Manufacturer Genki presented a 3D model of the Switch 2. The problem with that: Nintendo officially introduced the device days later. Now Genki is being sued by Nintendo for, among other things, the leak and trademark infringement.
What model is it about? The manufacturer Genki sells console accessories, including cases and attachments for the Switch. On the occasion of CES 2025, Genki presented its accessories for the Nintendo Switch 2. This was reported by the English-language magazine WCCFtech.com.
The problem: Nintendo officially introduced the Switch 2 two weeks later, on January 17, 2025. But now Genki is being sued by Nintendo. This was reported by TheVerge.
Start video
Nintendo showcases the Switch 2 for the first time in a trailer
Nintendo sues manufacturer for leaks and trademark infringement
Why is Nintendo suing? In the lawsuit filed on May 2, Nintendo accuses Genki of five cases of “trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising” and claims that the company violated several laws.
Furthermore, it is claimed that the use of Nintendo’s trademarks by Genki is confusing for buyers, as they “are likely to attribute all shortcomings, defects, or quality deficiencies of Genki’s products to Nintendo itself.” Nintendo believes that Genki could exploit the trust of Nintendo fans and thereby cause significant damage to the brand.
How does the manufacturer respond? In the meantime, Genki has spoken out on X.com and stated:
You may have seen that Nintendo recently filed a lawsuit against us. We take this matter seriously and are working with our legal advisors to respond appropriately.
What we can say is this: Genki has always been an independent company focused on developing innovative gaming accessories for the community we love. We are proud of the work we have done, and we stand by the quality and originality of our products.
While we cannot provide detailed information, we are continuing to prepare to fulfill orders and introduce our latest products at PAX East this week.
Many guardians are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new DLC for Destiny 2. So far, there is little information, but Bungie has made a mistake and at least revealed the price of one edition.
What has been revealed? As Paul Tassi, a well-known figure in the Destiny community and editor for the news site “Forbes”, stated, after the chessboard update in Destiny 2, a new product from Bungie was temporarily offered for a short time (source: forbes.com), which was later removed.
This was the “Destiny 2: Year of Prophecy Collectors Edition”. Paul Tassi suspects this is the edition for the upcoming expansions “Apollo” and “Behemoth”, which are meant to entertain players after The Final Shape. It has not been listed what the edition will include, but what is known is the price.
Start video
Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate – Teaser for the big reveal in May
Price could anger some players
Why is the price controversial? The price for the edition is set at $275. At first, this isn’t unusual, as this price is the same as the collector’s edition of The Final Shape.
However, if you break down the price and leave out the goodies from the edition, it amounts to between $80 – $100. If this were a large expansion like “The Final Shape”, it wouldn’t be a problem, but as Bungie has stated, Codename: Frontiers will be smaller in scope.
Fewer raids and dungeons are to be released, and the scope of the two expansions, Apollo and Behemoth, are said to represent not large but medium-sized expansions. More events will take place, but overall there will be less to do.
If the price remains the same, even though the content is less, many fans will be skeptical and might refrain from making a purchase.
When will there be new information about Codename: Frontiers? Bungie has already scheduled a new stream for Destiny 2 on May 6. This is set to take place at 18:00 German time. New details about “Edge of Fate”, the new expansion of the loot shooter, will be reported there. We will have to wait and see what Bungie has to announce. Until then, feel free to read here about Codename: Frontiers: Destiny 2 presents 4 major changes for the future of the shooter – Here’s what you need to know
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, some trainers can use the “GO Pass”. Its rewards will soon expire. And then?
What kind of pass is this? The GO Pass was tested in April in some regions, including Germany. It works like a classic Battle Pass: You collect points for tasks to progress through the reward tiers. The further you get, the more rewards there are.
In April, there were two variants of the pass – a free one and a paid one. You can read more about what was included here. Basically, both offered exciting rewards. For free, there were, for example, an extension of the Adventure Incense, additional XP, and Stardust, and at the end, an encounter with Xerneas. In the paid pass, the Lucky Climbing was especially an exciting reward that was also available during the GO Tour.
Important: It is already May, but the GO Pass: April is still running. However, not for long: Tomorrow, on May 6th at 10:00 AM, it will end. Until then, you can still earn rewards. If you are close to one of the more interesting breakthroughs in the pass, you might want to seize the opportunity once more.
And what’s next? Well, a new pass has been announced for May as well.
Start video
Pokémon GO: What’s in the new Season Powerful and Masterful
What’s in the new GO Pass in May?
Once again, the pass has been announced for “certain parts of the world”, so it is still a test variant. But once again, trainers should be able to automatically retrieve it on Tuesday, May 6th, starting at 10:00 AM. So it continues seamlessly with a new pass.
There will also be two variants again – the paid and the free version. As of now, the highlights in May look like this.
Free GO Pass:
There’s once again a legendary Pokémon, this time it’s Yveltal.
You can once again double the duration of the Adventure Incense at the first milestone.
There are additional XP and Stardust for research breakthroughs at the second milestone.
The third milestone brings more hatch Stardust and XP.
Additionally, there are Stardust, XP, Poké Balls, and more in the pass.
Additionally, items like battle passes, incense, lucky eggs, incubators, lures, and similar items.
Due to the test situation, it may be that trainers find different rewards at different levels of the pass compared to others. Overall, it all sounds very much like the model from last month. So May continues in a very comparable way regarding the GO Pass.
What else is coming up in May? A whole lot, because the GO Pass is just one of the contents you can take advantage of this month. There are several dates on the list that might be worth your while. Among other things, Dynamax Suicune will be appearing soon. Exciting events like the Crown Clash are also ahead. Want an overview? Then check here: All events in May 2025 for Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The most famous weapon of Thor is the mighty hammer Mjölnir. To be able to lift it, one must be worthy. In the Marvel movies, we see other characters using the weapon, but even 10 years ago, a character could have lifted the hammer.
Which character is it about? Thor’s iconic weapon is the hammer Mjölnir. It was created by the dwarves of Nidavellir for Thor’s family and was used first by Odin and later by Thor. To lift the hammer, one must be worthy.
Apart from Thor, only a few people managed to do so, and in a significant moment in Avengers: Endgame, Captain America uses the hammer in the final battle against Thanos. However, Steve Rogers could have lifted the hammer earlier, but he was just too polite.
