Popular MMO captivates 6 million players, now launching with a new expansion on PS5 and Xbox

In the cozy MMO Palia, the developers have now announced the new expansion “Elderwood.” This not only brings new features but also makes the social MMO available on PS5 and Xbox.

How will the console release take place? The cozy Palia already delights 6 million players, as the developers announced in their press release. So far, the social MMO has only been available on PC and Nintendo Switch. This is set to change with the new expansion.

With “Elderwood,” the developers are bringing the popular cozy game to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on May 13th. At the same time, all players will receive an update that will bring fresh content to the cozy MMO.

Here you can watch the trailer for the console release:

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The Cozy MMO Palia Shows Trailer for the New Expansion Elderwood

New expansion brings dense forest

What changes with Elderwood? The fresh expansion of Palia brings the biggest novelty, the new zone Elderwood. Here you will find a dense forest filled with magic and beasts, whose exploration is said to be a challenge. Of course, there are also fresh tasks and goals for you to master.

With the expansion, you can also expect additional equipment and resources. The forest also has a new item type for you, the relics. They provide passive bonuses for your entire group. Additionally, Elderwood offers a reliable source for the rare Palium ore, other materials, and recipes.

With the expansion, more villagers will move into your neighborhood, whom you can meet and build relationships with. They offer you new questlines that will propel your adventure forward.

What does one need to know about Palia? Palia is a free, cozy MMO that operates without a combat system. It was released on Steam in March 2024 and currently shines with good ratings after a rocky start. Currently, it has a rating of 84% positive on Steam.

The game is funded through microtransactions, which are not supposed to affect the actual game and are purely cosmetic in nature. You can purchase pets or outfits, for example. Palia is one of the few MMOs that also runs on the Switch. You can find out which others are worth recommending here: The best 5 MMORPGs for the Nintendo Switch in 2025

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

With the Switch 2, Nintendo ignores its greatest strength and does what the competition does, but at PS4 level

After the introduction of the Switch 2 with its features and components, more and more experts are speaking out. Recently, the former head of PlayStation also expresses a sobering conclusion.

What strength is Nintendo not utilizing? Since the Nintendo Switch 2 was presented on April 2, 2025, it is clear what the console can do. Ironically, the former head of PlayStation, Shuhei Yoshida, has expressed concerns about the features of the competition. In an interview on YouTube, he talks with “Easy Allies” about the console. He explains:

For me, it was a bit of a mixed message from Nintendo. […] In my opinion, Nintendo is losing its identity in a way. For me, it has always been about creating a new experience, developing hardware and games together to create [an] amazing new experience.

But the Switch 2 is, as we all expected, a better Switch, right? It has a larger screen, a more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K, 120 FPS. […] And because it’s a better Switch, the core premise of the entire Switch 2 is: “We made things better,” and that’s something other companies have been doing all along.

For years, Nintendo has not participated in the competition for the strongest console in terms of hardware. The fact that hardly any new features are finding their place on the Switch 2 is viewed critically by the expert. Moreover, the hardware performance is not as good as an analysis shows.

With the Switch 2, Nintendo relies heavily on social elements:

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Nintendo Switch 2 becomes more social thanks to new features

Graphics like on the PS4 from 2013

How good is the Switch 2 compared to PlayStation? The experts from Digital Foundry on YouTube, known for their hardware analyses, have taken a close look at the performance of the Switch 2. According to their assessment, the overall performance of the Switch 2 will be about on par with the PlayStation 4 from 2013.

Nintendo would be using an improved T239 chip, which Nvidia uses in their “RTX 30” graphics cards. The graphic power of the Switch 2 is said to be comparable to the weaker “Nvidia RTX 2050 4 GB” laptop graphics card. Especially with games like Cyberpunk, the experts see enormous challenges ahead for developers to get them running on this platform.

What MyMMO author Cedric Holmeier thinks: That the Switch 2 is “only” a hardware upgrade is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. The new features that come into the games through the mouse functions and the additionally purchasable camera make the Switch 2 even worse for me, as these functions will hardly be feasible on the go.

The advantages that come from the improved hardware appear rather weak in comparison, especially since the console has “only” the power of the PS4 from 2013. Especially since it will still be far from other competing platforms.

In the end, however, the console will still become a success, especially because fans want to play the new exclusive titles like a Mario Kart, and many Nintendo fans don’t care about the technology – as shown not only by the Switch but also by the unbelievably successful Wii in the past.

Exclusive Nintendo titles, which typically offer a consistently good gaming experience, often make good graphics seem secondary, as the gaming feel and enjoyment are in the foreground.

The concept of the Switch, which can be used on the TV or as a handheld, is also simply strong. For this reason, I find it disappointing that Nintendo has focused almost solely on hardware improvements this time, but the Switch 2 still carries the advantages of its predecessor – albeit at a high price.

For Nintendo, the Switch 2 marks the end of an era. During the time when the console is actively sold and games are developed for it, many important people will reach retirement age. However, this also offers opportunities: With the Switch 2, Nintendo loses its strongest developers to retirement after 40 years

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

Twitch streamers want to travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg with absurd bicycles, almost failing on the first day

The Twitch streamer Maximilian “Trymacs” Stemmler has set himself the task of covering long distances with as unusual vehicles as possible. This year’s tour chose bicycles powered by treadmills.

What are they doing? The streamer Trymacs is currently holding something like a continuation of his scooter tour, a “treadmill bike tour” from Amsterdam to Hamburg, on his Twitch channel.

Joining him are his brother Nici as well as the content creators Ronny Berger, Paul Frege, Zarbex, Aditoro, Marc Eggers, SkylineTV, and Schradin, who only joined on the second day. However, on day one, the action nearly ended before it even started.

With wheels, Trymacs should be familiar from his time as a pizza delivery driver.

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

“The tour is now over because we are all getting pulled over.”

What did they do wrong? After some initial difficulties, the streamers got somewhat used to their unusual vehicles and made good progress. However, as dusk set in, they found themselves in a difficult situation: apparently, they took a wrong turn and ended up on the street instead of on the bike path as intended.

Although the streamers tried to interfere with traffic as little as possible by riding in an orderly fashion, a long line of honking cars formed behind them. The group left the road at the next opportunity, but shortly after, promising orange lights started flashing – the police pulled the streamers over.

You can see a short compilation of the situation here:

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The streamer called his crew back to order and urged them with panicked “minus and plus” calls to turn on their lights, yet at least 2 of the creators rolled into the police checkpoint without lights. One already quipped: “The tour is now over because we are all getting pulled over.”

Trymacs’ explanation that they had really been riding on the bike paths all day and that the navigation system had only misled them at this point did not seem to soften the police officers.

Fortunately, it didn’t go that far: apparently, the group had “only” missed a traffic sign.

