ARC Raiders: Weather Monitoring System – Everything about the new project from Shrouded Sky

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 2 minutes

With the new “Shrouded Sky” update, a new project was introduced in ARC Raiders. What you need to know about the weather monitoring system and how to complete it can be found here.

What is the weather monitoring system? The weather monitoring system is a new project where you need to collect specific materials – similar to the trophy collection. On behalf of Shani, you will farm specific materials and Arc components to establish a weather observation system. For your efforts, there are various rewards.

The project launched on February 24, 2026, as part of the “Shrouded Sky” update.

What you need to collect for the weather monitoring system specifically and what rewards await you upon completion can be found here.

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Start video
ARC Raiders shows new Hurricane condition and hints at a new enemy

How to complete the “Weather Monitoring System” project

The project is divided into a total of five stages. In each step, you need to deliver different materials, and you will be rewarded for each completed stage. If you want to farm certain items specifically, you can track them using the pin function. However, please note that submitted materials are permanently reserved for the project and cannot be reclaimed.

The further you advance in the project, the better the rewards become, but it will also become more challenging to gather the resources.

Note: Since some terms are still translated from English, we will adjust the names as soon as we have the German translation.

The following steps must be completed to successfully finish the project:

Air Pressure (1/5)

  • Requirement: 25x Plastic Parts, 15x Metal Parts, 5x ARC Alloy, 3x Oil
  • Reward: 5x Durable Fabric Piece, 5x Small Flowering Plant, 5x Disinfectant, 3x Vita Syringes
The first stage of the weather monitoring system project in ARC Raiders.

Sunlight (2/5)

  • Requirement: 1x Spy Scanner, 3x Cables, 3x Sensors, 1x Comet Trigger
  • Reward: 10x Processors, 5x Advanced Electrical Components, 3x Zip Line, 1x Raider Hatch Key

Precipitation (3/5)

  • Requirement: 5x ARC Energy Cell, 5x Canisters, 5x Steel Spring, 1x Fine Watch
  • Reward: 3x Medium Weapon Parts, 2x Complex Weapon Parts, 3x Advanced Mechanical Components, Renegade III

Humidity (4/5)

  • Requirement: 10x Adhesive Tape, 3x Rusty Bolts, 1x Water Pump, 3x Wasp Drivers
  • Reward: 10x Explosive Substance, 3x Showstopper, 3x Trailblazer, 1x Extended Barrel

Temperature (5/5)

  • Requirement: 3x Camera Lens, 1x Damaged Heat Sink, 1x Fireball Burner, 3x Voltage Converter
  • Reward: 1x Medium Shield, 5x Surge Shield Charger, 3x Sterile Bandage, 1x Tactical Mk. 3 (Revival)

Rewards for Completing All Steps

Once you have mastered all five stages and fully established the weather monitoring system, you will receive the following final rewards:

  • Wind Meter Backpack Tag (cosmetic)
  • 250 Raider Tokens
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On February 25, 2026, the time window for the second expedition will also open. You will have a week to decide whether to send your Raider on a journey. A farewell to your character can be worth it, as attractive bonuses await you. More about the second expedition can be found here: ARC Raiders: Expedition 2 and Wipe – All about items, rewards, and necessary materials

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

ARC Raiders: After 2 rounds in the Hurricane, it’s clear to me: Embark is creating something with the shooter that no other game can

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 4 minutes

MeinMMO shooter expert Dariusz took a look at the latest update of ARC Raiders and was immediately reminded of what makes this game so unique.

Today, Shrouded Sky, the latest update for ARC Raiders, was released. Shortly after the release of the new content, I played a few rounds and was quickly reminded why the game is so successful.

Embark released a small, free update – as they have every month since release – significantly altering the game to keep it interesting without changing the core of the game. And what they delivered is simply good. Exactly what we gamers want.

Start video
ARC Raiders shows new Hurricane condition and hints at a new enemy

A success on all fronts

ARC Raiders has truly found a recipe for success with the changing weather conditions to maintain the flow of the game. The new hurricane is no exception. Atmospherically, it’s once again a blast.

The wind howls. The map is gloomy, visibility is poor, and my shield is sizzling in the storm. I really felt like I was in a severe weather event – with everything that comes with it.

The hurricane is a success on all levels. And not just because it is atmospherically a truly great experience.

  • PvE players can enjoy the hurricane because the limited visibility offers a degree of safety. An aggressive raider trying to steal your loot cannot see you from far away and ambush you.
  • PvP players get a new component in combat that shows, regardless of aim, who a good raider is: You must keep an eye on your shield in the storm and bring the right gear, or you have no chance.
  • Free loadouts are at a disadvantage because you only have very limited gear with you and perhaps not enough shield regenerators.

In addition, the entire difficulty of the game has been slightly increased with the update, as new, non-negligible ARCs have arrived that, in combination with the hurricane, do not allow for daydreaming. Even players who only play PvE must remain alert in the midst of the hurricane.

ARC Raiders Hurricane

A stranger led me to a treasure

In my first two rounds in the hurricane, I not only saw the new content of Shrouded Sky, but also the full repertoire of what makes ARC Raiders so special.

In my first round, I encountered a player relatively early who apparently did not notice me. I don’t know if the soundscape of the storm concealed my presence or if he was simply careless and inattentive, but I shot him sneakily in the back after he took down a leaper and looted it. I waited briefly for the storm to nibble a little at his shield. The unfair fight was, of course, over quickly. A look into the player’s inventory revealed to me that he had also taken out other raiders. I didn’t feel bad about it, of course. That’s just how it is in the buried city.

In my second round on “Blue Gate,” I met a raider named Clay, and since one bad deed per day is enough for me, I kept my inner rat in the cage this time – and that turned out to be the right decision, as it later became clear.

Clay showed me and another stranger we randomly met new loot crates. He raved about how awesome they are, and said they can spawn in random places on the map. Each of us three opened such a crate during the round, and lo and behold:

I found a blueprint for the Volcano that I was still missing.

ARC Raiders Vulcano Screenshot

From rat to rescued

With the blueprint in my safety pouch, our trio made our way to the exit. Along the way, we encountered a pack of comets, which are the new ARCs that explode with a loud bang. The first encounter was definitely a “WTF moment,” even though we easily took down the robots.

Assuming that rats were waiting at the exit, I briefly stowed my shield in my backpack during the walk so I wouldn’t use up my limited shield regenerators before reaching the exit. Unfortunately, a rocket launcher decided that I was an easy target with no shield and blew me up. But while I was saying goodbye to my companions and thanking them for the round, Clay pulled out a defibrillator and saved me from certain death. A true hero!

We continued on, took down another leaper together, and eventually arrived at the extraction point. Suddenly, shots rang out. A raider was hiding in a small shed, opened fire on Clay, and tried to ambush our guide’s loot. I threw a grenade – the trajectory of which, by the way, is influenced by the hurricane – to scare the rat back into its shed, while Clay took cover. Then we stormed the shed and sent the attacker to the afterlife.

All three returned unscathed and with full pockets to Speranza. So, after going the way of the rat in my first round, I was rescued by a stranger in my second round and led to a blueprint.

No game writes such stories like ARC Raiders. It’s unique.

