Since March 28, 2025, inZOI is playable on Steam. The life simulation is a more realistic alternative to The Sims and allows players to create all kinds of characters and customize the world. And as is often the case on the internet, all sorts of nonsense comes out of it.
inZOI: The new trailer for the Early Access of the life simulation on Steam
This is possible in inZOI: A highly detailed character editor is now a common standard especially in Asian games. No wonder: some people spend several hours in character creation.
inZOI is no exception. Players use the editor to create all sorts of stuff and embody different characters in the game. In a post on Reddit, there are numerous prominent examples, such as:
Walter White aka Heisenberg from Breaking Bad
Waluigi, who is getting a proper beating
Shrek. Because Shrek.
Characters with… questionable motives on their clothing
Among the motives that players are currently recreating in inZOI are, of course, memes. Among the best known is Carl Johnson from GTA: San Andreas, as he is harassed by police right after starting the game (via Reddit).
Another player uses his creative freedom to recreate Peter Griffin from Family Guy dancing to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga, with colorful hearts and light effects in the background. Why? Just because.
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At the moment, inZOI is still in early access and only offers a portion of the features that will be available in the finished game. The freedoms that are possible in inZOI are nevertheless receiving great praise and seem to be a reason for many to already love the game, despite its initial problems.
A new trailer for a fighting game announces the collaboration with Cristiano Ronaldo. In the current video, you can see how the star delivers blows to his opponents with his football moves.
What kind of game is this? FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves is a new fighting game, officially set to release on April 24, 2025. The game will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PS4.
The Fatal Fury series developed by SNK was considered one of the pioneers of fighting games in the early 90s alongside classics like Tekken and Street Fighter. 26 years after the last game in the series, the comeback will take place in April 2025.
What role does Cristiano Ronaldo play? Cristiano Ronaldo is the first prominent newcomer among the new fighters and brings excitement to the game. You can see the first impressions of his fighting skills in the video:
Start video
Neues Kampfspiel FATAL FURY: CotW zeigt Cristiano Ronaldo als Kämpfer
Cristiano Ronaldo delivers powerful kicks and shoots power balls
How does Ronaldo fight? Ronaldo appears quite pumped as a fighter in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves. The football star fights as a muscular giant in the classic Portugal jersey with his number 7, wearing shorts, socks, and sports shoes.
His strengths seem to be various kick combinations, as one would expect from a footballer. With these, you can lift your opponents into the air and prepare for more kick combos.
Power balls as special moves? Two special abilities might also have been hinted at in the short trailer. With one ability, you juggle a red power ball and then shoot it at your opponent’s face, causing them damage.
Another move shows how you hurl a blue power ball at your opponent after performing multiple spins. The impact even catapults your enemy into the air.
Victories will, of course, be celebrated with the famous “Siuuu celebration” to further humiliate the opponent.
Actually, WoW Classic should be a nostalgic journey for fans of the MMORPG. However, particularly in the raid area, players have settled in early who are only interested in one thing: performance. The Classic idea is being lost, especially found by veterans.
What do “elite” raiders need?
In WoW Classic there are various buffs that make it easier for you to get through raids. Some of the most important are potions and world buffs like the Call of Arms of the Dragon Slayer.
To make such buffs more accessible, Blizzard has already introduced ways to save world buffs. However, all of this comes with a lot of time investment.
Meanwhile, it has become a “must” even in public groups to show up with such buffs. Experienced fans find this ridiculous.
To obtain the buffs, many players invest several hours to farm enough gold or materials. On Reddit, this approach is more met with shaking heads, because all of this is by no means really necessary.
In a meme, a user states: One can invest 6 hours of farming to complete a raid in 2 hours – or do it instead without buffs in 3 hours. Most should be clear about which option costs less time.
Start video
WoW Launches Fresh Classic Realms – The Big Birthday Gift
“I am surprised at how many people want to be in the club”
In the comments, users continue to mock that all of this is just for the “parses”, meaning: to rank as high as possible in lists like Warcraft Logs to be able to brag about their performance.
Others point out that they only want to get through quickly to master all raids during the duration of the buffs. No one really takes the time anymore; everything just has to be fast.
However, with the ambition comes a big problem: buying gold. Not every player has the time to farm gold and therefore resorts to unauthorized methods, such as buying gold from bots. Bots have been a problem in WoW Classic for a long time, and Blizzard is diligently distributing bans – even if some players label it as a “break”, some suspect otherwise.
But where does the idea actually come from? Ambitious players and professionals use every tiny advantage to be at the top of logs and rankings. They play just to be number 1 – or to get as close to that as possible. Some “casuals” apparently think they need to emulate all the well-known big players.
In the past, WoW was new and boss mechanics unknown; many players had to learn their classes first. Today there are addons, guides, and plenty of experienced players to make almost any fight from back then trivial. Squeezing out every small percentage of performance is simply not necessary for a kill anymore.
This, however, is not the only reason. MeinMMO editor, MMORPG expert, and WoW veteran Karsten Scholz says:
With the time-consuming farming of potions and world buffs, it’s not necessarily about saving time in the raid itself. It’s about the power fantasy you live out when 40 fully buffed heroes of Azeroth pulverize an instance like the Molten Core or the Blackwing Lair in no time. And it’s about finding out how fast and efficiently you can be in the next run, perhaps also compared to other guilds.
According to many users, taking several hours for a raid isn’t realistic anyway. Raids are relatively easy in WoW Classic today and so simple that players don’t even have to reach the maximum level to master them. Where bosses used to withstand for several weeks, they today fall within days or even hours: The best players are through in 24 hours with what used to take 6 weeks
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is supposed to save humans from work. However, for some time now, especially artists have been fearing for their future and are receiving support from fans. AI is said to be capable of imitating voice actors – but nobody would be satisfied with that.
Who is the voice?
Jennifer Hale is one of the most famous female voices in gaming. Her most well-known role is probably that of the female Commander Shepard from Mass Effect.