As the streamers later reported from the hotel, it had been a somewhat longer check. The bikes were particularly scrutinized, but everything was fine with them, lights were good. They just needed to be turned on.

In comparison to the tour last year, such a police check is definitely an improvement. After all, they came out of the first day more or less unscathed this year. Twitch streamer Trymacs goes on a scooter tour and there’s an accident on the first day

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

The new survival MMO for Dune forgoes Early Access, aims for a full release, and has now delayed the launch

The upcoming survival MMO Dune: Awakening has postponed its release. The developers justify this decision in a statement.

To what date has the release been postponed? The developers of Dune: Awakening announced in a statement (via X.com) that they will postpone their upcoming survival MMO set in the Dune universe. Instead of the planned release date on May 20, the survival game will now go live 3 weeks later, on June 10. Buyers of the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of the game will be able to play 5 days earlier, on June 5.

Here you can see gameplay of Dune: Awakening:

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Dune: Awakening zeigt Gameplay zum großen Endgame-Gebiet, der Deep Desert

Three extra weeks for better gameplay

How do the developers justify the postponement? Currently, a closed beta test for Dune: Awakening is running, and content creators and game journalists have already had the chance to test the MMO. The developers have received important feedback that they would like to use before the release to improve their game.

In the statement on X.com, it states: “The feedback we received from beta testers was invaluable in ensuring that we can bring a high-quality game to market. […] Thanks to this process, we have concluded that with a little more time to refine, we can incorporate much more feedback that we know is important to our beta testers.”

The developers further explain that they want to use the extra time to provide a smooth and stable experience that should be felt from day one on Arrakis. There is also expected to be more work on the technical side for the developers.

While other online games on Steam eagerly embrace the possibility of early access, Dune: Awakening is set to launch directly as a full game, leaving the developers with little room for excuses should the survival MMO release in an unfinished state. For the developers, it is essential to make a perfect landing right at release.

Can you test the game beforehand? Despite the postponement, the beta tests will initially remain closed. However, the developers plan to organize a large beta weekend, during which even more players can try out Dune: Awakening before the release. They intend to provide more information about this test weekend at a later date.

Even though fans are eagerly awaiting the major survival MMO, the postponement seems to benefit the game. In the statement, the developers explain that the press and content creators will publish their impressions of the MMO on April 25. Then it should become clear how good the survival game really is. Until then, you can learn what truly makes the MMO special: The head of Dune: Awakening explains what makes his game special, appearing like a happy child

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 Class Tier List 2025: All Classes & Subclasses in Ranking

Which classes are the best in Baldur’s Gate 3? MeinMMO helps you choose if you want to build the strongest character.

What are the best classes in Baldur’s Gate 3? There are fundamental differences in strengths and areas of use among the classes. Each class can deal damage, but some can also act as a tank, healer, or support.

Therefore, the rule is: play what fits your playstyle and what appeals to you. For general “usability” and “user-friendliness,” our tier list can help. Especially if you want to play the challenging Honour Mode, strong classes are important.

You can also find an overview of all 12 classes here on MeinMMO.

[toc]

Note: The article was revised on April 15, 2025. We have included all new subclasses from Patch 8. Here you can find the new subclasses in a separate ranking. The ranking may still change in the coming days.

Who creates the tier list? We have numerous experts for Dungeons & Dragons on the MeinMMO team and have compared our experience with other tier lists like the one from Mobalytics.

Note that this tier list evaluates the pure power of the classes themselves, not their potential in combination with other classes, such as in multiclassing.

What does “S” to “F” mean? The tier list categorizes classes into semi-alphabetical categories, with S at the top and then descending A-F. Classes in the S-ranking perform fundamentally better in all situations in the game, not just in combat.

Here a developer gives tips on all classes:

Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Developers give 30 minutes of tips on all classes

S-Tier: Bard, Wizard, Paladin, Cleric

Bard

Bards use music as a catalyst for their magic and are traditionally the support in the group. However, they also master the strongest control spells in the game en masse, making them a cornerstone of the group.

In addition, Bards have enormous charisma and often strong bonuses on skills like Performance and Persuasion. This way, you can solve problems even without combat. The Bard schools are:

More on the topic
Forget Monks: the truly best class in Baldur’s Gate 3 can do everything
von Benedict Grothaus

Wizard

As “spontaneous” spellcasters, Wizards can cast magic simply through their body. This limits their variety somewhat, but makes their spells unmatched stronger when they specialize. The subclasses are:

  • Dragon Bloodline (B-Tier)
  • Wild Magic (A-Tier)
  • Storm Sorcery (S-Tier)
  • Shadow Magic (A-Tier)

Paladin

Basically priests in plate armor and with a sword: as a Paladin, you swear an oath and use divine power to crush your enemies. While you have only minor healing magic, you can take a hit and deal even more damage. The companion Minthara is a Paladin. The oaths are:

Cleric

As a Cleric, you dedicate your life to a god and channel its divine power through your spells. Clerics are typically the healers of a group but can also deal significant damage and even tank. Shadowheart is a cleric. The possible domains are:

  • Life Domain (B-Tier)
  • Light Domain (A-Tier)
  • Trickery Domain (B-Tier)
  • Nature Domain (B-Tier)
  • Storm Domain (S-Tier) – Possibly with the best build in the whole game
  • Knowledge Domain (A-Tier)
  • War Domain (S-Tier)
  • Death Domain (S-Tier)

Tip: Clerics are better as support or pure damage heroes in high difficulties than if you let them heal:

More on the topic
Baldur’s Gate 3: If you still have a healer with you, you are making a big mistake
von Benedict Grothaus

A-Tier: Barbarian, Sorcerer, Warlock, Druid, Monk, Fighter, Rogue

Barbarian

If you just want to hit things, Barbarians are the class for you. They have little depth, mainly gaining more and stronger attacks and smash opponents without regard for consequences. Karlach is a barbarian. Possible paths are:

  • Path of the Berserker (B-Tier)
  • Path of the Wildheart (A-Tier)
  • Path of Wild Magic (C-Tier)
  • Path of the Giant (S-Tier)

Sorcerer

Unlike Wizards, Sorcerers have to prepare a list of spells. They have “learned” magic through study. However, they can prepare different spells each time after a rest and are thus significantly more flexible. Gale is a Sorcerer. The possible schools are:

  • School of Abjuration (A-Tier)
  • School of Conjuration (A-Tier)
  • School of Divination (C-Tier)
  • School of Evocation (S-Tier)
  • School of Illusion (C-Tier)
  • School of Necromancy (A-Tier)
  • School of Enchantment (B-Tier)
  • School of Transmutation (A-Tier)
  • Chanting (B-Tier)

Warlock

Warlocks gain their power through a pact with a supernatural being or an otherworldly deity. Unlike other spell classes, they always cast at the highest possible level and recover their spell slots after a short rest. Wyll is a Warlock. The possible pacts are:

  • The Archfey (A-Tier)
  • The Great Old One (A-Tier)
  • The Hexblade (A-Tier)
  • Curseblade (A-Tier)

Druid

As a Druid, you draw your magical powers from nature itself. You can communicate with plants and animals and even transform. Accordingly, you can take on almost any role in a group. Halsin and Jaheira are Druids. The possible circles are:

  • Circle of the Moon (S-Tier)
  • Circle of the Land (A-Tier)
  • Circle of Spores (?-Tier) This specialization depends heavily on the player and the situation.
  • Circle of Stars (A-Tier)

Monk

Monks are experts in unarmed close combat, extremely agile, and master special techniques to deal damage to opponents. According to the lead author of Baldur’s Gate 3, Monks are even the strongest class in the game. However, their areas of application are often specific, dependent on the environment, and they are quite challenging to play. The possible paths are:

  • Way of the Open Hand (S-Tier)
  • Way of the Four Elements (B-Tier)
  • Way of Shadows (B-Tier)
  • Way of the Drunken Master (B-Tier)

Fighter

Fighters are versatile and by far the best class for beginners. As a fighter, you can score in both melee and ranged combat, tank, and heal yourself. In addition, you have several actions available per round from early on. Lae’zel is a fighter. Possible subclasses are:

  • Champion (A-Tier)
  • Battle Master (S-Tier)
  • Arcane Knight (B-Tier)
  • Arcane Archer (C-Tier)

This makes the Fighter the perfect starter class:

Rogue

Rogues are theoretically powerful assassins or skilled thieves. In Baldur’s Gate 3, however, it is difficult to get into a situation where you can play that out. With luck, you can take out individual opponents instantly and bypass or significantly ease challenging fights. Astarion is a rogue. The possible specializations are:

Start video
The best class for beginners in Baldur’s Gate 3

B-Tier: Ranger

Ranger

The only “real” ranged class is unfortunately one of the weakest in Baldur’s Gate 3. Rangers are hunters and wild keepers, protecting the land and their forests and even having animal companions. However, they lack depth, alternatives, and areas of use. Minsc is a ranger. Possible specializations are:

Multiclassing in Baldur’s Gate 3: How to get the most out of your character

If you already know the game better, you can also use the multiclassing feature. In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can level up to a level in any class with each level increase.

This way, you can create really strong combinations, but you can also fail really hard. Therefore, we only present some class combinations here that work particularly well:

Even Rangers can become really strong this way if you combine them with Fighter and Rogue. As a rule of thumb: take a versatile class as a base and a particularly strong specialist class to improve. This usually leads to good combinations. But keep in mind that you only have 12 levels available. This has a reason: Why you are only allowed to play up to level 12 in Baldur’s Gate 3 and why that’s a good thing

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

Total War: Warhammer 3 fights against dumb AI opponents, aims to prevent you from getting into pointless wars

In almost every round, Total War: Warhammer 3 you play against AI opponents, whether alone or with other players. However, since its release, there has been a medium to large problem with it: the AI is really dumb and often makes questionable decisions. That is about to change.

This is the problem with the AI:

  • Computer opponents should present a challenge to keep the game exciting. To do this, they have an “anti-player bias,” meaning they try to make it a bit harder for the player.
  • However, this bias often leads to illogical decisions, such as refusing or breaking reasonable alliances or starting wars, sometimes across half the world, without any prospect of actually conducting them.
  • Even among themselves, the AI is questionable, with significant power differences. As a result, of the over 280 factions in Immortal Empires, perhaps only about 100 remain after about 30 rounds.

Here is the plan now: Developer Creative Assembly plans a significant rework of the AI (via Creative-Assembly.com). The AI is to be improved broadly. For this purpose, the developers are addressing several points.

Computer opponents are to evaluate how big the threat from a player is with less bias. This is intended to create consistent behavior. In numbers: Your actions now create between 90 and 120% threat instead of between 50 and 200%.

Additionally, the distance of the foreign faction will play a larger role. Specifically: Armies that have nothing in their range should no longer stand idly in the middle of nowhere but should actually do something.

The AI should also be less aggressive when it doesn’t make sense, meaning they won’t declare war on you just because they can, only to end up in the dust. Smaller factions should also be able to survive longer to provide more dynamism.

Start video
Eine Schlacht zwischen Nurgle und Slaanesh in Total War: Warhammer 3

Creative Assembly continues to refine Total War, has seductive plans for the future

The AI changes are currently being tested on the beta client of Total War: Warhammer 3, which you can easily download via Steam as the owner of the game. You can find the instructions in the official blog.

When exactly the update will be released is still unknown. The developers are simultaneously working on the next DLC, which brings a new Slaanesh commander, along with two new units.

In the latest update, Creative Assembly has significantly reworked two existing factions, including Kislev, which now plays like a completely new faction, and Tzeentch, which has gained new skill options. The changes for Warhammer 3 are being received quite well.

Total War: Warhammer 3 is still the largest Total War on Steam with over 39,000 players (via steamcharts). With the number of players, it is even larger than all other games in the Warhammer universe on the platform. After a few setbacks and a mixed birthday event, recent reviews have been steadily rising with the latest updates. With the AI improvement, many players should also be satisfied. The game is also among the best strategy games for PC on MeinMMO.

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

19-year-old changes teams in Counter-Strike 2 for insane amount – CEO justifies letting such a talent go

The 19-year-old Russian Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov is a huge talent in Counter-Strike 2, the biggest game on Steam. In 2022, he was voted Rookie of the Year and was ranked number 7 in the worldwide Counter-Strike rankings. In recent years, he has been on the rise. Now, the super-talent from G2 is supposedly switching teams for 2.5 million euros.

This was the career of the young player: The Russian rose to fame at “Natus Vincere”, the team of superstar s1mple, where he played since he was 15, in the youth team.

In 2022, he supposedly transferred to G2 for $600,000, where his career really took off. He was named Rookie of the Year. He then improved over 3 years from number 7 in the world, first to number 4 in 2023 and finally to number 2 in 2024. His team even advertised an online casino with m0NESY.

The AWP player is now supposedly moving to Team Falcon Esports for 2 to 2.5 million US dollars, backed by a Saudi investor. The transfer amount comes from an insider (via x).

Start video
Counter-Strike 2: Valve once again impresses with the launch trailer

G2’s CEO says: Please direct complaints about the transfer to him

This is what his team says: G2 states they have accepted the offer to let go of their young GOAT, meaning the “Greatest of All Time”.

G2’s CEO states (via x): If anyone has a problem with the decision, they should contact him directly and not the management of the Counter-Strike team or the players. It was a team-level decision.

The CEO hints that the young Russian’s contract would have expired in December and they decided to make the most of the situation and then rebuild. They are sad to let Ilya go; G2 has been extremely successful with him and has claimed 6 trophies in 2 years.