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Christmas for style-conscious fashion raiders

Back in Speranza, I took a look at the new raider deck, and once again, Embark delivers exactly what I wanted: A full beard for my raider – after all, I can’t grow one in real life.

Although you only get the full beard at the end of the free battle pass, as a fashion raider, that’s reason enough for me to play more ARC Raiders soon.

I confess: ARC Raiders has been somewhat neglected by me lately. I’ve played way too much Overwatch in recent months and rarely fired up the extraction shooter. That might change again now. If you’re wondering why I’m currently playing so much Overwatch, here’s the answer: Overwatch is better than ever because Blizzard made three decisions

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

KCD2 Chief Resigns, Scoffs: “The Gaming World is Safe from My Controversies”

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was a big revelation for many fans of the RPG genre in 2025. Now, nearly a year after the release, Daniel Vávra, the lead developer at Warhorse, is stepping down from his position. He wants to focus on another project within the series.

According to the Czech website Czechcrunch, Daniel Vávra is no longer the Creative Director at Warhorse Studios. The site quotes Martin Frývaldský, the CEO of Warhorse Studios, who states that Vávra has a new role. He is to realize a film based on Kingdom Come.

According to Frývaldský, both are working together to get the game onto the screens or the big screen. There is already a first draft for a potential adaptation. They are already in negotiations, but they do not want to simply sell the film rights: We want the film to be as we envision it.

Daniel Vávra himself reacted to the news with sarcasm.

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How does Vávra himself react to the news? On x.com, Vávra responded to a news article that calls him controversial. He writes: That’s true. The gaming world is safe from my controversies! In the comments, he responds just as ironically. To one user’s compliment, he writes that he is a bad person.

In the past, Vávra was known to be outspoken against criticism and other accusations. Prior to the release, he spoke with users against the claims that his game is woke and therefore the pre-sales are collapsing.

He also angrily reacted to a review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 that brought down his Metacritic score. Elsewhere, he also expressed optimism about generative AI, currently a rather controversial topic. He called the technology an inevitable future (Source: PCGamesN).

According to Martin Frývaldský, Vávra voluntarily changed positions. He wants to try something different and is not involved in the next game from Warhorse.

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It will probably take some time before more concrete information about the film, or even trailers or first images will emerge. For many fans, it will probably be a positive sign that the Creative Director of the series will also be involved in a film project. Another game is also getting a film: Helldivers Film: Release, Adaptation, Director – All information about the adaptation of the co-op shooter

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

WoW Midnight: Early Access – Everything About the Start, Time, Duration and Requirements

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

World of Warcraft is launching in a few days with its latest expansion “Midnight”. Some may even get to start earlier than others due to Early Access. When it starts and how you can play earlier is explained here.

When does Early Access start? Early Access is scheduled for February 27, 2026, at midnight – that is, at 00:00 at the start of the day. Those without early access must wait until March 3, 2026, as that is when the actual release begins for all purchasers of the DLC.

How long does the EA phase last? Early Access lasts for 4 days and then ends as mentioned above with the actual release on March 3.

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How to join Early Access

What do I need to do to play in Early Access? To also be part of Early Access, you need to purchase the Epic Edition of Midnight, which costs 90 €. Besides Early Access, you will also receive some dealer currencies and cosmetic items for your heroes, fitting the theme of the expansion.

What can I play with Early Access? According to our experiences gained from previous releases of expansions in World of Warcraft, there are a variety of things you will have access to.

Primarily, it’s about:

  • The majority of the main story
  • All new areas
  • Nearly all quests
  • Access to new dungeons

If you are eager for endgame content, you will have to wait a bit longer. Dungeons on Mythic+ and higher-tier depths and more will only be available after Early Access and then somewhat delayed at the start of the first season of Midnight.

Raids will also open later and in stages, and additional campaign quests that may connect to the Midnight story will also appear.

Housing is at least already available. You can decorate your own home.

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That was the most important information about the upcoming Early Access of WoW: Midnight. Will you be at the start or are you waiting for the normal release? We also have a comprehensive overview with the most important information about the release. There you will find details about prices, editions, and the start time: WoW Midnight: Release, Raids, Early Access – Everything about the next expansion

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

New MMORPG about Horizon reveals first features, focuses on large raids and detailed characters

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The new MMORPG by Horizon has surprisingly launched its website and reveals first details about the game.

What kind of game is it? Horizon Steel Frontiers is an MMORPG by NCSoft, set to be released on PC and Mobile. As is customary in the Horizon universe, players fight as humans armed with grappling hooks and heavy weapons against mechanized monsters and dinosaurs.

According to the developers, the MMORPG will focus on teamwork and strategy, but players can also compete with others for loot. The MMORPG will likely emphasize PvE, while also offering PvP modes.

Especially the world is a heavyweight in Horizon Steel Frontiers. Players can freely explore it on the backs of various creatures and discover interesting locations. Now the launch is approaching.

Here you can watch the trailer for Horizon Steel Frontiers:

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Horizon Steel Frontiers: Trailer zeigt endlich Gameplay aus dem MMORPG zur Welt von Aloy

Website confirms the direction

What does the website reveal? When Horizon Steel Frontiers was announced at the end of 2025, the developers had already disclosed some features of the MMORPG. Now the new website of the MMORPG has launched and describes again what we can expect.

The game is said to be a true MMORPG that does not shy away from genre standards. The focus on PvE is reiterated on the website through the emphasis on large raids. The developers mention “large-scale raids with an advanced combat system”.

It is also meant to be “an exciting survival adventure in a world where dangers lurk at every corner”. The game world is supposed to be seamless and open, which can already be seen in the trailer. The “Deathlands,” as they are called, feature various biomes on the website, including abandoned buildings.

What does character creation look like? The character creation in Horizon Steel Frontiers is very detailed. The developers showcase different characters with a variety of outfits and appearances on the website.

Every player should be able to create a character according to their individual preferences. From the texture of the lips to the shine of the hair, it seems that every detail of the character can be customized. This is important because, as an MMORPG, Horizon Steel Frontiers will also focus on quests and NPC interactions.

It is still unclear how much the MMORPG leans towards sandbox-style gameplay and how much towards theme park elements. The open world feels almost like an open-world RPG, while the quests and stories resemble those of a theme park.

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The release of Horizon Steel Frontiers is still unconfirmed. The fact that the developers have now released a website in English and Korean at least raises hopes for an upcoming release in the West. However, it is still completely unclear if the MMORPG will actually launch in 2026 or 2027. The characters of the new MMORPG are also polarizing: The new MMORPG based on Horizon looks great, but I find the characters terrible

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

WoW: Team 2 of Sauercrowd also rocks the Molten Core on Twitch – even tanks without fire resistance

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The second group of the streamer guild Sauercrowd has performed strongly in WoW Classic. Ragnaros has been defeated – once again.

At the beginning, the streamer guild Sauercrowd was somewhat mocked by the WoW hardcore community, and many early deaths led some to question whether they would ever make it to the Molten Core. In the end, there were so many streamers at level 60 that they could raid in two groups.

The 2nd raid team was able to replicate the performance of the first. They progressed to Ragnaros without any problems, and not a single character had to lose their digital life.

