Former Dragon Age chief speaks openly about EA: ‘If someone said that to me, I would quit’

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The former head of Dragon Age believes that EA apparently has no idea what makes a good game. He finds drastic words.

That Dragon Age: The Veilguard has fallen short of the expectations of many fans is something that most people are now aware of. EA was also not satisfied with the sales figures and stated in the financial report of the last quarter that they were nearly 50% behind the expected sales.

However, the reasons provided by EA for this are seen by many as bizarre or simply absurd. This includes the former lead developer behind Dragon Age, who said: “If someone says something like that, […] I would quit.”

Start video
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Unleashes the Dragon in Official Launch Trailer

What has happened? A few days ago, EA presented the sales figures for the last quarter and stated that the newest installment of the Dragon Age series, The Veilguard, has fallen 50% short of expectations. The justification they found for this sounded quite curious to many fans. Because Andrew Wilson of EA said that players “increasingly want more multiplayer features in a shared world.” In other words: Dragon Age: The Veilguard was supposed to be a “service game” that would be continuously developed.

Several former BioWare employees also apparently could not let this stand and found sharp words in response.

What the former lead of Dragon Age says: Mike Laidlow was the Creative Director behind the entire Dragon Age series at the time. He found rather clear and drastic words regarding Wilson’s statements. Laidlow said (via pcgamer):

You know, I’m not a great CEO type, but if someone says to me: “The key to the success of this successful single-player IP is to turn the game into a pure multiplayer game. No, not a spin-off, but a change in the core DNA of what people love about this game,” then I would probably quit my job or something. I’m just thinking out loud here.

That’s pretty sharp, especially considering that Laidlow left the company at the exact moment when Dragon Age was set to head in the live-service direction. Laidlow adds:

Who would be stupid enough to demand such a thing? … Twice.

Other former BioWare employees also expressed their thoughts on the incident, such as David Gaider, who said (via pcgamer):

If I really stretch my empathy, I can understand the line of thought. I mean, let’s just say you don’t know much about games. You’re in a big office with a bunch of bosses who also don’t know much about games. What do they all say? “Live service games bring in big numbers! Live service games are hot!” […]

My advice to EA would be (not that they’d care): You have an IP that people love. Very much. At its peak, [Dragon Age] sold so well that you were happy with it, right? Look at what it did best at that time. Look at the lead of [Baldur’s Gate 3] and do it like that. The target audience is still there. And they are waiting.

More on Dragon Age:
Developers of Dragon Age Veilguard respond to criticism: “Our team consisted of heroes” and “Holy Shit”
von Cortyn
EA wanted to prevent the mistakes of Anthem in Dragon Age Veilguard, but it still led to a disaster
von Jasmin Beverungen
The story chief behind Dragon Age does not believe that AAA publishers will learn from Baldur’s Gate 3
von Cortyn

Whether EA will learn from the words of the former BioWare employees and all the criticism that has arisen regarding the statements in the financial report remains to be seen – probably until the next game from BioWare, which will most likely be a new installment of the Mass Effect series.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. vg247.com
  2. pcgamer.com

The father of Diablo says: Modern action RPGs like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 feel insignificant

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

The creator of the popular Diablo series is not a fan of modern action RPGs like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2. Why he finds much of what is currently in the genre trivial is explained in a podcast. 

Who is being referred to here? We are talking about David Brevik, co-founder of Blizzard North and creator of the Diablo series. In 2005, he left the company; his last Diablo was part 2. Today he works for the indie publisher Skystone Games.

Start video
Diablo 2 Resurrected – Cinematic zu Akt V

Action RPGs are increasingly focusing on speed and less on duration

In the VideoGamer podcast, Brevik shares his opinion on today’s action role-playing games: He wishes for a bit more deceleration in a genre that nowadays often bombards you with hordes of enemies and lets you level up every few minutes.

While there were already many enemies in the first two Diablo games (at least by the standards of the time), new games, according to Brevik, have drawn the wrong lesson from it and have ramped up the number of enemies even further.

I think RPGs in general have started to lean in this direction: quickly killing swarms of enemies everywhere. Your build kills all sorts of things so that you get more drops, you can level up, […] and the screen is filled with things that you don’t care about.

Moreover, players often level up very quickly. He cites Diablo 3 as an example, where it takes only a few hours to reach level 70. While this gets you to the goal quickly, the journey itself feels more trivial and the experience feels “cheaper” as a result.

Brevik prefers the leisurely pace and the number of enemies in Diablo 2 over the power fantasies of many new games that he personally finds somewhat silly.

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Finding players, the new event in Diablo 4 is a big improvement, even though they get nothing new
von Nicole Wakulczyk
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Players believe that the major problem in the endgame of Path of Exile 2 is more profound than thought
von Cedric Holmeier
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An underrated ARPG on Steam could rival Path of Exile 2 – Shows new content for 2025
von Christoph Waldboth

Whether the higher gaming pace and fast progress of modern action RPGs destroy the fun of gaming or not is a matter of personal taste. Many players enjoy blowing away hordes of enemies in no time at all. And not everyone wants to wait hours for the next level up. If you are currently playing a Spiritborn in Diablo 4, you can find the best leveling build here.

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

A chapter of the Space Marines in Warhammer 40,000 consists of nerds who keep a diary

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

The Space Marines of Warhammer 40,000 are known as the fierce combat machines with big guns that crush any opponent. However, there are chapters that do not live for fighting – or at least not only for that. One of them even keeps a diary, albeit … somewhat questionable.

The Tome Keepers are a successor chapter of the famous Ultramarines. They are not one of the original chapters but originate from a later foundation. Their heraldry features an open book.

Although they are superhuman warriors like all Space Marines and still stronger fighters than any normal human could be, their true mission is to gather and preserve knowledge.

Among the Astartes, the Tome Keepers are somewhat like the history nerds and surprisingly empathetic, especially for Warhammer standards. Their inclination to preserve actually comes from the people they protect.

