MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes long believed that no horror movie could truly frighten him. However, a new tip has shown him the opposite: precisely with a cheap trick.
Before I spontaneously watched Obsession – You Shall Love Me by Curry Barker at the Fantasy Filmfest Nights 2026, I didn’t expect much. I’d heard the title before, but couldn’t place it that evening. The film quickly showed me that I can still be scared and frightened in the cinema.
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The 1st trailer for the horror movie Obsession makes a man regret his greatest wish
After a seemingly cheap trick, things took off
What is Obsession about? The premise is quite simple. Bear, played by Michael Johnston, is in love with his girlfriend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette. However, he doesn’t dare to tell her. One evening, he finds a wish stick in an esoteric shop, originally intended as a gift for Nikki. After a frustrating drive, he uses the stick himself and wishes for Nikki to love him as much as nothing else in the world. Well, he got his wish.
At first, I was skeptical because the quite reduced look initially put me off. But then came a scene that essentially comes from the horror mothball chest. A person lies in bed and sees something in a dark corner. As a viewer, you can’t even tell if there’s really something there. I knew what was going to happen, but it still startled me.
This was not just due to the jump scare setup, but mainly because of the situation. The central core of Obsession is love. The film even works with romcom aesthetics and lures the audience into a safe, cozy situation. You know something has to happen, but the staging still reassures you. After this first situation, however, that was broken.
An escalation builds up, wonderfully played by Inde Navarrette. The madness that lies dormant in her is so well embodied that I wanted to cover my eyes in some situations. Not because it became brutal or bloody, but genuinely uncomfortable.
Only a few horror films manage to do that, as they often rely too heavily on cheap jump scares. The audience is rarely lulled into a sense of security in cinemas, and instead of ongoing tension, there is a feeling of fatigue. But that is not the only part of Obsession that makes the film so incredibly worth watching.
Obsession cleverly plays with the question of who is actually the villain in the film. As a viewer, you follow Bear, who experiences the worst things, but he is also to blame for the situation. This is thematized in the film through small sentences without ever being blatant. The focus is also on the ego and pride of the main character.
This makes the classic dumb decisions of a horror film protagonist not just a topic of excitement but a part of the story. It revolves around victim-perpetrator reversal, toxic masculinity, and who here is actually truly obsessive.
That’s exactly what makes horror films so good: when they address relatable themes and process them in a creepy torture. I also had to think of the legendary film The Shining (1980) by Stanley Kubrick. It’s about the breakdown of a family and the danger posed by the father, a person who should protect the family.
Obsession creates a similar rupture with its characters, but in the network of relationship between friendship, love, and loneliness. Despite the really intense (and well-staged) horror scenes, Obsession manages to approach with a certain tenderness. But of course, that also enhances the many horror elements.
Because one thing should be clear to you: Despite the interesting theme, Obsession is at times also bloody, disgusting, and above all, uncomfortable.
You don’t need a compulsively new idea to create a fresh experience
Obsession doesn’t have a groundbreaking idea on paper, but Curry Barker demonstrates with his 2nd feature film as a director that he harbors true horror talent. The film is well shot, has visually appealing ideas, and most importantly: watching it feels quite confident, as if Barker is a director who has been making films for decades.
It probably helped that he made countless short films (via IMDb). Obsession can set itself apart from the current horror landscape without being incredibly twisted or experimental. The film shows me that there is still much more to the genre, and I can still be startled much more than I thought.
I can only recommend you watch Obsession, especially if horror films have left you cold lately. The film starts in German cinemas on 14.05.2026, and I am already excited about what Curry Barker will do next. 5 more horror film tips can be found here: 5 horror films for 18 and over that are not for the faint of heart
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On the weekend, MeinMMO author Johanna tried out the new shooter Pragmata, although it initially seemed boring to watch on Twitch. Playing it myself on Steam felt completely different.
On the weekend, I was once again searching for a game to fill my free time. The new shooter from Capcom, Pragmata, immediately came to mind. After all, it had just released on April 17, 2026.
However, before I wanted to fork out 60 euros for the game, I first watched some gameplay on Twitch. The first impression I got from several streamers was quite sobering. It just looks like a shooter, I thought. The only thing that would probably be engaging, in my opinion, would be the story, and to experience that, I would simply have to finish watching a Let’s Play rather than play it myself.
However, something moved me to try the sci-fi shooter after all. Don’t ask me what exactly, but my intuition or gut feeling was definitely right, because oh man! Otherwise, I would have missed out on something!
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CAPCOM shows the new sci-fi action game Pragmata in the trailer
Let’s go with Hugh and Diana
So I quickly downloaded the game and took on the role of Hugh. He gets separated from his crew on the lunar base that is to be explored, and the station’s AI seems to have made it its mission to eliminate us.
This is essentially just a confirmation of Hugh’s negative opinion about AI and androids. But then we meet Diana, a Pragmata, which is an android that accompanies us on our adventure from then on.
The first encounter of Hugh and Diana is still a bit reserved.
Hugh’s initially rather dismissive opinion of androids quickly changes. The reason for this is not only Diana’s cute appearance and curious behavior but also her usefulness during fights.
Two controllable characters keep me on my toes
Where we get right to the main point for which I quickly fell in love with the game: The combat system.
With Hugh, the gameplay is relatively clear: Shoot until the enemies are nothing but a pile of scrap. However, we don’t deal enough damage to take down the robots in just a few shots.
This is where Diana comes into play. She sits on our back and hacks the enemies so that we can deal better damage to them. Both shooting with Hugh and hacking with Diana are done simultaneously. I play with a controller, which is why the shoulder buttons belong to Hugh, and the right buttons are used for Diana.
Diana takes on half of the battle from Hugh’s back.
And that’s the crux of Pragmata: Watching the gameplay seems boring because it doesn’t really differ from another sci-fi shooter like Dead Space. However, the simultaneous hacking requires my full concentration and gives me a gaming experience that I’ve never had before and could never feel while watching.
Fighting in this way is exhausting. The appearance of enemies stresses me, and defeating a wave of enemies is always met with a sigh from me.
Enemies still put me in a panic, so I’d rather run away for now. Especially when the beloved shotgun is out of ammo…
No wonder I’m also nervous about the first boss. Here I need a few more hacks and shots, and the boss is also a bit faster than the previous enemies.
The relief I feel when the boss is down is incomparable. I haven’t felt so fulfilled, relieved, and full of fun in a game in a long time!
And at the same time, I’m excited about what else the lunar base has in store and whether the feeling of tension will diminish at some point. But I don’t think so; I actually think that’s just right!
