Gamer says a 20-year-old game does one thing better than modern RPGs, sparks huge debate

Especially veteran gamers like to complain about innovations in gaming. One has apparently hit a sore spot when he says: The ancient Morrowind does quest design much better than modern representatives. The post receives enormous support.

What game is it about?

  • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is the third part of the TES series and was already released in 2002, so 23 years ago.
  • For the series, Morrowind represented a certain turning point, as the role-playing game was the first Elder Scrolls in “modern” 3D graphics. The predecessor, Daggerfall, still used bitmaps or sprites.
  • In 2017, Morrowind was released as an expansion for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online and brought the same-named area into the game.

This is what the player says: On Reddit, a player has now unpacked the 20-year-old original Morrowind for the first time in many years. His “unpopular opinion” about it is that Morrowind has a better quest system than most modern RPGs:

I forgot how little it guided you by the hand. No quest markers, no arrows – just hints and vague directions from shady NPCs. At first I was angry… but then? It hit me differently. The game made me pay attention in a way that most modern games no longer do.

These days, the gameplay is only: “Go there. Follow the footsteps. Watch the cutscene. Press X to win.”

Although the creator was concerned that this opinion would be unpopular, the opposite seems to be the case. Within a week, his thread attracted over 27,000 upvotes and almost 4,000 comments. Most of them agree with him.

The Elder Scrolls series even excites the older generation:

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88-year-old bids farewell to one million fans on YouTube and the role-playing game Skyrim

4,000 comments agree, listing new games in the old vibe

Many gamers see it like the veteran, at least in the corresponding thread. They say: Experiencing a game, rather than having it played for you, is simply a whole different experience. However, there are also modern games that achieve exactly that.

The best example is Kingdom Come: Deliverance, both Part 1 and Part 2. In the Hardcore mode, which is still coming for Part 2, you don’t have a map, but have to navigate by the stars and the position of the sun to find the mentioned directions.

Atomfall is also mentioned, where you don’t have “quests” in the classical sense, but a rumor system. The more you learn about a task from NPCs, the better you can estimate where you actually need to go. However, you still have to find the coordinates on your map yourself.

Personally, as an old RPG gamer, I can only agree. Older role-playing games often drew you into the world so much that even today, despite their age, they are still playable – even with outdated graphics.

The Morrowind successor Skyrim is a good example, even though it is newer than the third part. But even here players still find new secrets even after almost 15 years. And what personally makes me happy is that even Gothic is mentioned by the veterans.

The German role-playing game from 2001 and its direct sequel are among the best role-playing games of all time for me, and I have been playing through them again for a few weeks. I already had the same feeling as the thread creator mentioned above. And Gothic made a strong impression back then: The makers of The Witcher rave about the German Gothic, saying they wanted to make their game just as good.

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

“Your greed is out of control” – Twitch streamer demands nearly $300 for a sweatshirt

YouTube and Twitch streamer Ludwig Ahrens announced on X, formerly Twitter, his new prices for his merch. These are expected to be quite high because of the tariffs imposed by President Trump.

Who is this Twitch streamer? It’s about the American YouTube and Twitch streamer Ludwig Ahrens. On Twitch, he has over 3.3 million followers and entertains an average of 13,437 viewers per stream (via sullygnome). His streaming journey began on Twitch and he switched exclusively to YouTube for several years.

His success is not only spreading through social media. He regularly hosts events or participates in them. In 2024, he was awarded for his alleged “gaming skills”.

Ludwig also makes money from merch. He has now presented his supposedly new prices for the items offered.

Ludwig is a major Twitch streamer on the international scene. In the video, we present the 5 most relevant streamers on German Twitch:

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

“US influencers are struggling, it’s no joke”

Ludwig posted on X that he had just received the quotes for his merch and the prices were calculated based on the new [US] tariffs. He described them as “not so bad” and listed $74 (approximately 65 euros) for a T-shirt and $293 (approximately 257 euros) for a sweatshirt.

He further wrote: “I hope you continue to give me your money in these uncertain times.”

How is the post to be understood? It seems to be pure sarcasm on Ludwig’s part. This post is a humorous way to highlight what the tariffs imposed by President Trump on imports to the USA mean for production and also for the end consumer.

(via X)

Presumably, the post is meant to parody influencers who ask for financial support during these difficult times, even though they are still doing well compared to many people. Under one comment, the streamer wrote: “US influencers are struggling, it’s no joke” (via X).

How did the community react? Most in the community understand Ludwig’s sarcasm and respond accordingly:

  • Keno writes (via X): “Damn, your greed is out of control, man. You’ve really changed.” Ludwig replied (via X): “US influencers are struggling, it’s no joke”
  • Wade Wilson is willing to pay even more (via X): “I would pay $400 for a sweatshirt, Ludwig,” to which Ludwig replies (via X): “I ordered 10,000 units, please consider spending more.”
  • HorsieAttack thinks the price is still too low (via X): “Finally, a pricing strategy for merch that reflects American values, exclusivity, scarcity, and a touch of economic dystopia. You’re honestly selling it below its value, triple digits or it’s not real style.”

However, there are also a few voices that don’t seem to understand the sarcasm and probably think Ludwig is serious about the prices:

  • North writes (via X): “Make them in the USA, just…”
  • Bradd Buff thinks (via X): “Don’t make your merch in China.”
  • Chatthoughts11 posted (via X): “No cheap child labor anymore for the rich guy.”

The actual prices of Ludwig’s merch are $40 for a T-shirt, $65 for a crewneck, and $78 for a shirt. While still in the higher price range, they are not at the level his joke suggested.

Ludwig repeatedly emphasizes in his streams that he has enough money, and he has set the maximum amount that can be donated to him in his streams to $5. His merch production may have also increased, but he probably would not ask these prices from his community. Live in a stream of his colleague, Ludwig was tricked into spending more money than he actually wanted: Twitch streamer who is constantly scammed gets tricked again – but for a good cause.

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

A digital card game allegedly pays AI artists 13,200 euros for 10 hours of work, claims: ‘No one is at his level’

The digital card game Champions of Otherworldly Magic uses the designs of an AI artist for its cards. The developers justify the high salary by claiming that no one is on the artist’s level.

The title image is a symbolic image.

What kind of game is this? The digital card game Champions of Otherworldly Magic, which calls itself the “first true digital TCG” on its official page, uses cards featuring different monster designs. Players can purchase individual packs for around 3 euros to receive 10 random champions. To increase the chance of obtaining rare cards, the creators of Champions of Otherworldly Magic ask for payment.

Players decide which of the monsters they want to choose as the hero for their deck. The hero then determines which element the deck possesses. Each hero has different abilities and advantages that make each deck unique. 

What players should know: The heroes are NFTs that can also be sold for cryptocurrency. Moreover, all designs are 100% AI-generated. The pay for the associated artist is likely astronomical.

A digital card game without NFTs is Hearthstone:

Start video
StarCraft in Hearthstone – the old team returns

AI artist of the TCG receives a horrendous amount as salary

Why does the AI artist receive such a high salary? On X, the account of the card game explains that the cards are 100% created by an AI artist. Behind the artist is a real person who uses AI tools to design the monsters. 

