With the Switch 2, Nintendo loses its strongest developers to retirement after 40 years

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

At Nintendo, everything is currently about the new Switch 2. At the same time, Nintendo is soon retiring its best developers, leading to unforeseen changes.

What does the retirement at Nintendo entail? In their podcast on YouTube, former hosts of the YouTube series Nintendo Minute, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, discussed the future of the company. While everything there currently revolves around the release of the Switch 2, the two former employees share their thoughts on a topic that is currently overshadowed by the release: retirement.

Several of the key developers at Nintendo whom we have known for about 40 years will likely leave the company and retire during this [Editor’s note: console] generation, assuming it lasts 7-8 years.

Kit Ellis on the podcast “The Switch 2 is Here and Everything is About to Change at Nintendo” via YouTube

In Japan, where Nintendo is headquartered, people usually retire at around 65 years of age (via Tradingeconomics.com). Many employees who were hired during the post-Tetris hype on the Gameboy and have long shaped the company will reach this age. This includes prominent figures.

The colleagues from GameStar are also watching the stream – here’s the link to the channel:

Change in Presentation

What could change as a result? Former host Kit Ellis points out that Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong series, is already 72 years old. “Many people at Nintendo retire at 65. He obviously has reasons to stay, and they need him, and he obviously wants to continue working, but in eight years he will be 80 years old… and it’s going up.”

Many heads in Nintendo’s leadership are nearing retirement:

  • Yoshio Sakamoto, creator of Metroid, is 65 years old
  • Takashi Tezuka, right hand of the Mario creator, is 64 years old
  • Nintendo composer Koji Kondo is 63 years old
  • Eiji Aonuma, producer of Zelda, is 62 years old
  • Kensuke Tanabe, producer of the Metroid Prime games, is 62 years old
  • Nintendo’s head of planning and development, Shin’ya Takahashi, is 61 years old

Kit Ellis states: “I’m not saying that all these people will leave, but some of them probably will. So it’s an open question who will take on these important leadership roles, not just within the game franchises we know but simply within the company in general, there will be a natural cultural shift when new people take on these roles […]”.

His colleague Krysta Yang adds: “It will feel different when these people leave the company because you simply cannot replace them, […] You can teach the skills, but you cannot replace them as people. It will just feel different. That doesn’t mean the games will be bad, it will just feel different.”

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Experts say: Nintendo is bringing new Switch 2 especially for Europe, has a decisive advantage
von Cedric Holmeier

Throughout the podcast, the former employees also discuss that the natural transition Nintendo will experience is not a bad thing. According to them, the transition will allow fresh perspectives as new people take on positions in the leadership. However, it is a moment where a lot can change within the company and its culture.

Until that time comes, however, Nintendo must first succeed in the release of the Switch 2. Leading up to the big release, we have already summarized all the rumors surrounding the console on MeinMMO: Nintendo Switch 2: Specifications and Performance – All Leaks and Rumors at a Glance

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Gamesradar
  2. YouTube (Titelbild)
  3. YouTube (PodCast)

Why Treasure Chests Often Turn Out to Be Traps in Video Games

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

If you don’t pay attention while looting, you might get surprised by a Mimic that has sharp teeth ready for you instead of valuable loot. We explain where these nasty traps originate from and why they exist in games.

What was actually the first Mimic? A Mimic is nothing more than a trap that takes the shape of another object. Today, it is typically thought of as treasure chests that come to life. However, they can also appear in many other forms.

The concept of the Mimic likely originates from the Trojan Horse. The Greeks feigned their retreat and left a huge wooden horse in front of Troy, inside which soldiers were hidden. The Trojans brought the supposed gift into their city, after which the warriors emerged at night, opened the gates, and Troy fell – a classic trap like a Mimic (cf. Wikipedia).

The idea of treasure chests and other objects coming to life can also be found in Japanese folklore. Tsukumogami are beings of Japanese popular belief (via Wikipedia). They arise when owners neglect their household items. According to the stories, the neglected objects come to life and show themselves as vengeful or benevolent, depending on how they were treated before.

However, the Mimics as we know them today in video games originated from Dungeons and Dragons.

Why does loot always have the same colors?

Start video
Why is the loot always white, green, blue, purple, and gold?

Dungeons and Dragons shaped the Mimics

How did Mimics end up in video games? The Mimics as we know them today were coined in 1974 by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax (via PC Gamer). More details about the creatures were provided in the following years in Dungeons and Dragons. Initially, they were considered shape-shifting underground creatures that dislike sunlight.

Thus, their form as a treasure chest was not yet manifested. Even today, the creatures can still appear in various forms. In D&D, they can be doormats, furniture, or even entire houses. In the cooperative horror game Lethal Company, Mimic doors can also be added to the game through the workshop; those who are not careful during their escape may be eaten (via thunderstore.io).

There are also Mimics in many multiplayer servers in Minecraft. Here, servers sometimes use them to expose cheaters. Players attempting to obtain diamonds by using x-ray vision might be shown false gems or those located in unreachable places to catch them (via papermc.io).

GameStar Black Edition Baldur's Gate 3 05/25
GameStar Black Edition Baldur’s Gate 3 05/25
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Why do developers implement such mechanics? One reason is the mentioned cheat protection, which is especially important with the increasing number of cheaters in online games. However, mainly, Mimics are used as gameplay elements by developers.

Earlier RPGs often incorporated Mimics to catch and punish greedy players. Similarly, you find the creatures in Dark Souls and other games by developer From Software today, but the motivations for their use have changed over the years.

Nowadays, Mimics often serve to slow down the player and ensure that they take a bit more time to observe their surroundings. An increased presence of the creatures at the beginning of a game might lead players to move more slowly through the levels because they don’t want to be attacked by a false chest (via kotaku.com).

A well-known example of this is the chests in Baldur’s Gate 3, which do not immediately eliminate your characters but trigger a battle you weren’t prepared for. Just like with the Trojan Horse, Mimics today primarily serve to present you with a surprise fight and break the tension in otherwise calm situations.

In one moment, your group is looting a house in Baldur’s Gate 3; perhaps you are still weakened from the last battle and just want to quickly secure the items. In the next moment, you suddenly find yourself in a fight with a chest that wants to take your valuables back (via YouTube).

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Mimics are considered to be among the most iconic RPG creatures that exist. They are now found in many video games, tabletop games, and stories, consistently interrupting quiet situations with sudden action. In Elden Ring, there is a powerful talisman that is also related to Mimics: This is how you find the Mimic Tear in Elden Ring – Makes every boss ridiculously easy

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Artstation.com (Titelbild von BG3 - Mohamed Abdelfatah)

“Not just another early access” – inZOI chief apologizes to everyone who trusted him and was disappointed with the game

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

Since the end of March, inZOI has been available in Early Access on Steam, but not all players are thrilled. Now, the developer is apologizing to everyone who is disappointed.

The South Korean “inZOI Studio” and publisher KRAFTON (known for PUBG) have released inZOI as a more realistic alternative to The Sims. Since March 28, 2025, it has been available in Early Access on Steam, where 83% of the reviews are positive.

However, inZOI is also receiving criticism:

Now, inZOI director Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim has addressed fans on X (formerly Twitter). In an open letter, he thanks the community for their support – and apologizes for the frustration his game has caused.

Start video
inZOI: The new trailer for the Early Access of the life simulation on Steam

Developer does not want to use the term “Early Access” as an excuse

This is what the head of inZOI says: In his post on X, Kjun admits that inZOI still has many weaknesses and many players find the content insufficient. “I sincerely apologize for any frustration that has arisen from this,” he writes.

He reports that he feels like a “nervous parent” when he watches inZOI streams. However, seeing the community have fun with the game feels like a huge success for him. The team takes the feedback to heart and wants to work even harder.

It is particularly important to him that inZOI does not simply become another Early Access game that rests on this status. He assures:

Even if we are not perfect right now, we want to prove that this is not an Early Access title that merely takes advantage of this label. We truly want to communicate with you, build the game together, and seriously uphold this promise.

