecke via YouTube

What basis is meant? Normally, YouTubers and Twitch streamers allow themselves to react to each other’s content. The reactor has a source of income, and the person being reacted to gains attention for their video and channel.

However, it is possible to report a copyright infringement through such a reaction on YouTube. In many cases, the reporting party succeeds, but in some cases, they do not.

There is an unwritten rule in the YouTube and Twitch bubble that no one gives someone else a so-called “strike” for a copyright infringement on the platform.

As a result, the video becomes demonetized, meaning no money can be made from it, and with repeated violations, it can lead to the closure of the channel by YouTube. The closure of a YouTube channel can pose a threat to the main source of income for some YouTubers.

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Fritz Meinecke has shaped all of YouTube with his format 7 vs. Wild. A fifth season is eagerly awaited by the community, so much so that the YouTuber cannot even fly on vacation in peace: Fritz Meinecke flies on vacation for 4 weeks and fans of 7 vs. Wild think that season 5 is being filmed here

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Fritz Meinecke - Live auf YouTube (auch Bildquelle)

The official figures of Baldur’s Gate 3 were so ugly that those affected can get their money back and keep them

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

Fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 were recently disappointed by the quality of the official minis for Baldur’s Gate 3. Apparently so much that the company behind it has now officially apologized.

What was wrong with the figures? The box set “Icons of the Realm” with 7 official figures for Baldur’s Gate 3 from the US company WizKids recently caused discontent in the community. On  X.com, some fans shared their disappointment about the quality of the minis.

Because these arrived in the community somewhat severely deformed, with messy colors and sometimes missing body parts, looking significantly different from their template, which WizKids marketed for the set, leading to the assumption of a production error.

Some also took it with humor and joked that mods should be developed to make the characters look like that. In the meantime, the photos of the deformed figures had even developed into a meme (via Reddit).

Now the company behind the figures has responded to the criticism and promises affected customers a refund.

Start video
Hasbro hat Pläne für Baldur’s Gate 4, doch die Fans glauben: “Ein Studio müsste irre sein, um Larian nachzueifern”

“We are refunding the full purchase price, a return of the product is not necessary.”

How does WizKids respond to the incident? In an entry on their homepage, the company has now spoken out about the quality and asks all affected to contact them:

WizKids is committed to developing products that enhance and increase the fun of gaming. We want our customers to create long and beautiful memories of game nights with friends and family with our products.

Unfortunately, we did not achieve this goal with the D&D Icons of the Realms: Baldur’s Gate 3 Character Boxed Set. If you purchased this set from our online stores, we offer a full refund to those who are dissatisfied with their set.

[…]

We sincerely apologize for the frustration and disappointment that these quality issues have caused our customers. We feel the same way, as the final product did not meet our expectations or those of our partners at Wizards of the Coast.

Our teams are working to find the best solutions for all parties involved and to work with you, our customers, to resolve this issue. We thank you for your patience as we focus on contacting those affected and assisting them with their refunds.

GameStar Black Edition Baldur's Gate 3 05/25
GameStar Black Edition Baldur’s Gate 3 05/25
Bundle aus Heft und Epaper
Exklusiv im GameStar Shop – Ab sofort verfügbar
  • 200 Seiten zum Rollenspiel-Hit 
  • detaillierte Komplettlösung mit Entscheidungshilfen
  • Profi-Tipps zum Zaubern, Schleichen, Kämpfen uvm.
  • stabile Charakterkarten zu den Origins aus dem Spiel
  • XXL-Doppelposter (57,4 x 78,0 cm)
  • könnt ihr nicht daten – egal wie sehr ihr es liebt
14,99 €

Accordingly, all who received defective products will receive a full refund of the purchase price or a new product, ensuring that “the expected standards are met.”

They also state in a post on x.com that a return is not required. Thus, fans can keep the defective products. Meanwhile, the product page for the set is no longer accessible (via shop.wizkids.com). Whether the set will be offered again in the future is currently unknown.

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Here are 5 powerful organizations from Dungeons & Dragons you should know about
von Alexander Mehrwald

Alongside the classic companions Wyll, Karlach, Astarion, Lae’zael, Gale, and Shadowheart, Lazarus (engl. Withers) was also included. There are also several candidates who will adorn your lager over a longer period in the game, such as Jaheira or Minsc. But Volo would also have been a suitable figure in this set, as he plays not only a larger role in Baldur’s Gate 3: Volo acts in Baldur’s Gate 3 like a braggart, but in D&D he is a truly important character.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Researchers have been dealing with remote work for four years to determine what Millennials have known for a long time

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A study has investigated how working from home affects employees. The researchers found that people working from home are better off because they have more time for other things in their daily lives as they do not have to commute.

What kind of study is this? A research team from the University of South Australia has studied for 5 years (since 2020) how the Corona pandemic (Covid-19) affects employed individuals. They also gathered some conclusions about the impacts of working from home.