The fantasy anime Sword Art Online returns with a new anime. However, in the 110-minute movie, Kirito is not the shining hero but is suspected of being a player killer.
What kind of movie is this? Anyone who has anything to do with anime should know the premise of Sword Art Online. In the anime, the innovative virtual reality role-playing game Sword Art Online is introduced, played with a Nerve Gear.
It is a modern helmet that utilizes the brainwaves of users to transport all five senses into a virtual world, while the real body remains motionless in the real world. However, a villain exploits this to kill the players one by one.
The first 10,000 players can suddenly no longer log out. If they die in the virtual reality, the helmet delivers a fatal blow to their brain in real life.
In the movie Sword Art Online: Unanswered//butterfly, created specifically for the new video game, we now experience the story from the perspective of Emirun and Rex. Unlike the anime, the movie is rendered in 3D CGI and is part of the Ultimate Edition of the video game.
Normally, the series follows the experiences of Kirito and Asuna. The two try to survive this drama and grow closer romantically. However, the new anime film suddenly portrays the shining hero as a villain.
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Sword Art Online: Unanswered//butterfly turns the hero Kirito into a player killer
Kirito goes from hero to player killer
What is going on with Kirito? In the trailers and the story of the movie, Kirito is indeed portrayed as a player killer. This refers to a player who has attacked or killed other individuals. This means that they have also died in real life.
That Kirito is capable of something like this shocks Asuna and the new characters. Therefore, Emirun and Rex go to Asuna for swordsmanship training and try to find out what really lies behind this player killer incident.
Whether Kirito is really capable of such a thing can only be determined with the release of the movie.
How can I watch the movie? The movie is part of the Ultimate Edition of Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad and will be released simultaneously with the video game on July 10, 2026. No release for streaming services or theaters has been announced yet.
After Blizzard’s comparison with Turtle WoW, the developers of the server must cease their operations for WoW Classic. They have now officially announced the end.
When is the end of Turtle WoW? Turtle WoW will cease its services on May 15, 2026. This will affect both the private server, which has been around for 8 years, and the work on Turtle WoW. The latter was the developers’ own production, which aimed to bring WoW to Unreal Engine 5.
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WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
Blizzard compares itself with Turtle WoW
Why are operations being stopped?Blizzard and Turtle WoW have settled in their legal dispute. In this, Blizzard has achieved the shutdown of the private server, a ban on Turtle WoW 2.0 (the remaster based on Unreal Engine), and a ban on donations and successors.
The developers now also confirm this in their announcement in the forum, where they announce the end of their operations and implement the points required by Blizzard. The website, the forum, and social media will remain active until October 16.
With the shutdown, the way is also clear for Blizzard to create its own major Classic-Plus variant. This could be expected at Blizzcon in September and could be a major highlight for WoW. Why Classic-Plus is the next logical step for Blizzard is explained by MeinMMO expert Karsten Scholz here:
What does MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier think of the end of Turtle WoW? Honestly, I am not the huge WoW nerd like our house demon Cortyn or the walking encyclopedia Karsten Scholz. But I recognize genuine ambition and immense talent when I see it. And that is exactly what the developers of Turtle WoW demonstrate.
The fact that Blizzard has now swung the legal wrecking ball and even prohibits direct “successors” is bitter at first glance. But let’s look at the facts: The developers have turned a simple private server into an unofficial WoW 2.0, which was funded so massively by fans that a whole team could make a living from it. Anyone who builds an unofficial WoW 2.0 with Blizzard’s lawyers breathing down their neck has the potential for much more.
Sure, many hardcore WoW fans will now be begrudgingly waiting for Blizzard’s official Classic-Plus. But honestly: If anyone can skyrocket a Kickstarter funding for a completely new MMORPG right now, it’s this team. They have a loyal fanbase, a functioning team, and the ultimate vote of confidence from a player base that is also not exactly happy with Blizzard’s measures.
For this reason, I say: Let’s go, Turtle WoW! See this end as a liberation and build the MMORPG that finally replaces Blizzard’s old relic! Leave Blizzard’s IP alone, forget the constant fear of lawyers, and create us a completely new, really good MMORPG. I would be the first supporter.
PayDay 3 had a huge crash at the start and was severely punished by the fans. MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier returns to the shooter in 2026 and clarifies the question: Can you still have fun with it from a fun perspective?
I am a PayDay veteran. Right from the start of PayDay The Heist in 2011, the concept of semi-seriously robbing a bank with my friends was exactly my thing. Even today, I can recite some mission announcements and keep returning to the old-school shooter.
I pre-ordered PayDay 2 and completed pretty much every mission there between one and a dozen times on both loud and quiet. For me and my friends, PayDay was our “main game” for years, which we always came back to when there was nothing else available.
12 years after it all started with PayDay The Heist, we had to take a look at the sequel as well – and we were disappointed. Poor performance, overloaded servers, online-only requirement, a weird armor system, and downgraded missions were exactly the opposite of what we had hoped for.
Like many others, we quickly switched back to PayDay 2. But in 2026, more than two years after the release, we gave the sequel PayDay 3 another chance.
Here you can watch a trailer for PayDay 3:
Select a MMO video…
No Hype, No Hate, Just PayDay 3
Especially when everything goes haywire at release, new features are no fun at all, and the mood in Discord is already down after a few rounds due to poor performance, people quickly say: The game is bad.
Upon our return in 2026, it was exactly the opposite: We returned without expectations, without a particular update in mind and without knowing what had really changed. Our goal was simply to have fun and pull off a heist or two like in the old times.
And that went surprisingly well. The developers made a conscious choice for a different rhythm in PayDay 3 than before. Instead of stretching some missions over several days and varying between stealth and loud jobs, everything in PayDay 3 happens in one go.
First, you enter the bank as a civilian without a mask, are allowed to explore the location unnoticed, and can also manipulate some roller shutters and ventilation shafts. If you get caught, you’ll get booted out, but the mission is far from failed.
This is how missions typically start quietly and then – because one of my talented friends was inattentive again – quickly become loud. But there’s something to be happy about, because every progress made on the “quiet path” helps even if you ultimately have to brute-force your way through. Although many missions can also be completed completely quietly or very loudly, we usually tried to find a middle ground.
Zipline against Bus
Even though I like this new rhythm, I still miss the divided sections from the predecessor a lot. Stretching heists over different days gave PayDay 2 a brilliant rogue-like character: You could lose everything.
If you first robbed a gallery and didn’t do it quietly, you had to get the loot to safety or sell it under fire. But if you played it smart, the stolen paintings in mission 3 were equipped with cameras that gave us a massive advantage. That was just genius.
