The nearly 24-year-old MMORPG Final Fantasy XI is currently experiencing such a high surge of players that the servers are overloaded.
What is happening with Final Fantasy 11 right now? Currently, the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI is experiencing a high increase in players. So much so that the online game itself is overloaded, and character creation on one server had to be halted. The Odin server simply could not transfer the many players to the server anymore.
No wonder, after all, the Odin server is the most visited server of the MMORPG. Looking at the website FFXI Auction House, where data and numbers about players are tracked, over 87,700 active players can be recorded.
2015 Trailer Shows Version Update for Final Fantasy XI with Many New Features
MMORPG keeps experiencing a second spring
What is behind this? There is no real trigger for the many players. However, it is remarkable that Final Fantasy XI, after nearly 24 years and several successor titles, still attracts so many players.
In addition, a kind of symbiosis seems to have developed between the community and the developers. Players keep returning to the older game, giving the developers ongoing reasons to improve the game.
Final Fantasy XI offers players a huge game world to explore. If you are looking for more MMORPGs with a large map, we can recommend the candidates from this list: These are the 13 MMORPGs with the largest game world
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Diablo 2 Resurrected has received a new class with the Warlock, and it is now being introduced with an official music video. The musician himself is an obvious fan of the game, so the video is packed with Easter eggs.
What kind of video is it? On March 3, 2026, the official Diablo channel on YouTube and Canadian rapper bbno$ (pronounced: “Baby no money”) jointly released a song called “save me.” In it, the rapper himself appears dressed as a Warlock, portraying the new class in Diablo 2.
Here you can see the Warlock in the cinematic trailer:
Start video
Blizzard presents the new Warlock class for Diablo 2, Diablo 4, and Immortal in the cinematic trailer
The music video is a mix of live action and 3D animation. It also includes real scenes from the game and some individual elements cut in. The rapper is also seen in the video playing Diablo 2 on an old computer.
As a “feature guest,” the rapper introduces an old acquaintance: Deckard Cain. He is one of the most important NPCs in Diablo 2, as he helps you by identifying your found items. Only then can you use them. Additionally, he is very knowledgeable about the history of the world, making him an important source for the game’s lore.
Video full of Easter eggs, Deckard Cain plays the drums
What do the fans say about it? They are thrilled about the surreal music video that feels like it’s from another time – in the best way possible. At least that’s what the comments on YouTube say:
“This felt like those old MTV video game music videos from back in the day. Keep up the good work,” says thatguythomas1020
“This music video is so campy in the best way,” says desarityd5776. “it’s very early 2000s,” adds danw91
Here you can see the music video:
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Deckard Cain’s appearance also brings laughs. He truly lives up to his status as a feature when he sits at the drums towards the end of the video. In the outtakes, he even raps. The old man still has it.
“It’s Deckard Cain destroying the drums for me,” writes Nelu93
“Loved the Deckard Cain Rap throwback at the end lmao!” (darkmaster3411)
There’s even a reference to the notorious cow level in Diablo 2 in the music video. You can tell that the musician knows the game well. This is not surprising, as bbno$ is a well-known fan of the game. In a TikTok video, he was already seen in a Diablo sweater, and his artist page (on bbnomula.com) is styled like Diablo 2.
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At some point, Blizzard noticed the artist and invited him to their campus. He happily accepted this invitation (and with much nervousness), as he shows on TikTok. This visit probably also led to the idea for this collaboration.
The Twitch streamer Niekbeats shared a thought with his viewers about Pokémon: 2 sprites of evolutions are said to have been swapped.He believes that the evolution of Bluzuk fits much better with Raupy.
What did the Twitch streamer share with his chat? The Twitch streamer Niekbeats has, like many others on Twitch, started playing the Leaf Green edition for the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Together with his chat, he embarked on an adventure through Kanto and shared a fun fact with his viewers, which he strongly believes: The evolutions of Raupy and Bluzuk do not fit them at all.
Niekbeats further argued that the eyes and antennae of Bluzuk would fit much better with Smettbo than with Omot, the official evolution of Bluzuk. Furthermore, it makes much more sense that Raupy, a caterpillar, first becomes a cocoon and then transforms into a moth.
The viewers in Niekbeats’ chat seemed not to know this fact yet: Many sent shocked emotes in the chat or simply wrote ???.
The Twitch streamer elaborated: Bluzuk […] should actually evolve into Smettbo in my opinion, and that just makes sense. The teeth, the nose, the eyes, the antennae, the color. So, chat, who do you want to fool? That fits much better. 100%. Something’s not right. (Source: YouTube from minute 04:59:48).
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These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google
Community believes in swapped sprites
What is behind this? The suspicion that Bluzuk and Smettbo actually form an evolution line has been around in the Pokémon community for quite some time. In an entry in the Bisafans forum, the fan community has been discussing this thesis since 2012.
The similarities between Bluzuk and Smettbo are undeniable (Image sources: Pokéwiki and Pokéwiki).
However, not only Smettbo and Bluzuk would fit together, but also Omot and Safcon look more similar than Safcon and Smettbo. A rumor within the community suggests that the sprites of Smettbo and Omot have been swapped. However, this has never been officially confirmed.
Not only did the Twitch streamer share this consideration with his viewers, but also the acquisition of a shiny starter Pokémon: After only 184 attempts, Niekbeats managed to secure a shiny Bisaflor.
Crimson Desert is a role-playing game, so players can expect a larger amount of dialogues. However, the developers have incorporated a special feature for those who are impatient.
What is this feature? Anyone who is not interested in the dialogues in Crimson Desert can simply skip them. However, if you want to hear what the characters are saying and save some time, you can use the fast-forward function.
The function fast-forwards all dialogues and even actions in the sequences. The speed is said to be appropriate enough that you can still understand what the characters are saying. This has the advantage that you still get the story while saving time at the same time.