In the future, you might hear Hale in many more games, without her being able to do anything about it. At least, that’s what the voice actress fears.
This is what Jennifer Hale says: In a short video, Hale addresses her colleagues (via X). She warns against artificial intelligence and explains that it is powerful enough to copy her voice. Her consent is not necessary for that.
The fear is shared by many artists, especially authors have already opposed AI. However, Hale goes further and says: Most developers don’t want such things at all. One should ask where the money goes that is saved by using AI.
According to the voice actress, all of that flows into the bonuses and pockets of investors, meaning to the top positions. This not only deprives the artists of their money, but the methodology also threatens everyone else:
We artists are just the canaries in the coal mine. This greed for money will come for all of us. Let us stand together and say: No, thank you.
The fears about job loss have already reached Germany. A number of German voice actors, including the voices of Spongebob and of Lilith from Diablo 4, called in a new video from March to protect “artistic and not artificial intelligence” (via YouTube). They apparently have the support of fans.
Start video
Mass Effect 5 Teaser Trailer
“I want the REAL Commander Shepard”
Although Hale’s video is already older, it has recently found its way on Reddit again. There, users support the speaker’s statement and say: Voice actors should not be replaced by AI. They don’t want cheap imitations.
It is bad enough to hear a celebrity voice a role without practice. But sacrificing artistic integrity for the sake of money makes everything much worse. Particularly EA is under criticism, as there are fears that a Mass Effect could be created without Hale’s “real” voice.
In the comments, users further explain that even the moral reasons are questionable. In the Power Rangers, content from the original actors is still used, who were poorly paid back then. Some of them have been dead for a long time.
The fact that the topic is becoming a big deal again right now is probably no coincidence. Just a few days ago, art AIs drew attention to themselves again. With new filters, it is now possible to imitate the style of Studio Ghibli, causing a lot of anger: Millions of people watch ChatGPT create images that closely resemble Studio Ghibli
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
BitCraft Online is launching soon on Steam in Early Access. The team at Clockwork Laboratories has not only revealed the date but also details about the monetization.
At the final launch, the online role-playing game will use a free-to-play model. However, those who want to participate in Early Access will have to spend some money, similar to Path of Exile 2. Early access to BitCraft Online is expected to cost $30. Alpha supporters will receive one key for each acquired “Supporter Badge.”
Currently, you can request free access for the ongoing playtest via Steam.
The announcement trailer for BitCraft Online:
Start video
BitCraft – Announcement Trailer
Monetization of BitCraft Online
What else does it cost? For BitCraft Online, the developers offer the premium currency “Hexite Shards,” which will be available through the in-game shop or the website. With these, players should only be able to acquire cosmetic in-game content – such as emotes, banners, titles, statues, or skins.
Players can trade purchased “Hexite Shards” with others, for example, for earned items or coins. The developers are pursuing a strategy of free trading.
Why the purchase price now? The developers explain that they would receive more support from Steam itself if they can benefit from the sales. Additionally, by having a price barrier, they can limit the number of characters rushing to the servers at the start of Early Access – which should help in the further development of the single-world MMORPG.
Moreover, the developers admit that the revenue from Early Access can be very beneficial for finishing and expanding the game. How long the Early Access phase will last is currently unclear. In the FAQ, it states that the developers do not know themselves at the moment.
What do I need to know about BitCraft Online? The Survival MMORPG from Clockwork Laboratories aims to throw all players into a single world where they cooperate to build settlements, establish an economy, and compete for territories.
In doing so, you can work as a craftsman, trader, monster hunter, politician, or something in between. The surface of the world is changeable. The struggle for survival in the world is also supposed to play a role. You can find more details about the game here: New MMORPG looks like Zelda, now allows players to build their own houses
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Diablo 4, the grind doesn’t end with the maximum level – it continues until the Paragon level 300. So far, according to the trophy, only 0.1% of players on PS5 have achieved this. One of them calls himself a “Dad-Casual” – and receives significant backlash from the community for it.
To break Paragon level 300, it takes a lot of time. According to one player, it takes around 180 hours – and the effort is hardly worth it. For his “mental health,” he doesn’t want to go through this journey a second time.
What has the player achieved? Another player proudly showcased his PS5 trophy with the achievement “Devout Champion” on Reddit. To earn the ultra-rare achievement, he had to reach Paragon level 300 in Diablo 4. According to the graphic and psnprofiles.com, only 0.1% of players on PS5 have managed this so far. He describes himself as a “Dad-Casual” – but the community sees it quite differently.
Start video
Tochter löscht alle Diablo 4-Charaktere ihres Vaters
“Level 300 and Casual don’t belong in the same sentence”
This is the discussion: His post sparked a debate about what a casual actually is. The majority agrees: No one who reaches Paragon level 300 can be a casual – it simply requires too much time investment. Casuals are casual gamers who don’t spend hundreds of hours on endgame.
Here are a few comments from the post:
“I feel like it’s impossible to be a ‘Dad-Casual’ and reach level 300.” – Raeandray
“I think people don’t know what ‘casual’ means. He mentioned in a comment below that he played for 3 hours during the week and until 2 AM on weekends.” – citygray
“That’s exactly what I thought. I’m a casual and might play 5 hours in a good week.” – Ill-Life5625
“Bro, you’ve reached Paragon 300 – you are not a casual.” – EarthsfireBT
“Not even close to a ‘Dad-Casual’. That’s total nerd stuff.” – Distruzione
What does the “casual” say about the comments? In the comments, the original poster finally explained that this was precisely his point. Apparently, he was not a casual this season and regrets having used the “label” for himself. After all, he was able to play almost every night – often until 2 AM. Most of the time, he leveled in the dungeon while using different characters and builds. Thanks to the armory, switching has become quite comfortable now.
