Monster Hunter Wilds: The Best Hammer Build for the Endgame

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

With the hammer, you can rain down raw damage in Monster Hunter Wilds on your opponents with some of the strongest attacks. For a quicker battle in the endgame, we show you the best build with weapons, armor, and decorations that you’ll need.

How is the build structured? We first provide a brief overview of the essential items such as weapons and armor for the best hammer build. Next, we explain in detail the important information about crafting your equipment, as well as choosing the right decorations for your armor. Lastly, we reveal the strength of the build.

This build will be continuously updated and completely altered depending on updates to match the current meta. So feel free to check back after each update and see what has changed.

With our directory, you can also quickly jump to the individual points of the build:

[toc]

Hammer Build: Everything about Weapons, Armor & Decorations

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: The Hammer’s Capabilities

What is the best build for the hammer? Since the hammer has a short range and a slow attack speed, we present a build that increases your affinity to 100%. This ensures that your hits deal brutal damage.

To give it an additional bonus, we focus on the element of explosion, allowing you to deal area damage when the monster’s status threshold is reached.

WeaponMotor Wankel (Artian weapon) or alternatively Graviton Hammer
ArmorGore Helm B
Arkveld Armor B
W.-Fulgur Arm Guard A
W.-Fulgur Hip Ring B
Gore Leg Protectors B
talisman Hunt Talisman

How to Craft the Best Artian Weapon for the Hammer

What do I need to build Motor Wankel? For Motor Wankel, you should ensure to choose three affinity infusions when crafting your materials. The element should be explosion to have an additional source of damage.

If you don’t have good parts or luck with the enhancement bonuses for the Motor Wankel, you can also rely on the Graviton Hammer, which you can build from the individual parts of Gravios.

For a secondary weapon, either the Rathalos Fire Sword (great sword) or Rathling Phoenix (light bowgun) are worthwhile. Both weapons have the ability “Critical Boost St. 3,” which supports your affinity. Furthermore, the Fire Sword can help you sever body parts, while the bowgun allows you to adopt a ranged play style.

Which enhancement bonuses should I focus on? When enhancing your Artian weapon, the following bonuses are especially important:

  1. Attack
  2. Sharpness
  3. Element
  4. Affinity

Make sure you can secure at least one sharpness enhancement so your weapon gains white sharpness.

What decorations are important? You can be more flexible with decorations and choose from the following options:

  • Charging/Crafting-Jwl 3
  • Critical Jwl III 3
  • Critical Element Jwl II 2

Hammer Build: Armors and Decorations

Which armors are important? For our armor choice, we focus on the following equipment and effects:

Armors

  • Gore Helm B
  • Arkveld Armor B
  • W.-Fulgur Arm Guard A
  • W.-Fulgur Hip Ring B
  • Gore Leg Protectors B
MHW-Hammer-Build
This is what the armor for the hammer build looks like

Set Bonuses

  • Gore Magalas Tyranny
    • Black Darkness I: Unleashes frenzy in battles against large monsters
  • Fulgur-Anjanath’s Will
    • Uplift I: Grants a second stamina bar.

What decorations should I use? When it comes to armor, it is primarily about selecting decorations that increase your attack and affinity, in addition to needing an effect from frenzy that boosts your infection recovery rate while also increasing your critical damage. You should equip the following:

  • Head
    • Challenger-Jwl 3
    • Growth-Jwl 1
  • Chest
    • Challenger-Jwl 3
    • Powerful Jwl 2
  • Arms
    • Figure-Jwl 1
  • Waist
    • Powerful Jwl 2
    • Counter-Jwl 2
  • Legs
    • Soften-Jwl 3
    • Sensible Jwl 1
    • Sensible Jwl 1

How Does the Strength of the Build Unfold?

Since the hammer has a slow moveset, damage must be maximized as much as possible, which is why this build is based on affinity. With the W.-Fulgur Arm Guard and 2x Powerful Jwl 2, you receive 30% affinity when your stamina bar is full for a certain time. With the additional bar you gain from Fulgur-Anjanath’s Will, the effect is almost always active.

When the monster is then enraged (15% affinity), you repeatedly attack the weak points of monsters (10% affinity) and cure the frenzy from the Gore set (15% affinity), you are at 70% affinity. If you then add the 20% affinity from your Artian weapon, you achieve 90% affinity.

If you also give your weapon 2x an enhancement bonus in the form of affinity, you reach 100% affinity.

This is a massive damage boost, and that’s not even counting the Counter-Jwl 2 for more attack after being knocked back and the explosion status effect. As you can see, despite lacking range and slow attacks, the hammer can hit like an unstoppable wrecking ball with the right build.

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Monster Hunter Wilds: Flamefete – All about time, rewards and quests
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Monster Hunter Wilds: The best character creation codes and how to use them
von Alexander Mehrwald

That was all the important information about the best hammer build in Monster Hunter Wilds. In addition to build info, tips for fighting are also important to emerge victorious. Thus, we have explained everything essential in our combat guide: The ultimate combat guide for Monster Hunter Wilds: Everything about elements, status system, and important hunting tips

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. game8.co

Monster Hunter Wilds: The best build for sword & shield in the endgame

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

With the sword & shield, you can hold on to wounds in Monster Hunter Wilds, break them, and even block attacks. For a faster fight in the endgame, we show you the best build with weapons, armor, and decorations that you need.

How is the build constructed? For the best sword & shield build, we first provide a brief overview of the essential items such as weapons and armor. Then we will explain in detail the most important information about crafting your equipment, as well as choosing the right decorations for your armor. Lastly, we reveal the strength of the build.

This build will be continuously updated and completely modified based on updates to match the current meta. So feel free to stop by after each update and see what has changed.

With our directory, you can quickly jump to the individual points of the build:

[toc]

Sword & Shield Build: All about Weapons, Armor & Decorations

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: This is how it plays with Sword & Shield

What is the best build for sword & shield? In the best build for sword & shield, the focus is primarily on quick attacks. With the high speed, you can make fast and numerous attacks.

This build relies on the frenzy feature. With the right decorations, you can extract a lot of affinity to overwhelm your hunted monsters with critical damage.

WeaponVerdoloto (Artian Weapon)
ArmorGore Helm B
Arkveld Armor B
W.-Arkveld Armguard B
Arkveld Hippo B
Gore Leggings B
talismanChain Talisman

How to build the best Artian weapon for sword & shield

What do I need to build Verdoloto? For Verdoloto, you should choose three affinity infusions when crafting your materials. You can choose the element freely, but we recommend either paralysis or sleep, as these provide the best advantages in battle.

If you do not yet have good parts or luck with the enhancement bonuses for Verdoloto, you can switch to the following alternatives, depending on your preferred element:

  • Fire: Rays Crown
  • Water: Sandsea Katduva
  • Thunder: Fulgur Sword Guardiana
  • Ice: Cliffs Mateptro
  • Dragon: Hunter Ankh

As a secondary weapon, the dual blades “Hunger Claws” from Gore Magala are worthwhile due to the fast playstyle, as they significantly increase your elemental damage when the “Critical Element” perk is active.

Which enhancement bonus should I focus on? When enhancing your Artian weapon, the following bonuses are particularly important in priority:

  1. Element
  2. Affinity
  3. Attack
  4. Sharpness

Which decorations are important? With the decorations, you can be more flexible and choose the following options:

  • Guardian/Craft Jwl 3
  • Critical Jwl III 3
  • One Element/Critical Element Jwl 3 (depending on the element of the Artian weapon)

Sword & Shield Build: Armors and Decorations

Which armors are important? For our choice of armor, we rely on the following equipment and effects:

Armors

  • Gore Helm B
  • Arkveld Armor B
  • W.-Arkveld Armguard B
  • Arkveld Hippo B
  • Gore Leggings B
MHW-Sword-and-Shield-Build
This is what the armor for the sword and shield build looks like

Set Bonuses

  • Gore Magala’s Tyranny
    • Black Darkness I: Triggers frenzy in battle against large monsters
  • Arkveld’s Hunger
    • Quick Recovery I: Restores some health as long as you continuously attack monsters. Recovery depends on the weapon

Which decorations should I use? With the armor, it is mainly about selecting decorations that increase your attack and elemental damage. Additionally, due to frenzy, you need an effect that increases your recovery rate from infection and at the same time your critical damage. The following should be equipped:

  • Head
    • Chain Jwl 3
    • Buffer Jwl 1
  • Chest
    • Chain Jwl 3
    • Phoenix Jwl 2
  • Arms
    • Figure Jwl 1
    • Figure Jwl 1
    • Figure Jwl 1
  • Waist
    • Figure Jwl 1
    • Figure Jwl 1
  • Legs
    • Chain Jwl 3
    • Reason Jwl 1
    • Reason Jwl 1

How does the strength of the build unfold?