Why let him go? The CEO suggests that the approaching end of the contract was putting a strain on the whole team and made it difficult to recruit new players. Therefore, they wanted to bring clarity now.

Fans should not worry, as they are an experienced team and are not afraid to find new players and build a new team.

How can the new team hire the player? Behind Team Falcons is a Saudi investor. The team has benched the 23-year-old Russian “degster” to make room for the newcomer.

Are such sums normal? There are recurring reports of players in Counter-Strike 2 switching teams for around $1 million.

However, that is already at the upper limit – such amounts are extraordinary today, as the e-sport is generally in a crisis. A less favorable news recently befell a coach in Valorant: A coach in Valorant flirts so poorly that he loses his job

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 delivers patch notes for the latest patch 8, includes a surprise

The long-awaited and final content update patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is finally here. With nearly 3 gigabytes, you will have to load quite a bit, but it’s worth it. Just in time for the release, Larian has published the patch notes and included an unannounced change.

Here are the highlights of patch 8:

This is the surprise: Right at the top of the official patch notes, Larian has added an entry about trading cards on Steam. Although this is just a small and for many an insignificant feature, a part of the PC community has been asking for it for years.

Trading cards have no actual use, except to be exactly that: collectible cards. However, because Baldur’s Gate 3 has so many enthusiastic fans, some simply want to have a few special items from the game.

The trading cards are usually worth only a few cents on the Steam marketplace, but particularly rare or certain versions can become quite expensive. Where the market price for the Baldur’s Gate 3 cards will settle remains to be seen.

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

Patch notes for patch 8 are 33 pages long, bringing bug fixes, new content, and more

Normally, we would provide you with the patch notes directly here on page 2. However, this time they are so extensive that it is probably better for you to check them out directly on the official website.

In addition to the highlights mentioned, the majority of patch 8 consists of bug fixes, and many of them. From gameplay bugs to audio and visual bugs to interface and scripting errors, there are hundreds of bug fixes.

Larian has also made adjustments to the mods and the in-house mod toolkit. However, this also means that many or even most mods will likely not work in the first few days.

If you have modded save files and want to ensure they are not lost, you should either play on an old patch version or wait a few days. Normally, not much should happen, other than possibly experiencing crashes or being unable to load games. If you haven’t started with mods yet and are looking for something, here you can find the 10 best mods for Baldur’s Gate 3

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

Baldur’s Gate 3: Patch 8 is now live – All info on content, subclasses and size

With Patch 8, Baldur’s Gate 3 receives its last major update. When it will be released and what to expect can be found here at MeinMMO.

When is the release of Patch 8? Patch 8 will be released on April 15, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. So, you won’t have to wait much longer to dive into the game with the new features across all platforms simultaneously.

The exact time is not yet known. We will keep an eye on this for you and update it as soon as there are news.

You can read all currently known information about the new patch here.

Update from April 15, 2025, 3:20 PM: The patch is here. You can download it now. Information about it has been added to the article.

In this video, you can get a first impression of 5 of the new subclasses:

Start video
Larian introduces the new subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 – Here is Part 1 with Cleric, Barbarian, Bard, and Druid

These contents await you in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3

The patch is finally live, and you can look forward to the following contents:

  • 2 completely new endings if you want to play particularly evil
  • Photo mode with over 300 different tools for better screenshots
  • Crossplay so you can play with your friends across all platforms. You will need a Larian account for this
  • The Xbox version will have the option to play in local co-op with splitscreen

Additionally, 12 new subclasses are waiting for you:

  • Barbarian: Path of Giants
  • Bard: College of Glamour
  • Druid: Circle of Stars
  • Warlock: Hexblade
  • Fighter: Arcane Archer
  • Cleric: Death Domain
  • Wizard: Bladesinging
  • Monk: Way of the Drunken Master
  • Paladin: Oath of the Crown
  • Rogue: Swashbuckler
  • Ranger: Swarmkeeper
  • Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

In addition, you can expect loads of optimizations, bug fixes, and adjustments. You can read everything about the patch notes here: Baldur’s Gate 3 provides patch notes for the last Patch 8, including a surprise

How big is the patch? The patch is about 3 GB on PC and consoles and can be downloaded now.

Does the patch affect already started runs? Especially if you have used mods in them, you should be careful. If your mods are not up to date, it can lead to problems. What to pay attention to can be found here: The big Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is released today – What you need to know

If you are unsure which of the new subclasses you want to try first, we have ranked them for you in a tier list. In our article about it, you can read what makes each respective subclass particularly powerful: All new classes of Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 ranked

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

Book club reads such a difficult novel that it takes them 28 years for the discussion

“Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce is considered one of the most difficult works of the 20th century. A book club took 28 years to read it. However, other book clubs also need many years to complete the work.

Which book is it? “Finnegans Wake” is the last work of the Irish author James Joyce and was written between 1923 and 1939. The novel is among the most difficult to understand works of 20th-century literature, partly due to the language Joyce used: He created his own language by recombining English words or mixing them with other languages.

An American book club made it their mission to read “Finnegans Wake” together. They began in 1995 and completed the reading after 28 years in October 2023.

Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?

28 Years for a Single Book

What kind of club is this? Gerry Fialka, an experimental filmmaker from Venice, California, founded a book club in 1995 to read “Finnegans Wake” together with others. The English-language The Guardian spoke with Fialka upon the completion of the novel.

Every month, a group of between 10 and 30 people met at a local library to read 2 pages of the book each time. However, the goal was so ambitious that they eventually had to reduce it to a single page per month. Joyce’s novel has a total of 628 pages, which is how long the reading took.

Interestingly, the Californian reading group spent longer reading “Finnegans Wake” than Joyce did writing it: The author took 17 years to complete the 628-page experimental text.

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Afterward, the club members discussed the words and debated meanings and broader themes. No one claimed to understand everything, but Fialka says the beauty of reading “Finnegans Wake” this way is that readers gain a faint sense of what Joyce might have meant just by going through the reading (via npr.org).

The Final Reading: For the reading of the last page, Fialka opened a Zoom meeting and asked the 15 participants to “take a conscious breath together” to support their efforts. He then had them recite a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti before the members took turns reading exactly two lines of the text.

However, the book is technically not finished, Fialka emphasizes, because the novel does not officially end:

We did not stop. The last sentence of the book ends in the middle of a sentence, and then it continues at the beginning of the book. It is cyclical. It never ends.

Meanwhile, the club has started from the beginning again. Fialka, who founded the group in his early 40s, is now 70 years old. After the second round, Fialka will be almost 100 years old. As of November 2023, they have already completed 3 pages of the novel.

Other Book Clubs Need Years for Perhaps the Most Difficult Work of the 20th Century

Are other book groups faster? No, the English-language The Guardian once investigated how long other book clubs spend with the work.

