The new Pokémon Thermopod is available to catch in Pokémon GO. How does it work and what should you know about the monster? We summarize it.
What kind of Pokémon is Thermopod? Thermopod resembles a type of caterpillar or millipede and combines the types Bug and Fire. It first appeared in the games Pokémon Sword & Shield.
Thermopod has an evolution: Infernopod. This Pokémon is also a burning insect and combines Fire and Bug.
The Pokédex highlights how much heat develops from Thermopod and especially Infernopod. It is known for grilling its prey by wrapping them with its body. Infernopod is said to reach temperatures of up to 800 degrees Celsius. Additionally, Thermopod has a Gigantamax form in the main games, which rises to 1,000 degrees.
We will have to wait for the Gigantamax form of Infernopod, but basically, the debut of Thermopod in Pokémon GO is imminent: It will be the star of the Bug Catching Event, which starts today.
Start video
Pokémon GO: What’s in the new Season Powerful and Masterful
How can I catch Thermopod in Pokémon GO?
This is how you catch Thermopod: Thermopod will be available with the start of the Bug Catching Event in Pokémon GO. It starts on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM. After that, it runs until Sunday, March 30, at 8:00 PM.
However, Thermopod will not just appear in the wild. Instead, you must use one of the following methods.
Deploy a Lure Module: You can attract Thermopod during the event by equipping a PokéStop with a Lure Module. However, this also means that you should not leave the location for a while.
Catch it in a Raid: Thermopod will appear in Level 1 Raids. Since it is just an easy raid, you should be able to defeat it easily on your own. Thermopod is particularly weak against Rock-type attacks.
Use the Research: A limited research will be running during the event, where you can also encounter a Thermopod.
Can Thermopod be shiny? No, as of now, you cannot catch the shiny version in Pokémon GO.
How do I get Infernopod? You need to evolve Thermopod for that. To do this, you need to collect 50 Thermopod candies. So it’s best to try the Lure Module variant to encounter as many Thermopod as possible and collect candies.
Additionally, you can use a caught Thermopod as your buddy to earn more candies by walking with it.
Make sure to try to catch a Thermopod before the event ends, as it is uncertain whether it will remain available afterwards or return much later. Don’t miss the chance. Otherwise, more exciting Pokémon will probably appear soon, as April is already bringing new events. Here you can find the list of all events in Pokémon GO in April 2025.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the new depths in World of Warcraft, Cortyn dares to heal for the first time. And it went surprisingly well, because Blizzard did a good job.
With the second season of The War Within, the depths were significantly revised. Not only are they more fun and interesting, they now also offer healers the chance to explore the depths with Brann as a tank.
Since this comes with some new achievements, I couldn’t help myself, leveled a new priest to level 80 (because my shadow priest will never be holy) and equipped her exclusively through the depths. Now my priest has reached item level 642, and I can proudly announce: I completed all depths at level 11 as a healer, without a group:
A tough week – but 45 achievement points are worth it. Or?
Brann as Tank – More Creative than Real Tanks
Blizzard really came up with something for Brann as tank. Because Brann needs healing not only to stay alive but also to deal additional damage:
Every time you heal Brann, part of the healing is converted into damage that hits all enemies nearby Brann.
Direct heals on Brann increase the damage of his gun, stacking multiple times.
This means that it is best to let Brann lose some health and only then start healing. This causes solid damage to all nearby enemies. By “waiting” at the beginning, you also have enough time to distribute some dots yourself or cast a damage spell or two.
Right now, everything in WoW revolves around Gallywix:
Start video
WoW Patch 11.1: Gallywix’s Control over the Cartels
The only sticking point for me as a priest were bosses that really must be interrupted because they channel extremely high damage to all characters. I occasionally reached my limits, especially with (still) poor gear. You do notice that holy priests might indeed deserve a real interrupt after all these years.
In general, playing with Brann was extremely fun – especially because he is as moody as real players are as a tank. He often brings in an additional group with “Body Pull” or shouts “You must dodge!”, only to then walk into the area effect himself.
Whenever I ran out of mana, he often set up a campfire for regeneration – only to not wait for it and already jump into the next group of elite enemies.
Pacifist Gear for Healers – The Perfect Damage Boost
A true blessing was Brann’s item “Pacifist Gear” – just as recommended in our perfect Brann gear for healers. Because this regularly summons a large mech that you can control for a few seconds. The mech deals extremely high damage to all targets nearby. In its short lifespan of 10 seconds, it can easily deal 50 million damage or more. This can quickly wipe out even large groups of enemies.
This is particularly strong because you remain invulnerable during this time, and the mech has so many hit points that it will last until the end.
The downside, however, is that you cannot heal Brann while doing this – because you are controlling the mech. So as soon as the announcement comes that the mech is about to land, I had to pump all healing into Brann.
If Brann still dies during this time, you should ensure that all current enemies are indeed killed with the mech – because then Brann is instantly revived and ready for action again.
If that doesn’t work out, then after the mech visit, all the mobs came running joyfully to me to show me for once where the respawn point in this depth is.
My IRL facial expression in the first depth with my priest.
Conclusion: Depths are the Perfect Introduction to Healer Life
Was it really difficult in the end? No, probably not. Even though the first depths were absolute horror, due both to the Brann nerfs and the lack of gear, the later depths were relatively relaxed. Every single item that I could swap made the next depth easier and better.
As a healer, depths can indeed be a bit tedious, especially if you do not use the Brann item “Pacifist Gear”. Then certain depths can take 25 to 30 minutes as a healer.
Nevertheless, I believe that depths took away some of the “worry” about healing. They were a learning experience, and when I look at how my behavior changed from the first to the last healer depth, I can very well imagine healing in Mythic+ as well – even if I then have to heal 4 wildly jumping Branns.
So I want to give you all the recommendation: If you’ve been avoiding the healing role so far because you feel uncertain or fear failure – just try it in the setting of depths.
Whether you start at level 11 or slowly feel your way up with a 4 or 5. The depths are an amazingly good “practice mode” where you can learn a lot, which would otherwise require some (unpleasant) dungeons with players that you would have to scrape off the floor. If you are considering the entry or return to WoW, we have here 3 classes that make it very easy.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the end of April, the new season in Diablo 4 begins – and with it, new skills will come into play. Experts agree: these abilities will dominate the builds. And that is currently causing discussions.
Players, experts, and content creators recently looked at the season mechanic on the PTR and are now discussing the boss powers. Some fans and experts agree: in Season 8, there will probably be no strong builds that can do without the new boss skills.
There are also special skills to acquire in Season 7 – the witch powers:
Start video
Diablo 4 shows its witch powers in Season 7 in the trailer
The new powers overshadow “normal” builds
Experts say about the skills: In a YouTube video from March 23, 2025, Diablo expert wudijo explains that the season theme reminds him of the witch powers from Season 7. Again there are new, powerful abilities, but this time they come from the bosses. He finds the idea of defeating boss enemies and receiving rewards for it is fundamentally “actually quite cool.”
However, he views the powers themselves critically. According to wudijo, they are “silly.” Many of the strongest builds on the PTR with the current balance rely entirely on these boss powers.
In the video, he categorizes the new powers as follows:
So there aren’t really any true builds, just the best S-tier builds that simply exploit the boss powers. For example, the best Spiritborn build at the moment is simply designed to exploit the Ashava power.
