GTA Online: Armored Van – All Locations on the Map

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time 2 minutes

The Gun Van in GTA Online has various locations. We show you all locations on the map.

What kind of transporter is this? In GTA Online, you can now find the Gun Van. The vehicle is at a different location every day and is part of the “Los Santos Drug Wars” update. Right from the start, the vehicle caught attention by selling the powerful Railgun to you exclusively.

We show you here on the map where the Gun Van is located every day. This way, you can easily find it and do your business there.

Update from April 14, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.
Start video
GTA Online: Los Santos Drug Wars: The Last Dose – Trailer

Gun Van on the Map – All Locations

Where can you find the transporter? There are 30 possible locations on the map of GTA Online. Every day, the Gun Van changes its location.

On the interactive map (via gtaweb.eu), you can check every day where the Van is now located. When you click the link, the necessary filter is already set, so you just need to find the Van on the map.

You just need to check this map daily if you’re looking for the Van. If it’s not directly in focus, swipe around a bit on the map or zoom in or out. You recognize the location by the black transporter icon on the map.

What you need to know: In the game, you only see the icon of the Van when you are directly nearby. It doesn’t appear beforehand. You cannot find it just using the overview map within GTA Online across the entire map. Approach with a vehicle, and when you’re close to the destination, you’ll see it on the minimap.

More on the topic
I played GTA 5 too early, and I fear it has ruined me for GTA 6
von Caroline Fuller
After Hacker Attack on GTA Developer: Leak Reveals Why Rockstar Is Not in a Hurry to Release GTA 6
von Dariusz Müller
“My 20-year tenure is no longer good enough” – Developer Involved in GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption Still Has Trouble Finding a Job
von Ody

All locations on one map: If you’re interested in all locations and not just the current one, we show you all 30 locations on the following map:

GTA Online Gun Van Locations
All 30 locations of the Gun Vans (Source: GTALens)

What can you get in the Van? Inside the van is an NPC who sells you armor and weapons cheaper than at the Ammu-Nation stores. Additionally, you can get some weapons and equipment there without the rank requirement that is usually necessary. To clarify a question right away: No, you cannot blow up the Van. We tried it.

Especially the Railgun is one of the highlights you can buy in the Gun Van. Because it is only available there. What the Van does not offer are MK2 variations of weapons.

Known contents include:

  • Weapons:
    • Knife
    • Baseball bat
    • Combat shotgun
    • MP
    • Assault rifle
    • Compact EMP launcher
    • Combat shotgun
    • Railgun
    • Heavy sniper rifle
    • RPG
    • Widowmaker
    • El Strickler
    • Minigun
    • Carbine rifle
    • Machete
    • Up-n-Atomizer
    • Military rifle
    • Heavy rifle
  • Throwables:
    • Molotov cocktail
    • Proximity mine
    • Grenade
    • Pipe bomb
    • Sticky bomb
    • Tear gas
  • Armor:
    • Lightest
    • Light
    • Standard
    • Heavy
    • Heaviest armor
More on the topic
I played GTA 5 too early, and I fear it has ruined me for GTA 6
von Caroline Fuller
After Hacker Attack on GTA Developer: Leak Reveals Why Rockstar Is Not in a Hurry to Release GTA 6
von Dariusz Müller

How do you like the Gun Van? Do you visit it often to shop there cheaply? Or did you just get the Railgun and are not visiting it anymore for now? However, if you’re more interested in exports, you can find our guide for that here: GTA Online: Exotic Export List – Here you can find the cars

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

A new strategy game for Steam will fulfill my and his greatest power fantasy

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

Strategy gamers fulfill their power fantasies in 4X games. One of the most reliable suppliers of such “I conquer the world” dreams is Paradox Interactive. They have been working on a new game in Barcelona for years, with everyone assuming that it will be Europa Universalis V. Now they have introduced a new mechanic that has every world despot dreaming.

What kind of game is this? Officially, the game is called “Project Caesar,” developed by Paradox Tinto, and nobody knows exactly what the mysterious project hides.

Unofficially, everyone is clear that the game must be “Europa Universalis V.”

Europa Universalis is one of Paradox’s flagship series: The series of historical strategy games simulates the world between the 15th and 18th centuries. The current Europa Universalis IV was released in 2013 and has received so many DLCs over the last 12 years, that one has to shell out nearly €400 on Steam to get everything.

Europa Universalis V has not yet been officially announced, but what is known about the game so far sounds fantastic: Europa Universalis V is supposed to simulate the world between 1337 and 1821. Central Europe alone is expected to fragment into 357 nations.

Start video
Europa Universalis 4: Trailer

This jab is granted by Paradox: On February 12th, Paradox introduced a system in a new blog post on how to form new nations in Project Caesar (via Paradox).

The developers at Paradox have hidden a little jab at Civ 7 in the announcement. The text begins:

“Instead of your country automatically changing with each era, you change your nation by fulfilling certain objectives. Usually, you need to control a certain percentage of a predefined group of locations; for example, Scandinavia requires 75% of the places in the Scandinavian region.”

This alludes, of course, to the most controversial mechanic in the new Civilization 7, where you have to choose a new civilization in each of the 3 eras to continue your game. In Europa Universalis, you do not have to change nations, but usually want to. Because with an ascension to a “higher-tier” nation, you also receive higher-tier bonuses.

The world despot wants an ever-growing throne

This has been the power fantasy so far: In previous games, you could rise as an empire and shape ever larger nations, but at some point it comes to an end.

You can start as a small county in Ireland (Tier 0), then form a duchy (Tier 1), then the nation of Ireland (Tier 2), and finally Great Britain (Tier 3), but then it’s also over. The whole system of founding new nations in Europa Universalis IV is a case-by-case decision and often quickly hits its limits.

To form the next larger nation, certain requirements must be met: It’s about land ownership or having a certain culture, following a religion, or reaching a certain technology level. For some nations, you also have to complete complicated events or win wars.

Those who form such a new nation usually have special bonuses, unite more cultural groups, or even receive new tech and mission trees.

The highest goal in Europa Universalis V is to become Europe

This has been the power fantasy so far: However, in the so-called Europa Universalis V, a mechanic has now been introduced that even goes up to Tier 5. This means that not only will you form nations that historically existed, but even nations that were historically conceivable. However, these exist only if the player opts for it – they can also choose the setting that only “real” countries exist.

What is the ultimate goal? The ultimate goal in Europa Universalis V will apparently be to form a “Tier V” region – namely Europe. There are many ways to achieve this goal.

One possibility would be: You start as a Tier-0 land, perhaps somewhere in Ireland. Now you conquer some neighboring provinces and form the Tier-1 nation of Connacht.

Now you acquire the neighboring provinces and absorb them until you become the Tier-2 nation of Ireland.

Now it’s Scotland, Wales, and England’s turn. Once the power has consolidated, you rise to the Tier-3 nation of Great Britain.

Now it would be possible to grab Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. You then declare the ahistorical “Kingdom of the North Sea,” consisting of Great Britain and Scandinavia. However, this is also a Tier-3 empire. In EU V it will be possible to form higher or equivalent empires, just don’t downgrade – so don’t go back from Great Britain to England.

The next goal could be to form a Tier-4 nation: perhaps the Holy Roman Empire, Byzantium, or the “ahistorical” Rome: reviving the empire of the ancient Latins.

But the ultimate power fantasy is to form a Tier-5 nation: Europe itself.

Now that is a power fantasy befitting Europa Universalis.

Germany’s reigning Gamer of the Year, Maurice Weber, has come far with his relentless will to power:

More on the topic
More on the topic
Eccentric strategy nerd from German gaming magazine is now a professional Twitch streamer
von Benedict Grothaus

This is what it’s about: In Paradox’s 4X strategy games, there are no real goals, only goals that players set for themselves. “Normally,” you rule over the entire game in Europa Universalis IV as France when you have a successful game, but it’s indeed a gigantic France that stretches from London down to Africa in the south and Istanbul in the east, encompassing South America and North America as well.