Kjun also addressed this on the inZOI Discord server on April 1, 2025:

Additionally, we will continue to address critical issues with hotfixes as soon as they are identified. As mentioned before, it is important for us to stay true to our words and not use the term “Early Access” as an excuse. We are grateful to everyone who has purchased the game and will keep our promise through regular updates and open communication.

“The introverted version of Swen Vincke”

How is this received by the community? His words are well received: The Discord post received over 2,100 hearts, and the message on X garnered more than 8,800 likes (as of April 3, 19:35). Many players comment that they are hopeful and looking forward to upcoming content.

Also on Reddit, the message is received positively. Korean__Princess writes: “I love [the developers] even more when they send out letters like this.” And Positive-Smile-2717 adds: “All in all, it was a solid Early Access start. I can only hope that the game continues to develop and grow with worthwhile updates and changes.”

User Akasha1885 even compares Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim to Swen Vincke, the head behind Larian Studios and Baldur’s Gate 3. Vincke captivated the gaming community with his special outfit at the Game Awards 2023 and moved with his speech on X.

More about inZOI:
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von Ody
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Whoever is too mean in inZOI on Steam will be punished and turned into a ghost and must make amends for everything
von Cedric Holmeier

In his message on X, Kjun emphasizes that inZOI began as a small, personal project out of his own enthusiasm. Previously, he stated that the development of inZOI is his “greatest challenge” to date. He now understands why so few studios dare to take on life simulation. More on this can be found here: “Now I understand why so few have tried” – head of inZOI explains why it’s hard to surpass The Sims

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

Rockstar makes GTA 5 free with subscription, before they maybe squeeze 100 euros from you for GTA 6

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 2 minutes

GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated titles of 2025, and gamers are looking forward to its release. In the meantime, many of you will soon have the opportunity to play GTA 5 for free before shelling out 100 dollars for the successor.

Why is GTA 5 free? Starting April 15, 2025, Grand Theft Auto V will be available again in Game Pass. This applies not only to console players – PC users can also grab the game and receive the Enhanced Update as a bonus. The update brings improved graphics and performance, ray tracing features, and exclusive content in GTA Online.

The Enhanced Update has been available on Steam since early March. However, it caused issues with GTA Online and fans were angry.

Can I still play with my friends? Yes, because Microsoft has confirmed that all users of the Standard and Ultimate editions of Game Pass have access to all console and PC versions. Anyone who owns a PC Game Pass can download and play both editions. This way, you can also play with friends who own GTA 5 on Steam or Epic Games (via news.xbox.com).

Start video
Grand Theft Auto 5: Trailer for Next-Gen Update for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

This is how much GTA 6 could cost: GTA 6 is set to be released in autumn 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Whether you will really have to shell out 100 dollars (about 90 €) for GTA 6 upon release is still unclear. One analyst has looked at the market and speculated that GTA 6 could possibly cost between 80 and 100 dollars – which could mean a price of 100 euros here.

The reason is that games are becoming increasingly expensive and there are more and more “Black Hole” games – titles that captivate players so much that they hardly buy new games. Additionally, the market is slowly becoming saturated. If Rockstar indeed raises the price for GTA 6, other publishers may follow suit and argue: “Our game is also AAA, so it deserves a AAA price.”

More on GTA 6:
I played GTA 5 too early, and I fear it has ruined me for GTA 6
von Caroline Fuller

Before GTA 6 even comes out, Nintendo has already ignited the price debate. At the Nintendo Direct on April 2, new games were announced alongside the new console – and the prices have risen compared to the predecessor of the upcoming Switch 2.

Given the rising prices at Nintendo, the rumors about the new price for GTA 6 seem even more credible to many gamers. You can find out more about this here: We knew that a car game would raise prices in gaming for everyone – but it’s not GTA 6, it’s the damn Mario Kart

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

Twitch streamer Papaplatte gets to see the Minecraft movie before everyone else, misses it

Lydia Lydia Reading time 2 minutes

The Minecraft movie with Jack Black is coming to theaters today, but Twitch streamer Papaplatte got to see it in advance – although it seems there wasn’t much excitement about it.

On April 3, 2025, “A Minecraft Movie” will hit German cinemas. The block game has been a constant favorite for years and has helped some German content creators build a career on YouTube and later Twitch. Gronkh, whose Let’s Plays of Minecraft have attracted thousands of viewers, was even supposed to have a voice role in the film. However, fans say his role has been cut (via Reddit).

So it’s no wonder that many German content creators from the Minecraft scene were present at the premiere on March 30.

Start video
A Minecraft Movie: First Complete Trailer in German

Minecraft Movie – Boring?

What does Papaplatte have to say about the Minecraft movie? Not much, and this was likely because the streamer didn’t catch much of the film. As he admitted in the stream, he may have fallen asleep for about half an hour during the screening.

And since yawning, as we all know, is highly contagious, it apparently hit his friend, streamer Reeze, who was sitting next to him. The streamer didn’t have much more to say about the film at this point.

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How is the film otherwise received? Even though Papaplatte’s reaction isn’t exactly favorable for the movie, the initial reactions are quite positive. You can find out more from the colleagues at GameStar.

Early critics describe the film as entertaining but not very innovative. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a mixed score of 53% (as of 18:00), with the audience’s judgment still pending.

This could mean that the Minecraft movie is a return to the rather poor reputation of video game adaptations, after outstanding adaptations like Arcane and Fallout have done so much for the genre.

Let us know in the comments if the film meets your expectations when you get your own impression in the cinema.

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Leading up to the movie, opinions about the Minecraft film were widely divided. Older fans, in particular, expressed skepticism, as did Twitch streamer Trymacs: Famous streamer finds the look of the Minecraft movie too childish – “People like Gronkh play Minecraft”

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

CoD Warzone is back online – Everything about server status in the live ticker

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 4 minutes

In Call of Duty, Season 3 of Black Ops 6 starts today, April 2nd, but Warzone will be offline for one day. We will keep you updated on the server status in our live ticker.

When will the servers go offline? The Warzone servers will be shut down on April 2nd at around 6:00 PM German time when Season 3 launches.

When will the servers be online again? The Warzone servers are expected to be offline for 24 hours, and you will likely be able to play again on April 3rd around 6:00 PM.

All further information can be found in our live ticker for the server downtime:

Thursday, April 3, 2025

6:15 PM

During our first round, some players disconnected from the game, and we also observed some initial disconnects on Twitch. So there may be sporadic server issues – even though we survived the first round without any.

6:04 PM

The matchmaking is quick, and we found a match in just a few seconds. In the first gunfight, all of our shots were registered by the game without issue, and the opponent fell. No sign of server problems so far!

5:59 PM

Ladies and gentlemen: We are now in Warzone and can confirm that the servers are online. Welcome to Verdansk!

5:55 PM

On Twitch, the first players are already in Warzone playing on Verdansk. For many, the in-game countdown is still running for several minutes.

5:45 PM

In about 15 minutes, Season 3 in Warzone is set to start.

Just before the launch, experts estimate that the following weapons could be meta:

Medium to long range

  • CR-56 AMAX (Assault Rifle)
  • KILO 141 (Assault Rifle)
  • SWAT 5.56 with Grau modification (DMR; but fully automatic)
  • HDR (Sniper Rifle)

Close range

  • C9 (Submachine Gun)
  • SAUG

4:00 PM

Only 2 hours left until the Warzone servers are supposed to come back online.

12:00 PM

You can once again head into battle with the Grau 5.56 in Warzone. It has been available as a modification for the SWAT 5.56 since Season 3. More about this here:

9:15 AM

The servers are still offline on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The expected return of the servers, based on the in-game countdown, is:

  • Thursday, April 3, 2025, 6:00 PM German time

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

6:10 PM

If you try to start Warzone, you will receive the following error message:

  • Lobby not found – Check code and try again.
    • Error cause: 10
    • Error code: 2031
Screenshot Warzone error message Season 3

6:05 PM

The Warzone servers are now offline!

6:02 PM

After a small update, Season 3 of Black Ops 6 is live!

