The developers of New World have detailed Season 8. This time, instead of a PvP focus, there is a hardcore player experience, a new Outpost Rush map, world boss events, and more.
The highlights of the “Season of the Divide,” which is set to start on May 13, 2025, are as follows:
Hardcore Season World (launch not until early June): New characters start on this server in an “unfallen” state and can unlock elite rewards if they manage not to die. However, if that does happen, your alter ego remains, but then has no chance of obtaining those special loot pieces.
New Outpost Rush Map – Coral Divide: Fight for control in a dynamic arena designed with ocean themes that emphasizes vertical movements, tactical flanking, and intense battles over the fort in the center.
Unleashed Expeditions – World Bosses: In the world, you can encounter 3 legendary expedition bosses at level 70 through a limited-time event, luring players with high-quality loot.
New Artifacts: Season 8 brings seven new artifacts.
Barbershop: Use barbershop tokens earned in-game or purchased in the shop to customize your appearance.
Preview Events for New PvP Modes and Maps: The developers are also using Season 8 to test new PvP content. This time, on the menu are the Capture the Flag mode, the Outpost Rush map Bone Dry, and the 3v3 arena map.
Seasonal Events and Bonuses: Several events are planned for Season 8 – Faction Fest: Expeditions, Fury of the Spriggan, and XP Boost events.
Additionally, with the launch of Season 8, there are expected to be technical improvements as well as adjustments for combat and comfort. You can find the complete list on newworld.com.
The launch trailer for New World Aeternum:
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New World Aeternum: Well-Staged Gameplay Trailer for Launch
Hardcore servers allow players to continue living even after death
What are the exact rules of the hardcore server? It is certain that you can only receive the elite rewards if your freshly created character maintains its “unfallen” state, meaning stays alive. It is also clear that a virtual death does not ban you from the new server. The official description states (via newworld.com):
If you die once, you can no longer unlock the rewards for unfallen. However, your character remains and you will find your way around the server better. Even if you fall, there are plenty of other rewards you can gather and unlock for your account and your main characters. […]
In this limited-time world with a completely new, optimized main quest line, leveling up and improving equipment is faster than ever before. The equipment limits for artifacts have been removed. This allows players to boost their combat power to unprecedented levels.
What does the community think about the announcement? Some players of New World still seem to be no fans of the seasonal structure, as the already empty standard worlds feel even more deserted due to the new servers.
DrinkYourGravy writes on Reddit: “No one wants seasonal servers, Amazon Games. It divides the player base and is detrimental to the game overall.”
kankahsor explains on Reddit: “I am very disappointed. The things that would bring essential improvements and were previously in development are still in development. The preview events are just irritating. Release the content and adjust it as needed. Nothing in this update addresses the core issue of the lack of endgame […].”
getZlatanized also criticizes the new season on Reddit: “Realistically, the only repeatable content we’re getting in S8 is the ‘new’ OPR map. Additionally, a couple of weekends where we can actually test new things. That’s it. Oh, and the hardcore server? Sounds stupid in New World – pass.”
However, some players are also looking forward to the new season.
heartlessgamer writes on Reddit: “There’s a lot to like about this update, but I have no doubt that the community will generally be angry about it. It’s hard to be patient when there’s so much going on in the gaming market and other games are delivering more consistent results.”
Plumpy_Gnome is looking forward to Reddit: “Interesting, I said sooo long ago that they would do hardcore for S8. I think they want the same success WoW has with hardcore, but that won’t happen; it should still be fun. I sincerely hope that CTF is good, it’s the best PvP mode ever. The barbershop is coming way earlier than I expected, I thought summer 2025, long overdue, but better late than never.”
iDK258 is optimistic on Reddit: “I’m never too optimistic with this developer (and also not with the way they implement things), especially since it looks like much of what’s in Season 8 is just a ‘preview’ – but I really like the stuff from S8 and in development. Hopefully, I can play the game full-time again soon.”
Anyone who thinks that World of Warcraft is just a game should definitely read the heartwarming message from PlastikdaN to the entire team at Blizzard.
Why is the player writing a message to Blizzard? Out of gratitude. According to the Reddit user PlastikdaN, he has experienced the worst 8 to 9 months of his life. This was triggered by a tick bite he sustained while hiking. The diagnosis in August 2024: Lyme disease (via Wikipedia), Bartonella, and Babesiosis.
PlastikdaN describes that a few weeks after the bite, he could no longer use his legs. Breathing became difficult. His body trembled. His joints were inflamed. He suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, cognitive disturbances, and insomnia. And to make matters worse, he is from a country where it seems very difficult to receive proper treatment for such issues.
Another heartwarming story from the WoW community:
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WoW Player Moves to Tears with Tribute to Her Father
What does WoW have to do with all of this? PlastikdaN explains that he has been playing World of Warcraft somewhat regularly since the Burning Crusade expansion, but with interruptions. He spent the most time during Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm in the MMORPG.
Later, however, priorities shifted towards job, family, and his own health. There was hardly any time left for gaming. When he bought the new expansion The War Within for WoW after the diagnosis and worsening symptoms, it was primarily out of a sense of nostalgia. He wanted to try to keep himself engaged and distracted.
And it worked. Why, he still doesn’t understand:
I couldn’t remember how to tie my shoelaces, use the microwave, or how to stand up, but something inside me said: “Buckle up, the coming months will be the hardest and most challenging you’ve ever experienced, but I will allow you to access the gaming instincts you built in your twenties to dive back into this world while the treatment gradually brings you back to reality.”
While he fought for his health, he leveled characters to max level, mastered achievements, collected mounts, farmed reputation, and played PvP. The latter, as the player explains today, is probably not a good idea when suffering from Lyme disease. The illness can definitely affect personality and lead to outbursts of anger.
Due to some verbal outbursts in the chat, PlastikdaN’s main account was also banned. The player wants to apologize for this behavior today. His second account is “in impeccable condition.” At the same time, PlastikdaN expresses extreme gratitude for what WoW has given him during this time.
I truly believe that WoW has helped me in my recovery. I truly believe that the complexity of WoW and the engaging way of problem-solving contributed to my cognitive abilities slowly but surely normalizing. I truly believe that the depth of content and the vision of WoW kept my mental health in check so that my body had the time to let the treatment take effect. […]
In my humble opinion, Blizzard does not receive enough praise, thanks, and respect for what they have created, maintained, and fostered for over 25 years. At least for chronically ill people like me.
Finally, PlastikdaN explains that he was able to complete his treatment two months ago. Last weekend was the first day in a long time that he felt so well that he could turn his feelings of gratitude into text.
How does the community respond to the report? With over 1,100 upvotes and more than 95 comments in about 14 hours. Many players share their own personal stories in the comments.
Ok-Ferret8452 writes on Reddit: “What a comforting post. I’m glad to hear you’re doing better. WoW has also played a significant role in my own life during difficult times. […]. WoW was my escape. WoW was the joy where I could hide. It may sound very melodramatic, but it kept me sane.”