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Sauercrowd guild loses its “indestructible” tank just before level 60

Raid 2 without deaths, but one wanted to challenge it

How did the second raid go? Yesterday, on February 23, 2026, the second raid team of Sauercrowd started at 6:00 PM. Since this group had significantly more newcomers from the “second tier”, there was a suspicion that many would not make it through – but that was not the case. The second raid was also completed without losses, though it was sometimes quite close.

Especially the streamer “macke_machts” faced death multiple times in the fight against Ragnaros as his health points dropped dangerously low. But that’s not surprising, considering he tanked Ragnaros with almost no fire resistance. This requires a lot of trust in his healers, who hopefully weren’t pushed into the lava at the crucial moment. You can see the attempt in this video starting at 6:13:00:

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What’s next for Sauercrowd? Even though the guild Sauercrowd will continue to exist and the event has not been officially declared “finished”, the attention is likely to gradually wane. After all, the big declared goal from the start was to visit the Molten Core with the guild and extinguish Ragnaros’s life lights. This has been accomplished – not just once, but twice. An achievement that many initially thought would be impossible.

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Of course, from a viewer’s perspective, it’s a bit unfortunate and perhaps boring that the grand finale went off without deaths or real problems. However, this is mainly due to the intense planning and preparation. In retrospect, one must say: The journey was the goal, and the Molten Core was merely the crowning conclusion. Nevertheless, it is an accomplishment that none can take away from Sauercrowd, especially with the many WoW newcomers.
The first raid group of Sauercrowd managed to attract over 200,000 viewers – it was quite a spectacle.

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

Pokémon GO: Portals in the Sky – Which Monster is Behind It?

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO portals occasionally appear in the sky. But what, or rather who, is behind it?

There is a phenomenon in Pokémon GO that you might have noticed yourself: appearances in the sky that look like portals. There are events where you can observe this sky phenomenon from time to time.

We have looked into it for you: Who or what is behind it? And what do these portals bring to the game?

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A Pokémon is behind the portals

Who is responsible for the portals? Behind these portals is the Pokémon Hoopa. It is a mysterious Pokémon that has existed since Generation 6. It can appear in its contained form, possessing the types Psychic and Ghost, as well as in its unleashed form with the types Psychic and Dark.

Hoopa has golden rings on its body that the Pokémon can stretch into any size. From these rings, Hoopa can create portals and teleport objects or even Pokémon from other places.

If you compare the rings with Hoopa’s portals, you will recognize a strong similarity. Both forms of Hoopa are also among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.

left: Hoopa (unleashed form), right: portal in the game

What do the portals bring? In Pokémon GO, the portals bring Pokémon, for example, bosses in raids that Hoopa brings into the world with its portals. This is the case in the “Path to Kalos” event, where Hoopa’s portals ensure that different bosses appear every day in the 5-star raids.

The portals are purely cosmetic and are meant to create atmosphere in the game. So if you see such a portal in the sky, it does not mean that a new raid has started immediately after the appearance of a portal.

They therefore have no direct influence on the game but are rather meant to enhance the atmosphere and content of an event and provide some lore in Pokémon GO.

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Hoopa, with its portals, is among the Pokémon that possess special abilities. There are also other Pokémon that fall out of the line compared to many others. These also include the Ultra Beasts, which look like discarded Pokémon, which they essentially are.

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

An expert warns: corporations are getting richer while ordinary workers are massively losing out

Claudio Niggenkemper Claudio Niggenkemper Reading time 3 minutes

While companies in the United States are posting record profits, the share of workers in prosperity is declining. Economist Diane Swonk speaks of a “sense of betrayal” – and warns of consequences for society, democracy, and the handling of AI.

What is the initial situation? A new analysis from the “Economic Compass” of the auditing and consulting firm KPMG shows a development,

  • Corporate profits account for 15.85% of total US economic output, up from about 8% in 1982, according to the report.
  • At the same time, the share of employee compensation in gross domestic product has fallen from 66.6% to 61.9%.
  • According to the magazine Fortune (article behind a paywall), the gap between capital and labor is now larger than ever. The focus is therefore on the relative shift in distribution, rather than absolute wage cuts.

The experienced economic expert Diane Swonk has reviewed the study’s findings and is shocked. She even speaks of an “undercurrent of betrayal”.

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Who is the expert? The analysis comes from Diane Swonk. She is Chief Economist and Managing Director at KPMG US, one of the largest auditing and consulting firms in the world. In her role, she evaluates macroeconomic developments for companies, investors, and policymakers.

In a social media post on LinkedIn, she writes (translated from English):

This diagram haunts me. A friend calls it the ‘Revolution Diagram’. Inequality creates social and economic instability.

Swonk’s statement refers to the graphic published in the report:

Graphic via KPMG Economic Compass 2026

In her post, she explained that this loss of trust is observable worldwide and over several decades, particularly in the countries of the Global South.

For many, worse than expected

What does the economic reality look like? On paper, much seems stable: Inflation is cooling off after record highs in 2022 in the US, growth is holding up, and consumption is not collapsing (Statista). However, according to Swonk, the overall data conceals a growing divide.

According to Fortune, US consumer growth has been driven almost exclusively by the wealthiest 20% of households since the pandemic. For the bottom 80%, income in many areas is only enough to keep up with inflation. At the same time, living costs in areas such as housing, energy, insurance, or childcare continue to rise.

Swonk therefore speaks of an “undercurrent of betrayal” – something in the economic narrative has broken.

Once again, AI

What role does AI play in the uncertainty? In this already fragile situation, another uncertainty according to Swonk is bursting forth: artificial intelligence. According to the expert, CEOs are already pointing to AI to justify hiring freezes or layoffs – even before genuine productivity gains can be measured.

This may seem sensible in the short term, but it could be dangerous in the long run. Because when people get the impression that technological innovation primarily destroys jobs and exacerbates inequality, societal rejection of AI grows (KPMG).

Especially for industries such as tech and gaming, which heavily rely on automation and AI, this could become a problem.

Diane Swonk summarizes the analyses as follows:

The result is an economy that appears resilient but feels increasingly fragile. […] Growth has held up, yet the connective tissue that supports labor markets, investment, and global cooperation is fraying. Workers are more anxious, investors more herdlike, and markets … more vulnerable to shocks than headlines suggest.

The result is an economy that appears resilient, yet feels increasingly fragile. […] Growth has held up, but the connective tissue supporting labor markets, investments, and global cooperation is fraying. Workers are more anxious, investors behave more like a herd, and markets are more vulnerable to shocks than the headlines suggest.

Diane Swonk KPMG Economic Compass

The analyzed developments may not be directly transferable to the European sector or Germany, but are similar due to local developments (WSI & WSI)

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The share of the economic pie is shifting in favor of companies in the long term, and AI is playing an amplifying role in this.

That many CEOs themselves admit that AI has not yet measurably changed productivity or employment fits into the picture. Nevertheless, the technology is already being used as a justification for harsh cuts. Why this discrepancy is critical and what it means for workers can be read here: Thousands of CEOs have just admitted that AI has no impact on employment or productivity

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

China invents a technique that can turn desert sand into fertile soil in a year

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Transforming desert sand into fertile land. A technique has been developed in China that makes this possible in the long term. However, certain conditions must be met for this to work. Water is essential even for this technique.

Sand annually destroys many square kilometers of fertile land. The global spread of deserts (desertification) is a serious environmental issue. Human interventions such as overgrazing, deforestation, and intensive agriculture promote desertification.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has now developed a method to turn desert back into fertile soil. At least when the basic prerequisites are met. The results were published in the journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry (via sciencedirect.com).