A multitude of new chapters has emerged from the Ultramarines. This is what the Smurfs, as they like to be called, look like:

Start video
Warhammer 40.000: Der Trailer zur Armee der Ultramarines im Tabletop

The Guardians of a Fleeting World

The homeworld of the Tome Keepers is the planet Istrouma (for the nerds among you: It is located in the Segmentum Pacificus). The majority of the planet’s surface is uninhabitable, as enormous radiation makes it a deadly place.

Nevertheless, around 8 billion people live on the “dark side” of the planet on a large continent – but only with a life expectancy of about 30 years. Even for human standards, that is a fleeting lifespan.

The inhabitants of Istrouma have therefore developed the tradition of documenting their lives and stories in books that are stored in large libraries. The Tome Keepers, who were assigned to this planet later on, have become living legends for the people there due to their long lives.

After the people of the planet welcomed the Space Marines so warmly and showered them with all sorts of honors, the Tome Keepers swore an oath to protect these traditions at all costs.

Knowledge that Shortens Eternal Wars

As a result, the Tome Keepers have not only become fighting protectors but also historians and chroniclers. They do not only record what happens on Istrouma, but everything – especially what happens in battle.

The importance of knowledge to the Tome Keepers is evident in their doctrine: Every brother carries a book with him, which he fills with knowledge about the battle after a fight. Accordingly, the Tome Keepers do not rely on sheer firepower but on tactics that combat the enemy as efficiently as possible.

Similarly, the Iron Hands, one of the strongest chapters in Warhammer 40,000 also operate this way – however, the knowledge of the Tome Keepers is accessible. Reports suggest that their records have already helped the Imperium drastically shorten devastating wars through knowledge.

The diaries of the Tome Keepers are so important to them that they are to be recovered together with the gene-seed whenever a brother falls.

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Forget Space Marines: A women’s order in Warhammer 40,000 is much more impressive, because they are ‘just humans’
von Benedict Grothaus
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Warhammer 40,000 had genetically modified supersoldiers even before the Space Marines, but they were too problematic
von Benedict Grothaus
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A man in Warhammer 40,000 is to blame for the two greatest traitors becoming evil first
von Benedict Grothaus

Devoted Preservers of Knowledge

Unlike most other Astartes, the Tome Keepers have a significantly closer relationship with humans. How much the Space Marines feel connected to the people on Istrouma is revealed by their mutual perceptions of one another:

  • As the people on the planet live very short lives while Space Marines feel as if they live for “eternity,” the Tome Keepers feel as if their path to their ancestors is blocked.
  • At the same time, the people often do not see the Space Marines as holy warriors but as living dead because, in their understanding, they should have been dead long ago.

However, the collection of knowledge also has a downside, especially in a world that thrives on faith. The chapter has, therefore, a chronicle that offers a sober, objective, and undistorted view of the Imperium of Man. Accordingly, their relationship is tense.

Nevertheless, the Tome Keepers do not keep their knowledge secret, and they strictly follow the Codex Astartes, which are the rules that apply to Space Marines. A very different chapter handles knowledge and humans: A chapter of Space Marines is so secret that all “normal humans” must die if they hear about it.

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

The new Captain America movie hasn’t even been released yet and is already controversial among Marvel fans due to its quality

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

The release of Captain America: Brave New World is approaching. On February 13, 2025, the latest Marvel-movie will hit theaters. However, fans are already viewing some aspects critically.

What is Captain America: Brave New World about? As the fourth film in the series about the Marvel hero Captain America, Brave New World continues the story from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This time, the character Sam Wilson takes on the role of Captain America, who gets involved in an international conflict after a meeting with the new US president. Sam Wilson is played by Anthony Mackie, while President Thaddeus Ross is portrayed by Harrison Ford.

The film will be released in German cinemas on February 13, 2025. Therefore, promotional efforts have been ramped up for some time with various clips, trailers, and interviews. While fans appreciate the input, they notably criticize several important aspects that could be decisive for the entire film.

Image rights for Captain America: Brave New World are held by Disney

Here you can see the latest trailer for Captain America: Brave New World:

Start video
Captain America: Brave New World – Trailer of the Movie

“Should the fight be this slow or…?”

What are the fans criticizing? The community is especially discussing the action scenes and special effects (via x.com). It is criticized that certain sequences look more like a cheap television production than a real blockbuster. Although the film has a smaller budget than previous productions (via 3djuegos.com), Marvel has accustomed audiences to a certain standard of quality that one would also expect from a title like Captain Marvel.

The choreography of the fights is also being criticized. Many fans feel that the quality seems to have deteriorated and find the fights not spectacular enough. For example, @Jaqaal024 questions via x.com whether the fights are intended to be this slow.

Additionally, fans are bothered that Sam Wilson as Captain America appears too powerful. Unlike Steve Rogers, who possessed superhuman strength due to the super soldier serum, Sam does not actually have such abilities. From the community’s perspective, even the high-tech flight equipment does not sufficiently compensate for this deficit.

However, despite the many concerns: The film has not yet been released, and the community’s impressions are primarily based on trailers and clips that have been shared across various channels. It remains to be seen how the film will ultimately fare.

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von Christoph Waldboth
7 dangerous creatures from The Lord of the Rings that scare even the bravest warriors
von Christoph Waldboth
There is a new best video game movie, beating Sonic with 95% positive reviews
von Christoph Waldboth

In Marvel movies, details and secrets are often hidden. For instance, in the very first Captain America film, you can discover a character that no one remembers today: In the first Captain America movie, a Marvel hero is hidden that no one knows today

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3djuegos.com

Players believe that the major problem in the endgame of Path of Exile 2 is more profound than thought

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

Path of Exile 2 is still in Early Access, but players have already discovered a profound issue in the endgame that seems difficult to resolve.

What issue is it? The launch of Path of Exile 2 in Early Access was two months ago, and gamers have had enough time to closely examine the ARPG. They have noticed a significant problem for which there doesn’t seem to be a simple solution.

In the endgame of Path of Exile 2, the player’s character is so powerful that it can effortlessly annihilate all enemies like a deity. The strong builds of PoE2 enable players to eliminate any resistance until their character dies in a miraculous way.