It doesn’t feel like you’re scaling your actual skills or investing in a core skill. You’re just stacking generic multipliers that harmonize with the boss powers. […]
I think that’s a problem. Of course, these powers are the central feature of the season, and it’s perfectly fine for builds to revolve around them. But they are just way too strong – at least for some classes.
Diablo expert wudijo is sure: adjustments are needed here. In his opinion, the boss powers should be nerfed overall because the gap between the builds is currently just too large.
Diablo expert Rob2628, who is known for his OP builds in Diablo 4, sees it similarly. In his YouTube video from March 22, 2025, he explains that some boss powers are “obviously way too strong.” Instead of playing an individual build based on the character, you basically just use the seasonal powers – because they are simply too powerful.
He also believes: the powers need a nerf because they overshadow most “normal” builds. He expands on this thought:
There are many powers that have a more supporting role – I think that’s good. They should complement your build rather than completely take it over and turn every class into a seasonal power.
For a single season, it might be interesting to build around seasonal powers, but currently these powers are up to 100 times stronger than normal builds – and that’s just way too much. There’s no choice at all: your own skills are meaningless, and your entire DPS only comes from the seasonal powers. I would definitely wish for some adjustments there.
What are players afraid of? There are also discussions on Reddit about the new boss powers from Season 8. User ExtremeCertain4837 writes that the class fantasy is “dead” – you only choose a body type and then use the best attacks. In his opinion, with the increased difficulty and the overpowering powers, there is only one option: use them – or not progress at all.
With Season 8, Blizzard is revising some of the most important systems: bosses, leveling, and endgame. Bosses are supposed to survive longer – one-shots are a thing of the past. Leveling will be slower at the lower levels. And generally, starting from Season 8, Diablo 4 will be harder: Only 10% of players are expected to reach Torment 4.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A modder believes that his map for GTA 6 looked too real. He had developed the mod for GTA 5 but had to remove all links to it.
Why did he have to remove the mod? As the modder Dark Space reports in a video, Take-Two, the publisher of GTA 6, filed a request for the removal of one of his videos. In the video, he presented his free GTA 5 mod, which was supposed to feature a playable map of GTA 6.
As he shows in a new YouTube video, he received a copyright strike from YouTube. A channel receives this strike when it violates someone else’s copyrights. With multiple strikes, the deletion of one’s own channel is threatened.
To keep his channel, Dark Space removed all links and videos related to his mod. He has a suspicion as to why it got that far.
So far, there has been only one official trailer for GTA 6:
Start video
Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer
Mod for GTA 6 was according to the modder too accurate
What problem does Take-Two have with the mod? The modder created the map for GTA 6 based on leaked coordinates, official trailer snippets, and uploaded gameplay of the game. Dark Space therefore thinks that his map was probably “a bit too accurate.”
I think my map could have ruined the surprise of their map, which I understand. If you had spent years building this amazing game world, just for some YouTuber to spoil the experience of the shape, size, and mood of the map… I would also want it removed.
However, the past shows that Take-Two has already had mods removed that were made for GTA 5. In 2023, a fan had to remove his mod, which equipped NPCs with AI. He was upset about the lack of communication from Take-Two.
Other content, which had existed for 10 years, also had to be suddenly removed in 2021. Since 2019, there has been a rule that items from other games, including GTA 6, cannot be incorporated into GTA 5.
What’s next for the modder? He stated that he wants to continue making videos that make people happy. However, he does not want to mod anything in GTA 5 that could relate to GTA 6. That seems dangerous to him.
Moreover, there are even some things from GTA 5 that we no longer wish for GTA 6. MeinMMO has listed 10 things that Rockstar should better avoid for their next title, Grand Theft Auto 6: 10 things from GTA V that GTA 6 must absolutely do without
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In this game on Steam, you become a monster that rules the night in Seattle and makes decisions for the fate of the city.
What kind of game is this? This is the game Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, the latest upcoming installment in the “Vampire: The Masquerade” series. The first game, Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption, was released in 2000, followed by Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines in 2004 and finally Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice.
The second Bloodlines installment is set to be released later this year. The game is mostly finished, and the developers are now focusing on performance and possible bugs. The release date is in October 2025.
The game is being developed by The Chinese Room and published by Paradox Interactive.
Here you can watch the trailer for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2:
Start video
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 showcases thrilling gameplay in the trailer
You are the monster
In Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (on Steam), you are not one of the good ones. On the contrary: You are an ancient vampire ancestor who spreads fear and terror in Seattle at night. Of course, you must drink blood and end the lives of innocents to survive.
You have supernatural abilities and can choose a clan that fits your playstyle. Do you prefer to sneak around or engage in open combat? Your speed allows you to dart up walls and deliver a quick death to your enemies.
However, you should never reveal your true face and openly live your existence as a monster. At first, you will be pursued by the police, but you are not the only monster roaming the streets of Seattle at night.
Additionally, you must make decisions that determine the fate of Seattle. The city is in an open war. Will you side with the vampires or are you a rebel?
Are there already early voices on this? PCGAMER editor Fraser Brown managed to get his own early copy of the game. He describes the game as an “undead power fantasy” that he “absolutely wants to play again” (via PCGAMER).
Overall, the review is very positive, the only flaws seem to be the unpolished animations and the open world of Seattle. This seems to be a bit quiet and lifeless.
With the release in October 2025, the developers still have enough time to optimize the game. If you want to pass the time until then and if you are looking for more vampire games, then the game Cabernet might be for you: New vampire game quenches your thirst for a really good story
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As part of an elaborate community project, fans have recreated the famous city of Erebor from the world of The Lord of the Rings in Enshrouded. They did this without using any mods or cheats, only utilizing what the game offered them.
How did the fans build the city? In a community project by the German YouTuber Kontreck, around 33 people came together to recreate the legendary dwarf city Erebor in the survival game Enshrouded. They independently mined around 220,000,000 blocks – therefore not using any mods or cheats.
Over 15,000,000 blocks are taken up by the city itself. For the project, they took a total of 74 days and around 10,000 hours. In a video just over 4 minutes long, the YouTuber now shows the final product of the project.
The result is impressive:
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Legendary places from The Lord of the Rings faithfully recreated
Erebor was not the first project of the fans: A few months ago, Kontreck and his community recreated another famous city from the world of The Lord of the Rings, Minas Tirith (via YouTube). For this, they first created a 3D model of the template, which was later used as a reference.
For the implementation, the team divided into various roles: collectors, architects, builders, and decorators. The architects calculated exactly how many blocks would be needed for the city and where they ultimately needed to go.
How is the project received by the community? In the comments, the project receives consistently enthusiastic feedback and even the developers of Enshrouded are left speechless:
The developers of Keen Games comment on their account @Enshroudedgame under the video: “We are simply speechless! Such an incredible project and so, so well executed. It’s just amazing what you are pulling from the game! Congratulations from the whole team, we are all impressed!”
User @havi4969 congratulates: “A big compliment to everyone involved in this project, this is major cinema. Great presentation of the video with a great score from Hans Zimmer’s Time. Goosebumps, chapeau”
@anerys001 writes: “Since I can’t find suitable words worthy of this, I can only say: GOOSEBUMPS!!!!”