Start video
German trailer for Avengers 3: Infinity War
Captain America has always been worthy
When could it have been seen? In Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), at the beginning of the film, there is a small party with the team members. During this, there is a game where some heroes try to lift the hammer.
No one manages to move the hammer at all, but with Captain America, it’s different. When he grabs the hammer, it seems to rattle for a moment. This visibly shocks Thor, who laughs in relief at the end of the attempt. However, Captain America could have lifted and used the hammer back in 2015.
Here you can see the mentioned scene:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Although it seems here that Captain America is not worthy enough, he himself decided not to lift the hammer, as confirmed by the official art book Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Avengers: Age of Ultron: The Art of the Movie (via comicbook.com).
There, Louis D’Esposito, the co-president of Marvel Studios, explains that Captain America has always been worthy to lift Mjölnir. Cap does not lift it. But Cap could have lifted it at any time. He did not want to because it would not have been right.
In a Q&A session on Reddit, Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, explained that they believe Captain America has always been worthy, but he wanted to be polite in Age of Ultron. In Thor: Love and Thunder, we see how Thor reacts when someone else can use Mjölnir.
Thor and Captain America are not the only ones in the MCU who could lift and use Mjölnir. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we see several other characters using the hammer at various points:
Odin was the first user of the hammer.
After Odin, his daughter Hela used the hammer.
In Age of Ultron, Vision manages to lift the hammer.
In Thor: Love and Thunder, we see another Mjölnir user in Jane Foster.
Game consoles have always been considered a budget alternative to an expensive gaming PC. However, this advantage is currently fading.
For those who want to game, there are three options: mobile gaming on a phone, on a gaming PC, or on a game console. Consoles are especially regarded as a price tip, as you can play for years at high settings for comparatively little money.
However, this price argument is currently losing its strength: With the PS5 Pro and the Nintendo Switch 2, there are already two consoles that are both very expensive compared to older generations.
Technological advancements are slowing down, and consoles are consequently not getting cheaper
In the past, chips used in graphics cards and processors regularly became smaller, more efficient, and cheaper, and manufacturers could pass on these cost savings to consumers. This generally resulted in significantly more performance for the same or a lower price.
However, this development has been slowing down for several years. The reason is “Moore’s Law”: Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors on integrated circuits doubles approximately every two years, leading to increasingly powerful and cheaper computers. This is an observation and not a physical law.
Moore’s Law is reaching its limits because the current chips are already very small and offer little room for physical improvements. Additionally, smaller manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly expensive: The costs for new chip generations have reportedly increased about tenfold since 2010.
Start video
Sony releases the official reveal trailer for the PS5 Pro
Hardly any price reductions, but instead significantly higher prices for consoles
What else leads to higher prices? Besides the slowing technological progress, there are hardly any real price reductions to speak of. The last significant price reduction occurred in 2016 with the PS4 Slim. In recent years, there have instead been significant price increases in the console sector, such as with the Nintendo Switch OLED or the PlayStation 5 Slim.
With the PS5 Pro and the Nintendo Switch 2, there are already two consoles that have become very expensive compared to older generations.
Manufacturers often cite inflation and supply chain issues as reasons for the high prices. The aggressive trade policy under US President Trump is also said to play a role. Additionally, there is a strategic shift among manufacturers: Many no longer deliberately sell their consoles below value, intending to recoup the money later through games or digital purchases.
Steam boss Gabe Newell stated back then that the price of the Steam Deck is very painful, but it can convince many players to make a purchase. Whether the Steam Deck 2.0 will also adopt such a “painful” pricing policy remains unknown.
The PS5 is now over 3 years old. But is it still worth buying a PS5? MeinMMO discusses the pros and cons of the Sony console and explains what you should consider if you’re thinking about a purchase: Is it still worth buying a PS5 in 2025?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMORPG Black Desert (BDO), there are regularly promotional codes through which you can obtain useful items. We at MeinMMO have collected all the current codes for you and update the article regularly.
Which codes are currently active? As of now (May 5, 2025), you can secure the following codes:
LOYALTIESRENEWED: 10,000x Loyalties
EQUILIBRIUM: 1x Secret Scroll of Pure Equilibrium, 1x Weapon Exchange Coupon Box, 1x Sub-weapon Exchange Coupon
How do you redeem the codes on PC? First, you need to visit the promotional page of Black Desert. There, you enter your login details. After that, you will see a window for “Redeem Coupon”, where you can simply paste the coupon codes.
After entering the code, you will be asked if the items should be sent directly to your mailbox. If you click yes, the items will be sent to you in-game.
Alternatively, you can use the Black Desert app to enter the code there.
How do I redeem the code on consoles? Works for consoles exactly as it does for PC, except you need to use a different promotional page of Black Desert – via account.console.playblackdesert.com.
Black Desert celebrated its 10th anniversary with this trailer:
Start video
Black Desert: Tribute trailer celebrates 10th anniversary of the MMORPG
Is it worth redeeming? Yes, through the codes you can obtain many useful items in total. For example, the Valk’s advice increases your chance of successful enhancements, and Cron Stones reduce the risk of losing a level on your item in case of an enhancement failure.
Additionally, there are always special event chests, or sometimes skins and outfits that you would normally only get for real money. Regularly entering codes can therefore be very useful, even if you only play Black Desert occasionally.
If you can no longer use a code, please let us know in the comments, and we will update the article accordingly. If you’re wondering whether Black Desert still offers fun, you can find a comprehensive answer in the following article: Is Black Desert worth it currently?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As good as World of Warcraft is, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. It is annoying, and the latest patch makes this abundantly clear.
If you look at the current expansion, The War Within, of World of Warcraft and consider all the new features that have been introduced in recent months, this addon should be a strong contender for one of the best expansions of all time. However, as good as the game currently is, there is a growing problem that has surfaced with every single patch in recent years and temporarily dampens the enjoyment of the game. This happens precisely when WoW should be showcasing its strongest side.
Start video
For the 20th Birthday, Blizzard Speaks About ‘WoW 2’ and What We Think About It
What is going on with WoW right now? When you look at WoW objectively from the outside, the game is doing better than ever. New content patches are released at very regular intervals, and special events are launched with some really creative and exciting highlights in between, such as “Remix” or “Plunderstorm.”