Since he can create images astronomically faster than a large team of artists by using AI, he earns about 13,200 euros for 10 hours of work. In 6 months, he has designed over 1,000 images for the game. His drawings reportedly have no mistakes such as extra fingers that AI can sometimes generate when creating images:

His art is 100% AI-generated, yet it has no extra fingers, no generic designs, no mistakes… It features consistent developments, skins, alternative art styles – literally no one is at his level. We don’t care how he does it, we just care that the end user enjoys our game.

The 10 hours may just be a meme, but it emphasizes that the artist likely didn’t take much time. In total, the 13,200 euros were supposedly paid out per month, and the artist would have spent hundreds of hours per month on it.

And what about regular artists? Illustrators who create their artworks by hand have the chance to become the assistant of the AI artist. However, the assistant job is much worse paid: here, only around 4,400 to 8,880 euros per month is expected.

As the development team clarifies in the comments, the artist is the most talented in his field. He puts in more effort than any traditional artist they have seen so far. 

In addition to images created with the help of AI, NFTs are also a controversial topic in the gaming community. Games that use NFTs can close suddenly, just like other titles. What then happens to the invested money is explained by MeinMMO with an example: Players invest over 260,000 euros in NFT game that is now closing – What happens to the money?

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

Will Marathon be a Free2Play game? Here’s what Bungie says

On Saturday, April 12, Bungie revealed the gameplay of the upcoming extraction shooter Marathon. Now everyone knows what to expect, but for many, the price plays a role and is an important factor. Should the game be free-to-play or cost something? Bungie provides the answer.

What does Bungie say about the price? Marathon is supposed to be a “premium product”. However, they did not mention a specific price during the reveal. The news site GameSpot interpreted “premium product” as a new term for “full-price title,” typically between €60 and €70, as expected from AAA titles in gaming.

On x.com, Bungie caught wind of the speculations and intervened. According to them, there is a distinction between the two terms, with premium product being considered cheaper than a full-price title in terms of price. Details about the price are expected to be released in the summer.

If you missed the gameplay of Marathon, you can catch up here:

Start video
Bungie shows first gameplay of Marathon in trailer

Price could determine the success of Marathon

Why is the price so important? The price could determine the success of Marathon, as depending on how high Bungie sets it, more or fewer players will buy the game at release. Many were expecting a free-to-play title because Marathon will also have microtransactions and seasons.

With the free-to-play model, Bungie would have the greatest opportunity to reach most players, as many would simply test the game and form their own opinion. However, since the game will cost money, players will have to rely on reviews and streamers to determine whether Marathon is worth the price or not.

One could argue and suspect a strategy behind the paywall to deter cheaters, as Marathon places a strong emphasis on PvP. Unfortunately, even full-price titles like Black Ops 6 have no chance and are infested with cheaters.

How expensive could Marathon become? It remains to be seen how high Bungie will set the selling price. A failed title from Sony could serve as a pattern: Concord, the hero shooter that died in 2024.

Concord was developed by the studio Firewalk under Sony and sold for €39.99 in Europe. Since Bungie is drawing a clear line regarding price speculation, it is quite possible that fans will have to pay the same price for the standard edition as for Concord.

Note that this is all just speculation. How much do you think Bungie will set the price? Let us know your opinion in the comments. You can find out more about Marathon here: The long-lost game from the creators of Destiny 2 shows new signs of life, Bungie reveals fresh details

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

Gamer lost 13,000 Euros because he bought 6 games on Steam and made a wrong decision

A gamer purchased six games on Steam in 2016, but due to a bad decision, it cost him around 13,000 euros.

How did the gamer lose so much money? The user “Robin_Circle_Music” reports in a post on Reddit that he bought six games on Steam in 2016 and lists five of these games along with their purchase prices in a table:

  • ShellShock Live – 4.54 US Dollars
  • Valiant – 19.99 US Dollars
  • Space Pirate Trainer – 14.99 US Dollars
  • Tilt Brush – 29.99 US Dollars
  • Final Approach + Raw Data – 56.98 US Dollars

In total, these five games were worth around 126.49 US Dollars (about 111 €). However, he did not purchase these games with dollars or euros, but paid with Bitcoin. He spent a total of 0.19272 Bitcoin for the five games.

The Reddit user explains that the amount of Bitcoin he paid for the games in 2016 would today be worth approximately 15,216 US Dollars – that’s about 13,355 euros. He therefore paid over 13,200 euros too much for the games, and the money is lost forever.

By the way, the user cannot bequeath the games, even though he paid a high price for them. You can find out more about this in the video:

Start video
A user asks Valve if he can bequeath his many games on Steam – they reply

How does this loss come about? The Reddit user shares in a comment under the post that he owned several thousand dollars in Bitcoin in 2016 and had nothing to spend the money on – the purchased Steam games were among his better buys. This is explained by the appreciation of Bitcoin’s value.

Bitcoin surged in value in 2016 and in the following years. While 1 Bitcoin could be purchased for under 300 euros in 2015, it was around 600 euros in the summer of 2016 (via finance.yahoo). The Reddit user likely had already made a profit at the time of purchasing the Steam games if he had invested in the years prior to 2016.

Since then, Bitcoin has risen even more significantly. Today, one Bitcoin (depending on fluctuation) is worth over 73,800 euros (as of April 14, 2025). Thus, the Reddit user lost several thousand euros when he paid for a few cheap games on Steam with Bitcoin.

Steam ends payment with Bitcoin

Can you still buy Steam games simply with Bitcoin? No, today you can no longer pay for games on Steam with Bitcoin. Valve has not offered this payment method since December 2017 because it is associated with high fees and influenced by significant price fluctuations (via Steam).

The situation of the Reddit user shows that Valve was right to abolish payment via Bitcoin due to strong price fluctuations. The money is gone, and the user himself can now only preserve his sense of humor. He joked about whether he might still be within the refund period.

Steam has very lenient refund policies overall, even for games that you only return to buy them again at a lower price: Valve explains whether Steam punishes you if you refund a game and rebuy it that you purchased just before a discount

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

In a country, an agency helps anxious employees leave their intimidating bosses

In Japan, an agency helps employees resign from their jobs. Because Japan is notorious for its tough work culture. For many, it is the ultimate form of disrespect to quit a job at a company.

Japan is notorious for its work culture: Overtime is not uncommon in this Asian country, and many employees would rather voluntarily work overtime than take a vacation. The problem is: No one wants to take a vacation or even give the impression of being less diligent than their colleagues. Officially, as in Germany, a daily working time of 8 hours is provided in Japan (via Betriebsrat.de).

A similar problem exists when it comes to resigning from a job in Japan. Traditionally, an employee works for the same company for decades, if not their entire life. Many view it as the ultimate form of disrespect when someone finally resigns. For this reason, individuals wishing to quit are supported by a “resignation agency.”

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Agency helps employees who want to quit but cannot

The agency Momuri promises to help employees file their resignations, negotiate with their companies, and recommend lawyers in case of legal disputes. Shiori Kawamata, the operations manager of Momuri, stated that they received up to 11,000 inquiries from customers in the past year alone. This is reported by the English-language magazine CNN. “Momuri” means something like “I can’t take it anymore” in Japanese.