@hdceysui comments: “This is so crazy.. I take my hat off”
A new leak for the game Pokémon Legends: Z-A suggests that the game will skip a cool detail from its predecessor.
What is this popular aspect? In the game Pokémon Legends: Arceus, there were new evolutions for already known Pokémon. For instance, the Sneasel in the game did not evolve into Weavile but into Snieboss.
This allowed players to meet familiar Pokémon with their new evolution and, of course, to catch all variations of a pocket monster. In the sequel, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, this will reportedly no longer be possible.
Here you can watch the first trailer for the new Pokémon installment:
Start video
Pokémon Legends Z-A: First Trailer for the Gameplay of the Switch Game
No new Pokémon species for Pokémon Legends: A-Z
On X, the account Centro LEAKS posted: “Pokémon Legends: A-Z will not introduce new Pokémon species.” Accordingly, only already known Pokémon are expected to appear in the game.
Nevertheless, it may be possible that previously known Pokémon will have their own variations in the game. These could differ in appearance and type and represent a regional variant.
However, something else is set to return: Mega Evolutions. Some Pokémon have been capable of undergoing a Mega Evolution using a stone since the Pokémon X and Y games. Both new and already known Mega Evolutions are expected to return.
How is the community reacting? Many voices under the leak post are disappointed:
Pokeartiste wonders (via X): “If Z stands for Zygarde, what should A be, if it’s not a new Pokémon species?”
EnvyLFC is losing interest (via X): “I mainly hunt Shinies. What’s the point of playing without new Pokémon? I’m not interested in Mega Evolutions. There must be new forms. This has to be a flat-out lie. No one plays a new game with the same Pokémon.”
Nintendo has filed a new patent aimed at improving the graphics of upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch 2. Additionally, this ignites the hopes of some fans for remakes of old classics.
What kind of patent has Nintendo filed? According to universonintendo.com, the patent involves a new technology that combines 2D and 3D graphics.
Typically, 3D graphics use perspective to convey depth, where distant objects appear smaller and closer objects larger. However, Nintendo’s new patent refines the approach by adjusting the distance between 3D objects and employs a unique shadow technique to represent depth.
The core idea behind the technology is that a 3D environment is manipulated to appear and feel like a 2D space. This not only opens up new possibilities for entirely new titles but also creates significant opportunities to revive old classics in a modern remake style.
Remakes have long been part of Nintendo’s repertoire, such as the 3D remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time:
Start video
Nintendo 3DS – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Remake Trailer
With Hybrid Graphics to New Remakes?
Why does the patent fuel hopes for old classics? The filing of a patent focused on a kind of “modern 2D graphics” suggests that Nintendo will place an emphasis on this with their upcoming console. This is also not implausible, as the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake followed a similar graphic approach and was the best-selling game in Japan in 2024 (via Gamerant).
This indicates that this modern approach to 3D-2D graphics resonates well with fans. It is hardly surprising that Nintendo is jumping on this trend. Particularly for old classics, this method is suitable because they retain their “classic” look while conveying a more modern gameplay experience.
Games like the Metroid series, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, or A Link to the Past would be suited for this technology and have always been part of Nintendo’s inventory. Classics like Harvest Moon or various titles from the Super Mario series could also lend themselves to such a remake due to their original concepts.
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To participate in the endgame in Final Fantasy XIV, you need certain item levels. How to increase these through new gear and navigate the jungle of endgame currencies is explained here.
Update from 25.03.2025: The article has been updated with the latest armor and weapons from patch 7.2. There is new dungeon armor at level 725, otherwise there are only new items starting from level 740 from Arcadion – Heavyweight (normal), Gok Tajaal – Zelenia, and crafted.
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What are item levels? Alongside your level, one of the most important prerequisites for many contents in Final Fantasy XIV is your current item level, the item level. This results from the individual levels of your currently equipped weapon, armor, and accessories.
While following the main story and completing quests, you regularly receive new equipment as a reward. In the endgame, however, it’s different: here you buy new gear with a combination of various endgame currencies and items.
To help you gradually improve your gear, we have here a guide around the currencies, exchange NPCs, and various armor sets and levels for you. This way, you always know what you can do with the Allagan stones and exchange items.
If you want to know what combat contents exist in the endgame of Dawntrail, you can read our overview about it.
Warning, spoilers: Since this concerns endgame content, spoilers for story, areas, etc. are not completely avoidable.
Start video
The new trailer for Patch 7.2 of Final Fantasy XIV shows the new, highly anticipated content
Endgame Currencies: Allagan Stones, Coins, and Exchange Items
Allagan Stones of Mathematics
With patch 7.2, the Allagan Stones of Mathematics were introduced. Currently, up to 450 stones can be earned per week. Total ownership is limited to a maximum of 2,000. They can be obtained in all contents for which there were previously Allagan Stones of Heliometry.
At NPC Zircon in Solution Nine (X: 8.6; Y: 13.5), the stones can be exchanged for new equipment.
Allagan Stones of Heliometry
Allagan Stones of Heliometry are one of the newest currencies. Since patch 7.2, the weekly limit no longer exists. You can hold up to 2000 of them at the same time.
The stones are rewards for completing level 100 combat content such as dungeons, difficult trials, raids, or hunting. Players with characters below level 100 cannot receive them.
The Allagan Stones of Aesthetics were introduced with the release of Dawntrail and cannot be obtained since the release of patch 7.2. They can now be exchanged for Allagan Stones of Heliometry.
Universal Ancient Stone & Universal Ancient Stone 2.0
A Universal Ancient Stone is an exchange item that you can obtain since patch 7.1 for four instead of seven Holo-Blades of the Halfweight. These blades are a drop from the normal version of Arkadion – Halfweight. You can receive one Holo-Blade per week.
In combination with 500 Allagan Stones of Heliometry, you can exchange them for a 720 Quetzalli weapon.
Universal Ancient Stones 2.0 have been available since patch 7.2. You get them for 7 Holo-Blades of the Heavyweight, meaning seven successful completions of the normal version of Arkadion – Heavyweight. These blades can also be obtained once per week.
In combination with 500 Allagan Stones of Mathematics, they can be exchanged for Kingdom Chronicles weapons.
The Immerfried items can be obtained from NPC Eirene in Solution Nine (X: 8.1; Y: 14.0). With them, you can upgrade the crafted 710 gear to 720.
To obtain the Immerfried Marks, you must exchange the corresponding item. Immerfried Condensate is available for Allagan Stones of Aesthetics.
Endgame Gear by Item Level
Basics around the Item Level
What item slots are there? The following gear slots are relevant for your item level.
Weapon
Left Side
Headpiece
Torso
Hands
Legs
Feet
Right Side
Earrings
Necklace
Bracelet
Ring
How is your item level calculated? Your current item level is generated from the average level of all your equipped items mentioned above. In general, the higher the item level of an item, the better.
How do I increase my item level? To increase your item level, you need to unlock and equip new gear. If you are unsure whether you already have better equipment, you can click the button Optimize Equipment in the character menu, located above the character image on the left. If you have better gear, the game will suggest the equipment to you.
Warning: Items in your normal inventory are not considered here.
Our tip for optimal use of your currencies: Optimize your equipment and then check which of the equipped items has the lowest level. Then try to specifically exchange that item for a better one.