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Cyanobacteria form a soil crust on desert sand that can retain nutrients

What have the researchers done? Chinese experts have applied special, lab-cultivated cyanobacteria to sandy areas in desert regions, which were covered with straw nets in a checkerboard pattern.

These microbes form a so-called “biological soil crust”: They envelop sand grains with a slimy sugar film that hardens and holds the grains together like glue.

Within about 10 to 16 months, a stable, thin crust develops on the surface, significantly reducing sand erosion and better retaining nutrients and water in the topsoil. This creates a precursor to fertile soil, on which grasses and shrubs have a much better chance of growing and surviving.

What is special about this? Normally, the natural development process of such layers in nature takes decades. Chinese research now shows that this decades-long development process can be shortened to about a year with visible success: Loose sand becomes a stable surface that can subsequently be utilized (via indiandeferenceview.com).

Where can the technique help? The new method can curb sand erosion, build up topsoil, and support reforestation and greening projects in arid regions. According to researchers, it could significantly reduce desertification. More organic matter in the soil means potentially more carbon storage and fewer dust and sand storms (via earth.com).

What limitations does the system have? The method works primarily where there is at least occasional rainfall. Lack of precipitation or extreme heat can significantly hinder the formation and activity of the crusts. Therefore, the method does not work well in the deepest parts of the Sahara.

Long-term climatic damage or human interventions such as heavy overgrazing or deforestation cannot be compensated for with this technique.

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8.2 billion people live on Earth. But researchers have recalculated and believe: We have underestimated by hundreds of millions. Specifically, one demographic group has likely been significantly underestimated: rural populations: Officially, there are 8.2 billion people, but researchers have realized: We have significantly miscalculated.

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

While everything decays in the wasteland of Fallout, an elite faction lives a life of luxury underground

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 3 minutes

In the wasteland of Fallout, there is a whole range of different factions, as seen in the Amazon-series. An organization that operates from the shadows constantly causes paranoia – primarily, it is concerned with scientific advancement.

Which faction is it? The Institute is a very special organization from Fallout. Unlike other groups like the Brotherhood of Steel, the Enclave, or the Railroad, it is hardly present in the wasteland – at least not on the surface.

For the mysterious society of the Institute lives underground. Its base is located in the Commonwealth, deep beneath the ruins of the “CIT” – which stands for “Commonwealth Institute of Technology”.

The word “Technology” is crucial for this faction. After the Great War in 2077, professors and students who had sought refuge underground began to settle there.

In 2110, the Institute was officially founded. The organization aims to continually advance science and technology. This is to happen with the help of a manageable but very intelligent society.

Unlike the people on the surface, the members of the Institute live in a clean, modern, and high-tech environment – in material abundance and luxury. Strict planning and isolation of this society have led to the Institute becoming both advanced and notorious.

Start video
The official trailer for Fallout Season 2 takes us back to the apocalypse

Synthetic people cause fear

How does the Institute work? Initially, the scientists made some effort to cooperate with the surface dwellers. But they soon realized that the mutual distrust was simply too great.

Moreover, the Institute believed that “those up there” would not comprehend the massive technological advancements at all. This led to the society isolating itself and retreating back to its underground base.

The Institute is led by a Director, who is supported by four department heads. They manage the areas of Biological Sciences, Advanced Systems, Robotics, and Synth Retention.

Especially the Synths, i.e., synthetic people, are among the major achievements. They even gained ill-fated notoriety on the surface. The Institute often sent first and second generation Synths to the surface. There they conducted experiments on one hand and infiltrated rival factions on the other.

This often led to great paranoia in the wasteland, as Synths were sometimes not immediately recognizable as such. For the Institute itself, however, these humanoid creations are treated like slaves and looked down upon.

For the third generation of Synths, the Institute aimed to create synthetic tissue using FEV samples (Forced Evolutionary Virus) to bring them even closer to humans. This virus has already caused obscure mutations in other places in the wasteland.

Only when a baby named Shaun was kidnapped from Vault 111 did a scientific breakthrough occur: The DNA of the baby was used to create a new type of Synth.

Here you can read spoilers about Fallout 4

For this reason, Shaun is referred to as the father of this new generation. Particularly exciting: He is the son of the player in Fallout 4 and is kidnapped in the prologue.

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Unscrupulous science

How is the relationship with the other factions? To put it mildly: tense. The Institute is primarily focused on achieving its own goals. They go over corpses to do so. Anyone who does not belong to them is worth nothing and can be… utilized in the service of science.

In the years around 2230, the Institute carried out a massacre among surface dwellers who advocated a government in the Commonwealth. The Railroad faction, which took care of fugitive Synths, also fell into the Institute’s sights. The Railroad paid for their efforts with numerous deaths in their headquarters.

In 2229, there was a wild shootout in a bar in Diamond City, where a Synth named Mr. Carter killed several people. It was only after he was incapacitated that it was discovered that he was an artificial human.

Another important enemy is the Brotherhood of Steel. Especially during the time of Fallout 4, in the year 2287, the Institute is a thorn in their side. The Brotherhood wants to have the technology for themselves to preserve it and control that it is not misused.

In Fallout 4, you can complete a series of quests for the Institute, join the faction, or work for their destruction.

Thus, the Institute is a mysterious organization about which many inhabitants of the wasteland do not know much. The elite and isolated society primarily cares for its own well-being and is little concerned about morality. The question remains how much technological advancement counts when a person’s life is worth nothing. How the Institute ranks in our ranking can be found on MeinMMO: In Fallout, 7 factions fight over the wasteland – but which is the strongest?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. fallout.fandom.com
  2. Game Rant
  3. Titelbild: RadKing auf YouTube

Everything is included in the first teaser for the new season in Pokémon GO

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

Pokémon GO has released a video that provides hints about what the upcoming season will bring. We summarize it.

When does the new season start? The current season ends on March 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM. This is also the starting point of the new season.

What is the name of the new season? The new season in Pokémon GO is called Memories in Motion. This is shown in a new teaser that Pokémon GO published via X.com and Instagram.

At the same time, the teaser contains some hints about what could be in store for the new season. You can watch the teaser here.

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What is in the new teaser for the upcoming season in Pokémon GO?

The teaser rapidly switches through a lot of loading screens that we know from past years in Pokémon GO. This fits with the theme of memories that is also part of the season’s title.

Then the latest loading screen is shown, along with some short gameplay clips. The following things are visible:

  • Flattutu is seen in the loading screen. It can evolve into Psiopatra.
  • Maritellit is also visible, which evolves from Sensect and Keradar. It also has a Gigantamax form.
  • We see a brief clip featuring Hopplo, Forgita, and Ferkuli. These may be hints about the upcoming Community Days, after Hopplo has already been announced.
  • At the end, there is a hint about the new season title, but also about the tenth anniversary in Pokémon GO, which will be an important event for the game.
  • Briefly, a Pikachu is also seen in front of a Dyna power source. Here one can only speculate, but possibly this is a hint about the emergence of Gigantamax Pikachu.

The closer the season approaches, the more information is likely to appear. We will of course keep you updated!