Mr_Rio recalls on Reddit: “I had a similar experience with this game. I started it at the end of February 2024 after going through a major trauma and the worst 10 months of my life. Even though I had a lot of love, friends, and people who supported me, this game really helped me stabilize during the hardest times of my life. It was always there, it was always alive and active, it always gave me something to do and distracted me from the bad times in my life.”
Qvazr expresses gratitude on Reddit: “I got Long Covid in 2020, before the world even knew there was such a thing. All the symptoms I had/have are very similar to yours. WoW also saved me. I couldn’t watch TV, talk to people, go outside […]. But for some reason, I could play WoW. When the real world gets too much for my foggy brain, I can feel safe and welcome in Azeroth.”
Amazon Prime does not only have The Rings of Power. For fantasy fans wishing to focus on a series, they can also do so with The Wheel of Time. Fans of this series can also look forward to a new open-world game that is supposedly in development.
What is The Wheel of Time? The Wheel of Time is a book series by Robert Jordan, which was completed by Brandon Sanderson after his death. In the world of The Wheel of Time, there is magic, but not everyone can use it. A sorceress takes 5 young people under her wing and embarks on a dangerous journey that affects the fate of the world.
As Variety now reports, a new game set in this world is in the works, and it seems to be very ambitious. They want to create a AAA open-world RPG. An industry veteran is involved as well.
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The Wheel of Time – Trailer zur Fantasy-Serie auf Amazon Prime
An ambitious project
What kind of game will it be? The game is intended to be an open-world RPG with a high budget. It will be developed by a new developer team at iwot Studios and led by Warner Bros.
iwot Studios, which was formerly known as Red Eagly Entertainment, secured the rights for series, films, video games, and comics related to The Wheel of Time in 2004. The video game project is quite ambitious.
The CEO of iwot Studios, Rick Selvage, told Variety that the open-world game should include everything that appears in the books, as well as all elements of the backstory. They want to avoid being restricted to a specific location or time period. According to Variety, the book series has over 2,750 named characters.
Craig Alexander will be leading the project. He is the former Vice President of Product Development at Warner Bros. Games, and he oversaw the development of the MMORPGs The Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online. Additionally, he has held senior positions at Activision and EA.
The studio anticipates a 3-year development period, and the game is set to be released for PC and consoles.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a legendary game that is loved by many players to this day. However, the title was also responsible for a hated gaming trend that has now made its way into the remaster.
On April 22, 2025, Bethesda released the remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. For a long time, rumors and leaks had been talking about the existence of the game. And the remaster seems to be well received. On Steam, the game is currently rated very positive. (as of April 23, 2025, 08:50 AM)
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered – Official Trailer for the Role-Playing Game
Those who pay more receive more content, including 2 horse armors
What additional content is there? The remaster of Oblivion costs €54.99 on Steam. This includes not only the main game but also the expansions. However, if you pay an additional €10, there are extra contents in the form of quests that unlock armors, weapons, and horse armors.
They advertise with 2 horse armors: Order and Cataclysm. If you have only purchased the standard edition, you can also upgrade to the Deluxe Edition for €10. However, in the regular main game, you can also unlock armors for your horse without paying extra.
How is the community reacting? Under a tweet by user @ManyATrueNerd (via x.com), which addresses the paid horse armors, mixed comments are accumulating.
@FrenchgEwokKing (via x.com) writes that Bethesda did it just for the memes. Other users agree with this. @Ordovicius (via x.com) states that it shouldn’t be bought, even if it is a meme. For another user (via x.com), this additional DLC has a bitter aftertaste.
The role-playing game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is making a big splash on Steam: With 182,298 players, it has celebrated a massive launch. 83% of the reviews on Steam are positive. But one person is not impressed, Mike Ybarra, the former head of Blizzard. He says: Players are tired of endless remasters; they want fresh games like Elden Ring.
That’s what Ybarra says on social media:
I am skeptical about a remaster of a 20-year-old game. What was once fantastic and has now been remastered will never compete with modern masterpieces like Elden Ring. The bar has simply shifted from safe open-world RPGs to what Elden Ring has brought us all. I would love to be proven wrong. But I am not wrong.
Ybarra clarifies: With Elden Ring, the world’s discovery, the classes, and the combat system have reached a different level of quality. Earlier role-playing games, which always played it safe, simply cannot keep up anymore.
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The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered – Official Trailer for the Role-Playing Game
Former Blizzard Boss Says: Nostalgia Only Lasts So Long
Ybarra continues: The former head of Blizzard says he wishes the game only good things. From his perspective, it is not a “remaster,” but a remake because the gameplay has been refined.
He is getting the game himself on Steam.
He only believes that these “remastered” games have a limit. Nostalgia only lasts so long. He thinks players are currently more excited about something new like Elden Ring Nightreign. People are tired of endless remakes, especially since earlier RPGs didn’t dare much.
The Switch 2 costs almost 500 euros and many consider the price to be too high. But now Nintendo’s president has spoken out and explained: The demand for the Switch 2 is so high that they cannot meet it. Previously, in November 2024, he stated that purchasing a Switch 2 would be quite easy.
You can pre-order the Switch in various shops for a few weeks now. In Japan, this was possible through the “My Nintendo Store.” However, the demand seems to be so great that it is hardly being met.
Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa has now personally apologized to the interested players.
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Nintendo showcases the Switch 2 for the first time in a trailer
In Japan, there is no guarantee that every player can buy a Switch 2
How does it work in Japan? In Japan, the Switch 2 is being sold through a kind of lottery: You sign up for the purchase and hope that you can order a Switch 2 at the shop. Those who do not receive a “lot” cannot order a console. This is reminiscent of practices used against scalpers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is what the Nintendo president says now: Furukawa stated that they had received an “extremely high number of applications” for the Switch 2, greatly exceeding the target number. The English magazine Dexerto reports this. Furukawa commented on this problem on April 23, 2025, on X and explained (via x.com):
We have received an extremely high number of applications, about 2.2 million people just in Japan. However, this number far exceeds our expectations and far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered via the My Nintendo Store on June 5.
The Nintendo president further explained that “they unfortunately anticipate that a significant number of customers will not be selected when the winners are announced tomorrow, April 24.”
After the first drawing round, there will be a second round. But Furukawa added that there is no guarantee that all customers will be able to pre-order the console.
We sincerely apologize for not being able to meet your expectations despite our preparations. In response to this demand, we are currently working to further strengthen our production system.
Nintendo’s president promised in November 2024 that purchasing a Switch 2 would be very easy
What was 2024? In November 2024, Nintendo’s president assured that it should be quite easy to order a Switch 2. He explained that they would manufacture such a large number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that they would always be in stock. And that would make the Switch 2 not attractive enough for scalpers, so players wouldn’t have to worry.
Nintendo has presented the official specifications for its new Switch 2. MeinMMO summarizes the most important information that you should know before the launch of the new console: Nintendo Switch 2: Here are the official specifications
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Civilization 7 has been receiving large new updates since its release, which aim to improve the strategy game. Even critical players are admitting that the latest installment of the venerable series has improved significantly.