The latest patch 11.1.5 was released at a good time, before boredom could set in with patch 11.1. The next patch 11.1.7 is already in the works, as is its successor, 11.2, and the housing feature is slowly coming into reach.
So what is the problem?
The First Impression – WoW Messes It Up Every Time
If there is one constant that runs through recent WoW patches, it is the rather weak first impression of new content.
This was already evident during WoW’s big 20th anniversary celebration. At the beginning, there were so few reward tokens that one got the impression: “Wow, I have to farm here for weeks just to own a single set.”
Patch 11.1.5 even added insult to injury. Because not only was the first impression weak, but the release policy of the content is being heavily criticized.
Patch 11.1.5 actually contains 3 different pieces of content to look forward to:
The faction “Radiance of Flame” with a new area event
The return of “Disturbing Visions” with new rewards
“Devious Duos,” a new fun PvE event where you chase high scores against boss fights
The catch with this content is that only one of these 3 events is available so far – and it’s the most boring one: the Radiance of Flame. The rest will be released at intervals of 4 and 6 weeks.
The disturbing visions are not here yet – they were the highlight of the patch beforehand.
This is a strange decision. Because in the pre-reporting and announcements, it was primarily the Disturbing Visions that were the clear highlight of the patch. The fact that they are not available at launch causes immediate discontent and many disappointment lead players to log out again.
While one group is now loudly shouting “Timegating!”, I can of course understand Blizzard’s decision. Spacing out new content a little in WoW can have the nice effect of there being something new to do in World of Warcraft every month. There is fundamentally nothing wrong with that, but the spacing of the developers here is extremely unfortunate.
At the launch of a patch, there is something I like to call “patch euphoria.” It’s the first day of a new patch when you are eager to log in and are almost overwhelmed by the abundance of new content. You quickly look through everything, choose the most interesting parts, and then lose yourself in them. This is also the time when you reach out to former players to tell them how great the new features in WoW are.
Actually.
The Radiance of Flame was not that convincing.
However, if this new feature is just an event that takes place every hour and after the first completion only minimal rewards remain, the thought inevitably arises: “Oh, is that it?”
Almost always, WoW has to correct a few days after a patch and either drastically increase the reputation gain or the rewards.
While this is ultimately good for players, it simply ruins the first impression. Because many don’t give an event a second or third chance. Either it is fun right away – or you might as well skip it.
I can’t really pinpoint where this issue lies. Perhaps it’s the rapid frequency with which patches are released. Maybe the time is too short to thoroughly test everything.
However, it may also be Blizzard’s mindset of making rewards “too bad” initially and then correcting upwards, rather than doing it the other way around, which would upset the players even more.
It is clear, however, that Blizzard needs to learn again how to release patches in a way that the first impression is spectacular. A patch needs to be fun from the first minute and not only after two weeks, when the problems in many areas have been resolved. At least the next patch brings another nice mount – if the launch doesn’t mess up.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The delay of GTA 6 to the gaming year 2026 is stirring fans and the industry alike. An actor from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is extremely excited about the new date for the upcoming blockbuster from Rockstar Games.
Which actor is it? Luke Dale plays the main character Hans Capon in both games of the Kingdom Come series, providing the face and voice for the claimant to the rule over Rattay in the English version of the game.
When the officials at Rockstar Games recently announced the delay of GTA 6 and the final release date, Luke Dale commented on the official post on X with the words: “WE’RE IN WITH A SHOT! GOTY! #KCD2” – in German roughly: “We have a chance! Game of the Year! #Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2”.
In a second post on X, Luke Dale then further specified his hope: “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 GOTY 2025,” with crossed fingers. According to the review by MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz, the sequel to Kingdom Come: Deliverance indeed has the potential for Game of the Year.
Have you seen the secret ending of Kingdom Come 2?
Start video
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 hat ein geheimes Ende – So bekommt ihr es
There’s no way around GTA 6
What is behind the statement? Luke Dale’s reaction exemplifies just how large, important, and dominant the launch of GTA 6 will be for an entire gaming year.
When Rockstar Games releases a blockbuster like Red Dead Redemption 2 or GTA 5, it is special for several reasons:
The studio regularly raises the bar for AAA productions and undertakes an effort that most other developers cannot afford or manage.
Fans are excited about a new game for their favorite franchises, which due to the long development times happens only once in a blue moon.
The GTA series is one of the most successful in gaming history, with games in the series selling hundreds of millions of copies in total. Potential competitors try to avoid the vicinity of a GTA launch as their own sales figures could suffer in the shadow of the blockbuster.
If GTA 6 turns out as well as GTA 5 or Red Dead Redemption 2, then the various votes for Game of the Year in many places will likely be quite one-sided.
However, the gaming industry has to deal with all of this in the coming year. For the new releases from 2025, this means that the big shadow of GTA 6 has passed them damage-free.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also has chances for the title “Game of the Year” – here’s a trailer:
Start video
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – JRPG with French Flair has Release Date
How do players rate Luke Dale’s statement? The two posts on X received nearly 18,000 hearts and hundreds of comments. Many fans of the role-playing game affirm that Kingdom Come 2 is also their Game of the Year 2025. Others point out further strong releases of the current year.
Synth Potato commented on X on Luke Dale’s side: “You deserve every award, I’m so happy for you!”
BadPlayable writes on X: “Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Spit Fiction, and Kingdom 2 are already 4 nominees out of the possible 6.”
Big dog explains on X: “That was my first thought, no chance KCD2 won’t win. The only other game that could compete is Death Stranding 2, which comes out in summer.”
Jer sees good chances for another RPG on X: “Before Expedition 33 I would have said KCD2 really has good chances for GOTY. But having played both KCD2 and Expedition 33, 33 is my favorite for GOTY.”
Does Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have chances for GOTY? The debut work of Sandfall Interactive currently excites millions of players, earns dream ratings and has also convinced several MeinMMO editors with its strong story, multi-dimensional characters, and fun combat system. What lead tester Jasmin Beverungen thinks in detail about Clair Obscur, you can find out in the review: The most emotional RPG of the year, but you have to earn the story
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Intel is reportedly set to unveil its next graphics card at Computex 2025. MeinMMO explains what this is all about and what you should know about the Intel Arc B770.