The sword & shield does not deal much damage per hit, but due to the speed of the weapon, you can land many hits in a short time to maximize your attack and elemental damage. With the Arkveld set bonus, you benefit, as continuous attacks regenerate your health bar.

With the set bonus from the Gore armor, you will additionally be infected with frenzy. When healed, you gain a significant boost in your affinity to deal critical damage more often. If you maintain your attacks and continue to apply pressure on the monster, you increase your affinity and can heal yourself at the same time. This is an aggressive gameplay style that is definitely worth it if you master it.

A passive play style is also possible thanks to the shield, and through the grip mechanic of the weapon, you can latch onto weak points and destroy them in seconds to inflict immediate critical damage.

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von Alexander Mehrwald
Monster Hunter Wilds: Flamefete – All about time, rewards and quests
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Monster Hunter Wilds: The best character creation codes and how to use them
von Alexander Mehrwald

These were all the important details about the best sword & shield build in Monster Hunter Wilds. In addition to information on the build, tips for combat are also important to come out victorious. Therefore, we have explained everything important in the combat guide: The ultimate combat guide to Monster Hunter Wilds: Everything about elements, status systems, and important hunting tips

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. game8.co

Palworld: All about crossplay, coop and PvP on Steam, PS5 and Xbox

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 5 minutes

You can play Palworld on Steam, on Xbox, in Game Pass, and starting today on PS5. But what about multiplayer? MeinMMO explains what you need to know about multiplayer, servers, and crossplay.

Do you want to play Palworld in multiplayer but don’t know what to consider? MeinMMO explains what you should know before jumping into a match with friends. We will explain how to create a match, with which platforms crossplay works, and which progress you can carry over.

With the big Sakurajima update for Palworld, a lot of content has been added to Palworld, which we also want to address.

Will Palworld work the same on PS5? MeinMMO assumes that all information contained in this article also applies to the PS5 version.

Palworld: Multiplayer Guide Overview:

[toc]

The article was first published on January 22, 2024. We updated the article on March 19, 2025, and added new information about crossplay, which has been expanded with update 0.500. We also adjusted the structure and moved crossplay to the top.

Last updates: 03/19/2025, 03/05/2025, 02/14/25, 03/19/24, 01/29/24, 01/22/24, 09/25/24

Palworld: Crossplay with PC, PS5, Xbox, and Game Pass

Is there crossplay? On March 19, 2025, the Update 0.50 for Palworld was released. Now crossplay is supposed to be available for all platforms.

Yes, there is crossplay, but there are a few restrictions you need to consider (as of March 5, 2025):

  • PC and Xbox: Players on Xbox Series X|S can play together with players who started their game on PC via Game Pass.
  • Steam and Xbox: Xbox and the Steam version of Palworld can now play together since the update.
  • PS5 and PC: Crossplay between the PS5 and PC versions of Palworld should also be possible since update 0.50. More info on the PS5 version of Palworld can be found on MeinMMO.
  • PS5 and Xbox: Crossplay between PS5 and Xbox Series X|S is now possible in Palworld.
  • Steam and Game Pass: Crossplay between the Steam version and players with Game Pass is currently possible.

Developer Pocket Pair announced on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of Palworld that they plan to work on a crossplay feature across all devices for the release. Now they have fulfilled their promise.

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Palworld: With a trick, you can significantly increase performance, but it has a downside
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Multiplayer – PvE, PvP, and Progress

Does Palworld offer multiplayer? Yes, you can play Palworld both in single-player and multiplayer. You can also play offline alone. The best tips for Palworld can be found on MeinMMO.

What multiplayer options are there? At the current time (as of March 5, 2025), you can play Palworld in the following ways:

  • In coop with up to 4 players.
  • On a server with up to 32 players. Here you can choose between different regions, such as EU, NA, or China.
  • With the arena, Palworld also now offers PvP content, functioning as 4v4 matches where each player can bring three Pals per player.

What you should consider in multiplayer:

  • All progress is saved by the host. If the host deletes the game, your character is gone.
  • Your character is saved in the host’s game. If you rejoin a match, all progress of your character (level, inventory, technology, Paldex) is retained.
  • You cannot carry a character from single-player to multiplayer. This is expected to come later as an update.
  • Steam achievements work for the host, for the teammates only the achievements for the bosses at the moment.
  • Server settings can be changed by the host as often as desired before each start. Therefore, you can also make your game easier or harder later.
  • In the future, it should also be possible to transfer captured Pals between servers.

If you have problems and difficulties with multiplayer in Palworld, please check the following guide directly on MeinMMO:

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Palworld multiplayer not working – What to do?
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Palworld: All Current PvP Content

What kind of PvP does Palworld offer? With the Sakurajima update, Palworld has received a PvP arena. This serves as a fun additional mode without leaderboards.

The arena offers 4v4 matches, where each player can bring three Pals per player. Additionally, players can bring their best and favorite weapons. All items consumed in the arena (ammunition, consumables) will be fully refunded upon leaving the match.

Start video
Palworld: Feybreak – Trailer presents free update with loads of new content

Palworld: Server or Coop Game?

Choose Server: The official servers are hosted by Palworld, and the performance is handled by the provider. However, you cannot freely choose with which players you play there. Depending on the selected region, the ping of your connection can be very high. All admin commands for your server in Palworld can be found in the following article.

Hosting Server: With the Steam version, you can also host private servers. Currently, you have two options:

  • Either you host the game on your own gaming PC. However, the server will shut down every time you turn off your PC.
  • Or you can choose a dedicated hosting provider, where you rent a place for yourself. Prices vary between 10 and 15 euros.

Since the Sakurajima update, there are finally dedicated servers for Xbox and Game Pass users.

Palworld Server Minimum Requirements for 1-8 Players

CPUProcessor with 4 cores
Memory16 GB + 1 GB for each additional player
NetworkUDP Port 8211
Storage30 GB, SSD preferred; slow storage may corrupt save data
Operating SystemWindows 64bit or Linux 64bit (e.g., Ubuntu)

Dedicated Server vs Community Server:

  • Dedicated Server: You host the client independently from the game. Players connect to it via an IP address and port. You can create the game privately or publicly.
  • Community Server: Similar to a dedicated server, but the game is listed in the official server lists of Palworld. This allows it to be displayed in the game’s client section in the general server list that players can join.

Hosting Coop Game: You host coop games privately on your computer, but it requires fast hardware. You can invite players to your private match. Up to 4 players are possible simultaneously.

Server or Coop: If you prefer a stable connection and want to play with friends or people you know, then you should create a coop match. However, keep in mind that progress is only saved by the host.

More about Palworld
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Palworld: The best Pals for combat, base, and as mounts
von Benedikt Schlotmann
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Palworld: The best building spot and best campsite – Tips and 3 recommendations for the start
von Benedikt Schlotmann
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Palworld: The 10 strongest Pals for battle, according to an expert’s tier list
von Sophia Weiss

Hosting Multiplayer Game – Requirements and Settings

You need to consider: If you want to host a multiplayer game, the creator (host) must bear the entire performance of the game. If you do not have enough processing power, you can also reduce certain settings of the server, such as how many Pals spawn when and how often, or how many resources can be lying around. The system requirements of Palworld in detail can be found explained in detail on MeinMMO.

Create a New Multiplayer Game:

  • Select “Start Game” from the main menu.
  • In the next menu, select a world or press “create new world.”
  • Enter a world name and confirm it.
  • In the next menu, slide the slider for “Multiplayer” from “Off” to “On.” Now multiplayer is activated.
  • In the next step, you can choose a preset difficulty level or customize your settings.
  • Now click on confirm and confirm the following prompt as well.
  • In the next step, create your character.
  • Once you are in the game, press Escape, and then you will see the main menu. Here you will see the invitation code in the upper right corner.
  • Your friends press “Join Multiplayer Game (Invitation Code)” in the main menu and can enter your code there.
  • If everything works out, your teammates will then enter the character creation.
Tip: You can convert a single-player game into a coop game at any time. To do this, go to the server settings and activate multiplayer. However, this only works from the main menu. It is not possible from an active game.

All Guides for Palworld: Are you looking for more tips, tricks, and help for Palworld? Then check out MeinMMO.

We are following the game for you and have compiled all guides that are meant to help you into a clear list. Here you can find everything at a glance: Palworld Guides: All Tips, Tricks, and Pals at a Glance

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

Notorious MMORPG Charges Players $50 per Hour for Simple Account Support

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

The SciFi MMORPG Entropia Universe is known for high real cash transactions. Normally, however, these refer to properties, buildings, weapons, or other in-game investments … and not to the account service from support.

What does the MMORPG want money for? Apparently for the provision of billing information for an account that is more than a year old. Specifically, it is about a case involving the player petscopkid, who reached out to Entropia Universe support because he needs his payment history for tax purposes, dating back to May 2023.