The researchers agree: This flexibility significantly improves the well-being and satisfaction of employees and changes our relationship with work.

Start video
“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real

Those who spend less time commuting can make better use of their time in everyday life

The conclusions of this large-scale study show that despite sometimes contradictory data, which is due to the complexity of the topic, the option to work from home has significant benefits for the physical and mental health of employees.

What has changed? Before the pandemic, the average Australian spent about 4.5 hours per week commuting to work. The researchers point out that this commuting time is often associated with poorer mental health and a worse perception of one’s health. According to the study, reducing or eliminating these daily commutes, which cause stress and fatigue, has direct impacts on health.

What do people do with their free time? The additional free hours that are no longer used for commuting are utilized differently depending on the employee: some of it is used for work, while another part is dedicated to family obligations such as child-rearing or caregiving duties.

The researchers also point out that “when you spend more time on leisure activities while working from home, there are more opportunities to engage in physical activity and less sitting.”

And another positive change can be observed: People who work from home eat healthier. The proximity to the home kitchen leads to a higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, and the number of home-cooked meals also increases.

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Crimson Desert: The best settings for the most FPS
von Benedikt Schlotmann
Forget the Steam Machine: Players are waiting for another device from Valve and it could sell like hot cakes
von Benedikt Schlotmann
Startup relies completely on AI tool for daily work, suddenly loses access for the entire company
von Claudio Niggenkemper

Millennials have long called for more working from home and can feel confirmed

What does this have to do with millennials? The magazine Venn has explored how different groups of people prefer to work. The team found that millennials prefer to work from home and do not like being in the office: 84% prefer to work from home rather than in the office.

The study from Australia more or less confirms the wishes and demands of millennials: they cite environmental concerns and desires for better technology, flexibility, and improved and healthier meal options as arguments for working from home. And according to the study, individuals have benefited from exactly this. In contrast, Generation Z has exactly the opposite view: Generation Z celebrates exactly what many millennials dislike: working in the office

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. farmingdale-observer.com

A new MMORPG is set to be bigger than Throne and Liberty, but with less Pay2Win

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

The upcoming PvE MMORPG Aion 2 will soon be presented in a livestream. Prior to that, the CFO and his Co-CEO have already revealed some details.

What kind of MMORPG is this? Aion 2 is an upcoming MMORPG from NCsoft, intended to be the successor to the popular Aion, which first appeared in Europe in 2009. Unlike its predecessor, part 2 focuses on PvE.

For NCsoft, Aion 2 is a prestige project with high expectations. Currently, about 300 employees are working on the MMORPG. The beautiful Unreal Engine 5 serves as the engine. In the context of their new financial report, the heads of the MMORPG spoke with ThisisGame.com and revealed new details.

Here you can see the first teaser for Aion 2:

Start video
Aion 2 shows its world in new teaser, reveals date for when there will be more to see

More Success than Throne and Liberty

How big is Aion 2 expected to be? For NCsoft, Aion 2 is arguably the most important project in the near future. The MMORPG is expected to be larger than Throne and Liberty and could generate revenue between 192 million euros and 224 million euros. These are the most conservative estimates by NCsoft for the MMORPG.

The CFO Hong Won-jun states that the revenue outlook for Aion 2 is “much more optimistic than for Throne and Liberty,” and he believes that they can generate more than the cautious forecasts. NCsoft would only earn licensing fees from Amazon’s revenue, so the self-marketed Aion 2 could also yield more profit with the same revenue.

The MMORPG is expected to earn money in a manner similar to Throne and Liberty. There will likely be a shop for microtransactions. However, the developers are already announcing that there will be pay-to-win elements. These are supposed to be less than in T&L or other Lineage games.

Co-CEO Park Byung-moo says: “Of course, it’s not that there are no P2W elements at all, but since it targets the global market, it’s not a game like the Lineage-like game one normally thinks of.” Aion 2 is, like Throne and Liberty, a related one of the Lineage games, although the MMORPG is based on its own brand.

New Features for Aion 2

What features is the MMORPG expected to have? CFO Hong Won-jun and Co-CEO Park Byung-moo have reiterated the focus on PvE. Raids are expected to play a significant role. Aion 2 is supposed to offer “plenty of” raids, as well as mini-games and other PvE play modes. This already sounds very much like a theme park MMORPG.

While the MMORPG is set to be unveiled in a livestream on May 29, the first game test is expected to start in June. However, it is still unclear whether players from the West will be able to participate.

Aion 2 is expected to retain the key elements of its predecessor. Thus, the battles between the factions that existed in Aion will play a role again, even if the focus is not on PvP.

When will Aion 2 be released? The heads revealed in an interview that the release for Korea and Taiwan is planned for this November. The release for the West is planned for the middle of next year. The developers are likely orienting themselves on Throne and Liberty and want to improve the MMORPG in Asia first before offering it in the West.