Providing clear goals here and linking them to tasks will greatly please many fans of the game. You can read more about the game, which we must not call Europa Universalis V, here: Steam: Strategy geniuses reveal map of the Holy Roman Empire with 357 playable nations – fans rejoice

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

LoL: Team in Korea kicks out superstar talent, brings back old hero, now Gen G. has a problem

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

In League of Legends , a team in South Korea wanted to really prove themselves in 2025: After years of disappointment, 2025 was supposed to be the year of Gen G. and they signed the best players they could buy. Only for one position was there no money available – this is now proving to be a mistake.

What kind of team is this? Gen G. has been considered “the best team in the world” for years and is known as “the team that really needs to win the World Championship now.” In 2024, they actually had a brilliant team with two superstars, two strong players, and a mega-talent in the bot lane:

But that very talent, the 19-year-old Peyz, had a rather weak performance at Worlds. Gen G. lost in the semifinals to Faker and T1. Peyz underperformed against Gumayusi in 3 games (via reddit) and was replaced in November 2024.

For 2025, Gen G. has once again massively upgraded their roster:

  • With “our Lord and Savior” Chovy (23, cover photo), they have probably the best player in LoL in the mid lane since 2021
  • With Canyon (23), Gen G has employed a world-class jungler since 2023 who led DAMWON KIA to the World Championship title in 2020 and was named MVP of the finals
  • Since 2023, Kiin (25) has been playing in the top lane and is considered one of the stars in his position
  • In 2025, they brought back the extremely experienced ADC Ruler (26) and even gave up the super-rookie Peyz for him. Ruler had his best year in 2017, leading present-day Gen G. to the World Championship title and winning the MVP himself. Since then, he has been seen as Faker’s archrival, who brought him to tears.

Although Peyz was regarded as a mega-talent, he made a few mistakes at Worlds 2024 and was therefore sorted out as a “weak point”; Ruler was supposed to fix that.

Start video
Das ist LoL – Einmal richtig ehrlich erklärt

With so many stars, there’s no money left for the support

What was the Achilles’ heel? With so much money being spent on 3 superstars and a very good player (Kiin), there was no money left for a supporter.

As a result, they had to let go of Lehends (26) in 2024, who was actually a solid support for the team. For the position, they brought in Duro (23), who had not played for any top team before.

Gen G. already loses the first real test

This is how it turned out: In the LCK Cup, the Gen G. roster entered its first “real test phase”. In the group, they finished with a 3-2 record, only losing to the resurgent Dplus KIA, formerly Canyon’s team.

In the playoffs, they lost the first big test against Hamwha Life with a score of 2-3 and must now go into the loser’s bracket.

The star-studded team is now under critical scrutiny (via reddit):

  • Duro was completely overshadowed in the support duel against Delight and is identified as a clear weak point
  • Ruler is also under fan criticism: he simply is no longer the player he was many years ago

Now, people are mourning on reddit the two players they had to let go. Perhaps it would have been better to allow the talented Peyz another year of development instead of banking on big names. Then there might have been enough money left for Lehends as well.

lol-faker-ruler
Considered old rivals.

Where are the two departures playing now? Peyz (19) has moved to China and is now playing for JD Gaming. He has traded places with Ruler there. JD Gaming currently has a record of 3-0 in the league.

Lehends has switched to NS RedForce in South Korea. He is waiting for Gen G. in the loser’s bracket and is seeking revenge. The team that loses the match will say goodbye from the LCK Cup.

Ultimately, it seems that Gen G.’s decision, which looked so brave in November 2024, is not turning out as hoped: LoL: Favorite for the World Championship win lost to Faker, now they bring in his biggest rival to finally become champions

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

A card in Pokémon TCG Pocket is perfect if you want to troll your opponents

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon TCG Pocket, new cards are constantly being introduced, some of which bring interesting and strong effects. One card can make it so that your opponent can hardly play.

To have successful battles in Pokémon TCG Pocket, you need a reasonable and well-thought-out deck to make your opponent fear. Sometimes, you don’t even need one of the strongest meta decks of TCG Pocket.

One card ensures that players have almost no way to equip their monsters with the necessary energies. The idea behind it is as genius as it is mean.

Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Trailer for the Collision of Space and Time Expansion

No Energies = No Attacks

What kind of card is this? The card in question is Porygon-Z. This card is of the Normal type, has 140 HP, and has an attack that requires you to equip it with 3 energy of any type. Besides a damage value of 80, the attack also has a pretty nasty effect.

If you perform the attack, the energy that your opponent generates in the next turn is randomly chosen from all types. This means it can happen that your opponent generates an Electric energy, even though they only use Water energies for their deck.

If you use Porygon-Z’s attack every turn, the effect also takes place in every turn of your opponent’s. So it becomes very difficult to supply Pokémon cards with the right energies when only inappropriate energies are generated.

What should you watch out for with this card? If you want to play a deck with Porygon-Z, you also have to consider a few things. To bring Porygon-Z into play, you first need to play a Porygon and evolve it into Porygon2. Only then can you evolve it into Porygon-Z.

Additionally, you need 3 energies to execute Porygon-Z’s attack. Since the monster only has 140 HP, it can be taken out relatively quickly by quite a few other monsters. Especially if your opponent already has fully equipped monster cards in play that no longer depend on new energies.

How do I get the card? If you want to test Porygon-Z in a deck and you haven’t received the card yet, you should open Palkia packs from the current expansion Collision of Space and Time. Here you can obtain the card.

More on the topic
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Codes – All Information in April 2026
von Paul Kutzner
7 strong spin-offs to Pokémon that are as good as the main parts
von Niko Hernes
Pokémon TCG Pocket Roadmap 2026 with Updates: All new sets and events at a glance
von Paul Kutzner

Some unusual and unconventional decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket can not only help you win normal matches against other players but can even lead to success in tournaments: Player builds brilliant deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket, wins tournament with just one monster.

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

A sandstorm like in ‘The Mummy’ is sweeping through Monster Hunter Wilds, the community celebrates the weather

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, you can expect not only a realistically looking fauna but also regions that have their own specific characteristics. A weather phenomenon in the wind plains particularly excites parts of the community.

What kind of weather phenomenon is this? The wind plains form the first region of Monster Hunter Wilds and welcome you with sandy deserts, sparse grasslands, and fertile oases. Occasionally, the zone is visited by a weather event known as the sand flood.

Behind it lurks a massive, thundering sandstorm that does not simply appear; it carves a destructive path through the entire region. How impressive this is in practice is shown by the post from ChanceYam2278 on Reddit:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Reddit content

What happens during the storm? The normally bright blue sky starts to darken. From a sand dune, the player observes an impressive wall of sand approaching the hunter on the distant horizon. The roar of the wind grows increasingly louder.

As the natural force hits the avatar, it raises its hands protectively in front of its face. Within the storm, the sandy brown shifts to a stormy blue. Lightning lashes down from the sky. An impressive backdrop that excites many fans of Monster Hunter.

The launch trailer of Monster Hunter Wilds:

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds Shows What It Has to Offer in Launch Trailer

“Pretty intimidating”

How does the community react? More than 4,300 upvotes and over 160 comments show that the storm leaves a lasting impression.

  • roogops celebrates on Reddit: “I think it’s great that you can hear the roar of the wind, which gets stronger as the storm approaches. Such a nice little detail.”
  • EpicDragonz4 is surprised (via Reddit): “I recently noticed that the weather actually spreads gradually across the map while I thought it was just toggled on and off. It’s so cool what they’ve done with the weather effects in this game.”
  • absoIuteIyhatereddit reports on Reddit: “I have actually stood in the face of such storms before. It feels like a sting on the skin when it hits, and all light sources turn blue.”
  • LuminothWarrior writes on Reddit: “It’s pretty intimidating when you see that wall of sand approaching so quickly.”