Patch 7.0 & 7.1
Item Level 690: Artifact Gear
Throughout the main story of Dawntrail, you will meet the NPC Mewazunte in Tuliyollal at X 12.4 and Y 12.9. From him, you receive free level 99 artifact gear for your classes. The role quests are not a prerequisite for obtaining it, they simply unlock the dyeing feature.
Mewazunte gifts you a new weapon, as well as helm, chest, arms, legs, and shoes at item level 690. So everything for the left equipment side.
The accessories for item level 690 on the right side can be obtained in three different level 100 dungeons: Alexandria, Kaktorsenke, and Mahrlingen Promenade.
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural
Item Level 700: Neo-Kingdom Armor Sets
Gear with item level 700 can be obtained in Solution Nine at X 8.6 and Y 13.5. The NPC is named Zircon. For this gear, you spend Allagan Stones of Aesthetics. This is what Zircon wants:
Weapons: 500 stones
Left Side
Headpiece: 245 stones
Torso: 410 stones
Hands: 245 stones
Legs: 410 stones
Feet: 245 stones
Right Side
Earrings: 180 stones
Necklace: 180 stones
Bracelet: 180 stones
Ring: 180 stones
Item Level 710: Difficult Trials, Arkadion Halfweight and Crafter Gear
Trials: With update 7.0, two new difficult trials were released: Gok Tajaal – Valigarmanda and Gok Tajaal Zoraal Ja. For each victory over a trial, you receive totems, which you can redeem in Solution Nine at NPC Uah’shepya (X: 8.7 and Y:13.5) for weapons and accessories of level 710.
These are the available items:
Gok Tajaal – Valigarmanda: Catastrophe totem
Weapons of Catastrophe of item level 710 for 10 totems each
Mount Wings of Catastrophe for 99 totems
Gok Tajaal Zoraal Ja: Courage totem
Accessories of Courage of item level 710 for 10 totems each
Mount Wings of Courage for 99 totems
Arcadion Halfweight:The new 8-man raid series was implemented with patch 7.01. If you complete battles in the normal version, items drop as loot, for which you participate in a lottery among the group members. If you gather enough of specific items, you can exchange them for item level 710 gear – in Solution Nine at X 19.2 and Y 18.7. The NPC is Stylish Stranger.
For the Halfweight gear items, you need to exchange the following:
Headpiece: 2x Holo-Helm of Halfweight
Torso: 4x Holo-Armor of Halfweight
Hands: 2x Holo-Gloves of Halfweight
Legs: 4x Holo-Trousers of Halfweight
Feet: 2x Holo-Leggings of Halfweight
Accessories: 1x Holo-Accessory of Halfweight each
You collect the Holo-Blades until you have a total of four – you need to successfully complete Arkadion – Halfweight R4 four times. This requires you four weeks’ time.
Since patch 7.1, the weekly limit for the rewards of Arkadion – Halfweight has been lifted. You can farm items as much as you want. Only the Holo-Blades can be obtained only once per week. But you are guaranteed to receive this during your first successful completion of R4.
Crafter Gear: At the market board or even from friendly crafters, you can obtain items with level 720: the Old Kingdom Equipment. The gear can be obtained in a normal and high-quality version. These items can also be equipped with materia and even exceeded the official limits.
Item Level 720: Archangel Sets and Quetzalli Equipment
Archangel Equipment: These armor sets have item level 720. They can be obtained during and at the end of the alliance raid Jeuno: The First Stage. Currently, you can only obtain one new piece of equipment per week.
There are exclusively pieces of armor for the left side of the equipment slots.
Modified Old Kingdom Equipment: Since patch 7.1, the crafted Old Kingdom equipment with item level 710 can be upgraded to 720. The NPC you can trust is Eirene in Solution Nine at X 8.1 and Y 14.0.
For the upgrade, you need Immerfried Marks and Immerfried Condensate. The marks can be obtained in exchange for the corresponding equipment item with item level 710. The condensate is available in exchange for Allagan Stones of Aesthetics.
Quetzalli equipment items: These have item level 720. You can obtain them in exchange for Allagan Stones of Heliometry. There are weapons, armor pieces, and accessories. You can get the gear from Hhihwi in Solution Nine at x 8.7 and Y 13.4:
New! Item Level 725: Weapons of Infinity & Underfried Gear
Weapons of Infinity: With patch 7.1, the new trial Gok Tajaal – Eternal Queen was introduced. Thus, there is also a new set of weapons of level 725. Here’s how you can obtain them:
Weapon box of Infinity
Loot from Gok Tajaal – Eternal Queen
Underfired equipment
Loot from Gok Tajaal – Eternal Queen
Purchase at Uah’shepya in Solution Nine (X: 8.6; Y: 13.5)
Requires Infinity totems
Here’s how many totems the weapons cost:
Main Hand: 10 totems
Off-Hand: 10 totems (Paladin only)
New! Underfried Gear: In the dungeon Underfried Ruins (patch 7.2) armor pieces with item level 725 can be obtained. You need to open the chests found in the dungeon.
Item Level 730 & 735: Modified Quetzalli Equipment, Arkadion Halfweight (epic), Darkcloud Equipment & Ultimate Eden Dawn Weapons
For all items of this item level, you need to successfully raid Arkadion Halfweight (epic).
Arkadion Halfweight (epic): The loot from the epic version of Arkadion Halfweight can be exchanged for secret favorite armors level 730 and weapons at level 735. The NPC you can trust is still Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X: 8.7, Y: 13.4).
However, Hhihwi doesn’t just accept the Fourth Edition of the Halfweight Codex that drops in the raid, but exchanges them for each issued version:
First Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Second Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Third Edition of the Halfweight Codex
All editions can then be redeemed at Hhihwi for weapons, equipment items, and accessories:
Weapons: 8x Fourth Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Left Side
Headpiece: 4x Second Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Torso: 6x Third Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Hands: 4x Second Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Legs: 6x Third Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Feet: 4x Second Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Right Side
Earrings: 3x First Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Necklace: 3x First Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Bracelet: 3x First Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Modified Quetzalli Equipment: NPC Theone in Solution Nine at X 8.6 and Y 13.6 exchanges your Quetzalli equipment for a better version at level 730. For this, you need the item to be exchanged, as well as an additional item that you get from Hhihwi (Solution Nine; X: 8.7, Y: 13.4).
Electrified solvent: 4x Third Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Electrified fabric: 4x Third Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Electrified polishing agent: 3x Second Edition of the Halfweight Codex
Since patch 7.1, you can also exchange Electrified Fabric and Electrified Polishing Agent at the following NPCs:
NPC
Location
Exchange Item
Ryubool Ja
Tuliyollal (X:13.9 Y:13.5)
Kupo Trophies
Uah’shepya
Solution Nine (X:8.7 Y:13.5)
Ordelle Coin
You can also receive the second and third editions of the Halfweight Codex at Hhihwi in exchange for one Fourth Edition of the Halfweight Codex, which drops after victories in Arkadion Halfweight (epic).