The agency explained that the work culture is really harsh and some employees are desperate.

Some people come to us after their resignation letter has been torn up three times, and their employers won’t let them resign, even if they kneel on the ground to bow.

The agency charges 22,000 yen (for full-time jobs) or 12,000 yen (for part-time jobs) for its assistance, which is about 130 euros.

Some employees complain that they are harassed by their bosses when they try to quit, according to Kawamata, and that their bosses repeatedly ring their doorbell and refuse to leave:

We sometimes get calls from crying people asking us if they can quit their job because of XYZ. We tell them that it’s okay and that resignation is a labor right.

In Japan, there has been an effort to accommodate employees with various simplifications for some time: For instance, a four-day work week was offered to relieve overstressed individuals and provide more family time. However, in Japan, this is not enough. They are now offering employees to shorten their daily working hours by an additional 2 hours: In Japan, the 4-day work week is not enough: Thus, it has been decided to cut out two additional hours per day.

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

Pokémon GO Fest 2025 is coming with new Shinies and plenty of content – All the information

Pokémon GO has published the first information about the biggest event of the year. Included are legendary monsters, new shinies, and many monsters.

What kind of event is this? The GO Fest is the largest annual event in Pokémon GO. It is one of the three major events alongside the GO Tour and the GO Safari, which took place for the first time in 2024.

In 2025, there will again be local variants as well as the global version of the GO Fest. The latter will take place on June 28 and 29, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In addition to the time frame, there are now also the first official details about the event’s contents. We’ve summarized them for you.

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

All Contents of the GO Fest 2025

Which Pokémon will be available as Shiny for the first time? During the event, Rocara and Frospino can be encountered for the first time in their shiny forms. Rocara can be found both days in the habitat “Moonless Volcano,” while Frospino can be encountered both days in the habitat “Hypnotic Tundra” and additionally in 1-star raids.

Which Pokémon are making their worldwide debut? In addition, there are three Pokémon that can be caught globally for the first time. Besides the mysterious Pokémon Volcanion, you can also catch Mähikel and Clavion for the first time globally during the event. These three monsters can only be obtained if you purchase a ticket for the event.

You will receive Volcanion in a special research.

Which legendary Pokémon will be available? In the GO Fest 2025, you can challenge Zacian and Zamazenta in their royal forms. Zamazenta can be challenged on Saturday, and Zacian on Sunday in 5-star raids.

Both monsters await you in their royal forms. After the battle, you can catch them in their heroic forms. At the GO Fest, it will also be possible for the first time to change the two Pokémon into their royal forms. The exact method for this is not yet known.

What bonuses are available at the event? During the event, there are bonuses available exclusively to ticket holders as well as bonuses that are active without a ticket. The following bonuses are available to you even without the ticket:

  • Incubators last 1 hour
  • the maximum duration of team play has been increased from 3 to 8 hours
  • Surprise encounters in GO snapshots

These bonuses will be active for ticket holders on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM:

  • increased chance of shiny Pokémon
  • Special research on Volcanion
  • Branching special research, where you can choose between sword and shield
  • Event Pokémon are attracted by smoke
  • hourly global challenges
  • Collector challenges for the respective habitats
  • 3 surprise encounters in GO snapshots

Additionally, ticket holders can enjoy the following bonuses on both event days from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM:

  • more buddy hearts with all interactions
  • up to 9 free raid passes daily by spinning photo discs at gyms
  • up to 40 gifts can be opened per day
  • up to 6 special trades per day
  • halved stardust costs when trading Pokémon

Which Pokémon are there in habitats? As usual, the GO Fest will feature the so-called habitats. These rotate every hour and bring different wild Pokémon.

The habitats will take place on both days at the following times:

  • Moonless Volcano: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
  • Galvanic Dojo: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
  • Hypnotic Tundra: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
  • Fairy Swamp: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM

In the following table, you can see which Pokémon you can expect in the respective habitats:

HabitatPokémon
Moonless VolcanoHunduster*
Camaub*
Zwirrlicht*
Mollimorba*
Golbit*
Dartiri*
Flabébé (Red-blooded)*
Algitt*
Krokel*
Rocara* (rare)
Qurtel* (through smoke, ticket holders only)
Galvanic DojoMachollo*
Elektek*
Teddiursa*
Zurrokex*
Igamaro*
Flabébé (Yellow-blooded)*
Pam-Pam*
Dedenne*
Krabbox*
Lin-Fu* (rare)
Mähikel* (through smoke, ticket holders only)
Hypnotic TundraAlolan Sandan*
Quiekel*
Seemops*
Plinfa*
Shnebedeck*
Somniam*
Pygraulon*
Flabébé (Blue-blooded)*
Arktip*
Frospino (rare)*
Pachirisu* (through smoke, ticket holders only)
Fairy SwampPiepi*
Tentacha*
Flunkifer*
Schluppuck*
Toxiped*
Robball*
Garstella*
Bubungus*
Togetic (rare*
Flabébé (Orange-blooded)* (rare)
Clavion (through smoke, ticket holders only)

All monsters marked with a * can also appear as shiny.

Which Pokémon are also in the wild? On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be Pokémon that can appear all day, regardless of the current habitat.

All-day Pokémon on Saturday:

  • Chaneira*
  • Panzaeron*
  • Larvitar*
  • Schilterus*
  • Schnutzhelm*
  • Skallyk*
  • Kommandutan*
  • Viscora* (rare)

On Sunday, the following monsters will be in the wild:

  • Galar-Porenta*
  • Tragosso*
  • Trasla*
  • Laukaps*
  • Gladiantri*
  • Kapuno*
  • Quartermak*
  • Miniras (rare)

Pokémon marked with a * can also be encountered in their shiny forms.

Additional contents of the event: Ticket holders can lure various forms of Icognito using smoke, which can also appear as shiny.

Moreover, all players, whether with or without a ticket, can complete event field research during the event.

It will still be a while until the GO Fest in June takes place. But even until then, there are many events happening in the game to provide you with content. If you want to know which events are in the current month, then take a look at our overview of all events in April 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

In 2007, Steve Jobs presented the first iPhone: The presentation became legendary, yet the device did not work properly

In 2007, Steve Jobs presented the iPhone to the public for the first time. What few people knew was that the device didn’t function properly during the presentation, and the developers had to come up with a plan to ensure that this didn’t come to light.

The presentation of the first iPhone in 2007 went down in tech history as a legendary event: Steve Jobs showcased the iPhone by playing music and videos, browsing web pages, sending messages, making a call, and using Google Maps to find a Starbucks and order 4,000 coffees. However, no one could have guessed that this high-tech iPhone was, at that moment, a perfectly rehearsed performance.

This is reported by Andy Grignon, then senior engineer at Apple, in an interview with the English-language magazine NewYorkTimes (possibly behind a paywall). The iPhone was not functioning properly at the time of the presentation. Instead, some tricks had to be devised to avoid being exposed.