Start video
Pokémon GO: Over 800 Trainers fight in Gigantamax battle

Before the new season in Pokémon GO kicks off next week, this week marks the big finale of the current season. Because: The big Kalos tour is waiting for you this weekend. In the meantime, the strong Journey to Kalos event is also ongoing. What you can do this week with it, you can read in our guide to the journey to Kalos in Pokémon GO.

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

I turned on my Nintendo DS after 13 years and realize again: Pokémon should have ended after Generation 4

Johanna Johanna Reading time 3 minutes

This week, the Pokémon franchise turns 30 years old. In line with that, MeinMMO author Johanna took a look at one of her favorite games: Pokémon Soul Silver for the Nintendo DS. She concludes: The 4th generation is the best for her, and the franchise shouldn’t have added any more Pokémon afterwards.

When the Pokémon games were released on the Nintendo DS back then, I bought every game without exception right away. My pocket money had only one purpose: to be saved so that I could start the new Pokémon adventure.

Pokémon Soul Silver grabbed my attention directly in 2009: The remake of a game I hadn’t played before. Set in the generation I like the most: The fourth.

Recently, I dug my Nintendo DS out again to dive back into Soul Silver. Quite fitting to the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. While I’m wandering through the polished Johto, I remember why I love this game so much:

  • In Pokémon Soul Silver, we can not only become the Champion of the Johto region but also of the Kanto region. This means the game offers a huge amount of content even after the actual main game.
  • The Pokémon run after you. Admittedly, they don’t have a real running animation, but even those few pixels behind my character have a lot of charm.

Let’s get to the strong opinion in this article: I believe Pokémon should have ended after the 4th generation. For me, the peak of the Pokémon franchise has been reached.

The latest game in the Pokémon series is Pokopia:

Start video
With Pokémon Pokopia, Nintendo mixes two of its most popular franchises for the Switch

Which Pokémon now?

What bothers me the most: Too many Pokémon! There are now 9 generations, each introducing over 100 new Pokémon. As of now, there are 1,025 Pokémon, which I think is at least 532 too many.

I also find many Pokémon designs no longer particularly creative. There is one Pokémon that is just a keychain.

Moreover, I simply don’t like having so much choice. I want a Water-type Pokémon for my team, yes, but which one of the many that can appear here?

Another possibility would be to allow only the Pokémon that are new in a generation to be included in a game to narrow down the selection. But then I’d rather play with my Luxray as my Electric-type, and that wouldn’t work. Also silly.

Furthermore, the distribution of types is not always consistent. In the 4th generation, for instance, there are very few Fire-type Pokémon.

Being a bit self-critical: I am fully aware that I am also wearing nostalgia glasses here, no question. However, I was also able to get excited about newer parts of the Pokémon series. Pokémon Legends Arceus was graphically a disaster, but I had a lot of fun with the new gameplay mechanics.

Ah, maybe it’s just because it took place in an earlier time in the Johto region. That could certainly be.

The new generations simply don’t cut it

I’ve played all the generations that came after the fourth, but I haven’t had nearly as much fun as with the fourth. The 5th generation with Black (2) / White (2) just had too much story that wasn’t even exciting. You were constantly being bombarded with unnecessary stuff.

The 6th generation made a good jump to the 3DS, but it made the game way too easy. A trend that seems to have carried through to the latest games. The simplicity of the battles sometimes ruins the fun for me.

For me, part of the Pokémon experience is also being completely overwhelmed by NPCs. Cynthia made me despair in 2007. That woman just had such an amazing team and brought me to my first nervous breakdown at 10 years old. When I finally succeeded, the feeling of success was all the greater.

Amidst all the complaining, I also have to say something neutral: I simply stick with the games that I enjoy. Right now, it’s Soul Silver, then I might play Diamond again. The newer Pokémon games are not for me, but that’s okay.

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A somewhat opposing opinion comes from MeinMMO editor Niko Hernes. He believes that a major criticism of the upcoming game Pokopia is that not all Pokémon from all games are represented: Pokémon Pokopia is already better than Legends Z-A in an important aspect 3 weeks before release, but that’s still not enough

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

A new feature could make LoL even worse – for newcomers it’s already barely tolerable as it is

Ody Ody Reading time 3 minutes

Riot Games plans to introduce a voice chat in League of Legends. MeinMMO author Ody has played the game only briefly, but those few rounds were enough for him to say: This might not be the best idea for the game.

When I first played League of Legends myself, I really tried to like the game. Sure, I had heard a lot beforehand, especially negative things if we’re honest. But I thought it was really cool to watch professionals at a small LoL tournament at TwitchCon. Additionally, I met someone at university who plays it competitively. I became curious.

This was before Riot Games introduced the idea of a general voice chat for teams. There is already a voice chat, but you can only use it with friends who are in a party with you. The new team voice chat is currently only included in the public beta environment (according to the website u.gg). This is a kind of testing ground for new champions and larger gameplay changes.

The new voice chat is likely to fundamentally change the game, especially in ranked mode. However, I fear that this change will not be solely positive – and many players share the same concern.

Start video
The trailer for the new Exalted skin in LoL shows how beautiful 245 euros can be

Surprise: LoL has a problem with toxic players

The main reason why I ended up with only a few hours of LoL was not the game itself. I still find it quite fun, also because it doesn’t seem as overloaded as Dota 2, for instance. No, the problem was rather my teammates.

My last round of LoL looked something like this:

  • One from my team kept pinging various areas on the map (and I mean really constantly)
  • As a result, the text chat was spammed with max vague instructions mixed with various accusations.

Unfortunately, that was not the only round that went approximately like this. As a newcomer, I had no idea why or how I should react: I’m still learning the game. I wasn’t even in ranked mode – yet I felt like I had to perform at a high level immediately.

Even though this round went quite well for my team and I wasn’t the worst player on our side, I found it simply frustrating. I can’t even imagine how it would have been if people had yelled in my ear then. In any case, I’ve had enough since.

Who is writing here? Actually, Ody prefers to play RTS – real-time strategy games. However, since he likes to experiment, he has also played a few MOBAs, including Dota 2, Smite, and League of Legends.

The voice chat will fundamentally change the game

At least, and I have to give Riot credit for this, the voice chat is disabled by default – at least according to players in the PBE. This doesn’t necessarily mean it will stay that way for the full release. But it would be better. Otherwise, I fear that some unsuspecting newcomers will be yelled at by players on their own team right in their first game and chased away.

A voice chat in LoL is still not the best idea, I can say that even with my few hours in the game. Because even the mere existence of this feature will change how the MOBA is played. Especially in ranked mode, the voice chat will almost certainly become an unofficial requirement. This is also the common opinion of many veterans who have been discussing the topic on platforms like Reddit for days.

The voice chat makes communication with the team significantly more efficient than text chat or pings, which is especially important for certain roles like jungler. Not using this would put players at a disadvantage – especially at higher ranks.

Conversely, the voice chat could lead to players using pings or text chat less frequently. Even though both can be annoying in casual rounds if it happens excessively, it is indeed an important tool for ranked players. Anyone who wants to communicate with their team will sooner or later be forced to use the voice chat.

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Without a detour into toxicity

I truly believe that a voice chat will harm the game and ruin the gaming experience for many players. With the voice chat, those toxic players who give LoL its bad reputation will get a voice.