On X there is a user who shows in a video how this can look. The movements and also the dialogue are faster, but you can still follow the story.
Start video
Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
New feature saves time, makes no sense to some
What are the reactions to it? Under the comment, there are some users who cannot understand why such a function exists at all. One writes that you are playing a role-playing game, and he cannot understand why one would be glad to skip the dialogue. It’s like wanting to skip the shooting in a shooter, says the user.
The author of the post counters that not every dialogue is important for the story. For example, if you have to rescue a kitten from a tree, that is not important for the game’s ending.
Another critic on X sums it up even harsher: “TikTok has ruined this generation, lmao. You are a monster if you play story games this way.”
For others, such an option would only be considered if they were playing a game for the second time. Then you already know the story and have a reason to let the dialogues go by a bit faster.
It is difficult to find anything positive under this post. Most players criticize this feature and believe that only people who use such a function would complain in the end that the game lacks depth.
Cables come in many different shapes and sizes. Most people have various options lying around at home. Some users may have noticed a small cylindrical core at the end of their charger.
What is this plastic part? The same question was asked by the user Patrick_PJ05, who in his Reddit post on 02.03.2026, asked the community for information. He shared a picture of a laptop charger cable, where the small cylinder at the end is clearly visible.
Within a few days, the post received over 13,000 views and 500 comments addressing the question (as of 05.03.2026).
Why is this important? You will primarily find the core on HDMI, USB, and power cables. They are usually placed near the endpoint to capture as many disturbances at once, as these can be picked up along the entire length of a cable, which is why they are mostly filtered at the end.
Many are probably familiar with such interference noises when bringing electronic devices like a mobile phone close to older speakers. In such cases, certain devices can emit signals that affect the sound of the speaker and cause a buzzing sound or noise (via YouTube).
Technology is evolving
Why are there variants without ferrite cores? Since the 1950s, they have been used in telephone systems, later finding their way into the TV industry and then into modern electronic devices like power supplies and cables (fair-rite).
In the past, such plastic parts were more common on many products than they are today. The reason for this is, for example, a development in the video signal used:
Analog video signals, which were more widespread in the past, have changed nowadays and are less prone to interference. An example of this is the HDMI cable, which uses a digital signal instead of an analog one like its predecessor VGA (via anker).
In the future, League of Legends will see some significant changes. However, until then, you will have to forego some content, as the developers have explained.
What will change in LoL? In December 2025, a YouTube Short was published, in which two Riot employees talked about the future of LoL in 2027.
The LoL launcher will be discontinued, and a single game client will encompass all functions.
The Summoner’s Rift, which is the map of LoL, will receive a complete visual overhaul.
New gameplay elements will be introduced, and existing systems will be adjusted.
Last but not least, the experience for beginners will be improved.
When will the major changes come? According to the developers, the changes are not expected to arrive until 2027. Until then, the usual content will still be available, although not as much as usual, as two developers have now revealed. The sacrifice for League of Legends in 2027 will be a reduction in content for this year.
Start video
League of Legends shows new trailer for Season 1 from 2026
You will pay a price for a revamped LoL
What has been cut? In the latest Dev Update on YouTube for LoL, the two developers discuss upcoming updates. There is also a question-and-answer section where the two address questions from the community.
One question was about a new champ for the first season of 2026. The answer was brief, and the developers confirmed that there would be no new champ for now. Instead, Riot is focusing on the major update for League of Legends in 2027.
However, a champ is expected to be released for Season 2. Riot employee Meddler also confirmed on Reddit that this champ will be the only new addition for 2026.
Are there any further details? Not directly. In the video, the developers mention that there will be more information regarding the major update after the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).
The MSI is the first major event where teams from around the world compete against each other. From now until July 12, 2026, the strongest teams in the world will play against each other. After that, there should be more news on LoL in 2027.
Despite fewer new champs, the year 2026 will continue to see balance patches. These patches will buff or nerf some champions and items. Recently, the mage Mel from Arcane was nerfed. She received 28 changes, even though she was one of the worst champs in LoL: Riot nerfs one of the worst champs in LoL, giving her 28 changes
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Marathon you can play 7 different classes, each with different strengths and play styles. We have ranked the Runner classes in a tier list so you have an idea of which classes are the best at release.
How is this tier list created? MeinMMO editor Dariusz thoroughly tested all available Runner classes during the Marathon server slam and compared his impressions with those of the community. His expertise in various tactical shooters (especially Rainbow Six: Siege) also contributes to the evaluation of individual abilities and their importance in combat.
The playtime with the Runner classes is limited to the server slam. We also currently do not have hundreds of hours with the different classes or have been able to test them in the live build. The tier list is therefore still a work in progress and may be adjusted in the future.
If you have suggestions for improvements or want to share your own tier list, feel free to leave comments!
[toc]
Marathon: Tier List for All Runner Classes
You can conveniently view our tier list with all classes of Marathon in the screenshot and in the overview. Below the screenshot, there is a detailed breakdown of why we chose the specific rank for the different Runner classes.
S-Tier: Triage – Recon
A-Tier: Destroyer
B-Tier: Assassin, Vandal
C-Tier: Rook
?-Tier: Thief
S-Tier: The Current Best Runner Classes
Triage: Ranked 1st in S-Tier is the Triage. This is the Medic of Marathon. Triage is particularly strong because he supports the entire team with supportive abilities. His primary ability “Restart+” is a kind of defibrillator that can revive up to 2 teammates simultaneously if they have been downed. This allows teams with a Triage in their ranks to turn the tide in a lost team fight, even if 2 members have already died.
Additionally, Triage has two healing drones through his tactical ability that can replenish shields or health points of injured Runner classes without interrupting their fight to heal. This adds incredible value and is irreplaceable in Marathon – especially because it allows you to save important health items for truly critical situations.