In the upcoming season, leveling is expected to take longer again – especially at the early levels. Additionally, the ARPG will become overall harder, the dungeon levels more challenging, and the hideout bosses will survive longer. According to Blizzard, one-shots should no longer be possible. Players and experts recently got a glimpse of Season 8 on the PTR and also tested the new seasonal mechanics – the new skills mainly caused raised eyebrows.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With his studio Intrepid, which was specifically founded for the project, millionaire Steven Sharif has been working on the ambitious MMORPG Ashes of Creation for eight years. In an interview, he spoke about the current state, past challenges, and highly anticipated features.
What is the current state of the MMORPG? Currently, Ashes of Creation is in the second phase of Alpha 2, where interested players with access can test the online role-playing game five days a week. Phase 3 is scheduled to start on May 1, 2025, which will ensure a 24/7 deployment of the MMORPG.
In an interview with the well-known MMORPG YouTuber TheLazyPeon, studio head Steven Sharif reveals more details about the status quo (via YouTube).
The team is currently in a central phase of development. The various core systems (70 to 80 percent of the planned core systems and 20 to 30 percent of the content are currently included) are undergoing new iterations at a high speed, and the playable world in the Alpha is gradually expanding.
Of the countless planned node versions, for example, only two are currently available in the Alpha. Once the core functionalities of these are in place and all upgrade levels are included, it will be relatively easy and quick to provide more variants for all node types, races, and biomes.
Almost 250 developers are currently working on Ashes of Creation.
Although you can already experience in the Alpha how Ashes of Creation will generally be played or feel, as, for example, the combat system is implemented in a representative form. However, according to Sharif, those who want to experience Ashes of Creation in a sufficiently advanced version within the Alpha should really start during Phase 3.
Currently, 130,000 players are participating in the Alpha. In December 2024, for example, around 6,000 characters were online on one server. Steven Sharif states that to his knowledge, there is no other Unreal Engine 5 game where this has happened so far. The backend systems were specifically designed for this and are expected to hold up well.
The developers have just shown gameplay of the rogue class:
Start video
Ashes of Creation: Trailer shows gameplay of the rogue class
Thick skin thanks to gaming enthusiasm
What else has the lead developer revealed? In the interview, Steven Sharif reflects on the past eight years. As an MMORPG enthusiast and millionaire, he reportedly invested a significant part of his fortune to found Intrepid Studios and develop an online role-playing game that he would love to play himself with great enthusiasm.
He did expect that it would be a difficult task, certainly one of the hardest of his life – especially since he had no experience in game development until then – but today he admits that it is even “much harder than he thought”. He had to learn everything at a very high pace, all while developing a complex, extensive MMORPG.
The decision to involve the community early in the development process is both a blessing and a curse for Sharif. A blessing because the team has received incredibly important feedback over the years, which has significantly improved the game. Additionally, the progress that Ashes has made over the years is well documented.
Unfortunately, there are individuals who, according to the developer, are only out to sow doubts, change what the developers want to achieve with Ashes, or speak badly about the project as a whole. However, Sharif also states that he can understand harsh feedback to a certain extent.
He himself is a passionate gamer who has said things out of emotion that were not very constructive. During his competitive time, he received so much toxicity that he has developed a thick skin regarding online communication long before Ashes.
You can find the full interview below and on the YouTube channel of TheLazyPeon:
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What else is planned for Ashes? Steven Sharif discusses the two yet-to-be-playable features that he is most looking forward to:
With the Monster Coins, a system will soon be introduced that allows you to take on the role of certain NPCs and interact with other players as them. Through a comprehensive talent system, you can unlock more and more skills for interaction. Some particularly rare coins will even allow you to control raid bosses and obliterate raids with powerful lightning.
With the node sieges and the destruction system for nodes, players can, for example, fight for relics that provide strong bonuses for the node they are in. Through such a siege, a node fortress can then temporarily become a ruin, turning the region into an open-PvP zone that attracts special loot.
The Simpsons is one of the most famous comedy series of all time. As a cartoon, they obviously have traits of other genre colleagues. But for one character, this trait is overridden.
What trait is it? Apart from the yellow color, the characters in the world of The Simpsons also have another trait that unites them: The number of fingers and toes. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that they are missing one finger on each hand.
The only exception in this case is the god in the Simpsons universe. He is usually depicted with 10 fingers and toes. In the episode The Last Judgment (Season 16, Episode 19), Jesus is also shown with 10 fingers, but that’s more of an exception.
The absurdity of this is highlighted again in Episode 21 of Season 5 (via YouTube). There, the family discusses the relationship between Homer’s father and Marge’s mother. Homer is against it because he would be Marge’s brother if the parents were to marry. He then talks about how his children would be monsters, with pink skin, no overbite, and 5 fingers on each hand. This idea scares Homer so much that he runs away.
That characters only have 8 fingers is not only the case with The Simpsons. Many cartoons depict their characters with only 4 fingers per hand. Why this is the case, we explain to you under the video.
Start video
The Simpsons – The Trailer for the TV Premiere of Season 35
It is simpler, but not stranger than 5 fingers
Why do so many cartoon characters only have 4 fingers on each hand? This is exactly the question the ChannelFrederator channel dealt with in a YouTube video. They assume that there are several reasons for this that have existed since the beginning of animation productions.
One of the main points: Hands are extremely difficult to draw due to bones and joints. Therefore, 4 fingers are easier to draw than 5. Important in this regard is also the concept of Uncanny Valley.
This is a theory that humans develop an uneasy feeling with humanoid objects and representations like robots when they reach a certain spectrum of realism (via spectrum.ieee.org). This is particularly supposed to happen with things that are meant to look like humans. Like a poor digital representation of a real person in older animated films.
But this also leads to the reason why 4 fingers are used for cartoon characters and not 3. 4 per hand fit human anatomy and we do not find it alien. Only 3 fingers appear somewhat inhuman and are often used for aliens or monsters. In the video, the example Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is mentioned. They only have 3 fingers, as they are mutated turtles.
Even in the early days of cartoons, 4 fingers were used
4 fingers per hand are also found in cartoon history. As early as the 1920s, the 4-finger representation was established. This also leads to another reason for this representation: The way characters were drawn.