The same goes for properly planning missions: Which exit? Which drill? Hacker or sniper for support? In PayDay 3, unfortunately, these preparations feel like a stripped-down approach that was just inserted so that it’s not completely missing. But to be honest: A zipline placed on the roof does not replace the epic feeling from part 2 of crashing a damn bus through a wall to blow up a new escape route.
In stealth, there are traps like lasers that you have to dodge, and the new enemies in loud mode push you out of cover much more frequently. PayDay 3 is clearly superior to its predecessor in these aspects.
Gather 4 friends, PayDay 3 with all DLCs, a free evening, and your drink of choice – and you will have fun. However, the less of these parameters are fulfilled, the more evident the weaknesses become. If you have to choose from the few standard levels included with the purchase as a small group, the fun of playing quickly comes to an end, especially when compared to the seemingly endless missions from part 2.
PayDay 3 is better in 2026 than many fans want to admit, but it is consciously different. If you want to go on a heist with friends that is a bit more challenging and can do without the old “goof” factor, you will be very happy with this title.
For those for whom PayDay 3 should only differ from its predecessor through graphical innovations and a few new levels, part 3 will likely continue to be nothing.
Moreover, there is a clear weak point in PayDay 3 when it comes to the number of missions. PayDay 2 had a very strong lineup. In PayDay 3, the selection is significantly reduced, largely due to the increased complexity of the levels. That’s a shame.
In the new solo mode, you can choose one of many missions. Most can be completed both loudly and quietly.
PayDay like from Fantasy
What I noticed positively while playing is the improved engine. Although PayDay 3 still looks like PayDay, the technology behind it is no longer so outdated. New obstacles like lasers, special drones, or blocking paths with law enforcement feel really refreshing.
What has also improved significantly is the system around health and armor. Just a reminder: In PayDay 3, there are armors and health points. If an armor is broken, you need a new plate, while health points can only be restored with a medkit.
If you forgo armor, you become more agile and can sneak better. This is now well implemented, as there are always small medkits in all levels, like the ones you would find in public places. You can heal yourself there, which makes the game more manageable even with little armor.
When Overkill Weapons and AI Annoy
However, not everything that glitters is gold. PayDay 3 actually wanted to satisfy the desire for defeating overpowered enemies with “Overkill Weapons.” Each player gets the ability to have a pre-selected OP weapon like an anti-material sniper delivered by a transport drone.
Personally, this happened to me far too often. By the end of each loud mission, several packages were left unused – simply because it didn’t feel particularly rewarding to mow down dozens of cops.
Things get really bitter with the AI, especially when you play PayDay 3 only with two players. In loud missions, the AI tends to run into the main street with the most valuable loot, gets taken out, only to then sacrifice the other AI buddy while reviving them. There were already mods for PayDay 2 that solved this better.
In silent mode, the bots still have no function.
Too Little Goof
Another very important point: PayDay 2 is goofy. This is not a GenZ TikTok word but simply describes the way the game was played due to its limitations.
Be it launching guards in the right direction with a shotgun, bunny-hopping on the floor, or getting frustrated for the umpteenth time because you were discovered due to a poor connection to the host.
The developers have significantly improved this in part 3 and removed exactly this goofiness. Objectively that’s good, but it also means that you don’t feel as “at home” in PayDay 3 as you did in PayDay 2 or The Heist.
PayDay 2 never wanted to be funny, but it was. PayDay 3 is not funny, but in some places tries hard to be – this comparison is often echoed in the community and is absolutely justified.
New and Old Missions
Personally, I think: PayDay 2 is PayDay 2 and PayDay 3 is PayDay 3! Accordingly, I am also not a fan of putting myself in PayDay 3 instead of the cooks in the drug lab for the 100th time in my life. Even if missions like “Cook Off” are extremely popular among fans, I simply see no justification for reheated levels in the still relatively young lifespan of PayDay 3.
However, the new missions are really good, some of which are only available via DLC. The new heists are extremely versatile and no longer feel as linear as the levels from the predecessor. Instead of just following gang A, B, or C, you go into the basement of a building, then up to the roof, you can climb along the facade and discover shortcuts along the way.
In stealth, there are traps like lasers that you have to dodge, and the new enemies in loud mode push you out of cover much more frequently. PayDay 3 is clearly superior to its predecessor in these aspects.
Gather 4 friends, PayDay 3 with all DLCs, a free evening, and your drink of choice – and you will have fun. However, the less of these parameters are fulfilled, the more evident the weaknesses become. If you have to choose from the few standard levels included with the purchase as a small group, the fun of playing quickly comes to an end, especially when compared to the seemingly endless missions from part 2.
PayDay 3 is better in 2026 than many fans want to admit, but it is consciously different. If you want to go on a heist with friends that is a bit more challenging and can do without the old “goof” factor, you will be very happy with this title.
For those for whom PayDay 3 should only differ from its predecessor through graphical innovations and a few new levels, part 3 will likely continue to be nothing.
In the vast universe of Marvel, there are countless powerful beings. One, however, stands above all others and is the ultimate God.
Who is it? In the Marvel multiverse, there is a God who stands above all others. His name says it all: One Above All.
He is comparable to the creation gods of great religions, at least in that everything that exists was created by him. He made his first appearance in the comic “Fantastic Four #511” in 2004.
The One Above All first created himself, then the being Oblivion, which represents emptiness, and later the universe itself.
The God used love as the most powerful weapon. He is a being full of compassion, empathy, and goodwill, and mostly resided in the House of Ideas, a kind of heaven.
In the 3rd teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel shows the return of two legendary mutants
Evil Comes into the World
How did the creation of the universe unfold? Demiurge, a consciousness that created the Elder Gods, was indirectly created in this process. They served the One Above All and were his servants. However, conflict arose when Vinruviel, a being that had created itself, appeared.
The Elder Gods fell under Vinruviel’s influence and began to fight each other. The One Above All had to intervene and end the dispute. To do this, he created the God Atum, who defeated the corrupted Elder Gods.
However, Vinruviel was not one to give up easily. The being caused the birth of terrible creatures, which angered the One Above All. He split the entire Earth, making himself vulnerable. Vinruviel took the opportunity and poisoned him with corruption.
The life that bloomed everywhere was countered by the One Below All; death and ultimately evil itself can thus be attributed to the supreme of all gods. This is particularly remarkable because the One Above All was actually known for his benevolent nature.
Was the God invincible? Pretty much. Even some of the most powerful beings like the Living Tribunal served him and were his servants.
However, it was Thanos who once managed to force the One Above All to his knees. When a future version of himself took control of his present self, he absorbed cosmic beings thanks to the Astral Regulator.