Here, the user Difficult_Grass2441 sees a problem (via Reddit), because the developers of PoE2 actually aimed to provide a slower and more challenging experience. This is still somewhat achieved in the campaign, but it changes drastically in the endgame.

At the end of the game, most enemies can hardly touch the character, and there are rarely any dangerous situations. When an adventurer dies, it is either due to one-shot mechanics or inexplicable events. The community sees this as a profound problem.

Here you can watch the cinematic intro of Path of Exile 2:

Start video
Path of Exile 2: The Cinematic Intro of the Greatest Diablo Competitor

The big design flaw of PoE2

Why is this a profound problem? The community of Path of Exile 2 is sure after their two-month playtime that the developers cannot simply solve the problem. The issue seems to be composed of various points, which the community has compiled on Reddit:

  • The visibility of effects in the game is too low
  • There are too many death and hit effects that suddenly take characters out of the game
  • Making PoE2 slower only worked in the campaign; the endgame feels like the predecessor
  • The builds and classes are very unbalanced regarding their strengths and weaknesses
  • The random factors from enemies sometimes result in unimaginably powerful opponents
  • Boss fights should actually be designed so that one doesn’t succeed in the first attempt but learns how the fight works
  • The punishment for the character’s death feels frustrating in relation to the game design

In summary, a problematic picture emerges. The interesting moments from the campaign where players genuinely fight for their character’s life and defeat bosses in their last breath fade away later in the game.

Instead, the character grows into an undisputed god who occasionally gets hit in the Achilles’ heel and simply collapses.

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Path of Exile 2 announces new season, the late date heats up players’ expectations
von Cedric Holmeier
What to do if you die in Path of Exile 2 before you can loot? Community helps the affected with a trick, saves the loot
von Cedric Holmeier
One thing must improve Path of Exile 2 for Update 5 to be a success, the players say
von Cedric Holmeier

What do players say about the current state? Players are frustrated with the current situation. They explain on Reddit precisely what bothers them:

  • “Honestly, this is the big design flaw of PoE2. It should be slower, so it doesn’t need one-shot mechanics to kill [players]. But the endgame is just PoE1 again, back to zoom-zoom and one-shots,” finds Isaacvithurston on Reddit.
  • “I stopped playing a few nights ago after one of those [unfair] deaths. I told my wife that I don’t know why there are even healing potions, because I’m either at full health or dead. There is rarely anything in between,” describes Revolutionary-Ice-16 on Reddit.
  • Moethelion has likely identified the core problem on Reddit: “Recovery. The problem is recovery. As long as players are able to restore their hit pool within a fraction of a second, monsters must be able to bring the player’s hit pool to zero within a fraction of a second, or the game will become trivial. […]”

Path of Exile 2 has been in Early Access for only two months. Since the Early Access launch, there have not yet been any profound changes to gameplay systems. Whether the developers will change the gameplay loop in the endgame remains to be seen. There are also recurring complaints about the trading and crafting system in PoE2: Path of Exile 2 is driving away its new players due to a missing feature

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

With a change in LoL, Riot alienates its most loyal players – Now says: The change is necessary because players spend too little money

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

League of Legends removed the option to earn skins for free. Many players are not pleased with this. But now Riot is justifying itself for the controversial change: Players simply do not spend enough money in a game that relies on Free2Play.

What kind of change is this?

  • Riot introduced Hex Chests in LoL in 2016: Inside, there are shards for champions or free skins. Keys for the chests could also be earned for free.
  • In early 2025, Riot announced: The Hex Chests will no longer be available for free in the future, but only exclusively in the shop for real money. This means there will no longer be an option to earn free skins just by skill.
  • Loyal fans are loudly complaining about the change: Some even believe this is the worst decision in the history of the game.

In a statement, the team defended its decision but promised a series of changes to improve the Battle Passes in the future.

Start video
Welcome to Noxus – Opening Video for the First LoL Season 2025

Riot explains that the removal of free Hextech Chests was necessary

What did the developers say? The Riot team has now commented on the changes in the Battle Pass. The English-speaking magazine Insider-gaming.com reports: In their update, the developers admitted that the free Hextech Chests had become the “main method” for players to unlock skins, leading to a decline in skin purchases.

However, as a Free2Play game, it relies on shop revenue and thus on players purchasing skins in the shop. But the developers emphasize that it is not about increasing profits, but rather about long-term sustainability.

What do they want to improve? The developers know that many are quite angry about the changes and stated that they want to improve the Battle Pass:

  • Future skins in the Battle Pass will have “more pronounced visual effects”
  • Unlocking a Battle Pass skin will also unlock the champion it is intended for if the player does not already own it.
  • Quests in the Battle Pass that require players to play with purchased skins will also be completely removed.
  • Some of the more difficult Battle Pass missions will also be removed or revised.
  • The Battle Pass XP from Teamfight Tactics will also be removed.

With these changes, they aim to take the wind out of the sails of loud critics. However, whether this will succeed is questionable. Because anger in the community is currently high. Some explain that this was one of the worst decisions ever (via reddit.com). Some even state that they only played LoL because they could also get content for free. But that is now over.

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“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
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Dog streams LoL on Twitch and plays better than many human players
von Christoph Waldboth

Whether these changes will really help to win players back or at least satisfy loyal fans is another question. Because even now, many players fear that Riot will not only implement such changes in League of Legends but might also plan them for the mysterious LoL MMORPG: League of Legends fans criticize Riot for its greed and are concerned about the LoL MMORPG

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

The 5 Strongest Fusions in Dragon Ball

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 4 minutes

When one’s own body reaches its limit, there is the possibility to fuse in Dragon Ball. MeinMMO presents to you the strongest fusions that exist in anime.

What are fusions? For a fusion, two characters are needed who merge together to become one person. When applied correctly, their strength adds up, resulting in an even stronger warrior. The fusion can be performed in different ways. The following methods are included:

  • As soon as two individuals each wear a Potara earring, they can become one fighter.
  • The fusion dance can also merge two individuals. However, the dance must be executed correctly.
  • In the demon realm, there are special bugs where the two characters to be fused must eat one half each.
  • Some individuals can absorb other characters and take on their powers.