These items are needed to get the modified equipment items from Theone:
1x Quetzalli-Weapon + 1x Electrified Solvent
1x Quetzalli-Equipment Item Left Side + 1x Electrified Fabric
1x Quetzalli-Accessories Right Side + 1x Electrified Polishing Agent
Darkcloud Equipment: Upon completing the chaotic raid The Cloud of Darkness (chaotic), you can obtain chests for item level 730 equipment. The following items are available:
Darkcloud Chest with equipment for head
Darkcloud Chest with equipment for torso
Darkcloud Chest with equipment for hands
Darkcloud Chest with equipment for legs
Darkcloud Chest with equipment for feet
The items contained in the chests can also be exchanged at Uah’shepya in Solution Nine (X: 8.6 Y: 13.5):
Head: 2 Nothing-Demimateria
Torso: 3 Nothing-Demimateria
Hands: 2 Nothing-Demimateria
Legs: 3 Nothing-Demimateria
Feet: 2 Nothing-Demimateria
You receive the Nothing-Demimateria upon successfully completing The Cloud of Darkness (chaotic). For each clear, there are two materia.
Ultimate Eden Dawn Weapons: As a reward for completing the fatal raid A Second Future, each player receives one Oracle totem. These can be exchanged at Uah’shepya in Solution Nine at X 8.6 and Y 13.5 for weapons with item level 735.
Patch 7.2
New! Item Level 740: Arkadion Heavyweight & Ceremonial Gear from the Crafters
Heavyweight Armor: Upon completion of the four new fights of the second part of the Arkadion raids, you can receive one item per fight, which can be exchanged for new armor pieces. Here’s the distribution:
Ceremonial Equipment / Crafter Gear: From patch 7.2, new crafter gear – the Ceremonial Equipment with item level 740. You can purchase it on the market board or from another player. If you have leveled up your corresponding crafters to the appropriate level and equipped them, you can also craft them yourself.
New! Item Level 745: Guardian Weapons
At item level 745, there are the Guardian Weapons. These can be obtained in exchange for the Knightess Totem or from the weapon box of the Guardian. 10 totems are needed per item. Sword and shield for Paladins can also be obtained from Guardian Paladin equipment.
The Kingdom Chronicles weapons and armors have item level 750 and were introduced with patch 7.2. You need Allagan Stones of Mathematics and Universal Ancient Stone 2.0:
As soon as there are new updates around the endgame, we will update this article accordingly. For now, we are waiting for the still missing contents of patch 7.2: The epic version of the new raid starts on April 1, later in the month the crafter and crafter endgame. However, we still have to wait quite a while for the new field exploration: until May 2025. By the way, if you’ve taken a break from the game for a while, we have 4 tips for your return.
The world of Warhammer 40,000 is dark and makes no secret of it. There are hardly any happy endings, war is constant, and allies can only be found temporarily at best. One user finds it too grim, but fans argue: it’s not that bad after all.
Warhammer is not kind and doesn’t want to be. If you ever find yourself in the grim future of the 41st millennium, you probably can choose whether you would rather be eaten by alien bugs or massacred by brutal fungi.
Even if you somehow manage to escape the war, the chances for a “nice” life are rather slim. Most of the people in the Imperium live in the slums of the metropolitan worlds and feed poorly on bland Nutripaste and corpse starch. Anyone who wants to resist will quickly find themselves facing the watch or the church.
Still, or perhaps because of this, so many fans are captivated by the world. One user on Reddit cannot understand this at all. He says he knows grim universes like Halo. But Warhammer is just completely over the top.
One of the darkest moments in the history of Warhammer 40,000 is the Horus Heresy:
Start video
Warhammer 40,000: The Cinematic Trailer for the Horus Heresy, the Great Brother War
“I’d rather deal with the Flood than this universe”
The thread creator complains: “In this universe, everyone is evil, there is nothing really positive happening. Whether you are a simple guard following the cult of a guy on a golden throne or a guy who follows the chaos gods.”
He means he would prefer to face the Flood from Halo rather than having to assert himself in the world of Warhammer. The Flood are basically virus-zombies, the classic parasites that infest and contaminate humans. But Halo still has people fighting for order.
In contrast, Warhammer is a world where there is no clear distinction between good and evil. There are several shades of moral gray, but no one here is truly “good.” Even the Emperor, who is generally considered moderate, is not as benevolent as many might think.
Fans jump in to explain that this is exactly the point that makes Warhammer so good. And the world is so exaggerated that one cannot take the whole thing seriously anyway.
“It’s so messed up that it’s cheerful again”
In the top comment, one user states, “As a lover of 40K, I find it so dark, so messed up, that it comes full circle and feels cheerful because it’s so exaggerated.” Other, grimmer universes are much more grounded in reality.
Indeed, Warhammer relies on completely absurd exaggerations. The poster boys, the Space Marines, are literally genetically enhanced superhumans with too many organs, superpowers, and weapons that a normal person couldn’t even lift.
On the other side, there are the chaos gods with their completely exaggerated domains. Slaanesh has warriors who can literally kill with music. Nurgle’s followers are constantly rotting and take pride in collecting as many diseases as possible.
In a way, Warhammer is a parody of fantasy and sci-fi settings that take themselves too seriously. And this is precisely what fans celebrate. If someone tries to bring reason into it, the response is often: “You haven’t understood the setting.”
Warhammer promotes the saying: “In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war”, or in the original: “In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war.” The universe has significantly shaped the sub-genre “grimdark”.
And despite the comic-like exaggerations, Warhammer can indeed become really, really dark at times. One user refers to a thread that shows an excerpt from a novel. There, a few imperial guards are eaten alive by Tyranids and dissolved in their stomach acid. A small warning here, the text is very detailed.
The fact that Warhammer does not hold back here, but fully embraces this dark, often exaggerated fantasy is exactly what fans appreciate. And in the end, it all comes down to perspective, whether someone is truly “evil” or perhaps shows something good somewhere.
In Pokémon GO, the Bug Crab Event is starting. As the name suggests, it brings you some Bug Pokémon – one of which is appearing for the first time.
When does the event take place? The event starts on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM and runs until Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 8:00 PM.
During the event, you will find some familiar Bug Pokémon that you have already encountered in the game. In addition, there is a completely new Pokémon, an increased Shiny chance for 2 Pokémon, and a whole range of bonuses.
Start video
Pokémon GO: What’s in the new Season Powerful and Masterful
All Contents of the Bug Crab Event
Which new Pokémon are available in the event? During the event, you can encounter and catch Thermopod for the first time. This Pokémon has the types Fire and Bug, is from the 8th Generation, and can evolve into Infernopod. You can find the monster in 1-Star Raids, through Lure Modules, and as a reward in the free, limited-time research.
Which Pokémon have an increased Shiny chance? Waumpel and Toxiped have an increased chance to appear as Shiny during the event. Both monsters can be found in the wild.
What bonuses are there in the event? There are several bonuses that are active during the event:
double catch experience points for nice, great, and excellent throws
more candies when catching with nice, great, and excellent throws
increased chance for XL candies when catching with nice, great, and excellent throws (from level 31)
Lure Modules attract Thermopod
increased Shiny chance for Waumpel and Toxiped
Lure Modules attract additional monsters when enough Pokémon have been caught
Which conditions must be met for the last bonus and how many monsters will be attracted is not known in detail.
What monsters are in the event? You can encounter various Bug Pokémon in the event, both in the wild and in raids.