The problem: It seems that only details from the past twelve months can be viewed through one’s own profile. After a brief back-and-forth with support (screenshot of the conversation via Reddit), petscopkid received the information that they have to charge fees for the provision of payment details that go back more than a year.

The cost for this fun is said to be 500 PED per started hour of work, which would translate to 50 US dollars per hour. In other words: The support of Entropia Universe wants to be paid extra by the players for processing a standard support request regarding the provision of basic information about their account.

A look at the world of Entropia Universe:

Start video
Visual Style Showcase (Pre-Alpha) for Entropia Universe

“I am shocked”

How does the community react to this? Since Entropia Universe enjoys a certain reputation, many commenters are not surprised by petscopkid’s experience report. However, this support policy is sharply criticized nonetheless.

  • _generic writes on Reddit: “The company that defrauds players out of hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars is also robbing them of support? I AM SHOCKED!”
  • Cold_Associate2213 cannot believe it (via Reddit): “Why is this [game] even still around? Why are people still giving them money? Their product has been and will always be garbage.”
  • CantAffordzUsername has a clear opinion on Reddit: “Oh my God, what a scam. Just abandon this crap and let it die.”

However, in the comments, there is also some player who looks (somewhat) positively at Entropia Universe. Kamioni writes on Reddit, for example:

It is an old game and back then, before the era of NFTs and similar monetization scams, this was a huge and unique incentive for an MMO. Personally, I invested over 1,000 dollars in the game more than a decade ago because I thought I could earn it back.

The surprising thing is that my investments actually paid off after all these years, because I had originally invested in properties in the game and got back at least three times my initial deposit.

However, when I tried to withdraw the money, there was a catch. Somehow it takes almost half a year for them to transfer the money through some dubious banking service. While it is not exactly a “scam,” the company is certainly shady and inexplicably holds your money for an unreasonably long time.

What do I need to know about Entropia Universe? The SciFi MMORPG by MindArk was originally called Project Entropia and aimed to provide a virtual experience more than 20 years ago, which today would be marketed with the metaverse and implemented with blockchain technology.

In the planets of the universe, a large part revolves around ownership and real cash trading. Sometimes weapons for 47,000 euros, shares in space stations for 500,000 US dollars or clubs for 635,000 US dollars are traded.

One of the more well-known stories: British actor Jon Jacobs treated himself to a virtual vacation resort in Entropia Universe for the equivalent of 100,000 US dollars. Through the sale of mining and hunting rights as well as the rental of hotel suites, he is said to have made over a million US dollars.

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Apart from trading, hunting, and mining, the game also offers MMO activities such as quests or PvP battles in space. And in the past year, the developers had a remarkable idea to lead their game into a golden age: Company implements AI presidents to manage their SF MMORPG.

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

In a dark version of the Avengers, villains disguise themselves as well-known Marvel heroes to pursue their own goals

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

The Avengers are a heroic group in the films of Marvel that has saved the world multiple times. However, not all members and individuals behind the Avengers have always been on the good side. Due to their own failures, they were replaced, by one of the nastiest villains.

Which villain is it about? During the big comic event Secret Invasion, the Skrulls, who can disguise themselves as other people, infiltrated humanity. In the finale of the event, it is not an Avenger or a known hero who defeats the queen of the Skrulls, but Norman Osborn, who is known to many as the Green Goblin.

Due to the failure of technology from Stark Industries and the Avengers, the group was disbanded, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was also replaced. H.A.M.M.E.R. took over the tasks of S.H.I.E.L.D. The company is led by Norman Osborn, who takes over the Avengers Initiative.

Instead of the known heroes, Osborn replaces them with villains who disguise themselves. The new Dark Avengers are not just new heroes; they have their own motivations.

Image rights for Spider-Man (2002) are held by Sony Pictures Entertainment
Start video
Deutscher Trailer zu „Marvel’s The Avengers“

Known villains disguised as heroes

Which members do the Dark Avengers have? Maria Hill, who led S.H.I.E.L.D. before the takeover, was replaced by Osborn with Victoria Hand. Since Osborn wanted a loyal team, he assembled the new Avengers with villains and anti-heroes.

  • Bullseye disguised himself as Hawkeye
  • Moonstone became the new Ms. Marvel
  • Venom disguised himself as Spider-Man
  • Daken, the son of Wolverine, disguised himself as his father
  • The Kree Noh-Varr became Captain Marvel
  • There was also the god Ares and the insane Sentry

As the leader of the Avengers, Osborn became the Iron Patriot, a mix of Iron Man and Captain America. However, Osborn did not just want to form a new group of heroes; he also used them for himself and his partners. During the first mission, the Dark Avengers helped the villain Dr. Doom.

Due to intrigues and hidden motives of the members and allies, there were often disagreements, which is why some members disappeared. When Noh-Varr found out who was behind all his colleagues, he left the new Avengers.

The greatest weapon for Osborn was Sentry. He is actually Robert Reynolds, who is not fundamentally evil but is plagued by The Void. The entity is bound to Reynolds. His normal self and The Void are in an internal struggle, which constantly plagues Reynolds. This is particularly dangerous because he has the power to destroy the whole world and the universe.

Osborn takes advantage of this to control Sentry for his purposes, because with his abilities, Osborn can defeat any enemy.

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Osborn’s own demons

The Dark Avengers did not last long. Besides the problems with Sentry and his unstable mentality, Osborn had to deal with his own demons. Under stress, he succumbed to his own madness. After a conflict with his former partner Dr. Doom, Loki seized the opportunity to manipulate Osborn.

Under Loki’s influence, Osborn believed that Asgard was a threat to his own power. With a trick, Osborn, together with Loki, made sure that the Dark Avengers, H.A.M.M.E.R, the Thunderbolts, and other allies attacked Asgard.

He unleashed the power of Sentry as The Void to defeat Thor and Ares, who had betrayed Osborn. During the battle, Ares was killed by Sentry.

In the background, Steve Rogers planned to finally take down Norman Osborn. Together with Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and the Young Avengers, they defeated Osborn during the battle in Asgard. However, Osborn unleashed Sentry as The Void, and the heroes could only defeat him with the help of Loki. Thor killed Sentry out of mercy and hurled him into the sun. H.A.M.M.E.R was overthrown, Osborn and most members of the Dark Avengers were arrested.

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Has Osborn given up? As is typical for villains, Osborn did not give up. He later re-established the Dark Avengers with new members:

  • Ai Apaec becomes Spider-Man
  • Trickshot becomes Hawkeye
  • Toxic Doxie becomes Scarlet Witch
  • Superia becomes Ms. Marvel
  • Gorgon becomes Wolverine

In addition, Skaar, the son of Hulk, was also a member of the team. However, this attempt by Osborn ultimately failed as the various members and partners regularly caused conflicts and betrayals with their evil nature.

How can I read the story of the Dark Avengers? If you want to read the backstory, you should first read the event Secret Invasion from 2008. After that, the comic series Dark Avengers was published between 2009 and 2010. The series has 16 volumes, and the finale is the battle in Asgard. Even heroes can turn into nasty villains: 7 ruthless things demonstrate the dark side of Tony Stark in the Marvel universe

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Dark Avengers auf Marvel Database
  2. Robert Reynolds auf Marvel Database
  3. Marvel.com
  4. Titelbildquelle: Sony Pictures Entertainment auf YouTube

Hasbro has plans for Baldur’s Gate 4, but fans believe: “A studio would have to be insane to imitate Larian”

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

While Larian Studios achieved a huge success with Baldur’s Gate 3 the studio wants to move away from the world of Dungeons & Dragons with its future projects and instead focus on original ideas. Now, Hasbro has to find out what the possible future of Baldur’s Gate could look like.

What is the future of Baldur’s Gate? The rights to the brand and games related to D&D have been owned by the American company Hasbro since April 2022. In a conversation with IGN at the Game Developers Conference 2025, Hasbro’s senior vice president for digital games revealed that they are thinking about the future of Baldur’s Gate and are developing plans that they could discuss in “short order.” He is holding back in this context:

It is a rather unenviable position. I mean, we are not in a hurry. Or? (…) We have many plans, many different ways to achieve that. We are starting to think about it. And I think that we will be talking about some other things soon, as I said, not to give away too much.

Dan Ayoub, Senior Vice President for Digital Games at Hasbro in an interview with ign.
GameStar Black Edition Baldur's Gate 3 05/25
GameStar Black Edition Baldur’s Gate 3 05/25
Bundle aus Heft und Epaper
Exklusiv im GameStar Shop – Ab sofort verfügbar
  • 200 Seiten zum Rollenspiel-Hit 
  • detaillierte Komplettlösung mit Entscheidungshilfen
  • Profi-Tipps zum Zaubern, Schleichen, Kämpfen uvm.
  • stabile Charakterkarten zu den Origins aus dem Spiel
  • XXL-Doppelposter (57,4 x 78,0 cm)
  • könnt ihr nicht daten – egal wie sehr ihr es liebt
14,99 €

What he reveals, however, is that after the transition from Larian Studios, there are many people who are very interested in Baldur’s Gate. The community reacts to this statement.

