WoW Midnight: 3 things you should know before the launch

Still unsure what is important for the launch of Midnight? We have 3 things you should know before the new addon of World of Warcraft.

In just a few hours it will be time, as the new expansion of World of Warcraft: Midnight starts on the night from Thursday to Friday. The launch of an expansion is always a wonderful thing – at least when you are well prepared and do not have to figure out many things at the last moment. To ensure you are perfectly prepared, we answer the most important questions here so that you, as a newcomer, returnee, or veteran, can start perfectly in Midnight.

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

1. Midnight is the second part of a trilogy – There is important backstory

Currently, World of Warcraft is telling the “Worldsoul Saga.” This is a coherent story that consists of three expansions. Midnight is the second part of this trilogy and follows directly after the events of The War Within.

Do you have to have played The War Within to follow the story? Or can you jump into Midnight without having done The War Within?

First of all, there is good news: As long as your character has reached level 80 and you own the expansion, you can start right away. There is no mandatory quest chain or further prerequisites.

However, it might be worth experiencing The War Within campaign in a quick run. This has been possible since some patches and starts in Valdrakken, the capital of Dragonflight. There, you can reduce the campaign to just a few hours and get informed about the most important story points of The War Within.

WoW Midnight Cinematic Liadrin Lorthemar Army
With the invasion of the Sunwell, the new expansion begins.

2. You don’t need to stress – Enjoy the addon’s story

At the start of an expansion, some are already restless. Many want to “rush through” as quickly as possible to be ready for the endgame and jump right in. During this process, quest texts are often skimmed over and barely any time is “wasted” looking at the game world in detail. You just hurry from task to task to reach the maximum level as soon as possible and dive directly into dungeons and raids.

However, that is not possible – neither in early access nor right after the launch. The first season of Midnight starts only on March 18, 2026, which is a full 2 weeks after the official release.

This buffer is intentionally built in by Blizzard so that everyone can enjoy the story and quests at their own pace without having to rush.

So take your time, enjoy the quests at your own speed, and closely examine the game world and all the little details that Blizzard has hidden there. There is plenty of time before the competitive pressure kicks in again.

3. Where does World of Warcraft Midnight start?

For various expansions of World of Warcraft, the question always arises: Where does it actually begin? Who has the first quest and how do you get started with the new expansion?

The answer is pretty simple: You will automatically be assigned a quest if you meet the requirements. If you own the Epic Edition of Midnight, a quest will be added to your quest log at 00:00 on February 27 and the early access begins. If you own a different version, this will happen at the official launch on March 3, also at 00:00.

If the quest is not automatically accepted, try the following steps:

  • Travel to Dornogal. If you are already in Dornogal, leave the city for a moment and then return.
  • Make sure your quest log is not overloaded and that you can’t accept any more quests.
  • Make sure you really have Midnight on the account you are currently playing on.

If you want to make efficient use of the last hours before the release of the Midnight expansion of World of Warcraft, we have here a number of tips and tricks to help you prepare perfectly for the start of the new addon.

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

Pokémon GO: Mega Blastoise Counters – The 20 Best Attackers in the Raid Guide

This guide shows you the 20 best attackers against Mega Blastoise in Pokémon GO. Here on MeinMMO, we have listed the best counters and their movesets so you can win the Mega Raid as quickly as possible.

What kind of Pokémon is this? Mega Blastoise is the temporary Mega Evolution of the Water Pokémon Blastoise, which comes from the first generation of games. Also, Mega Blastoise belongs to the Water type, but is slightly stronger than its previous form.

In order to develop a Mega Blastoise, you must first gather special Mega Energy. You can achieve this among other ways by winning the corresponding Mega Raid. Pokémon GO has also finally improved Mega Evolutions and made evolving cheaper for you.

Everything you need to know about the new Mega Evolutions can be read here.

When can you encounter Mega Blastoise? The mega version of the monster will be available on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It is part of this year’s GO Tour 2026.