What is the current status of Civilization 7? The 4X strategy game was released on February 11, 2025, and was pretty broken at launch. The dissatisfaction was also reflected in the numbers: According to SteamDB, the player count has decreased from about 42,600 to approximately 12,600 within a 24-hour period since its Steam release on February 10, 2025 (as of April 23, 2025, at 2:45 PM).
Since its release, the game has been getting better thanks to several major updates. This includes Patch 1.2.0, which went live on April 22, 2025.
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Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 shows gameplay in the trailer
Numerous new content and improvements
What’s included in the new patch? Update 1.2.0 contains many improvements and new features that players have requested according to the developer Firaxis. These include:
New and revised resources
Multiplayer teams
The ability to continue games after a victory
The update will also revise the old resources and add 10 new ones. These will bring their own effects and a new narrative event each. Treasure resources now also have passive bonuses, making them useful not just for treasure fleets.
Those wishing to play Civilization 7 in multiplayer can now form teams: It’s no longer just a 1v1v1v1 match possible, but also a 2v2. If you win a match, you can continue the game via the “Just one more turn” button.
You can find the complete patch notes here on Steam.
“Is the game finally out of alpha?”
The new update has been received very positively by the community as a whole: User yeowan asks the Civ community on Steam whether “Patch 1.2 finally brings the game out of alpha status,” and receives a lot of positive feedback.
Adriano Ruggieri says: “It has improved a lot! Really a lot.” He notes that in his opinion a few things are still missing, but the game is on the right track.
jariel shares this view and writes: “They [Firaxis] have really improved their game in the last 2 patches, we are definitely getting there or might already be there …”
So far, the new update has not positively affected the Steam rating. Recent reviews remain balanced (43% positive), but the patch has just been released.
Until Civilization 7 lives up to its great name, it may still have a long way to go. Currently, it still falls far short of the expectations of many players. However, a Civilization game is already taking a place on our list of 15 best strategy games for PC 2025.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Blizzard is planning major changes with the next season of Diablo 4. Season 8 not only brings seasonal abilities but also sustainably changes some of the existing content. Above all: bosses. You can fight these bosses almost anytime starting in Season 8, but you may not get much out of it.
Which bosses are we talking about?
Once you reach the maximum level in Diablo 4, it’s time for the Paragon and item grind. Unique and mythic items (“Uniques” and “Mythics”) are particularly sought after.
Currently, there are often farming groups. Since you need boss materials to summon them, players come together and summon bosses in a row – which can now be done faster. This allows everyone to farm relatively efficiently in a short time.
This is changing in Season 8: In the upcoming season, Blizzard is almost completely removing boss materials. You can simply summon bosses, so you won’t waste any materials if you find out they’re too tough.
Instead, bosses will drop chests that you can only open with a key. For this key, you will need the corresponding materials – so you will still only get the important loot if you contribute something.
Bosses will also be significantly harder, and you really need to make sure you play well. Oneshot builds are not supposed to work in the same way against bosses anymore. Since bosses are the theme of the season, there will also be three new bosses in the endgame:
Belial from Diablo 3 returns and can even randomly appear in any boss fight like the Butcher. If you defeat him, you’ll get better loot with higher drop chances than anywhere else.
Urivar and the Harbinger of Hatred from the Vessel of Hatred campaign also return in an updated form, with new and stronger mechanics. Many players have wished for this.
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Diablo 4: Der Gameplay-Trailer zu Season 8 mit Belial
“Many people complained about leechers”
In the interview, Lead Season Designer Deric Nuñez and Lead Live Game Designer Colin Finer discussed the changes (via gamespot). They said that the changes are partly because players were not exactly fair.
With the old system, it was possible for someone to let other players summon the bosses and then leave without contributing anything themselves. That is no longer possible, as everyone has to pay if they want loot.
At the same time, playing in groups becomes more rewarding. The more players in the group, the higher the chance of bonus items from the chest, explains Finer. The changes will not only apply to Season 8 but also to Diablo 4 in general and will remain permanently. Finer remarks: “It’s important that we continue to develop Diablo and not just rely on throwaway changes.” (via gamesradar).
In League of Legends, the trunk-addicted brawler Gragas, the “Troublemaker,” has been around for 15 years. He is a massive, brawling brewmaster with abilities like “Free Beer” and “Drunken Rage.” For 15 years, this was not a problem. But in 2025, this will no longer be the case in LoL.
This is the announcement from Riot: On April 18, 2025, RiotMeddler spoke up on Twitter and said that they had adjusted some features of Gragas and removed “Drunken” from the names of abilities to comply with age requirements in various regions. The skill W, originally named “Drunken Rage,” will be renamed “Raucous Rage.” (Loud Rage).
Anyone who wants can enjoy a drink. Players should not worry, as Gragas still appreciates a beer. He’s just being more discreet about drinking now.
Gragas has been in League of Legends since February 2010: The whole character is centered around beer. Gragas is a brewmaster who walks around with a huge barrel that he throws and drinks from to hit harder and regenerate some health.
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Das ist LoL – Einmal richtig ehrlich erklärt
Fans complain: Public execution is okay, but drinking beer isn’t?
How is this being discussed? The tweet has now reached 1.1 million views in just a few days and has been commented on over 300 times.
In the English-speaking world, people are annoyed by the restriction. Riot Games seems to want to placate religions that cannot tolerate someone drinking. This takes the “creative fun out of the game” and shows how internationalization can go terribly wrong. If necessary, they should just stop catering to such a market if they have to change the international version for it.
Players apparently suspect countries like Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates of having pressured Riot Games to limit the glorification of alcohol through Gragas.
A nasty comment states: “I guess Tencent finds public executions as a feature in the game acceptable. Probably because it has not been a problem for the communist party until recently.”
“This is just like when you removed Graves’ cigar! You will never recover financially from this.”
This is probably more of an ironic comment.
In a large discussion on Reddit , people are wondering why, in a game where so much offensive content happens – such as with the heroine Evelynn, who makes clear sexual innuendos – this particular detail is perceived as bothersome.
Why is Riot doing this? As RiotMeddler later clarifies on Reddit , it specifically relates to complying with age regulations for certain regions. Otherwise, there would be no reason. The word “drunken” has been marked as offensive.
They have no plans to change anything else about Gragas.
Is there anyone who thinks the change is good? One post thanks Riot Games for it. A user says that as the son of a former alcoholic whose father died from drinking too much, he appreciates the change. He always felt uncomfortable playing as Gragas. He even wishes Riot would go further and also change the animations and voice lines.
Update, April 23: Riot has responded again. They have now looked more closely at the EU guidelines: (via bluesky)
The name of the ability “Drunken Rage” does not need to be changed after all
Instead, the description of the ability will be adjusted so that it no longer states that being drunk strengthens Gragas and that the “slurping the brew” will also need to disappear
Additionally, they will make some adjustments to Gragas’ bio
It appears to be about avoiding the impression that Gragas and thus LoL glorifies alcohol.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the launch of the new event “Sweet Discoveries”, you can catch Knapfel in Pokémon GO for the first time. We have summarized how it works and what else to expect during the event.