Recon: Ranked 2nd in S-Tier is the Recon, the scout class of Marathon. Intel is always strong in tactical games. When you know where enemies are positioned and how they move, you often have an advantage over teams that do not possess this intel. Games like Rainbow Six: Siege specifically rely on scouting abilities by distributing cameras and drones among various characters and using them as tactical tools.
The Recon in Marathon functions the same way. He can send out a small drone to locate enemies or mark them with a sonar scan. Thus, he also directly counters the Assassin. Since in Marathon fully defeated Runner classes can be revived, it is incredibly important that no one escapes from an opposing team. The Recon helps with that.
A-Tier: These Runner Classes are Always a Good Choice
Destroyer: In A-Tier we have the Destroyer. This is perhaps the strongest offensive class in Marathon. The Destroyer has a shield with which he can aggressively push enemies. With this shield, he forces the opponent to focus on him and respond to him. He is now the focus, because – even if he is not a threat with the shield at the moment – he is getting closer and will become a threat.
Operators with shields exist in many games, and we continually see that in the right hands it can be enormously strong. Not everyone can handle a shield, but if a team manages to use it properly, the shield bearer binds nearly 2 opponents almost continuously, as they cannot afford to not have crossfire on him – especially since the Destroyer also has an auto-targeting rocket system. In addition, he has movement abilities that increase his mobility in combat and allow him to push aggressively in combination with the shield.
B-Tier: These Runner Classes Have the Potential to Rise
Assassin: In B-Tier we have the Assassin. He is very good in solo play because you can move unnoticed between enemy lines. Additionally, he uses smoke to escape from dangerous situations by temporarily causing enemies to lose sight of him. However, the greatest strength of the Assassin is his ambush attacks: You can utilize the element of surprise to secure the first kill in a confrontation before the enemies have noticed your presence. However, you always take a risk, as the Assassin has no significant offensive abilities otherwise and nothing to actively support his team, like healing or intel.
As Assassin, you gather intel yourself by sneaking around invisibly and getting into advantageous positions, but you won’t be able to escape invisibly. You can get a lot out of the Assassin, but due to this risk and the lack of survivability, he is only in B-Tier – especially since the very strong Recon is a direct counter to him.
Start video
Bungie presents Marathon in the launch trailer
Vandal: Vandal is currently still the wildcard of Marathon: it’s hard to predict where the journey will go. Vandal primarily relies on movement abilities, such as a double jump and a power slide. However, this seemed very limited during the server slam. It may be that Vandal becomes very strong later in the season, but this will probably depend on the played build, i.e., the equipment used. Particularly in the first hours of gameplay, the Destroyer simply offers more, as he additionally has the shield and the rockets along with the movement abilities.
Vandal does have a cannon with which he can send enemies flying out of cover, but this is very situational. It is strong against teams that play very passively and camp a lot. And if there is a meta where sniper rifles dominate, Vandal can excel as a direct counter, because with his movement abilities and cannon he can close in and disturb the snipers when aiming. However, as the meta was during the server slam, these strengths were not yet utilized. Still, I wouldn’t want to encounter any movement demon on Vandal.
C-Tier: Runner Classes Currently Considered Weaker
Rook: The Rook is difficult to compare with the other Runner classes, as it is intended to give you a disadvantage: You can only play solo, cannot choose your loadout freely, and enter rounds that are already in progress. Your goal as Rook is to enter a match, grab some loot, and get out.
Your biggest advantage is that he can move unnoticed among UESC robots. This allows him to loot heavily guarded spots solo and avoid fights, while other Runner classes have to fight their way through. However, if you meet enemy players during a raid who are playing one of the other classes, you are always at a disadvantage. The Rook is good at what he is supposed to do – but that’s where it ends.
Thief: The Thief class was not playable during the Marathon server slam, so it does not receive a proper rank on the tier list yet. Once we can test it for a few hours and evaluate its abilities, it will be re-categorized.
If you want to play your first rounds in Marathon right at release, you could certainly use some tips – as the shooter doesn’t provide much explanation. MeinMMO editor Dariusz has compiled some helpful tips for you here: Marathon: 15 Tips I Wish I Had Known Sooner
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What is a treasure in World of Warcraft: Midnight? Too much, some think. Because you can hardly use the minimap anymore.
The new expansion of World of Warcraft is generally very well received. There is much to do, the new areas are beautiful, and the story is engaging. However, there is a nuisance that can become particularly noticeable at max level when you look at the minimap. The map is overflowing with treasures – but only a few of them truly deserve the name.
Start video
WoW Midnight: Arator’s Light and the Firebrand
What are treasures in Midnight? In World of Warcraft, the definition of what a treasure is and therefore displayed on the minimap is extremely broad:
In the best case, it is indeed an important treasure – a toy, a weapon, or a transmog item.
In the worst case, it is a container that contains a gray item that may be worth 2 gold or less.
Treasures that are not worth the name
What problem arises in the endgame? Once you reach level 90 and unlock the endgame activity around Saltheril in the Immersang Forest, additional treasures are added. Each of the four factions (Magisters, Blood Knights, World Walkers, Shadows of the Alley) has its own “treasure” variant, which only contains a small amount of a resource needed once a week for an event.
This leads to the minimap being filled with so many supposed treasures that you don’t even get to loot them all – and you don’t want to, because they only contain insignificant junk anyway:
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“They lost the meaning of ‘treasure’ or ‘rare enemy’ a long time ago. Most of the time, it’s just a box with junk or something like that.” – HunterNika
“I like that these things exist (free healing potions and stuff), but maybe they should just use a different color so you can see the rarity at first glance or something.” – Cheesburger2137
What kind of solution could there be? Basically, the community’s opinion seems to be that Blizzard simply needs more icons to open new categories. Things containing resources for events should not be considered ‘treasures’ but should use a different symbol. Furthermore, real treasures should be more clearly distinguished from these small “mini-boxes.” There is already a symbol for large treasures (the treasure chest with a star), but it is used only irregularly.