The free trial phase of Black Ops 6 has also started. You can now temporarily play the shooter even if you haven’t purchased the game.

6:00 PM

At precisely 6:00 PM, there is another small update for Black Ops 6. It is approximately 450 MB in size on Battle.net.

5:30 PM

You can now take a closer look at the Battle Pass and the BlackCell contents of Season 3:

Start video
The BlackCell Battle Pass in Season 3 of CoD: Black Ops 6 in the Trailer

3:50 PM

With Season 3, Call of Duty will also have a new setting for crossplay that separates console and PC players. You can read more about this here:

1:50 PM

When the Warzone servers go offline at 6:00 PM, you can prepare by grinding the Battle Pass or leveling some weapons in Black Ops 6 – if you haven’t done so already. Black Ops 6 is free to play from April 2 to April 3.

If you want to know which weapons were particularly popular in Warzone in Season 2, you can check that out here:

1:30 PM

Some players are already calculating on Reddit what the time-to-kill of the various assault rifles in Season 3 of Warzone could look like.

Especially the AK-74 looks promising. The AMES-85 could also be good. Previously popular weapons like the XM4 and the Goblin MK2 perform relatively poorly in comparison.

12:00 PM

On PlayStation 5, the preload seems to be available already. The update there is said to be about 32 GB (including the BO6 contents)

9:40 AM

The preload for Season 3 seems to be available on Xbox and Battle.net. The download for Black Ops 6 is reportedly around 50 GB.

9:35 AM

Just a reminder: Warzone will go offline today, April 2, around 6 PM. During this time, Black Ops 6 is free to play. The free period ends on April 3.

9:30 AM

Hello and welcome to our live ticker for the server downtime of Call of Duty: Warzone at the launch of Season 3! I am Dariusz and I will be with you for the next 24 hours. I hope you are excited and looking forward to showing your opponents on Verdansk who is the better player.

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CoD Warzone brings its most popular map back with Season 3 – Is the return worth it?
von Dariusz Müller

If you’re playing Black Ops 6 in addition to Call of Duty: Warzone and are interested in the new content for the multiplayer and zombie mode, you can read on MeinMMO about what Season 3 has to offer: CoD Black Ops 6 Season 3 starts today: Information about the release, roadmap, and patch notes

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

The new action game from Xbox is perfect if you want to experience a strong story over a weekend

Johanna Johanna Reading time 5 minutes

MeinMMO author Johanna was able to experience the story of South of Midnight before its release. The game playfully shows her where to go, but that is not what she wants at all.

I initially didn’t really have South of Midnight on my radar of games I want to play. But when I watched the trailer for the first time, I was instantly smitten.

The stop-motion animation style has a melancholic charm for me, and the voice acting convinced me immediately that this would be a game with lovingly written characters and a gripping story. MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya was equally taken with the trailer.

All the more thrilled was I when I received a review key from Xbox and could dive into the folklore world early.

In the game, we follow teenager Hazel, who must rescue her mother. She and her house have been washed down the river by a hurricane. Hazel follows the river and gains mysterious abilities through a mysterious spindle that allows her to see the world through different eyes.

She must defend herself and fight against monsters. At her side is a catfish with whom she uncovers the story of the other residents as well as her mother.

The story mainly revolves around Southern folklore. Among these tales, some creepy foes must also be defeated.

With the trailer, you get a first impression of the game:

Start video
South of Midnight: Story Trailer Shows Dark Figures from American Folklore

I have to go over there, but I don’t want to

Simple gameplay makes room for exploration

The gameplay in South of Midnight is relatively simple. You have a series of attacks that can be used against your enemies and a menu to expand your abilities.

Both are not complicated systems that you have to dive deeply into. Puzzles that block your way are also kept simple. If you ever don’t know, you can summon a strand that shows you exactly which direction to go.

Strand in South of Midnight
The strand always shows you where to go.

This reveals an important aspect for me: Since I’m not busy acquiring knowledge for a complicated weapon or ability system, I have much more capacity and time to calmly explore the world.

This means that I look at the strand to see where I need to go and then go in other directions. That way, I know where I can still discover collectibles and explore the world. It is full of details that are worth marveling at.

Details in South of Midnight
If I had just followed the path blindly, I would have missed this detail.

These details and collectible notes help to tell side stories. In diary entries, for example, we learn more about the characters and their backgrounds.

Heartwarming story & exciting characters

Hazel completely enchanted me when she proudly declared: “I’m gonna find my momma on my own!” She is a teenager who has her weaknesses but makes up for them with her courage. She is by no means overpowered, but she is tough.

All the other characters grew on me over time, especially the huge talking catfish.

Wels in South of Midnight
The catfish tells you stories and accompanies you on your adventure.

What makes the characters so lovable is not only the way they are written, but also the excellent voice acting. In the original English, you can feel how the characters come to life and gain a soul.

Jolene in South of Midnight
Jolene is one of my favorite characters.

Like a good book

You probably know it: You’re reading an exciting book or watching a great series, and towards the end, when you know you only have a few pages or episodes left, you start to read or watch slower. That’s how I felt with South of Midnight.

Since I knew that the game, with a playtime of 10 to 12 hours, is on the shorter side, I approached the individual chapters slowly and took more time to explore the world.

Because that is the game’s greatest strength: the story. Everything else takes a backseat.

Stories in South of Midnight
Stories are told through memories in South of Midnight.

Enemies are intricately designed and have a cool concept, but they don’t pose a real challenge. When I approach a new area, I know exactly when enemies will appear and usually what kind of foes they will be.

I can recommend South of Midnight to everyone who loves heartwarming stories and lovingly written characters and wants to experience a story through the medium of video games. The game won’t challenge you much in terms of gameplay but takes you on the adventure that Hazel experiences.

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This is how MeinMMO editor Lydia rates South of Midnight: South of Midnight combines the real history and living reality of the Southern states with folklore and magic. The result is a special gaming experience that captivated me from the first moment and will likely resonate for some time.

The gameplay combines fun platforming elements with story-driven exploration and action-packed combat, without any of these aspects feeling out of place. The level design seems well thought out, and I had a lot of fun using Hazel’s different abilities to traverse the levels and explore every nook and cranny.

The individual destinies that you uncover throughout a chapter revolve around themes such as empathy, family, and how far people will go in difficult situations. It can get quite dark at times, and some moments are hard to bear. However, a thread of hope runs throughout, as it is not the player’s task as a “Weaver” to hold anyone accountable but to heal old wounds.

The arena battles that you face during a level are functional but not particularly exciting. For me, they were more of a way to restore my health that I had lost while exploring because I wanted to try reaching this or that point. However, I had much more fun with the boss fights at the end of some chapters, which bring varied mechanics and require quick reflexes.

A special highlight for me was how South of Midnight uses music: the soundtrack starts as a subtle background noise during the larger story chapters, but the further you progress into the level and the story being told, the more prominent the lyrics become. This culminates in a musical and gameplay finale that makes every chapter a special experience.

Overall, I can wholeheartedly recommend South of Midnight if you’re looking for an action game with a unique setting and gripping story. However, how much you really get from the game will depend on your playstyle, as those who simply rush through the levels may finish too quickly and be left a bit disappointed. But for those who immerse themselves in the game, take their time to explore and just listen, a thoroughly satisfying experience awaits.

What do you think of South of Midnight? Will you get the game? Let us know in the comments! If you want more preview reports, we can recommend the one by MeinMMO author Caroline Fuller: After 8 hours of gameplay, I can say: With Nightreign, Elden Ring becomes a completely different game.

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

A newbie asks what the afterlife looks like in Warhammer 40,000, receives detailed lore answers

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 5 minutes

Death is inevitable, and this applies even in the distant future of Warhammer 40,000. An aspiring fan is currently exploring the Chaos Gods and wants to know what happens to his soul when he dies in the world of Warhammer. The community has answers, and they are surprisingly mild for such a grim universe.

Warhammer 40,000 is dystopian, dark, and absurdly vast. The sheer size and mass of living beings ensure that death is a ubiquitous theme. The ever-present war only further reinforces this circumstance.