More about MMORPGs
Upcoming MMORPG on Steam offers more Lost Ark than Lost Ark, but the developers have forgotten Germany
von Cedric Holmeier
4 Things Aion 2 Needs to Change to Succeed in the West
von Karsten Scholz
Blizzard promised quick updates with WoW Midnight without loss of quality – The endeavor has failed
von Karsten Scholz

So far, there is only limited information about the gameplay of Aion 2. The short teaser does not provide a real insight into the MMORPG yet. However, it can be assumed that Aion 2 will be a PvE MMORPG with theme park elements that does not want to strongly orient itself on Throne and Liberty and pays attention to its template. You can read about how high the expectations are for the prestige project here: The next big MMORPG for PvE fans takes players back to the good old days, pleading: “Please don’t destroy my memories”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. thisisgame.com
  2. YouTube

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 gets a movie – Everything we already know

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The best game of the year 2025 is getting a movie. We reveal what is known about the film of Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

It became clear once players worldwide could get their hands on Clair Obscur Expedition 33: The gameplay is strong, and the story of the RPG has the potential to be one of the best narratives in the history of video games. The grand story has also ensured that Clair Obscur Expedition 33 will be adapted into a live-action film.

The current information about the film is still sparse – we compile everything that is currently known.

Note: As soon as there are new updates, this article will be appropriately updated. Currently, it is up to date as of May 19, 2025.

Start video
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – JRPG with French Flair has Release Date

When was the film confirmed? The film was already confirmed before Expedition 33 went on sale. As early as January 2025, Sandfall Interactive and Kepler (the developer and publisher of the game) signed a contract with Story Kitchen for the film adaptation.

Story Kitchen is still relatively young but has already snagged some big titles to work on their adaptations. In addition to a “Tomb Raider” series on Netflix, they are also working on a film adaptation of “Split Fiction,” a series adaptation of “Life is Strange” – and now, of course, Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

Who plays which role in the film? The casting for Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has not yet been completed. Therefore, no actors have been confirmed for the roles.

When will the film be released? This is a question that likely cannot be answered satisfactorily in the foreseeable future. At this point, the casting is not even complete, so no one should expect a release of the film in 2025 or 2026. Depending on how quickly pre-production goes, 2027 would likely be a realistic date.

However, reliable information on this is still not available.

More about Expedition 33:
Expedition 33: The Endless Tower – Why the endgame content is worth it
von Cortyn
Speaker from Clair Obscur felt like a fraud, finally making amends
von Johanna
Clair Obscur will not commit to any “real” ending, yet is already working on a sequel
von Johanna

Are you looking forward to a film about Clair Obscur Expedition 33? Or do you believe that the unique, extensive story of the game can’t be packed into a single film without cutting out a lot of important elements?
Clair Obscur continues to break many records – and some really unusual ones.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. variety.com

For a unique ending in Baldur’s Gate 3, you have to roll really well and then be really dumb

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

In addition to the various endings after the finale of Baldur’s Gate 3, there are also other moments during the game that can mean a quick end for you and your group due to a wrong decision. One of these is almost impossible to achieve due to its difficulty and admittedly foolish decision.

Spoiler alert! This article contains information about the final act, a companion character, and the final boss of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Where is the hidden ending? The situation is located in the third act of the game in the city of Baldur’s Gate. There is a grated gate that would lead to the upper part of the city. You can actually only enter this in the finale of the game with all Netherstones to make your way to the Elder Brain. Because these stones protect you and prevent the brain from dominating you.

Those who approach the gate without these stones will be teleported back a few steps due to the stun effect “Mindbroken.” This effect occurs from a failed Constitution saving throw with a difficulty of 99, and is required several times when approaching the gate. The only way to touch the gate is therefore only through multiple 20 rolls (critical successes) in a row, which is nearly unthinkable without cheats. However, the YouTuber SlimX wanted to see what would happen in this unusual case.

Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 from Baldur’s Gate 3:

Start video
Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3

Incredible luck is followed by absolute stupidity

What happens if you reach the gate without the stones? SlimX shows in his detailed YouTube video several hidden secrets in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you usually don’t see in the normal game.

Through cheats, he can master the necessary saving throws with reliable critical successes and touch the gate, where Larian has actually provided specific dialogue. Here you can see the hidden ending in his YouTube video:

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The Emperor speaks up and wants to stop you from going through with this crazy decision. You would first need to find the hideout of the Elder Brain before you can confront it. Moreover, you are not adequately equipped yet. Therefore, he issues a clear warning:

“You do not have all the Netherstones. Without them, you cannot defeat it. Turn back. (…) You will be dominated, controlled. It will be the end of you, the end of me. The end of EVERYTHING.”

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What leads to Game Over? Anyone who, after these words, this clear warning, still decides to continue will be confronted with the following: 

“Of all the conceivable ways this could have ended … I warned you. The brain is too powerful here – my protection is insufficient. You have sent us to doom. All of us.”

And the brain will control you, leading to a premature end of the game – Game Over.