What else do the regions offer? The regions undergo a day-night cycle that affects the types of monsters roaming the zone. Furthermore, the later zones also bring their own specific characteristics. At times, it can get very cold or very hot, which you should compensate for with certain consumables.

More about MHW:
Monster Hunter Wilds: Sealed Dragon Cloth – How to Get This Fluttering Equipment Piece
von Alexander Mehrwald
Monster Hunter Wilds: Blossomdance – Everything about time, rewards and quests
von Alexander Mehrwald

In the Carmine Forest, on the other hand, there are torrential downpours that bring floods. These and other phenomena add a certain something to monster hunting. If you are looking for general information about the new game of the iconic series, check here: Release, Crossplay & Preorder Bonuses – Everything Important about Monster Hunter Wilds

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

End of Windows 10 Support – What You Should Consider and Do

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

At the end of 2025, support for Windows 10 will end. MeinMMO explains what you need to consider before the end of support for Windows 10 and what options you have.

When does support for Windows 10 end? Official support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. After that, support for Windows 10 will be discontinued by Microsoft.

What happens after the support ends for Windows 10? The end of support means that Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, technical support, or bug fixes for this operating system.

In principle, you can continue to use Windows 10 even after October 14, 2025. However, using it then poses significant security and performance risks. Using Windows 10 after the end of support is at your own risk.

More on the topic
6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and 4 Reasons Against It
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Which versions of Windows are affected?

  • Windows 10 Home
  • Windows 10 Pro
  • Windows 10 Enterprise
  • Windows 10 Education

Which versions are not affected? After October 2025, only businesses using the Windows 10 LTSC version (Long-Term Servicing Channel) will continue to receive updates due to the extended lifecycle.

Our article first appeared in July 2024. On February 19, 2025, we updated our article as the end of Windows 10 approaches.

Last updates: 19.02.25, 01.07.24

What you should do before the end of support in 2025

Upgrade to Windows 11: Microsoft recommends its users to switch to the latest version of Windows. This will continue to receive security updates, new features, and support for your operating system.

Check compatibility: Before upgrading to Windows 11, users should verify whether their hardware meets the system requirements for the new operating system. Microsoft provides a compatibility checking tool to help users determine if their device is compatible with Windows 11.

Backup data: Before an update to Windows 11, you should definitely back up your data. Because something can always go wrong during an upgrade.

Consider alternatives: If you are not interested in Windows 11 or your PC is not compatible, you can look into an alternative operating system. Some operating systems are free.

Buy a new computer: If you definitely want to continue using Windows but your hardware is not compatible, you should consider buying a new computer. However, when purchasing, ensure that Windows 11 is either already installed or that you can take advantage of the free upgrade.

With a trick, you can also install Windows 11 on old hardware, but this is only conditionally recommended, as it may lead to compatibility issues with Windows 11. Also, avoid buying old hardware, as you might encounter compatibility problems with Windows 11 as well:

More on the topic
7 Upgrades for your gaming PC that you definitely should not buy
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Windows 11 – What alternatives are available

What alternatives are there to Windows? If your hardware is not compatible with Windows 11 or you simply want to try out a different operating system, you have the following sensible options:

  • Linux
  • macOS
  • ChromeOS

Linux: Linux is an operating system that relies on open source. There are now numerous versions (called derivatives) that you can try out and download. The most well-known Linux is probably Ubuntu. Linux is free and, due to its architecture, is very secure against viruses and other malware.

The biggest disadvantage of Linux is its complexity. Setting it up is now quite simple, but installing software and settings is significantly more involved than in Windows and is more suitable for advanced users. Additionally, popular software like Adobe Photoshop cannot be easily installed under Linux.

macOS: macOS is the operating system for Mac laptops and desktops. This operating system offers an excellent user interface and is relatively easy to set up. Moreover, you receive full support from the Apple team just like with Windows.

The downside is that you need to buy a MacBook or another Apple device to use this operating system. Mac PCs are notoriously more expensive than Windows devices.

ChromeOS: ChromeOS is a Linux-based operating system developed by Google for its Chromebook laptops. ChromeOS is useful if you primarily use web-based applications that require minimal processing power.

However, ChromeOS provides little performance. You cannot install full-fledged software there and can only use web applications.

More about hardware and tech
The price of the Steam Controller has been leaked and many are now hoping that the Steam Machine will not become an expensive affair
von Benedikt Schlotmann
I have been using a brilliant feature on Steam for 2 years and have saved several hundred euros with it
von Benedikt Schlotmann

More about Windows 11: Switching to Windows 11 comes with various pros and cons. MeinMMO presents a quick list of what you should consider before the end of support and whether switching is worthwhile for you: Windows 11 – Is the switch worthwhile?.

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

Players have been waiting for a skin in LoL for years – Now it’s here, but it comes with a huge price tag

Nico Scheibel Nico Scheibel Reading time 2 minutes

In December 2024, League of Legends introduced a new system for acquiring skins. Many players criticize that Riot has hidden desirable skins behind an expensive paywall. Now, it has hit a long-awaited skin.

Which skin is it? “Sahn-Uzal Mordekaiser” is an Exalted skin for Mordekaiser, which is set to be released on March 5, 2025. It will replace the current “Light Serpent Sett” skin in the sanctum.

Sahn-Uzal was Mordekaiser’s name before he became the terrible warlord of the dead. In keeping with the champion’s backstory, Mordekaiser will be depicted in the skin as the former king of Noxus.

Mordekaiser has an interesting story to tell. MeinMMO has presented his story in a list of the strongest champions from Noxus.

Start video
Official Trailer for the New Exalted Skin Sahn-Uzal Mordekaiser in League of Legends

LoL hides skins behind gacha gameplay

Why is the skin so expensive? In League of Legends, you can obtain skins through so-called “Sparks” since December 2024. The Sparks are a type of loot box system from Riot. When you purchase a Spark, you can receive a reward. These rewards are divided into tiers from S to B. The chances of getting them can be viewed in the game’s launcher.

S-tier rewards are exclusive skins that you can only get with the Sparks. The chance of pulling such a skin is 0.5%. In the A-tier, you have a 10% chance of getting a previously released skin. The B-tier gives you a chance of 89.5% of receiving a profile avatar and sometimes mythical essences.

The price of a Spark is 400 Riot points. This translates to about €3.50. Since the chance of pulling the skin is only 0.5%, it may take several attempts. However, after a minimum of 80 Sparks, you will receive a guaranteed S-tier reward. That would be about €280.

More about League of Legends
Trymacs doesn’t want to deal with Riot anymore after the win challenge because he can’t play LoL with anyone
von Caroline Fuller
“Let us at least choose”: League of Legends tests new Battlepass, players want the old one back
von Nico Scheibel
LoL changes a champ after 14 years, brings urgent rework – fans criticize: The greatest problem still persists
von Nico Scheibel

Players are disappointed with Riot

How is the community reacting? A skin based on the lore of League of Legends is a dream come true for many players – and that’s why many players criticize the decision to make the skin only available through Sparks. Reddit user Janus_22 (via reddit.com) writes:

  • “They really took a skin that people have wanted for years and said: We’re releasing it – but only for those who have heaps of money to spare and don’t actually care about the character.”

YouTuber and Twitch streamer NickyBoi (via x.com) is also disappointed and responds:

  • “One of my absolute dream skins has always been Sahn-Uzal or the Mordekaiser before his resurrection, but all that anticipation is gone because he’s stuck in a $200 FOMO gacha shop. I should be excited right now, but instead I’m just sad.”

Skins that you can obtain through the Sparks in the sanctum are only available for a limited time. This can trigger fear of missing out (FOMO) in some players.

Already in January, Riot upset players with some decisions. They removed free Hextech chests under the pretext that players were not spending enough money.