The software of the iPhone was full of errors during the presentation

What were the problems? According to Grignon, the iPhone’s software was full of bugs, and Jobs had practiced for 5 days to make the presentation work. However, even on the last rehearsal day, the iPhone still dropped calls occasionally, lost internet connection, froze, or simply shut down:

It felt like we had run the demo a hundred times, and each time something went wrong. It was not a good feeling.

For this reason, the chief technicians at Apple had to come up with a contingency plan to ensure that the device would actually work during the final presentation.

How were the problems solved? Apple’s engineers developed a workaround: the “golden path.” This was a precise sequence of actions that Jobs had to follow without deviation. Only in this way could it be ensured that the iPhone wouldn’t stop responding in the middle of a demonstration.

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

Getting through the presentation with many tricks

Many backup devices: Steve Jobs had several identical devices on stage. If one failed, he switched to the next device without the audience noticing.

Modified chip for image transmission: For the presentation itself, engineers built special plates and video cables into the iPhone that took the signal from the iPhone and forwarded it to the projector. This way, no camera needed to be aimed directly at the model. This made the presentation particularly “magical.”

Wi-Fi connection: Another problem was the Wi-Fi: with thousands of people in the room, the connection could be compromised. To avoid this, Apple modified the AirPort software responsible for the iPhone’s connection. It was adjusted to operate on frequencies reserved for Japan, outside the range typically used in the United States.

Phone calls: There was also a trick behind the phone calls: Apple collaborated with a telecommunications provider to set up a mobile cell tower nearby. Additionally, the iPhone was modified to always show full connectivity.

Elon Musk and Steve Jobs are both regarded as tech pioneers in their fields. However, a meeting between the two did not go well. At least that’s how Elon Musk remembers it, recalling the special meeting with Jobs: A “legendary” meeting between Elon Musk and Steve Jobs ended in moments because one of them was rude.

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

Diablo chief says Diablo 4 will run for another 10 years and he already knows how

Diablo 4 is intended to run as a service game for quite some time, which has been clear since its release. In a “chain interview,” franchise head Rod Fergusson explained that he already has relatively concrete plans for the next 10 years. Fans are rather cautious about this.

What does the future of Diablo 4 hold?

  • Season 8 of Diablo 4 starts on April 29 and brings several changes. The game will become harder, Torment 4 is supposed to be a real challenge, and Belial will return as a boss.
  • Blizzard also has plans for the time afterwards. There is an official roadmap for 2025 and the next expansion is set for 2026.
  • Now, the General Manager of Diablo, Rod Fergusson, has revealed that he has already planned the next 10 – actually even 12 – years of Diablo in a roadmap.

Here’s what Fergusson says: The gaming website Game File conducted a “chain interview” where interviewed developers could ask a question to the next interviewee. In this case, the question came from Riot co-founder Marc Merrill to Rod Fergusson: “What do you think about the next big turning point and the next part of Diablo?” Fergusson’s answer:

We are planning for the long game. We had a recent long-term planning session, and I made a roadmap, a 10-year roadmap … actually even a 12-year roadmap. I see this, that, and all these different things we can do, which is really inspiring. And exciting. We are focusing on what players want; I can’t say much more about it.

It has been planned since release for Diablo 4 to stay fresh for several years. However, what exactly is on the roadmap remains a mystery. Not even the next class is known so far, even though the game director recently talked a little about it.

Fergusson himself has recently spoken about finding battle passes “outdated” and planning a new system. There are at least ideas to redesign the individual levels.

Start video
Diablo 4: Trailer for Vessel of Hatred Looks Like a Short Film, Showcases Nahantu and the New Class

Players are skeptical, saying: They would prefer 5 years of good planning

The current roadmap is already causing controversial reactions from the community as it contains, according to some players, too many aspects of content they do not want to see. Accordingly, fans are showing skepticism.

On Reddit, where the interview has been shared, one player even mocks: “That’s a lot of hellish floods in new colors, I have to give him that.” Moreover, they do not want to have to buy so many expansions as that would not be feasible.

Others point out that the “fans” apparently forget that Diablo 3 also had a long run. Since the release of its predecessor in 2012, 11 years have passed until Diablo 4 was released, and the third part had only one major story expansion.

Only the issue with consoles is a problem. In the coming 10 years, we can expect 3-4 new generations, according to a prediction from the discussion (editor’s note: realistically, it’s probably more like 1-2 console generations). The performance of Diablo 4 will then be hard to guarantee, the players fear.

The complaints about Diablo 4 and Blizzard in general have long been a norm in the community. Even though criticism is often acknowledged by Blizzard, fans often continue to complain and predict the downfall of the game. Even the former head of Blizzard addresses this: The ex-head of Blizzard believes Diablo 4 is trapped in a vicious cycle and needs to do everything differently to save it

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

MMORPG on Steam to receive a major relaunch like Final Fantasy 14 thanks to new owners

In March 2025, the studio “Happy Cauldron Games” acquired the MMORPG Fractured Online. The new owners have now spoken about their ambitious plans for the game, which is currently rated “Balanced” on Steam.

What are the new owners planning? They discussed this just a few days ago in a nearly 90-minute-long stream on YouTube. To save you from watching the entire stream, here are the key insights:

  • The new team plans to implement such extensive and profound adjustments that Fractured Online will be taken offline for a period of time. The developers draw a comparison to the historical relaunch of Final Fantasy 14, which also went offline after a disappointing start in 2010 and returned as a markedly improved “A Realm Reborn”.
  • The updates will include an action combat system with WASD movement and a reduction in spells and abilities to better highlight class identities. Additionally, housing is set to be expanded.
  • There will be more content for solo players and groups, and the systems for hunger and energy will be removed. There are also likely to be updates to the models – a revamped version of the male human model was shown in the stream.

For the implementation of the relaunch, they aim to define and publish a list of milestones. Moreover, discussions are ongoing regarding the payment model that Fractured Online will adopt after the relaunch. However, the developers promise that there will be no Pay2Win, Pay2Progress, or any crypto implementations.

One of the trailers for Fractured Online:

Start video
Fractured Online – Early Access Launch Trailer

The Turbulent Life of an MMORPG Developer

What about the old team? Before the sale to “Happy Cauldron Games,” Fractured Online belonged to Dynamight Studios (which continues to be listed as developer and publisher on Steam). The management therefore had to downsize the team by 2024, leaving only three developers remaining (via massivelyop.com).

These three developers have joined the new owners as part of the deal and are allowed to continue working on Fractured Online. By January, the MMORPG was already ported to a new engine, which is intended to help deliver new content to the game more efficiently.

The acquisition is just one of many milestones in the very turbulent development history of Fractured Online. The online role-playing game from Dynamight Studios launched in Early Access on Steam on September 15, 2022, but the launch was under a bad star. There were many issues and technical problems.

In January 2023, the team decided to return to closed development. In November 2023, they celebrated a relatively successful comeback. This time, however, without the previous publisher gamigo. Although the Steam reviews increased, they never reached really good ratings. The regular updates, the final launch in July 2024, and the transition to a Free2Play model did not change that.