Even the One Above All fell victim to this. In this way, Thanos’s future self became the supreme God. However, this did not last long: the current Thanos managed, with the help of Adam Warlock, Kang, Starfox, and Pip the Troll, to regain control. He performed a reset and restored the old order.
Fun Fact: In some places, the One Above All is shown in the form of comic artist Jack Kirby. He is considered a legend at Marvel and was involved in the creation of the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man and many others. Appropriately, he has a pencil that can change reality.
In Pokémon GO, Dynamax-Regirock is waiting for you. To ensure victory against the boss, MeinMMO has compiled the best counters against the monster.
What kind of monster is this? Regirock is a legendary monster that has existed since Generation 3. It is a Rock type and is part of the so-called Legendary Giants.
On Monday, April 20, 2026, you can find and challenge the boss for the first time in its Dynamax form in the game. To do this, you will need not only 800 Dyna particles but also a Remote Raid Pass if you want to start the fight from a distance, as well as strong counters. We have taken a closer look at these and will introduce them to you.
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Pokémon GO Fest 2026 comes with Mewtwo and Zeraora
How to successfully defeat Dynamax-Regirock
Which attackers are suitable? As Regirock is a Rock type, attacks of the Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water types are very effective against the boss. Ideally, you should bring attackers that cover these types.
Especially the following attackers are suitable for this:
Gigantamax Intelleon with Water Gun
Zacian (Crowned Sword) with Metal Claw and Behemoth Blade
Gigantamax Kingler with Mud Shot
Gigantamax Rillaboom with Scratch
Gigantamax Machamp with Karate Chop
Your attackers should only enter the fight when the Dynameter is fully charged. Then they should perform their strong Dyna attacks. Afterwards, you switch them out again and use your defenders to recharge the Dynameter.
Which defenders should be used? To absorb the attacks from Dynamax Regirock and fill your Dynameter, you can use the following monsters:
Dynamax Latias with Dragon Breath
Dynamax Latios with Dragon Breath
Dynamax Regice with Lock-On
Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) with Metal Claw
Dynamax Gallade with Low Kick or Psycho Cut
When choosing a defender, ensure that you ideally have a type advantage so that Regirock cannot hit you very effectively, and that the monster has good defensive and HP values. Additionally, it is important to rely on a quick attack that has a duration of 0.5 seconds. Furthermore, you should avoid using charged attacks.
This way you fill your Dyna meter the fastest and can switch in your attackers as often as possible to deal damage.
You also need some luck regarding the selection of Regirock’s charged attacks. The boss has 2 charged attacks that come from the following attack pool:
Stone Edge (Rock)
Focus Blast (Fighting)
Zap Cannon (Electric)
Earthquake (Ground)
Which healers are suitable? Basically, any monster can be used as a healer or for shields. It is important that you level up the corresponding Dyna abilities to their maximum level to ensure they have the maximum effect.
Typical healers are those that have a lot of hit points and high defense values. This includes the following monsters:
How should the battle proceed? Before starting the battle, you should discuss with your group who will take which role and shape your team accordingly. Remember that a maximum of 4 trainers can start in a group for the battle. Also, ensure a balanced group and do not start with 4 attackers against the boss.
Fill your Dynameter during the battle and then switch to monsters depending on your role. Once you have performed your attacks or abilities, switch back.
If you have problems during the battle, you can utilize the adventure effects of Zamazenta and Zacian to increase the attack or defense of your monsters in the Dyna fight. You can also use the item Dyna Mushroom, which you can only normally obtain for PokéCoins, to boost your attack.
How difficult will the fight be? If you have already fought Dynamax Regice, you can gauge the difficulty by this monster. Both monsters have the same stats and only differ in their types as well as their weaknesses, resistances, and attacks.
In addition to the debut of Dynamax Regirock, April brings several more contents in the last days, such as events, raids, and other Dynamax monsters. If you want to know which ones, feel free to check out our overview with all events in April 2026 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Crimson Desert there are special weapons that require special and above all valuable materials: the Aeserion weapons. We will explain how to craft them and what makes them different from other weapons.
What are Aeserion Weapons? If you have been playing Crimson Desert for a while, you will have encountered at least the valuable Aeserion Scales with which you can upgrade your weapons to the final tier. There are also legendary weapons that are associated with the entity.
What Aeserion Weapons are there? In total, there are 10 Aeserion weapons that you can craft:
Aeserion Bow
Aeserion Dagger
Aeserion Flail
Aeserion Sword
Aeserion Great Axe
Aeserion Halberd
Aeserion Longsword
Aeserion Spear
Aeserion Warhammer
Whether and which weapons are worth it for you and how you can obtain them, you will learn here in the guide.
[toc]
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Here you will find the legendary horse “Rokade” in Crimson Desert
Aeserion Weapons: Differences from Other Weapons and What They Are Good For
What primarily distinguishes Aeserion weapons is their appearance. They all – except for the bow and sword – come with increased critical hit chances, which, for the most part, do not stand out from other legendary weapons. You will also find similar bonuses with other, better weapons, so there are few reasons, aside from their appearance, to pursue them specifically.
You can view the exact values in the database, how they look in their basic form and at the final upgrade level.
Only the dagger provides gameplay advantages for which it is worth pursuing the Aeserion weapon, should you not only care about the appearance. For when you have it equipped, you not only have a significantly increased critical hit chance but also an additional 10% chance to receive extra resources when skinning prey.
So if you hunt a lot or want to farm pelts and the like specifically, it is worthwhile to craft the dagger at least in its basic form.
Find Blueprints for Aeserion Weapons – Here’s Where You Need to Go
If you want to tackle the Aeserion weapons, you first need to find the plans for them. You will need the ability “Fist of Strength: Focus,” as you cannot access the chest otherwise. You must have completed at least Chapter 4, as that is where you obtain the ability.
Then head to a small island in the south of Hernand:
Here you will find the cave with the blueprints at the X.
Once there, head east and look for a cave near the cliffs that is blocked by colorful stones, next to which you will see a stone figure with a dragon. Beware: If you have not yet completed the two boss fights there, either do them or leave them aside and glide to the cliff with the cave.
This is what the entrance looks like.
Use the ability “Fist of Strength: Focus” to clear the stones out of the way. Loot the chest in the cave behind it and secure the book with the blueprints.
Read each page individually.
Beware: You must examine each page individually here in order to learn all the recipes. Once you have done that, you can view and craft the Aeserion weapons at any blacksmith of your choice.