Which graphics card is it? Intel is expected to unveil the Arc B770 in just a few days at Computex 2025 in Taiwan. There has been speculation for some time that Intel is set to release a new graphics card. According to the Japanese site Gazlog.jp, Intel is preparing for the release of the card.
You can watch Intel’s current Arc B580 in our video:
Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video
A new entry-level graphics card for $450?
How fast is the graphics card expected to be? According to various reports cited by the English magazine WCCFTech, the graphics card is expected to be on par with an RTX 5060. This is reminiscent of the budget GPU Arc B580, which Intel introduced at the end of 2024 and is on the same level as the entry-level graphics cards RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600.
A powerful graphics card that can compete with the RTX 5080 or RX 9070XT is therefore not expected here.
What else do we know about the graphics card? Not much. Rumors suggest that the new Arc B770 will have 24-32 Xe2 cores with a 256-bit memory bus and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. This would give it a few more cores than the B580, which comes with 20 Xe2 cores.
There is speculation about the price, suggesting that the Arc B770 will cost around $450. The direct predecessor, the Arc A770, was launched with a suggested retail price of $349. Therefore, it is expected to be slightly more expensive than the RTX 5060, which is sold at a suggested retail price of $299. As such, this graphics card is unlikely to be a true budget option.
Most players are looking for the most powerful build in Diablo 4. For Season 8, this appears to be the Death Trap Rogue, which not only cleanses entire screens of demons but is also easy to play, according to a gamer dad.
What kind of build is this?
The Death Trap Rogue is currently one of the strongest builds. In the tier list of the best builds for Season 8, it is ranked in the S-tier along with a few others.
With this build, you continuously lure enemies into your traps and destroy them with a shadow explosion. You can reduce the cooldown to the point where you can simply spam the ultimate skill.
This is what makes the Death Trap Rogue so strong: On Reddit, user meerakulous explains that the Death Trap Rogue is the “dad build for this season.” He himself is not a casual, as many others claim, but still plays every season for just a few weeks.
However, he wants to fully enjoy these weeks and simply copies strong builds to complete the content he wants to see. The Death Trap Rogue gives him just that opportunity:
No skill is needed to master it: “If you lost IQ points handling your diaper-genies, hunter is your class.”
Even without the right enchantments, he survives any attacks in the pit up to level 70 and simply “face-tanks” the enemies. Only one-shot abilities from bosses are still dangerous for him.
He completed the under city at level 4 with over 200 seconds on the timer, and he doesn’t even wear mythics. The only downside is that the build requires certain uniques. But you can simply play Dance of Blades until then. According to his own statement, meerakulous uses the build from Mobalytics:
However, the Reddit user finds fun in it and says that the revived bosses with more exciting mechanics are a cool new feature. Bosses are no longer just mindless loot piñatas.
Still, he won’t play forever; he never does. He wants to finish his journey, then he will go back to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – just to return in 3 months to the next season with fresh enthusiasm.
For him, this time is ideal, as if scraping the last bit out of a Nutella jar instead of looking for a new treat. He only finds the revamped battle pass terrible, like many others. meerakulous says he likes to spend money, but only when it’s worth it.
Rare loot in World of Warcraft will soon be significantly faster to obtain. But only during an event that increases drop chances.
There are items that are extremely sought after in World of Warcraft. Some of them are already over 20 years old, but still serve as coveted transmog or great gear for alts. However, farming this gear can be quite time-consuming. A new event is supposed to speed that up and bring more loot luck across Azeroth.
Start video
WoW Patch 11.1: Gallywix’s Control over the Cartels
What kind of event is this? The event “A Greedy Envoy” was already present during the Dragonflight expansion, but it is coming back in a modified form. This time, the event will impact the entire “classic” game world, as they want to significantly increase the drop chance of rare loot. Blizzard states that there is “a collection chance boost [that] helps you in your hunt for classic loot by increasing the drop chances for this loot across Azeroth.”
Which loot is affected? This is not yet known. There is only talk of “classic loot” whose drop chances will be increased across Azeroth. It remains to be seen whether this also applies to dungeons and raids or just to enemies in the open world.
Everyone will probably want this fancy Paladin set.
What else is there at the event? In addition to increasing the loot chance, there will also be the “greedy envoys” appearing at fixed intervals in Stormwind, Orgrimmar, and Darnassus. They will carry new loot, including a new color variant of the HD version of the Tier-2 set. Particularly, the red set for Paladins is a real eye-catcher, but collectors should not miss out on the other sets either.
The multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons houses a vast array of diverse creatures and personalities. Some of them may seem familiar for good reason, as they are based on myths and stories from the real world. We have selected 8 particularly iconic ones for you.
Which creatures are rooted in the real world? In the lore of D&D, there are plenty of creatures, monsters, and characters that players can encounter. Many of these are inspired by stories, fairy tales, myths, and folklore that find their place in various corners and cultures of reality.
For example:
Dragons (Worldwide legends, for example in Europe or Asia)
Unicorns (Worldwide legends, especially in Europe)
Pegasus (Greek)
Ogres (French)
Giants & Trolls (Scandinavian)
Genies / Djinn (Arabic-Islamic)
Banshees (Irish)
Rakshasa (Hindu)
Naga (Indian)
Kenku (Japanese, “Tengu” there)
Onryo (Japanese)
Oni (Japanese)
Couatl (Aztec/Mayan, “Quetzalcoatl” there)
Balor (Irish god of destruction, in D&D they are powerful demons)
And many more. During your adventures, you are bound to encounter at least one creature that has such an origin in our world. However, there are some personalities and creatures that hold a more influential place in the multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons and also play a larger role in the myths of our world. We have taken a closer look at exactly those for our list.
Start video
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Second Official Trailer for the Movie
How was this list created? We have selected 8 particularly iconic personalities and creatures that find their place in both our world and the multiverse of D&D. We aimed to select different ones to offer something for all directions.
We address which myths they are based on and what place they occupy in the multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons. Additionally, we have included their surroundings in the descriptions to provide a better overview.