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

“A lot of people are interested” – But not Larian

What is the reaction of the community? In the comments of the article by IGN, the community’s reaction to a Baldur’s Gate franchise without Larian Studios becomes clear:

“Inspired by the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Hasbro hints at plans to exploit the now profitable IP in the future,” is the most popular comment. The response of another user reads:

Their problem is that there is only one Larian. The bar is set so high that a fourth game would most likely disappoint. I would bet that they would milk the franchise with a movie and a TV series, and then risk a fourth game.

A comment from the user “Striferias” sums up the overall sentiment best: “A studio would have to be crazy to try to emulate Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3.”

What is Larian Studios working on instead? Studio head Swen Vincke announced at last year’s Game Developers Conference 2024 that Larian does not want to make another game in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons. 

Instead, they are currently working on two new projects, which are still said to be in the early stages. Vincke says that he and the team are very hyped, but it is justified hype as it feels good and looks really good (via Steam).

More on Baldur’s Gate 3
Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 will soon conquer BookTok, receives own novel by a strong fantasy author
von Caroline Fuller
Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
von Johanna
Baldur’s Gate 3: Decipher the ancient book – How to find and open the necromancy of Thay
von Fabienne Kissel

What is Swen Vincke’s view on the future of single-player games? Larian president Vincke has publicly expressed critical views several times about the current state of game development. He has now also recently commented on the status of single-player games, which are often declared dead. However, Vincke has a different, more nuanced opinion: Single-player games are dead – the head of Baldur’s Gate 3 believes that is complete nonsense

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

One of the best strategy games on Steam is getting a new DLC that brings the arch-enemies of the assassins into the game

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

A popular strategy game on Steam is getting a DLC with two new factions, and one of them you know from a legendary game series.

Which game is being talked about? We are referring to Age of Empires 4: The latest installment in the legendary strategy game series and one of the currently most played RTS games on Steam (via steamdb.info). In a new trailer, the developers briefly showcase all the new content of the DLC “Knights of Cross and Rose”.

You can watch the trailer for the DLC here:

Start video
Age of Empires 4: Trailer shows the Templars from the new DLC in action

Age of Empires now lets you play the arch enemies of the Assassins

What’s included in the DLC? The centerpiece consists of the two new playable factions: the Knights Templar and House Lancaster. And yes, the Knights Templar are exactly the order that fans of Assassin’s Creed have been battling against for ages – at least in the older parts of the series.

These factions are referred to as “variant civilizations”. This means they share some aspects with already existing civilizations in the game – the Knights Templar share elements with the French, while House Lancaster shares with the British. Nevertheless, both factions are said to offer their own gameplay mechanics and a variety of special units.

The Knights Templar utilize a mix of European military traditions and are thus well-rounded. In contrast, Lancaster builds a flourishing economy that can be invested in technological advantages.

Also included in the DLC are:

  • 4 historical battles that you can complete for medals
  • An optional Conqueror Mode that makes the historical battles even more challenging
  • 10 new maps for skirmishes against AI and multiplayer mode

When is the DLC coming out? Age of Empires 4: Knights of Cross and Rose will be released on April 8, 2025, for PC on Steam, in the Microsoft Store, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

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The creators of Vampire Survivors prove that they are not one-hit wonders, releasing the next Steam hit
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Xbox Game Pass owners can play Age of Empires 4 at no additional cost. On Steam, the base game currently costs only €15.99 – but only for a limited time. So if you don’t own Age of Empires 4 yet or want to persuade friends, now would be a good opportunity.

At the beginning of March, Age of Mythology Retold also received a new DLC. The remake dares to bring the Chinese pantheon into the game for the second time – this time with success. More about that can be read here: A DLC from Age of Mythology was “mostly negative” back then – now it will be released in a new version, costing 20 euros

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

Pokimane complains that other women on Twitch insult her just to please men

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The 28-year-old Imane “Pokimane” Anys was for a long time the only woman among the top 25 streamers on Twitch in the late 2010s. Today, she lashes out at other female streamers. Pokimane believes that some women on Twitch deliberately insult her to gain viewers for themselves. For her, this borders on the behavior of Pick-Me Girls.

This was the situation for Pokimane: Pokimane started as a League of Legends streamer but recognized her opportunity to make streaming her full-time job with the hype around Fortnite starting in 2017. When success came, she dropped out of school and became a full-time streamer.

For many years, she was the only woman at the top of Twitch and thus had a prominent position:

  • She tried to build a friendly and nice community, consciously addressing topics like “unhealthy relationships” between viewers and female streamers. She even set a cap on donations.
  • Pokimane seemingly wanted to avoid the image that she was sexualizing herself as a woman to please male viewers. She did not want to be seen as an “E-Girl” like other women on Twitch during her time: like Amouranth, Alinity or Indiefoxx
  • Critics accused her nonetheless of having her viewers donate money to her simply because she is a woman and they calculated romantic chances with her. Her consciously nice image was criticized as hypocritical. The term “Pokimane Tier 3 Supporter” became a widely used phrase, and her viewers were considered the first “Simps” on Twitch.

As the hostility grew stronger, Pokimane took a few steps back, left Twitch, and switched to YouTube. In the meantime, she is active on Twitch again, but not as much in the spotlight as before. Instead of 20,000 viewers, she now has around 10,000.

There are now also some other successful female streamers on Twitch.

Start video
3 German Twitch streamers you should know

Women on Twitch call her a “Bitch”

This is what she says now: In a podcast from March 17, 2025, Pokimane expresses her annoyance over how other women treat her on Twitch:

Every time I get involved in a controversy or ‘drama’ online, I see other female streamers promoting their streams by putting me down. Come and watch my stream, I’m not like that B-word Pokimane!

She says: Maybe the female streamers who talk her down gain more viewers for a few evenings, but what kind of community are they building?

Segment starts at 12:25 minutes:

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In this way, as a woman, one just ends up with a bunch of guys who are misogynistic. Pokimane says: Exactly those men would turn against the new female streamer as soon as something happened.

For Pokimane, women who treat her this way are moving towards being “Pick me” girls.

This issue troubled Pokimane back in 2019, and her views have apparently only intensified since then:

pokimane
Source: X

What is a Pick-me Girl? “Pick me” girls are women who behave in such a way that men perceive them as uncomplicated and thus more attractive. They want to “not be like other women” and often loudly reject things that other women typically like.

They are accused of pretending and downplaying their own needs. This is viewed as unsupportive of other women.

For many years, female streamers and their appearances on Twitch have been a major topic in the community. Some female streamers consciously played with the potential for outrage: Twitch streamer shamelessly demands subscriptions: “Being broke is not an excuse”

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

Monster Hunter Wilds: The Best Great Sword Build in Endgame

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

With the great sword, you can deal devastating damage and block attacks in Monster Hunter Wilds. For a faster endgame fight, we show you the best build with weapons, armor, and decorations that you need.

How is the build structured? We first provide a brief overview of the essential items such as weapons and armor for the best great sword build. We will then explain in detail the most important information about crafting your equipment, as well as the selection of the right decorations for your armor. Finally, we reveal the strength of the build.

This build will be continuously updated and completely modified as necessary according to updates, so that it corresponds to the current meta. So feel free to check back after every update to see what has changed.

With our directory, you can quickly jump to the individual points of the build:

[toc]

Great Sword Build: All About Weapons, Armor & Decorations

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: Capcom shows how battles with the Great Sword work

What is the best build for the great sword? For the great sword, you have two endgame builds that you can use:

  • High Affinity + Sleep
  • High Affinity + Paralysis

While Sleep makes your opponent very vulnerable to damage for a short moment when they wake up, Paralysis is especially useful in group play when other players also want to paralyze the monster – extending the duration of a relaxed damage phase.

Since group play is not everyone’s cup of tea, we present you the Sleep build. Let’s move to a brief overview of the necessary items:

WeaponVarianza (Artian Weapon) or alternatively Duskwood
ArmorDahaad Helm A
Arkveld Armor B
W.-Arkveld Armguard B
W.-Arkveld Waistcoat B
Dahaad Leggings B
TalismanHunter’s Talisman

How to Craft the Best Artian Weapon for the Great Sword

What do I need to build Varianza? When crafting Varianza, you should focus on selecting two affinity infusions and one attack infusion from your materials. Additionally, make sure to select at least two materials of the “sleep” element type – so that you also gain sleep as an element after the build.