How do you find the weapons and do you want to secure them? Is appearance important to you, or do you focus on values in Crimson Desert, even aside from Abyss equipment? By the way, how to obtain the scales for the weapons and the final refinement step is explained here: Crimson Desert: Finding Aeserion Scales
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Crimson Desert, there are quite a few rather annoying missions. Whether it’s transporting a whining bounty target, fighting a way too strong boss, or going for a ride with Yann. However, a player has now found an even more annoying quest.
What kind of quest is it? In Crimson Desert, Abyss Dice are scattered all over the world. They provide you with challenges that you can complete to turn these dice into skill points.
One of these challenges is particularly exhausting. For the challenge “Harmonious Hooves IV,” you must ride from Sunset Valley to Varnia. Sunset Valley is the name of the village in the far southwest of Pywel, while Varnia is located in the far northeast. The locations are therefore at the maximum distance apart.
For the challenge, the ride must be completed within 40 minutes, but it gets even more annoying.
For the ride, you should take Rokade with you:
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Here you will find the legendary horse “Rokade” in Crimson Desert
One mistake and you have to do it again
What other rules are there? Because riding through all of Crimson Desert for 40 minutes is not time-consuming enough, there is another rule that makes the challenge even harder. You are not allowed to dismount at any time during the entire ride.
If you do, for example because an enemy attacks you and knocks you down, you have to ride the whole way back from the beginning – even if you are already in Crimson Desert.
What does the reward look like? As a reward for the challenge, the developers give you one skill point and one skill reset point. Not a big reward, considering that you have to ride for about 40 minutes at full sprint without making mistakes through all of Pywel for it.
How does the community react to the challenge? Some players have already completed the challenge and share their experiences on Reddit. There they write:
ThatGuyNamedKal: “I managed it in about 30 minutes. I needed 2 attempts because I was shot off my horse halfway through my first attempt […]”
That_Guest_8772: “Instead, fight for 40 min. against mobs for 2x artifacts”
Right_Carpenter_4622: “I just had to bring a bounty back over 2400 meters, and he kept rambling about honey and asking about his mother the whole time.”
Xiromat: “I did this yesterday. If you have one of the legendary horses with a high bonding level, you can easily get there in 20 min. A standard horse will probably be a bit slower, but you definitely don’t need the full 40 min.”
So if you have a good mount, you will save some life time, in case you even want to complete the quest for the minimal reward. If you don’t have a good horse yet, you should secure Rokade right away. The legendary horse will get you through Pywel really fast: Crimson Desert: Legendary Mount – How to get Rokade early and ride on Black Beauty
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Finally, last night there was the first announcement trailer for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. The last part was ten years ago, which is why MeinMMO editor Jasmin is particularly excited for this game.
In fact, Dragon Ball Xenoverse is one of the few anime games that I played in my childhood. I never played the Budokai games, as I was already well served with Super Smash Bros. and Naruto beat-’em-up games.
Besides Dragon Ball Origins, which was released for the Nintendo DS back then, I also loved Dragon Ball Xenoverse. I just found it great that these games have MMO elements. You can create your own character and play a new story related to the anime – without having to experience the same story repeatedly in battles.
On the other hand, there’s the loot and grind. To get the best abilities or coolest outfits, certain missions need to be completed multiple times. I also liked the leveling system, and the option to play together with friends should not be overlooked.
The first two parts were released closely together in 2015 and 2016. It took ten years until the third part was finally announced. And just the four minutes from the announcement trailer have already convinced me that this will probably be the best anime game of all time. Convince me otherwise.
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Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 shows the big city feeling in the first trailer
Dragon Ball meets GTA
The new trailer for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 features many scenes in a vibrant city. Players are taken this time not to a single small hub, but to a metropolis called West City. In this city, an original storyline unfolds involving original characters. The main character joins the Great Saiyan Squad, where you fight in events with allies.
The trailer already feels a bit like GTA, as there are many activities shown: Characters are driving around in cars, there is a streamer promoting herself widely, and everywhere there are restaurants and shops advertising with neon signs.
Right at the beginning of the trailer, you can see many such scenes, which is why the game convinced me in under a minute.
In the previous Xenoverse parts, I felt like something was missing in terms of the city vibe. It felt more like the outskirts of a city. But just in the new trailer, everything seems so lively. I hope that this feeling from the video can also be implemented in the actual game. Because then it would be the best anime game I have ever experienced.
The game is set to be released sometime in 2027 for PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
In this list, we outline various ways to acquire gold in Dungeons & Dragons. Depending on your adventurer’s moral compass, there is a wide range of options to become particularly wealthy.
Players in Dungeons & Dragons have different reasons for embarking on their adventures. For some, it is honor, for others a very personal motivation. And yet, there are those who, even in a fantasy tabletop role-playing game, want nothing more than a dishonorable giant pile of gold.
Whether you simply want to become as rich as possible or are just desperate little amateur mercenaries who have already spent your last dime on poor equipment: In this list, we present a few ways that can provide you with necessary capital up to serious wealth.
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Official D&D campaign brings stars from Baldur’s Gate 3 to Ravenloft
Undertake the Right Adventure
In Dungeons & Dragons, a campaign often follows a main adventure along with various quests, personal tasks, and challenges of different difficulty levels and rewards. Depending on what type of campaign you and your Dungeon Master agreed upon in your session zero, this adventure can reward you accordingly.
If you are the type of player who, before special loot or important information, mainly aims for gold, then this should be communicated in a session zero. This way, you not only get the regular dopamine boost from gold, but your Dungeon Master also knows what kind of reward they can use to motivate you in different directions.
If you want to experience as much wealth as possible in your campaign to afford particularly strong equipment, weapons, or magical items, that is a valid wish. Just communicate it early enough with your game masters and you will get plenty of opportunities to fill your pockets with gold.
Accordingly, here’s another tip: Venture off the path of your main target. Even in smaller places, there are NPCs who need your help and are willing to pay you more or less generously for it.
On the next pages, we will mention additional ways to acquire gold!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Zombies are very popular in pop culture, so it is no surprise that Star Wars has its own virus. It transformed stormtroopers into the undead, bringing terror to the galaxy.
Project Blackwing is a dark chapter in the history of the Galactic Empire from Star Wars. It is a research project that worked to achieve immortality and took place between the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Hoth.
However, it went wonderfully wrong, and the scientists of the Sith Academy had to watch as lifeless bodies suddenly came to life. A virus was out of control, transforming all those infected into zombie-like undead.
Those affected were primarily the otherwise rather useless stormtroopers working at the research facility on the planet Dandoran. Different types of stormtroopers produced different strengths of undead; together they formed a dangerous army that grew rapidly.