To keep up at high ranks, all players would be virtually forced to use the voice chat. However, they would then necessarily expose themselves to the toxic behavior of many other players – and that would spoil the game not only for players like me but especially for my female teammates. They often face inappropriate comments in other games and have to decide: “Should I better not say anything, even if it harms our chances of winning, or risk being yelled at just because I’m a woman?”

LoL will fall into the same pit with the voice chat and lead players without detours into a swamp of toxicity. It can only backfire.

The German LoL professional NoWay was one of the players that MeinMMO author Ody saw live at TwitchCon. However, he probably no longer wants to play League of Legends. Why, you can find out in this article: Sauercrowd and WoW Classic have changed NoWay, the Twitch streamer even wants to quit LoL

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 has done everything right with an evil race – but not as they intended

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 3 minutes

Mind Flayers are a dangerous part of the great catastrophe threatening the Sword Coast in Baldur’s Gate 3. For good reason, they have been considered absolute enemies from the start. The role-playing game features a candidate who is meant to question this attitude towards the monstrosities – and for the player base as well as MeinMMO editor Caro, it is not the obvious choice.

Spoiler Warning! This article contains spoilers about your Dream Warden and the end of the second to the third act. Those who have completed Baldur’s Gate 3 or do not care about spoilers can read on without worry.

Players of Baldur’s Gate 3 quickly realize at the start of the game: The Mind Flayers are real nasty types. They enslave the innocent, infect their captives through the eyes with biting larvae, and then cruelly turn them into tentacled monstrosities that hunger for brains.

The Monster Manual of Dungeons & Dragons also makes it clear that one should not mess with the lawful evil creatures: 

Mind Flayers, also known as Illithids, are the scourge of all thinking creatures across countless worlds. They are psionic tyrants, slave drivers, and interdimensional travelers as well as cunning puppeteers who exploit entire peoples for their own twisted goals. […] The Illithids are connected by a collective consciousness and devise plans that are as far-reaching and evil as their unfathomable thoughts can conceive.

Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual – English Edition (Page 130)

For me, it was quickly clear based on the first Mind Flayers encountered in the game that I feel little sympathy for the tentacle monsters. However, a candidate in Baldur’s Gate 3 made me question this attitude. And no, it’s not the reveal of my Dream Warden, who turned out to be an illithid Emperor and suddenly became a bit too touchy, definitely not. For me – and for a large part of the community – there is only one name that deserves the title of the best Illithid in Baldur’s Gate 3. That name is Omeluum.

Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3:

Start video
Der animierte Kurzfilm zu Patch 8, dem letzten Update für Baldur’s Gate 3

The Emperor should not waste another second trying to convince me

I want to quickly emphasize that I absolutely cannot stand the Emperor, the Mind Flayer that one can actually be seduced by. Not at all. He is not only a liar and manipulator, but also a petty traitor who throws his entire mission out the window if one does not side with him. 

Since I experienced this betrayal during my first playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3, my former Dream Warden has been completely off my list. I would never again side with such a loser and spent all future playthroughs skipping or rejecting every scene with my “oh so great” Dream Wardens.

With the Emperor, Baldur’s Gate 3 did not turn me into a fan of the Illithids. But all that changed when I encountered him. My good, my fine, my absolutely perfect Omeluum. And it’s not just me who thinks so:

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Without being dramatic, but – my Tav would die for Omeluum

You first meet Omeluum in the second half of the first act in the Underdark, where he, along with his colleague Blurg, is studying the local ecosystem on behalf of an order of scholars. After managing to free himself from the collective consciousness of the Elder Brain, he devoted his life to research and the goal of improving the world. His current mission is to search for a means to temper the Mind Flayers’ appetite for brains, which would also help him better fit into society. 

Omeluum is not only a friendly and helpful researcher, he is a living Green Flag.

Omeluum has become one of my favorite NPCs in all my playthroughs of Baldur’s Gate 3, someone I look forward to every time. Even in the third act of the game, where you are supposed to rescue the prisoners of the underwater prison, I would rather sacrifice the entire crew along with my own life than leave Omeluum behind. Though he heroically emphasizes that one should rather focus on the others and that he would sacrifice his death for it, I would never allow that.

Omeluum in the Iron Throne
Omeluum in the underwater prison, the “Iron Throne”

In fact, I would recommend that everyone send at least one character of your team in Omeluum’s direction. Those who want to rescue as many prisoners as possible will anyway get close to his corridor. Subsequently, one can teleport with Omeluum to safety, even in the last round before the prison is blown up.

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With Omeluum, Baldur’s Gate 3 made me judge Mind Flayers less harshly than at the beginning. However, he only showed me again how terrible my former Dream Warden actually is in comparison. Our editor-in-chief at MeinMMO sees it quite differently: The new evil endings in Baldur’s Gate 3 finally allow me my dream romance, for which I only have to suppress a continent

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

This is what Nami from One Piece would look like if she fought with 3 swords like Zoro

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Nami is actually the navigator of the One Piece Straw Hat Crew. However, the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, has depicted this orange-haired lady with the Three-Sword Style, which is actually used by swordsman Zoro – and he illustrated her.

Why does Nami actually have nothing to do with swords? Nami is one of the members of the Straw Hat Crew in One Piece who has very little combat experience. She doesn’t use her body or any Devil Fruit in combat, but rather a staff cobbled together by Usopp, which contains all sorts of tricks.

Additionally, she learns more and more about the weather over time and modifies her staff accordingly. There is also a companion in the form of a storm cloud that assists her in battle. Since Nami is the navigator of the Thousand Sunny, the ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, she doesn’t really need this crazy combat experience.

But what if Nami actually had combat experience? The creator of the One Piece manga once asked himself this question and illustrated Nami in a universe where she would switch roles with swordsman Zoro.

Start video
One Piece Film: Strong World – The Trailer for the Anime Movie

With Nami as a Swordswoman, the Crew Would Be Lost

What would Nami look like as a swordswoman? For the 13th issue of the One Piece magazine, Oda illustrated Nami in the Three-Sword Style, which is known for Zoro. He holds one sword in each hand and one sword in his mouth.

In the image, Nami is dressed quite revealingly. She is wearing only a bikini top and a long skirt with flowers and a drastic side slit, from which her leg peeks out. She is in the process of shredding straw training dummies. You can check out the image, for example, on Reddit:

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What do fans say about it? The swordswoman Nami is extremely well received by fans. They think this version of Nami would look hot and would make a good swordswoman.

However, fans also worry because that would mean, conversely, that Zoro would be the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. And that would be fatal because, as we all know, Zoro has a terrible sense of direction.

Therefore, many fans joke:

  • cerebrite: “They would have found the One Piece before they reached the Grand Line.”
  • atwitsend1996: “The opening would change from ‘We are’ to ‘Where are we.'”
  • Lostpandazoo: “I believe navigating with only one eye wouldn’t be ideal.”
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Nami and other female characters from One Piece will soon have their own anime. The episodes will tell short stories about the heroines. What exactly this is and what you can expect from it, you can read here: One Piece gets a new anime with female characters experiencing their own stories

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

WoW: The latest cinematic shows that Blizzard still has it

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

A final cinematic before the release of WoW: Midnight shows how the half-elf Arator became who he is today.