If there is one thing that really doesn’t fit into the grim world of Warhammer 40,000, it would be cute cat girls. But they exist, and they have been around for ages. Although “cute” is probably relative here…
In the world of Warhammer 40,000, there are dozens of species that inhabit the galaxy, ranging from seemingly peaceful space hippies to robo-mummies to voracious bug aliens. The universe is known for its diversity (and the hatred that all have for each other).
Among all these species, humans initially sound like the most boring, but appearances can be deceiving. Because the Imperium of Man consists of much more than just dull humans.
Although mutations in the Imperium are considered a blemish to be eradicated, in the worst case even seen as a sign of chaos corruption, there are some mutants that are tolerated: so-called abhumans.
Among the most well-known are certainly the hulking Ogryn or the Navigators, without whom nothing would work. Many of these abhumans are stable mutations that have arisen due to the circumstances of their worlds and have been sanctioned. However, some have a… different history.
Start video
The makers explain what Warhammer actually is
Cat girls are real, but hardly anyone knows about them
One of the lesser-known abhuman species are the Felinids, or: cat people, at least presumably. Because what kind of mutation it really is, is not 100% clear.
Felinids only occur on one world, Carlos McConnell (don’t ask why the planet is named after some guy). And yes, they are officially confirmed, even though their existence has only been mentioned in two rulebooks or books:
First mentioned by name in the 6th Edition rulebook from 2012, there with the scientific name “homo sapiens hirsutus” (literally: thinking, hairy human).
Second time in “Liber Xenologis: Observations from a Black Fortress” from 2021, a limited special edition that provides information on numerous non-human species and today costs up to hundreds of euros.
Moreover, Felinids are mentioned in the cRPG Rogue Trader by Owlcat, and the psyker from Darktide mentions them in one of his sentences. Allegedly, his “Beloved”, referring to the Emperor of Mankind, finds Felinids quite attractive. But what are these beings exactly?
Apart from the fact that Felinids are quite furry, not much is known about them. Allegedly, they arose from a crossbreed between humans and cats, which at least explains the name – felidae is the technical term for cat-like.
In the Liber Xenologis, a Kroot hunter reports that Felinids are the best killers of the Astra Militarum and have arm-length claws, although the source is considered to be of questionable credibility. The Kroot also states that he can hardly tell humans apart and that they all look the same to him (via Snipe and Wib on YouTube, which found this part in the book).
In an old Reddit thread, some fans discuss the origin of the Felinids and especially why Games Workshop even introduces such beings that seem to contradict the “grimdark” world.
The most plausible reason: Felinids come from a time when Warhammer did not take itself too seriously. For comparison: back then, there was also the Inquisitor Obiwan Sherlock Clusseau, and yes, he is canon and still exists.
A player has been searching in Path of Exile for a special weapon for 6 weeks, but a statement from the developers is enough to ruin everything.
What kind of weapon is this? The player’s object of desire is a unique sword called Oni-Goroshi. The ornate saber is special in many ways:
In terms of gameplay, Oni-Goroshi counts as a one-handed weapon, but you cannot combine it with a shield or another one-handed weapon.
The sword not only grants you a special buff, but it even speaks to you and comments on events in the game.
There are only two ways to obtain the weapon: as a guaranteed drop from an extremely rare monster or in exchange for special divination cards (according to www.poewiki.net).
A player wants Oni-Goroshi so badly that even Grinding Gear Games – the developers of Path of Exile 1 and 2 – have noticed. According to a post from the developers on X.com, this player has been farming the sword for 6 weeks now, but one statement destroys all efforts.
Start video
Path of Exile shows new league “Mirage” in trailer – brings changes for the endgame
“It doesn’t drop in Ruthless”
This one sentence reads: “To the exile who has been farming for Oni-Goroshi for the last 6 weeks… It doesn’t drop in Ruthless.”
“Ruthless” is a particularly difficult game mode that you can select when creating a new character. The mode makes it harder to find powerful loot, which makes the overall gaming experience much more unforgiving.
As the developers reveal in their post, the player is searching in vain for the sword. Oni-Goroshi does not drop in Ruthless mode at all. So he can grind for the sword for as long as he wants – his persistence will never be rewarded.
The community shares this pain. Farming for 6 weeks for something that literally cannot drop is the epitome of “gaming dedication meets developer cruelty,” writes evilcassieroll (on X.com).
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Others think the player should be rewarded by the developers for his efforts. For example, TihsonTV (on X.com) says: “6 weeks? That person deserves to have a permanent Oni bound to their account that their characters get as their starting weapon.”
The idea goes even further. The developers should remove all voice lines from this version of the weapon except for one: “Oni-Goroshi doesn’t drop in Ruthless mode.”
A few others argue that the player is too busy farming to even read this post. The team should send him a message directly in the game, suggests user Big_Ducks (on X.com).
A new team has only recently been formed in League of Legends around the Twitch streamer Nemesis. However, this does not stop the players from participating in the next EM.
Who is Nemesis? The midlaner from Slovenia, Nemesis, has been active in the professional scene of League of Legends since 2014. With Fnatic, he was able to achieve 5th to 8th place in the World Championship in 2020. There he played together with the toplaner Bwipo and ADC Rekkles.
What is the name of the new team? On March 4, 2026, at 21:00, Nemesis publicly revealed the new team in his Livestream on Twitch. Around the same time, a X post was made, introducing the team Witchcraft.
Start video
League of Legends shows new trailer for Season 1 from 2026
The new team is allowed to participate directly in the EM
Why is Witchcraft allowed to participate in the EM? It is quite unusual for a new team to be invited directly to major tournaments. However, Witchcraft consists of well-known players who have almost all played for Los Ratones.