When does the event run? The “Sweet Discoveries” event starts on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM. It runs until Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 8:00 PM.
How can you catch Knapfel? At the start of the event, you can find apples on the map – similar to Pokéballs during the event on April 1. If you tap on the apples, you can find sweet or sour apples or encounter different Pokémon. One of the Pokémon is Knapfel. Additionally, more apples will appear on the map near Moss Lure Modules.
How can you evolve Knapfel? If you want to evolve Knapfel into Drapfel, you will need 200 Knapfel candies and 20 sour apples. To evolve Knapfel into Schlapfel, you will need 200 candies and 20 sweet apples.
Start video
Pokémon GO: What’s in the new Season Powerful and Masterful
Sweet Discoveries – All Contents of the Event
What bonuses are available during the event? The following bonuses are active during the event:
double amount of candies when catching monsters
increased Shiny chance for Botogel and Raffel in the wild
increased Shiny chance for Botogel, Kikugi, and Raffel when hatching eggs
berries for caught Botogel and Raffel
increased chance of apples near Moss Lure Modules
halved distance for hatching eggs that you place in incubators using the Pokémon GO widget (applies to 3 eggs)
Which Pokémon are available in the wild? The following Pokémon await you in the wild:
Alolan Rattata*
Abra*
Knofensa*
Botogel*
Schluppuck*
Bidiza*
Somniam*
Frubberl*
Raffel*
Relaxo* (rare)
Pottrott* (rare)
Koalelu* (rare)
Knapfel (through apples)
All monsters marked with a * can also appear as Shiny.
Which monsters are in eggs? If you receive 7-km eggs during the event, you can hatch the following Pokémon from them:
Botogel*
Kikugi*
Mampfaxo*
Raffel*
Pokémon with a * can also be hatched as Shiny.
Further event contents: The event features a free and a paid limited research. In the free version, you can expect 1 Moss Lure Module, 1 sour apple, 1 sweet apple, and encounters with event Pokémon.
You can purchase the paid version for $1.99 (approximately 2 €). Here you will receive 2 Moss Lure Modules and encounters with event monsters.
Additionally, you can complete special field researches during the event, which offer stardust and further encounters with event Pokémon.
PokéStop showcases are also part of the event again. Here you can participate with event Pokémon.
In addition to the “Sweet Discoveries” event, there are other events scheduled until the end of the current month that will provide you with content. You can find out which ones they are, when they take place, and what content awaits you in our overview of all April 2025 events in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In TES: Oblivion Remastered, you must choose a zodiac sign for your character before your journey through Cyrodiil. There are 13 options available, but which one is right for you? We will show you.
What zodiac signs are there? A total of 13 zodiac signs are available, and each brings its own attributes. Note that you can only choose one zodiac sign before your journey, so it’s good to know which ones are worth it and which you should ignore. The following options are available:
The Warrior
Strength +10
Constitution +10
The Mage
Magicka +50
The Thief
Agility +10
Speed +10
Luck +10
The Steed
Speed +20
The Apprentice
Magicka +100
Vulnerable to Magic 100%
The Shadow
Invisibility
Duration: 60, limited to one use per day
The Ritual
Restore Health: 200 points immediately, limited to one use per day.
Banish Undead – Value: 100, Duration: 30
The Atronach
Magicka +150
Spell Absorption 50%
No Magicka Regeneration
The Tower
Open Average Lock, limited to one use per day
Reflect Damage: Value: 5, Duration: 120
The Lord
Restore Health: Duration: 15, Value 6
Fire Vulnerability: 25%
The Lady
Willpower +10
Constitution +10
The Lover
Paralyze (Touch, Duration: 10) limited to one use per day
Cost: Stamina -120
The Serpent
Damage with Poison to Health and Stamina – Duration: 20
Now we know what each zodiac sign has to offer, but which one should you choose? We will show you the three best options.
Start video
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered – Official Trailer for the Role-Playing Game
These 3 Zodiac Signs You Should Choose
Which zodiac signs are the best? It can’t be determined universally, as each player prefers a different play style and wants to approach a different build. However, if you don’t care and want to have a solid choice ready at the start, you should focus on the following zodiac signs:
Generally the Best Zodiac Sign: The Thief
What makes the Thief so strong? The Thief benefits from three strong attributes:
Agility +10
Speed +10
Luck +10
Agility improves your proficiency with ranged weapons as well as your stamina. Speed also increases your movement pace, which can be particularly useful in critical situations.
Finally, you benefit from increased luck, which increases your survival chances. You become more resistant to diseases, set off traps less frequently, and are more successful in games of chance. All in all, the Thief is especially suited for those who are not yet sure which direction their build should take. You can’t go wrong with it.
The Best Zodiac Sign for Mages: The Atronach
What makes the Atronach so strong? The Atronach offers you specific bonuses that are especially worthwhile for mages:
Magicka +150
Spell Absorption 50%
No Magicka Regeneration
What makes the Atronach so worthwhile is its significant Magicka boost and its spell absorption. You have a 50% chance to absorb, negate, and convert each of your enemies’ spells into Magicka. Since spells are a dangerous threat, this is very practical.
The only drawback of this zodiac sign is the lack of Magicka regeneration, which you can counter with absorption and potions. You should choose this sign if you want to primarily excel as a mage.
The Best Zodiac Sign for Non-Mages: The Warrior
What makes the Warrior so strong? The Warrior is primarily aimed at hardened swordfighters, as you can count on the following attributes:
Strength +10
Constitution +10
Constitution increases the amount of health points you gain per level-up. This allows you to take more hits before you should die. With the increased strength, you benefit from higher damage and carrying capacity, especially as a melee fighter.
If you prefer to benefit from the Constitution bonus but would rather play as a mage, then you should choose the Lady zodiac sign.
Can I change my zodiac sign? Unfortunately not. Once you have created your character, you get a chance after the tutorial to modify your character one last time and adjust the zodiac sign. This is your final opportunity to do so. Once you complete the prison section of Oblivion, you can no longer change your zodiac sign.
Therefore, it is worth saving before you leave the prison. This way, if you are not satisfied, you can load the previous save without having to recreate your character. You will then have another chance to change your zodiac sign.
What about the other zodiac signs? Even the remaining zodiac signs that did not make it among the best have their justification for existence.
However, they are either worse, offer unnecessary talents that become redundant, especially in the late game, or are simply too niche in their usefulness. However, feel free to experiment and share your opinions in the comments. You can find more about the best role-playing games here: The 14 best role-playing games on Steam
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Ultimate Team for EA FC 25 you can give players unique upgrades in the Evolutions (EVOs). On MeinMMO, we present to you strong players who are well-suited for the new EVOs and are also affordable.
Update from April 13, 2025 (1:00 PM): We have added strong and affordable options for new evolutions in Ultimate Team. Since we sorted the EVOs by expiration date, you will find them further down in the article marked with [*new*].