With our table of contents, you can jump directly to the ones that interest you the most:
[toc]
Titania & Oberon
Titania
Titania and Oberon are considered archfey in Dungeons & Dragons. They are among the most powerful fey beings in the Feywild, a wild parallel world to the material plane filled with magic and unpredictability. Everything is more vivid, colorful, and intense there – but also more capricious and erratic. It is home to many fey creatures and those who descend from them, such as Eladrin, Dryads, Pixies, Satyrs, and Fey dragons.
Titania is the queen of the Summer Court and represents the dual aspects of nature, such as beauty & wildness or flora & fauna. However, Titania is also associated with grace, light, and powerful nature magic, while Oberon often leads the so-called Wild Hunt as the guardian of nature.
Both are popular choices for players who want to play a warlock with an archfey pact. They provide an exciting connection to the Feywild for many campaigns and stories.
Both Titania and Oberon, as well as the Wild Hunt and many of the fey, find their place primarily in European myths in our world. Titania and Oberon originate from one of the most famous works of William Shakespeare: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from 1595. In this, both play a significant role as rulers of the fairies.
The myth surrounding the Wild Hunt also comes from Europe. In folklore, the Wild Hunt describes a ghostly procession of riders, spirits, and hounds that hunts through the sky or forests at night. It is often interpreted as an omen of war, death, or misfortune. Depending on the region, different figures lead the hunt.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith has many iconic moments. Not only the main actors have their appearances in these moments, but also actors in smaller roles. An important moment shows a Jedi Padawan before he meets Anakin. Even though Star Wars is a big franchise, this boy didn’t get much money at all.
Which boy is it about? In Star Wars: Episode 3, we see the fall of Anakin Skywalker. As the Chosen One, he succumbs to the dark side of the Force and destroys the Jedi Order. In a cruel moment, he goes to the Jedi Temple to kill the young Padawans.
During this, a small boy addresses him. The Padawan named Sors Bandeam says to him: Master Skywalker, there are just too many of them. What are we supposed to do now? It is seen later that Anakin has killed all the Padawans.
This scene is important because it shows how ruthless Anakin has become, and the boy’s line has solidified in the Star Wars community. The boy was played by Ross Beadman, and in an interview (via YouTube), he explained that he was paid 90 pounds for the role at the time. Adjusted for inflation, that would be 156.80 pounds today, approximately 184.51 €.
He never even auditioned for the role; he got it because his mother had the right connections.
Start video
Star Wars: Episode 3 – The Revenge of the Sith Trailer (English)
Luck and Good Connections
How did Ross Beadman get the role? In an Instagram video for the 20th anniversary, Beadman explained how he got the role and what it was like on set. Right at the beginning, he explains that he was lucky because his mother worked with someone who started his own casting agency.
During the casting, his mother was contacted to see if her son would like to appear in Star Wars. Of course, as a big fan, he agreed, and they went to the shooting at Shepperton Studios in London. Most CGI scenes were filmed there.
There he could choose one of two Padawan-like hairstyles during the makeup process, and then the children gathered for the scene. Interestingly, the young extras were told that Anakin would be the savior in the scene.
The casting director asked the children who knew the lines for the scene, and Beadman raised his hand first because he had learned them beforehand. Thus, he was chosen for the scene and for the iconic two lines.
How did the scene go with Hayden Christensen? For the scene, he was given a small lightsaber, and just before the shoot, Christensen came up to him and asked if he had any questions. Beadman asked him which was more dangerous, an adult’s lightsaber or a child’s. Christensen replied: an adult’s.
In the video, Beadman also explains why he was so scared in the scene. It wasn’t because the scene was so frightening, but because Christensen screamed Ahhhh to make the boy’s reaction seem authentic.
Overall, the scene is said to have lasted 10 to 15 minutes and 4 takes. For this effort, the 184 € does not seem so little. Especially considering that Beadman was able to have such a unique experience as a Star Wars fan. Natalie Portman, as a key actress, did not always have a good experience: Natalie Portman talks about what it was like to face the anger of “Star Wars” fans at the age of 18.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Brawl Stars has 91 Brawlers, but it’s not easy to choose the best ones for a match. Therefore, in our tier list, we show you the best Brawlers of 2025 in English.
UPDATE on 05.05.2025: The list has been expanded with a new Brawler:
– NEW: Finx (Tier B) – NEW: Lumi (Tier A) – NEW: Jae-Yong (Tier A)
How does the tier list work? In this tier list, we list all 91 Brawlers currently available in Brawl Stars. Our ranking consists of tiers from S (Very Good) to C (Rarely Useful), into which we classify the Brawlers. In the ranking, we look at the versatility, lethality, and strength of each Brawler, and also keep an eye on the most recent nerfs and buffs.
The classification is done by our MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos, who has been actively involved every season since the release of Brawl Stars and knows what makes a good Brawler.
If you are not satisfied with a ranking placement, feel free to let us know your opinion in the comments. We are always open to suggestions and ready to discuss with you.