A Reddit user writes that Witchcraft got the spot from Los Ratones (LR) and is allowed to participate in the EM because they played their last tournament, the LEC Versus, during the qualifiers.
Also, on the page liquidpedia.net, Witchcraft is listed as one of the two teams that received a direct invitation. The other team is Karmine Corp Blue, which also participated in the LEC Versus.
In Crimson Desert contains unusually much Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz thinks that’s great and is now especially hoping for fun physics play.
Where is Zelda in Crimson Desert? The new open-world adventure from Pearl Abyss reminds in several points of the open-world hits Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom by Nintendo:
You can climb up or onto almost anything and are only limited by your stamina.
You learn a gliding skill quite early, with which you can glide through the air from a higher altitude and safely reach lower areas.
Thanks to the enormous visibility, you constantly see exciting points of interest on the horizon that encourage you to explore the open world off the main paths.
You have access to a grappling hook, with which you can grab objects and move them through the air or interact with them. You need this skill, for example, to solve puzzles.
Many of the objects in the world are interactive, and you can take advantage of the physical laws of the game world.
Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
How do these physics play out in practice? A concrete example can be seen in the new preview video from the colleagues at GameStar on YouTube: the main character Kliff draws his bow and approaches a nearby fire bowl with the arrow drawn, causing the tip to catch fire.
With the arrow, Kliff then aims at a wall of brush that blocks access to a tower. The dense greenery then bursts into flames, thus clearing the way into the masonry.
A very different example is provided by a video clip from Leon_Dante_Raiden_ on Reddit. In this, you can see how Kliff uses his grappling hook to grab the tip of a tree and pull it back to build up tension. A moment later, the tree, repurposed as a slingshot, hurls the hero wildly through the air.
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This mix of exciting open world, believable physics, and absurdly funny sandbox moments not only reminds me of Zelda, but also of Dragon’s Dogma 2 from 2024, which I had a lot of fun with. There, surprising situations also constantly happened to me because the pawns and the inhabitants of the world have a certain life of their own.
Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is actually the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO, but he has also felt comfortable in many other genres, such as role-playing games of all kinds and action-adventures, for almost 40 years. He has been following Crimson Desert since its announcement, after all, the game comes from the makers of Black Desert. From March 18, 2026, you can read on MeinMMO how Karsten’s final assessment of Crimson Desert turns out.
Moreover, I just love it when at some point the idea comes to me: “Wait, it should work if I …”, and then it actually works when experimenting – like with the arrow, the fire bowl, and the flammable wall.
Or when the world is so interactive that you can throw objects lying around at enemies, throw enemies off cliffs, or gain unusual advantages in other ways. I am already incredibly excited to see what absurd ideas the community will successfully implement at launch and what the sandbox will have to offer in the later regions of the world.
At the most recent preview event, you could only spend a few hours in the first zone and then make a short detour into a later part of the game. That was just enough to scratch the surface. And to confirm that one of the greatest weaknesses from the gamescom version will unfortunately also make it into the release version for reasons: Everyone complains about the biggest weakness of Crimson Desert, but the developers say: It has to be like this
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In WoW Midnight you are sent on the quest “The Path of the Sunwalker” to travel through a portal to Hammerfall. However, many users are currently reporting a bug where the portal does not appear. Here we will show you how to work around the bug.
How can I bypass the bug? For the quest “The Path of the Sunwalker”, Faol must open a portal to Hammerfall for you, but he is not willing to do so – the quest seems to be bugged. However, there is a workaround to possibly bypass the problem. On Reddit, CreativeDisarrayInc mentions the following as a solution:
Go to Dornogal
Take the Arathi portal next to Faerin (located near the flight master)
If the portal is not active, you need to accept his quest
Fly to the approximate coordinates of 67.07 / 40.39 and land
The location will then be renamed from Hammerfall to Arathi Highlands
Now run the path towards Hammerfall to continue the quest
With this trick, the quest should still be able to continue, even if the bug still exists. After all, the player with the problem, triforce711, reports that he was able to continue the story.
Start video
WoW Midnight: Arator’s Light and the Firebrand
What should I do? The problem seems to still exist. In this case, you should report the bug using the reporting function in World of Warcraft so that Blizzard can fix the problem quickly. Some other players have tried the classic workarounds like:
A computer mouse is currently shocking the community. Because the mouse is hardly recognizable as such, having been used for only a few months.
Mouse and keyboard are an essential part of daily life for most people who play or work on a PC. Therefore, they are typically devices that wear out and deteriorate quickly.
A user has now presented his father’s mouse after 5 months of use, surprising the community.
“Is your father a mud devil?”
What does the mouse look like? As you can see in the title image and the official post, the mouse is heavily soiled and worn. The Logitech logo on the top can barely be read with a lot of effort. When the user is asked why his father doesn’t clean the mouse regularly, he explains that the mouse will just get dirty again:
I asked him why he doesn’t just clean it for heaven’s sake, and he always says, why clean it when it will just get dirty again.
A user questions on Reddit visibly irritated: “Is your father a mud devil?” and others want to know if he never washes his hands, given how dirty the mouse looks. However, the user does not reveal what profession the father has in his responses.
That’s why you should clean your mouse and keyboard: In general, you should regularly clean your peripherals, especially your mouse and keyboard. These devices attract bacteria: Several studies report that you can find more germs on your keyboard than on an average toilet seat.
A few years ago, British consumer protectors tested dozens of keyboards in an office for health risks and also warned about high germ levels (Source: srf.ch).
A player decided before the second expedition in ARC Raiders to pass on his collected belongings to another raider before the items would disappear into nothingness. After his wipe, however, he found that the game returned his items to him, allowing for the perfect “restart”.