[toc]
What are the Evolutions? The EVOs are a feature introduced in FC 24. They provide your cards in Ultimate Team with more or less powerful upgrades. There are free and paid evolutions in Ultimate Team.
EVOs are time-limited and impose certain requirements on the players who are eligible for the upgrades.
The pro requirements concern:
maximum rating
maximum stats
maximum number of PlayStyles(+)
maximum skill (★) weak foot or special moves
allowed positions
allowed countries and regions
How affordable are our players for the EVOs? We have ensured that none of the players cost more than 25,000 coins.
Start video
EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for Ultimate Team
Which players are worth it for the upgrades of the EVOs?
Which players fit best into the EVOs? In our selection, we focused on players who can gain the maximum advantage from the upgrades. Special attention is paid to players who also benefit from the PlayStyle upgrades, as PlayStyles are at least as important as the stats in FC 25.
EVO Gladiator: Nicolò Fagioli (TOTW) – Fiorentina (ITA 1)
Cost of the EVO: free
Expiration date: April 23, 2025
Fagioli before and after the EVO. (Preview via futbin)
Upgrades:
Rating +3 (87→88):
Shooting +8 (83→91)
Defensive +8 (82→90)
PlayStyles:
Interception
Low driven shot
EVO Hawk: Hugo Bueno (Dreamchasers) – Feyenoord Rotterdam (NED)
Cost of the EVO: free
Expiration date: April 25, 2025
Hugo Bueno before and after the EVO. (Preview via futbin)
Upgrades:
Rating +1 (88→89):
Shooting +6 (70→76)
Physical +5 (82→87)
PlayStyles:
Trivela
In the air
EVO Multitalent II: Luciano Acosta (FUT Birthday) – FC Dallas (MLS)
Cost of the EVO: free
Expiration date: April 26, 2025
Acosta before and after the EVO. (Preview via futbin)
Upgrades:
Rating +3 (88→92):
Speed +5 (88→93)
Passing +1 (87→88)
Dribbling +2 (90→92)
Defensive +34 (55→89)
Physical +15 (70→85)
Positions:
RB
CM
PlayStyles:
Stationary ball
Through pass
Push off
Interception
EVO Golazo: Anthony Elanga (TOTW) – Nottingham Forest (ENG 1)
Cost of the EVO: 80,000 coins
Expiration date: April 27, 2025
Elanga before and after the EVO. (Preview via futbin)
Declining sales figures and weak revenue. Tesla has presented its financial results, which look anything but rosy. Tesla also dampens expectations that things might improve in the next quarter.
The automotive company Tesla has released its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, and the current figures do not look good for the company. Tesla itself has tempered expectations that things might improve in the coming months.
Currently, Tesla is facing several major issues: Sales figures have plummeted, and there are also protests against Tesla.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Weak revenue and reduced sales figures
What do the figures look like? Tesla has published the financial results for the first quarter (via TheVerge.com):
Tesla reported a net profit of 409 million dollars on revenue of 19.3 billion dollars. This is below Wall Street’s expectations of 21.1 billion dollars and represents a decline of 9.4 percent compared to the previous year, compared to 21.3 billion dollars in revenue in the first quarter of 2024.
The net profit in the first quarter decreased by 71 percent. Tesla’s automotive revenue fell year over year by 20 percent, from 17.4 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2024 to 13.9 billion dollars in the latest quarter.
How is Tesla doing otherwise? Tesla delivered as few cars in the last quarter as it has in years: The company reported a total of 336,681 vehicles delivered, a decrease of 12.9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024.
The European market is even more severely affected: According to Tagesschau, only 19,000 vehicles from Tesla were sold in Europe in January and February 2025.
Musk’s political escapades harm Tesla
Elon Musk’s political adventures are now also harming Tesla. Already in November 2024, Musk’s father expressed concerns that his son’s political ambitions could damage Tesla. He stated at the time that politics would inevitably keep Elon Musk away from board meetings and managing his companies, which could become a significant long-term problem for his firms. And this is exactly what Tesla is now experiencing. However, there are now also reports indicating that Musk wants to withdraw from politics (via TheVerge.com).
Furthermore, political protests in the USA are also being directed against Tesla vehicles and have triggered a brand crisis: There have been several violent attacks on Tesla stores and vehicles worldwide, including multiple cases of arson and vandalism. Many people therefore no longer want to drive a Tesla or are considering selling their cars.
With “Solo Leveling” there was a major hit at the beginning of 2024. The anime adaptation of the popular webtoon was celebrated worldwide for its elaborate staging. Many fans hoped that “The Beginning After the End” could repeat this success. But fan criticism did not take long to surface, and now the author has personally commented on it.
Which anime is it about? The anime “The Beginning After the End” (short: TBATE) is based on the eponymous web novel by author TurtleMe, who later published it as a webcomic on Tapas. The series has enjoyed great popularity for years – with a loyal fanbase and monthly revenue averaging around 500,000 US dollars.
The anime adaptation was produced by studio A-CAT, with support from Crunchyroll and Fuji TV. Expectations were high, not least because TBATE has thematic and stylistic similarities to “Solo Leveling”: a strong protagonist, a magical world, and epic battles.
However, now that the first episodes of the anime adaptation have been released, ongoing criticism has emerged from the community, prompting the author to make a statement.
Start video
The Beginning After The End: A King is Reborn in an Anime in a Magical World
Why are fans dissatisfied? Even before the release of the first episode, the trailer already caused a stir. The fierce criticism from the community led to some fans calling for the production of the series to be halted altogether. While “Solo Leveling” impressed with elaborate animation, style, and pace, TBATE seems to many to be very “heartless” in comparison.
The series finally premiered on April 2, 2025, and already 3 episodes have been released on Crunchyroll. But fans’ frustration only grew. It was criticized that many scenes feel stiff or almost like a “slideshow.”
Author asks to give the anime a chance
What does the author say about it? In light of the growing criticism, author TurtleMe personally spoke out. Over Reddit, he thanks fans for their long-standing support, shows understanding for the reactions, but emphasizes the limited influence he has as an author in the anime production process.
The desire of many fans for a reboot or a change in production is commented on emotionally: “When you love something – be it a pet, a story, or a child – you do not wish during difficult times for it to simply disappear, so you can start anew.”
TurtleMe appeals to the community’s patience. Just like the webcomic was initially criticized, he says, it developed over time. His plea to fans is therefore to give the anime time and a chance.
Nevertheless, the series is under particular pressure: “The Beginning After the End” must fill big shoes, not least due to the massive success of “Solo Leveling.” The differing opinions particularly illustrate how high expectations for modern anime productions have become.
Fans demand not only visual quality but also emotional depth and a gripping adaptation of the source material. While many viewers of TBATE grapple with disappointed expectations regarding the anime adaptation, a dramatic moment in another major anime franchise is also causing a stir: One of the most popular characters in Jujutsu Kaisen was defeated because he was too arrogant.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After the first look at The Witcher 4 at the Game Awards 2024, one thing caught the eye of viewers and fans of the game: Ciri is the protagonist of the latest game in the Witcher universe. CD Projekt RED knows what they are capable of, but they also see the challenge in this decision.