If you look at the cartoon Steamboat Willie (1928) and the first depiction of Mickey Mouse, you can see that he consists of circles. This was established by the character Felix the Cat (one of the most famous cartoon characters of the time). The fingers were also not thin, but thick and inflated.
In these designs, 4 fingers looked better than 5. Walt Disney himself supposedly said about the fingers:
Omitting the finger was a great artistic and financial advantage. Artistically speaking, five [fingers] are too much for a mouse. His hands would look like a bunch of bananas. Financially, the omission of an additional finger in each of the 45,000 drawings that make up a six-and-a-half-minute short film saved the studio millions.
This also leads to another reason: You save time and money. At that time, in order for something to be animated, you had to draw at least countless pictures yourself to create a movement. This was complex and tedious because you could only make slight changes per picture, like in a flipbook. You can save a lot of working time if you leave out a finger.
This is also suspected by the animator Butch Hartman on TikTok, who has drawn series like Danny Phantom or Cosmo and Wanda.
Another advantage at the time is suspected by ChannelFrederator in the characters. They were mostly anthropomorphic animals. It was less noticeable when a finger was missing.
Today, there are different representations, series like The Amazing World of Gumball, Bob’s Burgers or films like Zootopia still rely on the 4-finger representation. If you’re interested in animation and cartoons, we have a list for you here: 6 underrated animated films that every fan of Disney and Pixar should see
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
“Burn the heretic, kill the mutant, cleanse the unclean” – this is the motto of many devout and especially fanatical people in Warhammer 40,000. Everything that is not human is considered evil. But ironically, one of the super-soldiers, who walk the earth as demigods, is a mutant. A tricky dilemma for the average citizen.
In Warhammer 40,000, humans are not gentle with what is not strictly human. Xenos are at best scrutinized, usually there is no conversation but directly a battle.
Organizations like the Inquisition and the Adepta Sororitas, the warrior-priestesses in Warhammer 40,000, are dedicated among other things to the cleansing of mutations and similar issues. With mutants, usually the flamethrower is brought out first, then questions are asked.
But what if one of the Emperor’s sons is a mutant?
Angels of Death is about the Blood Angels:
Start video
Der Trailer zur Warhammer-Serie Angels of Death
The father of the Blood Angels was (almost) literally an angel
However, Sanguinius was born with a flaw: he had two enormous, angel-like wings that he could not even hide in armor. Whether these wings were planned by the Emperor or the result of extreme radiation exposure on his homeworld is not clear.
Not only that, Sanguinius was seen as an excellent leader, to whom everyone submits, but in battle as an absolute beast. With good reason, because in his blood is a “flaw,” the “Red thirst,” which turns him into a bloodthirsty berserker in combat.
This flaw has been passed on to all his sons, the Blood Angels. Nevertheless, no one would ever have dared to call Sanguinius a mutant.
“Why is he not considered a mutant?”
A user on Reddit asks exactly why Sanguinius is such an exception. The wings may make him appear like an angel, but they make him very clearly non-human.
The fans’ answer is quite clear: because Sanguinius was simply too important. As a Space Marine and Primarch, he is no longer a human; plus, he is loyal to the blood and one of the most important tools of the Emperor to unite humanity. There is simply no reason to ostracize him.
Moreover, no one would ever have dared to call Sanguinius a mutant. As Primarch, he had an almost divine status, and anyone who insulted Sanguinius would have been immediately hanged by devout people.
However, the Primarch himself saw himself as flawed. Possibly one of the reasons why he served the Emperor so faithfully.
However, Sanguinius is not the only exception when it comes to mutants in Warhammer 40,000. As long as they possess a certain usefulness and can be controlled, mutants may live in the world, albeit often not under the best circumstances and only for special operational areas. Most of these “approved” mutants are referred to as metamorphs:
Ogryns are bulky, ogre-like giants who generally have a lower intellect but great strength. They are often used for heavy labor and the use of heavy weapons.
Pariahs, also known as the Untouchables or “Blanks,” are basically the opposite of psykers. While all other humans have a connection to the Warp, Pariahs shield themselves and often others from the Warp. They make sorcery practically impossible.
With the Conglomerates of Votann, akin to a dwarven folk, it is suspected that they were once humans who evolved over millennia. Whether they are a new species or stable mutations is not definitively clarified.
A significant exception, however, are Astropaths and Navigators. Both are essential to maintaining the Imperium. Astropaths are like the mobile phone connection in the Imperium; they ensure the transmission of messages through the Warp.
Navigators, on the other hand, are so rare and so important that almost all of them have noble privileges. These mutants possess a third eye through which they can see through the Immaterium and see the light of the Emperor. They are one of the reasons why humans can travel through the Warp.
Nevertheless, Navigators often face prejudice from particularly fanatical followers of the Imperium and are ostracized despite their status. Most, however, rise above what the masses think.
A small program called Lossless Scaling, which you can find on Steam, promises better performance for your games, regardless of which graphics card you use. MeinMMO has acquired and tested the tool in several MMORPGs.
What kind of tool is this? Lossless Scaling is a small program that you can purchase on Steam. The current price: a slim 6.89 euros. The promise: better performance for your games through frame generation and various scaling options, even if your graphics card is actually too weak to achieve high FPS or run the native screen resolution.
Notably: Lossless Scaling has existed since December 2018, but the tool was long considered a bit of a secret tip. This only changed with the recent updates. Especially the new adaptive frame generation is well received by many buyers. On Steam, the 21,382 reviews so far have been 88 percent positive.
[toc]
Practical test in MMORPGs
How does Lossless Scaling perform in MMORPGs? That’s exactly what I have been looking into over the past few days, in several online role-playing games currently sitting on my hard drive. I played these on the following system:
Windows 11
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core with 3.8 GHz
32 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Native monitor resolution: 2560 x 1440 at 144 Hz
Who is testing here? Karsten Scholz is not a tech expert, but “just” the MMORPG connoisseur at MeinMMO. Therefore, his test focused not on what happens under the hood, but whether activating frame generation actually provides a better gaming experience in MMORPGs.