In a sense, it could be counted as another ‘evil’ ending, whereby the player, out of ignorance and stubbornness, leaves himself, his group, and the entire Sword Coast to the Elder Brain. On the other hand, due to the almost impossible saving throws, it is extremely unlikely that one could trigger this ending without cheats. But even for that, Larian has been willing.

More about Baldur’s Gate 3
Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
von Johanna
Baldur’s Gate 3: Decipher the ancient book – How to find and open the necromancy of Thay
von Fabienne Kissel
Baldur’s Gate 3: Recruiting Minthara – How to Get the Powerful Companion
von Benedict Grothaus

Pretty creative, but with a similar level of stupidity, was another decision of a player that also led to an instant Game Over. Apparently, many players enjoy making the most nonsensical decisions to experience the subsequent consequences… or just to drive the Emperor crazy: Baldur’s Gate 3: Player destroys indestructible item with a trick, discovering a secret Game Over

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. YouTube
  2. PC Gamer

In Pokémon GO, 2 legendary monsters get a new form – And it brings a big change

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

Pokémon GO has announced another detail of the GO Fest 2025. And there is a special feature that has not been in the game before.

What kind of event is this? The GO Fest is the largest annual event in Pokémon GO. It consists of 3 local parts and one global part. The global part of the event will take place this year on June 28 and 29, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day.

A highlight of the event for many trainers may be the new forms of the Sword King Zacian and the Shield King Zamazenta. The transformation brings a special feature that has not existed before.

Start video
Pokémon GO: What’s in the new Season Powerful and Masterful

Stronger forms, unique farming

What is special about the transformation? If you trigger a transformation with a Pokémon like Coiffwaff, you will need to pay a certain amount of resources such as Stardust, candies, or a special energy.

So far, it doesn’t matter how many times you perform the transformation: you incur the costs each time. Zacian and Zamazenta will be an exception. To perform the transformation for the first time, you will need the charge move Iron Head for each Pokémon and 1,000 energy each.

You will receive the energy similarly to how you receive energy for fusions like Necrozma, through raids that you can complete during the GO Fest 2025.

Once you have performed the transformation for the first time, you can at any time switch forms again – completely free of charge. So you can switch between the forms at any time.

How strong will the new forms be? How strong exactly the two new forms will be is still unknown. However, there is another special feature that both monsters bring. Both Pokémon can participate in Dynamax and Gigantamax battles – even though they do not have a Dynamax form themselves. This represents another novelty in Pokémon GO.

More on the topic
Dynamax-Regirock in Pokémon GO: The best counters against the boss
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon GO: All Events in May 2026 – Dates in the List
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon GO: Raids, legendary bosses and raid hours in May 2026
von Paul Kutzner

Will other monsters also receive this change? Whether the free transformation will also be possible for other monsters in the future or extended to existing Pokémon is also not known yet.

It is still a while until the GO Fest 2025. But even until then, many events with various contents will take place in Pokémon GO that you can participate in. If you want to know which events are coming up soon, feel free to check our overview of all events in May 2025 in Pokémon GO.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

In Harry Potter 1, Voldemort was only defeated because a clumsy character couldn’t keep his mouth shut

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

In the first book and movie of Harry Potter, a beloved character makes the same mistake twice. This has consequences for Hogwarts and the entire wizarding world, but on the other hand, Voldemort can only be stopped because of it.

Which character is it about? Hagrid is one of the first characters we meet in Harry Potter. The half-giant is the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts.

He brings Harry as a baby to the Dursleys and picks him up eleven years later to buy the necessary supplies for school in Diagon Alley.

During this, the two also visit Gringotts bank. Hagrid accepts a secret package there. Inside is the Philosopher’s Stone, which is to be stored at Hogwarts from then on – in close proximity to Dumbledore, who accomplished many great deeds over the years.

It’s unfortunate that while Hagrid is a lovable fellow, he can also be quite clumsy. He has made a fatal mistake, and that twice.

Start video
German trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The Secret of the Three-Headed Dog

What kind of mistake is it? It concerns the three-headed dog Fluffy, who protects the Philosopher’s Stone. Specifically, this oversized creature is the first of several hurdles that Hogwarts sets up to protect the stone from theft.

Although Fluffy is not among the most dangerous creatures in Harry Potter, getting past him is still difficult if you don’t know the right trick. It is as follows: Play some music, and Fluffy will fall asleep. Thereafter, you can open the trapdoor in the floor without being disturbed and go down a level.

This secret unfortunately does not remain one for long. Hagrid encounters Professor Quirrell along the way, who, however, is posing as someone else. At this time, Voldemort is already living at the back of the professor’s head. In their conversation, Hagrid rambles on and proudly tells about Fluffy – and the trick to get past him.

This allows Quirrell to get dangerously close to the Philosopher’s Stone by the end of the school year. Hagrid’s mistake could have ended badly; fortunately, he made it a second time and also accidentally told Harry, Ron, and Hermione about the trick with the music.