In the wild:
Raupy*
Hornliu*
Waumpel*
Nincada*
Toxiped*
Lithomith*
Wattzapf*
Mabula*
Araqua*
Micrick*
Wommel* (rare)
In 1-Star Raids:
Sichlor*
Nincada*
Thermopod
In 3-Star Raids:
Bibor*
Scherox*
Axantor*
All monsters marked with an * can also appear as Shiny.
Additional contents of the event: In the event, you can complete field research for which you can receive Mega Energy, Purmel Candies, and encounters with event Pokémon. Collector Challenges and PokéStop Showcases are also part of the event again.
A free, limited-time research is also available in the event. Here you can receive a Lure Module and additional encounters with event Pokémon.
For $2 (about €2), you can also purchase a paid, limited-time research. Here you will receive a Lure Module, 2 Premium Battle Passes, and encounters with event Pokémon.
Steven Spielberg has directed many successful movies throughout his career. One year stands out in particular. Not only did he direct two classics, but they could hardly be more different.George Lucas played an important role.
Steven Spielberg has been successfully directing films since 1971. His most famous works include classics such as Jaws, E.T., Saving Private Ryan, or the Indiana Jones films, which we have rated in a ranking on MeinMMO.
1993 was a very special year for Spielberg. Two films were released within just a few months. Looking back at what they have become and how we view them today shows that the director is truly one of the greats. Because two films could hardly be more different.
Start video
Jurassic Park 3D – English Trailer
First Popcorn Movie, Then Drama
Which films were released in 1993? It was a good summer for blockbuster cinema, as Jurassic Park was released in July 1993, a box office hit that grossed an impressive 978 million dollars on a budget of 63 million dollars (via boxofficemojo.com).
In principle, this was no surprise. After the successes of Jaws and E.T., it was known that Spielberg could make successful crowd-pleasers.
What was more exciting was to see how the director dealt with a serious topic like the Holocaust. Spielberg focused on this in Schindler’s List, a three-hour black-and-white drama that tells the story of Oskar Schindler. The businessman saved around 1,200 Jews from death at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.
Schindler’s List premiered just a few months after Jurassic Park in December 1993. The film received predominantly very positive reviews and currently holds a rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Spielberg won his first Oscar for it.
What does this say about Spielberg? It is remarkable that the director managed to make two elaborate films in such a short time. Moreover, they differ greatly in mood and tone.
It is not a given that a director with a knack for popcorn movies can also master serious drama. Spielberg demonstrated in 1993 that he could do both. By the way, he was supported by Jurassic Park‘s good friend George Lucas. When Spielberg set off to shoot Schindler’s List, Lucas took over for him during the post-production of Jurassic Park (via collider.com)
This was the only way for the dino adventure to be completed, allowing Spielberg to start working on his next film.
On Steam, the MMORPG Realm of the Mad God Exalt announces comprehensive improvements. The focus is also on newcomers, even though the game has so far been something for hardcore fans.
What kind of MMORPG is this? Realm of the Mad God Exalt is an MMORPG for hardcore fans that is played from a 2D perspective. In a bullet-hell-like scenario, you control your character through the open world and dungeons, fighting against many enemies whose attacks you must dodge.
However, if you do not dodge well enough and die, the character is lost, and you start over. Therefore, this MMORPG clearly targets hardcore players who find the allure of permanent character loss exciting.
The game is among the highest-rated MMORPGs on Steam and currently has 83% positive ratings based on more than 43,000 votes.
In a new announcement, however, the developers have now announced a change in direction. From now on, the MMORPG should also invite newcomers again.
Here you can see the crazy gameplay of the MMORPG:
Start video
Realm of the Mad God Exalt shows its crazy gameplay
Newcomers are welcome
What is changing for newcomers? In a large update post on realmofthemadgod.com, the developers reported on many innovations and improvements. One of the sections is dedicated to improvements for new players. While the MMORPG has been focused on hardcore play, it will become easier for new players at first.
The system for unlocking different character classes will be changed. Instead of having to master all classes as before, the new system will now be based on fame that can be farmed with any class. This way, new players can completely skip unwanted classes in the future.
The developers themselves justify this by stating that the learning curve is currently too steep, making it difficult for newcomers to understand the game.
Additionally, the account level system is designed to allow players to level their accounts through a visible progress indicator, thereby unlocking advantages and better starting gear.
What is changing for existing players? Significant changes are also in store for players who are already familiar with the MMORPG. The important innovation is likely a change in the rarity of items. All equipment pieces now have the chance to drop with up to four enchantment slots, which can prolong the grind for better gear.
Until now, players simply farmed the desired item and left the dungeon. However, with the new system, the developers are providing an additional incentive to continue grinding to obtain an item with the right stats.
Additionally, there is a new island with a world boss, temples, unlockable content, and the new endgame dungeon “Eternity Summit,” which also presents a new god boss.
In November 2024, the MMORPG Corepunk was launched. Since then, fans have been waiting for the next big update, which is supposed to bring many of the promised improvements. After months of waiting and a delay, it is finally expected this week.
Which MMORPG is it about? Corepunk is an MMORPG that visually strongly resembles League of Legends. The HUD, perspective, and art style are very reminiscent of League of Legends, even though it is an MMORPG.
Since its release in November 2025 in Early Access, the MMORPG has not brought much new content. Fans have been waiting since release for many improvements, new content, and promised features that could partially be seen in the trailer.
The update was actually supposed to be released in February, but the developers did not meet their own deadline. The week of March 24 is when it should finally happen.
Here you can see 15 minutes of gameplay from Corepunk
Start video
Corepunk – 15 Minutes Gameplay
62 pages of innovations
What’s the deal with the 62 pages? On the Corepunk website, the developers introduced the new mega-update that is set to be released in March. They provide detailed information about the new alchemy system, which has been revamped and now offers 30 new runes.
The new PvE/PvEvP island is also presented in detail. Here, players fight against various bosses and optionally also against other players. In each round, there are different bosses that can appear and provide good loot. However, you only have one life; upon death, you lose your entire inventory and your equipment – similar to an extraction shooter.
As rewards, you can expect level 3 artifacts, weapons, and crafting recipes. Thus, the developers are clearly enticing players with strong rewards for high risks. In addition to the two major changes, there are countless smaller ones that add up.
In total, there are 62 pages full of changes when attempting to save the patch notes from the website as a PDF through the browser function. This is primarily due to the developers’ thoroughness in presenting all artworks as well as weapons along with their stats.
As Corepunk is not available on Steam, we do not have a precise insight into the success of the MMORPG. However, on Reddit, you can repeatedly read complaints from waiting users who are eager for the next update. Whether the new rune system, the new game mode, and the many small improvements will be enough to keep players engaged remains to be seen.
The developers have already announced a similarly large expansion after this update, which they themselves describe as the “second half” of their development process. Players of the MMORPG can therefore eagerly await what else will be added. Although the game is still new, MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz is already worried about its future: Which MMOs will die in 2025? I’m worried about 5 games
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new pirate MMO called Crosswind is set to be released soon on Steam. The developers are now showcasing a boss fight in a video that could easily come from Dark Souls.
What have the developers shown? In a new video on YouTube, the developers have revealed a boss fight from the new pirate MMO Crosswind for the first time. The battles in the game are reminiscent of Dark Souls.