Defeat Mega Blastoise with these counters in the raid

  1. Shadow Raikou with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
  2. Kartana with Razor Leaf and Leaf Blade
  3. Mega Manectric with Thunder Fang and Wild Charge
  4. Shadow Magnezone with Volt Switch and Wild Charge
  5. Xurkitree with Thunder Shock and Discharge
  6. Mega Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Dragon Ascent
  7. Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm
  8. Mega Sceptile with Fury Cutter and Frenzy Plant
  9. Zekrom with Charge Beam and Fusion Bolt
  10. Shadow Zapdos with Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt
  11. Shadow Tangrowth with Vine Whip and Power Whip
  12. Mega Venusaur with Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant
  13. Eternatus with Poison Jab and Dynamax Cannon
  14. Regieleki with Thunder Shock and Thunder Cage
  15. Zarude with Vine Whip and Power Whip
  16. Shadow Venusaur with Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant
  17. Shadow Electivire with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
  18. Shadow Mewtwo with Psycho Cut and Thunderbolt
  19. Shadow Sceptile with Fury Cutter and Frenzy Plant
  20. Electivire with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge

Weaknesses of Mega Blastoise: The Mega Evolution is a Water-type Pokémon, which means it is weak against attacks from Grass and Electric types. You should definitely use this in battle and deploy appropriate monsters.

Is there a Shiny Blastoise? Yes, with a little luck you can catch a Shiny Blastoise after the raid. You can recognize it by its purple body.

Blastoise normal (left) and as Shiny (right)

How many trainers are needed? To defeat Mega Blastoise, two trainers are usually sufficient for experienced players. However, note that you should rely on the top attackers and ideally have a trainer level over 40. We therefore recommend bringing a few friends along. This will make the raid a bit more relaxed.

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

Overwatch gets its own mobile game, with a special feature: The community is actually hyped

Without any warning, Blizzard announced its own mobile game for Overwatch. Apparently, the team has done something right, as the initial reactions from the community show: Players are really excited!

What kind of mobile game is it? Just as the shift from Overwatch 2 back to Overwatch happened, Blizzard announced yet another innovation: The shooter will be getting its own mobile game, namely Overwatch Rush.

The game is not a direct adaptation of Overwatch as a mobile variant. Overwatch Rush will be a new and standalone game.

In an initial gameplay preview on YouTube from early development, it can be seen how different the mobile game is from the shooter. It foregoes the first-person perspective and offers a top-down view, with teams consisting of 4 players and featuring new modes that do not exist in the main game. Overwatch Rush is most reminiscent of a mobile MOBA with familiar faces and their abilities.

Hours after Blizzard’s announcement, the player community congregated on social media as well as on Reddit, where a general and (to be fair) surprising mood becomes clear: The players are excited.

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Everything about Overwatch in 2026 in a quick overview

New concept makes community optimistic – a direct adaptation wouldn’t have achieved this

What is the community so excited about? The Overwatch community has often been frustrated with Blizzard’s decisions. Questionable monetization and canceled content are just two examples that have dampened the community’s enthusiasm. Ultimately, Overwatch managed to bring hope and optimism with its new plans for 2026 and also bring back old players.

With the announcement of Overwatch Rush, this trend seems to continue. On Reddit it becomes clear that the community is positively surprised by what has been shown, mainly because it is not a 1-to-1 copy of the shooter for mobile devices: 

I would actually play this. If it was just Overwatch on mobile, then no.

– pamtrimk on Reddit

“This actually looks better than I honestly expected,” writes YirDaSellsAvon, “looks like a MOBA. I am not a fan of mobile games, but I will give it a try. Interesting concept.”

Fizziest_milk also finds: “I think it’s good that they actually tried to adapt it for mobile devices instead of just making a low-res version of the main game that would run terribly.”

Here you can see the first gameplay of Overwatch Rush:

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When will Overwatch Rush be released? A release date is not yet known. It is supposed to be “completed someday” and will be refined and finalized together with the community in small playtests. If you want to learn more about Overwatch Rush, you can visit our colleagues at GameStar, who have already been able to test the game: Out of nowhere, Blizzard announces Overwatch Rush – and I have already played it

Since the announced innovations for the main game, Overwatch has been experiencing a kind of revival, which is well received by players not only through a new story series and season start but also through new heroes. Especially one heroine already has a lot of fans, even in the editorial office: Overwatch has gained a hot mommy with a new heroine and everyone loves her (including me)

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

A hidden dialogue in Cyberpunk 2077 is so rare because no one would play like that

If players adopt a pacifistic playstyle in Cyberpunk 2077, they can hear a hidden dialogue with Johnny Silverhand. A YouTuber was able to discover this dialogue, but only with the help of a modification.