If you don’t have good components for Varianza yet, you can also use the Duskwrath, which is the great sword from Gore Magala of rarity 8.

As a secondary weapon, the Hunting Horn is also advantageous due to its buffs, as it can increase the attack power of all players within a certain radius.

Which enhancement bonuses should I focus on? When enhancing your Artian weapon, the following bonuses are especially important in priority:

  1. Attack
  2. Affinity
  3. Sharpness
  4. Element

Which decorations are important? For the decorations, you can be more flexible and choose from the following options:

  • Focus/Crafting-Jwl 3
  • Critical Jwl III 3
  • Guardian/Crafting-Jwl 3
    • Alternatives: Focus Jwl III 3, Guardian Jwl III 3 (if no hybrid decorations are available)

Great Sword Build: Armors and Decorations

Which armors are important? For our armor choice, we focus on the following gear and effects:

Armors

  • Dahaad Helm A
  • Arkveld Armor B
  • W.-Arkveld Armguard B
  • W.-Arkveld Waistcoat B
  • Dahaad Leggings B
  • Hunter’s Talisman
MHW-Great Sword Build
This is what the armor for the great sword build looks like

Set bonuses

  • Jin-Dahaad’s Revolt
    • Bind Counter I: Increases attack briefly after recovering from Entangled, Frostbite, Power Struggle or Being Stunned
  • Guardian-Arkveld’s Vitality
    • Decimator I: Restores some health when the wound of a large monster is maximized.

Which decorations should I use? In armor, it’s mainly about choosing decorations that increase your affinity on weak spots, reduce stamina consumption when dodging, and speed up sheathing your sword. You should equip the following:

  • Helmet
    • Figure-Jwl 1
  • Chestpiece
    • Softening-Jwl 3
    • Counter-Jwl 2
  • Armguards
    • Sheath-Jwl 1
    • Sheath-Jwl 1
    • Sheath-Jwl 1
  • Thighguards
    • Counter-Jwl 2
    • Figure-Jwl 1
  • Armored Boots
    • Counter-Jwl 2

How Does the Strength of the Build Unfold?

This build allows for an aggressive playstyle. Your task now is to hit your monster as often as possible. Feel free to take risks and let yourself get hit to temporarily increase your damage. When the monster is then asleep and a wound can be attacked, you should aim for it and charge your attack.

Due to weak point advantage, the chance of a critical hit is increased, and every attack that hits the sleeping monster will always be doubled. This way, you can deal massive damage without having to exert yourself.

Since the great sword can even block attacks, you are also well-prepared for wild monsters. However, if you play in a team, you should additionally bring the Hunting Horn and play some buffs on your horn.

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These were all the important details about the best great sword build in Monster Hunter Wilds. In addition to information about the build, tips for fighting are also crucial to come out victorious. That’s why we have explained everything important in the battle guide again: The Ultimate Battle Guide to Monster Hunter Wilds: All About Elements, Status System, and Important Things for Hunting

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. game8.co

WoW: 4 dungeons are nerfed, Mythic+ becomes even easier

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

It’s Wednesday again, which means new buffs and nerfs in World of Warcraft. Several dungeons are becoming easier, which should please fans of “Mythic+”.

The second season of World of Warcraft: The War Within has been running for a few weeks now, and there are fewer and fewer major adjustments. However, Blizzard is once again addressing the current dungeons and adjusting some requirements slightly. Many of the current dungeons will become a bit easier, while one of them will get a tad tougher.

We have all the changes to the dungeons ready for you.

Start video
WoW Patch 11.1: Gallywix’s Control over the Cartels

WoW: Patch Notes from 19.03.2025 – All Dungeon Changes

The following adjustments are already active.

Meatbrew Depot

  • The projectile from Chef Nager’s Meat Missile now has a flight time of 2.5 seconds (previously 1.5 seconds).
  • Compliments from Chef Nager’s cooking no longer make nearby creatures immune to control effects.
  • The damage-over-time effect from Flammable Barrel of the Enraged Brute now lasts only 6 seconds (previously 8 seconds).
  • The explosion of Benk’s Honey Marinade deals 48% less damage.
  • The damage-over-time effect from I’pa’s Burning Fermentation deals 20% less damage.

Darkflame Split

  • The time limit has been reduced to 31 minutes (previously 33 minutes).
  • Shadow Stalk from the Corridor Creeper can now be cleansed.
  • A bug has been fixed where certain area effects could also hit targets outside the previously marked area.

Operation: Lock

  • Mudslide from Swampface deals 25% less damage.
  • The flight time of Battery Blitz from the Bridger of the Dark-Smerged has been increased to 3 seconds (previously 2 seconds).
  • The initial damage from Spitgulp of Blubbi has been reduced by 20%.

Mechagon: Workshop

  • A bug has been fixed where the rotating saws were not displayed correctly during the Machine Garden boss fight.

Sanctum of the Holy Flame

  • The time limit has been increased to 32 minutes and 30 seconds (previously 31 minutes).
  • Baron Braunspyß now uses his abilities in a consistent order.
More about WoW:
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
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WoW: Midnight Tier List – Ranking of the Best Classes for DPS, Tanks and Healers
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von Karsten Scholz

What else will change? In addition to the dungeons, many players assume that there will also be some revisions of classes soon. During the “World First Race”, some classes proved to be overpowered and led the professional guilds to victory in a significant way. Especially monks and fire mages are currently worried whether there will be significant nerfs coming their way. With a bit of luck, Blizzard will, however, take the path of strengthening all other classes – but that remains to be seen.

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

“Then Pokémon will fall” – CEO talks about the end of Pokémon, estimates when it will happen

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

In an interview with the BBC, the head of the Pokémon company spoke about the Pokémon brand and where he sees a potential danger.

Who is the CEO? It is Tsunekazu Ishihara, who has been leading the Pokémon company since 1998. He spoke in an interview with BBC News about the company, why it is so successful, potential dangers to the brand, and what the future looks like.

Here you can watch the trailer for the new series Pokémon Horizons:

Start video
Pokémon Horizons: The Series – Trailer for the Anime on TOGGO

Pokémon CEO sees a danger for the Pokémon company

When should Pokémon decline? Of course, the head of the Pokémon company does not wish for the decline of the brand, but he has a realistic view. He estimates that if the company continues to focus on its mission, it will definitely be able to celebrate its 50th or 100th anniversary.

According to him, the long-term goal of the company is “to enrich both the real and virtual worlds.” That is Pokémon’s greatest strength. This includes, among other things, Pokémon GO, which is still very popular almost 10 years after its release in 2016.

Where does the CEO see a danger for the brand? Tsunekazu Ishihara believes that if the company were to become “complacent” or “go with the flow,” it would “then go downhill for Pokémon.”

The success of Pokémon: Tsunekazu Ishihara finds that the biggest reason why Pokémon is so successful is the fact that the fans consist of “multiple generations.” According to his assessment, Pokémon has become a “means of communication” for the fans.

Since Pokémon is a private company and does not rely on the stock market, the company can fully focus on Pokémon, the CEO believes. He says: “Every profit we make from Pokémon is reinvested into Pokémon.”

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Another major part of the Pokémon company is the trading card game, which is also very popular. With these cards, exciting card games can also be played, but the original idea of collecting and playing is increasingly lost, says MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen: Pokémon cards are often just a gamble for adults – And that makes me sad

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

The author of One Piece reveals how a rival of Luffy came across valuable information about the treasure

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The mangaka of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, once again answered questions from some fans. He reported on an event that will never be seen in the anime. It turns out that a pirate was portrayed completely incorrectly.

What event is it about? A reader of the manga wanted to know how Eustass Kid, a pirate of the Worst Generation, stole Big Mom’s Road Poneglyph. Once a person has the information of all 4 Road Poneglyphs, they automatically know where the great treasure, the One Piece, is.

Eiichiro Oda answered the question in SBS number 111 (a Q&A section within the 111th volume of the manga), as it was neither shown in the manga nor in the anime (via newwworldartur on X):

Kid attacked a ship of the Big Mom pirates and beat up Sweet Commander Charlotte Snack. Snack begged for his life, so Kid asked in return to get a copy of the Road Poneglyph before he said goodbye. That’s really all there is to it.

Kid got the information by attacking a family member of Big Mom. However, as Oda further explains, the event is portrayed quite differently in the anime and manga. Thus, the pirate of the Worst Generation suffers from a great lie.

Besides Eustass Kid, other pirates also have really nice ships:

Start video
One Piece: These are the 5 coolest ships sailing the oceans

Kid’s attack is portrayed as a retreat

What kind of lie is this? As Kid leaves the scene, the rumor spreads that he ran away from Big Mom. In truth, he fulfilled his goal by obtaining the information about the Road Poneglyph. However, the world of Blue Planet was told that he was a great coward.