Even the Emperor found it too much. He ordered the virus and the undead to be fought, just as the rebels did. They managed to seemingly resolve the issue. Unfortunately, a second outbreak occurred, but that was also successfully dealt with.
Project Blackwing and its consequences were introduced into canon thanks to the game Star Wars: Commander from 2014. Outside of that, the novel “Death Troopers” first told of the virus in 2009. In this story, the history of the undead goes much further back and unfolded somewhat differently.
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Star Wars Episode IV – Trailer for the download version
Over 4600 years earlier, the virus raged once before
What does Legends say? The origin also lies here in a failed experiment. 4645 years before the Battle of Yavin, the Sith Lord Darth Drear also attempted to achieve immortality.
He developed an elixir that actually extended his life. The side effect: he became infected and died despite some efforts to stop the decay. However, the Sith Lord’s records documented his findings, and over time the Sith repeatedly researched it.
In Legends, it was none other than Darth Vader who discovered the story of the virus thousands of years later. He wanted to reproduce it to create a biological weapon. With it, opponents could be easily eliminated and chaos could be spread across the galaxy.
If research could also uncover the secret to eternal life, that would have been a pleasant side effect for a Sith like Vader. After all, the death of his beloved Padmé had deeply affected him.
Thus, in this version of the story, Project Blackwing was also born. On the Star Destroyer Vector, scientists were researching it when the virus broke out on board. Almost everyone on the Star Destroyer died and returned as undead. Although an attempt was made to study the virus at another research station on Dathomir, it broke out again and spread.
Will we see the virus in a movie or series? The topic is essentially perfect for a real horror movie in the Star Wars universe. However, the story of the virus in canon is just a footnote.
Since Disney largely ignores Legends and wants to appeal to a broad audience, it is currently unlikely that Project Blackwing will be realized as its own movie or series. Would you be interested in that? Feel free to let us know in the comments. The undead are far from the only danger in the galaxy: 5 dangerous creatures from Star Wars that would make even Darth Vader suit up
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When it comes to winning, MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes likes to use cowardly or devious tactics in the games of Pokémon. His fiancée felt this during their first date.
In doing so, I also resort to sneaky strategies – after all, I want to be the very best. My fiancée also experienced this during our first date.
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In the trailer for the DLC for Pokémon Z-A, Raichu appears twice
An Annoying Attack and a Lot of Luck
How did the battle go on the first date? Since we had already talked about Pokémon (and the best Korean movies), we decided to play some Pokémon against each other on our first date. We decided to use Sun and Moon on the 3DS.
While she put thought into her moveset beforehand, I took it a bit more relaxed and just chose the Pokémon I had on hand. I particularly remember the last starter evolution Primarina.
The battle began and she used Stealth Rocks – on a date. I took it personally and even though I actually had the worse cards, I just had to win. So I resorted to the tactics of a coward and the annoying move: Sing from Primarina.
The move is quite simple; it puts the opposing Pokémon to sleep. So my tactic was pretty straightforward: her Pokémon fell asleep and I attacked. But I needed a lot of luck because Sing only has an accuracy of 55%.
Moreover, the sleep factor only lasts 1 to 3 turns since the 5th generation. So I usually had to endure a hit because Primarina’s speed stat is not particularly high (base stat only 60). On the other hand, Primarina has a good special defense and special attack, which helped me a lot. It was also lucky that my date didn’t have any Pokémon that were effective against Primarina (Water/Fairy).
Somehow, I managed to win this duel with my cowardly tactics. Of course, I didn’t just take the victory silently – just imagine the victory dance of Crash Bandicoot at this point. Although I was quite a fool back then, we will soon get married. So the duel didn’t harm me, except that my fiancée still accuses me of the singing to this day – but what wouldn’t you do for a victory.
The duel in Sun and Moon was just the beginning of a competitive streak in my relationship. In games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or Street Fighter, we also enjoyed virtually fighting against each other, and I don’t even want to start mentioning board games, because in those we both often forget that we are actually together. MeinMMO editor Karsten even met his wife thanks to an MMO: “My wife won me in a giveaway for Guild Wars 2” – as a consolation prize, so to speak
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Warcraft is confusing. One of the Rocket Beans shows how confusing a single class can be at its core.
For some, World of Warcraft has become way too easy, for others way too complex to even get started. The truth seems to lie somewhere in the middle. Newcomers struggle with the complexity, while veterans use systems that have grown over 20 years and that they know by heart. A streamer illustrated the underlying problem with a quick drawing.
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WoW Cinematic shows the journey of the Paladin Arator – Son of two worlds shows
Who is that? Florentin Will is part of the Rocket Beans and also known from other formats. For example, he has appeared on the Neo Magazin Royale or worked for Funk on the YouTube channel “Gute Arbeit Originals”. What is widely known about him is that he is quite a Warcraft fan and has been playing WoW for many years, always checking in at the start of a new expansion. He is known for such lovely quotes as:
We don’t play World of Warcraft to celebrate achievements, but to avoid some unpleasant social occasions.
And every WoW fan would probably say: That’s somewhat true. Sometimes even more.
The priority system in WoW is extremely complex
What does Florentin describe? In a stream a few days ago, he took a look at the new expansion Midnight and dealt with the Mistweaver Monk – a healer that he has played for years and with whom he wanted to revisit dungeons.
To accommodate all viewers, he explained the progression of the ability system in World of Warcraft and how it has changed over time.
The Early Days: At the beginning, there was basically only one ability per class that had to be repeated in combat, like Frostbolt for mages. It got monotonous.
Rotation: Later on, there were rotations. Fixed sequences of 2 or more abilities with different cooldowns that could be somewhat worked through in a fixed order.
Priority System: Currently (and for quite a while) there is the priority system, where you use abilities not just based on cooldowns, but based on complex interactions, temporary buffs, and intertwined effects.
What is part of everyday life for long-time WoW fans and often seen as “not that complex” appears completely overloaded and confusing to newcomers. Florentin impressively demonstrates this by explaining the various systems with a quick Paint drawing – anyone who doesn’t lose track while doing so has been playing WoW for at least 10 years. You can see the corresponding passage starting at 06:46 and for the following 6 minutes:
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Cortyn says: Even though Florentin Will’s presentation is somewhat abstract, it describes quite well, at its core, how complex and intertwined the various abilities of World of Warcraft are. Newcomers may quickly lose track and wonder if the intensive study of a class is even worth the effort.
Exactly these considerations may also have led to the introduction of the “1-Button-Assistant”, where you don’t have to think so much about these complex interactions and can just focus on the rest of the game – that is, positioning in combat or boss mechanics. However, the feature is only partially suitable for healers and tanks, so especially these roles cannot avoid digging deep into the details or relying on guides.