The scaling options of Lossless Scaling don’t bring me much, as my PC has no problem rendering current MMORPGs at 2560 x 1440 resolution with high graphics settings. I was curious, however, whether I would notice a tangible improvement if Lossless Scaling raised the frames per second to the maximum my monitor can handle: 144 FPS.
For the test, I went to the places in various MMORPGs where the FPS tends to drop: bustling capitals or activities with many enemies or allies.
What settings did I use in Lossless Scaling? Like any good average user, I didn’t want to spend too much time with manuals, so I got a setup of options from the internet (via YouTube) that is said to be perfect for most newcomers.
Karsten’s beginner profile in Lossless Scaling for frame generation.
For the test runs with Lossless Scaling, I also followed tips from the internet and limited the FPS in the respective games to half my target value: 72. This way, the tool finds it particularly easy to reach, maintain, and thus constantly display a smooth image – as much as possible without graphic artifacts.
Lossless Scaling in New World
Graphics settings set to Very High
FPS without Lossless Scaling: fluctuated between 83 and 124
FPS with Lossless Scaling: 141 to 144
Practical impression: Theoretically, the image should be smoother when the FPS number matches the optimal value of the monitor. However, in New World, the difference was not noticeable to me with the naked eye.
Lossless Scaling in Throne and Liberty
Graphics settings set to Epic
FPS without Lossless Scaling: fluctuated between 40 and 54
FPS with Lossless Scaling: 135 to 144
Practical impression: Throne and Liberty not only looks great, but it also brings many player characters together in certain areas, which can cause the FPS to drop. With frame generation activated, I could therefore perceive a noticeable improvement here. Micro stuttering occurred less frequently, resulting in an overall smoother image.
Thanks to the new expansion and server consolidation, Throne and Liberty’s servers are buzzing with activity. Good for the atmosphere, bad for the FPS.
Lossless Scaling in Elder Scrolls Online
Graphics settings set to Maximum
FPS without Lossless Scaling: 100
FPS with Lossless Scaling: 144
Practical impression: Unfortunately, there was no Cyrodiil battle with dozens of participants during my test. That would have probably been the best test case for the program. On the battlefields and in the dungeons and cities of Tamriel, I could not perceive any difference with the naked eye.
Practical impression: While there is often an incredible amount going on the screen in Lost Ark, especially when facing hordes of enemies in a chaos dungeon, the FPS rate on my system remains consistently high. So high that Lossless Scaling probably makes no sense for me here.
What do players say about Lossless Scaling in MMORPGs?
I was curious about what experiences other players have had with Lossless Scaling in MMORPGs.
waffennarr writes on Steam: “I only have a 3060 with 12 GB and can still play current games like […] Throne and Liberty smoothly with up to 90 FPS on WQHD.”
FuryxHD has been using the tool for months in WoW, he writes on Reddit: “As you can see, my FPS normally hovers around 60~, but with frame generation, I can reach over 200+.”
Kimo_o_o is also a WoW player and is excited on Reddit: “I had never heard of Lossless Scaling before and was curious whether it would work. I am incredibly satisfied with the results! I set it to x2, with the game fixed at 86 FPS, and it feels very smooth. Most of the time I stay at a constant 173 FPS, with occasional drops in the new capital, but they’re hardly noticeable.”
Daku- had somewhat less positive experiences in Throne and Liberty (via Reddit): “When I tried Lossless, I wasn’t sure if it was a placebo, but the game felt slower, as if the movements overall were slower.”
MathError complains after his test on mein-mmo.de: “I just tried it in WoW, read guides and watched videos, but somehow nothing changed or it got much worse in WoW, really a shame. Since I often have severe FPS problems in raids, this could have been a solution.”
If any of you have practical experiences with Lossless Scaling in MMORPGs, feel free to leave them in the comments!
Gregg2G shows in a video on YouTube how he managed to raise his FPS in WoW to between 120 and 240:
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Lossless Scaling seems to be a surprisingly effective tool – for the small price – if you have a system that could really use support in performance and refresh rate in games, but you don’t want to lay out enormous sums for corresponding hardware upgrades.
As for our test system, it might be (still) too powerful. In three out of four MMORPGs, Lossless Scaling did not even have the opportunity to flex its muscles. With the upcoming generation of online role-playing games, this could look different: The 5 most beautiful MMORPGs of 2025 show that a new era of graphics is beginning
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers of Warframe are currently working on a new MMO, but so far hardly anyone has been able to test it. That could change soon.
What is Soulframe? Soulframe is a free fantasy MMO from Digital Extremes, the development studio behind the popular looter shooter Warframe. The game features an open world set in a medieval setting and is heavily influenced by the themes of “nature and restoration”.
The combat system of Soulframe is similarly action-packed as Warframe, but adapted to the gameplay mechanics of a medieval role-playing game. You can either plunge into combat with melee weapons like a sword or pressure your opponents from a distance. In addition to bows and arrows, you can also cast powerful magical attacks.
It is also possible to parry enemy attacks or dodge them with a well-timed roll.
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Soulframe – Gameplay
Soulframe plans key drops via Twitch
How can you play Soulframe? Currently, you can only test Soulframe in an early state during its ongoing development, if the developers send you an invitation. About 2,000 invitations are supposed to be sent weekly, with each invitation including 4 additional access keys for friends.
However, during the Soulframe dev stream on March 28, 2025, the developers hinted that access to the testing sessions would become easier in the future. You will be able to receive an access key through drops while watching live Twitch streams of the developers (via YouTube).
In these streams, the team behind Soulframe regularly informs about the current state of development and presents the latest progress. However, the developers have not yet revealed when exactly the Twitch drops will first be available.
On Reddit, there have been regular posts from players since the start of the testing sessions, expressing their desire to test Soulframe, but even after weeks of waiting, veterans of Warframe with thousands of hours have not received access.