What were they chosen for? The ranking only considered fusions that occur in the anime. The anime does not have to be an official part of the story, which is why Dragon Ball Heroes counts as well. We have excluded all fusions that exist in video games.

Many of the strongest fusions also exist in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO:

Start video
In Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, you can expect a lot of characters

The 5 strongest fusions in the ranking

Place 5: Kefla

Dragon Ball Kefla
Kefla is formed from 2 female Saiyans.

Kefla is a Potara fusion that emerges from two female Saiyans from Universe 6. She consists of Caulifla and Kale and is likely one of the strongest participants in the Tournament of Universes. Goku even has to transform into the Ultra Instinct state to take her on.

The Saiyan women even manage to achieve double Super Saiyan in their fused state. However, a Kamehameha from Son-Goku is enough to knock them out of the arena and destroy the earrings, which dissolves the fusion.

Continue on page 2.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2 3

Diablo 4: Crafting Majestic Sparks – How to Craft Mythic Uniques with Them

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

Splendid Sparks are used in Diablo 4 to craft Mythic Uniques. Where to get them and what you can do with them, you will find out here at MeinMMO.

Season 3 brought “Mythic Unique Crafting” into the game. This means that you have been able to create them yourself in Diablo 4 using the new resource, “Splendid Sparks,” since then.

Update, February 10, 2025: The article has been updated and adjusted for Season 7.

How do I craft “Splendid Sparks”? To create “Splendid Sparks,” you need to disassemble Mythic Uniques. This will yield one spark for each disassembled Mythic Unique. You can find the new crafting material in the overview under “Recycling” – this way you always know how many sparks you have collected.

They will also appear there if you do not own any:

splendid sparks mythic unique diablo 4
Under “Recycling” you can see how many “Splendid Sparks” you have.

To craft a Mythic Unique, you need two “Splendid Sparks.” This requires that you have collected two Mythic Uniques to disassemble. After disassembling, the sparks appear in your materials.

Outside of that, you receive one spark when you defeat Uber Lilith for the first time in a new season – or in another realm.

If you have the option to craft multiple copies of a Mythic, you can compare which one is better:

Start video
Diablo 4: Immediately activate these 2 settings, otherwise you will miss important equipment values

How to craft Mythic Uniques in Diablo 4

How do I craft Mythic Uniques? To craft Mythic Uniques, you have two options:

  • You craft a random Mythic Unique at the blacksmith from two Splendid Sparks and 50,000,000 gold.
  • You craft a specific Mythic Unique at the jeweler from two Splendid Sparks, runes, and 5,000 gold.

At the blacksmith, you select the “Forge Equipment” tab. There you can craft a mythical, unique chest. At the jeweler, you can select a specific Mythic Unique in the “Rune Crafting” tab. For each Mythic, you need 6 specific runes. Details about the affixes the items will have are not visible before crafting.

At the jeweler you craft a Mythic Unique from Splendid Sparks and runes.
At the blacksmith, you create a random Mythic Unique from two Splendid Sparks.

Depending on which class you play, you will only see the Mythics that you can equip yourself. With the Spiritborn, new Uniques have been introduced to the game, including the new mythical weapon “Nesekem, the Herald.” MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus was able to play the Spiritborn before the release.

There are 12 different Mythic Uniques available for you:

A list of all Mythic Uniques including effects can be found here:

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Diablo 4 Mythic Uniques: All Items in Season 8 and where you can farm them
von Nicole Wakulczyk

Where else can I get Mythic Uniques? With a lot of luck, you can get Mythic Uniques from activities like the Under City of Kurast or the Hell Hordes. The “tormented” bosses from torment level 1 also have an increased chance to drop Mythic Uniques and are therefore a suitable way to farm Mythics specifically. You can find out which bosses exist and which items they drop here: Diablo 4 Boss Loot Table: List of all bosses and their drops in Season 7

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

Henry Cavill once stood in the middle of New York street to see if he would be recognized as Superman

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

Superman is a hero who has always been accompanied by a certain inconsistency. The talk is about Clark Kent’s glasses and the fact that no one recognizes Superman underneath. Henry Cavill, who played him in several movies, even put it to the test.

When Superman is not saving the world, he leads his everyday life as a journalist at the Daily Planet under the name Clark Kent.

The idea of disguising oneself as an ordinary person seems strange: As Clark Kent, he wears ordinary clothes and glasses meant to conceal Superman’s identity.

This has always seemed somewhat unbelievable. Just because Superman wears glasses, shouldn’t he be recognized anymore? Henry Cavill, who has portrayed the famous DC character in the past, wanted to find out.

The actor, who is also an avid gamer, wondered whether Superman would be recognized on the street – whether with or without glasses. To this end, he conducted an experiment.

Image rights of Man of Steel belong to Warner Bros. Pictures
Start video
Duel of Two Giants in the Trailer for ‘Batman v Superman’

In broad daylight in New York City

What did the test look like? Cavill recounted in the Graham Norton Show how he and a friend questioned whether a pair of glasses would really be enough to disguise Superman.

They took the experiment to the extreme: Cavill put on a Superman shirt and stood in broad daylight in Times Square in New York. At that time, Batman V Superman was showing in theaters. Times Square was covered with advertisements for the film. How it ranks in the MeinMMO ranking can be found here.

Cavill positioned himself in a good spot and had pictures taken of him. He tells Graham Norton that none of the passersby recognized him – even though he was wearing a Superman shirt and the actor’s face was looking down at the crowd from the screens above.

“I was only stopped twice. Once to be asked for directions to the subway exit and once to be told to stop taking photos in a bar,” Cavill describes his experience.

Images of that day are circulating on reddit. Indeed, Cavill was on site and posed for photos. It’s astonishing that he was hardly approached, despite his face being visible everywhere.

Recommended editorial content

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Link to the Reddit content

Some users on reddit argue that New York is just special. No one would look around, but only look down to avoid being shoved around, writes ademonsvoice023.

The user Holl4backPostr, on the other hand, thinks that Henry Cavill looks like a “regular, tall white guy”. So it would not be surprising if one did not recognize him.