The brawl begins with the player character dousing their weapon in some sort of tincture, presumably to buff it. Then, the pirate goes into battle with a clatter of sabers. During the fight, the player must parry the opponent’s attacks and skillfully dodge them to avoid getting hit.
While the enemy is busy casting, the player uses the opportunity to attack weak points with the saber or pistol. The boss has not only a health bar but also 5 shields that can be removed through successful counters and attacks.
Once the boss has lost all five shields, it is briefly stunned, allowing the player to deal significant damage. During the fight, the player’s health points do not regenerate. However, there are red potions in the HUD that may serve for healing.
The player also has a stamina bar that decreases with attacks and dodging maneuvers.
Here you can see the fight:
Start video
The pirate MMO Crosswind showcases a boss fight for the first time, reminding of Dark Souls
Dodge, Parry, Attack
How much Dark Souls is in Crosswind? As a survival pirate MMO, Crosswind has recently not given the impression that it shares similarities with Dark Souls. However, the new video showcasing the boss fights in the game changes that. Visually and also in terms of systems, Crosswind seems to be oriented towards soulslikes, although the difficulty level is apparently intended to be somewhat lower.
This combat system is also intriguing for the MMO aspect of the game. With all the systems in place, tactical battles could arise in multiplayer, something only a few games have implemented so far. Whether Crosswind will actually become a fully-fledged “Dark Souls” MMO cannot be determined based on the current gameplay material.
Instead, the MMO focuses on pirate battles on land and water, as well as an extensive building system that allows players to establish their own pirate hideouts. Additionally, there will be genre-typical mechanics like crafting, hunting, and resource gathering.
A staffing provider has examined which people have been particularly affected by layoffs. In particular, 5 groups have been hit hard. And Generation Z is notably not among them.
Where do the data come from? The economists of the staffing data provider Revelio Labs (Paywall) investigated a list of 17,000 professionals who have been laid off since early March 2025 (via businessinsider.com). The economists compared the data across companies and tried to evaluate which groups of people have been particularly affected by layoffs.
How long was the employment period of those laid off compared to those who were spared from layoffs?
How much did they earn?
How old were the laid-off individuals?
What kind of work did they do?
Based on these questions, the data were examined and a total of 5 groups were identified that have been particularly affected. And surprisingly, this time it does not include Gen Z.
Recently hired employees
It hits hardest those who have not been with a company for very long: Experts explain that most people have only been employed for a very short time. The average laid-off employee in the analysis conducted by Revelio Labs had been employed by their employer for 1.2 years.
Another important point that is also emphasized: For many new employees, the salary was significantly higher than that of older employees. To attract talent, very high salaries were offered. But these are now exactly the people being laid off to reduce costs in the companies.
Start video
“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real
High earners
Revelio Labs found that the salaries of those who were laid off were significantly higher in a range of professions compared to the salaries of those who kept their jobs.
The argument: Employers save more money when they cut the jobs of high earners. A person who earns significantly less financially burdens a company much less than someone who earns a fat salary each month.
Millennials
The current wave of layoffs particularly affects Millennials (born from 1980 to about 1996). Among the employers examined by Revelio Labs, Millennials were particularly represented:
Among the companies examined that laid off individuals, Millennials made up 79% of the workforce.
Of the individuals who were ultimately laid off, 94% belonged to the Millennials.
Employees of Generation X (1965 and 1980) and Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964) were largely spared from layoffs in the data presented. And the youngest workers, Generation Z, were hardly present in the layoffs. It is suspected that Gen Z simply has not earned enough to be relevant for layoffs.
Recruiters
During the recent wave of layoffs, no one was at greater risk of being laid off than recruiters. And this is quite understandable.
If there is a hiring freeze in a company, the first to be let go are usually the people who are responsible for bringing new individuals into the company. However, if no one is being hired, there is no longer a need for recruiters.
Software Engineers
Software engineers were also particularly heavily represented in the recent layoffs. For a long time, this group of people was considered especially important for large tech companies and essential for the core business of many large firms like Google, Apple, and others.
But this time, engineers were even more frequently laid off than employees in other positions. Some speculate that companies saw layoffs as an opportunity to reduce salaries back to pre-pandemic levels: Because during the pandemic, software engineers were in high demand and were lured with high salaries. And that is exactly what they are now trying to reduce again.
Another point is the huge AI hype, which currently mainly affects software developers. Mark Zuckerberg has already announced the end for programmers at Meta, as it could save salaries of hundreds of thousands of euros. And there are similar considerations in other tech firms.
A publisher does not want gamers to save money when buying their games, leading to the development of one of the best and still unique features in gaming.
What feature is being referred to? It is the so-called “Nemesis System,” which was developed by Monolith Games specifically for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and was also used in the sequel Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
In Monolith’s Middle-earth games, the mechanics generate Orc captains, each of whom has a unique, fully voiced personality and remembers past interactions with the player. Here are a few examples of how the Nemesis System works in Shadow of Mordor:
If a captain cowardly ran away during a previous battle, he will reference that encounter during the next meeting.
If a captain defeated you, he becomes stronger and may even boast about the victory by giving himself a new title.
In the sequel “Shadow of War,” the system was improved to provide more material for unique stories. There, some Orcs will gladly stab you in the back, while loyal captains may even come to your rescue or give you gifts.
Start video
Shadow of War – Trailer for the Dark Lord of the Rings Game
Used games were a thorn in the publisher’s side
What does the publisher have to do with it? The Nemesis System was WB Games’ way to prevent gamers from reselling their games – as Laura Fryer explains in a video on YouTube. Fryer was responsible for Monolith Games as Vice President at WB Games.
“It all started when Rocksteady released Arkham Asylum in 2009,” Fryer begins to explain. The first game of the Arkham trilogy sold incredibly well at first, but then sales suddenly dropped. The analysis data showed that more people were playing the game than had paid for it.
The theory was that people would complete the game and then return the game disc to a retailer for a refund, which was very common at that time.
Laura Fryer
Players save money by buying used games, and retailers also benefit from this practice, but for game developers and publishers, this was a “disaster”: WB Games supposedly lost “millions of dollars” because they only made money on the sale of the first copy.
Therefore, WB Games wanted single-player games from its studios that players would not want to resell. Since Monolith’s game engine, according to Fryer, was not yet capable of supporting an open world like in GTA and the team had no interest in multiplayer, this goal had to be achieved differently.
The developer’s solution was the Nemesis System: individual enemies, friends, and rivals with whom one connects personal experiences and stories – stories that players do not want to lose.
A player was able to learn a valuable lesson in self-love and her own dignity through Baldur’s Gate 3, which particularly relates to her real life – and that through a rather unexpected character.
She started dating a man with whom everything seemed perfect at first. But over time, the start of this potential relationship turned out to be an unhealthy interaction. The affection became increasingly distant, he didn’t let her know where he lived, regularly ghosted her, and canceled meetings without explanation. Ultimately, it turned out that he was living with his secret girlfriend the whole time.
When the author of the post confronted him, he refused to talk about his current relationship. He wanted to “take things slow.”
To cope with this disappointment, she started a new game in Baldur’s Gate 3, which provided her with distraction and comfort but also surprisingly gave her a push in the right direction. And that came from none other than the companion Wyll.