In a few days, the early access to World of Warcraft Midnight will start, and Blizzard is currently firing on all cylinders when it comes to interesting insights and story. After a few weeks ago the backstory to Xal’atath and Lady Liadrin were released, there is now new information about Arator – again in the form of a cinematic in cartoon style. But see for yourself:

Start video
WoW Cinematic shows the journey of the Paladin Arator – Son of two worlds shows

What does the video show? The cinematic “Son of two worlds” shows the half-elf Arator getting new tattoos from his aunt Vereesa, which he then also wears in Midnight. The two reminisce and talk about Arator’s journey of how he became the paladin he is today:

Arator was born to the elf Alleria Windrunner and the human Turalyon, but he only got to see his parents briefly before they went through the Dark Portal to fight against the Orcs and the Burning Legion.

He then grew up with his aunt, partly living with the humans in Stormwind, but also in Dalaran, until the Scourge attacked and in Quel’Thalas. During this time, he was instructed by both Lor’themar Theron and Lady Liadrin.

Arator is a half-elf and has therefore always felt incomplete his whole life. Torn between his parents, the Light and the Void, and his existence as an elf or a human, it took him a long time to realize that he is “more than the sum of his parts”.

If you’re interested in the whole story of World of Warcraft, you can find the complete lore summarized here.

WoW Arator Cinematic Arator Hand of Turalyon title 1280x720
When Arathor finds his parents after years, the reunion is rather disappointing.

Arator plays a pivotal role in Midnight

What role does Arator play in Midnight? One of the campaigns in Midnight revolves almost entirely around Arator. Instead of traveling to the new areas, you can accompany the half-elf on a journey through the “old world” to better understand his connection to the Light and his story. This also involves a lot about the rather negative effects of the Light, such as the looming “Light blindness” that can turn overly eager paladins into raging fanatics.

The community wants more: As with the last video of this kind, the reaction from the community is overwhelmingly positive. Normally, cinematics for WoW receive a rather mixed reaction, especially on YouTube, but this time it is extremely positive. Many appreciate the way the story is told here, and the desire for a whole series of this kind is great:

  • I could watch 10 seasons of this in a row. It’s finally starting soon! -smurv46
  • You are churning out masterpieces one after another, aren’t you? Amazing!! -Bukela91
  • Another banger. This is exactly why I fell in love with Warcraft 26 years ago. -knigh.theodrik
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WoW: World First! Team Liquid takes the victory, this time really
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The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
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Cortyn says: This time, I really enjoyed all the cinematics in preparation for Midnight. Even though I prefer the “2.5 D” style visually, like in the Xal’atath cinematic, I also really liked the cartoon variants of Arator and Lady Liadrin. They were equally dark, heroic, and hopeful; simply the essence of what Warcraft means to me.

During the beta of Midnight, I intentionally avoided Arator’s campaign because I wanted to experience it in the full live version – that is, next Friday. If it’s even remotely as good as this cinematic suggests, we should have an interesting new main character in the story in Arator, who will accompany us through several expansions to come.
Until then, however, you should complete 5 things in WoW to be perfectly prepared for the launch of Midnight.

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

Player buys boring motherboard for 45 euros, gets hardware worth 1,400 euros for free

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A player buys a motherboard for around 45 euros. However, the real treasure is not the motherboard, but the NVMe SSDs installed on it.

The magazine WCCFTech reports on a user who bought a motherboard. For the MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi, he is said to have only paid 50 US dollars, if the screenshot of the offer is to be believed. That amounts to about 45 euros. The special thing, however, is not the motherboard, but the pre-installed NVMe SSDs. The user explained himself (on Reddit.com):

I saw a z690 on the marketplace for 50 dollars and wanted to buy it until I saw SSD coolers on all 4 NVMe slots. I spoke to the seller, who told me that he didn’t know much about computers and was only selling it for a lower price than on eBay.

The player therefore seized the opportunity and bought the motherboard along with the installed NVMe modules from the person. In hindsight, this paid off for him.

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Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer

4 NVMe SSDs worth around 1,400 are included for free

What did he get for free exactly? In total, there were 4 NVMe SSDs of different varieties mounted on the motherboard:

  • 2x 4 TB WD Black SN850X, the price per model is about 400 euros (Geizhals.de)
  • 1x 2 TB Corsair MP600, the price is 351 euros (Geizhals.de)
  • 1x 2 TB Intel 670p, the model costs around 290 euros (idealo.de)

If you add up all the current market prices, you come to a value of around 1,400 euros (as of February 24, 2026).

Basically, the user shows no intention of returning the items. Instead, he stated that he would prefer to trade one of the expensive models for an OLED monitor. The buyer would then have been quite lucky that the seller did not know the actual value of his goods.

However, there are also positive counterexamples: In one case, a player also found SSDs on a motherboard but returned them to the seller.

Why was it so cheap? Some users speculate that the motherboard must have been stolen hardware. Because no one would just sell a motherboard with all NVMe SSDs. Someone explains on Reddit:

It is impossible that the seller was the original owner/user of this board. And given the many expensive SSDs that were on it (even the cheapest of these 4TB drives were expensive), I would say that it was stolen and then sold for parts.

Basically, this claim cannot really be verified, and one can only speculate why the seller sold the motherboard so cheaply. Because, fundamentally, prices for RAM, SSDs, and graphics cards are currently rising.

It keeps happening, that people order hardware, cancel it, and then sell it for three times the price. The NVMe SSDs that were installed on the motherboard are likely to be worth a few hundred euros more in a few weeks.

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Players regularly forget to remove their SSDs or storage media. In one case, a user forgot to remove his SSD from his sold PS5. But the games are not as useful as it sounds: A player buys a used PS5 – But the seller apparently forgot to remove his 4 TB SSD full of games

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

Spider-Man has been with Sony for over 20 years, but to keep it that way, they probably had to release some bad movies

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 4 minutes

Apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony has released its own movies featuring Marvel characters from the Spider-Man universe in recent years. They didn’t receive much acclaim from the community. However, they must perform well if they want to retain the character.

Even though Spider-Man is probably the most iconic character from Marvel, he is only borrowed in the Marvel films. The film rights to Spider-Man actually belong to Sony Pictures Entertainment. This includes specific characters from the web-slinger like Venom, Mary Jane, or James Jonah Jameson.

Sony itself lends Spider-Man to the MCU, so to speak. They collaborated in 2017 to introduce a new hero, played by Tom Holland, with Spider-Man: Homecoming. This arrangement continues to this day. Although there was a dispute in 2019, they were able to come to an agreement, as Variety reported back then.

However, for the rights that Sony has held for over 20 years, they must also deliver. This is probably one of the reasons why one of the strangest film universes of all time exists.

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Spider-Man – Trailer for the First Feature Film of the Wall-Crawler

Sony and the Acquisition of Spider-Man

How did Sony even acquire the rights? Even though Marvel is a big name in the film and series landscape today, it was quite different in the 1990s. In 1999, the comic publisher was in a financially tough situation. To counteract this, they sold the film rights to some characters.

Sony acquired Spider-Man, even though they were offered all characters. They paid 5.9 million euros. For Sony, the deal was very worthwhile at the beginning, but as Forbes reports, the contract at that time also had certain requirements.