This way, they succeed in following Quirrell. After the three friends solve some additional puzzles, Harry faces the professor alone, and thereby also Lord Voldemort.

The situation is extremely dangerous for the young Hogwarts student and could have killed him in the worst case. Ultimately, however, he defeats Quirrell, and Voldemort also disappears into obscurity for several years.

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A nemesis of Harry Potter could be a werewolf, and no one at Hogwarts has noticed
von Christoph Waldboth
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10 Spells from Harry Potter that We All Wish We Could Use in Everyday Life
von Linda Baumgartl
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Hagrid’s mistake could have had serious consequences if it hadn’t been repeated. In the end, everything turned out well, but the gamekeeper would have been well advised to handle such valuable information more discreetly. In general, Hagrid loves strange creatures, including surely some from the following list: The 10 best creatures from Harry Potter ranked – Which ones enchanted us the most?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. fandomwire.com

„My job is not to get in their way“ – The boss of Take-Two explains why he doesn’t play GTA 6

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

While countless players eagerly await the release of GTA 6, CEO Strauss Zelnick has not yet played the game. In an interview, he explains why that is actually a good thing.

Many players are already looking forward to the release of GTA 6 on May 26, 2026, while the head of GTA 6 and CEO of the publisher Take-Two, Strauss Zelnick, hasn’t even touched the game yet. In an interview with the American news channel CNBC, he was asked whether he had played GTA 6 yet and what he thought of it.

His response: “I am not a gamer, at least not particularly – I do not play video games and I am not the ultimate consumer.” And that is a good thing, he continues, because his job is primarily not to get in the way.

Here you can see the second trailer for GTA 6:

Start video
Rockstar Games presents GTA 6 in the second trailer

“I think being the ultimate consumer in the industry would probably be a mistake”

What does Strauss Zelnick say about his role in GTA 6? In the interview, Zelnick explains that being a gamer as the CEO of a games publisher is not his role. He does play and has an opinion that he shares openly with the developers; however, that is not his primary task.

He goes even further and says it is not in the company’s interest if he were a gamer. Instead, his strengths lie elsewhere:

My job is to attract, retain, and motivate the best talent in the company and then not to get in their way. I think it is probably a mistake to be the ultimate consumer in the entertainment business as a CEO. I was not the chief consumer in the film business, in the television business, or in the music business, although I certainly could read a script and definitely love music… but that is not my role.

Strauss Zelnick in an interview with CNBC

The aim is to create the “best that the entertainment industry has ever seen” together with Rockstar Games.

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I played GTA 5 too early, and I fear it has ruined me for GTA 6
von Caroline Fuller
After Hacker Attack on GTA Developer: Leak Reveals Why Rockstar Is Not in a Hurry to Release GTA 6
von Dariusz Müller
If GTA 6 is postponed again, at least one actor from GTA 5 celebrates: “The longer they take, the cooler it will be”
von Sophia Weiss

In a financial report from Take-Two, Zelnick recently also talked about the postponement of GTA 6 to the year 2026. In his opinion, that is a worthwhile investment. How much GTA 6 potentially cost and what Zelnick continues to say about the postponement can be read here: Head of GTA 6 emphasizes that the postponement was a “worthwhile investment,” development is said to have started in 2020

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Gamesradar+
  2. CNBC

The new patch of Path of Exile 2 should fix many bugs, now it is ‘unplayable’ on the PS5

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Currently, there are issues with Path of Exile 2 on the PS5. Since the last patch, user complaints have increased that the ARPG is currently unplayable.

What problems are there? Since patch 0.2.0H, released on Thursday, May 15, 2025, there have been issues with the PS5 version of the ARPG. According to the patch notes on PathofExile.com, the patch was supposed to fix many bugs, including 16 that previously caused crashes, as well as many minor improvements intended to enhance the ARPG.

Users report that Path of Exile 2 is currently experiencing extreme performance drops and lags on the console. In online forums like Reddit, users share recordings of their gameplay, showing how hard the console struggles to display the game smoothly. Players have to settle for a few frames per second. The PS5 Pro seems to be equally affected.

This stands in contrast to the fast-paced gameplay of Path of Exile 2, which is designed for racing through maps and taking down dozens of enemies every second, especially in the endgame. Accordingly, many gamers are quite annoyed.

You can watch the trailer for the current season of Path of Exile 2 here:

Start video
Path of Exile 2 presents gameplay trailer with the new Hunter class

A weekend without Path of Exile 2

What is the status of the problem? Since patch 0.2.0H, which seemingly introduced the performance issue, there have been two hotfixes. However, these did not address the PS5 problems, but rather fixed a display issue and a way to get one’s character stuck.

For players, this means that Path of Exile 2 has not been playable smoothly on the PS5 all weekend. A whole weekend without PoE2 has upset many gamers.

How are players reacting to the problems? Users of the PS5 version are visibly annoyed. User Baigne writes on Reddit: “Performance noticeably worsened after the patch; it was never great, but now I get headaches just playing the game.”