  • The “Wake” group in Dublin, led by Sam Slote, a Joyce expert at Trinity College Dublin and one of the editors of How Joyce Wrote Finnegans Wake, consists of a dozen Joyce researchers. They estimate it will take about 15 years.
  • In Zurich, a book club has read Joyce’s work three times over nearly 40 years and is currently in their fourth cycle. Their first reading took 11 years.

Slote, a Joyce specialist, explained that Joyce’s work lends itself to book clubs:

One must accept that no one truly understands the book, and this is precisely where the idea of communal reading can take hold.

Collaborative work can also help decipher Joyce’s numerous allusions, which range from references to 19th-century Irish politics to French literature to the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

A Scotsman raves about a South American country and becomes rich from it. What no one knows: The country does not exist on any map. But eventually, the scam gets exposed and he ends up in prison in both France and England: A Scotsman Becomes a Millionaire by Selling an Invented Country Twice

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

Fans discover a scene in Baldur’s Gate 3 that completely changes their opinion about Astarion

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that seemingly allows every moral gray area one wants to explore through their gameplay decisions. The various companions in the game can also exhibit heroic to cruel actions. However, a cut scene uncovered by a dataminer is not well-received by players due to its dark theme.

Warning: The content of this article contains a violent scene that may be disturbing to some readers.

What does the scene entail? While sifting through cut content from Baldur’s Gate 3, the author of the Reddit post stumbled upon a deleted scene that was removed from the game. It shows Astarion attempting to sneak up on Shadowheart. A scene that resembles the final version of the game where the vampire attempts to drink the player’s blood at night.

In the version of the finished game, you can confront him, voluntarily offer him your blood, or kill him outright. However, the dataminer’s scene with Shadowheart showcases another variant that puts the beloved vampire in a different light. He pushes Shadowheart to the ground and begins to choke her until she eventually lies lifeless on the floor. This causes discomfort among many players.

Here is the trailer for Baldur’s Gate 3:

Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: The release teaser for the new role-playing game for PS5 and Steam

Fans agree that the scene was rightly removed

What is the reaction to the dataminer’s find? The community’s reaction under the Reddit post is quite unanimous. While the game offers various opportunities for cruel behavior and even several truly evil endings, the presented scene seems to put the beloved companion in an uncomfortable light for some players. Especially because the scene might just be too realistic:

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  • Wakez11’s comment with the most upvotes under the post states: “I can imagine that 75% of players would have killed Astarion immediately if that had really happened in the game, haha.”
  • Yeetles1 thinks: “I like Astarion, but if they had kept this animation in the game, I would have killed him immediately. That’s really terrible.”
  • CombinationSimilar50 says: “My God, that’s really dark. (…) This particular animation has something that just feels too … real? Durge (Dark Urge) is already evil, but this here reminds me way too much of something that happens in real life.”
  • Sinkrast explains: “That’s because the scene has an eerily ‘realistic’ harshness. There’s no excessive blood, no magic, no demons, and no fancy stuff. It’s a man sneaking up on a sleeping woman and then choking her as she fights for her life.”

In what context does the scene stand? Some players and the original author of the post believe that the scene was originally specifically created for an origin campaign as Astarion. After a failed stealth roll by the vampire, his victim might wake up and become hostile towards him. 

A commentator (Hyperspace_Towel) wonders whether Larian initially planned to include an option to kill the victim to silence them. However, there is no evidence for this. The dataminer can only hypothesize about the exact timing of the scene. Yet the proximity to the final scene in the game is quite evident.

Even a year and a half after the release in 2023, players continue to discover hidden content in Baldur’s Gate 3 that can surprise even hardcore fans. Besides the little surprises within the game itself, many cut contents also offer new insights and discussion material about the game’s development, as the dataminer demonstrated with their post. Another player already showcased a huge iceberg of this deleted content, revealing more secrets of the game: Player shows the huge iceberg of content that never made it into Baldur’s Gate 3 

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

Fortnite: Servers are online – Everything about Update 34.31: Server Status and Patch Notes

In Fortnite, the new update will be deployed today, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. You can find all information about Patch 34.31 here.

Patch Notes for Update 34.31

  • New map “Slurp Rush”
  • New and old weapons:
    • Infantry Rifle
    • Assault Rifle
    • Hammer Assault Rifle
    • Salvo Assault Rifle
    • Red Dot Assault Rifle
    • Mammoth Pistol
    • Submachine Gun
    • Stagger Submachine Gun
    • Combat Shotgun
    • Thunder Shotgun
    • Expert Shotgun
    • Dragon’s Breath Shotgun
    • Hunting Rifle
    • Repeater Sniper Rifle
    • Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
    • Tactical Assault Rifle
    • Revolver
    • Combat Pistol
    • Combat Submachine Gun
    • Pump Gun
    • Tactical Shotgun
    • Rocket Launcher
  • Constelless Skin and Items:
    • Frontline Zadie
    • Zadie’s Blade
  • New Twitch Drops
    • All details about the patch notes can be found on the official website (via fortnite.com).

Tuesday, 15.04.2025

2:37 PM

We have added the patch notes above the ticker. We wish you a nice day and will end the ticker now. Thank you for tuning in.

2:10 PM

The servers are back online. We will now look at the patch notes and read them to you here. If there are no official notes, we will simply end the ticker. Until then, we wish you a great day and lots of fun in Fortnite!

1:10 PM

The skin “Vanguard Zadie” is supposed to be available for free. You only need 50 levels for that.

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12:27 PM

According to the leaker Shiina, the update will not bring any new skins. Rather, it is being used to add the new reload map. This will be unlocked later today.

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12:00 PM

The server downtime has begun, and you will now be kicked from the servers. We will keep you updated should any leaks be published.

11:30 AM

Epic Games has now disabled player search. At 12:00 PM, the complete shutdown of the servers will follow.

What happens during the server downtime? The servers will be shut down. During this time, you cannot play Fortnite.

Server downtime in Fortnite – when? The servers will be shut down on April 15, 2025, at 12 PM. Shortly before that (about half an hour), matchmaking will be disabled (via x.com).

When can I play Fortnite again? That depends on the size of the update and the duration of the downtime. The developers are speaking of a short downtime here. So expect 30 minutes to 1 hour.

When will patch notes be released? Epic Games is only sporadically presenting patch notes for the updates now and usually only after the downtime. As soon as they are available, you can read them on our site.

If you missed the trailer for Chapter 6 Season 2, you can catch up on it here:

Start video
Fortnite showcases explosive gameplay in the Season 6, Chapter 2 trailer

Fortnite: Patch 34.31 – What do leakers say?

What can I expect with the upcoming update? The leaker Shiina has already made some guesses on X.com about what exactly could be in the update. The update is mainly expected to fix some bugs.

A large update with many new cosmetic items for the item shop is not planned and is supposed to be released at a later time. It is also not expected that this update contains a major unban wave.