What kind of dialogue is this? One thing is clear when starting Cyberpunk 2077: The protagonist V is a mercenary who is not shy about getting their hands dirty. And another thing is clear: Night City demands this of its residents.

Despite the clear “guidelines” of the game, some players try to play the game as peacefully and friendly as possible. For this, players are also rewarded, as Johnny Silverhand rewards them with a hidden dialogue:

“Oh, right. Totally forgot that you’re the gentle type. No killing. The problem is, you let countless others do the killing for you.”

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Cyberpunk 2077: The Ultimate Edition trailer shows a ‘City of Dreams’

Dialogue likely only accessible with mod

How can one reach the dialogue? The dialogue can be discovered after completing the side mission “Tapeworm.” “Tapeworm” is playable after completing the Voodoo Boys questline. In a conversation with Johnny, he can respond differently to the accusation from V that he killed innocent people during the assault on the Arasaka Tower.

If V is as ruthless as Johnny himself, Johnny throws the accusation back at the protagonist. However, if V has no guilt, Johnny’s pacifistic statement comes.

The YouTuber breadballer explains in his YouTube video that he was only able to get this dialogue with the help of a mod. With Ultimate Kill Counter, players can closely examine what they have already done in Night City, including kills and takedowns.

Without this mod, it is difficult to even get this dialogue because the game already counts the destruction of drones or the hiding of unconscious bodies as “killing.” So players need this mod more or less to reliably check whether they fulfill the conditions.

Mods for games can either be an enhancement or even a relief for players. A voice mod aims to add more depth to Night City, but whether this really helps is a divide the community’s opinions. More on this here on MeinMMO: A voice mod in Cyberpunk 2077 aims to enhance immersion, but the community says: Night City has its own slang

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

Role model of Sauercrowd wished the team only bad things for the raid, reacts to comment from HandOfBlood

The Twitch streamers Maximilian “HandOfBlood” Knabe and Kalle sat down after the first Sauercrowd raid and had a message for Sodapoppin: “Lick my balls.”

Who is it about? The WoW hardcore guild Sauercrowd got the inspiration for the project from the American WoW guild OnlyFangs. The founder of OnlyFangs is the American Twitch streamer Thomas “Sodapoppin” Morris. Previously, Sodapoppin had noticed the German guild and wished them good luck for the project – at least in a figurative sense.

Sodapoppin also continuously commented on the performance or deaths of the participants. They were rather negative, as he questioned what level of WoW knowledge the participants actually had.

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HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute

“I hope these pipes die.”

What did HandOfBlood and Kalle say to Sodapoppin? During the first raid in Molten Core of Sauercrowd, the guild members took a break. In the excitement that everything had gone smoothly up to that point, HandOfBlood and his IRL viewer and colleague Kalle directed a few words at Sodapoppin.

In deliberately broken English, HandOfBlood said: “Hey Sodapoppin, if you are watching: Lick my balls!” (Source: YouTube).

How did Sodapoppin react to the message? Since Sodapoppin does not speak German, he had to have this “request” translated first. However, once he understood, the Twitch streamer laughed.

But that did not stop HandOfBlood’s and Kalle’s comments. They further explained that Sodapoppin would like to participate in Sauercrowd, since the “English people” are all “shit” anyway. Sodapoppin confirmed this, but then said: “I hope these pipes die, dude. I would actually love that. I hope they just die, and then I come back to this VOD.” (Source: YouTube).