On the contrary, at one point, they even ignited the wrath of fans because after an update, players could suddenly spend real money tokens for gold and gold for real money tokens. They had previously promised that they would never implement such a feature in Fractured Online. More on this here: Steam MMORPG breaks promise and announces Pay2Win feature, causing community uproar

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

The next great Marvel hero after Captain America is not an American, but a Russian with a beer belly

You won’t have to wait long for a new movie from Marvel after Captain America: Brave New World. In just a few weeks, the next title will be released, introducing an unusual team of heroes. The most eccentric member is the Russian Captain America.

Which movie is it about? In early May, Thunderbolts* will be the next movie from Marvel. This will be the first time the titular team is introduced, consisting of less heroic characters:

  • The Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, is the leader of the group and known to fans from many Marvel movies.
  • Florence Pugh plays Yelena Belova, the adopted sister of Natasha Romanoff, who was first seen in Black Widow.
  • This character also appears in that movie, Taskmaster, played by Olga Kurylenko.
  • David Harbour returns again as Red Guardian.
  • Hannah John-Kamen plays Ghost, known from Ant-Man and the Wasp.
  • Wyatt Russell reprises his role as U.S.Agent after the series Falcon and Winter Soldier.

The Thunderbolts resemble Marvel’s Suicide Squad, which suits the character selection. The wildly assembled team has three characters that share parallels with Captain America—besides Winter Soldier and U.S.Agent, especially the Red Guardian is an eccentric character.

Start video
In the trailer for Thunderbolts, Marvel showcases its own ‘Suicide Squad’

The Russian Captain America

Who is the Red Guardian? The Red Guardian was first seen in the MCU film Black Widow in 2019. There, he plays the adoptive father of Natasha Romanoff and is portrayed by David Harbour, known from Stranger Things.

The Red Guardian is actually the Russian Alexei Andreovitch Shostakov. He was a Russian agent and became a super-soldier during the Cold War through the serum developed by the Russians based on the US serum. As Red Guardian, he effectively became the Captain America of the Soviet Union.

During an undercover mission in the USA, he had to play a family with Melina Vostokoff, Yelena Belova, and Natasha Romanoff. Over time, they developed a familial bond. These events can be seen in the film Black Widow.

Through his super-soldier serum, he has similar abilities to Captain America, although he does not appear as muscular. He possesses enhanced strength, endurance, speed, reflexes, and a better healing process than normal humans. Additionally, he is trained in combat with weapons and is an experienced spy.

Thunderbolts poster Disney
The Red Guardian is on the right next to Yelena (Source: Disney)

The Red Guardian in the Comics

How is the Red Guardian depicted in the comics? In the MCU Thunderbolts, he reports to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and carries out missions for the CIA. However, his comic history differs from this. In the comics, Alexei Shostakov is a Red Guardian trained by the KGB to become the Russian equivalent of Captain America.

The major difference is: he is not a superhuman. The comic Red Guardian is a master of martial arts, a pilot, and also an excellent spy. In the comics, he is also actually the ex-husband of Black Widow. Unlike in the MCU, she is “upgraded” in the comics through the Black Widow program and is significantly older than she appears.

Before he was with the Thunderbolts, he was the leader of the Dark Ocean Society as Ronin. When the Thunderbolts, led by Winter Soldier, planned to attack Red Skull’s castle, he was informed by Yelena and later joined the team.

By the way, in the comics, he also has a red shield made of vibranium.

You can see how the story of the Red Guardian develops in the MCU starting from May 1, 2025, in theaters. There, he will fight against the villain Sentry. Just a few months later, the story continues with the Fantastic Four. However, Mr. Fantastic was not always the nice hero: One of Marvel’s smartest heroes is getting a new film soon, but in another universe, he is a dangerous villain

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

Path of Exile 2 nerfs its most important content, players fume: “Was the only reason to play”

In Path of Exile 2, the first week of the new season “Dawn of the Hunt” was marked by problems and patches. Now that most of it is probably resolved, players have already discovered new issues.

What problems are there with the loot? In Path of Exile 2, many players are now finished with the campaign and are in the mid and endgame of the ARPG. This part of the game is characterized by the hunt for good loot and upgrades for their character, but that doesn’t seem to be working well at the moment.

Compared to the launch of Path of Exile 2 in December, players are experiencing lower loot drops both in the campaign and later in the endgame. Especially currency items, which are used for trading, have become rarer according to players. This frustrates the community, which is gradually losing interest in the game.

Here you can watch the trailer for the new season of Path of Exile 2:

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

Having enough loot is important for enjoyment

How do players feel right now? The current observation that there is less loot than before the season update is shared by most players in the Reddit community. In several posts, users describe that the current season is less enjoyable due to the lack of loot compared to the first one.

In his post on Reddit, user howkqq explains: “I played the previous league for over 400 hours, now after 50 [hours in the new season], I have lost interest, not because it’s hard, just because of the lack of drops. Map T10 with boss and I get 2–3 rare items[…]”.

Player locustfajita also explains on Reddit: “There is no dopamine. No reward worth the boredom.” That_Palpitation_107 shares this sentiment on Reddit: “I have noticed the lack of dopamine while playing and the dull loot drops. I don’t play half as much as I used to […]”.

The feeling of many fans on Reddit is summed up by user RIPx86x: “The only reason to play these games is for the loot….. and in this game, there is no loot.”

What’s next for the players? After the difficult start of the new season “Dawn of the Hunt” in Path of Exile 2, now the loot causing problems is simply too much for some players. They are now waiting for the new season of the competitor Last Epoch, which starts on April 17.

  • For example, Pulczuk explains on Reddit: “Yes, I’m just killing time until Last Epoch. There just aren’t enough dopamine hits in Poe2.”
  • Similarly, EquivalentOk9392 reports on Reddit: “Yeah, I’ve stopped playing for now. Fortunately, Last Epoch is coming out this week.”

Although not everything is going smoothly in the current season of Path of Exile 2, the developers are working hard to provide a better gaming experience with many patches, updates, and explanations. For this reason, fans are now stepping in and speaking out: The criticism of Path of Exile 2 is so toxic that players are now defending the developers despite the poor start of the season

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

Dad waits 13 years to play WoW with his son – When the time finally comes, the boy gets banned right away

What is better than playing WoW alone? Of course: Playing World of Warcraft with someone you love. It’s just unfortunate when you wait for years, only for Blizzard to intervene suddenly.

What happened to Dad? Recently, the WoW player DroopingFig appeared on Reddit to ask the community for advice. Since the birth of his now 13-year-old son, he had been looking forward to exploring Azeroth together. When the time was ripe, he got an old PC running, set up a Battle.net account for his son, and bought a month of game time.

The plan was to show the young one the basics in the Season of Discovery of WoW Classic first, only to switch to WoW: The War Within when the interest was there. However, that didn’t happen at first.

The young one had only been online for a short time – his father was just guiding him through the starting area of Durotar, where pigs were to be slain – when the connection was interrupted. A notification clarified: The Battle.net account was permanently banned for allegedly violating the game’s terms of use. What a frustrating start…

Another heartwarming story from the WoW community:

Start video
WoW Player Moves to Tears with Tribute to Her Father

From frustration and confusion to a happy ending

So what to do? That’s exactly what the frustrated dad was wondering at that moment. There were no issues with the payment for the game time, nor did he see any other reason for the account ban.