Out of frustration over the removal of the free Hextech chests, a player built their own simulator for it. The mini-game has already received several updates and sparked some interesting comments: LoL changes a popular feature, the community simply builds it themselves

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

One of the most important places for the Elves in Lord of the Rings has existed since the beginning of Middle-earth, but Sauron destroyed it

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

Sauron had a significant political influence in the world of The Lord of the Rings. Sauron’s power corrupted many places and beings in Middle-earth that were once beautiful and graceful. Among them was a forest that was important to the Elves long before the events of the movies.

What place is it? The Mirkwood in Middle-earth has a long history that dates back to the early days of the world there, Arda. The first Elves traveled during the Great Journey from their homeland Cuiviénen, through the Mirkwood, which was then called Great Greenwood.

The location was in Rhovanion and was a dense forest area, with mountains and a large and small river. The forest became more than just a resting place for some of the Elves; it became a home. At least until Sauron came.

Image rights for the movies of The Lord of the Rings belong to Warner Bros.
Start video
Bilbo’s adventure begins in the trailer of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”

Legolas’s grandfather established the place for the Wood Elves

Actually, the forest was just a stopover for the Elves during the Great Journey, but the Wood Elves, who descended from Nandor, stayed there. Oropher, Legolas’s grandfather, ensured that the place became a settlement for these Elves in the Second Age.

Oropher also became the king of the Wood Elves. Unlike the other Elves, who lived in magnificent castles and constructs, the Wood Elves lived more modestly, in harmony with nature. Humans also settled around and in the forest.

Dwarves used the forest as a path between Moria and the Iron Mountains. Long after the first settlements, a kingdom also arose in the forest, but that changed when Sauron began his schemes in the Second Age. He launched the campaign to acquire all the Rings.

During Sauron’s campaign, Oropher moved his settlements multiple times in the forest to stay away from the conflicts of the other Elves and peoples of Middle-earth. But he too recognized the danger from Sauron and joined the Last Alliance in the war against Sauron.

There, Oropher died, and his son, Thranduil, became the new king of the Wood Elves.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Medieval Expert Explains How Realistic the Weapons and Armor in Lord of the Rings Are
von Niko Hernes

Sauron returned and corrupted the Great Greenwood

How did the place become the Mirkwood? As known from the films, Sauron was not completely destroyed. In the Third Age, he returned and, disguised as the Necromancer, settled in the fortress of Dol Guldur, an ancient Elven castle.

This caused the southern part of the forest to become corrupted, and malevolent creatures like the spawn of Ungoliant settled there. Humans then called the place Mirkwood. Due to Sauron’s presence, the Wood Elves were driven to the north.

When Gandalf wanted to investigate Dol Guldur, Sauron fled, and the Elves in Mirkwood could breathe easier again. This peace lasted 400 years until Sauron returned and once again pressed the Wood Elves. Some Elves even left Middle-earth due to the danger.

The Wood Elves became a weakened people, now living in the mountains north of Mirkwood cautiously and having to create new ways for traveling.

More on the topic
More on the topic
The Lord of the Rings has mysterious creatures that are older than Sauron – Even Gandalf refuses to describe them
von Niko Hernes

What happened to Mirkwood after the events of the films? After the final death of Sauron, Galadriel cleansed Dol Guldur, and together with Thranduil, she gave Mirkwood the new name Eryn Lasgalen (Forest of the Green Leaves).

In the southern part of the forest, Ost-Lórien was established at the beginning of the Fourth Age, which was ruled by the Elf Celeborn. The central part of the forest became a place for Woodmen. When Celeborn left Middle-earth to journey to Aman (the Undying Lands), Ost-Lórien became just a place for individual Wood Elves.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Tolkien himself confirmed who the true hero in The Lord of the Rings is: It is neither Gandalf nor Frodo
von Christoph Waldboth

The world of The Lord of the Rings is a place full of mysteries and history that one only catches a glimpse of in the films. What runs through it, however, is the influence of Morgoth or Sauron, who corrupted many beautiful and peaceful places. In another, dreadful place, however, a very different being is responsible: In The Lord of the Rings, there is a place that is even worse than Mordor

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Nerd of the Rings auf YouTube
  2. The One Wiki to Rule Them All
  3. Bildquelle: Warner Bros. auf YouTube

If Monster Hunter Wilds leaves you cold although all your friends love it, there might be a simple reason for that

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, you must hunt and take down gigantic monsters as a hunter, just like in the entire series. A game that awakens the primal instincts of humans, but a newcomer initially couldn’t grasp it at all.

What did a new player complain about? On Reddit, user CowdogGaming shared his experience with the hunting game. He initially didn’t understand the fuss about the boss fights – he found them boring and drawn-out. CowdogGaming himself is new to the Monster Hunter scene from the Souls genre and tried to get excited about the new installment, but initially without success.

Start video
Developers of Monster Hunter Wilds Explain Why There Is No New Weapon Type

Bosses are not like those in the Souls genre

What conclusion did the player come to? After CowdogGaming delved into his problem, he realized where the actual mistake lay. It wasn’t the game, but himself. In the Souls genre, boss fights are structured as follows:

  • Learn the movement patterns and attacks of the opponents
  • Learn how to dodge them
  • Utilize attack windows to deal damage
  • After 2-3 minutes, the boss is dead

In Monster Hunter Wilds and older installments of the series, however, this doesn’t work the same way. The focus is on the hunt, which, like in real life, is not completed in a few minutes. Hunters must track their prey, prepare, and endure different phases of the fight until they have brought down the monster – this can take up to 10 minutes.

According to CowdogGaming, boss fights could be compared to those in World of Warcraft. They also take a lot of time. Once the newcomer understood this, he began to see the boss fights in a different light and could accept them better.

More on the topic
The 10 coolest armors in Monster Hunter Wilds for your Palico
von Alexander Mehrwald
Monster Hunter Wilds: Sealed Dragon Cloth – How to Get This Fluttering Equipment Piece
von Alexander Mehrwald
Monster Hunter Wilds: Blossomdance – Everything about time, rewards and quests
von Alexander Mehrwald

What do other players say about the problem? Many comments from other hunters with tips for completing boss fights faster have gathered under the Reddit thread. EmeterPSN (via reddit.com) believes that speedrunners can defeat bosses in just a few minutes. However, one must first master Monster Hunter.

Besides items, it is even sufficient to use the environment, other monsters, or traps to hinder the bosses in their escape to defeat them quickly. Ultraauge (via reddit.com) additionally states that the fights will be more enjoyable at release because fans can adapt their equipment to the bosses and won’t have to fight with bare starting gear as in the beta.

Monster Hunter Wilds offers many monsters that you can defeat in the form of bosses throughout your hunter career. For a list of what is currently known and what you should know about them, feel free to check out our large monster list: Monster Hunter Wilds: All currently known monsters in the list

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

It is official, the console war is over: Phil Spencer says in light of the PS5 that he no longer wants to bring all players to Xbox

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

The console war between Xbox and PlayStation is probably as old as the consoles themselves. For years, Sony and Microsoft have been engaged in an unrelenting battle for gamers, who are also willing to passionately defend their favorite platform in lively discussions. However, the head of Xbox has now put an end to the console war in a way.

Who is Phil Spencer?

  • Phil Spencer is the head of Xbox. His official job title is “CEO of Microsoft Gaming.”
  • Spencer leads the interactive entertainment business at Microsoft and has worked for over 30 years in the technology and entertainment industry (via Wall Street Journal).
  • Before becoming CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Spencer held positions at Microsoft such as “Executive Vice President Gaming” and “Head of Xbox.”

Phil Spencer recently spoke about the console war in an interview with XboxEra on YouTube and shared his views on the release of games on other platforms.