Why did the player give away his belongings? The player doodicalisaacs shared in a post in the ARC Raiders subreddit along with a clip that he “donated” all his items before the second expedition in the game, as they would simply disappear. The expedition is a kind of voluntary wipe where players’ progress, weapons, levels, and resources are reset, but they also receive rewards for it.
Doodicalisaacs explained that he wanted to leave his collected treasures to someone else before the expedition. When he spawned in a round, he was taken out about 45 seconds later. At least his items quickly found a new owner.
However, he was surprised after the actual expedition with a message from the game informing him that he would receive his “lost” items back, as the wrong player had taken his loot.
Start video
ARC Raiders has an incredibly peaceful community – Even the developers are surprised
Good karma leads to a strong “new beginning”
How did this happy coincidence happen? ARC Raiders recognized in the handing over of the items a cheater who was pleased about the player’s well-intentioned action. Even though doodicalisaacs did not report him, the game wanted to ensure that he receives his lost items back due to “unfair gaming practices”.
Even better is the timing of the item return. It only happened after the player had embarked on the expedition and actually given up all his resources. Thus, despite the wipe, his items found their way back to their owner, who sounds visibly confused but not averse based on the clip:
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How does the community react to this coincidence? What one might call random luck is quickly seen by the community as good karma.
“Oh my God, karma is working in your favor, lol,” writes Crazy_Pop_9601, “the universe said: ‘No, not today.’”
Also, Dazed_and_Confused44 writes: “You honestly deserve to be rewarded for giving back.”
Wieewtflol and the lucky player also shared the same thought that right after this action would be the right time to buy a lottery ticket, which doodicalisaacs has already done.
If you want to delve deep into World of Warcraft Midnight, you need to equip and set Valeera correctly. We will reveal how to do it.
In World of Warcraft Midnight, there are many new depths, and they are again a pillar of the endgame – especially for solo fans. However, this time, you don’t have the dwarf Brann Bronzebeard by your side, but the lovely blood elf Valeera Sanguinar. Although Valeera is technically an assassin, she can fulfill all roles (Tank, Healer, DPS).
To ensure that she is strong and you benefit the most from her, you must level her up and equip her correctly. We will reveal which items best equip Valeera and what role you should assign to the assassin.
Start video
WoW Midnight: Arator’s Light and the Firebrand
Valeera’s Power – How to Make the Assassin Stronger
Basically, there are 3 ways Valeera gains strength and gets better. These are:
Your Item Level: Valeera scales directly with the strength of your equipment. The better your equipment, the more impact Valeera’s attacks will have.
Valeera’s Level: When you complete depths, Valeera gains experience points. With each level-up, she becomes stronger or learns new abilities. It can be worth farming a few depths to grant her more power.
The Relics: In the depths, you collect relics (or Curiosities), which grant Valeera and you new abilities or add new effects. This way, you can further customize Valeera.
It is important to know: Valeera’s progress is account-wide. This means you can level and equip her with multiple characters and benefit from it across all characters.
However, note that you must set her relics and role during the first visit to a depth with each character – this is not account-wide but bound to the respective character.
What role should you assign to Valeera? Whether you use Valeera as a Tank, Healer, or DPS is ultimately up to you. Generally, we have had very good experiences having her act permanently as a DPS character. This significantly speeds up most fights.
In the higher depths, and especially with (yet) poor equipment, it may make sense to use Valeera as a Tank or Healer. Fights will take longer, but are usually less stressful.
Curiosities for Valeera
Which relics should you give Valeera? At first, you will have few relics, as these can only drop after multiple visits to the depths. However, once you have the full selection, we recommend these relics:
Porcelain Blade Tip: Valeera’s abilities have a chance to weaken the enemy and apply a debuff that increases the chance to critically hit that enemy by 25%.
Mandate of Sacred Death: When Valeera uses tools (i.e., gathering resources), she grants the player-character a holy mandate, giving them a chance to deal percentage damage to the enemy’s total HP. Additionally, there is a small chance to instantly execute non-bosses.
These two curiosities are relevant for all roles of Valeera (Healer, DPS, Tank). They are extremely useful in all 3 specializations.
At the entrance of each depth, you can set Valeera and customize her to your liking.
Where do you get the relics? The relics, sometimes also called curiosities, come from the reward chests at the end of the depths. The higher the depth you visit, the higher the chance of getting a high-level relic. Each relic exists in 4 different versions. At the start, you will only find the ordinary (white) relics, but over time you can upgrade them all the way up to epic maximum – then they are significantly stronger.
Valeera as Tank and Healer – How Her Mechanics Work
If you decide not to take Valeera in the DPS role, you will need to engage a bit with her mechanics. As a healer, she does not simply grant her healing, and as a tank, she cannot take infinite damage. You need to actively interact with her mechanics for her to succeed in these roles.
Valeera as Healer: As a healer, Valeera leaves behind reddish orbs whenever she attacks enemies. You can collect these orbs to receive a powerful HoT (“Heal over Time”). Important: You should not collect all the orbs at once, but rather spaced out.
Pay attention to your heal buff in the buff bar and collect the next orb just before the previous one expires. The effect is stackable and will then become stronger. If you continuously collect the orbs with the right timing, you can maintain the effect nearly indefinitely and should rarely die.
You can check Valeera’s abilities anytime in Silvermoon at your leisure.
Valeera as Tank: Even though Valeera generates good aggro and can take quite a bit of damage, she still needs your help. You can either heal her as a healer yourself – or as a DPS character with a new mechanic.
When Valeera takes damage, a manifestation of her suffering occasionally appears. This is an enemy that you can attack. Each time the manifestation suffers 25% of its total HP in damage, Valeera will be healed significantly. Thus, you can heal Valeera simply by continuing to deal damage!