We will follow the server downtime live for you and provide you with the most important information and leaks. Did you know that you can thank the creation of Battle Royales to a man who was stuck in Brazil, had little money, but then got the brilliant idea? Here you can find out more about it: An Irishman stuck in Brazil, having messed up his marriage and low on money, changes gaming forever

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

New update aims to save forgotten shooter on Steam, brings rain, storm, and new weapons

The realistic shooter Gray Zone Warfare was released about a year ago on Steam and was considered by many to be a major competitor to Escape from Tarkov. Shortly after the release, the shooter lost its hype. Now it aims to improve.

What kind of shooter is this? Gray Zone Warfare is a realistic open-world shooter with an extraction mechanic, similar to what you know from the genre stalwart Escape from Tarkov. The shooter launched on April 30, 2024 and was then seen by many as a serious competitor to Escape from Tarkov. Currently, only about 2,000 players on average play the shooter during peak times daily; at release, there were over 72,000 (via SteamDB).

Similar to EFT, weapons, gear, and the hit system function like in the real world, making tactical and precise action essential. The focus on authentic weapon behavior, team tactics, and a tense atmosphere particularly distinguishes the shooter.

However, players complained about technical issues and poor performance in the game both at launch and long afterward (via Steam). The title began in Early Access and offered correspondingly few contents, which also caused players to switch back to other shooters. Even the computer-controlled enemies caused trouble. But with a new update, hope is returning again.

Here you can see the trailer for Gray Zone Warfare:

Start video
Gray Zone Warfare shows in the new release date trailer when the shooter starts on Steam

Realism now with wind and weather

What’s coming in the new update? The new update “Winds of War” brings a new weather system and a variety of other features to the game. Instead of just fighting opponents during day and night, storms, rain, or dense cloud cover will make missions at night without night vision devices almost impossible.

The rain is also said to have an impact on gameplay. Equipment and weapons are expected to behave differently accordingly, and sounds may also change. If a storm is sweeping across the battlefield, it will also affect equipment and player gameplay.

Here you can watch the entire livestream from the developers:

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What are the other new features? The developers of Gray Zone Warfare are also introducing a new system, which will also be present in the new Battlefield: Dragging incapacitated comrades to heal them safely.

The weapon arsenal has also been expanded and reworked. In addition to new models such as the SIG MCX, the MP7A1/A2 with a high rate of fire, and the precise Dragunov sniper rifle, classics like the Beretta M9A1 and a new variant of the Mosin-Nagant are also making their way into the game.

There are also significant changes to the ballistics: projectiles behave more realistically upon impact, and new hit zones on the body like the intestines increase the effect of pinpoint shots and contribute to even more tactical considerations in combat.

The developers are also enhancing the gear aspect. Over 80 new weapon parts, including new grips, muzzles, sights, and barrels, are coming with the update. New bulletproof vests, additional helmets, and a revised damage and repair system bring more depth to equipment choices. Players looking to recover their lost equipment after respawn will now benefit from a new tracking tag, which makes it easier to locate bodies or looted gear.

The announced update has already brought new attention to the shooter. On Steam, the ratings have increased by an average of 5 percentage points to 70% positive ratings, and on YouTube, content creators like NoiceGuy are reporting in videos about the progress of the shooter.

Whether the new update can convince players and provide long-lasting enjoyment remains to be seen. There is also anticipation for the new shooter from Bungie, Marathon. While some have already written off the shooter, one developer from Concord believes in it: A developer of the flops Concord and WildStar warns against writing off Marathon too early

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gry-online.pl
  2. Steam

A hero in the DC universe is as silly as Deadpool, but one of the most powerful people on Earth

In the universe of DC, there are many powerful heroes and villains. One thinks of Superman or Wonder Woman. A member of the Justice League who hardly gets the spotlight is actually a silly guy like Deadpool, but his superpower is incredibly powerful.

Which hero is it about? Before his time as a superhero, Patrick O’Brian was a simple criminal who broke into a chemical factory with his gang. In a fight against the police, he was exposed to a chemical that made his skin elastic.

Since his new form caused disgust in other people, he saw no other way but to try to kill himself. However, he was saved by Woozy Winks, and together they thought that Patrick should become a hero. This is how Plastic Man was created.

Although he constantly makes jokes and is not a particularly serious person, he is regularly a friend of Batman and a member of the Justice League. Although his ability may seem quite simple at first glance, he is one of the most powerful heroes in the DC universe.

Plastic Man is just as silly as Deadpool:

Start video
Deadpool & Wolverine – Official Teaser

Even other heroes know how powerful Plastic Man can be

What are Plastic Man’s abilities? At first glance, Plastic Man looks like a rubber man, similar to Luffy from One Piece or Mr. Fantastic from Marvel, but there is more behind it, as Plastic Man can manipulate his entire molecular structure:

  • He can stretch and extend his limbs infinitely
  • He can manipulate his size, whether he becomes smaller than an action figure or larger than a skyscraper
  • He can manipulate his muscles, and thus his strength
  • He is probably immortal, as he does not age
  • He is almost invulnerable, and even chemicals or blows can hardly harm him
  • Additionally, he can regenerate

Although he does have weaknesses, such as being frozen or smashed, or melting from heat, he can regenerate from those. This ability alone ensures that he is almost indomitable.

Plastic Man is also capable of hiding inside people and attacking their organs from there. Even important members like Wonder Woman acknowledge how powerful Plastic Man can be. In Injustice Gods Among Us: Year Four Annual No. 1, Wonder Woman says of Plastic Man: He is more capable and dangerous than you can imagine.

His abilities make him a rather vague character, with whom authors can do whatever they want.

Even though Plastic Man always appears silly, he is a powerful member of the Justice League, who is often more useful in many situations than the well-known names. But even Batman has come up with a way to defeat him: Batman is more brutal than most villains when it comes to defeating his own friends

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

Monster Hunter Wilds changes an important feature so that cheaters are no longer rewarded in the future

For many fans, cheaters in Monster Hunter Wilds have been an important topic since the release of the first title update. The developers wanted to take action against them, but first, fairness in the league needed to be ensured.

What was the problem with the cheaters? Upon the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, many hunters complained about cheaters. They would ruin the game and with their unfair weapons, they could even kill monsters with just one hit/shoot. Online co-op became a nightmare for many fans because of this.

Capcom was aware of this and with the release of the first title update, consequences for this type of player were also announced. The new leaderboards for the arena should be protected so that fans can earn shiny pendants for their weapons if they belong to the best players.

Nothing came of it. Many cheaters took over the leaderboards and left honest players no chance at the sparkling trophies. Capcom recognized this, and to ensure that you do not leave empty-handed despite the efforts, something important is set to change in the arena rankings.