One of the games that will also be released on PS5 or Steam, despite being part of Microsoft’s game portfolio, is the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages. Here you can see a trailer:

Start video
DOOM: The Dark Ages rocks in the new trailer, reveals release date

What does Spencer say about the console war? Spencer explains that it makes no sense to him to limit games to just one platform. That may have made sense in the past when consoles themselves were the biggest in the industry, but nowadays games are bigger and more important.

Spencer believes that restricting where a game can be played does not help the games. Therefore, he is no longer trying to persuade players to switch to an Xbox:

“There are people – whether their libraries are on PlayStation or Nintendo, whether they prefer the controller, or whether they simply like the games available there – and I don’t want to look at that and say: ‘Well, there’s no way we can build a business there or find fans for our franchise.’ I’m no longer trying to move them all to Xbox. […] We have all invested so much in our games that we should simply make it possible for more people to play them.”

Spencer further explains that the money they earn from selling games on other platforms helps them develop great portfolios, even though Xbox earns more money on its own platform.

Microsoft plans to sell games on PlayStation, even if they earn less there than on their own Xbox.

More on the topic
More on the topic
He built Amazon’s gaming division – now explains how they could lose to Steam, although they were much richer
von Dariusz Müller
More on the topic
Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S – Which console should I buy?
von Benedikt Schlotmann
More on the topic
In Doom Eternal, your Slayer was as fast and nimble as a fighter jet – In the new Doom, you are as hefty as a tank
von Dariusz Müller

Spencer has emphasized in the past that Xbox wants to help the gaming industry grow. He therefore also believes that it would not help anyone if competitor Sony shrinks. Xbox does not want to grow at the expense of other market participants like Sony and PlayStation: “If we grow and Sony shrinks, it helps no one” – Xbox head defends PlayStation

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

A 5-year-old strategy game grows on Twitch by 19 times because a German streamer can’t get enough of it

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

The construction game Factorio (PC/Steam, Switch) was the big winner in January 2025 on the German Twitch and managed to increase its watchtime by 19 times – all because the streamer Trymacs was struck by the fever.

Which game is it about? Factorio is a construction game for those who still want to work hard after the end of the workday. It revolves around building a factory, managing it, and protecting it from dangers. The game was released in 2020 for PC and enjoys an “extremely positive” rating of 97% on Steam.

Although Factorio is already 5 years old, it recently experienced a tremendous increase on Twitch in January 2025. According to data provided to MeinMMO by the analysis site Streams Charts, it was the game with the most growth on German Twitch for the month.

Start video
This trailer showcases one of the best building simulations with Factorio

Trymacs alone accounts for over 80% of the watchtime

What happened in January? Trymacs and the friendly streamer Rumathra fell for Factorio. Trymacs played so much that he even thought about the game at night in bed with his partner; Rumathra played it secretly on a hidden second Twitch channel in front of a few viewers.

For both, it was the game they showcased the most in their streams in January. Conversely, this meant a growth of nearly 1,850% for Factorio in the German-speaking Twitch: The hours watched grew by 19 times.

Trymacs, who fits perfectly as the unofficial top nerd of German Twitch for a game like Factorio, accounts for 82% of the total watchtime alone. Globally, this still represented a growth of almost 100% – and the most-watched streamers worldwide are of course Trymacs and Rumathra.

However, Factorio is not the only game that benefits from the attention of one or a few streamers.

Most viewed games on German Twitch January 2025
via Streams Charts

Which games have also benefited? In addition to Factorio, Diablo 4, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Project Zomboid, and Sons of the Forest also saw growth in the German-speaking area.

  • In Diablo 4, Season 7 started and saw an increase of 599%. The Austrian ARPG expert jessirocks accounted for almost a third of the watched hours. At the release in 2023, the game had made him the number 1 on German Twitch.
  • Maurice Weber, strategy king of GameStar, prepared for the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 by playing the predecessor for the very first time. The RPG experienced a growth of 589% in Germany in anticipation of the second part, with Maurice contributing 44% of the total watchtime.
  • The survival game Project Zomboid managed to attract several prominent German streamers in January and recorded a growth of 543%. The highest watchtime came from the gaming group PietSmiet, while HandOfBlood reached the most viewers.
  • The Twitch streamers Zarbex and Schradin, who were the shooting stars of the German scene in 2024, ventured into the woods in January. Their adventures in Sons of the Forest provided the survival game with a growth of 287%. Zarbex alone accounted for 62% of the watchtime, while together they were responsible for 80% of the watched hours (via SullyGnome).
More on the topic
“I shouldn’t have opened my mouth” – Twitch streamer dared to criticize her colleagues, now says what consequences it has for her
von Johanna
2 years ago, 2.50 € plunged German Twitch into chaos, now the chairs are flying
von MeinMMO
HandOfBlood invites Klaas on Twitch, stole a format from him back then
von Johanna

It is repeatedly shown that content creators have a significant impact on games – especially for games that might otherwise fly under the radar of players. Twitch streamers make strange games famous for 24 hours and the audience loves it

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

Throne and Liberty: Crossplay, PS5, Classes, Guides, Servers – everything important about the MMORPG

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 2 minutes

Throne and Liberty is an MMORPG from NCSoft (Aion, Blade & Soul), which was released in South Korea in 2023 and will be launched worldwide by Amazon Games in October 2024. You can find all information about cross-progression, classes, gameplay, crossplay, and more in the overview article about Throne and Liberty.

What exactly is Throne and Liberty? The new MMORPG from NCSoft was originally planned as Lineage Eternal and was supposed to adopt an isometric perspective. Due to the enormous critical feedback from testers, a years-long overhaul followed from 2017 and eventually the renaming to Throne and Liberty.

  • You create a character, but you can only choose from male or female humans. Your playstyle is determined by two weapons, which you can switch between in combat. Therefore, you don’t choose a fixed class during character creation.
  • The combat system was initially rather static and reminiscent of Lineage 2. In the meantime, significant changes have been made, so it now offers a mix of tab-targeting and action combat systems.
  • The entire game world operates almost without loading screens.
  • There are various PvE contents such as world bosses, dungeons, dynamic events, and a story that plays a significant role, especially during leveling.
  • The PvP system revolves mainly around capturing territories (outposts) and the battle for the large castle that takes place every two weeks. Additionally, there is PvP in some dungeons and at certain events in the open world. However, you are always warned when entering a PvP zone.

The core of the entire game is a dynamic weather system that is meant to influence skills, sieges, and enemies in the game world. For example, arrows are supposed to fly faster in the wind, and access points like sewers can be blocked by rain.

Publisher for the global release will be Amazon Games, which also manages Lost Ark, New World, and the upcoming MMORPG Blue Protocol.

The article was last updated on February 19, 2025, and updated with information about the first expansion and server merges.

[toc]

The following trailer for Throne and Liberty shows gameplay and introduces you to the world:

Start video
Throne and Liberty: New trailer reveals release date, introduces the fantasy world of Solisium

PS5, Xbox, Monetization, Crossplay, Server – FAQ with the most important questions

“A Hidden Gem” – A New Horror Game on Steam Excites Players for Only 6 Euros

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

Only released a few days ago and already a hit among players. A new indie horror game on Steam currently has a 97 percent satisfaction rating on Steam at a reasonable price. 

What kind of game is this? It is the new indie horror game NO-SKIN from the developer NoEye-Soft. NO-SKIN is particularly characterized by its surreal atmosphere, lore, and the horror of the everyday.

The gameplay consists of a mix of turn-based combat and a roguelike, whose elements are designed to keep the game enjoyable even after multiple playthroughs.

NO-SKIN has gained popularity through demos and early access playthroughs: The video from Markiplier’s Playthrough has reached 2.8 million views at this time. The full version has been available on Steam since February 17, 2025. And players are thrilled.