How did the first raid of Sauercrowd go? Sodapoppin’s wishes were apparently not granted, as the first raid from Sauercrowd went almost flawlessly. At least the team could not record any deaths, which is extraordinary. More details about the course of the raid in Molten Core can be found here at MeinMMO: Sauercrowd glides through Molten Core, clears the raid on the first evening, and over 200,000 viewers cheer on Twitch

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

German Twitch streamers start tabletop adventure to WoW: Midnight, conceal fifth player

Before the launch of World of Warcraft: Midnight, there are first insights into the story before Xal’atath’s invasion on Twitch, but not as gameplay impressions. A group of German streamers takes on the roles of 5 adventurers in a live tabletop oneshot with familiar faces.

Who is participating in the tabletop session? As the announcement from the German X accounts for Warcraft suggests, streamers Noway, Gnu, Metashi, and Etienne from the Rocket Beans will be thrown into a P&P adventure on Twitch, led by author and streamer Liza Grimm. In addition to the 4 players, another person will join the team, who has not yet been announced.

Under the title “It’s worth fighting for home”, the group will start on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM on Twitch, sending their self-created characters on a journey. You can follow the stream on the Twitch channels of the mentioned individuals.

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Der Cinematic Trailer zur WoW Erweiterung Midnight verrät, wie es in Azeroth weiter geht

A oneshot that the community can help shape

What is a oneshot and what will this one include? A oneshot in tabletop role-playing means that it is a short campaign that lasts only one session. Consequently, the adventure will have a conclusive ending a few hours after the start.

The streamers’ oneshot is set against the backdrop of Xal’atath’s invasion and will serve as a kind of prologue to the upcoming expansion in WoW. Not only the conflict of Midnight plays an important role, but also the community on Twitch.

How can the community get involved? Due to the live broadcast of the oneshot, viewers of the stream can not only follow the events in real-time but also help shape them.  

During the stream, the community can vote to influence how important decisions will turn out, thus affecting the outcome of certain key moments.

World of Warcraft: Midnight launches worldwide on March 3, 2026, with a variety of new features. Among them is a new game mode that is said to be so difficult that even the developers say: This might be a bit too intense for you. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: WoW: New game mode in Midnight will be so hard that you want to log out

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

Bungie lets you test Marathon for free one last time – All info about the Server Slam

On March 5, 2026, Marathon, the latest game from Bungie, will be released. A few days before the release, you can take a final, free look at the extraction shooter during a server slam. We will show you what you need to know.

What is the Marathon server slam? The server slam is a mix of a preview weekend for players and a final test for the servers. You can play for free for about 5 days, even if you haven’t pre-ordered the game. You are meant to put the servers of Marathon to the test so that everything runs as smoothly as possible upon the official release.

Start & Preload for the Marathon server slam

When is the Marathon server slam? The Marathon server slam starts on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM German time and ends the following Monday, March 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

When does the preload for the Marathon server slam start? It is currently unknown if and when there will be a preload for the Marathon server slam. As soon as we know more, we will update the information here in the article.

Until the preload for the Marathon server slam is available, it remains a mystery how large the download will be. Since a substantial part of the final game will be available during the server slam, you should expect at least 40 GB (this is just an estimate of the minimum size and can vary greatly).

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Bungie presents Marathon in the launch trailer

Bungie invites you to the Marathon server slam on PS5, Xbox, and Steam

On which platforms can you participate in the server slam? You can play Marathon during the server slam on PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

These rewards you get for playing the server slam: If you participate in the Marathon server slam, you can score a few rewards for the full game. These rewards await you:

  • Everyone who completes the introduction mission receives a unique badge and a unique player background.
  • By playing, you earn rewards that depend on your progress:
    • Complete your first mission: Unlock the standard arrival cache
      • Standard implants (6x)
      • Standard runner shell cores (4x)
      • Standard weapon chip mods (6x)
      • Weapons: Overrun SG and Hardline PG
    • Reach runner level 10: Unlock the optimized arrival cache (green)
      • Optimized implants (6x)
      • Optimized runner shell cores (2x per shell, 12x total)
      • Optimized weapon chip mods (4x)
      • Weapons: Optimized Magnum pistol and optimized Hardline PG
    • Reach runner level 30: Unlock the luxury arrival cache (blue)
      • Luxury and optimized implants (3x each, 6x total)
      • Luxury and optimized runner shell cores (1x per shell, 12x total)
      • Luxury and optimized weapon chip mods (2x each, 4x total)
      • Weapons: Luxury Magnum pistol and optimized volley rifle
      • Backpack: Optimized basic backpack

The rewards you earn during the server slam can be collected upon the release of the full game.