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds shows its first title update with a new monster

Rewards for Active Hunters

What does Capcom have planned? On x.com, Capcom commented on the leaderboards. Until now, fans could secure pendants based on how well they performed on the leaderboards. However, the results have been distorted by the cheaters, and even good speedrunners ended up empty-handed despite strong times. To prevent this from happening again, current and future “Leaderboard” rewards will be decoupled from the actual leaderboard positions.

There should still be challenge quests – but these will not have leaderboard ranks as parameters, so fans can secure their rewards. This means that no matter how good or bad you are, you will still be rewarded. What counts is how active you are in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Capcom leads the way and explains using the current rewards how you can earn them now:

  • Doshaguma: Mark of Contest pendant
    • Before: Participation
    • After: Participation
  • Doshaguma: Mark of Bravery pendant
    • Before: Rank “A” time
    • After: Participation
  • Doshaguma: Mark of Mastery
    • Before: Top 10,000 players
    • After: Rank “A” time

Will cheaters now be banned? The developers will look at the completion times from the arena and challenge quests and check for irregularities and glitches. If the account belongs to a cheater who actually cheated and has a time that is unnatural, the account will be banned. You can find more about the latest patch here: Monster Hunter Wilds: New hotfix coming soon – Here’s what’s in it

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

Pokémon GO introduces a new way to collect items

April 1st was apparently a test for Pokémon GO, as the feature is returning – as a standalone function!

Do you remember April 1st in Pokémon GO? Suddenly, Poké Balls appeared all over the map that you could collect. Some of them contained items, while others involved encounters with certain Pokémon.

This was quite popular, as there are normally no items to collect in the wilds of Pokémon GO. And there’s good news for everyone who liked the feature: It is returning for an event related to the Pokémon Knapfel.

When does the event take place? The event “Sweet Discoveries” starts on April 24th. It begins at 10:00 AM and ends on April 29th at 8:00 PM.

The event brings some bonuses – such as the debut of Knapfel, but also new collectible apples that remind you of the April Poké Balls. We’ll summarize everything for you.

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

How does the new feature work in Pokémon GO?

According to the announcement on the official Pokémon GO blog, you can find apples starting from the beginning of the event while you are out for a walk. They will simply appear on the map – but they are supposed to be rare. They provide you with two different types of apples:

  • Sweet Apples
  • Sour Apples

You need these to evolve Knapfel into Drapfel or Schlapfel. Sweet works for the evolution to Schlapfel, sour for Drapfel. But: You need 20 of the respective apples, plus 200 Knapfel candies.

Additionally, the apples you find can trigger Pokémon encounters – even with Knapfel. Moreover, apples are supposed to appear more often near moss lure modules.

Overall, the feature is very similar to the April Poké Balls. It will be exciting to see whether it remains linked to Knapfel, or if we will see other variations of the feature after Poké Balls and apples.

What else does the event offer? Among other things, you will receive double candies when catching Pokémon, and an increased chance for three Pokémon:

  • Botogel has an increased shiny chance when caught and hatched
  • Raffel has an increased shiny chance when caught and hatched
  • Kikugi has an increased shiny chance when hatching

Moreover, you will receive berries when catching Raffel and Botogel, and the first three eggs you hatch using the egg widget will have a halved hatch distance. There will also be various wild Pokémon, a limited research task, and showcases. Additionally, in 7 km eggs, you will find Botogel, Kikugi, Mampfaxo, and Raffel – all of which can also be shiny. What happens after that? You can read about it here: All events in April 2025 for Pokémon GO.

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

2 Twitch streamers fulfill a stereotype so much that they are shocked when their colleague does not participate

In the latest episode of their podcast Offline+Ehrlich, the Twitch streamers Max “Trymacs” Stemmler, Florian “Varion” Kiesow, and Sascha “unsympathischTV” Hellinger discuss their drinking habits. One of them stands out, while the other two partially fulfill a stereotype of their profession.

Who is it about? The Twitch streamers Trymacs, Varion, and unsympathischTV have been running their own podcast Offline+Ehrlich for a few years now. Here, they exchange stories about their daily lives, report on their experiences from the past week, and occasionally answer fan questions.

In the latest episode on Spotify, the three discuss their drinking habits in everyday life. It quickly becomes clear: unsympathischTV differs from the other two streamers.

We present you the career of Trymacs in our video:

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

“Isn’t it boring to only drink water?”

What is this stereotype? The stereotype of a Twitch streamer portrays them as energy-drinking gamers who sit in front of the PC all day, leading to an unhealthy posture. Trymacs and Varion play into a part of this stereotype with their drinking habits.

Trymacs reports about his everyday life when he is at a LAN party: He usually sleeps only five hours and drinks energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages all day. He does this so he won’t be tired and has more time to game.

However, afterward, he would refrain from caffeine for five days, which would also cause him severe headaches. Varion reports something similar, having once abstained from caffeine and also experiencing headaches.

What does unsympathischTV drink? Unlike Varion and Trymacs, unsympathischTV mainly drinks water and only occasionally an energy drink or other sweet beverages. Much to the surprise of Trymacs and Varion.

The reason for this is also that unsympathischTV supposedly fears consuming too much caffeine. Furthermore, water is simply a means to an end.

Varion straightforwardly asks unsympathischTV: “Isn’t it boring to only drink water?” He himself drinks at least one energy drink daily and looks forward to it every day. That is his “joy in everyday life.”

In conclusion, he says: “What will I look forward to if I don’t have that anymore?” He further asks unsympathischTV: “What gets you through the day?”

Warnings about excessive caffeine consumption: The fact that Varion and Trymacs experience headaches when refraining from caffeine is an indication that they are not only psychologically but also physically dependent on it. This is pointed out by the Kiel Pain Clinic and simultaneously warns of excessive caffeine consumption. According to the pain clinic, headaches are clear withdrawal symptoms.

The German Society for Nutrition e.V. (DGE) recommends not exceeding 200 milligrams. A cup of coffee contains between 60 and 100 mg of caffeine (via infothek-gesundheit.de).

Another addiction of Twitch streamer Trymacs is the mobile game Clash of Clans. He plays it extensively and since the latest update, he can even invest more time into the game, but this also has a downside: Twitch: The new update of Clash of Clans endangers the relationship of Trymacs

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

New Action RPG on Steam is like a faster Dark Souls, comes from a former employee of FromSoftware

Dark Souls is not just an iconic game that continues to be celebrated today; it also led to the development of a new subgenre. Nowadays, new Souls-like games are regularly released on Steam. A promising game is set to be released next week, and you can test it for free.

What game is it about? Rise of Rebellion is a new Souls-like on Steam. In a world once inhabited by dragons, you must reclaim your hometown as a so-called Tella. Tellas are warriors who have mastered a specific type of energy and can use it in combat.

However, the story seems to be just a means to an end, and the focus, as typical for the genre, is on gameplay. You can recognize many elements from Elden Ring or Dark Souls, and that is no coincidence.