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Fantasy author explains why the Netflix series The Witcher failed, despite a visionary like Henry Cavill
von Niko Hernes
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Henry Cavill auditioned for James Bond 19 years ago, but there was a crucial problem
von Christoph Waldboth
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von Niko Hernes

What is the conclusion? At least the test at Times Square has clearly shown that Superman could walk around New York without a care. Not even a pair of glasses would be necessary. Whether this would also work with close friends and colleagues in the long run would need another test to prove. You might also be interested in: Expert on sword fighting explains how good Henry Cavill actually fights as a Witcher

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3djuegos.com

Monster Hunter Wilds: 5 Things You Should Definitely Do in the Beta

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 4 minutes

The 2nd beta of Monster Hunter Wilds is live. Players are taking the chance to go on monster hunts again before the release. You can do many things to help you in the full version. That is why MeinMMO has 5 tips for you on what things you should definitely take advantage of during this time.

What does the beta offer? From February 7, 2025, 4:00 AM to February 10, 3:59 AM and from February 14, 4:00 AM to February 17, 3:59 AM, you can once again dive into the world of Monster Hunter Wilds.

In the beta version, you can create your character and your Palico, hunt some monsters, test weapons in the training area, get a taste of the story, and go hunting together with your friends.

Especially for newcomers, the beta offers a good opportunity to explore the game system. But experienced hunters can also take away some aspects that will be useful in the full version. That is why we have put together 5 things you should definitely do.

[toc]

Who is writing here? MeinMMO editor Alexander Schürlein has over 1,000 hours as a monster hunter under his belt. Over the years, he has played numerous titles on various consoles and prefers to go hunting with dual blades.
Start video
In the new trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, it gets icy

Create hunters and get started right at release

The beta gives you the opportunity to thoroughly test the character editor and create the hunter of your dreams. And of course, your feline companion in the form of the cute Palicos as well.

You should definitely take this chance, as the character created in the beta can be transferred to the full version of the game. This way, you can use the beta phases intensively to be ready at release and not have to spend any more time in the editor.

It’s also practical that you can adjust your hunter during the beta as many times as you want. This will not be as easy in the finished game, as certain items will be needed for that. In previous games, these were often only available through the shop or occasionally in-game.

So it makes sense to take advantage of this opportunity at least so that you can get started right on February 28.

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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

Test weapons and learn new features

What was useful in the first beta is even more so now. In the second beta, a training area will be accessible where you can try out all weapons at your leisure and learn their combos. This is a good opportunity for newcomers to see which ones suit them before they go hunting.

Experienced hunters can also make good use of the area to practice the new attacks before heading out into the field. The beta is also very suitable for getting to know the new combat features. For example, you can familiarize yourself with the new focus mode, the wound system, and the weapon switch, so that you can save time at release and dive straight into the story.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2

Generation Z has turned digital shoplifting into a trend: Half admit to using influencer tricks to get free shopping

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

In Generation Z, tricks are used to avoid paying for purchases. Smaller retailers complain that the digital shoplifting by Generation Z is hard to contest and that they can do nothing against it.

Particularly certain influencers demonstrate on social media how to bypass the terms of service of digital shops to scam purchases or get their money back. This is despite many from the Gen Z stating that they have great difficulty going into a physical store.

In the USA, this “trick” has become known as digital shoplifting, benefiting primarily two generations: Generation Z and Millennials.

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

Influencers show how to exploit the fine print in stores

What kind of trick is this? By complaining about issues with payments, occasional delivery delays, or even claiming that the product was never received, users are able to get the automated systems of shops like Amazon or Temu to refund their money while keeping the package.

In a recent study, 50% of the wealthiest members of Generation Z admitted to using this type of fraud.

The fraud prevention company Socure conducted a study, surveying over 2,000 Americans from Generation Z. This was reported by Fortune magazine. About half (50%) with an annual income of more than $100,000 admitted to having employed minor fraud at least once in the past year to obtain a free product.

However, the scale of the issue is highlighted by something else. Influencers who deliberately trick providers out of their money have nearly 3 million viewers on TikTok and other platforms: explaining how to exploit the fine print in stores undeniably garners proven interest beyond just the numbers. The influencers promote their tricks as “Try this secret Amazon hack!” and encourage viewers to exploit Amazon’s customer service.

More on the topic
This gaming mouse does without an important feature, but after over 100 hours I didn’t miss it
von Benedikt Schlotmann
Traders are fed up with Amazon accidentally sending whole boxes of PC components
von Benedikt Schlotmann
Generation Z complains about AI, but that is not enough for an important decision
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Beneficiaries of the “tricks” are rarely punished

Another problem is not just digital theft, but also that such behavior is rarely punished: Ori Snir, head of product management for fraud and identity solutions at Socure, told Fortune.com:

In the best case, the person goes unpunished and gets away with it, which often encourages them to do it again. Another possible outcome is that the dispute is denied, and the customer ultimately has to pay for the purchase. In the worst case, the customer’s account is suspended, preventing them from shopping with that retailer.

Then the suspended user just finds another store where they can continue to use their tricks.

More about Generation Z: HR managers were asked who they find particularly difficult to work with. Generation Z claims that their own peers are the most challenging. Almost half (45%) find their own generation difficult to lead and would prefer different employees: Generation Z has become bosses, and the first thing they do: they complain about how young people work.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3djuegos.com

Monster Hunter Wilds beta and PSN are down – When can you play on the PS5 again?

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 6 minutes

Since February 7, 2025, interested hunters can once again try out Monster Hunter Wilds in advance. While PC and Xbox players have happily embarked on their hunts for hours, fans on the PlayStation 5, unfortunately, are greeted only with an error message.

Why is the beta currently unplayable on the PS5? Currently, there is a disturbance in the PlayStation Network (PSN), leading to a server downtime of all PSN services (via status.playstation.com). Since midnight on February 8, 2025, players worldwide have been affected by the outage.

As a result, it is unfortunately also not possible to participate in the Monster Hunter Wilds beta. To play the beta, an Internet connection is required, which cannot be established due to the server downtime.