Fan Tornoxx is also affected. He writes on Reddit: “I’m on PS5 Pro; my game has been practically unplayable since the last patch, I seem to get stuck in a pause/unpause loop every 2 seconds or so; it ran decently enough before the patch, now it’s a mess, fix it GGG, for god’s sake😢”

User garfunko initially looked for the error on his end, then wrote on Reddit: “The same on the PS5 Pro. I changed my projector setup, and I thought it was just me. Something felt visually really off since the patch.”

More on the topic
Path of Exile 2 announces new season, the late date heats up players’ expectations
von Cedric Holmeier
What to do if you die in Path of Exile 2 before you can loot? Community helps the affected with a trick, saves the loot
von Cedric Holmeier
Rich player receives ban in Path of Exile, loses 1,500 items and the community celebrates
von Nico Scheibel

How are the developers reacting? The developers of Path of Exile 2 have yet to respond to the issues. Even in their Discord channel, which displays all developer responses, there has been no comment regarding the problems. It remains unclear when the issues will be resolved.

The developers are currently working not only on Path of Exile 2 but also on the new season for the predecessor. This is set to launch in June and finally deliver new content after 11 months. Fans believe it’s high time: Path of Exile fans were disappointed with the developers, but a cryptic text brings the hype back immediately.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit
  2. pathofexile.com
  3. pathofexile.com

MMORPG on Steam once had over 900,000 players simultaneously, now only 1 percent of them are playing the new season

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

The developers of Amazon Games continue to fail to attract more players to the servers of New World with their seasons. Parts of the community are annoyed by the untapped potential of the MMORPG.

Which season is currently running? The “Season of the Divide” started on May 13, 2025, for New World, but initially only brought a portion of the new content. For example, a map and a mode for the Outpost Rush, the barbershop, a world boss event, or the spectator camera for 3vs3 arenas. The seasonal hardcore server, however, will not arrive until early June.

Just like the Conquerors season that started in January 2025, the second season since the Aeternum restart also fails to significantly increase player numbers.

  • While there were over 8,000 peak Steam users online in New World at the end of April, this weekend, there were 9,700 concurrent active Steam users (via steamdb.info). For comparison: The all-time high is 913,634 concurrent players. Currently, the MMORPG only reaches about 1 percent of the player numbers from that time.
  • Only 62 percent of the 388 reviews on Steam from the past 30 days are positive. Players particularly criticize the monetization (brand new: paid barbershop tokens).

The launch trailer for New World Aeternum:

Start video
New World Aeternum: Well-Staged Gameplay Trailer for Launch

“The game had so much potential …”

What is the community discussing? Over the weekend, there was a discussion on Reddit about the current state of New World, which received over 1,000 upvotes and more than 470 comments. Many players regret how the MMORPG has developed despite its enormous potential.

  • Nexrom17 writes on Reddit: “Honestly, it’s sad how the fate of this game has turned out. One of the best graphic styles, crafting/gathering systems, and a fantastically designed setting. I get sad every time I see the game in my Steam library 🙁 .”
  • Lostclause sums it up on Reddit like this: “Amazon thought they knew better than millions and millions of MMORPG players and didn’t bother to listen to them until it was too late. First impressions count.”
  • CanofPandas argues on Reddit that there wasn’t actually that much potential: “It was doomed to fail from the start. The combat was good, but it couldn’t be meaningfully expanded in a balanced way. Six months before the launch, there was a panic shift to PvE. Every major update came a year too late […].”
  • Grumpalo65 has a tip for Amazon on Reddit: “They should just make the game free at this point. That would probably at least bring in a flood of console players. 60 euros for a dead game is a joke.”

How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate this? New World should serve as a cautionary tale for all developers about how problematic it is to change the direction of a game 180 degrees in the middle of production. Even now, more than 3 years after the release, the MMORPG still carries this baggage.

The situation is also not improving because the developers continue to make avoidable mistakes:

But I also think: New World had enormous potential – because of the exciting setting, the audiovisuarily impressive world, the motivating crafting experience, and the support that a corporation like Amazon can provide.

More on New World:
Amazon silently removes the last hint of the MMORPG for Lord of the Rings
von Karsten Scholz
The most successful MMORPG from Germany since Tibia is not only becoming more beautiful but also conquering new platforms
von Karsten Scholz

However, this corporation will probably now turn its eye to the new Lord of the Rings MMORPG that is to be developed by Amazon Games. Such a popular and important franchise … this penalty kick must be converted. Unfortunately, development here will still take a few years: There is a sign of life from the new Lord of the Rings MMORPG from Amazon Games

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Brook from One Piece is one of 6 immortal characters, but only under one condition

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Brook is the musician on the Thousand Sunny. He is one of the few characters from One Piece who are immortal. However, even the skeleton can be destroyed in a certain way.

Why is Brook immortal? The Straw Hat Pirate ate the Revive-Revive Fruit. With his death, his Devil Fruit power activated and his soul returned from the afterlife.