Is there crossplay? Yes, both during the server slam and at the full release, there will be crossplay in Marathon.

This is known about cross save: Marathon will have cross-save during the server slam. This means you can utilize and continue your progress made on PS5 on Steam on PC, for example.

Contents offered by the Marathon server slam

What is playable during the server slam? Marathon offers you a selected part of the full game during the server slam. You can accept and complete the first faction quests and thereby rise in the faction levels as well as begin the progress trees of each faction.

Additionally, during the server slam, two out of four maps and five out of six runner shells (the playable classes) will be offered. As an alternative to the standard classes, you can choose the Rook. This is practically a seventh class that allows you to play with a free loadout instead of your own gear.

The additional maps, the sixth runner shell, and more are expected to be included in Marathon at the proper release on March 5, 2026. In Season 1, a ranked mode will then follow.

The six runner shells available to you at release have already been introduced by Bungie together with the Rook. MyMMO editor Dariusz was particularly struck by the ‘Thief’. However, that is precisely the class that will not be playable during the server slam. For more about the classes and Dariusz’s impressions of them, read here: The 7 classes of Marathon look exciting for loot goblins like me, but I know I’ll hate my opponents

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

Split Fiction Film: Release, Cast, Trailer – All information about the video game adaptation with Sydney Sweeney

With Split Fiction, the next video game is being adapted into a movie. MeinMMO summarizes all the information about the release, cast, and trailer of the film featuring Sydney Sweeney.

What is Split Fiction? Split Fiction is an action-adventure game focused on co-op gameplay. It was developed by the Swedish studio Hazelight Studios and is from the year 2025. The game was published by Electronic Arts.

The game follows authors Mio and Zoe, who end up in a machine that wants to steal their stories. To escape, they must break out of their worlds.

When is the movie of Split Fiction being released? So far, there is no release date for the upcoming video game adaptation.

The movie was first announced in April 2025. As Dexerto reported in January 2026, according to Josef Fares, the director of the game, a first version of the script is already finished.

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The creators of It Takes Two reveal their new co-op game Split Fiction for the first time in the trailer

Split Fiction Movie: Trailer and Cast

Is there a trailer for the Split Fiction movie? No, there is currently no trailer for the film. The movie is still in the early stages of production, so it will probably take some time before a real trailer is released.

Who is in the cast of the Split Fiction movie? So far, it is only known that actress Sydney Sweeney will have a role in the film. However, it is currently unknown whether she will portray Zoe or Mio.

Other notable names are known behind the scenes. Jon M. Chu will direct. He previously directed the two new Wicked films, Now You See Me 2, and Crazy Rich Asians.

Josef Fares is expected to contribute to the script, while Rhett Reese is also responsible for the screenplay. He has written for the scripts of the three Deadpool films and for Zombieland, among others.

Split Fiction Movie: Plot

What is Split Fiction about? So far, nothing concrete about the movie’s plot is known, but it can be assumed that the story of the game will be adapted.

The game revolves around authors Mio and Zoe being invited by a company to test a new machine. With it, they can travel to the worlds they have created. But this is not a kind gesture. The company wants to steal the authors’ ideas to use them for themselves.

Since Mio and Zoe have written different works, Split Fiction mixes elements from the science fiction and fantasy genres and tells a story about creativity and intellectual property.

Split Fiction is not the only video game that is expected to receive a movie in the future. The co-op shooter is also in production as a film. Jason Momoa, who plays Aquaman, is also involved: Helldivers movie: Release, source material, director – All info about the adaptation of the co-op shooter

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

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

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.

[toc]

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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

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

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

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.

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”

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.

Start video
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 shows Royal Edition with all DLCs for the medieval role-playing game

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.

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

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.

Start video
WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features

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.

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

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:

Start video
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.

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

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.

Start video
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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Link to the Twitch content

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.

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?

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?

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

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.

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.

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

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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Nintendo shows in the trailer their GameCube collection on the Switch 2

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.