Here is the current status:

Sunday, February 9, 2025

10:35 AM

The PlayStation Network is back online without issues: Shop, friends list, and trophies are all running smoothly, and you can log into the beta as well.

Sunday, February 9, 2025

01:25 AM

Meanwhile, the PSN servers are back online, and according to the official site, everything is working again. Thus, you should also be able to access the beta.

We will be back at 9 AM today, should there still be issues.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

11:17 PM

We still can’t get in, PSN reportedly is still experiencing issues according to the official site. We find it unlikely that it will work by midnight, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed for all players.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

10:33 PM

Some players claim that they have managed to get back into the PSN and into the Monster Hunter Wilds beta. However, we still have seen no developments, and the official page still indicates an error. So far, it sounds like Sony is slowly getting a handle on the problem. Therefore, feel free to test if you can log in yourself.

We will continue to keep you updated.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

10:04 PM

The PSN is still offline, meaning Monster Hunter Wilds is not available. We still cannot log into PSN on the PS5. The official status page still lists the network with issues.

More on Monster Hunter Wilds
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

Saturday, February 8, 2025

09:42 PM

Still nothing is happening, but on X.com, it’s reported that the PSN network is returning: The first users are reportedly getting back in.

We will continue to keep you updated.

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Link to the Twitter content

Saturday, February 8, 2025

09:00 PM

Issues are still being displayed on the official site. However, it seems something is happening: We are now able to log in on our PS5, and the friends list is at least displayed. However, it’s still not running very smoothly. We will continue to keep you updated for you.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

08:24 PM

According to X-account Will Smith, the PlayStation Network (PSN) is back online.

https://twitter.com/WillsGotGames/status/1888307424169214284?mx=2

However, according to the official status page, the PSN is still offline, or at least there are still acute issues.

We just tested it briefly: We are still unable to access Monster Hunter Wilds.

We will continue to keep you updated!

Saturday, February 8, 2025

08:00 PM

It is getting late, and the day is slowly coming to an end. The PSN servers are still down, and the beta on the PlayStation 5 is not accessible. A message from Sony is still pending.

So, it remains to be seen if and when something will happen. We will continue to stay on top of it for you.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

07:00 PM

Once again, the servers are offline, and playing the beta of Monster Hunter Wilds is not possible for PlayStation players.

Whether the servers will come online again today is also unclear. We will report back to you with the latest status in about an hour.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

06:00 PM

Nothing seems to be happening on the PSN front right now. We’re keeping an eye on the developments for you and will check in with you again in approximately one hour.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

05:00 PM

The server downtime is still ongoing and may still take some time. Currently, there is no further information on how long the resolution of the disturbance might take. We will update our post again in about one hour, provided there are no news in the meantime.

By the way, we asked you in the past about your favorite weapon from Monster Hunter. The result showed that you like to see yourselves as anime heroes: We asked you about your favorite weapon in Monster Hunter Wilds and found out: You like to see yourselves as anime heroes

Saturday, February 8, 2025

04:30 PM

Also, there has been no announcement from Sony for over 12 hours regarding when we can expect a resolution to the disturbance. The latest status remains a post on x.com at 2:46 AM, stating only that they are aware of the disturbance.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

04:00 PM

The disturbance is still active, and there has been no further announcement from PlayStation regarding it. We will keep you up-to-date and update the post.

A small consolation might be that tomorrow is a new day and there will be another opportunity to play Monster Hunter Wilds in the beta starting from February 14. You can find all the relevant info about the beta phases here: Monster Hunter Wilds 2. Open Beta: All important information about the launch, crossplay, and content

Saturday, February 8, 2025

03:30 PM

There is still no news regarding the PSN server status. We will be back with you soon and hope that the disturbance will be resolved soon.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

03:00 PM

Still no sign of life from the PSN servers. We are staying on it.

In the meantime, you can also look at our tips on what you should definitely take care of during the beta as soon as you can get in: Monster Hunter Wilds: 5 things you should definitely do in the beta

Saturday, February 8, 2025

02:30 PM

Even after more than 11 hours, there is still no announcement from PlayStation regarding when the servers will come back online or what the reason for the outage is. We will keep you updated and report the latest status in about 30 minutes.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

02:00 PM

Unfortunately, we still have no news for you on when you can finally get back to playing. We will check in and update the ticker every 30 minutes.

In the meantime, you can indulge in nostalgia and take a look back at the coolest flagship monsters of all time: Monster Hunter: The 10 coolest flagship monsters in power ranking – You might meet number one again soon

Saturday, February 8, 2025

01:30 PM

Still very little is happening regarding the resolution of the disturbance. We will inform you as soon as something changes.

In the meantime, you might be able to switch to single player mode without an internet connection. The shop is accessible, and you can download games from your library without issues.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

01:00 PM

Anyone who took time for Monster Hunter Wilds today and wants to play on the PS5 is unfortunately still out of luck. We will keep you updated and update the ticker every 30 minutes.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

12:30 PM

This whole situation seems to be dragging on further. The servers are still unreachable, and the beta is still not playable.

To pass the time, you can also take a look at our overview where we present 10 hidden features that you shouldn’t miss when you can finally play: Monster Hunter Wilds: 10 hidden features you shouldn’t miss in the 2nd beta

Saturday, February 8, 2025

12:00 PM

Unfortunately, the servers are still down. We will keep you updated and update the ticker every 30 minutes.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

11:30 AM

The servers remain offline. We will keep you updated and refresh our article every 15 to 30 minutes.

If you need something to read in the meantime, you could take a closer look at one of the monsters you might face in the beta: In the 2nd beta of Monster Hunter Wilds, you will face a particularly cheeky opponent that you shouldn’t fall for

Saturday, February 8, 2025

11:05 AM

The servers are still offline. We will keep you updated. We update our article every 15 to 30 minutes.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

09:45 AM

The servers of the PlayStation Network (PSN) are currently offline and unavailable. The beta of Monster Hunter Wilds is therefore also not playable at the moment.

Start video
In the new trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, it gets icy

Server Down Causes Frustration

When can I play again? When the servers will be back online is currently unknown. In a post on x.com, PlayStation states that they are aware of the disturbance and are working on it. The post was made at 2:46 AM on February 8 and refers to the PSN status display.