Unfortunately, Brook died in the misty, mysterious triangle, which is why his soul searched for a whole year for its body. During this time, his body was just a skeleton, which is why he now lives on as a skeleton man.

Brook no longer ages and can therefore live forever. Even if his bones break or are separated, Brook can regenerate. Milk helps him to regenerate his bones.

Thus, Brook is one of the 6 immortal characters known in One Piece so far. Besides him, 4 of the Five Elders and Imu have eternal life, meaning individuals in the World Government.

However, although the Straw Hat Pirate is technically immortal, he reveals a method by which he can be destroyed. This distinguishes him from the 5 other characters who are truly immortal in One Piece, namely Imu and four of the Five Elders.

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Brook can be defeated by a method

How can he still be destroyed? Brook reveals in a fight against a fishman that takes place in chapter 643 of the manga that there is a method to defeat him. To prevent the skeleton man from regenerating his body, his bones must be completely shattered.

To what extent the bones need to be mangled is left open. After all, with milk, it is possible for him to heal minor fractures in the skeleton. An explosion or something similar would likely mean Brook’s ultimate death, as the fruit can only resurrect once.

Big Mom would also be a candidate to kill the Straw Hat Pirate. She can extract a person’s soul with her Soul Fruit. This would sever Brook’s soul from his body and he would die regardless. However, whether her powers even have an effect on the skeleton man was never seen in the anime or manga.

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In addition to Brook, there are other characters in the World Government who are immortal. They owe this to Trafalgar Law’s Devil Fruit, which can grant eternal life. And exactly for that reason, the pirate has to fear: A character from One Piece must fight for his life for the 2nd time in the grand finale

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Vida Extra

The best Xiaomi phones in the ranking that you can buy in 2025

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 7 minutes

Which Xiaomi phone is currently the best and most recommendable model? MeinMMO presents the most important models and explains which is the best option for you.

[toc]

Which is the currently best phone from Xiaomi? MeinMMO presents the best current phones from Xiaomi in the following article and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the models. In addition, we will briefly present alternatives from other manufacturers. However, the focus of the article is on Xiaomi models.

This ranking reflects the best Xiaomi smartphones for the year 2025, taking performance, features, and value for different types of users into account.

The article was first published on May 19, 2025. We keep our article up to date and supplement it with new content whenever Xiaomi releases new models that should be included in our purchasing advice.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

This is what the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers: The current flagship model from Xiaomi. The device offers you excellent performance and a very good camera and can easily compete with Samsung and Apple.

Pros:

  • Exceptional camera system with a 1-inch Leica periscope lens with 200 MP for professional photography.
  • Top-notch Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and up to 16 GB of RAM for outstanding performance.
  • Large, vibrant 6.7-inch AMOLED display and a durable 5,410 mAh battery.

Cons:

  • Expensive, positioned at the high end of the market.
  • The HyperOS interface contains much bloatware that needs to be customized.
    The large camera module makes the phone cumbersome.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Samsung’s flagship with a very good camera, strong performance, and long software support.
  • Honor Magic 7 Pro: Offers similarly good specifications as the 15 Ultra, with a strong camera and regular updates.
  • OnePlus 13: High-end hardware at a fair price-performance ratio.

Xiaomi 15 Pro

This is what the Xiaomi 15 Pro offers: The 15 Pro is the cheaper model below the Ultra, but still offers high-end specifications. However, the camera cannot compete with the Ultra model, and the battery is not as good as in previous Pro models.

Note: The Xiaomi 15 Pro is currently not available in Germany and can only be purchased through China with English/Chinese software. For the sake of completeness, we still list the 15 Pro in our list (as of May 2025).

Pros:

  • Strong performance with the latest Snapdragon chipset.
  • Excellent display quality and processing.
  • Strong camera system, although not quite on Ultra level.

Cons:

  • Still expensive compared to mid-range models.
  • The camera is not as advanced as that of the Ultra.
  • No significant improvement in battery life compared to previous Pro models.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Old top model from Samsung with a very good camera, great AMOLED display, and long software support.
  • OnePlus 13: Current hardware (Snapdragon 8 Elite), a bright and large display, and a triple camera.
  • Vio X200 Pro: Current hardware with strong camera sensor (200 MP) and large battery.

Xiaomi 15

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This is what the Xiaomi 15 offers: With the Xiaomi 15, you get a compact smartphone from Xiaomi with powerful hardware. The 15 model is aimed primarily at users for whom the Ultra model is too large and who find the price of the device too high. However, you must also forgo the very good camera and other features.

Pros:

  • Great value for a flagship device.
  • Solid all-round talent: good camera, display, and battery.
  • Slim design and high-quality feel.