What do we know so far about the development of The Witcher 4? The Witcher 4 will be the latest game in the Witcher series, but it will not be a classic sequel or reboot, as the Narrative Director of CD Projekt RED reports in an interview with GameStar.
The studio has already proven with Cyberpunk 2077 that they can handle challenges, no matter how bleak the outlook may initially seem. This is part of game development. A developer reveals in an interview with Revenant that the studio also has a significant hurdle to overcome regarding The Witcher 4, which is already attracting attention before the game is released.
Here you can see the trailer for The Witcher 4:
Start video
Trailer for The Witcher 4 shows Ciri as the protagonist
“Ciri is as important or even more important than Geralt of Rivia.”
Where is the challenge? David Cordero, Head of Cinematic Animation at Cyberpunk 2077, said that the biggest challenge does not lie in the gameplay of The Witcher 4, as they “will do everything to improve it regarding gameplay or combat, since CD Projekt is a studio that listens a lot to the community” (via 3DJuegos).
The real challenge lies in convincing players that Ciri is as important or even more important than Geralt of Rivia. Cordero knows that Geralt is very popular in the community and that Ciri therefore has big shoes to fill as the new protagonist. However, he also adds that this does not mean that Geralt does not exist in the world. In the trailer, for example, you can also hear his voice as the narrator.
How is CD Projekt dealing with this challenge? Although Ciri is a popular character in the Witcher universe alongside Geralt, some players express concerns about the development of the protagonist, especially regarding the story of the game.
Cordero addresses these player concerns. He trusts the lore team in this regard:
CD Projekt has a very well-developed story department with the most passionate people you will ever meet in your life. Therefore, we will take care of this, it is not a trivial matter. We will adopt this level of detail from Cyberpunk 2077, and we expect the cinematic sequences to receive an enormous upgrade.
David Cortero, Head of Cinematic Animation at Cyberpunk 2077 in an interview with Revenant (via 3DJuegos)
Bungie has hidden the first hints of upcoming content in Destiny 2 in a new teaser. Fans are already busy interpreting.
What kind of teaser is this? This mini-trailer was uploaded by developer Bungie on April 22, 2025. Although the clip is only 15 seconds long, it already gets fans speculating.
You can see the teaser here:
Start video
Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate – Teaser for the big reveal in May
What does the teaser reveal?
The new content will be released under the name “The Edge of Fate”
The full reveal of Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate is set to take place on May 6, 2025, at 6 PM CEST
The teaser shows a Guardian flying towards symbols of the Nine with his spaceship. The Nine are associated with the Sol system, where all existing content has taken place.
Destiny 2 likely takes players to a brand new system
Now there are hints that the developers are leaving the Sol system behind: Fans have already started searching the teaser for details. YouTube user Reckerless has especially noticed the word “Keple” and the number 15:
The word is at the edge of the image and appears to be cut off – Reckerless suspects that it should actually say “Kepler.”
This name also appears in the names of planets outside our own solar system that were discovered by NASA’s Kepler space telescope.
The number 15 may refer to a specific planet, namely the 15th Kepler planet (also known as Kepler-15 b).
In addition to the prominently placed “Kepler,” it seems Bungie has also consciously chosen the number 15. The teaser is 15 seconds long, and the reveal takes place – surprise – 15 days after the teaser’s release. This suggests that Reckerless might be on the right track.
Also visible in the teaser is something that looks like the word “Chiago.” You can find it at the top right of the image, but what this word stands for is not immediately clear. In the bottom left, the term “voided” seems to be hidden as well.
Due to the various versions of World of Warcraft, which regularly receive updates, quite a bit of data garbage accumulates on your hard drive or SSD. It’s time for some spring cleaning!
What kind of data garbage is this? The WoW player Dorovon explains the problem in this post on Reddit: Every time there is a new build for one of the versions of World of Warcraft, Battle.net generates new archive group index files without removing the unnecessary files from older versions.
Due to the now quite large number of WoW versions that are regularly updated, real mountains of data accumulate over time that you actually do not need to play WoW. For example, the “indices” folder, which should be around 250 MB after a fresh installation of the game, can grow to 50 GB or more.
Start video
3 absurde Bugs, die in WoW passiert sind
What tip does the player give? Dorovon explains that one should regularly check the installation directory of World of Warcraft and delete the “indices” and “config” folders under “Data”. If you’re unsure, just copy the two folders as a backup elsewhere before deleting them. Make sure to close WoW and Battle.net before deleting.
When you start Battle.net next time, the launcher will recreate the two folders and download the necessary files for them again – they amount to less than 150 MB, so the download should be quick.
Welcome Spring Cleaning for the PC
What does the tip bring in practice? Many WoW players have already taken Dorovon’s advice and report how much storage space they were able to gain from the spring cleaning.
AnnualSkirt9921 writes on Reddit: “I actually ended up with 344 GB, not MB, but GIGs of log files … dated back to Shadowlands.”
Dadpurple is also pleased on Reddit about a lot of free space: “I cleared up 170 GB, that’s crazy.”
Even scud121 finds the tip very useful (via Reddit): “Removed 180 GB of files. My drives thank you.”
MarkBonker is happy on Reddit that the tip also helps Classic players: “96.8 GB (Cata Classic Player). Thanks for the tip!”
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg from reports of happy WoW players who were able to free up a lot of space on their hard drive or SSD thanks to the tip. It’s no wonder that the post has already received more than 2,100 upvotes and over 200 comments. Speaking of regular updates for WoW: Patch 11.1.5 went live today – here is the overview and the official patch notes.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become important in many areas. Now China wants to bring AI into schools as part of an educational reform.
The English-language magazine Reuters reports that China wants to use artificial intelligence in schools. This aims to improve teaching and textbooks at all levels of schooling. China hopes to become a “strong education nation” by 2035.
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Artificial Intelligence is to Become a Central Component of the Curriculum
Why is this being done? The Chinese Ministry of Education believes that promoting artificial intelligence would help to “cultivate the basic skills of teachers and students” and shape the “central competitiveness of innovative talents.”
Basic skills refer to independent thinking, problem-solving, communication, and cooperation. The use of artificial intelligence would also lead to more innovative and demanding teaching, the ministry stated further.
The efforts are already being intensified by the fact that AI courses are already being offered at Chinese universities. Due to the strong boost from the AI tool DeepSeek, which particularly surprised the US competitors, enrollments for these courses have increased significantly.
In Germany, many people are rather skeptical of artificial intelligence. This is reported by a research paper on the spread and acceptance of AI (via bidt.digital):
For 18% of respondents, the opportunities outweigh the risks.
46% of respondents believe that the opportunities and risks of generative AI are balanced.
26% see mainly risks in the use of artificial intelligence.