Right from the premise, death and sacrifice are key elements of the story: the Emperor, for example, is only so powerful because thousands of shamans have sacrificed themselves. For most humans, dying in the name of the Emperor is quite desirable.

But what exactly does it mean to die in the world of Warhammer 40,000? A user on Reddit asks just that. He says he is just getting into the world and is particularly interested in Orks and Slaanesh.

He has come across the information that the Dark Prince promises joy in life, but afterward, an eternity of torment follows. Now the user wants to know how true that is. The community explains in detail how death works in Warhammer.

Start video
Die Armee der Emperor’s Children im Tabletop von Warhammer 40.000

The Return to the Sea of Souls

As the top answer, most veterans come up with … nothing. When a person dies in Warhammer 40,000, nothing happens – at least from their perspective. However, a few things are happening in the background.

In the world of Warhammer, there is the Warp, which is said to be the accumulation of the souls of all connected living beings. The Warp consists of the sensations, emotions, and everything that defines humans, Eldar, and other psychic beings.

A human’s soul comes from the Warp and simply returns to the vast sea of souls after death. This is true for the vast majority of humanity, at least according to all the information currently available.

Nothing further happens to the souls there. The person simply ceases to exist, the soul loses consciousness until it may be reborn someday, or perhaps not at all. It may end up as a snack for a demon, but usually does not attract enough attention for that. There are, however, exceptions.

“Being a Psyker is like the dinner bell for demons”

There are some individuals who have a particularly strong connection to the Warp and can even harness its power: Psykers, the “space wizards” of Warhammer 40,000. Psykers can draw power from the Immaterium and to some extent control it.

Since the Warp is also the realm of Chaos, its inhabitants naturally take notice of such things. The soul of a Psyker burns in the Immaterium much brighter than all the others.

As a very extreme example: the soul of the Emperor burns so bright, that it is used as a navigation point for journeys through the Warp. However, thousands of Psykers are sacrificed to him every day.

When a Psyker dies and their soul enters the Warp, it is like a “dinner bell,” explains a user. Demons would immediately pounce on them and rip them apart – at best. More often than not, it happens that the Psyker remains more or less conscious to literally be tormented by demons for eternity so that they can revel in their suffering.

warhammer-nurgle
Chaos gods are known for their gifts, even if they usually have a major catch.

Chaos is Eternal Torment or the Greatest Reward

But what if someone has already served the Chaos Gods and devoted themselves to them during their lifetime? The gods are relatively generous when it comes to gifts in life, and they at least bestow their questionable blessings on many followers to some degree.

The souls of Chaos followers are therefore strongly drawn to one of the realms of the gods and disappear there upon death. Here too, it is usually the case that … nothing happens. At least this is the general assumption.

There are exceptions, however, when a person is particularly strong or has attracted the attention of a god. Then it may happen that the person ascends to demonhood in life or even after death – or is personally tortured by the god for all eternity.

Particular favorites are even simply resurrected. This happens with a traitor, whose death is just too amusing for Slaanesh.

By the way, the same applies to the Emperor, whom many believe to be a god. Those who are particularly lucky are “saved” by Big E – which only means that they are devoured by him instead of by other Warp entities. But that should at least be more pleasant.

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Non-Humans Have a Whole Different Fate – Mostly at Least

In contrast, the situation is different for most Xenos species. Not much is known about the afterlife of most species, but there are almost universal basic ideas about death. In various comments, users explain what happens when non-humans die:

There are also some exceptions here. The technologically savvy T’au have a presence in the Warp, but it is hardly perceivable. What happens to this species after death is entirely unclear.

The Kin of the Votann Conglomerate were probably once humans but, like the T’au, have no truly strong connection to the Immaterium. The consciousness of the Kin is uploaded into the “Ancestor Core” after death to contribute to the data pool. In their belief, they ascend to their ancestors, similar to how Vikings did in our culture.

The Worst Fate in the Afterlife Belongs to the Space Eldar

In contrast, it is very clear what happens to the Aeldari. The Aeldari birthed the god Slaanesh and are closely tied to him. Their souls remain conscious in death and would be tormented for all eternity by Slaanesh.

To protect themselves, the souls of fallen Aeldari wander into soulstones, which are then transported into the world or the ship they lived on to power endless machines. In times of war, these crystals are used in constructs that are deployed for battle – at the risk of being destroyed.

The same applies to their dark siblings, the Drukhari. If Drukhari are wealthy enough, their experts bring them back to life. If not … an eternity of torment awaits. This is quite fitting to how they live: Warhammer 40,000 features “evil Space Elves” who survive only by torturing others.

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

Schedule 1 and Its Roadmap: All Content You Can Expect in the Future

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

Schedule 1 had a strong start on Steam, but fans are now wondering what content will be released in the future. A roadmap provides answers and it looks very promising. We will show you what the developer behind the hit might be preparing.

Is there a roadmap? There is no official roadmap in the traditional sense with dates for when new content will be released, but there is a Trello board with ideas that the head and developer Tyler is working on. The list is long and this Trello board includes both large and small adjustments for Schedule 1.

However, don’t set your expectations too high. Tyler is a single developer, and it may take a long time to implement any of these ideas in the game. In the worst case, some features could be entirely scrapped. Nevertheless, we will now show you what Tyler might be preparing for Schedule 1.

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

Trello shows what plans the head of Schedule 1 is pursuing

What does the roadmap look like? The ideas on the Trello board (via trello.com) are divided into two categories: ideas for monthly updates and minor adjustments/improvements. The following can be found in each category:

  • Ideas for monthly updates
    • New drugs like mushrooms, MDMA, heroin
    • Traveling customers who occasionally visit Hyland Point
    • Fishing as a mini-game
    • Sewer network
    • Raids (no details yet)
    • Community translations
    • Interactions with the cartel such as fights or even raids
    • A shooting range with mini-game
    • Parkour to jump over fences
    • Map expansions for the southwest and northeast
    • More interactions with the police (bribery)
    • Drivers that you can hire
    • New product forms of your drugs
    • Police evidence locker that you can break into to get back your seized goods
    • Custom packaging and labels
    • Diverse weather like light or heavy rain
  • Minor adjustments/improvements
    • Rarer trash finds
    • Emotes
    • Breaking into vehicles
    • Van, wheelchair as vehicles
    • Radio or a jukebox
    • Different types of bags like backpacks or sports bags
    • Duplicate save files
    • Pistol with higher fire rate and a larger magazine
    • Select custom quantities in shops
    • A filter when it comes to products and an option for sorting
    • Controller support
    • Steam Deck support
    • Voice chat in the game
    • Cosmetic surgery to customize the playable character
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These were all the current plans that Tyler might have for Schedule 1. In addition to the roadmap, you can also use cheats to gain some advantages. Are you looking for the right console commands for your cheat? Then we have just what you need: Schedule 1: All cheats in the list – How to open the console

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

HandOfBlood comments on his team’s defeat in LoL on Twitch and it’s really entertaining

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The German streamer HandOfBlood did the same thing on April 2 as the most successful streamer on Twitch, Caedrel. He comments on the games of his own team in League of Legends. And the fans love it. In the last game in LoL, on April 2, against the team of the drugstore chain Rossmann, HandOfBlood was once again on fire.

This is what the biggest streamer on Twitch does: The Brit Caedrel formed his own team in LoL at the end of 2024 and has been training the team ever since. He is the founder and coach, also taking care of the management.

With his team “Los Ratones”, Caedrel is hugely successful – both in sports and as a content creator on Twitch. Los Ratones have won their regional league, and Caedrel has risen to become the most successful streamer on Twitch worldwide. In the last 90 days, when Caedrel streams, he had 44,000 viewers. And he streams a lot.

Caedrel even won the European Championship with his team in LoL and is aiming for the World Championship, although that is somewhat delusional.

Start video
Everything you need to know about the LoL team Eintracht Spandau – in 4 minutes

HandOfBlood cheers on his team

This is what HandOfBlood is doing now: HandOfBlood currently does something very similar on Twitch at least a few hours per week. Although he is actually the pioneer and Caedrel the imitator – just as the German team NNO was the pioneer for the wave that is now conquering LoL and Twitch.