What do you think of the ability system in World of Warcraft? Do you wish for a simpler time, like in “Vanilla”, where you often only used one or two abilities? Did you like the system with fixed rotations? Or is the complexity of the current system just right for you? In some places WoW also becomes significantly easier. For example, tanks now get help when they want to start with Mythic+.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
One of the voices from the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has finally played the RPG after having false assumptions about it.
Who feels like a fraud and why? The voice of Gustave from Expedition 33 is the actor Charlie Cox. Many of you might know him from the Marvel series Daredevil.
Especially since he isn’t a gamer and hasn’t played the game at all. This also led him to think for a long time that he voiced the final boss in Clair Obscur. What kept him from gaming was mainly that he doesn’t own a console.
But now, Charlie Cox finally dared to approach the game not only as a voice actor but also as a gamer, at least a little bit.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinterlässt bei den Spielern eine Leere
Charlie Cox is not really good at Clair Obscur
In an interview with GamesRader+, Charlie Cox talked about his recent experience with Clair Obscur. He has played a little, walked around the initial sections, and found that he is not really good at it.
Perhaps that’s partly because his last gaming experiences were almost 30 years ago. The actor lists FIFA 98 and Goldeneye 007 in the interview among others. Those are clearly very different types of video games from what Clair Obscur is. Charlie Cox himself describes the game as a movie in which you participate.
Regarding the fact that Charlie Cox essentially plays himself in the RPG, he said: “It didn’t really feel like me… I didn’t really see it as myself, but as Gustave.”
Soulframe has just released the new update Preludes 14. With this patch, all players who can’t get enough of pirates can play as a pirate.
What’s new in Preludes 14? Soulframe is still in the alpha phase and regularly drops new updates with larger content. This time, players can look forward to the following content in The Duelo:
A new fable where players search for a stranded ghost ship
The Duelo Pact, which allows players to learn new abilities such as shooting with the flintlock pistol and summoning a ghost clone
New weapon arsenal and armor
New Orlick progress system
New bosses and locations
Gameplay revisions
Gameplay revisions include a rune update and new side quests that can be accepted at the World Tree. However, given that a pirate game is currently trending on Steam, the new pirate class comes just in time.
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Soulframe offers a brief insight into the gameplay in the trailer
You can now play as a pirate in Soulframe
What can the pirate do? The Mestra Carmo Pact is not explicitly referred to as a pirate pact, but it offers exactly that flair. Players can now use a flintlock pistol that fires explosive shots. Moreover, with the abilities of this pact, one can strengthen allies’ virtues or slow down enemies.
As a special attack, one can summon a ghost clone that exactly replicates every attack. This is reminiscent of Davy Jones, who emerges from his grave below the sea and joins in the attack.
The update is already live, so you can experience the following content right away. However, you need access to the game as it is still in the alpha phase. Register on the website to get on the waiting list or keep an eye out for drops on Twitch.
Mounts are as essential in MMORPGs as dungeons and raids. But traveling in style is something anyone can do. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you should check out these 5 absolutely absurd mounts from Final Fantasy XIV.
In Final Fantasy XIV, there are now over 270 mounts available as of the publication of this article, which can be obtained in one way or another. Of course, there are absolute masterpieces like the current raid mounts or incredibly expensive prestige mounts for in-game currency.
But anyone can be stylish in the game – whether it’s with the luxury car from Final Fantasy XV, sparkling horses, or on a hoverboard. However, the MMORPG also offers a whole range of absolutely absurd and wild mounts that are sometimes really hard to obtain.
We present the top five of these wild mounts in this list. In no particular order. But look forward to pink elephants, flying saucers, and … playing cards!
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Final Fantasy XIV: Rocking trailer for “Into the Mist” sets the stage for patch 7.4
Flying Saucer
The first mount on our list could have come straight out of a 50s alien movie: the flying saucer. Complete with a gray chassis, yellow wheels, glass dome, and antenna.
The single-seater hovers constantly and is a quest reward from the incredibly serious (not) quest line surrounding Hildibrand Manderville, whose mother, by the way, is one of the five most powerful NPCs in the game. The mount is a copy of our friend Koyo-Koyo’s vehicle, but unfortunately, it’s not a particularly good copy: Due to this, you can’t shrink your character to fit in the vehicle. So your character gets dragged around by the tractor beam under the flying saucer.
According to FFXIV Collect, only 21% of players currently own the Flying Saucer. You get it by successfully completing the level 90 quest Manderville’s Mystery.
We also took a look at our YouTube channel Final Fantasy XIV to see whether the game is worth playing in 2026 and, more importantly, for whom:
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If you love the color pink, find bunnies incredibly cute, or have a crush on the Loporrits, you really should acquire the mount Pinky. Pinky is an elephant. A pink elephant, completely covered in flashy decorations from the Euphoratron, the Endwalker treasure map game. On its head, the mount also wears a huge bunny mask with colorful ears.
However, according to the description, Pinky is not a real elephant. Instead, Pinky is a machine built by the Loporrits on the moon. Allegedly, the story that drunks fantasize about pink elephants was the inspiration. While there are no real pink elephants in Final Fantasy XIV, the elephant baby Dumbo in the Disney animated film dreams of them.
Currently, exactly 1.4% of players own Pinky, which may be due to the fact that the key is a drop from the Euphoratron. These are the luck-based mini-dungeons that can be obtained while opening level 90 treasure maps. So, if you want Pinky, you need a level 90 collector or have to buy the card for a lot of money at the market board. And even then, the drop is not guaranteed.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many players are currently playing as pirates on the seas of Windrose. However, there are some things that are not immediately obvious when playing. A player only understood an important combat mechanic after 20 hours.
What is this mechanic? In addition to blocking, players in Windrose can also parry during combat. Not only do they block incoming damage, but they also unbalance the opponent. However, parrying causes many players difficulties.
For example, on Steam there is a discussion where a player reveals that he does not understand parrying. He would wait until the last microsecond, but still just go into the block and get unbalanced or even hit. Parrying was absent for him.
Also on Reddit, a player reported that he only understood how parrying works after 20 hours. It is not about the timing of the parry, but about the weapon.
If you’re having trouble in combat and can’t fend off attacks, make sure you aren’t using a blunt weapon – you cannot parry with such weapons. I played for 20 hours with the club and gave up on parrying because it simply never worked; instead, I relied on dodges, only to realize that it wasn’t my timing but the weapon I was using.
So you have to be careful about what kind of weapon you have equipped. Depending on that, you can parry with the weapons as follows:
Firearms as well as halberds, clubs or maces are not suitable for blocking.