Cons:

  • Some of the Ultra/Pro camera features are missing.
  • Not the absolute best for gaming or photography enthusiasts.
  • Still more expensive than the flagship devices of the previous generation.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy S24: Compact flagship from Samsung from 2024. Still current hardware with very good display and software support.
  • Google Pixel 9 Pro: Compact phone with a strong camera and fast processor.
  • Vivo X200 Pro: Smartphone focused on camera and performance.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

This is what the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers: The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the predecessor of the 15 Ultra model. The 2024 device is regularly on sale and is thus somewhat cheaper than the current flagship model of the manufacturer. Even now, you get very good hardware, a fantastic display, and a very good camera with the 14 Ultra. Especially the high weight and the bulky design (protruding camera) should be kept in mind as disadvantages.

Pros:

  • Excellent camera system with Leica partnership makes it one of the best camera phones on the market
  • Crisp and vibrant images thanks to a strong display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to 3000 nits brightness.
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and up to 16 GB RAM provide speed and efficiency at flagship level for gaming, multitasking, and creative tasks.

Cons:

  • At 229 g and with a large camera part, the model is heavier and thicker than many competitors.
  • No microSD card slot, restricting the memory to the built-in options.
  • Comparatively high price compared to direct competitors for a last year’s model.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Top model from 2024, scores with a very good camera, bright display, and regular updates.
  • Honor Magic 7 Pro: Phone with high-end specifications, which can especially score with a strong camera.
  • OnePlus 12: Good specifications and a fair price-performance ratio.

Xiaomi 14

Xiaomi 14

This is what the Xiaomi 14 offers: The model from last year also offers strong performance in 2025 with high-end hardware. The chip is fast and efficient, and the display is still impressive today. With a good offer, you can get the device for around 500 euros. However, you will have to make compromises in terms of camera and battery life compared to the Ultra and Pro models.

Pros:

  • Fast, efficient performance with flagship chipset.
  • High-quality display and premium build quality.
  • More compact than Ultra/Pro models.

Cons:

  • Camera not as advanced as Ultra/Pro.
    Battery life is good, but not exceptional.
  • Some premium features are missing compared to the Ultra.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy S24: Compact high-end phone with a strong camera and great display.
  • Google Pixel 9 Pro: Compact phone with a strong camera and fast processor.
  • Apple iPhone 16: Compact design with excellent build quality, but with iOS ecosystem.

Xiaomi 13T Pro

Xiaomi 13T-Pro

This is what the Xiaomi 13T Pro offers: The Xiaomi 13T Pro is a powerful flagship smartphone in the upper mid-range and offers impressive performance, fast charging, and a strong camera, making it a top choice in its class.

The lack of a wireless charging function and the relatively bulky design are potential drawbacks to consider. Additionally, Android updates come relatively late; Android 15 has only been delivered since the beginning of 2025.

Pros:

  • Excellent price-performance ratio.
  • Good camera and good display.
  • Reliable battery life.

Cons:

  • Outdated chipset compared to the 15/14 series.
  • Software updates can be very late.
  • Less premium design than newer flagships.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Mid-range flagship with strong performance and long update guarantee.
  • Google Pixel 8: Phone with Android without bloatware and good camera.
  • Vivo V30 Pro: Fair price-performance ratio meets strong camera and good specifications.

Poco X7 Pro (2025)

Poco F7 Pro

This is what the Poco X7 Pro offers: The Poco X7 Pro is a mid-range smartphone introduced in 2025 by Xiaomi, and it stands out primarily with a fast processor, a large battery, and a bright AMOLED display. Compromises have to be made with the camera and other features (wireless charging). However, you can already get the model for around 400 euros (SRP: 449 euros).

Pros:

  • Impressive performance for the price.
  • Large and bright display.
  • Good battery life.

Cons:

  • The camera system is adequate for the price but weaker than the competition.
  • The build quality is less premium than Xiaomi’s flagship models.
  • The software (HyperOS) contains a lot of bloatware and is unconventional.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy A56: Mid-range phone from Samsung with good display and decent camera.
  • Poco F6 Pro: Older model with similar specifications, but available at a significantly lower price.

Xiaomi Mix Flip

Xiaomi MIX Flip

The Xiaomi Mix Flip is an outstanding foldable flip phone with flagship specifications, a large and bright display, and strong battery life at an affordable price. Its biggest drawbacks are the lack of wireless charging and a less versatile camera compared to some competitors.

Pros:

  • The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ensures high performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps.
  • Bright, vibrant display with 120 Hz refresh rate and brightness of up to 3,000 nits, plus an additional 4.01 inch outer display.
  • Enduring battery with fast charging function.

Cons:

  • Only two rear cameras and no ultra-wide-angle lens, which limits the photography options.
  • Foldable devices are more susceptible to drops and dirt than conventional smartphones.
  • Significantly more expensive than conventional phones with comparable performance.

Alternatives:

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Samsung’s direct competitor with flip mechanism and strong technology.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Samsung’s predecessor to the Flip 6, significantly cheaper than the 6 model with hardly inferior technology.
  • Oppo Find N3 Flip: Good build quality with decent camera and often available for under 1,000 euros.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.