Because HandOfBlood, the streamer, founded his team in League of Legends, Eintracht Spandau, years ago, and won the European Championship a year before Caedrel.

HandOfBlood casts the games of his team in the German regional league on his channel, but not in his content role as President Knabe, but as an excited hardcore fan of his team.

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Sportingly unsuccessful, but damn entertaining

This is how it is going for HandOfBlood: Currently, Eintracht Spandau is not doing well at all. In the first split, the team finished last, on April 2 they lost to the team of the drugstore chain Rossmann, the Rossmann Centaurs, and stand again at 1-4 at the bottom of the table, in 8th place out of 10.

But for HandOfBlood as a content creator, things are going well: On April 2, a peak of 11,000 people watched him and his team.

HandOfBlood casts together with Kevin Westphal, the e-sports lead of Eintracht Spandau, and is fully engaged.

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This is how HandOfBlood cheered on his own player when the opponent was about to escape, saying “Break both his legs,” quickly adding, when he realized what he had said, an “ingame.”

The most viewed clip from the match was when the much-vaunted ADC Broeki from content videos had his glorious moment: You can rely on the guy.

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Even though HandOfBlood only reaches a quarter of Caedrel’s viewers and the sporting success is not quite there, the entertainment is definitely top-notch: NoWay wants to wobble the opponent into the water at an event, ends up bathing himself

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

One of the major MMORPGs on Steam reveals its roadmap until summer

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

In the MMORPG Lost Ark, the developers have presented their roadmap. They reveal what players can expect until summer. The community is surprised.

Which MMORPG is it about? The Amazon MMORPG Lost Ark has been considered one of the major MMORPGs on Steam (via SteamDB) since its release in 2022 in the West. Lost Ark was released in Korea in 2018, which allowed the developers to deliver many updates with new content quickly over the past 3 years to keep players motivated in the long run.

This pace was too fast for many fans at times, forcing the developers to slow down so as not to overwhelm the players. Now the Western version is getting closer to the Korean version. With the new roadmap, the developers are allowing their players some relaxation and are reducing the pace a bit.

Here you can watch an exciting live-action trailer for Lost Ark:

Start video
Lost Ark Live-Action Trailer

New Raid? Later – The content in April, May, and June in Lost Ark

What are the developers presenting? The developers have presented a roadmap for the months of April, May, and June. In April and May, no new raid will be released. The next new one will follow in June. Until then, players have time to prepare or take a break.

April 2025: In April, the focus of Lost Ark is on two major progression events. The Abyssal Storm and the Path to Act 3 event are meant to help equip players for upcoming challenges. Additionally, there will be a base build update with balance changes, better rewards, and new quality-of-life features. The new “Roses & Frost” Ark pass brings free and paid rewards, including an exclusive skin set, a companion, and a mount.

May 2025: In May, a new continent called Rimeria will be unlocked. The home of the Yoz offers a new story, an adventure folio, relationship NPCs, and numerous side quests and rewards for players from item level (IL) 1700+. Furthermore, there is a new challenge: The Front of Kurzan Operation.

In addition, a new dice class and a new guardian raid against the boss Drextalas will be introduced. The chaos portals and fate embers will also receive updates. Here, there are better loot chances. Two weeks after the May update, the Kazeros Raid Act 3 will start. Fans can also look forward to brand new K-Pop skins.

June 2025: The Kazeros Raid Act 3 will challenge players in June in an 8-man raid. In normal (IL 1680) and hard mode (IL 1700), familiar and new foes such as Thaemine, Chaos Guardian Naitreya, and Mordum must be defeated. Rewards include Thunderstrike Horns, Thunder Orbs for item level increase, relic engraving books, and a new mount with wings.

After the Kazeros Raid Act 3, a post-quest will follow at the end of June. Additionally, exclusive western skins will be released featuring a mount inspired by Horus and a desert lizard companion. The new island Yornujan can also be traveled to. Here, players can support young Yoz warriors in training, complete new quests, and secure coveted island hearts. The complete roadmap in English can be found at playlostark.com.

“A good time to take a break”

How are fans reacting to the update? With no new raid and only a few other new contents until June, many players are looking forward to some relaxation. Some are even planning to take a break:

  • Babid922 writes: “This is a good time to take a break. Maybe play once a week and relax. Hardcore players can continue grinding. It will be nice to just make some gold and relax a bit” (via Reddit)
  • -MaraSov- on Reddit: “Honestly, I don’t see a problem with it. Having more free time helps me to work on my character stress-free.”
  • Realshotgg is happy: “I just reached [Note: item level] 1700 on my main character, it will be nice to relax for a while instead of pushing like a rabid dog.” (via Reddit)
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While MMORPG Lost Ark struggles with weak numbers, the developers announce the potential successor
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Amazon’s MMORPG has only 1 percent of its players left, responds to the case with … a new subscription
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The announced roadmap for Lost Ark seems to suit players well, as the MMORPG is known for a lot of grinding. That fans can now also take a break seems to be a welcome change that gamers are happy to accept. The bots in the MMORPG, however, will probably not take a break: Amazon’s MMORPG has been battling bots for years, now giving first-time offenders a kind of free pass – the community is furious

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

Call of Duty brings back a legendary weapon, but you’ll have to level a rifle that you ignored for 5 months

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, you can now unlock the Grau 5.56, but you need to level up another weapon to get the feared rifle.

Which legendary weapon is it about? If you played Warzone in 2020 and went hunting for kills in Verdansk, you probably encountered a legendary weapon regularly: the Grau 5.56.

The Grau 5.56 was an assault rifle in CoD MW1 (2019) and Warzone, known for its extremely low recoil. The weapon was very stable while shooting and did not require much skill or training to control. Additionally, the iron sight of the Grau was very popular because it did not take up much of your field of view, for example.

Start video
The BlackCell Battle Pass in Season 3 of CoD: Black Ops 6 in the Trailer

An ignored weapon brings the Grau back

This is how the Grau returns: The DMR “SWAT 5.56” will be remodeled with the start of Season 3, turning the semi-automatic rifle into the fully automatic Grau.

You can unlock this remodel as a fire modification on page 5 of the free Season 3 Battle Pass and then equip it at weapon level 48 in your attachments.

The SWAT 5.56 did not play a significant role in the meta of Black Ops 6 and Warzone in Seasons 1 and 2 and was largely ignored by players. Instead, fully automatic assault rifles like the XM4 or the AMES-85 were popular for medium to long-range fights.

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What does the remodel change? The SWAT 5.56 shoots fully automatically with the Grau remodel instead of semi-automatically, but it has reduced range and deals less damage than in the standard version of the DMR. To compensate, the remodel improves the weapon’s precision, mobility, and handling.

Additionally, there is an exclusive magazine extension that the SWAT does not have in its standard form. In return, all barrel attachments are blocked in the Grau remodel.

So the SWAT should play significantly differently with the Grau remodel than in its standard form.

The servers of Call of Duty: Warzone are scheduled to be offline until April 3 at 6:00 PM for the start of Season 3. We will inform you about the current server status of Warzone on MeinMMO: CoD Warzone is down today – status and expected return of the servers in the live ticker

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

Player with 12,000 hours of playtime writes a negative review of Destiny 2 on Steam

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The online shooter Destiny 2 arrived on Steam in 2019. A player spent 12,000 hours with the game on Steam before deciding to write a review. It is negative. He calls the game just a shadow of its former self.

How long has Destiny 2 been on Steam? Destiny 2 was released in September 2017, but only arrived on Steam on October 1, 2019. There were two reasons for this:

The PC version of Destiny did not come until October 2017, developed by a different studio than Bungie. Destiny 1 was only available for PlayStation and Xbox. Players had to wait quite a while for the PC version of Destiny 2.

From 2017 to October 2019, Destiny could only be played through Battle.net and was not on Steam yet, as Bungie was still partnered with Activision Blizzard at that time.