Here you can see the trailer for NO-SKIN:

Start video
The trailer of the new indie horror game NO-SKIN showcases the experimental art style

Roguelike with Silent Hill atmosphere in retro style

What is NO-SKIN about? You wake up from a nightmare, in which everything feels wrong. A flayed man appears, with his muscles, organs, and veins visible. He demands that you return his skin. Sounds a bit surreal? That’s exactly what the game is about.

At the beginning of a new playthrough, you select various objects and modifications to help you. They can be useful for combat, promote certain encounters, or increase the spawn rate of specific loot. All this takes place in an ordinary house with various rooms, where possible battles also occur. A place of safety becomes dangerous terrain.

What do players enjoy so much? The reviews on Steam are very positive. Here are some comments that summarize the experience in NO-SKIN:

  • RiceKrispy says: “I bought this quick 6-dollar game expecting to find a small indie gem worth a few hours of my time, and ended up finding a masterpiece.”
  • Dogma reports: “I was losing my mind at 2 AM thinking I had done everything, but then I find MILLIONS of things left to do!”
  • Backrooms Entity writes: “Unique game. The atmosphere, the RPG elements, the difficulty, and especially the story make this game a unique experience that everyone should try. The game is not so well known yet, but I’m pretty sure it will be soon.”
More new articles
In China, everyone is currently playing the biggest new MMORPG of 2026 and I have sneaked onto the servers for you
von Cedric Holmeier
“Your favorite games have already been built with AI”: A Google executive says that almost every major studio uses AI, but not everyone admits it
von Ody
With the role-playing game from Critical Role, I was finally able to convince absolute noobs to start with pen & paper
von Alexander Mehrwald

Should you try the game? Judging by the reviews and the price, you can expect a quick, inexpensive, and atmospheric horror experience with NO-SKIN, and you might want to do it more than once. If the description and the developers’ warning (which includes disturbing imagery, violence, bloody scenes, and more) do not deter you, you could have a solid gaming experience here. If you want to try more horror games, you can learn more here: A horror game is the highest-rated game on Steam in 2024, despite its colorful graphics, it remains very gloomy.

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

Generation Z is afraid of making phone calls: They don’t know who is on the other end of the line

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

Generation Z does not like to make phone calls, and there is a fear of the phone behind it. A university now offers courses against telephobia. A career counselor explains what is behind this fear and what can be done about it.

The landline phone is one of those things, for which Boomers, in contrast to Gen Z, are happy to spend money every year. However, in Generation Z, the phone line is hardly present anymore, and there are good reasons for this.

According to experts, large parts of Generation Z are afraid of making phone calls. Therefore, the phone connection is completely banned from their homes. A career counselor at Nottingham College recently told the English-language CNBC that the young generation is offered courses to help them overcome their fear of phone calls. Young people have changed their habits and much prefer to use their mobile phones, but not to make calls.

Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds

Telephobia courses against the fear of making phone calls

Liz Baxter, a career counselor at Nottingham College, told the English-language CNBC that telephobia is a “relatively new phenomenon.” Baxter says that many of the older students at the college have to take phone interviews as a pre-examination for applications and fail precisely because they lack the awareness and confidence to make a call.

They [Gen Z] simply did not have the opportunity to make and receive phone calls. Nowadays, that is no longer the primary function of their mobile phones; they can do everything with the phone, but we automatically switch to SMS, voice notes, and everything else except using a phone for its original purpose, and that is how people have lost that ability.

Courses against phone anxiety: The telephobia seminar at the university is part of a series of career-related events designed to help students get their phone skills back in shape.

In the seminar, students are confronted with several scenarios in which they have to make phone calls. These are very everyday situations: calling the doctor for an appointment or calling in sick at work.

Students are encouraged to sit back-to-back to simulate a normal phone call where they cannot see the person on the other end, practicing with scripts. This way, participants in the courses can learn how a phone call actually works and that there is also a person like themselves on the other end of the line.

Fear of the phone partially stems from the Corona pandemic

Where does this fear come from? Baxter explains that the fear of the phone, so-called telephobia, partly stems from the Corona pandemic: Many young people were isolated during this time and had little contact with the outside world.

Generation Z is also concerned about how they sound on calls, as they do not have visual feedback to confirm how they are doing. The career counselor explains:

They [Generation Z] associate the ringing of the phone with fear: ‘I don’t know who is on the other end of the phone. I don’t know how to handle it.’

In addition, people associate anxieties with the ringing phone. A study by the magazine Uswitch reports on this:

  • 23% of 18 to 34-year-olds never answer a phone call.
  • About 61% of the same age group prefer to receive a message instead of an audio call.
  • More than half of 18 to 24-year-olds believe that a call out of the blue means bad news.
  • 48% of participants prefer to communicate via social media.
  • Just over a third prefer voice messages.
More on the topic
The price of the Steam Controller has been leaked and many are now hoping that the Steam Machine will not become an expensive affair
von Benedikt Schlotmann
I have been using a brilliant feature on Steam for 2 years and have saved several hundred euros with it
von Benedikt Schlotmann
“Your favorite games have already been built with AI”: A Google executive says that almost every major studio uses AI, but not everyone admits it
von Ody

A trend seems to be particularly popular among young people of Generation Z: job ghosting. Recent survey data from a platform that interviewed applicants and companies shows that 78% of all applicants have deliberately ignored the employer: Among Gen Z, there is a popular trend: they do not show up for job interviews

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

You can secure one of the strongest monsters in Pokémon GO in March, but you only have one day

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, the Community Day Classic for March has been announced. And it brings back a really strong Pokémon.

What kind of event is this? The Community Day Classic is an event that is very similar to the regular Community Day. The big difference is that in the Classic variant, a Pokémon takes the spotlight that has previously had its own regular Community Day.

The Community Day Classic in March 2025 will take place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. During this time, Karnimani will be the star of the event. You shouldn’t miss this monster, as it is not only strong but also very versatile.

Start video
Pokémon GO reveals the new season Dual Destiny in the trailer

All information about the Community Day Classic in March 2025

How strong is the monster? Karnimani can evolve into Tyracroc and then into Impergator. With the final evolution, you will get one of the best Water attackers in Pokémon GO that you can use in raids.

Impergator also ranks among the best monsters you can use in the battle leagues. In the rankings on pvpoke.com, you can find the Pokémon in 8th place in the Super League and in 7th place in the Hyper League. The crypto variants of the monster perform even better.

To play the Pokémon with maximum damage, you should definitely focus on the charge move Hydro Pump. If you evolve Tyracroc into Impergator between the start of the event and March 29, 2025, at 10:00 PM, you will receive the exclusive move.

If you miss this time frame, you will have to use a Charged TM to teach the Pokémon the move.

What bonuses are there in the event? During the event, you can look forward to the following bonuses:

  • greatly increased spawn rate for Karnimani
  • increased shiny chance for Karnimani
  • 1/4 hatch distance for eggs placed in incubators during the event
  • Lures and incense last for 3 hours when activated during the event
  • Snapshot surprises with Karnimani
  • Event field research
  • PokéStop showcases with event Pokémon

If you log in to the game during the event, you will also receive a free timed research where you can get Karnimani with a special background.

For $2 (around €2), you can also purchase a special research. Here, more encounters with Karnimani await you, including 3 specimens with the special background, as well as a premium battle pass and an XL special candy.

During the event, there will also be 2 event boxes that you can purchase with PokéCoins. The first box costs 1,350 coins and includes 50 Ultra Balls, 5 Super Incubators, 1 Charged TM, and 5 lucky eggs. In the second box, which you can get for 480 coins, you will find 30 Ultra Balls, 1 incense, 3 Super Incubators, and 1 lure module.