Have you made friends with Valeera Sanguinar and ventured into the depths? Or are you still mourning Brann Bronzebeard, who is taking a little break in this expansion? If you still don’t know how to get started with Midnight, we have 7 tips for the perfect introduction to WoW with Midnight.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Currently, you can catch a Mewtwo in Pokémon GO. Thanks to new tasks, this has become significantly easier.
Where can I find Mewtwo? On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the event for the 30th anniversary of Pokémon GO started. In the event, you can also find a GO Pass, where you can encounter a Mewtwo at level 80.
To reach this level, you’ll need to put in some effort and collect points for the pass. To make this a bit easier, there are now new tasks that can help you greatly.
Start video
Pokémon GO shows the new season Memories in Motion in the trailer
Complete tasks, collect points, receive Mewtwo
What kind of tasks are these? While you can currently earn 500 points every day through raids (100 points each), hatching eggs (40 points each), and catching monsters (5 points each) during the event, there is also a daily bonus task that brings you an additional 500 points. You always need 100 points to reach a new level.
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM, additional bonus tasks were unlocked that can also provide you with a substantial amount of additional points if you complete them. These are:
Evolve 10 Pokémon (500 points)
Catch 50 Pokémon (500 points)
Catch 100 Pokémon (1,000 points)
Catch 151 Pokémon (1,500 points)
Through the new tasks, you can earn a total of 3,500 bonus points, allowing you to climb 35 levels in the GO Pass.
How do I receive the tasks? To receive the new tasks, you just need to start the game. You will receive them automatically and find them in the “Events” tab, where you can also see the progress of the GO Pass.
How can I earn even more points? While you can currently only collect 500 points per day through raids, eggs, and catching, this limit will be lifted at the end of the event. Specifically, from Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 12:00 AM to Monday, March 9, 2026, at 7:59 PM.
If you’re aiming for Mewtwo and are still short on levels in the GO Pass, you can use this time to gather a good amount of points and secure the legendary monster.
The new season of Pokémon GO once again brings a special research task. MeinMMO shows you what tasks and rewards await you here.
What kind of research is this?The new season Memories in Motion started on March 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Pokémon GO. As usual, the season lasts about 3 months and ends on June 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
If you log into the game during the season, you will receive a new special research task titled Rising Pressure. Here you can receive the mysterious monster Volcanion if you haven’t received it yet. If you already have the monster, you will instead receive candies.
Why do I not have the research? If you do not receive it upon logging in to the game, it is because you have not yet completed the special research “Glitz and Glam” with Diancie, which you could have received in 2024. If you see this in your special researches, first complete it to receive the new research.
We show you what tasks you need to complete for the special research and what rewards await you.
Start video
Pokémon GO shows the new season Memories in Motion in the trailer
Special Research “Pressure Rising” (1/6)
Task
Reward
Spin 12 PokéStops or Gyms
1 Incense
Use an Incense
20 Poké Balls
Catch 12 Pokémon
1 Lucky Egg
Stage reward: Once you have completed this step, you will additionally receive 1 Star Piece, 2,025 Stardust, and 2,025 experience points.
Special Research “Pressure Rising” (2/6)
Task
Reward
Make 10 nice Throws
10 Pinap Berries
Explore 2 km
Encounter with Magneton
Complete 6 Field Research tasks
20 Great Balls
Stage reward: Additionally, at this stage, you will receive 20 Ultra Balls, 2,025 Stardust, and 2,025 experience points.
Special Research “Pressure Rising” (3/6)
Task
Reward
Catch 30 different species of Pokémon
Encounter with Popplio
Use 20 Power-Ups on Water-type Pokémon
25 Popplio Candies
Evolve 5 Water-type Pokémon
3 Popplio XL Candies
Stage reward: Once all tasks are completed, you will also receive 2,025 experience points and Stardust as well as 1 Lure Module.
Special Research “Pressure Rising” (4/6)
Task
Reward
Catch 30 different species of Pokémon
Encounter with Fuecoco
Use 20 Power-Ups on Fire-type Pokémon
25 Fuecoco Candies
Evolve 5 Fire-type Pokémon
3 Fuecoco XL Candies
Stage reward: Additionally, if you have completed all tasks, you will receive 1 Poffin as well as 2,025 Stardust and experience points.
Special Research “Pressure Rising” (5/6)
Task
Reward
Earn 10 hearts with your buddy Pokémon
Encounter with Carbink
Hatch 3 Eggs
1 Incense
Evolve 6 Pokémon
3 Golden Razz Berries
Stage reward: As a reward for this step, you will receive 5 Volcanion stickers, 25 Volcanion candies. If you do not have Volcanion yet, you will also receive an encounter with the monster here. If you already have it, you will receive 25 additional Volcanion candies.
Special Research “Pressure Rising” (6/6)
Task
Reward
Catch a Pokémon on 7 different days
2,025 experience points
Earn 2 candies with Volcanion as buddy Pokémon
2,025 Stardust
Send a gift to a friend
2,025 experience points
Stage reward: Once you have completed the last step of the special research, there will also be 1 XL Rare Candy, 5 Volcanion candies, and 2,025 experience points waiting for you.
Not only is the special research part of the new season. This brings, as usual, various content such as bonuses and monsters as well as some changes. If you want to be perfectly prepared for the new season, feel free to take a look at our 5 tips for the new season in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Who Crimson Desert has already been able to play complains about the controls. The complex key assignment is said to be unintuitive and deviates from known standards. However, behind this weakness lies a clear design philosophy.
What is the problem with the controls of Crimson Desert? Even at the play events at gamescom, colleagues complained about how complex and unintuitive the controls of Crimson Desert are. The action-adventure deviates from established genre standards and overwhelms players with countless functions, for which one has to press several buttons on the controller at the same time.
The key mapping in battles even resembles fighting games like Street Fighter with its many combos, throws, and weapon attacks. But even outside of combat, you have to press unusual key combinations to interact with NPCs or objects in the game world.