Destiny 2 has now been on Steam for about 48,269 hours – and users on Steam have spent an incredible amount of time with the shooter. Many people writing a Steam review have well over 1,000 hours.

Start video
Destiny 2: Launch trailer for the new episode Heresy

Steam user settles accounts with Destiny 2 after 12,000 hours

This is what the user says: The player “Korvo” spent exactly 12,000 hours with Destiny 2 when he wrote his negative review on March 18 (via store.steampowered.com). He has achieved all 23 achievements in Destiny 2 on Steam, which is not particularly hard.

Korvo writes: The game has great graphics, a good story, and the combat and movement are great – at least up to a certain point. But Destiny 2 is just a shadow of its former self.

The player criticizes:

  • The game is too heavily influenced by microtransactions, which are already predatory.
  • The content has become so thin that it is only worth a fraction of what Bungie charges for it.
  • For an AAA game, Destiny 2 is so buggy that it’s a shame. If a bug appears that is fun, Bungie fixes it immediately. A bug that hinders players would receive far less attention.
  • Destiny 2 also has the worst PvP he has ever seen in a game.

This is his final point of criticism:

And then there’s the ridiculous price for DLCs. They are charging AAA launch prices for each expansion and still insist on using P2P (peer-to-peer) connections – which, for those who don’t know, is the same type of connection used for downloading “.torrent” files. Don’t get me wrong, I think P2P connections are brilliant and extremely useful, but they are absolutely terrible for an FPS game where you need perfect reaction time. With the insane amounts of money this game takes from players, the least Bungie could do is provide dedicated servers. Especially for such a well-known and beloved franchise.

Ultimately, the player says after 12,000 hours he can finally say goodbye to the game. He feels sorry for the writers, for him, the lore and the story of Destiny have always been the best part. But the writers, the true soul of Destiny, have wasted their time with the game.

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Are there also positive voices? A player with 2,800 hours says: He keeps coming back to Destiny 2. It’s more than a game; it’s an addiction wrapped in space magic.

A player with 1,900 hours says: He doesn’t even know how he could spend so much time with Destiny. The gameplay loop captivates and becomes addictive. Those who enjoy gameplay can hardly stop playing Destiny.

A player with 1,575 hours says: Destiny is at its core an unparalleled experience. Despite all the problems such as layoffs at Bungie and predatory microtransactions, the game still feels fantastic.

We at MeinMMO have been following Destiny since its release in 2014 and have gone through many ups and downs with the game:All DLCs of Destiny 2 ranked: From touching continuation to waste of time

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

Tekken 8 has caused so much commotion that professional players want to quit while the game sinks on Steam

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Tekken 8 was actually a pretty popular game at its release in 2024. The fighting game had good sales and many fans of the series were satisfied. Over time, however, a certain frustration grew, which has now reached its peak with Season 2. Both players and professionals are extremely dissatisfied.

What is the problem with Tekken 8? Tekken 8 is a fast-paced, aggressive fighting game. With the new Heat Moves, many characters can exert strong pressure and, more importantly, cause enormous damage with small combos.

This was already the case at release, but over time a certain frustration grew because some characters were weaker than others due to the aggressive meta. Even professionals like Arslan Ash (multiple EVO Champion, the most prestigious title in the fighting game scene) expressed negative opinions about Tekken 8 in 2024 and the focus on Heat Moves (via x.com).

Many players eagerly awaited Season 2 and the balancing changes that were supposed to come with it. However, the season is not going well at all. Players are disappointed, and some professionals are even considering quitting Tekken 8.

Start video
Tekken 8 Gameplay – Game Awards Trailer

Even more offensive options and frustrated professionals

What has changed with Season 2? Many players hoped that the update would fix the game’s problems, but the opposite of what many players wanted happened. Every character received new moves, but this brought the offensive back into focus.

Defensive options were hardly added, making the aggressive focus even more pronounced. Additionally, more 50/50 mechanics were implemented. These are situations where one has to guess what will happen to win. This naturally leads to frustration.

On top of that, bugs were introduced into the game, for example, attacks that cannot be blocked or evaded.

How does the community react? In the general player base on Steam, the update is not well received at all. On Steam, the game currently sits at Extremely Negative for recent reviews. For all reviews, it is only Mixed.

Professionals are also dissatisfied with the update. Arslan Ash posted on x.com: After playing Season 2, I have to say we were ungrateful for Season 1. The American player Tone expressed sadness on x.com and hopes that the game can still turn around. He is even considering quitting playing Tekken 8.

Other players like eclipse (via x.com) are already talking about streaming all day instead.

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The future will show whether the game can recover and regain the favor of players and professionals. After all, the game is among the most popular fighting games of recent years, along with Street Fighter 6. The anticipation of MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was high: My Game of the Year 2024 is coming out next week and reminds me of how I used to virtually fight with my grandma

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3DJuegos
  2. Tekken 8 Patch Notes

Players discuss whether being OP in Diablo 4 is too fast, enviously looking at Path of Exile 2

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

For many, the ultimate goal in Diablo 4 is to be overpowered, to take down everything and to shred bosses in seconds. However, some feel that it goes too fast and that the journey there has little meaning.

Reaching the endgame of Diablo 4 and achieving the maximum level of 60 takes many only a few days – or even hours. After that, it’s about optimizing the gear to take down the toughest bosses on the Torment levels. Some builds are so powerful that players can take down bosses with a single hit. In the current Season 7, the Blood Wave Necromancers, for example, manage to mow down bosses in seconds. This is partly due to the new unique leg guard “Kessim’s Legacy”.

You can see the level and difficulty system of Diablo 4 in the video:

Start video
Diablo 4 shows the new level system and difficulty levels in the video

“The problem is not being OP, but how to become OP”

This is the criticism: On Reddit, user yxalitis criticizes that the power jumps after level 60 are too extreme. As soon as the Paragon Board is unlocked and GA items (items with larger affixes) come into the game, progression explodes. The torment bosses almost fall over by themselves.

He compares it to Path of Exile 2, where there are also overpowered builds – but the way there is a long, demanding process. You can feel in every act how the character becomes stronger, while in Diablo 4, progression often happens in large jumps. His conclusion: “Becoming overpowered is okay – but the journey there should be the actual goal.”

Regarding the torment bosses and their lifespan, user PeterKB shows in a video on Reddit that his fight against Varshan takes about two minutes. For him, that’s the perfect balance. It sounds short, but many can simply oneshot Varshan. His opinion: “Many will disagree with me, but for me, this power level is ideal for enjoying boss battles.”

Diablo 4 is particularly worthwhile for players with little time

What do other players say about it? The video post gathered over 400 upvotes – so there is agreement. However, some point out: The time may be ideal for a single fight, but anyone doing hundreds of runs for targeted farming of uniques and mythic uniques at the bosses probably wishes for a different dynamic.

In the comments, kestononline writes specifically:

I agree that 2–3 minutes for an average boss fight in an ARPG is ideal. It feels good. The problem is that these bosses are also used for targeted farming, not just for the fun of the fight itself. […] If bosses always dropped a certain item, then maybe. […] But that’s just not how Diablo 4 works.

About 100 people agree with yxalitis’s post in the form of upvotes. However, there are some users who play Diablo 4 precisely for the fast progression. For example, mr_w_ writes that he has little time and enjoys quickly becoming stronger in Diablo 4 for precisely that reason. “That’s why it’s good that Diablo 4 and PoE 2 exist side by side,” he finds. And Titansdragon says: Those who want slow progression and deeper systems should play PoE.

Room_Ferreira also emphasizes that his time budget is the main reason he plays Diablo 4: “I have two children and I might play a few hours a week. […] Even if [Path of Exile 2] would appeal to me, I simply wouldn’t have enough time to get beyond mere leveling.” Many appreciate that they can quickly become stronger in Diablo 4 without having to invest countless hours first.

Others praise that the game is tailored to casuals. Shadowfury22 comments: “If Blizzard wants players to come back every season, then it must not become too grindy.” After all, most players are casual gamers – and they don’t want to deal with endless effort.