More on the topic
Pokémon GO: Raids, legendary bosses and raid hours in May 2026
von Paul Kutzner
Pokémon gives statement on disqualified tournament winner: The “wrong” cheer was not the problem at all
von Caroline Fuller
Pokémon GO releases first info for the new season, mark these 7 dates
von Paul Kutzner

Not only in March are there events and special content for you in Pokémon GO. You can also participate in several events in February. What they are, what awaits you there, and when they take place can be seen in our overview of all events in February 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

Thousands of players are falling in love with a special Soulslike on Steam and you can test it for free

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

The Steam Next Fest hasn’t even started yet, and thousands of players have already fallen in love with the free demo of a new Soulslike.

What game is being discussed here? It is about The First Berserker: Khazan – a dark action RPG with an anime look. The game is developed by Neople, with Nexon, a large developer and publisher from South Korea, also backing the project.

You can currently download a free demo of The First Berserker: Khazan on Steam. It already has over 3,400 reviews, 90% of which are positive.

You can watch a trailer for the game here:

Start video
The First Berserker: Khazan – Trailer for the Demo on Steam and PS5

Hardcore action battles in dark anime style

What is the game about? After Khazan is falsely accused of betrayal and banished to a snowy mountain, he embarks on a bloody quest for revenge – having barely escaped death.

The world of The First Berserker: Khazan is really dark despite its 3D anime visuals, perhaps even too “edgy” for some. The game is reminiscent of Berserk, Kentaro Miura’s dark fantasy manga, both by name and atmosphere.

How much Soulslike is there? Is this a true Soulslike or more of a “Soulslite”? MyMMO has played the demo, and it’s safe to say that there are arguments for both:

  • Fights are as crisp as in the Souls games – standard enemies are easy to take down but still dangerous.
  • Bosses deal significant damage and take quite a bit of hits – well-timed parries and dodges are crucial here.
  • With Lacrima, which you collect from defeated enemies as well as from fighting, you level up your skills. If Khazan dies in battle, he drops Lacrima on the spot – but for bosses, you don’t have to return to the arena to retrieve it.
  • You can only level up at blade nexuses – these are basically the bonfires in the game. When you rest at such a point, defeated enemies respawn.
More on Steam
“Your favorite games have already been built with AI”: A Google executive says that almost every major studio uses AI, but not everyone admits it
von Ody
“All three were cannibals” – Owlcat talks about one of the biggest difficulties with romances in RPGs
von Ody
The price of the Steam Controller has been leaked and many are now hoping that the Steam Machine will not become an expensive affair
von Benedikt Schlotmann

The First Berserker: Khazan offers two difficulty levels: After completing the first mission in the demo, you can choose between “Easy” and “Normal.” For many, that’s reason enough not to call it a Soulslike.

What cannot be denied: The First Berserker: Khazan is a (at least on normal difficulty) hardcore and dark action RPG. It relies heavily on many familiar Soulslike mechanics but is also a bit more forgiving than other genre representatives.

Have you already played the demo? Feel free to share your first impressions in the comments. By the way, The First Berserker: Khazan is not the only major Soulslike expected to be released in 2025. You can read more about it here: Have you finished Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree? These Soulslikes are coming in 2025

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

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Are the teachers too expensive for you? With a trick, you can get your money back.

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time < 1 minutes

In the world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you will encounter various trainers who want hundreds or even thousands of Groschen for their lessons. However, with a trick, you can get back the money you invested in the exercises.

What do I need to know about the trainers? In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you improve your skills mainly by practicing actively. So, if you want to optimize your sword skills, equip one and fight… over and over again.

A shortcut is promised by books that you need to read for several hours or trainers that you encounter all over the world. Most teachers are knowledgeable in several disciplines but want 100 to 5,000 Groschen for passing on their knowledge – depending on the lesson.

It’s the details that make Kingdom Come 2 so special:

Start video
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Details, die das Spiel perfekt machen

You have to be a pickpocket

How do I get my money back? You can take advantage of the fact that the world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 follows relatively realistic rules. If you hand a trainer 100 Groschen for a lesson, they actually possess that money.

This means, on the flip side: Through pickpocketing, you can get your Groschen back with some practice. If that seems too risky during the day, find out where the respective trainer spends their nights. Then you can knock them out in their sleep and safely rob them. In a clip on YouTube, ESOdanny demonstrates this.

More about KCD2:
The creators of my GotY 2025 are supposed to be working on an open-world game for The Lord of the Rings – just the thought makes me excited
von Karsten Scholz
KCD2 Chief Resigns, Scoffs: “The Gaming World is Safe from My Controversies”
von Niko Hernes

Nice side effect: Since trainers often offer several lessons, you can immediately use the retrieved Groschen to enhance the next skill. By the way, what aspiring pickpockets and thieves should know in general can be found here: Lockpicking, Sneaking, Pickpocketing – big guide for thieves in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

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

Player plays Diablo 4 with a weak build, says: „This is how the game should be“

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

In Diablo 4 there are several OP builds that can easily take down tough bosses. One player was not interested in that – he wanted a real challenge and intentionally opted for a weaker build.

Which build is he playing? The player has chosen the Chain Lightning Sorceress – a build that is rated rather low in the Tier List of the strongest endgame builds in Season 7. Here, everything revolves around the Chain Lightning, which bounces off enemies, jumps further, and deals additional damage.

Compared to OP builds like the Bone Spirit Necromancer, the Earthquake Barbarian, or the “Dance of Knives” Hunter, the Chain Lightning Sorceress does not deal as much damage. Especially in the endgame and at higher torment levels, it gets really tough – and that is exactly the challenge the player was looking for.

“Boss fights are… challenging”

What was his plan? On Reddit, the player explains that he prefers a game that offers him challenges. He feels that this has been lost with the OP builds that many enjoy using. Specifically, he writes:

The feeling of fulfillment when finally defeating a tough boss seems to have been lost – so I wanted to regain that feeling.

Do you remember when the Butcher was terrifying?
Do you remember the feeling of defeating Ashava with your level-25 character?

I set myself a goal: I play the lowest-rated class and choose a C-tier build.

[…] If Torment 4 was really something desirable… If boss fights lasted longer than a nanosecond… Wouldn’t that be… okay?

However, he did not just choose a weak build, but also imposed additional goals on himself:

  • The crafting systems of hardening and completion are not allowed for now.
    • Hardening only from Torment 2, Completion from Torment 3.
  • He only uses aspects for the build that drop randomly.
  • He increases the difficulty level as soon as possible.
  • No items from other characters will be used.
  • Absolutely no carrying by other players.
  • Defeat every boss solo.
  • Defeat Lilith.

Especially defeating Lilith is considered by many players even with strong builds a great challenge. The player himself reports that he was able to defeat Lilith on Torment 4 after six attempts.

Here were the results: In his post, he shares that he only then realized how much one needs to engage in battles to win them. Especially the hell hordes were “nerve-wracking” when the DPS is just enough to take down the enemies. And boss fights feel like real challenges again with a weaker build.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows the new level system and difficulty levels in the video

Diablo 4 is not a challenge – and that’s exactly why it’s so popular

What do other players say about it? In the comments, there is a discussion about whether Diablo 4 should be challenging at all. bigshawnsmith89 thinks: Most people play Diablo 4 not for the challenge, but to mow everything down in seconds.

He writes that people play it for enormous damage numbers that are hardly readable, and the feeling of “enormous power”. Finally, he adds: “And that’s exactly why it’s so popular. […] People want to casually open the game and be just as strong as a streamer with 300+ hours in the season.”

The post creator responds that the new torment system was actually intended for exactly that: Torment 1 and 2 to mow everything down, Torment 3 and 4 for a bigger challenge. However, the concept did not work due to OP builds. Already on the PTR, the Diablo expert Raxxanterax said, that the “Blasters” will simply crush the high levels.