Often, kind members of the community would then give away individual keys that they still had left over from their own invitation. Nevertheless, some players maintained their wish to make access to the tests easier and less dependent on luck. The developers are now responding to this wish.
At the end of 2024, Blizzard opened anniversary servers for WoW Classic, resetting everything to the beginning once again. Now these servers are reaching a milestone – and a whole bunch of people are quitting. The reason behind this might be a frowned-upon cheat, some users claim.
For the 20th anniversary of WoW Blizzard opened new servers for WoW Classic. These servers will go through the game’s cycle one more time, starting from the state of the release in 2004 through various raids to The Burning Crusade in the course of 2025.
Now, about a quarter of a year after the servers opened, many players suddenly report independently that numerous acquaintances from their guilds or elsewhere are taking a break. This happens repeatedly, but that it is happening all at once now seems strange.
That’s why the timing is curious: On March 20, Phase 3 for the anniversary servers was launched. This brings, among other things, class quests for level 50 and, above all, one of the most popular raids of all time, the Blackwing Lair.
Actually, such an update is more of a reason to check back into the game rather than to disappear. Nevertheless, that is exactly what is happening in many places. There are repeated reports of people taking a “break” – right now.
On Reddit, players have now speculated that the claims of those taking breaks might not be entirely accurate.
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WoW Launches Fresh Classic Realms – The Big Birthday Gift
“Just admit it”
Users suspect that the people who are no longer playing are not really taking a break. Or at least not voluntarily. They think that there is a temporary ban from Blizzard behind it, which is simply embarrassing for them.
The solution for many players now is to buy gold in the game for real money, known as “Real Money Trading,” or RMT for short. However, this is strictly prohibited by Blizzard and is punished with bans. Claiming to take a break is simply embarrassing:
Just swallow it. Who cares? Just admit that you bought gold. I have more respect for someone who owns up to it than for a lame excuse for a vacation. The only thing lower would be blaming your wife or kids.
Another user agrees. If you admit that you bought gold, you’ll be laughed at for 5 minutes, and then the matter will be forgotten. If you deny it all, you will be the topic of conversation in the guild for 2 weeks.
However, others argue that a ban doesn’t have to be the reason for a “break”. Especially the high prices for raid consumables, such as potions, elixirs, and the like, are simply a reason for many to burn out.
Having to constantly farm gold just to go raiding is not fun. Taking a break and coming back later with The Burning Crusade is the plan for some players.
The new Sims competitor inZOI is now in Early Access on Steam. The first players are actively playing, creating Zois, and exploring the world. Important in Early Access: find bugs. But one of these bugs was so serious that it had to be fixed immediately, even though it doesn’t actually break the game.
What should not be possible, however, is to run over NPCs with a car. At least not in the way a player shows on Reddit. Apparently, you could get into a car in the first few hours and kill pedestrians with it.
Even worse: in the short clip, the user speeds into a group of children, one of whom is thrown across the square in a ragdoll manner while his friends still wave at the driver happily.
Apparently a bug that the developers fixed the same day, with the message: “These images are highly inappropriate and do not reflect the intentions and values of inZOI.” (via Eurogamer)
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Trailer for inZOI provides insight into gameplay
Bug could have serious impact on the release
inZOI has a rating of 12 years in Germany and a “T for Teen” rating in the USA. This means that people can fight and romances are possible, but explicit sex is censored.
Killings are not planned and even the possibility of running over adults would likely have resulted in an adult-only rating, meaning 18+, or an “M for Mature”. Consequently, it was very important for the developers to react immediately.
The statement continued that they understand the importance of this issue and promise to improve the internal testing processes to avoid such occurrences.
inZOI has only been playable for a day, and players have already found numerous bugs. For instance, homosexual citizens are missing (via Reddit), which is also said to be due to a bug that will be fixed soon, it is reported.
Middle-earth is full of dangerous creatures in both the books and the filmsthat you better not mess with. In our power ranking, we clarify who is at the top.
How was the ranking created? In this list, we compare different creatures from Middle-earth in terms of danger and rank them from 10-1. Two factors are important in this.
On the one hand, the creatures must appear in The Lord of the Rings. Those that appear in The Hobbit or are part of Tolkien’s extensive mythology are excluded.
The second criterion: It doesn’t matter what race the creatures belong to or in what form they appear. What matters is that they have the potential to ruin the day of the good ones around Frodo and his companions.
As always, this ranking is subjective and based on the author’s opinion. If your personal list differs, feel free to let us know in the comments. And now, duck your heads; it’s going to get dangerous!
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Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
The image rights of The Lord of the Rings are owned by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
Place 10: Gollum
Yes, you read that right. Gollum. The little, life-afflicted Sméagol lands in our place 10. The reason is simple: While Gollum does not seem particularly threatening or strong, one should never make the mistake of underestimating him. After all, he is a master of manipulation.
Due to his split personality, you never know if you can trust him or not. Frodo and Sam can sing a song about it. If you’re unlucky, the evil side in him takes over. In this case, it’s better to keep a safe distance from the raging creature, which goes to great lengths to achieve its goals. The nasty thing about Gollum is his unpredictability, which is hard to outsmart.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Reddit, gamers are discussing the worst level of all time, and a notorious tutorial is particularly unpopular.
The title image is a symbolic image.
What kind of discussion is this? A user asked on reddit: “Which level has made you the angriest? Bonus points if you actually quit the game because of it.”
The post has 1,200 likes, and almost twice as many people have commented on it. The top comment also provides the winner of the masses. The undisputed worst level in the history of gaming, at least according to Reddit, is the tutorial level in Driver.
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A chronically ill man reports how gaming helped him through the worst year of his life
The tutorial in Driver turned a man into a hero
The game from 1999 is infamous for its parking garage tutorial: Reddit user Bongo_Kickflip doesn’t even need to explain what makes the tutorial so legendary difficult in his comment, which has 1,800 likes.
For those who don’t know what the tutorial in Driver is about:
In the tutorial, you have to perform a variety of tricks with your car. Some are quite difficult, but they aren’t really needed later in the game.