Because this event was never shown in the manga and anime, the viewer does not know that Kid has to live under this lie. Unfortunately, there are more such events that are part of the story but will never be shown.

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Controversial YouTuber pays 470,000 euros for two mangas, but fans complain: “The guy has not seen a single episode of One Piece”
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The actors of the Straw Hat crew from One Piece want a Marvel star for the series, would like to cuddle him
von Jasmin Beverungen
One Piece: When does Episode 1159 come out? All about the release of the new episode
von Jasmin Beverungen

What happened to Kid next? By now, Eustass Kid’s pirate crew has been destroyed. The pirate sought the next fight with fan favorite Shanks to avenge the loss of his arm. But Kid and his crew lost the fight and probably the information about the Road Poneglyph as well.

Kid’s pirate crew nearly didn’t exist. Only through the loss of a close person was the crew founded. They even named their ship after the person. You can read the complete origin story on MeinMMO: Eustass Kid’s pirate crew only exists because he lost an important person as a child

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

A YouTuber with 1.28 million subscribers tested a PC without a graphics card, on which Cyberpunk 2077 runs in highest quality

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A YouTuber tested a computer without a graphics card and shows that in the future, one may not necessarily need a graphics card. However, the alternative is not necessarily cheaper if the rumors are true.

Our title image is a symbolic image and does not show the prototype.

ETA Prime is a YouTuber who specializes in computer hardware. With his 1.28 million subscribers, he regularly reaches between 50,000 and 200,000 viewers. In a recent video, he showed that a PC without a dedicated graphics processor can, among other things, run Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum settings (Ultra).

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

A prototype of a new processor that was introduced at CES 2025

What kind of PC is it? ETA Prime had the opportunity to test a prototype equipped with a Strix Halo APU in his video. APUs are processors that have a graphics chip integrated. This chip then replaces the graphics card that would otherwise be installed in the computer. AMD introduced the novel processor at CES 2025, but the model is not yet available for purchase anywhere.

This new next-generation chip introduced at CES 2025 features up to 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units and a Zen 5 processor with 16 cores and 32 threads. This is at least comparable to a fast mid-range graphics card, but it cannot compete with high-end models. By the way, the architecture of the chip is quite similar to gaming consoles like the PS5 or the Xbox Series X.

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Link to the YouTube content

What the YouTuber was able to test: ETA Prime now had the chance to test a prototype with this technology. And the result is quite impressive, as the entire mini-PC requires only 130 watts, which is very efficient. With its new RX 9070 series, AMD has already proven that it has worked significantly on the efficiency of the hardware.

To find out how powerful the prototype is, he tested several games with the system. All games were tested in WQHD (1440p):

  • Cyberpunk 2077 runs in Ultra (highest settings) at 58 FPS and exceeds 60 FPS at high settings
  • Marvel Rivals averages 65 FPS at high settings
  • Grand Theft Auto V (Enhanced Edition) achieves nearly 90 FPS at very high settings.

An alternative to graphics cards, if the price is right in the end

Is this an alternative to a gaming PC? The performance is already impressive for the prototype and can compete with mid-range graphics cards. However, the biggest problem may be the price. According to rumors reported by TomsHardware, the prices for the chip and the motherboard are expected to be over $2,000.

The provider Framework, which mainly sells modular notebooks, has set its price for a motherboard with the chip at 1279 euros. This was reported by Heise.de.

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What does one currently pay for mid-range? Currently, one pays about 1,000 euros for a gaming PC with a mid-range graphics card, which is about half of that. For many players, the innovative “Strix Halo APU” may initially not be a cost-effective alternative to the expensive graphics cards.

Furthermore, it is unclear how the supply situation will be at the release of the chip. A problem that anyone who has tried to buy a graphics card directly at release in the past few months knows well. Because either the graphics cards are not available or only available from scalpers at double the price. However, some scalpers have had bad luck with the last generation of graphics cards: Scalpers are desperately trying to sell RTX 4080 at a high price – now stuck with them because retailers do not want to take back the graphics cards

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

Player collects data from 100 hunts in Monster Hunter Wilds and shows that size matters for weapons

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

The weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds are not just tools for many, but a part of their personality. One player has shown how often he has seen each weapon, and especially the fans of powerful hammers are not happy.

What does the player’s experience show? User GoodboyLucas posted a personal statistic on Reddit that shows how often he has encountered each weapon during 100 hunts. He describes that after reaching Hunter Rank 41, he tracked which weapons were used.

His statistics are based, according to him, 90% on quests with tempered monsters. He arrives at the following results:

  • Long Sword: 15.7%
  • Dual Blades: 12.6%
  • Great Sword: 11.5%
  • Sword and Shield: 10.1%
  • Bow: 9.8%
  • Energy Blade: 7.7%
  • Gunlance: 7.3%
  • Morph Axe: 6.3%
  • Heavy Bowgun: 5.9%
  • Insect Glaive: 3.8%
  • Hammer: 2.8%
  • Hunting Horn: 2.1%
  • Light Bowgun: 2.1%
  • Lance: 2.1%

According to his experience, most players find the large blades of the Long Sword and Great Sword quite good. The Long Sword even comes in at 15.7%. The Dual Blades and Sword and Shield also make their way into the top spots as smaller weapons. Both are fast and mobile.

As expected, he discovered the Long Sword most often; it has also been one of the most popular weapons in previous installments. The Great Sword and Dual Blades are also typically popular when compared to older statistics from Monster Hunter World (via Reddit).

What stands out is how high the Gunlance ranks and how low the Hammer is. In our own poll, prior to the release, the Hammer still made it to 2nd place.

Although the statistics are just a personal experience value, the community discusses the distribution of weapons. Especially the enthusiasts of the Hammer are disappointed but also have an explanation for why it is played so rarely.

Start video
Veteran with Hunter Rank 100 Explains Why Monster Hunter Wilds Feels Easier

A group of players mourns

How does the community react to the data? While some complain about how disorganized the data is presented, many discuss the weapon data. The more frequent use of the Gunlance, according to the statistics, is celebrated. xKnicklichtjedi (via Reddit) believes it is due to the new combos and scaling.

While Hunting Horn users celebrate with saxophone memes, even though they have been quite rare, the Hammer players are sadder. Users like RondogeRekt (via Reddit) report that they found the Hammer strong, but when they tried other weapons, they realized that these are stronger.

Lerijie (via Reddit) switched to Sword and Shield and noticed that this weapon can also stun while being quick and mobile.

In general, it is noticeable in the comments that Hammer users are not satisfied. The weapon currently does not have the necessary firepower, while other weapons are better than ever. The Hammer fans are joined by Lance players who think the weapon is underrated. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes agrees with this.

However, one should still keep in mind that these are just the personal data of the player. It remains to be seen how the official statistics will turn out. But it can be assumed that the usual representatives (Long Sword, Dual Blades, Great Sword) will be in the top spots.

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Which weapon are you currently using the most? Do you switch around or are you loyal to one weapon? Let us know in the comments. The Long Sword is not only one of the most popular weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds but also one of the best: Monster Hunter Wilds: Tier list of the best weapons

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

Palworld Patch 0.5.0: New Update Brings Crossplay Across All Platforms, a Global Palbox, and Cosmetic Armors

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 3 minutes

Update 0.5.0 for Palworld is now live. This patch brings the long-awaited crossplay across all platforms where Palworld is available. What else is new, you can read here.

What are the key new features? The most important new feature with patch 0.5.0 is crossplay: From now on, players on various platforms where Palworld is available can play together. This fulfills a promise from their roadmap made in 2024.

Additionally, a global Palbox is now available. This allows for transferring Pals between worlds. There is also a new storage system that, according to the patch notes, has ten times the capacity of the normal Palbox. Members of your own guild can access it, or it can be set to private.

Furthermore, a system for cosmetic armors is being introduced: With the ancient wardrobe, the appearance of the equipped armor can be changed. The stats will not be affected accordingly.

Also new is the photo mode and the design table, which allows you to make rarer designs from less rare blueprints. You can read what other adjustments, bug fixes, and updates are included in the patch below.

Start video
Update 0.5.0 for Palworld finally lets you play with friends on other platforms

Update 0.5.0 for Palworld – Here are the patch notes

What else is included in the patch? Here we have the complete patch notes for update 0.5.0 for Palworld, automatically translated with the help of Deepl.com.