Whether Diablo 4 is too challenging and complex or too easy is regularly discussed by the community:

More on this:
More on the topic
“I don’t want it to challenge me” – Players discuss whether Diablo 4 is too easy, praising it for its casual-friendliness
von Nicole Wakulczyk
More on the topic
„Diablo 4 is frighteningly complex“ – users explain why the game seems too easy for many, hitting a sore spot
von Benedict Grothaus
More on the topic
Players complain: Diablo 4 wants to please everyone and is therefore worse than it could be
von Nicole Wakulczyk

Also, in the last season, a player deliberately chose a weaker build – after he had taken out practically everything in the game with his Spiritborn in one hit, even bosses on Torment level 4. With his second character, he refrained from OP builds and found out: The content in Diablo 4 does indeed have mechanics.

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

The MMORPG of Elder Scrolls Gets a Graphics Upgrade

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

The MMORPG Elder Scrolls Online is receiving a graphical upgrade that will enhance multiple zones at once, and there is a plan from the developers behind it.

What kind of graphical upgrade is this? Almost ten years have passed since the release of Elder Scrolls Online, and now the developers are giving the MMORPG a graphical update. With the upcoming Update 45, the starting areas Bleakrock Isle, Bal Foyen, Stros M’kai, Betnikh, and Khenarthi’s Roost will be beautified.

Similar to the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, the entire game world will not change. The developers are replacing textures, skins, and in-game objects with newer ones, bringing the oldest game areas up to the level of the newer zones.

The world builder Greg Barley explains what changes players can expect: “[…] Things like ground and water textures, grasses and flowers, lighting, and some small props have been replaced. […] Certain places have updated structures, such as the docks or shipwrecks on Khenarthi’s Roost.” Behind these changes is a plan from the developers, and more will follow.

Here you can see the changes

A changed location in ESO. Shows two different shipwrecks.
A changed location in ESO.
A changed location in ESO. Shows a worn pier.
A changed location in ESO.

Focus on new players

What plan do the developers have? By allowing the five old starting areas to shine in a new light, new players are expected to receive a better impression of the game. The starting zones no longer met the ESO standard. Since they are the first point of contact for new players, an upgrade was particularly important.

The responsible art manager Morgan Godat comments: “Since these zones are smaller, we were able to bundle the changes and release them together to ensure that all new players have a first experience in an open zone that resembles the visual quality of our newly released zones, regardless of their choice at character creation.”

The zones that were created over 10 years ago before the MMORPG’s release have aged, and the developers are now using their years of experience with the game world to beautify them. However, this is not the only change in the game for new players.

Here are the highlights of the last update:

Start video
Elder Scrolls Online: Conquer the Battlegrounds – Trailer introduces the highlight of Update 44

What else is changing? Update 45 also further targets the experience of new players. For fresh adventurers, obtaining the first mount is an important experience in Elder Scrolls Online. However, as a new player sitting on a horse for the first time, progress was initially only slow. Some players even felt that they could sprint faster than their horse could gallop.

However, the developers want to change this feeling by increasing the base speed. This way, players will ride faster through the world of Tamriel from the start. The top speed has only been slightly increased, so experienced players will hardly benefit from the change.

More on the topic
2 Games from China Show the Future of MMORPGs, Our Expert Does Not Like It at All
von Karsten Scholz
A single-player mode for “Final Fantasy XIV” would be possible, but Yoshida explains where the big problem lies
von Benedikt Schlotmann
WoW has brought back Shadowlands and you haven’t noticed
von Cortyn

Update 45 for Elder Scrolls Online starts on March 10 for PC and Mac and on March 26 for Xbox and PlayStation. In addition to the mentioned changes, players can also expect an improved UI and better hints on the important Mundus stones in the game. For more information, you can check out our guide: ESO: What are Mundus stones and where can you find them?

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

Ten years ago, the best game you will never play was released

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 4 minutes

MeinMMO demon Cortyn reflects on a game that changed the world 10 years ago. Well, at least Cortyn’s world.

February 10, 2015, was a very special day. Not just because it is typically the last day to urgently remind yourself that Valentine’s Day is coming up soon and you need to save a relationship with chocolate, flowers, or a mix of both.

No, because on February 10, 2015, the only game that made me completely forget about World of Warcraft for a few weeks was released, which provided me with an immersive experience that I had never encountered in a game before—and haven’t experienced since.

I’m talking about Evolve.

Start video
Evolve – Launch Trailer

Evolve was the best asymmetrical game of all time

The game from the legendary creators of “Left 4 Dead” holds a place in my heart like no other game ever has.

Evolve was an asymmetrical “4vs1” game where one player took on the role of a monster, and the other four played as hunters who had to take down the monster. At the start of a match, the monster was weak and had to hide and gather food to gain strength and size, evolve, and acquire new abilities.

After a while, the power balance shifts. If the hunters fail to kill the monster early on, the monster becomes on par and later significantly stronger than the hunters, turning the hunters into the hunted.

Evolve completely caught me off guard, sucked me in, and didn’t let go for a long time.

No matter how good the story of a game is, no matter how intense the scenery, how dramatic the plot, and how convincing the world building – I have never “felt” a game again like I did with Evolve. No The Last of Us II, no Baldur’s Gate 3, no Final Fantasy, and no World of Warcraft could ever captivate me like Evolve did.

Evolve Goliath Leap
When the Cortyn-Goliath charges at you, just let it happen. Thank you.

I didn’t just play the monster. I was the monster. When I was hunting the hunters, I would lean forward, tense, closer to the screen. When I used the monster’s “deep breath” to scan the environment, I found myself inhaling deeply in front of the computer as well.

A game that overshadowed everything else for me

Even though the term “addiction” is often thrown around a bit inflationarily and glorifyingly in the gaming world – with Evolve I was probably closer than ever before. During the release week, I played at least 14 hours a day, working on articles during loading times and matchmaking, reducing my sleep to an absolute minimum. I thought about Evolve while falling asleep and quite surely during my dreams as well. I felt like a child who can’t think of anything else just before Christmas – and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The highlight for me were the PvP campaigns. Here, you played multiple maps in succession over the course of about two hours, and depending on how well one side performed, it affected the next map. For example, if you won as hunters on the “Dam” map, the next map would be partially flooded – drastically limiting the monster’s movement space and facilitating the hunt. However, if the monster won and the dam was destroyed, it would rain on the next map, drastically limiting the hunters’ visibility and providing the monster with extra cover.

Evolve-the-last-4-hunters
The hunters in Evolve were strong at the start – but became weaker during the match compared to the monster.

I played so much that I was ranked 2nd in Europe with the Goliath, the “standard monster,” for weeks. That is actually one of the few gaming achievements I am still proud of today. The only person ahead of me was a known cheater who simply quit matches with Alt+F4 when he was about to lose – because then the game wouldn’t count a loss against the account, and it would retrospectively be declared a “bot game.” It was simply impossible to compete with that win rate of 100% – a form of cheating that he even boasted about in the comments back then.

Evolve was dead before it truly lived

Evolve unfortunately went under due to catastrophic marketing by the publisher, a steep learning curve for hunters who fundamentally had to set out as a full 4-person team – as “randoms” made most hunts impossible. The revision of the game to a free-to-play model didn’t help anymore. It was perceived by many potential players as “greedy,” with a disastrous DLC policy.

What it boiled down to was simply very, very poor marketing and did not reflect the reality in the game at all. The reasons why Evolve flopped also had other grounds, as the boss of 2K explained years later.

More columns by Cortyn:
More on the topic
Doki Doki Literature Club – Evil Psycho-Horror in cute disguise
von Cortyn
More on the topic
Why I play: Catherine
von Cortyn
More on the topic
10 Types of Players You Have Met in Groups
von Cortyn

Now, Evolve is just a greyed-out, because uninstalled entry in my favorites list on Steam. And that’s exactly where it will remain, until Steam is eventually shut down or Evolve is removed from my account for other reasons.

For me, it was the best game ever created. The game against which every other experience must always be measured. The absolute peak of my gaming life, which will probably never be surpassed. A sad yet deeply fulfilling memory that is now 10 years old. An experience I will never fully forget – and from which I also never want to recover.

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