In 2014, Sony was hacked, and a contract was leaked at that time. Forbes quotes the contract, explaining that Sony probably has to release new films every 5 years and 9 months for the rights to remain with the company. If Sony releases 3 films in 8 years, they can take 7 years off.

While the contract may have changed, Sony still holds the rights. Although Spider-Man is absent from the latest films, there was still a Spider-Man film universe.

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The Spider-Man Universe without Spider-Man

How does Sony continue to retain the rights? If the contract is still valid, Sony must continue to release Spider-Man productions. This is probably one of the reasons for the so-called Sonyverse (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe). This refers to the Sony films about Spider-Man characters that have been released since 2018, which have received quite poor reviews from critics:

Although the films have solid user scores, most (except for Venom) were not particularly successful at the box office. Kraven the Hunter, the latest film, earned only about 53 million euros, according to IMDb, with an estimated budget of 93 million euros. That’s quite a hard flop.

Even though the films about Spider-Man characters without Spider-Man seem quite strange, it makes sense if they want to keep the brand. Spider-Man is one of the most recognized Marvel characters. The third film in the MCU, No Way Home, earned about 1.6 billion euros (via IMDb), making it the third most successful Marvel film. Sony, as the production company, also profits significantly from this (source: IGN).

Kraven the Hunter trailer image
Kraven is a well-known Spider-Man villain, but the film didn’t work well with critics or at the box office (Image source: SonyPicturesGermany on YouTube).

What does MeinMMO film editor Nikolas Hernes say about the Sonyverse? Even though I had fun with the Venom films, the idea of creating a Spider-Man universe without Spider-Man is not very well thought out.

Most villains work because of their dynamic with the hero, and not just as villains themselves, especially if they weren’t known to the audience beforehand. Morbius and Madame Web are not exactly well-known Marvel villains that are culturally relevant.

If the films are moderately received or poorly received, they can only fail. Sony should focus on projects like the animated Spider-Verse or ideas like Spider-Noir.

Spider-Man Will Continue to Hit Theaters (and Streaming)

What’s next for Sony and Spider-Man? Currently, no further films for the universe featuring Kraven, Madam Web, and Morbius are planned. However, Sony continues to bank on the web-slinger. The third part of the Spider-Verse animated series is set to be released in 2027. The previous two films were not only successful, but also really good.

But Sony is also heading in a new direction with streamers. With Spider-Noir, a new series featuring Nicolas Cage as an anti-hero in a different universe will be released on May 27.

On the Marvel and Disney side, fans can also expect new content. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on July 30, 2026, continuing the story of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. This year, the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is also expected to continue on Disney Plus.

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But how do you find the Sonyverse? Did you enjoy watching them, or were they indifferent to you? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. There are many variants of Spider-Man, but some of them will probably never make it to the big screen: 7 absurd variants of Spider-Man that will never get their own Marvel movie

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbildquelle: Sony Pictures Entertainment auf YouTube
  2. Forbes

A thief stole only three graphics cards, thereby obtaining a value of nearly 12,000 euros

Claudio Niggenkemper Claudio Niggenkemper Reading time 2 minutes

In South Korea, a burglar broke into a computer specialty store and specifically stole three high-quality and very expensive graphics cards – according to police, with a total value of approximately 12,000 Euros.

When and how did the thief break in? According to Newsis, the perpetrator allegedly broke the sliding glass door of the shop in the early hours, apparently specifically looking for expensive hardware.

It is notable according to the report that despite other high-quality hardware, the man only took three graphics cards and then left the store. The estimated damage is around 20 million won, which equals approximately 12,000 Euros.

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Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes

The owner of the store and operator of the YouTube channel “The Recommended Guy” published the surveillance video footage that showed the theft and reported the damage incurred. The video shows how the masked and gloved perpetrator smashed the store’s glass with a drill hammer, broke in, and stole the three high-end graphics cards.

Expensive Hardware Everywhere

What does this say about the current graphics card market? The theft demonstrates the significance that high-end GPUs now hold. Alongside continuously rising RAM prices, which providers are now bringing new ideas to tackle, GPUs are at a constant high.

Just recently, we reported about why manufacturers like AMD are trying to prevent another price increase and stabilize the market.

Three individual components are enough to cause a five-figure damage. Graphics cards are important not just for gamers, but also for AI applications and professional workloads, as well as cryptocurrency mining. Therefore, the police are investigating whether the cards were resold or used otherwise (via Hani.co).

The affected store owner said in his YouTube video: “I think this happened because everyone is going through tough times right now.”

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According to VideoCardz, the South Korean police have now announced that a suspect has been arrested. However, a part of the stolen goods has not yet been found.

The case once again demonstrates the value that high-end hardware has now achieved. There are even special models of certain GPU models available that far exceed the average prices: The premium graphics card from Asus costs as much as a used small car, yet it is already sold out.

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

Pokémon GO: Mega-Sceptile counters in the raid guide – 20 strongest attackers

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

The best counters against Mega-Sceptile in Pokémon GO in the guide. We show you the best attackers and movesets. With these, you can defeat the boss in Mega Raids.

What kind of Pokémon is Mega-Sceptile? Sceptile comes from the third generation of games and is the final evolution of the Hoenn starter Treecko. In its Mega form, Sceptile belongs to the types Grass and Dragon.

When does Mega-Sceptile come? You can find the boss during GO Tour: Kalos. Here we will show you the best counters against Mega-Sceptile and what types it is weak against (type effectiveness).

Defeating Mega Sceptile in Raid – With these counters

  1. Mega-Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Hurricane
  2. Shadow Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche
  3. White Kyurem with Ice Fang and Ice Burn
  4. Shadow Snorunt with Ice Shard and Avalanche
  5. Shadow Mewtwo with Psycho Cut and Ice Beam
  6. Mega-Abomasnow with Ice Shard and Avalanche
  7. Galarian Darumaka with Ice Fang and Avalanche
  8. Mega-Blizzard with Powder Snow and Weather Ball
  9. Mega-Gardevoir with Charm and Triple Axel
  10. Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche
  11. Shadow Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Hurricane
  12. Shadow Articuno with Ice Shard and Triple Axel
  13. Glaceon with Ice Shard and Avalanche
  14. Kolowal with Ice Shard and Avalanche
  15. Kyurem with Fire Breath and Ice Age
  16. Snorunt with Ice Shard and Avalanche
  17. Mega-Krookodile with Dragon Tail and Outrage
  18. Shadow Walrein with Ice Shard and Ice Spear
  19. Mewtwo with Psycho Cut and Ice Beam
  20. Shadow Ho-Oh with Hidden Power and Brave Bird

Weaknesses of Mega-Sceptile: The Pokémon belongs to the types Grass and Dragon, making it vulnerable to Ice, Flying, Poison, Bug, Dragon, and Fairy. In particular, Ice attacks are effective. So focus on attacks and Pokémon of these types in raids to defeat Mega-Sceptile.

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Is there a Shiny Mega-Sceptile? Yes, you can catch Shiny Sceptile in Pokémon GO. When you then perform a Mega Evolution, you will see the Mega Shiny. We show you in the graphic how the shiny version of Sceptile looks like:

Pokémon GO Sceptile

How many trainers are needed? With the best counters at high levels, you can defeat the boss alone or with two. With lower levels but strong counters, you should opt for more trainers. To clear the raids quickly, groups with many participants are recommended.

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