He hadn’t even given his son any gold or items from one of his accounts, as he had only sat down next to his son to guide him through the first minutes of gameplay. He didn’t find a way to quickly appeal the ban.

Contacting support through the account was initially not possible since it was banned. After some time, he found a way to create a ticket. The automated response (via Reddit) from Blizzard confirmed the ban but did not provide any details on the reason for the ban.

I am so disappointed that his first experience with the game ends this way, and I know that when the issue is resolved, his vacation will probably be over and the window of opportunity for this chance will have closed. I have been playing this game for almost 20 years and had been looking forward to experiencing it with someone from my family for over 13 years, and this was the worst that could happen.

DroopingFig on Reddit

What is the current status? Many players wanted to help and asked questions to bring possible reasons for the ban to light – such as the hardware used, the character name, or whether items had changed ownership. They also explained that one shouldn’t be discouraged by the automated Blizzard response from appealing the ban.

Various cases in the past have shown that it also helps to raise awareness of such a case on community platforms like Reddit. And indeed, DroopingFig provided an update in the original post:

“The account has been restored! I’m glad it was resolved, definitely frustrated by the process and still don’t know what the reason was or how I could have avoided it, but I’m glad I will be able to try again. Thank you for all the suggestions, advice, and encouragement that helped me resolve the issue!”

Have you ever been unjustly banned in WoW or another MMORPG? Were you able to resolve the issue? Share it in the comments. By the way, some WoW players come up with remarkable ideas to avoid being banned again: A player from World of Warcraft gets banned and builds an addon to prevent it from happening again

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

Twitch: 27-Year-Old Streams in Car, Runs Red Light

The Twitch streamer Emily “ExtraEmily” Zhang is known for her scatterbrained yet lovable demeanor. However, she often gets herself into trouble, as recently when she filmed herself running a red light.

What was the situation? ExtraEmily was driving on April 12, 2025, while streaming on Twitch. The camera mount was set up so that viewers could see the streamer.

However, during the stream, she rotated the camera so that the road was visible instead – and also the glaring red traffic light that the streamer zoomed past without stopping (but with strange chimpanzee sounds).

The traffic regulations seem to be something like the natural enemy of many Twitch streamers:

Start video
Twitch: MontanaBlack is criticized for his driving behavior

ExtraEmily: “It’s okay, people do it like that”

What did the streamer say about it? ExtraEmily played it cool: “This happens all the time. In Austin [Texas], the traffic lights take really long. I usually just drive through them.” The streamer thanked a viewer for a subscription in between and continued: “It’s okay, it’s okay, people do it like that.”

However, Twitch apparently did not find the 27-year-old’s driving behavior entirely acceptable, as today, on April 13, her channel was banned. Since the streaming platform is notorious for not officially disclosing reasons for bans, we cannot say with certainty that this action was the cause for the ban, but it is highly likely.

Due to the ban, ExtraEmily’s channel and thus the recording of the stream are no longer available. However, you can find the clip here:

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It is still unclear how long ExtraEmily will lose access to her account. This is already her second ban. She was previously banned in October 2023 for looking at her phone while driving.

The community guidelines from Twitch are clear. Under the section “Self-destructive behavior,” it explicitly states that “Dangerous driving behavior (e.g. using the phone while driving)” is prohibited.

Viewers demand driver’s license revocation and streaming ban

However, ExtraEmily must not only account to the streaming platform, but also to the community, which is far from pleased. A post in the streaming subreddit LivestreamFail received over 1,000 comments – a few of which we have compiled here.

  • Lytaa asks: “Is it really that difficult not to play with your phone or not to read the chat for a few minutes while driving? […]” (via Reddit)
  • BrawDev can’t believe it: “Sorry, did she just admit that she routinely ignores traffic lights because they take too long? There’s no way to dig yourself deeper. WTF.” (via Reddit)

At the time the clip was shared, ExtraEmily was not banned from Twitch, which is why many users in the comments are calling for a ban. Some even go further and demand that the streamer’s driver’s license be revoked or that Twitch should prohibit streaming while driving altogether.

Comments that defend the streamer or downplay her behavior are nowhere to be found.

A so-called red light violation can not only lead to a ban but also has legal consequences. In Germany, a fine of at least 90 euros and a point in Flensburg is possible. However, in case of endangering other road users or even causing an accident, it can get really expensive quickly (via Bußgeldkatalog.org)
In Austin, Texas, where the streamer lives, running a red light is not considered a crime, but fines ranging from $75 to over $200, as well as 2 points on the driver’s license may apply – anyone who collects too many within 3 years loses their license (via San Antonio Criminal Defense).

Just a few days ago, we reported on MeinMMO about another traffic offender who also made evidence of his misdeeds himself. However, he showed no remorse: “I’m in GTA, bro” – Armed 19-year-old sparks wild chase with the police

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

8 magical items in Dungeons & Dragons that everyone wants even though they are useless

In the multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons, there is all kinds of powerful loot that players want to get their hands on. However, there are also plenty of seemingly useless items that are quite popular and lead to numerous amusing situations. We have gathered 8 of these items for you.

How was the list created? For our list, we selected 8 magical items that at first glance do not seem to be very useful, but have effects that can be particularly creatively or amusingly utilized.

In doing so, we paid attention to a diverse array so that every player and Dungeon Master can find something useful. We limited ourselves to the 5th edition while considering the new rulebooks (version 2024).

Of course, no item in Dungeons & Dragons is truly absolutely useless, as its usefulness primarily depends on how players use and incorporate it. Still, there are quite a few whose utility can initially be thoroughly questioned.

[toc]

Start video
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Second Official Trailer for the Movie

Wand of Smiles

  • Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, p. 140
  • Item on DnD Beyond

With this wand, you can make a humanoid target smile. Compulsively. If it fails its Charisma saving throw of 10. Otherwise, it is cursed to smile for 1 minute, whether it wants to or not.

The wand has 3 charges, which it can regenerate every day at dusk. If you use all of them in one day, you must roll a D20. On a 1, it turns into a Wand of Scowls. You can imagine what that can do.

But don’t worry, if you also use up the 3 charges for that wand, you can turn it back into a Wand of Smiles on a roll of 1. You’ll likely need a few tries for this.

Wand of Conduction

  • Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024), p. 319
  • Item on DnD Beyond

This wand allows you to become the conductor of an imaginary, yet quite loud orchestra. It has 3 charges, and you can use one of them in a magical action by waving it through the air.

When you do so, the music of an entire orchestra plays, which you can control (if the Dungeon Master allows you). The music can be heard in a radius of 120 feet (approx. 37 meters) and ends as soon as you stop moving the wand.

It regains all its charges every day at dusk. If you use the last charge of the day, you must roll a D20. If you roll a 1, a very sad tuba sound plays and the wand crumbles to dust.

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

To follow her doctor’s advice, a retiree plays Pokémon GO on 6 phones simultaneously

A retiree regularly goes out to Pokémon GO to do something for her health. She is equipped with a quite interesting setup.