More about Diablo 4:
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How it continues in Season 8 remains to be seen. Blizzard has already announced that the endgame will become harder. Only the top 10% of players should even manage to reach Torment Level 4. There, you should no longer be able to oneshot bosses – if you even make it to that level. On top of that, there will be a new boss, Belial, who is supposed to challenge you significantly.

The accessibility of Diablo 4 is a topic of ongoing discussion. Many see the ARPG as the perfect after-work game – jump in, take down a few monsters, and unwind without having to think too much. Others wish for a greater challenge. But this is where many see the big advantage: Diablo 4 offers a relaxed gaming experience that casuals can enjoy as well.

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

7 evil Jokers who made Batman’s life difficult

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 5 minutes

Few villains are as iconic as Batman’s Joker. In the many stories of the comics, the Clown Prince has been given some absurd variants that are much crazier than what you would expect from the movies. MyMMO presents 7 absurd versions of the Joker.

How was this list created? Comic universes are not as consistent as one would expect from movies. Often, stories break canon with reinterpretations, multiverses, or simply absurd characters.

Like Batman, the Joker has had countless interpretations over time which are much crazier than what one is used to from the big screen.

However, this list is not about the different actors; we have ranked them in a previous list: The 8 best portrayals of the Joker ranked – Who is the most impressive villain of Batman?

If your favorite version is missing, feel free to let us know in the comments.

1. Hyena

First appearance: Legends of the Dark Claw No.1 (1996)

Start video
X-Men 97 – Trailer for the new animated series on Disney+

In the movies and animated series of the X-Men, Sabretooth has made several appearances.

Who is Hyena? There is the so-called Amalgam Universe. Here, heroes and villains exist that are a mix of various heroes from DC and Marvel. Hyena is a mix of Sabretooth and the Joker, therefore also the arch-nemesis of Dark Claw, a variant of Wolverine merged with Batman.

The two characteristics of the villains fit well together because Creed Quinn combines the obsession of both villains with their heroic adversaries. Additionally, Creed Quinn has a gang. However, he does not look very elegant. He is basically Sabretooth but with green mohawk and white hair. The danger of this version is the unpredictability with Sabretooth’s abilities.

Among these abilities are superhuman speed, endurance and strength, enhanced senses, slowed aging, claws, and regeneration (DC Database).

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. whatculture.com
  2. screenrant.com
  3. WatchMojo auf YouTube
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That’s why the pricing model of the Nintendo Switch 2 is even worse than you think

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 4 minutes

Finally, there is concrete information about the Switch 2, although with quite a few caveats, as slowly becomes apparent after the Direct. Sometimes, Nintendo increases the costs for games significantly, but that is not the only downside of the new pricing model.

What happened? On April 2, 2025, Nintendo streamed a comprehensive Direct (via Youtube) about the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to the Nintendo Switch. The console was showcased intensively, new features were presented, and initial games were announced.

In addition to the new mouse feature of the Joy-Cons, the new chat, and the release date, the pre-orders were also announced. Particularly noteworthy, aside from the new price for the console, are the costs for the new games: We knew that a car game would raise prices in gaming for everyone: But it’s not GTA 6, it’s the damn Mario Kart

Following the Direct, several other issues also came to light that make the increased prices even worse.

Here you can watch the aforementioned Mario Kart World in the trailer:

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Mario Kart World – Reveal Trailer

Download despite physical version and 20 Euros more per game

Digital games cost 20 Euros more: One first sticking point is that digital games for the Switch 2 are already more expensive. The new Mario Kart World costs 79.99 Euros digitally, which is 20 Euros more than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch (via Nintendo).

Even more expensive physically: The physical version of the game costs another 10 Euros more, namely 89.99 Euros.

On Nintendo’s website, the prices of digital games cannot currently be viewed, however, all physical versions of, for example, Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Super Mario Party Jamboree according to the listings at MediaMarkt and Saturn at the time of this news also cost 79.99 Euros each.

This is cheaper than the physical Mario Kart World, but still more expensive than standard AAA Switch 1 games.

Download despite physical version: The next sticking point is that despite physical games now costing more and Nintendo promoting the increased read speed of their cartridges, some of them still cannot be obtained physically. According to the American support page, there will be games that will be delivered on game key cards.

This means that games must be downloaded from the internet even if a physical version has been purchased. For this, an account in the online shop is probably required. According to Nintendo, the cartridge still needs to be inserted for the game to run.

It is currently unclear whether all games are affected: Box art from, for example, the American version of Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster (via Walmart) clearly indicates that a download is needed. However, the American version of Mario Kart World (via Walmart) does not specify this.

More about the Switch 2
The gaming industry is shaken by layoffs, but Nintendo defies the crisis
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Is RAM too expensive for you? Here are 5 alternatives to game without an expensive gaming PC
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Experts say: Nintendo is bringing new Switch 2 especially for Europe, has a decisive advantage
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Annoying individually, but bad in combination

MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß states: It has long been suspected that at the latest with GTA 6 prices for video games would skyrocket. This is also addressed by MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos in his news about the new price of Mario Kart World.

However, it is new that the physical version of the games is more expensive than the digital one. And particularly troubling is that due to the at least partially required downloads, sharing or even passing on these games becomes impossible:

Yes, those who are part of a family plan via Nintendo Online can share games with other members under strict conditions. But even physical games with download become firmly tied to a Nintendo account.

One cannot simply lend, sell, or gift a game purchased in stores anymore. The system, as promoted by PlayStation during PS4 times (via Youtube), is no longer possible. You not only pay more but are tied to a physical game just like to a digital one.

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Nintendo presents the Switch 2 in the overview trailer and shows the comparison to its predecessor

Of course: PlayStation has, for example, games that now only come with a download code in their box. However, it is worth waiting for sales in the shop for PS4 and PS5. Even AAA games are often discounted by 75% or more.

Yes, Nintendo also holds sales. However, especially the popular first-party games are rarely discounted, often not at all. The 2017 released The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, for example, still costs 69.99 Euros (via Nintendo Shop) and was at least 48.99 Euros expensive according to price trackers Deku Deals and PS Prices all the time.

Especially with Nintendo, the trade in physical editions is flourishing accordingly. This could radically change with the download requirement for physical games and could give a boost to emulator developers and product pirates.

And on top of that, there are still players in 2025 who have poor or no internet access. Playing a game with a 50-gigabyte download is no fun if it regularly crashes or takes over 24 hours. Sometimes you just want to plug in the game, install it, and start playing.

Individually, the changes to Nintendo’s pricing policy are annoying but not a deal-breaker. However, the combination of the various factors turns individual annoyances into a major issue.

Currently, the new Mario Kart World is the game with the highest known price. Perhaps this is why it is the first Switch 2 bundle: Without the game, the Switch 2 costs 469.99 Euros, with it 509.99 Euros. The additional price for Mario Kart World digitally is therefore 40 Euros. The perhaps cheapest version in which the game will ever be available.

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You should get used to not owning your games, says a representative of Ubisoft
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Of course, not everything about the Nintendo Switch 2 is bad. Especially the new Joy-Con features are super exciting. The announced game catalog includes some AAA games from recent years as well as of course new Nintendo titles. If you want to read what has been announced, you can consult our live ticker for the Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 on the Direct: Everything you missed at the event

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

First, the MMORPG for The Lord of the Rings has received modern servers, now there is the next reason to rejoice

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

One of the leads from the team of Lord of the Rings Online has reached out to the community to present the plans for the upcoming content of the MMORPG.

What are these plans? Lead Systems Designer Orion gives an outlook on what fans of Lord of the Rings Online can look forward to in the next 6 months. The focus is first on Update 44, which is scheduled to be released in April. The next content patch will bring:

  • new story quests and missions for level 150 characters
  • new 6-player instance
  • the anniversary event, which will introduce new missions that scale from level 20 to level 150, be available for exploration, and offer fresh rewards
  • the overhaul and expansion of Lalias Market
  • the expansion of the VIP-exclusive “Special Status” feature of the reputation system to almost all areas of LotRO (through the “Special Status” feature, twinks can earn reputation faster with the reputation factions, provided that one of the account’s characters already enjoys a higher reputation with the faction)

The originally announced release of a new raid instance for Update 44 is being postponed, as it took too long to bring the current raid “Temple of Utug-bûr” live.