With Season 8, Diablo 4 is set to become significantly tougher. The highest difficulty level is supposed to be achieved by only a small part of the player base. Players feared that rewards might be hidden behind this – and it seems that this is now being confirmed.
How difficult is Diablo 4 going to be? Blizzard intends to adjust the difficulty in Season 8, especially making Torment Level 4 significantly more challenging. You should no longer be able to one-shot bosses – if you even make it to that level. Blizzard’s philosophy is that Torment 4 should be “aspirational.” Only the top 10% of players should be able to reach it at all.
The announcement sparked discussions in the community at the beginning of March. One user wrote on Reddit that Blizzard should not call Torment Level 4 “aspirational” if it is tied to the season journey – then it is not optional, but almost mandatory. Even in the current Season 7, you must complete certain objectives on Torment 4 in order to check off the journey.
Now there’s a screenshot of the last page of the new season journey in Season 8 – and it contains exactly what many feared: If you want all the rewards, you have to fight through Torment 4.
Start video
Diablo 4: Der Gameplay-Trailer zu Season 8 mit Belial
Loot pet as a reward for tasks on Torment Level 4
Why is Torment 4 “mandatory” for everyone? The season journey is a source for various items in Diablo 4 – such as crafting materials, gear, player titles, and loot pets. Even the ashes that you used to unlock in the Battle Pass will according to Blizzard transition into the season journey starting from Season 8.
In Season 8, you will receive a Splendid Spark for crafting Mythic Uniques, 4 ashes, and a new loot pet at the last level of the season journey. In a screenshot, Blizzard shows the first objectives of Level 7, and three of those objectives relate to bosses and hellish hordes – to be completed on Torment 4.
While 5 out of 7 objectives are enough – at least one of them must be completed on Torment 4:
At least three objectives on page 7 of the season journey in Season 8 refer to Torment 4. Source: Blizzard
“A really bad decision for the community”
What do players say about this? The reactions are quite critical. In a post on Reddit, EYES0NLY writes: “This isn’t ‘T4 is optional,’ this is de facto mandatory.” And ExtremePrivilege wonders why rewards are tied to a level that only a fraction of the player base can even achieve.
In the comment, tehjoch writes: “Designing Torment 4 so that 95% of the player base is never supposed to reach it – and then hiding the pet behind it – is simply a really bad decision for the community.”
And nyabigail believes that when rewards are tied to a level, that level becomes mandatory:
When you tie rewards to completing Torment 4 challenges, Torment 4 automatically becomes mandatory. […] If Torment 4 is so hard that less than 10% of the player base can play it, then there should be no strong rewards hidden there.
The obvious solution would be: Move all seasonal rewards and the best drop rates to Torment 3, and separate the leaderboards by torment levels. One would then enter Torment 4 for the challenge and stay in Torment 3 for the grind.
Even TheSilentTitan thinks: Hiding the loot pet behind the last page of the season journey is “really lame” – because most casual players don’t just play on Torment 4. Casuals stay on Torment 2 or 3 and thus have no chance to obtain the pet, he writes. He believes the last page should contain rewards that help those who want to get the maximum out of Torment 4 in their progress – such as materials or scrolls to perfect gear.
His suggestion: Torment 3 should be the limit for casuals – and the pet should also be available there. The last page could then be full of items for the pros.
And then there’s the objective to defeat Lilith on Torment 4. For many in the community, it is clear: The goal of defeating the toughest boss at the highest level will probably be skipped in the season journey.
MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen shed some tears while playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This is not only due to the phenomenal story, but also the challenging battles.
As a fan of Japanese role-playing games, dark stories, and Soulslike elements, you should definitely keep Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on your radar.
The role-playing game is the debut work of Sandfall Interactive, a team of around 30 developers. However, even though it is the developer’s first video game, they have created an outstanding story.
Who is writing this review? Jasmin Beverungen is a huge fan of role-playing games. From Final Fantasy to The Witcher, she hardly misses any RPG. She fell in love with the dark world of Clair Obscur from the first trailer, which is why it was clear to her early on that she had to give the game a chance. The dynamic combat system impressed her during an initial demo.
In the title, you take on the role of Gustave, who lives in a ruthless world. Every year, the painter decreases the life expectancy of people. She paints the new age at which people vanish into thin air on a tower. To put an end to her actions, an expedition sets out each year to reach and defeat the painter.
Gustave travels with a team of several people to the painter’s island and must face numerous enemies along the way. In turn-based battles, where parrying and dodging are crucial, Gustave and his companions use various combat techniques.
Start video
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – JRPG with French Flair has Release Date
And it is this combat system that might initially confront fans of classic role-playing games with a wall. It is indeed harder than what you would expect from turn-based RPGs like the older Final Fantasy titles.
The battles are a real challenge and remind me of Soulslikes, only in a turn-based format. I have only played one Soulslike called The Surge. I never had the patience for Sekiro or Elden Ring, as I didn’t want to memorize complex enemy patterns. My experiences in the genre are therefore limited.
For the following review, I spent about 35 hours in the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and reached the credits during this time. After about 20 hours, I reached the endgame. After that, the side quests from the last act occupied me for about 15 hours.
I visited all exploreable areas, including those of the side quests, but I couldn’t always defeat the associated boss. I also scrutinized every corner of the overworld, defeated more bosses, and collected various cosmetics.
The characters grow on you throughout the story.
In this test, I focus primarily on the gameplay of Clair Obscur, as it surprised me as a role-player. I will tell you how I, as a Soulslike beginner, coped with the difficulty and how I made it more bearable until the end. Don’t worry: there are no spoilers regarding the story!
Fights surprisingly difficult despite being turn-based
The battles are the heart of the game. In every area, you encounter bizarre monsters that you must face in turn-based battles. The battles unfold as you might know from RPGs like Metaphor: ReFantazio or Baldur’s Gate 3.
The speed value determines the order in which you and the enemies attack
Each character has a specific selection of skills and can level up through combat
Enemies drop rewards such as equipment items that make the group members even stronger
Through an ambush, it’s possible to get a first strike with all fighters
The special twist that sets Clair Obscur apart from many role-playing games are the quick-time events. You can decide whether to dodge or parry the attacks of the enemies.
You have to pay close attention to when you need to dodge an attack.
When dodging, the character steps aside and avoids the attack. The damage incurred is 0, and there are no further consequences.
When parrying, the time window in which you must react is much smaller. However, it has the advantage that you inflict damage on the enemy upon success. And this damage sometimes exceeds your own attacks.
In my playthrough, I decided to fully commit to parrying. The battles were taking too long otherwise, and I was so caught up in the story that I wanted to see more of it as quickly as possible.
A soulslike that isn’t one
The difficulty in the battles is sometimes extremely high. If you fail to dodge or parry, the enemy hits you with their attack. Even at normal difficulty, it often only takes a few hits before a team member meets their end. Particularly strong foes can even “one-hit” you. Therefore, it is a MUST to learn the right timing to dodge or parry.
This felt to me like in Soulslike games, although Clair Obscur doesn’t really belong to the genre.