Start video
Rise of Rebellion – Trailer for the Release Date of the new Souls-like

Like Dark Souls, but significantly faster

What makes Rise of Rebellion so special? Visually, the game initially resembles the world design of Dark Souls. It is a bit brighter than the dark world of FromSoftware, but parallels can definitely be seen.

This is also no coincidence, as the game’s developer, Hytacka, is, according to Automaton Media, a former designer from FromSoftware who worked on the DLC for Dark Souls 3. As stated in his description on x.com, he aims to develop the most interesting action RPG in the world.

However, in terms of game speed, Rise of Rebellion differs greatly from Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or Bloodborne. It is significantly faster and also emphasizes quick blocking and parrying. Similar to Elden Ring, it appears that the player’s character has magic abilities that can be utilized in combat.

In the game itself, there are also supposed to be multiple weapons. He showcased a dual blade on his X account, among other things.

If you want to take a look at the game beforehand, you can download a free demo on Steam.

When will Rise of Rebellion be released? According to the official Steam page, the game is set to release on April 21, 2025, so you won’t have to wait long. On his official X account, Hytacka mentioned a price of 7 US dollars. However, the price is not yet listed on the Steam page.

In this context, he also stated that the game will feature 15 bosses and a playtime of 10 hours. For the price, it sounds like a good deal. For many Souls fans, The First Berzerker: Khazan was also a good deal: Despite over 500 hours in Souls games, The First Berzerker: Khazan broke me

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3DJuegos

A mode in CoD: Warzone is supposed to protect casuals from tryhards – If necessary, Activision will intervene

In a mode in CoD: Warzone, you should play relaxed, and Activision wants to intervene when “sweaty players” ruin entire servers.

What kind of mode is this? With the start of Season 3, Warzone got a new mode: Battle Royale Simple (English: Battle Royale Casual).

  • Battle Royale Casual is an intermediate step between the normal Battle Royale, where PvP is the focus, and the bot mode (Warzone Bootcamp), where players should learn the game mechanics.
  • The mode follows the usual “Battle Royale” gameplay, but in addition to other players, you can also encounter bots there.
  • Battle Royale Casual aims to introduce players to combat against other players without immediately throwing them into the unforgiving PvP waters of the normal Battle Royale.

So the Casual mode is the place where you can experience the typical Warzone gameplay, including PvP, in a simplified environment without being sent to the Gulag by a sweaty player within the first seconds of a match – at least that is the idea.

Start video
Call of Duty shows what Verdansk looks like upon returning in Season 3 of Warzone

Activision wants to intervene when sweaty players destroy Casual servers

In an interview with the online magazine IGN, two developers from Call of Duty: Warzone, Pete Actipis (Raven Software) and Etienne Pouliot (Beenox Games), talked about the Casual mode and its threats. Actipis said that Activision would intervene if necessary to protect casual players from sweaty players.

The term “sweaty player” refers to players who go all out to win. They go to great lengths and give their best – even if it’s exhausting.

“Casuals” are essentially the opposite of sweaty players. They come home after a long day at work and want to play a few rounds casually without much effort. Fun is more important than success.

What exactly do the developers say about sweaty players? Pete Actipis explained that Activision introduced the Casual mode because they expected that many former players would return with the return of Verdansk, and Warzone would gain some new players.

These players should have the opportunity to experience the game in a “safe” way:

“We wanted to enable players to experience the game at their own pace or for the first time in a safe way, where they don’t feel like they are being ‘overpowered’, ‘sweated out’, or ‘outplayed’.”

Currently, the developers are closely monitoring the mode and analyzing data. According to Actipis, Activision could intervene if casual players are dominated by sweaty players in the mode: “If we see that sweaty players are destroying the entire server, we need to come up with plans against that.”

The battle between sweaty players and casuals in PvP shooters is a recurring theme. Both player groups play games in completely different ways and consequently have different needs and expectations. This also involves the discussion about skill-based matchmaking, which separates good players from worse ones.

Weaker players often find the system good because it protects them from significant defeats. Good players often criticize it because they only play against other top performers, which can be exhausting and not much fun in the long run. However, MyMMO editor Dariusz has another problem with SBMM: Almost all modern shooters have a problem – and that not only takes away the fun, it also harms friendships

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

“I don’t understand how this is legal” – YouTuber can no longer play Minecraft, although he bought it 15 years ago

A YouTuber discovered that he no longer has access to Minecraft, although he purchased the game 15 years ago. This sparked a heated discussion.

What problem does the gamer face? As the YouTuber Austin “PeanutButterGamer” Hargrave reported on X, he recently found out that he no longer has access to Minecraft because he failed to merge his account with his Microsoft account – he had purchased the game 15 years ago. His purchase has been revoked.

As is well known, Minecraft has belonged to Microsoft since 2014. As of October 2020, owners of the Java Edition were urged to transfer their accounts to their Microsoft accounts. Those who missed the deadline have not been able to log in since September 19, 2023.

Start video
The Story of Notch – The Man Who Invented Minecraft

“You will own nothing and you will be happy with it”

Is the account now lost? Indeed, it seems that way. In a post on the official Minecraft website, it states: “It is no longer possible to transfer unmigrated accounts.” Since the grace period ended on December 18, the Minecraft support team can no longer help.

Anyone who still wants to play must purchase Minecraft again.

How is this being discussed? The post is being actively discussed with over 2,600 comments, and opinions vary widely. Some users point out that Microsoft started the account migration back in 2021, giving players 3 years to take care of it.

Microsoft reportedly sent out millions of emails and even highlighted the deadline in the game. Many have suggested that anyone who did not respond is somewhat to blame.

Others, however, see it like Hargrave, focusing on the principle. The YouTuber writes: “The gaming industry is moving further into a future where people do not own the games they buy. This is happening all the time. I can’t play my 2-year-old version of NBA 2K anymore because they shut down the servers. I only play single-player.” He feels that these practices should face more pushback (via X).

Some users even state that they did not receive the emails at all – perhaps because they no longer used the associated email account or lost access to it, including Hargrave himself. Others felt overwhelmed by the migration process.

Still others presumably let the deadline pass consciously because they refused to give Microsoft their data. However, all of these players agree that they should not simply lose access to a paid game. Especially since Minecraft had initially sold a lifetime license with the promise that they would never have to pay again. Microsoft subsequently altered the terms.

The YouTuber expressed surprise at the reaction. He did not expect the post to stir such emotions. Moreover, he simply cannot understand why people would defend such an approach or become angry when standing up for consumer rights. Some seem to have taken “You will own nothing and you will be happy with it” to heart.

The debate over whether we own our games – or digital media in general – has been intensifying for some time. Ubisoft caused a major uproar when they shut down the servers for their racing game The Crew. Even those who own the game on disc can no longer play it since then. A YouTuber even started an initiative to save such games: A law could prevent publishers from taking away your favorite games and progress – here’s how you can help

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