The trailer for the current expansion of Lord of the Rings Online:

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Lord of the Rings Online: Trailer for Morgoth’s Legacy Prepares You for the New Expansion

Love for the Kinships – it takes time

What else is planned for 2025? With Update 45, the third content update of the year will land on the live servers in the 3rd quarter. More details are expected in June. It’s already clear that the following innovations are coming:

  • Class updates for Rogue and Hunter
  • Updates for the hobbies Fishing and Birdwatching
  • Harvest Festival update
  • Expansion of the Monster Play (reward track and siege integration)

Finally, Orion confirmed once again that a major expansion is set to be released in the 4th quarter, which will raise your maximum level to 160, introduce four new zones, and bring challenges such as a new raid.

Lord of the Rings Online: Roadmap 2025
The current version of the 2025 roadmap for LotRO.

According to Orion, the developers have even more features on their agenda for mid-year, but they want to announce them only when it’s clear they will be finished on time. It is unlikely that the long-desired adjustment of the kinship system will be included.

In a separate section of his letter, the lead developer explains that they want to continue modernizing the kinship system with a progress feature, deeds, banks, calendars, and more. However, they must ensure that the resulting data volume does not negatively impact the MMORPG’s performance. This will likely take some time.

More about Lord of the Rings Online:
The 12 Best Free-to-play MMORPGs 2026 in Comparison
von Schuhmann
With a bit of luck, you might soon be able to play the largest new MMORPG 2026 on PC
von Karsten Scholz

What has happened recently in LotRO? The developers have provided the MMORPG classic with new 64-bit servers, which are even located in … hold on … Europe for the European area. During the relocation phase, the demand for the servers was so great that it resulted in frustrating delays and problems. More information on this can be found here: The rush on the new worlds of the MMORPG Lord of the Rings is so great that the developers are stepping up

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

One of the largest MMOs on Steam is now launching its own e-sport and offering prizes

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

Esports is in crisis. Teams are closing, prize money for games like DOTA 2 is decreasing, and in League of Legends they are coming up with new tricks to entertain viewers. One of the biggest MMOs on Steam, the military MMO War Thunder (Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox) now wants to take off with esports.

This is the announcement of War Thunder: The military MMO announced that they are planning a “Champion Series” consisting of 4 tournaments in 2025.

The events will last 8 days each and will take place in a “Double-Elimination” format. There will be tournaments where players drive tanks, where they fight in planes against each other, and tournaments where they do both.

The grand finale is set to take place over 3 weeks in November and December, bringing together all formats.

War Thunder has always been the military MMO known for its realistic air battles:

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War Thunder: The trailer for the new update ‘Dance of Dragons’

War Thunder attracts with cosmetic items and €15,000

What is there to win? The developers present their concept for the new way esports should run on a website (via warthunder).

The prizes are mostly cosmetic items; at the finals, there will be a prize pool of €15,000 and the chance to create your own skin, like League of Legends does.

The entire league is also set to be shown on Twitch, even with channels in German. Twitch Drops will also be contributed. Twitch Drops have proven to be a good way to engage players with a game while making it attractive for streamers to stream War Thunder.

Especially in Germany, Twitch streamers would surely appreciate more viewers: The game is ranked 1,101 in viewership. The biggest streamer in Germany for War Thunder is “MarkushatdieGangsgestohlen” with an average of 150 viewers.

War Thunder has been a dominant MMO on Steam for years

How big is War Thunder on Steam? War Thunder is one of the enduring titles on Steam. The game recently peaked at 106,391 players. They have maintained this relatively high level for years, consistently having peak player counts over 60,000 each month since July 2022.

Currently, War Thunder is the largest MMO on the PC platform, behind Rust and ahead of Delta Force and DayZ.

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What’s behind it: It’s nice to see that in the “esports winter” a game is also investing in esports.

But it is clear that with a prize pool of €15,000, they will not establish a professional scene like other games have. War Thunder seems to be primarily concerned with stronger viewer participation with Twitch Drops: YouTuber buys their own team in Valorant for €470,000 in the middle of esports winter – Watch how they go under

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

My favorite game of 2025 is set, and it has absolutely nothing to do with GTA 6

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 3 minutes

Yes, we all can’t wait for GTA 6. But this year, a few other games are also coming out. And MeinMMO author Max Handwerk can hardly wait for one of them: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.

Of course, the big release this year is GTA 6. Everyone is looking forward to it, everyone is waiting for the release, no question. Or at least for a new trailer. But the waiting continues. In the meantime, other games are releasing new trailers. And the latest one for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 does a lot right. So much so that I almost believe: This will be my favorite game of 2025.

I must say: Tony Hawk games are just my games. I love this series, whether it’s the Pro Skater and Underground games, or something like American Wasteland (and we’ll just sweep Tony Hawk: Shred under the rug).

That’s why I was extremely hyped when “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2” released in 2020 as a remake of the old parts with beautiful graphics, great physics, and perfect sounds. What a fantastic journey into the past – and, I hoped back then, also a promise for the future.

But shortly after, things suddenly didn’t look good: Developer Vicarious Visions landed at Blizzard and worked on other projects. It seemed as if the new Tony Hawk era was gone after just one perfect remake. Until 2025, it was announced out of nowhere that Pro Skater 3 + 4 is indeed coming out because developer Iron Galaxy took over the project and Activision is publishing the sequel. So the hype train is rolling again.

But: I actually wanted to talk about the latest trailer. It comes from the Nintendo Direct for Switch 2, for which the game will also be released, and looks like this:

Start video
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is also coming to Switch 2

Tony Hawk is back, and a brief moment in the trailer shows: This is going to be good

What does the trailer show? Let’s keep it short: Everything I wish for from a Tony Hawk game. The game apparently picks up exactly where the last remake left off.

  • The skate physics are spot on, everything looks as good as usual.
  • The sounds are reminiscent of “back then”. A skateboard sliding over a rail or scraping the ground during a revert – these sounds have ingrained themselves in my brain 20 years ago and seem to be back here as well.
  • The levels look damn good. Places like the cruise ship, the foundry, Tokyo – I can hardly wait to skate through them again.

However, we had already seen that much in the last footage released for the game. But this new trailer included a special gem: The last two seconds.

There we see Skate Island and a jump that aims for a lifebuoy in the sea. The skater flies through, and we see “A few moments later” – only to continue underwater with Squidward Tentacles’ house on the horizon. It seems there’s a little secret area in Bikini Bottom.

I’m not really concerned that we apparently have a Spongebob reference here, but that such nonsense is actually being done. Because that’s what characterized the earlier Tony Hawk games: Here a joke, there a secret, over there a small room that you had to unlock through unnecessarily complicated means – great!

I mean, back in the day, you could zoom around the cruise ship with Darth Maul and use the Force to spin your skateboard to beat the high score. The new remake doesn’t seem to shy away from such crazy ideas either. Skating through Bikini Bottom with Tony Hawk is just bizarre – but in a good way. Let’s see what else is to come!

Who is writing here? Max Handwerk has been an author at MeinMMO since 2018 and mainly writes about Pokémon topics, but also about the FIFA / FC series and other games. He has been passionate about the Tony Hawk games since childhood, and that will probably stay that way.
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I should have only tested the Tony Hawk multiplayer, but I couldn’t stop anymore
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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is running online – Hopefully I wasn’t a noob all these years
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A game publisher is the only one unafraid of GTA 6, wants to release a game on the same day, at the same time
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In any case, I’m incredibly excited. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is coming out in July. So I should have a few months to fully enjoy the game before GTA 6 comes out. Because, of course, I’m looking forward to that as well. But in terms of favorite games, THPS will really set the bar high. Now I just hope it meets expectations. What games are you looking forward to this year? Share in the comments! And if you’d rather read something about GTA 6: This is how other publishers are dealing with the release of GTA 6.

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