Moreover, you are in a parking garage and have to maneuver around the thick concrete pillars that support the roof.
When mentioning Driver, ArmedMartian remembers a true hero from his childhood:
There was a guy at my father’s work who was known for being able to pass the tutorial. That damn hero borrowed the kids’ memory cards of his colleagues on the weekend, completed the tutorial, and then returned them on Monday.
What levels are mentioned by the community? Another level that caused frustration was the one with the remote-controlled helicopter in GTA Vice City. 1,300 Reddit users agree with NikTh_.
For the user DeathByToilet, the RC missions in GTA San Andreas were particularly bad and have triggered awful memories of the helicopter mission from Vice City: “San Andreas’ Zero RC mission gave me Vice City PTSD, honestly f*ck the helicopter missions.”
mediocrityindepth mentions a level that he still can’t shake off: “I’m sure I’ve accomplished harder things since then, but the test for the International A license in the original Gran Turismo still lives rent-free in my head nearly 30 years later.”
One user comments: “I saw my friend leave the game in rage and almost throw his controller across the room – probably at least five times before we all got our A licenses.”
A co-founder of Blizzard created a new game studio in 2020, which will release its first game in 2025: a role-playing game focused on co-op.
Who is behind the game? Sunderfolk is produced by the developer studio Secret Door, which belongs to the game studio Dreamhaven founded in 2020. Dreamhaven is the new company of Mike Morhaime, who co-founded Blizzard with Frank Pearce and Allen Adham. Alongside Sunderfolk, Dreamhaven is also developing the PvP shooter Wildgate created by Moonshot Games.
The Return of Game Nights
What kind of game is it? Sunderfolk is a tactical C-RPG (classic role-playing game) with turn-based combat, set to be released on April 23, 2025, for Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
You take on the role of animal heroes protecting an underground village called “Arden,” which has formed around the remnants of a magical stone. This leads you into the dangerous Shardlands, where you carry out various tasks for the villagers in your fight against evil forces.
The game’s main feature is its strong focus on couch co-op with up to 4 players. Sunderfolk aims to bring back classic game nights and gather friends or families in the living room. To achieve this, the role-playing game utilizes your smartphones as controllers: each player downloads a free app, scans a QR code on the screen, and controls their hero with it.
The gameplay is primarily inspired by board games, with each player taking turns choosing their ability cards.
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Sunderfolk gives you a glimpse of the game in the trailer
6 Animal Heroes with Unique Skills
In Sunderfolk, you can choose from 6 different classes, each with set abilities. For example, there is a raven arcanist who uses spells and can teleport your teammates, and a bat bard who uplifts teammates with songs and manipulates enemies.
Arcanist: Raven, Arcane magic (controls the field)
Bard: Bat, Support magic (buffs the team)
Berserker: Polar bear, Tank (can fling teammates and enemies)
Pyromancer: Lizard, Fire magic (deals AoE damage with flames)
Ranger: Goat, Ranged fighter (fights with bow and arrow)
Rogue: Ferret, Melee fighter (deals high single-target damage and has evasion skills)
Each class comes with its own playstyle and corresponding ability cards. So, you can choose the class that best fits you or simply go for the coolest animal.
On March 27, 2025, one of the most important men in the history of Warhammer 40,000 passed away. Paul “Fat Bloke” Sawyer helped build the franchise during its “golden years” and brought it closer to the fans.
Who is the man?
Paul Sawyer co-founded Warlord Games in 2007, a British game publisher that primarily sells historical tabletop games along with all kinds of accessories.
However, Sawyer started in the industry back in 1993 at Games Workshop, the creators of Warhammer. At that time, he was a driving force behind the content of the “White Dwarf” magazine.
On March 27, 2025, Sawyer passed away after a six-month battle with a brain tumor.
This is Sawyer’s work: From 1993 to 2007, Sawyer worked as an editor for White Dwarf, the monthly magazine of Games Workshop. At that time, the magazine was the primary source for Warhammer fans to get new information and assistance with their hobby.
In 2007, Sawyer then co-founded “Warlord Games” with John Stallard and worked there as “Head of Product Design.” Sawyer was mainly responsible for Bolt Action, one of the largest historical tabletop games in the world.
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Die Geschichte der White Scars, einem der ersten Orden der Space Marines in Warhammer 40.000
“Hope he gets an endless supply of Bacon Buttys from the Emperor”
The news of Sawyer’s death hits many fans in the community hard. Especially veterans remember the White Dwarf editor and his contributions, and some still have old issues of his at home.
In the community, Sawyer is regarded as a legend, and particularly fans of the White Scars thank him for helping them with painting and playing. Some fans only started playing Warhammer or the White Scars because of him.
Reading the White Dwarf and Sawyer’s contributions was, at that time, the best way to learn more about Warhammer. Sawyer’s time at Games Workshop was for many the “golden years” of Warhammer because people felt like they were being presented with a hobby by people who truly loved the world. One user writes on Reddit:
There is a White Dwarf issue with a photo of Paul sitting there with his daughter after they bought two Chaos chariots. Both have the biggest, honest smiles.
With Paul Sawyer, a part of some people’s childhood has died.
The life simulation inZOI starts on Steam: The player reviews are “very positive” and the game lands in 1st place among the top sellers. Thus, it even surpasses the largest shooter on the platform.
The life simulation from Korea is considered by many to be the first major competitor to The Sims and launched in Early Access on March 28, 2025. The current version of the game is still not final, and some features and content are still missing. Nevertheless, what players are presented with is already received very well.
inZOI already has over 6,000 reviews on Steam, of which 85% are positive. In the words of the Steam shop, the reviews are thus “very positive” (via Steam)
within the first 12 hours, inZOI has already reached 70,000 concurrent players on Steam, and it has even surpassed 87,000 (via steamdb.info)
The first major competitor to The Sims in the market is currently in 1st place among the top sellers on Steam, even ahead of Valve’s own ego shooter Counter-Strike 2 (via Steam)
This information is all up to date as of March 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM
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inZOI: The new trailer for the Early Access of the life simulation on Steam
(Not) a perfect home for disappointed Sims fans
What do the reviews say? The game has managed to catch some Sims fans who are dissatisfied with EA’s handling of the series.