Brawl Stars: Tier List – These are the best Brawlers in the ranking
What focus does our tier list have? In this tier list, we give you a recommendation on which Brawlers you generally can’t go wrong with. Each mode changes the focus of the Brawlers, but our selection shows the generally best choice. Let’s move on to the tier list:
S-Tier
Icon
Brawler
Property
Rarity
Jessie
Control
Super Rare (blue)
Dynamike
Artillery
Super Rare (blue)
Piper
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Edgar
Assassin
Epic (purple)
Colette
Damage Dealer
Epic (purple)
Larry & Lawrie
Artillery
Epic (purple)
Angelo
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Frank
Tank
Epic (purple)
Buzz
Assassin
Mythical (red)
Fang
Assassin
Mythical (red)
Spike
Damage Dealer
Legendary (yellow)
Leon
Assassin
Legendary (yellow)
Surge
Damage Dealer
Legendary (yellow)
Cordelius
Assassin
Legendary (yellow)
Kit
Support
Legendary (yellow)
Kenji
Assassin
Legendary (yellow)
A-Tier
Icon
Brawler
Property
Rarity
Shelly
Damage Dealer
First Brawler
Colt
Damage Dealer
Rare (green)
Brock
Shooter
Rare (green)
Tick
Artillery
Super Rare (blue)
Rico
Damage Dealer
Super Rare (blue)
Jacky
Tank
Super Rare (blue)
Bo
Control
Epic (purple)
EMZ
Control
Epic (purple)
Stu
Assassin
Epic (purple)
Nani
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Griff
Control
Epic (purple)
Gale
Control
Epic (purple)
Mandy
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Berry
Support
Epic (purple)
Shade
Assassin
Epic (purple)
Mortis
Assassin
Mythical (red)
Image coming soon
Jae-Yong (NEW)
Support
Mythical (red)
Clancy
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Gene
Control
Mythical (red)
Lou
Control
Mythical (red)
Eve
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Lumi (NEW)
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Buster
Tank
Mythical (red)
Mico
Assassin
Mythical (red)
Melodie
Assassin
Mythical (red)
Lily
Assassin
Mythical (red)
Moe
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Juju
Artillery
Mythical (red)
Ollie
Tank
Mythical (red)
Crow
Assassin
Legendary (yellow)
Chester
Damage Dealer
Legendary (yellow)
Draco
Tank
Legendary (yellow)
Sandy
Control
Legendary (yellow)
B-Tier
Icon
Brawler
Property
Rarity
Nita
Damage Dealer
Rare (green)
Bull
Tank
Rare (green)
Poco
Support
Rare (green)
Rosa
Tank
Rare (green)
8-Bit
Damage Dealer
Super Rare (blue)
Penny
Artillery
Super Rare (blue)
Gus
Support
Super Rare (blue)
Pam
Support
Epic (purple)
Bibi
Tank
Epic (purple)
Bea
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Grom
Artillery
Epic (purple)
Belle
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Lola
Damage Dealer
Epic (purple)
Sam
Assassin
Epic (purple)
Maisie
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Pearl
Damage Dealer
Epic (purple)
Meeple
Control
Epic (purple)
Tara
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Finx (NEW)
Control
Mythical (red)
Max
Support
Mythical (red)
Mr. P
Control
Mythical (red)
Sprout
Artillery
Mythical (red)
Janet
Shooter
Mythical (red)
Otis
Control
Mythical (red)
Gray
Support
Mythical (red)
Willow
Control
Mythical (red)
Chuck
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Charlie
Control
Mythical (red)
Doug
Support
Mythical (red)
R-T
Damage Dealer
Mythical (red)
Amber
Control
Legendary (yellow)
C-Tier
Icon
Brawler
Property
Rarity
El Primo
Tank
Rare (green)
Barley
Artillery
Rare (green)
Darryl
Tank
Super Rare (blue)
Carl
Damage Dealer
Super Rare (blue)
Bonnie
Shooter
Epic (purple)
Ash
Tank
Epic (purple)
Hank
Tank
Epic (purple)
Byron
Support
Mythical (red)
Squeak
Control
Mythical (red)
Ruffs
Support
Mythical (red)
Meg
Tank
Legendary (yellow)
Which are currently the best Brawlers? Depending on how the map is structured and which mode you are currently playing, the Brawlers you choose will also differ. In general, you can currently do no wrong with Leon, Spike, Cordelius, and Fang.
If you are fighting against tanks, then Colette is the right choice. Angelo and Piper are excellent for open and large maps. With Buzz and Edgar, you can also close the gap between your opponents in close combat to catch up.
Do you agree with the list or would you have placed a Brawler better or worse? Let us know in the comments how you feel about the tier list.
It’s time for our MeinMMO format “MMORPG news in two minutes.” We summarize the most important news about the best genre in the world for you. Look forward tomore information about WoW housing, a new PvE MMORPG, fresh servers, and much more.
On blizzard.com, the WoW developers provided insight into the upcoming housing rewards. Most of the decorations are expected to be available from vendors, other players via the auction house, or through quest completion. There will not be a new profession. All primary crafting professions will be able to create decorations.
With the PvE MMORPG Embers Adrift, a new representative of the genre has officially been released on Steam – which focuses on cooperative group content and aims to do without a shop or microtransactions. The fun is expected to cost around 29 euros.
What else has happened? The team responsible for Dungeons & Dragons Online has announced plans to permanently open the 64-bit server Cormyr for all interested players (via ddo.com). Previously, a paid VIP status was required for access. The developers at Standing Stone Games are repeating something that was very successful in Lord of the Rings Online.
Standing Stone Games also takes care of Lord of the Rings Online – here’s the trailer for the current expansion “Morgoth’s Legacy”:
Start video
Lord of the Rings Online: Trailer for Morgoth’s Legacy Prepares You for the New Expansion
New MMORPG will be “Open Source” before release
This happened with the major MMORPGs:
On May 2, the Mythic Dungeon International of WoW returned. You can find all the details on blizzard.com. Additionally, from April 28 to May 5, Children’s Week is taking place in WoW – with some new features (via blizzard.com).
Phase 4 of WoW Classic Anniversary has started this week, featuring Zul’Gurub, the Tier-0.5 class sets, the Dragons of Nightmare, Fisherman’s Competition in Stranglethorn Vale, and the awakening of the Silithid. All details are available at blizzard.com.
There are some spells in WoW that have no use concerning the battles for the well-being of Azeroth, but which can still bring a lot of joy. One of these harmless skills has been used by monks for many years to relax while fishing. But that is no longer possible from now on.
Imagine losing someone important to you way too early, and many years later you find out that they have been immortalized by Blizzard developers in WoW. That is exactly what happened this week.
When the chapter Gold Road brought the new writing system to The Elder Scrolls Online, the criticism was loud. The fact that you have to pay extra for the ability to create new skills did not go down well with many players. More than a year later, the developers are changing just that.
The developers of The Elder Scrolls Online have revealed on elderscrollsonline.com what fans of the MMORPG can look forward to in May. Among other things, the Golden Project “To Celebrate the Day,” the Crime Wave event, and a Relic Hunting weekend will be introduced. Additionally, you can secure a new home this month.
The developers of New World have introduced the new artifacts that will be coming to Aeternum with Season 8. Where? Here: newworld.com.
In a new issue of “Eye On Solisium” (via YouTube) and in an article on playthroneandliberty.com, there was a look ahead to the upcoming content of Throne and Liberty. Look forward to more events, a new boss, and much more. Take a look:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
MapleStory is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a patch full of events and goodies. You can find the patch notes on nexon.com.