If you hit correctly, it can trigger strong attacks.
In contrast to many Soulslike titles, in this role-playing game, I only need to focus on parrying at the right moment. In Dark Souls and similar games, it also involves moving around the arena. Luckily, that is not the case in Clair Obscur. You are not occupied with multitasking.
As a result, the battles feel more like a rhythm game where you need to anticipate the beat. After 2 to 3 attack chains, you usually have a good sense of when the moment to parry is coming up. For some attacks, it is even enough to just listen – a thunder spell announces itself in advance.
The only annoying point: There are some battles that can drag on for several minutes. Enemies provide no indication of how many levels above you they are. When you encounter a tough opponent, it is futile to have mastered the perfect combination. Against much stronger enemies, you deal only a ridiculous fraction of the damage. And you know it – at some point, fatigue sets in and you make mistakes, which can rob you of your last nerves after fifteen minutes of fighting.
Expeditions from previous years leave you notes.
Moreover, there are fights from which you cannot escape. This led to some frustrating moments for me, especially when I realized that this fight could theoretically cost me an hour of my life. I had to awkwardly let my party die and restart from the last save point.
A trick to make it easier for Soulslike newcomers
A trick that helped me make the fights in Clair Obscur more bearable was lowering the difficulty level. In story mode, some failures are forgiven before characters die.
At first, I simply played on normal difficulty until I realized that I was dying often against enemies. Soulslike experts could find their ultimate challenge here. But since I wanted to experience the story further, it took too long for me – and I switched to story mode.
In this easy variant, the battles still present a decent challenge, as there are still status effects or special attacks from enemies that can quickly cost you your life. One status effect, for example, halves your HP – and it can be stacked down to one hit point. It doesn’t matter which difficulty level you play on. You must master dodging or parrying.
The story mode was the perfect entry point for me as a Soulslike newcomer to master a difficult game with enough patience. And it is worth staying on top of it.
A dark post-apocalyptic atmosphere occupies the characters
At its core, Clair Obscur remains a story game. The world, which has a unique post-apocalyptic atmosphere, is credibly designed. There are unpredictable twists that have brought me to tears more than once. Over time, I also built a strong bond with the cast, as each character has their own motives and background story.
The premise brings dark thoughts that you must confront in a world where the maximum age is reduced each year: Should no more children be born? Or should one hurry to have children as early as possible to spend as much time together as possible? How does one deal with death? How does one say goodbye to loved ones who will soon die? All these are themes that Clair Obscur addresses.
Despite the oppressive themes, humor does not fall short. Every now and then, there are joyful and funny moments. Especially Esquie has stuck in my memory, as he is a nice contrast to the dark world. Plus, there are special cosmetics, including an outfit where you carry a baguette on your back – the developers are French, it fits.
The underwater world was my absolute highlight.
To understand everything from the story, you need to listen closely. There are some scenes that leave some room for interpretation and do not directly explain what is going on. However, it is exactly this story and the profound characters that helped me stay engaged.
Additionally, both the battles and story sequences are underscored by beautiful music. Sometimes a deep male choir resounds, other times a gentle orchestra sound. There were occasionally sound dropouts during my playthrough, but that is nothing that can’t be fixed with a patch. The music fits the game world, which is beautifully designed. My personal highlight is an underwater world at the beginning, as it feels like you are below the sea surface.
Conclusion: A great success for the development studio
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has set the bar high for what my personal game of the year is concerned. Logical stories with lots of emotions and unpredictable twists are particularly important to me in role-playing games. And that is exactly what the RPG from Sandfall Interactive combines.
The characters grew so close to my heart over time that I empathized with them. Together with the visual presentation and the orchestral soundtrack, the overall package is right except for a few minor flaws. You should definitely keep an eye on the development studio.
However, I fear that many players might be put off by the design and the fact that it is the first game from the development studio. Yet, it offers a fresh opportunity, especially for fans and newcomers to the Soulslike genre, to experience challenging battles that can be drastically simplified if needed.
Pros
Overwhelming story with exciting twists that can be experienced in about 20 hours
Diverse combat system offering many possibilities
Groundbreaking soundtrack that never becomes annoying
Meaningful game world with a fresh idea
Optional and extensive endgame that can keep you busy before the final battle
Cons
Enemies do not indicate how strong they are
Occasional sound dropouts during battles
Some jumping passages feel a bit clunky to control
Who is Clair Obscur suitable for?
You should play Clair Obscur if you…
Like games that focus on the story
Can handle dark and serious themes
Are not afraid of challenging battles
Have never played a Soulslike but wanted to take the first step into the genre
Are a fan of orchestral soundtracks
Want to play a really good role-playing game with turn-based combat and an overworld
You should rather stay away if you…
Lack patience for lengthy battles and an extensive story
Prefer real-time battles like in Elden Ring, which are more action-oriented
This is what MeinMMO editor and MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz thinks: After the first trailers, I hoped Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would be the French interpretation of a Japanese role-playing game in the style of Final Fantasy. It is that, and even more. I never expected that there would be a considerable portion of Soulslike difficulty in the turn-based battles – especially the optional foes can easily send a survival fighter to hero heaven with one hit if you mess up the precise dodging or parrying.
That I still can’t ignore the strong creatures and constantly run into them is due to the fun real-time elements of the combat system and the powerful, beautifully staged spells. Alongside the beautiful visuals, the exciting setting, the nostalgic overworld, and the many secrets, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will definitely be one of my favorites of game year 2025.
MeinMMO editor and Monster Hunter veteran Alexander Schürlein is used to tough content: When I first saw Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I immediately hoped that the title could fill a gap left primarily by the classic games of Final Fantasy. I always liked the basic structure, but the battles were always too static and therefore boring in the long run. Clair Obscur strikes exactly that chord – and does it brilliantly.
Once you figure out the play styles of the characters and know which skills can be applied well at what time, a flow of strategy and skill emerges. This interplay between turn-based strategic combat and exciting real-time elements was one of the game’s greatest strengths.
Also, the setting, the characters, the story, which is simply something different – but above all this incredibly great music that digs deep under your skin. All of this makes Clair Obscur definitely a strong contender for my personal game of the year 2025, and I would love to see more of it in the future.
For further impressions, you can read the tests from our sister sites:
Is Clair Obscur also worth it for players who don’t like Soulslikes? Clair Obscur is actually not a Soulslike, but some elements from the genre are included (for example, enemies respawn after resting) and integrated into the turn-based combat system.
Newcomers who have always wanted to take a peek into the genre, like I did, have an optimal entry point here. They can first focus on whether they enjoy memorizing enemy attack patterns. As the additional movement like in Elden Ring is removed here, players can first practice in turn-based battles.
Those who have significant difficulties in figuring out the timing in quick-time events might also face their limits in Clair Obscur at times. The story mode forgives some mistakes, but you should still dodge or parry occasionally.
Experts will surely have fun with it unless they prefer real-time battles. On the highest difficulty level, the battles are so hard that you will end up being the one-hit casualty while dealing little damage yourself.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