Sparx419 writes (via Steam): “If you love the life simulation genre but are frustrated by the endless DLC model and restrictions of The Sims 4, inZOI is definitely worth a look.”
AliceMAD is sure (via Steam): “After playing The Sims for years, I can confidently say that this game is the future! EA has really ripped us off. Give inZOI a few years, and it will surpass The Sims in every way.”
Anakin Skywalker takes an even harsher tone (via Steam): “The graphics in this game make my PC sound like an international airport. If inZOI becomes successful, there really is no reason for another Sims.”
Currently, there is still the greatest need for improvement in gameplay and technology. Many reviews, whether positive or negative, agree on this.
choccyla writes (via Steam): “The game is fun when it works, but I would wait until it’s polished a bit before buying Early Access.” It is said that the game frequently froze, which only could be fixed by restarting the PC. Nevertheless, there’s a thumbs up.
monsterfurby gives a thumbs down and writes (via Steam): “It looks pretty and definitely has potential, but at the moment it doesn’t tell any stories. […] If you are a Sims player who can spend hours in CAS (“Create a Sim”) and build mode, it may be for you. I, on the other hand, tend more towards emergent storytelling and am currently quite disappointed.”
For years, players of Call of Duty have believed that there are shadowbans. Now, Activision has shared official information for the first time.
What are shadowbans? In Call of Duty, there has been a theory for years that suspicious players can receive a so-called shadowban. This occurs when the game thinks you might be using cheats.
A shadowban, however, is different from a regular ban. After a shadowban, you can still play Black Ops 6 – but only against other players who also have a shadowban.
In shadowban lobbies, you mainly encounter cheaters and players who were mistakenly banned for cheating – at least that was the community’s theory for years.
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Call of Duty shows what Verdansk looks like upon returning in Season 3 of Warzone
Shadowbans are not confirmation that someone is cheating
What does Call of Duty say about it? In a new blog post, Call of Duty explained that the shadowban system indeed exists. The developers call it “limited matchmaking” and it restricts your matchmaking when suspicious activities are detected.
Through limited matchmaking, accounts can still play online matches without disturbing players in normal matchmaking while Activision collects evidence for potentially following actions.
Furthermore, it is stated that a player with restricted matchmaking is not considered a confirmed cheater. This is merely a sign that alarms are going off at Activision, and they will investigate the respective account more closely. Overall, the limited matchmaking consists of only 0.15% of all players.
What gets you into limited matchmaking? Activision lists several examples that can lead to your account being considered suspicious. These include:
a significant change in account behavior
when a new account achieves unlikely statistics
Additionally, according to Activision, you can get into limited matchmaking because of a friend. If a player in your party has restricted matchmaking, the entire party will be forced to play in shadowban lobbies.
Spam reports, meaning repeatedly reporting a player, do not increase the likelihood of a (shadow) ban, according to the blog post. On the contrary, it even reduces trust in future reports regarding that account.
What exactly Activision interprets as “a significant change in account behavior” was not elaborated on by the developers in the blog post. Based on player reports from the past, this could be a significant performance boost.
Shortly after the release of Black Ops 6, there were increasing reports within the community that players received a shadowban when they played “normally” after the camo grind and relied on good weapons. Previously, they played with relatively bad weapons in order to unlock certain camouflage. With the good weapons, they of course made significantly more kills and could then be considered suspicious.
The German YouTuber Cem Gülken, also known as Haptic/HapticRush, was likely banned because of such a performance boost. He let a good friend who plays significantly better play on his account and shortly after was caught in limited matchmaking: German YouTuber gets banned in CoD: Black Ops 6, says his buddy is to blame
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO Star Citizen, the new patch Alpha 4.1 went live on March 27, 2025. With the update, the first alien NPC, Wikelo, entered the game. He plays an important role in motivating players: He offers loot.
What kind of NPC is he? Wikelo belongs to the Banu, a people focused on trade. The alien has a heart for humans and has therefore decided to retire near humans to offer his goods.
A developer summarizes his role in the game like this:
Basically, he can build you cool stuff if you bring him what he needs.
The developers describe the Banu as “the Golden Retrievers of the universe,” always wanting to appear as harmless as possible and be everyone’s friend … until they are not.
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Star Citizen: StarEngine-Trailer – The Future of Gaming
Star Citizen takes an important step towards: Players have something to do
What does he sell? The developers say: Wikelo will never give the player money, but he has many items for sale. There are weapons, armor, cool gadgets, and even spaceships. Some of these will only be available through the merchant. Wikelo will also offer cosmetic items.
Ships like the Polaris, F8C Military, F8C Stealth, Guardian Military, Scorpius Military
Weapons like the Kopion Skull Gun, Kopion Tooth Gun
Armor
I’m pretty excited. It’s an important moment for a space game to finally get a damn alien.
The developers say: Wikelo will now be an important part of Star Citizen. Players will interact with him repeatedly, so it’s best to get along well with him.
This is his role: In essence, Wikelo is a quest NPC with a variety of possible rewards, intended to motivate players over a long time and apparently also to encourage resource grinding.
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Focus in the new patch is on mining – Players praise the affordable new ship
This is the idea behind the new patch: The backstory in the new patch is that the “Rain” technique no longer works, which originally granted immortality to every resident in the universe of Star Citizen. For players, this changes nothing, but in the game’s story, research is being stimulated and raw materials need to be mined.
Therefore, the focus of the new patch is on “mining.” Star Citizen introduces a new gameplay loop that sends players to Aberdeen and Daymar, where they can extract resources.
In the game, this is expressed not only through the new gameplay activity but also through a “real new mining starter ship” that is sold for $60. This is also the currently biggest topic in the community.
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