New Content
  • Crossplay: Crossplay is now available on all platforms.
  • Global Palbox: Store Pal data in the global Palbox and transfer Pals between worlds!
  • Dimensional Pal Storage: A new storage system with ten times the capacity of a normal Palbox! Guild members can access it and it can also be used as personal storage with private settings.
  • Cosmetic Armor System: You can now equip armors cosmetically in the Ancient Wardrobe. Change the appearance of your character without affecting the armor values!
  • Photo Mode: Accessible via the Pal Command Wheel. Hide the user interface and move the camera to take stunning screenshots.
  • Design Table: Combine blueprints of low rarity to create those of higher rarity.
  • Dedicated servers for Mac.
Specification Adjustments
  • Buildings can now be placed even if they overlap with a Pal.
  • When connecting foundations or roofs, the connected parts will now automatically align in the same direction.
  • Assigning an Ice Pal to the flea market slows down item decay in storage and when selling.
  • Torches at the entrances of random dungeons have been added to improve visibility.
    Players can now sit on chairs and cushions.
  • Some weapons that deal extremely high damage to trees no longer drop items upon destruction.
  • New NPCs have been added and the behavior of NPCs during conversations has been improved.
Balance Adjustments
  • The rewards for elemental chests have been adjusted. Dog coins will always drop from these chests and they also have a small chance to contain job suitability books.
  • Existing chests in the current worlds retain the old loot tables; new chests will follow the updated table.
  • The EXP gained by defeating the attacking hackers has been increased.
  • The DPS of flamethrowers has been increased.
  • The standard attack of Electric and Dark companions has been adjusted when all active skills are on cooldown.
  • Some human NPCs now have job suitability and work animations when assigned tasks in a base.
  • Summoned raid bosses can no longer damage other bases.
  • The Water attribute has been added to Dumud.
  • The rewards for NPC events have been adjusted. To ensure fairness, all NPC conversation logs have been reset, allowing players to re-claim the rewards!
UI
  • Favorites have been categorized into Groups Favorite 1, 2, and 3.
  • If you hold the +/- button in the Pal Soul Enhancement UI, the values will now increase/decrease continuously.
  • A new sorting option for the Pal Box has been added: Sort by job suitability.
  • “Extra large” option added for text size.
  • Fullscreen mode added.
Achievements
  • Several new achievements have been added.
Bug Fixes
  • A problem has been fixed that would launch players into space while climbing.
  • A problem has been fixed that would cause the player to fly into the sky when stunned by an enemy while riding on a flying Pal over water.
  • A problem has been fixed that would cause attacking a summoned Pal to also target the black market dealer and the medal dealer.
  • A problem has been fixed that would occasionally launch players upward when they dropped Azurmane. A problem has been fixed where players were sometimes launched upward when they dropped Azurmane.
  • A problem has been fixed where attacked NPCs could hit players through walls if they could not reach them.
  • A problem has been fixed where the effects of bounty marks were not applied upon logging into dedicated servers.
  • A problem has been fixed where attacking some NPCs did not increase the player’s crime level.
  • Various other minor bug fixes.
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Palworld 1.0 is coming in 2026, but the developers advise: It’s best to delete everything you’ve built in the last 2 years
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Originally, Palworld was supposed to leave Early Access after a year. However, since its start in Early Access, the team seems to have changed their goals and experienced quite a bit. One of the community managers recently spoke up and discussed the tumultuous release period: “It was popular to hate Palworld” – Community manager reveals how the team behind the Steam hit fared at release

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

WoW guild disbands after 20 years, community supports devastated member

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 4 minutes

Anyone who has been an active member of an MMORPG guild for several years knows how it feels when that community suddenly falls apart. Accordingly, the response from the WoW community is currently warm after a member reported the end of his virtual home.

What does the WoW player report? On Reddit, Tall_Marketing2475 laments that his guild from World of Warcraft has disbanded after an impressive 20 years. In his post, he writes:

My 20-year-old guild is gone. We lost members since Shadowlands, but today was the day. This sucks. It feels like a mix of a breakup and getting fired from a place you actually liked. This guild was my refuge in tough times and even helped me when I lost my job.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? How did you cope? I don’t know what to do next. I would love to hear from you if you have any tips or just want to share your own stories.

In an update, Tall_Marketing2475 adds that his guild was more than just a group of people. It had been part of his life for 20 years. Together they celebrated milestones, supported each other in tough times, and formed a second family. However, at the start of The War Within, only a few members were still online. Most have moved on to wherever.

Being in a guild isn’t always a walk in the park:

Start video
WoW: Guild loses 30 characters on a hardcore server – And it wasn’t even a boss fight

“Don’t let the past suffocate the future”

That many WoW players can empathize with this experience is shown by the community’s reaction – with hundreds of comments and more than 3,100 upvotes. Voidmire has a particularly sad story to share:

I still fondly remember the guild I played with from Vanilla until the end of Mists of Pandaria. People burned out or had real-life things that pulled them away. I continued playing until the end of BfA, but my main memory is this group.

I was 16, came home from a crappy retail job, and jumped right into our voice chat. If no one was there, I at least knew someone would be at some point. It was just the hangout spot. Every day, for years. Even years later, I played other games with them or tried new MMOs.

The sad ending is that, unfortunately, only two of them are still alive. One went to prison, three overdosed, one partied too hard, another had a car accident, and it’s unclear how one is doing. […] Our small 10-man guild has shrunk to three members. I still have a recording of our first Garrosh kill, the last first clear we would ever do. I miss you guys.

Voidmire via Reddit

Here are a few more reactions and memories from the community:

  • Yrrving writes on Reddit: “I was once part of an RP guild on Argent Dawn called Ironforge Mountaineers. Since the closure of that guild, I haven’t found a new one. I’ve been playing solo ever since. That’s probably over ten years ago now. Stayed solo. Continued playing. But I miss it. The community.”
  • The response from Worth_Bodybuilder_37 on Reddit brought the thread creator to tears: “Where one book closes, another opens. Ride the waves and try not to close yourself off. Don’t let the past suffocate the future. Keep the good memories and draw strength for many more that await you. I’m sorry to hear about your guild. It’s a lot of time invested in nurturing a community for so long. I’m sure you can find another ‘home’.”
  • Amdrauder recalls on Reddit: “When my guild from Vanilla died just before BfA, I wandered around like a lost dog for months, wondering what the hell I should do now. All the regular content was daunting without someone to share the growing pains with. Anyway, I randomly met a guy in Mythic+. We bonded over Warhammer memes, and I joined them and have been with them since; it’s even more fun than the first time.”

What about MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz? I can absolutely empathize with what Tall_Marketing2475 and many other WoW players report in the thread. A couple I knew, with whom I almost experienced the entire leveling phase in 2005, ended up with level 50+ in the wonderful guild Godmode from the equally wonderful server Dun Morogh.

Back then, I had no idea that I would experience the coolest, most intense, demanding, and emotional time of my gaming career with this community for several years. With hard-won and even more loudly celebrated first kills, cheerful guild meetings, in-game weddings, fun contests, lively PvP matches, and countless hours spent together in voice chat.

The guild Godmode after their first kill of the heroic Lich King.

I saw friendships form that still last today and relationships break apart. I know of at least one couple who met through Godmode and are now married with kids. And from all those who were part of the core for years, I keep hearing how incredibly fondly they remember that time … because it was just a special bunch.

Unfortunately, this journey ended with the fall of the heroic Lich King. The Cataclysm prompted many to turn their backs on WoW or switch to other servers. I was lucky enough to have another (somewhat) comparable experience at the start of WoW Classic. If you have never been part of an MMORPG guild so intensely, you have definitely missed out on something special.

More about WoW:
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What about you: Have you had a similar experience? Share it in the comments! You can read a personal anecdote from old Karsten of a very different kind here (don’t worry, it’s again about an MMORPG): “My wife won me in a Guild Wars 2 contest” – as a consolation prize, so to speak

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

The competition of Path of Exile 2 admits defeat, delays season to save their ARPG

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Since the announcement of the release date for the major update “Dawn of the Hunt”, Path of Exile 2 has caused trouble among its own fans, as the release is set shortly after the start of the new season of Last Epoch. Now, the developers of Last Epoch have finally thrown in the towel and are postponing their launch with a sharp statement.

What have the developers announced? The developers of Last Epoch have announced in a statement on X.com that they will postpone the release of their second season “Tombs of the Erased”.

Instead of launching on April 2, 2025, as originally planned, the release will now take place on April 17, 2025, which is well over two weeks after the release of the major update from Path of Exile 2 and two weeks before the start of Season 8 of Diablo 4. The developers also explain the reason for the postponement.

Here you can see the trailer for Season 2 of Last Epoch:

Start video
Last Epoch: Trailer for Season 2 of the Diablo Competitor

The Postponement is Necessary

Why are the developers of Last Epoch postponing their release? According to the statement from the developers, the reason for the postponement is clearly Path of Exile 2. They write: “We recently learned that our friends in the ARPG space have chosen a release date that falls just a few days after ours, which would split the player base and hinder the success of the launch of Season 2.”

At the end of February, the developers of Last Epoch announced that their new Season 2 “Tombs of the Erased” was supposed to start on April 2, 2025. After the ARPG lost 99% of its players since version 1.1 in July 2025 (via SteamDB), many genre fans were looking forward to the start of the new season to return and try out the many new contents of the patch.