The team from RuneScape has released an updated roadmap for 2025 (via runescape.com) and announced plans to significantly improve the support service for the MMORPG – particularly regarding response times, processes for transferring potentially bannable accounts, or security.
The next expansion of Eve Online will be released on May 27 and includes freelance jobs and new ships (via mmorpg.com).
Until May 11, 2025, the “Tempest Festival” event is taking place in EverQuest – with new quests, collections, and a weapon ornament. You can find the details on everquest.com.
In a 55-minute video on YouTube, the creative team behind Albion Online answered questions from the community. The discussions included future plans (more PvE content!), PvP revisions, console ports, and improvements for faction wars, for example. You can also watch the Q&A session here:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In May, the developers of Ashes of Creation will test their realm-merge system and merge the servers Vyra and Lyneth into the new world Resna. The currently only EU server, Lotharia, will go offline. Since the new Fresh-Start server Shol is located in the USA, there will be no European server for the MMORPG’s alpha until the start of Phase 3 in August (via mmorpg.com).
With the Early Access launch of BitCraft Online on Steam on May 29, 2025, the developers plan to make the source code of the game available to the public. The why and how are explained by the developers on bitcraftonline.com.
With Middle Ages: Online, a new 2D online RPG has entered open beta. You can reach the website at middleages.online. A new trailer is available on YouTube.
Legend of Ymir is already playable in South Korea and has received a new update that allows cross-server PvP battles with up to 600 fighters (via mmorpg.org.pl). Whether and when the MMORPG will come to the West is still unclear.
The developers of Monsters & Memories look back on the recent playtest and announce the Early Access launch for 2026 (via monstersandmemories.com).
On May 2, the new update for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen was released. You can find a list of the numerous bug fixes and improvements on Steam.
The developers of Pax Dei have announced that the next Early Access update will be so extensive that another wipe will need to be performed. You can find the details on playpaxdei.com.
Fate/Zero is an actionanime with a fantasy setting and part of a large franchise that includes video games, several series, and a visual novel. Regardless, Fate/Zero is also considered by MeinMMO author Esmeralda as one of the best anime of all time and a prime example of how good a series can be when characters, story, and action blend perfectly.
Caution, spoilers: The following article contains spoilers about the anime Fate/Zero, mainly about the identities of the “Servants”.
I discovered Fate/Zero one evening rather by chance – and was immediately overwhelmed. In the first three episodes, I could hardly tell the characters apart: Kiritsugu, Kirei, Kariya – help! Why do they all have such similar names and look alike? Back then, I was used to bright colors and flashy outfits from anime.
But I kept watching, and from episode 4 on, I was incredibly glad about that. And now? Now I watch the anime over and over again, recommend it, and rave about how good it is. And for this reason, I want to share with you 5 reasons why Fate/Zero is a really good anime that you should definitely watch.
First, a short explanation about the franchise and the lore, so nobody gets confused.
What kind of anime is this? In the world of the Fate franchise, a lot is happening: there are countless anime series, different story routes (Fate/stay night) and an avalanche of video games. You can hardly see the proverbial forest for the trees.
The beauty of it is: there is exactly one anime you can watch to get a perfect introduction to the world of Fate – or even to have seen all the important things: Fate/Zero. This anime, consisting of 25 episodes, is a prequel and is so well made that it can easily stand on its own.
Start video
Fate/Zero: A War for the Holy Grail in Anime that is Supposed to Fulfill Any Wish
What is Fate/Zero about? Many viewers often shy away from the sometimes confusing world of Fate. However, you really don’t have to know much. The three most important points about the lore are as follows:
Using the power of mana, three famous magician families managed to create the Holy Grail – an artifact that can fulfill any wish.
However, since the families could not agree on whose wish should be fulfilled, they decided to settle the matter in a fight: the Holy Grail War.
For this war, seven participants (called Masters) summon the souls of legendary heroes from history and mythology – the so-called Servants – who fight for them.
Every few years, this war for the Holy Grail breaks out anew. The winner finally gets to make a wish.
The story in Fate/Zero revolves around the fourth Holy Grail War. Kiritsugu Emiya is at the center of it. He is an extremely strong fighter who is originally sent to war on behalf of the Einzbern family. At his side fights one of the strongest of all Servants: Saber, who surprisingly turns out to be a female version of King Arthur.
And now – after this slightly longer introduction – we finally come to the 5 reasons why Fate/Zero belongs to the best anime of all time.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fallout 1 and 2 are considered very well-known; however, a developer stated that the source code was lost. Now, a colleague of hers has come forward and explained: She made backup copies of all the games back then.
Which games are we talking about? Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 enjoy a legendary reputation among the RPGs you can play. The games were released in 1997 and 1998. However, Tim Cain, the lead developer of the original Fallout, lamented the loss of the earliest development documents of Fallout.
When he left Interplay, the publisher behind it, he was supposed to delete all copies of the game’s development. For this reason, the source code for Fallout 1 and 2 is considered lost. However, a developer has now stated that the source code is not lost at all, as she made backup copies of it.
Start video
The official trailer for the Fallout series on Amazon in German
Developer makes backup copies because no one else did
Which developer are we talking about? Interplay co-founder and programmer Rebecca Heineman explained to the English-language magazine VideoGamer that she has preserved copies of the source code for Fallout 1 and 2.
In 1993, Interplay released a CD that contained one game from the previous 10 years, including classics like Battle Chess and Bard’s Tale. Only Wasteland was not included on that CD, and Heineman discovered during her research that no one had bothered to make backups or backup copies. She explained:
I asked about the source and got a blank stare. I went to the COO’s office, and he gave me a box that looked like it had been run over by a truck, which contained some of the source code on floppy disks. Eventually, I contacted friends at Electronic Arts to get a copy of the source code we had sent them when we delivered Wasteland.
From then on, Heineman made a copy of every game at Interplay, a so-called snapshot. A snapshot refers to a representation of the state at a specific point in time.
I made it my mission to take a snapshot of everything and archive it on CD-ROMs. When I left Interplay in 1995, I had copies of every game we had made. Without exceptions. When I worked at MacPlay, which existed beyond my time at Interplay, I made a snapshot of every game we ported. This included Fallout 1 and 2.
Currently, she is not allowed to release the source code for Fallout because the rights, according to the developer, lie with Bethesda. But if Bethesda plays along, that could change soon. She mentioned, “I haven’t gotten around to asking them yet. They are on my list.”