Most activities in Pokémon GO require one important thing to participate efficiently: movement. Whether it’s to encounter as many monsters as possible, visit gyms and PokéStops, or hatch eggs.

A 72-year-old retiree is also regularly involved in Pokémon GO to engage in these activities. And she is not just using one smartphone – but six. For this, she has created a special device to manage all smartphones simultaneously.

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

A retiree, a device, 6 phones

Why does the retiree play? According to her own statement, her son told her about the game’s release and installed it on her smartphone. This was supposed to help her implement a doctor’s recommendation better: more movement.

The retiree, who previously worked as a music teacher in elementary school, has taken a liking to the game. So much so that she now plays on 6 smartphones simultaneously.

She does this to counteract the shorter wait times in the game – for example, after throwing a Pokéball and waiting to see if the monster was caught. While the Pokéball is shaking on one smartphone, she catches the next Pokémon on another smartphone in the meantime.

What kind of device is that? To avoid problems managing 6 smartphones while on the go, she has created her own small device. It consists of a wooden board on which all 6 smartphones can be plugged into appropriate cases.

She hangs this wooden board around her neck using a strap, which is also attached to the board. This way, she has the device in front of her and can efficiently manage all 6 smartphones.

You can see what this looks like in the following video:

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How advanced are the retiree’s accounts? How far along the accounts are and how strong the retiree’s monsters are is unknown. In another video from WDR, notes can be seen on her wooden board indicating that she has accounts in different teams in Pokémon GO.

Additionally, on 2 of her smartphones, the levels of the corresponding accounts are visible: 48 and 49. The trainer should not have any problems completing more difficult raids in the game.

Regular events take place in Pokémon GO that provide you with various content. There will be quite a few in April 2025 as well. If you want to get an overview, feel free to check out our overview of all the events in April 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

Influencers sign off for 7 days, fly to a remote island, and 7 vs. Wild could be behind it

Nothing is known about the new season 5 of 7 vs. Wild, but now influencers are saying goodbye for 7 days for a survival project. Fans of the series are speculating whether this could already be the filming of the new season.

Who has disappeared? First, YouTuber Kim “Caramella” (right in the thumbnail) has signed off from her fans. The lifestyle influencer explained to her fans in several stories on Instagram that she now has to say goodbye to them and her partner because she will be stranded for 7 days on a deserted island for a survival project (via Reddit).

Before and after the isolation, she will not be able to create new stories, and she was also not allowed to reveal which project she is participating in. The influencer has previously made several videos with ex-participant Julia Beautyx. On YouTube, more than 500,000 people follow her. But she is not the only one who has signed off.

Here you can learn more about the life of ex-candidate LetsHugo:

Start video
He dropped out of school because streaming was more important to him – The success of LetsHugo

Second influencer has signed off – Is 7 vs. Wild behind it?

Who else has signed off? YouTuber Heiko “CastCrafter” Husch (left in the thumbnail) has also signed off from his viewers in the stream. Following on YouTube, he has over 450,000 people who are excited about his Minecraft videos. As he explains in the clip (via Reddit), he is also going into a survival project for a week. He states that he is not allowed to say where he is going or what the project is called; however, according to him, it is not 7 vs. Wild.

CastCrafter also has a connection to 7 vs. Wild, as he has previously recorded several videos with ex-participant LetsHugo (via YouTube).

Is 7 vs. Wild behind it? Users on Reddit are also investigating this question and trying to identify possible departures based on the influencers’ last Instagram stories. On Reddit, user Chemical-Ask-7491 believes: “All US/Canada flights leave in the morning. Wherever it is going, it seems to be Africa, Asia, South America, or Europe.”

User Craftplorer also considers this possible on Reddit:

That Heiko/CastCrafter is participating makes the project at least a little more interesting. A jungle camp can probably be ruled out. A week on a deserted island (as suggested by Caramella) almost sounds a bit like season 1 of 7 vs. Wild – just with outdoor novices.

However, some users in the forum do not believe that the two influencers will be participants in the new season. The idea that the candidates are releasing so much information after the chases of previous years seems unbelievable to fans.

Sufficient_Speed_542 believes on Reddit that someone else is behind it: “I can somehow imagine an Otto project.” This refers to a video project by ex-7vs.Wild participant Ottogerd “Otto Bulletproof” Karasch, who continues to bring the fight for survival closer to influencers with his own productions like “Arctic Warrior” and “Desert Warrior” (via YouTube).

What is Fritz Meinecke doing in the meantime? While the participants must currently be in the middle of survival on their island, the series founder is cheerfully dedicating himself to his hobby: biking.

In his current stories on Instagram, he talks about his equipment and shows his bike. In the past, there were already suspicions that the head of the series is no longer involved in this year’s season and is only dedicating himself to biking: Fans believe Fritz Meinecke skips 7 vs. Wild and prefers to ride a bike

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

Player chases an NPC from Schedule I on Steam for a week, unveils its secret

In the Steam hit Schedule I, players also build relationships with their NPC customers. A gamer now wanted to know what his customers do all day. He discovered why they buy so much from him.

What’s the deal with the NPC? In Schedule I, customers text their vendors almost daily with a new order. Often, this is about quantities that sound concerning even for the dealers. Anyone taking 5–9 units of drugs every day must have quite a hectic day ahead or behind them.

That’s what Reddit user _inferno_44 probably thought as well, who followed his customer Kyle around for a week to learn what his daily routine looks like. Along the way, he also found out why the customer buys so much.

Here you can see the trailer for Schedule I:

Start video
Schedule I shows in the trailer what the simulation of criminal life looks like

A Hard Day’s Work

Why does he buy so much? As the Reddit user found out, NPC Kyle has a hard day at work.

  • He arrives at the fast food place Taco Ticklers at 7:00 AM and opens the store
  • Then he works until 12:30 PM
  • He takes a break at the skate park until 1:30 PM
  • Between 1:30 PM and 10:00 PM, he works again at Taco Ticklers
  • From 10:00 PM, he is home and sleeps before starting again at Taco Ticklers at 7:00 AM

This routine is what the NPC goes through every day, 7 days a week. The NPC works 14 hours a day and 98 hours per week. With such high working hours, it makes sense to players on Reddit why the NPC orders so many bulk items. Such a stressful double-shift life seems to be bearable in the game only with the help of illegal substances.

The exceedance of the maximum working hours might also be the fault of the player himself. In Schedule I, it is possible to acquire the fast food business to launder money. Kyle then continues to work there, and his working hours remain the same.

Do all NPCs work in Schedule I? No, the Reddit user also followed Kyle’s roommate Austin. He doesn’t have a job but doesn’t just sit at home all day:

  • Starting at 7:30 AM, Austin walks to the community center
  • He arrives there at 8:30 AM and chats until 10:30 AM
  • From 10:30 AM, he sits behind the community center
  • At 11:30 AM, he heads over to his roommate Kyle
  • At 1:00 PM, he has arrived at Taco Ticklers and has lunch there
  • At 1:45 PM, he walks to the arcade, where he plays from 3:00 PM
  • Between 6:00 PM and 6:45 PM, Austin drinks in front of the arcade
  • Only at 11:00 PM does he go home, where he arrives at midnight

Even as an apparently unemployed NPC, Austin experiences a varied day.