About two weeks later, the much larger ARPG Path of Exile 2 announced the start of its own season. This is set to take place on April 4, 2025, just 2 days after the launch of Last Epoch. This not only angers fans who want to play both seasons, but also disappoints the developers of Last Epoch.

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Path of Exile 2 announces new season, the late date heats up players’ expectations
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One thing must improve Path of Exile 2 for Update 5 to be a success, the players say
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What does Last Epoch say about the postponement? An official statement could hardly be clearer. In the post from Last Epoch, it says: “With a heavy heart, we find ourselves forced to postpone the release date of Season 2 – Tombs of the Erased to April 17.”

Before this, the developers write: “Last Epoch is a smaller studio in this field that sees each of its releases as an opportunity to financially support the studio and work on the things that matter to us.” So for the developers, the success of the new season is also important from a financial perspective.

As currently only about 1% of over 264,000 players log in during peak times (via SteamDB), who once played the ARPG, the further development of Last Epoch could depend on the success of Season 2 and the interest of the players. The fact that Path of Exile 2 is coming in their way was not well received by the developers: Path of Exile 2 is causing angry fans with the new season, now the competitors’ developers react.

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

Company introduces kitchenware in Pokémon style that is too good to use

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In the world of Pokémon, besides games like Pokémon GO, there is also a lot of merchandise. Like a recent collection of pots and mugs, for which you’ll have to pay quite a bit.

What kind of company is this? Le Creuset is a company from France, known primarily for its cast iron pots, pans, and roasters. The company was founded in 1925 and exports its products, available in many different colors, around the world.

Now there is also a collection aimed at Pokémon fans. But for that, you’ll have to dig quite deep into your pockets.

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

Cooking with Pikachu, eating with Evoli

What kind of collection is this? The Pokémon collection by Le Creuset includes both cooking pots and mugs, plates, and cups. Pikachu is the main focus here. You can find the electric mouse in the collection on large and small cooking pots as well as on plates and cups.

You can also find the 3 starters of the 1st generation, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander, as well as Snorlax on cups and plates. Evoli can also be discovered on a bowl.

The offer is rounded off by plates with Poké and Master Ball motifs, as well as one mug styled like a Poké and a Super Ball each.

How much does the collection cost? If you want to place the collection in your kitchen, you’ll have to dig quite deep into your wallet. The mini plate with Pikachu motif is available for $85 (which is about €78), a mug will cost you $129 (about €118), and for the large cooking pot even $999 (approximately €916).

If you want to order from bokksu.com, keep in mind that the shop is not based in the EU. This means that you need to account for additional fees when purchasing, such as import VAT (19% of the goods value). Additionally, shipping across such distances always carries some risk regarding the integrity of the products.

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Trainer in Pokémon GO prepares for a strong monster that may never appear
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The collection from Le Creuset is not the first collaboration between the Pokémon Company and other companies. In 2023, there was a collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which led to adults fighting over and offering their spoils for hundreds of euros on the internet.

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

Influencers on Twitch and TikTok Ruin the Pokémon Card Game – And That Makes Me Sad

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 3 minutes

Collectors of Pokémon cards are excited when they have rare cards in their boosters. However, opening packs has become excessive lately, and the actual fun of collecting is becoming less of a priority. Such trends can especially be seen on platforms like Twitch. This makes MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen sad.

It makes me sad to think that I eventually threw away my binder full of childhood Pokémon cards. The transition to adolescence led me to radically declutter my childhood room. Instead of Barbie dolls and Pokémon cards, I suddenly had posters from Bravo and CDs by Britney Spears at the top of my trend list.

To this day, I regret that I also threw away my binder with my cards during that process. I vaguely remember that I even owned copies from the first editions – unfortunately, my parents didn’t store the binder in the attic like they did for other children, so I could now check it and be happy about it.

However, it’s not about the value for me, but about the design and the nostalgia behind the cards. Thanks to my MeinMMO colleagues, I recently came across shocking trends and videos that make me even sadder than I am when I think of my old Pokémon cards.

Even Pokémon TCG Pocket helps me compensate for the loss:

Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket: The Expansion Light of Triumph in the Trailer

Pokémon cards are only for profit

In the videos I’m talking about, boosters are primarily opened to draw particularly rare Pokémon cards. It doesn’t matter which Pokémon are depicted on the cards – it’s solely about profit.

  • The boosters are used for absurd challenges to generate attention and “entertaining videos”. Opening the boosters feels more like gambling than enjoying the opening (via TikTok).
  • Many scalpers snatch cards in large quantities right in front of the players who just want to have fun collecting and trading. Pokémon cards are so sought after, that a store even refused to sell the new edition because they were afraid of the rush.
  • In many cases, only the value of the cards matters. Content creators on TikTok buy older packs and display the current market price with each card to calculate whether opening it was financially worthwhile.
  • The actions of a well-known German influencer fall into a similar category. He bought boosters worth 15,000 €, which other people could purchase and let him open. The atmosphere felt like a casino. Other streamers complained, for instance, that they had spent 800 €, but “didn’t pull a fucking Holo.”

The hunt for boosters has even reached the point where boosters for “Prismatic Evolutions” were sold out almost everywhere. The makers of the Pokémon trading card game revealed on X that new prints are on the way. 

That the capacities for the old expansion are so high means that the new edition “Scarlet & Violet – Travelling Companions” is hardly available anymore. At shops like Smyths or Card Corner, the new boosters are already sold out. Even on idealo, no offers are currently displayed (as of March 18, 2025).

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The cards are so much more than that. There are such beautiful designs, such great motifs, and really exciting effects that one can use in tournaments or battles with friends. For me, it doesn’t matter how valuable the cards are – only the motif and the card texts count.

The lengths some people go to get special Pokémon cards is shown by an event at the Van Gogh Museum. Here, the distribution of exclusive cards had to be stopped because adults were fighting over these cards: Greedy players fought in a museum to sell exclusive Pokémon cards for a high price – Now the museum halts the event

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

An update should make GTA 5 better before the release of GTA 6, but it turns out to be a disaster

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

Before players dive into the world of GTA 6, the predecessor should become even better with a major update. However, this turned out to be a disaster on Steam.

What kind of update is this? We are talking about the GTA 5 Enhanced Edition, which is now available on Steam three years after its release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. This means that PC players can now benefit from a series of visual improvements and new features.

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

Numerous new features, but also new problems

What does the new update include? The Enhanced Edition is supposed to improve the graphics and performance of the game – also thanks to upscaling technologies like AMD FSR and Nvidia DLSS. These had not been implemented in GTA 5 until now.

The frames per second (FPS) that can be gained through upscaling can then be invested into raytracing. This makes lighting and reflections in the game world appear more realistic. Additionally, loading times on SSDs should be shorter.

The update is available for free to all those who already own GTA 5 and replaces the legacy version of the game in the Steam shop. If you owned GTA 5 before the update, you can still install and play the legacy version, but it cannot be purchased anymore.

The free update isn’t well received by players on Steam: The Enhanced Edition struggled with technical stability issues at release. Additionally, many players have difficulties transferring their accounts to the new version. 

In the meantime, Rockstar has already improved the state of the update with several patches. However, PC players still feel neglected by the developer. Currently, only 57% of around 25,500 reviews on Steam are positive.

In comparison: The legacy version of the game has over 1.8 million reviews on Steam, of which 87% are positive.

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He worked on a secret project by the creators of GTA 6 for so long that his friends thought he was unemployed and lied to them
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Raytracing – a must or just a FPS killer?

Is raytracing even necessary in GTA 5? This is especially being debated considering the high costs regarding frame rates, as a Reddit post with over 56,000 likes in the r/gaming subreddit shows. 

In this post on Reddit, two screenshots are shown in which Franklin stands under an arch of a building – once with raytracing and once without. Since it wasn’t directly indicated which image has raytracing, many users seem to have trouble figuring this out at all.

Others simply believe that the more realistic lighting is not worth the FPS loss: 

  • “That results in -40% FPS plus a tip,” writes Reddit user bathedcat
  • Dagfen writes in his comment, “Raytracing can look great and enhance a scene, but I think the performance drop far outweighs the benefits.”

This discussion could continue with the release of GTA 6. As a title for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game will likely also make use of raytracing. However, pure PC players will first have to wait until the game is available on their platform.

Despite the mixed first impression that the GTA 5 Enhanced Edition has made, the game is currently being played by over 118,000 players (via steamdb.info; as of May 18, 2:06 PM).

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Also part of the GTA 5 Enhanced Edition is, by the way, GTA+. This is a new subscription that allows you to take some gameplay shortcuts. You can find out more about this in this article: GTA 5 brings a big, free update for the PC, allowing you to finally spend more money

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