The disturbance has lasted long enough that the community is now desperately sharing memes about it (via Reddit). Although there will also be another chance to participate in the beta on the weekend of February 14, the fans are frustrated that they cannot make proper use of the time.

We will keep you updated and refresh the post as soon as the beta is playable again.

More on the topic
The 10 coolest armors in Monster Hunter Wilds for your Palico
von Alexander Mehrwald
A racing game on the PS5 has probably crushed your hope that Xbox could return to exclusive titles
von Benedikt Schlotmann
An action game presented me with the hardest choice I have ever had to make in a game on the PS5
von Jasmin Beverungen

In the meantime, you can check out our ranking of the best new monsters. Maybe your favorite made it into the top 3? Or is there a monster that’s particularly dear to you that is missing? You can find the ranking here: Monster Hunter Wilds: The best new monsters in the ranking

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

Major competitor of Overwatch is coming to an end, the game is basically dead

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time < 1 minutes

For an Overwatch competitor, the lights are slowly going out. There are no more updates – but you can still play for a while.

When Overwatch was released, Blizzard revolutionized the market for hero shooters. It won numerous awards, and Overwatch is generally considered one of the best games of its time. Others wanted a piece of the pie as well, and one of the first developers to jump in was Hi-Rez with “Paladins”.

Now, Paladins is facing its final days, as no further patches will be coming, and developers are being laid off.

Start video
Paladins PS4 Launch Trailer

What was happening with Paladins? Paladins was a free-to-play alternative to Overwatch that essentially showcased a very similar gameplay style. Some characters played very similarly, and the game modes were heavily inspired by Overwatch. Unlike the full-price title, Paladins was free and managed to build a relatively large community at the beginning.

What is happening with Paladins now? Paladins is being discontinued. There will be no further development. This was somewhat to be expected, as there hasn’t been much new content released in recent years anyhow. The last new hero was released in 2023.

It is said that the “active development of Paladins is being stopped” and that no new updates should be expected (via pcgamer.com).

However, the servers are expected to remain active for the foreseeable future, both for Paladins and for SMITE 1, which is also slowly coming to an end.

More news on MeinMMO:
Everything Important about The Expanse: Osiris Reborn: Release, Beta and more
von Dariusz Müller
Is World of Warcraft still worth it in 2026? MeinMMO reveals it to you in the video
von Max Handwerk
A racing game on the PS5 has probably crushed your hope that Xbox could return to exclusive titles
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Hi-Rez itself is currently in the process of “right-sizing” and is currently funneling all resources into SMITE 2, which is currently in open beta testing. We have also taken a look at the beta – and some demons have been immersed in it for hours again.

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

New anime jumps to 3rd place in the international Netflix charts – even reaching 1st place in Japan

Esmeralda Eickemeyer Esmeralda Eickemeyer Reading time 2 minutes

The Anime hit Sakamoto Days is currently captivating audiences worldwide and has directly reached number 3 on Netflix for non-English-speaking series. In Japan, it even ranks number 1.

What has the anime achieved? Between January 27 and February 2, 2025, Sakamoto Days was streamed a total of 4.6 million times, successfully competing against numerous rival formats. 

In the international Netflix charts for non-English-speaking series, the anime reached number 3, surpassing popular series such as Squid Game Season 1 (number 5) and Four Knights of the Apocalypse Season 2 (number 7).

In Japan, the series even conquered the top spot.

Other popular anime formats that Sakamoto Days managed to outpace were:

Start video
Sakamoto Days: A former killer who never truly finds peace

Good-natured store owner is haunted by the past

What is Sakamoto Days about? The story revolves around Taro Sakamoto, a former legendary hitman who retired from his profession after marrying and the birth of his daughter to lead a peaceful life as a store owner. 

However, it is not easy for him to leave his past behind, as he comes under the radar of enemies who want to eliminate him and have placed a hefty bounty on his head.

Together with his former colleague Shin, who can read minds, the now overweight Sakamoto must spend his daily life as a simple store owner fending off assassins and defending himself against numerous surprise attacks.

Why is the anime so popular?  Sakamoto is quite an unusual protagonist: a former top killer who now leads a peaceful life as an overweight store owner. Despite his unassuming appearance, he is incredibly strong and agile, leading to many surprising and humorous situations.

Additionally, he strictly adheres to the family code that his wife Aoi has established with him. He is not allowed to kill – otherwise, there will be a divorce!

More about Anime
Fan of Dragon Ball has been playing the same character non-stop for 1,036 days until he reaches his goal
von Jasmin Beverungen
Two animes fought for the crown of the best film of 2025, one of which you can soon enjoy in streaming
von Jasmin Beverungen
The actors of the Straw Hat crew from One Piece want a Marvel star for the series, would like to cuddle him
von Jasmin Beverungen

Where can you watch Sakamoto Days? Sakamoto Days is currently exclusively available on Netflix. The first half of the first season, consisting of a total of 11 episodes, ends on March 22, 2025. The new episodes will be released weekly until then.

Furthermore, Netflix has confirmed that the second part of the first season will start in July 2025.

In addition to Sakamoto Days, the year 2025 offers two more exciting anime highlights that you definitely should not miss. What they are, you can find out here: The 3 best new animes you shouldn’t miss

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

„Ruined my perspective on survival games“: A game on Steam has a 96% positive rating and is now on sale

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

On Steam, you can currently get a very good survival game for under €20. But beware: This game is said to be so good that it might ruin the enjoyment of other games for you afterward.

Which game is being referred to? It is the highly praised survival game Abiotic Factor by players. The game started Early Access in May 2024 and costs only €19.60 on Steam instead of €24.50. So until February 11, you can save 20% off the purchase price. 

Additionally, the survival game recently received a major free update called “Dark Energy.” This brings a new underground region and expands the main story.

You can watch the trailer for “Dark Energy” here:

Start video
Abiotic Factor: Survival Hit on Steam showcases the free update ‘Dark Energy’ in the trailer

What is the game about? In Abiotic Factor, you (either alone or with up to 5 other players) take on the role of scientists. After a catastrophic event in your lab, portals to other dimensions suddenly appear, through which paranormal creatures emerge.