Here you can see the trailer for Baldur’s Gate 3:
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
Clarity through unconventional means
How could Wyll help the player? While playing, the author is particularly drawn to Wyll, despite being aware of his weaknesses:
I completely agree that his character has weaknesses, which is due to the fact that they changed his entire character late in production… but man, he made me feel like love should REALLY look like. (…) The way he always treats you with respect when you speak to him, his cartoonishly good heart, and the sincerity in the things he says showed me what good communication and a healthy relationship should look like. (…) Please don’t get me wrong, I’m very aware that Wyll is a video game character and not real. His love story just showed me what a happy relationship should look like and freed me from the illusion that this guy and I could ever have a healthy relationship.
Ultimately, the game gave the player the final push she needed. The next day, she wrote to the man that the whole situation hurt her, that it was over, and wished him all the best.
Why is Wyll considered one of the less popular companions? In the community, the general opinion is that Wyll is rather “boring” compared to the other characters. While other characters have stronger personalities and potential for good as well as evil directions, Wyll is more of the generic, heroic fighter who stands for honor and justice.
For this reason, the other characters had more development time, which may be one reason why companions like Astarion or Shadowheart feel more fleshed out.
What role does the community play? Under the player’s post, other users of the subreddit wish her all the best and show support and positivity.
“Congratulations on finally breaking up with this guy. You deserve better than a cheating liar,” says -Liriel-.
“So every time a guy messes up, you can just say: ‘You know what, Wyll Ravengard wouldn’t treat me like that,'” comments Mysterious_Ad_1525.
This is not the first time the game’s community has cared for one of their own. When another player was left by her ex in Baldur’s Gate 3, the community not only offered her support but also gave tips on how to feel better in the game in the most creative ways: A player was left by her ex in Baldur’s Gate 3, but the community offers her support
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Until 2024, Escape from Tarkov was a game that sparked new interest with each wipe among MeinMMO editor Dariusz, but in 2024 the developers managed to completely extinguish this interest with a blazing flame.
Escape from Tarkov received the so-called “The Unheard Edition” on April 25, 2024. This special version of the game was supposed to cost a proud 250 euros and grant players access to a new, permanent PvE co-op mode. In this mode, there are no wipes, which means players do not regularly lose all their progress.
A large part of the community was extremely angry with the developer Battlestate Games because of the new edition. The price was way too high, and the owners of the “Edge of Darkness” edition (EoD) were sure that they should have also received access to the mode – after all, they once paid 155 euros to receive all future DLCs.
Ultimately, the players forced Battlestate Games to respond to their fierce criticism, and consequently, the PvE mode should also be accessible for EoD owners and available for purchase separately for 20 €. We reported on this in 2024:
I am a stubborn customer and tend to not forgive companies easily when something frustrates me immensely. For example, I avoid a manufacturer of gaming hardware because an expensive pro controller was disappointing in quality. And Battlestate Games also let me down massively with “The Unheard Edition.” I am resentful.
In the past 10 months, I have not played Escape from Tarkov even once. I have completely lost interest in the game – even though there are still very few games that provide a real alternative. Although Battlestate Games retraced regarding the PvE mode, it was already too late. Tarkov has lost me as a player.
Start video
Escape from Tarkov Gameplay – Battle for Concordia
New edition only overflowed the cup
However, the Unheard Edition with the outrageous price was certainly not the only reason for me to stop playing Tarkov. My interest had already been steadily declining in the months before. The reason for this were well-known issues such as cheaters and poor performance.
The most annoying problem is referred to as desync. In a desync, the transmitted information is inconsistent, i.e., not synchronized. This leads to players perceiving a situation in a game differently. For example, a player I shoot at might take a step to the side and evade my bullets without me seeing it. On my screen, the information about the sideways step is delayed due to the desync and I miss my shot.
To be fair, most shooters have problems, and many games don’t run perfectly. Especially cheaters can be found in almost every shooter. I could also list countless issues in games like Counter-Strike 2 or Black Ops 6. However, Tarkov was one of those games that had a small hype with every new wipe and thus attracted players to the servers despite various issues – but this time, the hype just didn’t catch on.
Both professionally – as an editor dealing with shooters – and privately as a shooter player, I regularly look into the community of Escape from Tarkov. On Reddit, at least in my personal feeling, important topics are no longer being discussed as emotionally and vigorously.
The biggest Reddit posts about Tarkov over the last year are almost all regarding the Unheard Edition. Occasionally, there are still players with quirky clips that attract some comments expressing negativity about the state of the game, but apart from “the game is bad”, I perceive no emotion in the subreddit. In my experience, it is a bad sign when the community stops being interested in the game.
The dwindling interest is also evident on Twitch: In 2024, only 29,000 viewers watched streams of Escape from Tarkov – which is 21% fewer viewers than in 2023 (via Sullygnome). In February 2025, there were only 21,000 viewers, although the last wipe had only been in December 2024. There are still approximately 5 months until the next wipe, which is expected to be in August again.
Whether players are truly losing interest in Escape from Tarkov, however, cannot be definitively determined. We do not have concrete player numbers as is the case with games on Steam. Therefore, feel free to share in the comments whether you are still actively playing Tarkov and if not, when or why you lost interest. In the meantime, here are 7 games on Steam that you should play if you like Escape from Tarkov.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Blizzard voluntarily gives up money. A service in World of Warcraft, which previously cost euros, will soon be available for gold.
For many years, it has been criticized in World of Warcraft that some basic features for customization are only available for real money in the shop. One of these features is the renaming of guilds to give them a new name. This will soon be a thing of the past, as guilds can receive a new name without real money costs in the future.
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WoW Patch 11.1: Gallywix’s Control over the Cartels
How much will it cost? Renaming a guild will cost 200,000 gold pieces in the future and will likely be possible once a year. You can make the change at any guild master in the game, who can be found in every major city. Guards can show you the way everywhere.
Although it has indirectly been possible to rename a guild for gold by buying WoW tokens and exchanging them for Battle.net credit, the new way is much cheaper and easier.
Guild change possibly reveals date for Patch 11.1.5
When will the change happen? The change will take place on April 22, 2025 – in Europe on April 23. Therefore, many now suspect that this could also be the release date for Patch 11.1.5, as the change to guild renaming was first found on the PTR of Patch 11.1.5.
The release date for Patch 11.1.5 has not been officially confirmed yet, but perhaps until then, all interested parties should familiarize themselves with the Disturbing Visions and the best and worst feature from Battle for Azeroth.
Why is Blizzard doing this? No exact reasons were given. One theory is that the service simply wasn’t purchased often and can therefore be offered more easily in the game.
However, some fans also have the theory that Blizzard is addressing an accusation from the past. When a guild was renamed by a Game Master (for example, because the guild contained offensive words or insults), the guild then received an automated name like “Guild of [Character Name]”. If someone wanted to correct this afterwards, they had to put down real money or dissolve and recreate the guild. With a gold renaming, such a correction would now be much easier.
All in all, this is definitely a good change that provides more services in the game without primarily being associated with real money prices. So if you come to the conclusion in the near future that guild names like “XxShadowkillersxX” or “heroes of the lichds” no longer quite match your mental maturity, you can change that more easily. If you want to attempt to return to World of Warcraft, we have tips and tricks for you here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