The current installment of the Fallout series is Fallout 4. However, MeinMMO editor Benedikt Grothaus believes that another game in the series is much better: Fallout 76, the controversial online game in the post-apocalyptic Fallout world: Forget Fallout 4; you should start with Fallout 76 now
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Blizzard has forgotten an item in Diablo 4 and some players had a lot of fun with it. In the meantime, Blizzard has removed the item before it could cause even more chaos.
What went wrong in Diablo 4?Season 8 has started in Diablo 4 and with it, plenty of new content for players. However, Blizzard accidentally forgot an item in the game, with which a few lucky players had a great deal of fun for a certain period of time.
Why for a certain period of time? Well, Blizzard has since removed the item with an emergency hotfix, thus ending the fun.
You can watch the gameplay of the new Season 8 in the following trailer:
Start video
Diablo 4: Der Gameplay-Trailer zu Season 8 mit Belial
Item scales damage with abilities to infinity
What was special about the item? It was a pair of gloves that you could find in the game. In English, the item is called “Ichorous Salvation,” which in German means “Handschuhe der Ichorischen Erlösung.”
However, the special feature was an effect that could scale the damage dealt to infinity. With the right combination of abilities, players could deal billions of damage points:
Every time you throw stun grenades, they deal additional fire damage, and with the right setup, you can throw dozens of them in just a few seconds. If you also add some of the unique boss abilities of the current season that further enhance fire damage, you can deal immense damage.
A user who claims to have found their own pair of these gloves posted a screenshot of the damage numbers. This was reported by PCGamer.com. The numbers go into quintillions and are displayed with a minus in front of them: This is mainly because the game can no longer calculate higher numbers.
As the English-speaking magazine PCGamer amusingly explains, in that range, the numbers don’t really matter, as you would defeat the monsters in fractions of a second anyway. A minus or a few zeros don’t make a significant difference anymore.
A new mount in World of Warcraft will soon make you want to complete a lot of timewalking quests. Because everyone wants a pirate dragon. Or dragon pirates.
From time to time, the developers of World of Warcraft have some ideas that are so absurd that they are immediately well received. Because all fantasy fans love dragons. But everyone also loves pirates. So what could be more natural than a pirate dragon? This very idea was implemented in Shadowlands when the dungeon “Tazavesh, the Veiled Market” was released with patch 9.1.
4 years later, the developers are finally fulfilling the wish to be able to own this dragon as a mount. Because the “Chronokorsar” (“Chrono Corsair”) will be the reward for a recurring event that starts in patch 11.1.7.
Start video
WoW: Xal’atath and the Destruction of Dalaran
What is special about the mount? The Chronokorsar is based on one of the bosses from Tazavesh, namely time captain Hooktail. During the Tazavesh dungeon, you follow the final boss through several timelines and to different locations. Along the way, you also encounter a group of pirates led by a dragon, namely Hooktail. He belongs to the “Eternal Dragonflight” and has a black appearance, complemented by pirate attire like a hat or cannons on the sides.
The Chronokorsar is likely to become a gem in many collections.
When Tazavesh was released during the time of Shadowlands, players had hoped that the dragon would drop from the dungeon. However, this was not the case.
Around 4 years later, Blizzard picks up this wish from the community again and brings the pirate dragon with patch 11.1.7 as part of the “Turbulent Timeways.” Anyone who completes the corresponding timewalking quests for several weeks in a row will receive the Chonokorsar as a reward.
When does the dragon come? The dragon will arrive as part of patch 11.1.7, which currently has no official release date. If Blizzard maintains the current release pace, the release should be around mid-June. Whether the associated event starts immediately or has a slight delay remains to be seen. Until then, there are still many other mounts that you can earn in WoW: We have introduced 5 current mounts from The War Within that you can easily farm here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
People regularly attempt to smuggle expensive hardware into China. A US company sees this as a great danger, even for the security of the USA. However, Nvidia contradicts the accusations and states that the smuggling allegations are ‘tall tales’. Nevertheless, the allegations can be easily substantiated.
What lies behind the smuggling allegations? Graphics cards and processors have been very expensive for some time. In addition, in China, certain graphic chips and products are prohibited for sale. For this reason, smugglers devise various tricks to bring the products into China and sell them profitably there.
American AI company sees smuggling as a major threat to the US economy
The AI company Anthropic stated in a blog post that there is a systematic problem behind the smuggling. Furthermore, they believe that enforcing export regulations requires more resources and that the tiered system introduced with the ‘AI Diffusion Rule’ needs to be adjusted to allow countries of tier 2 better access to technology. Thus, Anthropic stated in a blog post:
Chip smuggling is a major threat: China has established sophisticated smuggling operations, with documented cases involving chips worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In some cases, smugglers have used creative methods to circumvent export controls, such as hiding processors in fake baby bumps or packaging graphic processors alongside live lobsters. Chinese companies continue to establish shell companies in third countries at a rapid pace to bypass export controls.
Anthropic additionally argues that smugglers pose a significant danger to US security.
Therefore, Anthropic is also advocating for stricter controls and enforcement of the new AI regulations. However, Nvidia does not seem to appreciate this. Stricter controls and restrictions could also threaten Nvidia’s foreign business and revenues from chip sales. Nvidia has now stated that the smuggling stories are merely ‘tall tales’.
Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
Nvidia denies accusations, states: American companies should focus on innovations
Nvidia stated: Nvidia told the English-language magazine CNBC:
American companies should focus on innovations and face the challenge, rather than telling tall tales that large, heavy, and sensitive electronics are somehow smuggled in a ‘baby bump’ or ‘alongside live lobsters’.
Interestingly, however, the fake baby bump and the live lobsters can be easily proven: For example, a woman was arrested in China while attempting to smuggle graphic chips in a belly prosthesis. This was reported by Bloomberg.com, and the image clearly shows the prosthesis next to the smuggled chips. We reported on the smugglers who hid Nvidia graphics cards among live lobsters on MeinMMO.
Why do so many people smuggle? Despite severe penalties, smugglers keep trying to bring hardware to China. This is mainly due to the 13% VAT that must be paid in China, and the prohibitions make smuggling appear particularly lucrative.