Rapiers, sabers, and great swords are well suited to parry the opponent’s attack.
Additionally, another user writes on Reddit that one does not have to wait until the very last millisecond when parrying. Instead, the window of time to press the button is earlier, namely when the opponent’s animation would start.
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The pirate survival game Windrose finally has a release date, and it is already very close on the horizon
Valuable beginner tips for starting in Windrose
In the same thread, players share other valuable beginner tips that are not immediately apparent and not explained by the game. Especially the free switching between worlds brings several advantages, but also more obvious tips like improving armor fall under the tips that players want to share with beginners.
Additionally, axes and pickaxes can perform heavy attacks on resource nodes, allowing for faster gathering. The community is still collecting more tips that you can check in detail on Reddit if you need help.
On April 18, 2026, the Sidemen Charity Match took place. English-speaking content creators from YouTube and Twitch organized a football match at Wembley Stadium to kick for a good cause. A considerable amount was raised.
What kind of charity event is this? The Sidemen Charity Match is a football match and at the same time a charity event that has been held annually since 2016. English-speaking content creators come together for a football match and collect donations. The donations are raised through ticket sales and contributions from viewers and are used for organizations that provide better conditions for children and adolescents, such as access to education.
This year, Sidemen actually managed to fill Wembley Stadium in England; the stadium was sold out with its 90,000 seats. No wonder, as the teams were packed with 34 high-profile content creators.
Among those present were KSI, JasonTheWeen, and Squeezie, who played in the YouTube Allstars team. In the opposing Sidemen team were Jynxzi, LazarBeam, and xQc.
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From Overwatch professional to number 1 on Twitch to 100 million $ – Who is xQc?
Over 7 million euros in less than 4 hours
How much money was raised? The participation of many YouTubers and streamers brought great reach and thus many viewers who donated. In less than 4 hours during the football match, a total of £6,218,875 (approximately €7,144,243.60) was raised.
There were also plenty of goals: both teams managed to score 10 goals each, so the match had to be decided by a penalty shootout. In the end, the YouTube Allstars team with KSI as captain emerged victorious.
How was the game played? Since none of the participants were professional football players, the football match had some highlights of blunders but also some surprising moments.
The YouTuber Max Fosh, for example, received a yellow card from the referee, which he made burst into flames on the field using a magic trick.
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The streamer xQc did not show his best side as the goalkeeper of Team Sidemen. He let numerous goals go by, in one way or another unfortunate. He caught the mockery of the community more than once.
The game No Man’s Sky was one of the most hyped games in 2013, but upon its release in 2016, it became one of the biggest disappointments. Now it is a hit. MeinMMO highlights the problem back then and the key moments that led to its current success.
No Man’s Sky is now considered one of the best space games on the gaming market. Those who want to unwind in space and explore alien worlds with their spaceship will find the perfect place with No Man’s Sky.
In the 18 trillion planets, every player can find a spot or planet where they enjoy exploring. The possibilities for exploration are very well received by players: On Steam, No Man’s Sky has 90% positive reviews, categorized as Very Positive.
But it wasn’t always like this. At launch in 2016, the game was seen as a prime example of what happens when too much is promised and too little is delivered.
By the way: You can save 60% on the price of No Man’s Sky until April 20, 2026. On Steam, the game currently costs only 23.59 euros.
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No Man’s Sky brings a new update, sends you into the criminal underworld of ‘Outlaws’
The well-known problem: Hype
No Man’s Sky had a problem that occurs nowadays with some games: too much hype and high expectations from the community.
The game was announced in 2013, claiming it had an algorithm that automatically generated the game world. Every planet and its vegetation would be procedurally created by the computer and not by the developers themselves. This opened up new possibilities for the size of the game world and the designs of individual planets.
This, along with the snippets shown from the reveal trailer back in 2013 on YouTube, created immense anticipation among players.
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Some of the promised features were missing, and players often found themselves grinding for resources due to few achievable tasks.
Graphically, it was not on par with the previously shown trailers.
The planets were procedurally generated, but they felt empty as they were not really filled with life.
The community was quite frustrated with the launch of No Man’s Sky. In the process, memes made fun of the game and its developers, Hello Games. An example can be found here on YouTube.
The Redemption Saga
Sean Murray, the founder and CEO of Hello Games, initially withdrew from the public eye, which was the opposite of what he had done before. His focus, and especially that of his team, was now on optimizing the game.
In the years that followed, No Man’s Sky released numerous updates to improve the game.
One of the first updates, the FOUNDATION update, laid the foundation for the future course of No Man’s Sky. Because three months after release, in November 2016, Hello Games showed that it did not see No Man’s Sky as simply failed but as a project that could be improved in the future.
With the NEXT update, Hello Games attempted a kind of comeback for No Man’s Sky two years after release, marking a turning point for the sci-fi game. The update with version 1.5 brought numerous innovations, including a real multiplayer experience, a third-person perspective, and the freedom to build bases anywhere.
In 2020, No Man’s Sky won the award for Best Ongoing Game. Essentially a kind of canonization within the gaming industry. Sean Murray was very happy about the award:
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Over the years, many more updates followed, such as ORIGINS, which further enriched the vegetation of many planets, or WAYPOINT, which brought the sci-fi game to the Nintendo Switch. With WORLDS PART 1, Hello Games raised the graphics another notch in 2024.
What stands out especially: All updates were and still are free, proving to the community that Hello Games genuinely aimed to make amends for its release mistakes. After all, they could have released some of these updates as paid DLC.
Moreover, developers repeatedly listened to the community when they provided feedback. This increased the loyalty of players, who felt seen and eagerly dived back into the game.
No Man’s Sky in 2026
By now, No Man’s Sky is considered a great role model for other sci-fi games. The ability to simply fly away from a planet with your spaceship, instead of staring at a loading screen, is very well received by players.
So well that other sci-fi games are often measured against whether you can land on planets as you can in No Man’s Sky:
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No Man’s Sky has managed to maintain its player base over the years while simultaneously attracting new players. Especially through continuous updates and listening to community feedback.
According to SteamDB, the largest increases in players are attributed to the comeback through the NEXT update in 2018 and the anniversary update in 2025.
Players of No Man’s Sky can now look forward to another game from Hello Games: Light No Fire. An upcoming open-world game that procedurally generates an Earth, but with added fantasy elements.
What do you think of No Man’s Sky? Were you there at the release, and how do you find it today? Let us know in the comments! No Man’s Sky is by far not the first game that was initially disappointing at its launch but then managed to turn things around: 6 MMOs and online games that managed to turn around after a failed launch
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