The fact that the NPCs in Schedule I have such a detailed weekly rhythm is a surprise to players on Reddit.

Many are familiar with such a system only from role-playing games like Kingdom Come Deliverance or Gothic, where NPCs also follow a daily routine and head to the tavern after a hard day. The fact that there is more to the NPCs of Schedule I than initially believed also applies to a dealer who could truthfully be an undercover cop: Players believe one of their most loyal dealers in Schedule 1 is a traitor

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

YouTubers have been showcasing MMORPGs from the perspective of an NPC for years, and they let you save their world in a new game – With a Fishing Rod

As part of the FYNG Show at Caggtus 2025, new information was released about the 2D fishing RPG Nice Day for Fishing on Steam. Although the game is being developed by a German indie studio, it is backed by a crazy YouTube crew that creates videos about the lives of NPCs.

What kind of game is it? The game is Nice Day for Fishing from the German indie studio FusionPlay. The 2D pixel art game will be released on May 29, 2025, by Team17. In the game, you take on the role of the fisherman Baelin, who must save his hometown Honeywood armed only with his fishing rod.

For more information about Nice Day for Fishing, you can read our news: In a new role-playing game on Steam, you must save the world from evil, and you have only one weapon: a powerful fishing rod

The release date was announced during the FYNG Show at Caggtus 2025, along with a greeting from the team behind the game: Viva la Dirt League. Hero Baelin and Honeywood are, in fact, their creations and important components of their popular parody YouTube channel.

To find out who exactly this crazy team is and what Baelin and Honeywood are all about, read this news.

Start video
New Trailer for Nice Day for Fishing Reveals Release Date

A crazy YouTube team wanted to know how NPCs fare in MMOs

Who is Viva La Dirt League? Viva La Dirt League is a YouTube channel established in 2011, which now has over 7 million subscribers. It was founded by Rowan Bettjeman, Alan Morrison, and Adam King. Initially, they published successful parody videos about Starcraft, later adding sketches about current gaming topics, including Flappy Bird and DayZ.

The Viva La Dirt League team has now considerably expanded. Recently, they produced a mini-series Witcher Logic, in which they humorously addressed the replacement of Witcher actor Henry Cavill with Liam Hemsworth at Netflix.

Additionally, there are video series about PUBG, Dark Souls, Red Dead Redemption, or Escape from Tarkov. And of course, Epic NPC Man, which is the inspiration for Nice Day for Fishing.

The annoying NPC with only one sentence is now also the protagonist

What is Nice Day for Fishing based on? Baelin and Honeywood are important elements of the video series Epic NPC Man. This series tells the story of the daily life of MMORPG NPC Greg from Honeywood, who regularly interacts with typical MMORPG players. The first video, When Players Skip an NPC’s Dialogue (via YouTube), was released in 2016. Other topics include bikini armor for female characters and stealth logic.

Baelin makes his first major appearance in the second video of the series (via YouTube): Here, he walks past Greg again and again, greeting him with the same phrase – Good morning, nice day for fishing, isn’t it?

From then on, he is a constant background character in the videos, making the absurd situations in the sketches even funnier with his context-free repetitive line. Initially, he has a supporting role with just this one statement, which mainly gets on Greg’s nerves. In 2021, Viva La Dirt League even gifted him his own movie (via YouTube).

Honeywood is the place where most of the Epic NPC Man videos take place. The village acts as a quest hub where many player characters are on the move between missions.

In Nice Day for Fishing, NPC Baelin is now the hero of his own story, with the grand task of saving Honeywood. However, it is still unknown whether he has more than just his one line in the game.

The head of FusionPlay says VLDL has wanted its own game for a long time

Recently, during FYNG Caggtus and the accompanying FYNG Show, new information about the game was shared. In a developer talk, Konrad Kunze, the managing director of FusionPlay, discussed the game and mentioned that they have been working closely with Viva La Dirt League on the game for four years.

The YouTubers had also long wanted their own game. However, since they wanted a whole MMORPG, it has not happened until today. The concept of Nice Day for Fishing from FusionPlay convinced them, among other things, because it sounded feasible.

You can watch the entire gaming session on the GameStar Twitch channel as part of the stream from April 11, 2025. The segment starts at around 9 hours and 16 minutes. The link will take you directly there.

FYNG Caggtus is live today, April 12, and April 13, 2025, on Twitch via the GameStar channel. During yesterday’s show, there were also many other cool announcements: Besides Nice Day for Fishing, Hänno introduced his new game via video message, and there was gameplay for Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2. You can read more about it here: New game for Warhammer 40,000 on Steam resembles X-COM, but you can play overpowered robot mummies

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

Our MMORPG expert explains on Twitch what the genre is currently missing

During the streaming event FYNG Caggtus, our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz and our editor-in-chief Leya Jakowski discussed the current state of the genre. Among WoW killers and Asian games, they explain what the genre is currently lacking.

What kind of talk is this? The trio talk took place during the streaming event Find Your Next Game Caggtus on April 13, 2025, in Leipzig. In it, host Julius Jules Busch speaks with MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski and MeinMMO MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz about the current state of the genre.

They discuss the WoW killers that ultimately failed, the latest MMORPGs from around the world, and the games everyone is waiting for. Additionally, they focus on what an MMORPG actually needs to be successful.

You can watch the complete talk here:

Start video
MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz and MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski discuss the current state of MMORPGs

Unfortunately, not much is coming this year – Yet the expert has hope

What are the promising games? After the introduction, MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz talks about the hopes for the genre that are expected to be released in the coming years. Unfortunately, only one game has been announced for 2025: Chrono Odyssey.

Karsten comments on this situation by saying, “Unfortunately, not much is coming this year.” And that is exactly the problem of the genre: “The flagship projects are missing.” The last bigger releases like Lost Ark or New World have never reached the heights of Final Fantasy XIV or even WoW.

However, the expert is very excited about the unique time feature of the one major release for 2025: As a player in Chrono Odyssey, you move through different time levels – present, future, and past. His red flag is that so far there have only been closed focus group tests. Editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski agrees: The time feature especially makes her ponder.

The three discuss these games, even though it will take longer than the end of 2025 for their release:

  • Aion 2
  • ArcheAge Chronicles
  • Stars Reach
  • Ashes of Creation
  • Lord-of-the-Rings MMORPG by Amazon
  • Warhammer MMO
  • League-of-Legends MMO

The first two MMORPGs on the list, Aion 2 and ArcheAge Chronicles, are both expected to be released in the next 24 months. The release dates for the rest are still far in the future and partially uncertain.

However, they all fundamentally have high potential, and while the MeinMMO editor-in-chief often reacts somewhat skeptical, Karsten Scholz is generally optimistic.

If you want to know exactly how the current status of the individual games is, you can watch the video above. If you are eager for more talks with our editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski or simply in the mood for expert insights on the open world of GTA 6, you could be very happy here: Is GTA 6 achieving the perfect open world? Here’s what our experts say.

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