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Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video
The latest preview event shows that while the developers made adjustments in detail after the criticism, they remain true to their fundamental design philosophy. On the other hand, it is now clear that players were not only overwhelmed because they were allowed to play a relatively advanced character at the time – the overwhelm sets in immediately at the start of the game.
GameStar colleague Michael Obermeier, who was allowed to play Crimson Desert for about 6 hours, explains on YouTube:
This control is quite overwhelming at the beginning. I would say it takes a lot of acclimatization, and I kept thinking while I was playing: God, I’m such an idiot. I can’t handle this at all. How embarrassing is that?
But then I talked to the other people who were there […], and everyone I spoke to said that the controls are pretty tricky. It requires quite a bit of adjustment.
This was obviously not just the case for Michael and his conversation partners; every other preview report from March 4, 2026, discusses the controls of Crimson Desert as one of the biggest, if not the biggest weakness.
On the YouTube channel of GameStar-Talk, a chat about the preview event with Michael Obermeier has already been released – take a look:
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Why are the controls the way they are? In various interviews, the developers have already commented on the criticism of the controls and explained their design philosophy behind the complex key mapping.
They want to give players maximum freedom and access to a variety of maneuvers in combat (Source: gamereactor.eu). The resulting complexity is not a problem but a feature – skill should be rewarded.
Both in combat and outside of battles, you can interact with an unusually large number of objects in the game world in different ways. This would not be feasible with a simple 1-button mapping (Source: insider-gaming.com).
Players will learn the countless functions and moves gradually, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the complex controls step by step (Source: YouTube interview with marketing lead Will Powers).
After 6 hours with Crimson Desert, colleague Michael also has an idea of why the controls must be as they are:
Maybe this is a problem that resolves itself after 20, 30 hours because you simply get used to it, and after this time it becomes clear to you why things are “strangely” mapped, because when you have all the abilities or all the features at the same time, then it might all make sense. […]
Among these features is the ability to grab objects with a Zelda-like grappling hook and navigate them through the air, which is needed for puzzles or physics tricks in the world.
In combat, you also use melee and ranged weapons, unlock new active skills through the talent tree, select equipment and consumables from radial menus, and you can sneak, jump, and climb, and so on.
Whether Crimson Desert will be easier to control with mouse and keyboard on PC seems unlikely – as the developers recommend a controller at every opportunity. And since the developers stand by their design philosophy despite the criticism, not much will change in the basic controls by the time of release. What other observations players of the preview version made, you can find here: Previews of Crimson Desert are here – What the first reviews say about the action game with MMO scope
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The embargo for the preview event of the upcoming action-adventure Crimson Desert has been lifted. We will show you what the previous testers are celebrating and where there are significant issues.
What was this event about? In a final hands-on event before the release, some media representatives were able to play the full version on PC for a few hours in advance and gain a first, more extensive impression. They were able to dive into the beginning of the game for up to 6 hours and freely explore the open world.
Today, on March 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM, the embargo for reporting has been lifted, and the testers were able to share their opinions with you. Our colleagues from GameStar were also on site and report on their experience in their preview article as well as the associated video.
You can find out how the game is being received so far and what positive and negative aspects have been noticed in our article.
Update from March 13, 2026: We have refreshed the article in light of the upcoming release so that you can get a first impression before the embargo falls and the upcoming reviews.
Start video
Crimson Desert reveals the release date in the new trailer
An exhilarating spectacle that is difficult to put into descriptive words
What did testers like about Crimson Desert? In one aspect, almost everyone agrees: Crimson Desert is a gaming experience that is truly difficult to describe briefly and concisely. This is not least due to the sheer scope that the game offers – whether it’s the vast open world, numerous mini-games, extensive abilities and mechanics, or the countless secrets and details that can be found in the game.
The graphics and the accompanying presentation, which is often described as a true firework, are also praised. Many testers were similarly overwhelmed and impressed and felt that after the hours in the preview, they had only scratched the surface.
Frequent comparisons are made with games like The Witcher, Dragon’s Dogma, Zelda, or Monster Hunter. The title is also sometimes compared with Ghost of Tsushima or Red Dead Redemption. Fans of the MMORPG Black Desert are also expected to enjoy it and encounter numerous references. The flow in combat as well as the many options for movement are also praised.
According to preview reports, a major strength of the game lies especially in its exploration drive that it awakens in players, as there is something new to discover at every corner and the map can be freely explored from the very beginning. However, there were also some aspects that did not sit well with the testers.
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Amid menu chaos, control issues, and absolute overload
What negative aspects stood out? The biggest criticism that is most frequently mentioned relates to the control of the game. Whether with a controller or mouse and keyboard, it is not only clunky but also filled with numerous double assignments and countless combinations that are hard to internalize. This often resulted in testers doing things they did not actually intend to do.
The menu navigation is also said to be similarly overwhelming and obscuredly overloaded. While one usually finds what they need after some searching, it is not easy at all. Some testers also felt that while the game offers a lot of content, it does not all come together into a cohesive whole, even though the individual parts are genuinely fun.
Another point of criticism also applies to the story and the characters. Where the visual presentation truly shines, the story, at least during the preview hours, clearly falls behind and appears pale, boring, and convoluted.
The overall complexity of the game with its abilities, features, and combat system is also praised, but seen as a potential hurdle, as it would require some patience to learn and internalize everything. However, if one can engage with it, the game would certainly offer numerous hours of fun.
Until the release on March 19, 2026, it is still some time, and the reviews of the complete game will also take until March 18 to be published. So, if you want to think more about whether the game might be something for you – or perhaps not – you can check out the article by MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz, as he finds that Crimson Desert reminds him of a game that surprised us last year: Crimson Desert is a solo experience with MMO scope and could be as successful as the big RPG surprise of 2025
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