As scientists, you may not be born fighters, but you can craft pretty sophisticated weapons and tools. Additionally, before the game begins, you choose one from many doctor titles that grant you special abilities and advantages.

How is the game currently being received? Of over 19,000 reviews on Steam, 96% are positive. The important mechanics such as crafting and progression feel satisfying according to many players, and exploration is also fun, especially in co-op with friends or family.

According to a Steam review, the game is even said to be so good that players do not want to switch to other genre representatives afterward. For example, fish&chips writes on Steam:

  • “This game has ruined my view of open-world survival crafting games forever. The bar is now set so high that everything else feels half-baked, and I’m posting this while the game is still not fully released.”
More on the topic
Conan Exiles receives a huge update on Steam, reducing the game’s size by 80 GB
von Benedict Grothaus
Upcoming MMORPG on Steam offers more Lost Ark than Lost Ark, but the developers have forgotten Germany
von Cedric Holmeier
Controversial developer releases the last work of his career on Steam today, lets you play God
von Cedric Holmeier

When will the game leave Early Access? According to the current roadmap from the developers, it is expected to happen in late spring 2025. The developers neither confirm nor deny that the standard price will increase with the release of version 1.0.

Another survival game, which is set to start Early Access on Steam later this year, is reminiscent of the indie gem This War of Mine, but with zombies. You can find out more about it in this article: A new survival game on Steam tests your humanity – 300,000 players want to test it

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

Diablo 4: How to Complete the Quest ‘Preserve the Old Traditions’

Maik Schneider Maik Schneider Reading time 3 minutes

Preserving ancient traditions in Diablo 4 is a quest that requires some action from you. Here at MeinMMO, you can find out how to solve the quest.

Update, February 8, 2025: The article has been revised and updated.

How do I get the quest “Preserving ancient traditions“? To receive the side quest, you need to go to the area “The Untamed Heights” in the Dry Steppes. The waypoint in that area is called “Jirandai”. You will see the quest marker to the east as soon as you enter the area.

After fighting past the skeleton archers, spiders, and spider hosts, you will find a book at the quest marker. When you interact with the note, a text will appear. Once you close it, you will receive the task “Show the ancient statue that you preserve traditions.”

You will find the quest in the area “The Untamed Heights” in the Dry Steppes – our interactive map is happy to help.

Preserving ancient traditions: Solution

How do I solve the quest “Preserving ancient traditions”? North-west of the point where you accepted the quest, a circle will appear marking the location – a statue carved into the rock.

Use the “Yes” emote in front of the statue to complete the quest. However, the emote is not available in your emote wheel by default. Below, you will find out how to customize your wheel.

Upon arriving at the statue, you use the “Yes” emote.

How to use and switch emotes? Here are the buttons for mouse and keyboard as well as controller:

  • Keyboard: Open the emote menu with “E”
    • Use the mouse wheel to switch the emote tab
  • Controller: Open the emote menu with “D-Pad Up”
    • Use L1/R1 or LB/RB to switch the emote tab

Once you are in the emote menu, press “Triangle” or “Y” on the controller, or select “Customize” with the mouse. In this menu, you can swap out your emotes:

On an empty emote slot, you can equip new emotes of your choice if necessary.

What do emotes bring? In Diablo 4, actions are not only meant for communication among players. You can interact with certain shrines or leave dungeons with the emote wheel.

Some shrines provide you with different and sometimes crazy bonuses. Interact with the shrines for a hint on the sought emote. The shrines do not improve your gameplay but provide gold bonuses and the like:

The “Hello” emote makes you invisible for a short time in this case. The shrine is located in the “Grasslands of Kotama” (Dry Steppes).

Quests and shrines often obscure which specific emote you need for the solution. However, the puzzles are usually not particularly difficult.

Current news on Diablo 4:
Blizzard has revealed the release time of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and you will need a lot of coffee
von Benedict Grothaus
Diablo 4 Season 13 – Start, Release Date and PTR
von Christos Tsogos

We hope that you found our guide to the emote quest “Preserving ancient traditions” helpful. If you have questions about emotes or other quests in the game, feel free to leave a comment. If you are looking for builds and tips for the classes in Diablo 4, check here: Diablo 4 Season 7 Tier List: The best builds in the endgame

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

Baldur’s Gate 3: Cheat Codes and How to Use Them

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best role-playing games of recent years. One reason for this is that it gives its players a lot of freedom. To further enhance this freedom, a few small cheats can help. We show you what cheat codes are available and how you can use them.

How to use the cheat codes? Baldur’s Gate 3 does not provide the option to cheat using console commands. Fortunately, the community has created a solution. We present the best method for using cheat codes.

Important: Since this does not involve official game content, you should always back up your save game before making any changes.

Start video
The developers of Baldur’s Gate 3 show the legendary city

Baldur’s Gate 3: Cheat Codes via Mod

On the site nexusmods, you can find many mods that allow you to customize Baldur’s Gate 3 to your liking. You can find out how to install them and which 10 mods we particularly recommend here.

To use cheat codes via command, you need the mod “BG3SE Console Commands and Item UUIDs”.

GameStar Black Edition Baldur's Gate 3 05/25
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14,99 €

The following cheat codes are available:

  • TemplateAddTo(“UUID”, GetHostCharacter(), quantity): adds the item with the UUID you entered to the inventory
  • AddGold(GetHostCharacter(), X): adds X gold
  • Osi.AddExplorationExperience(GetHostCharacter(), X): adds X experience
  • SetTadpoleTreeState(GetHostCharacter(), X): sets tadpole state to X (X=1: does not want to use illithid powers; X=2: wants to use illithid powers)
  • AddTadpole(GetHostCharacter(), X): adds X parasites
  • Osi.GiveInspirationPoints(GetHostCharacter(), X, “”, “”): adds X inspiration
  • Osi.StartRespec(GetHostCharacter()): resets character
  • Osi.ChangeApprovalRating(“COMPANION UUID”, GetHostCharacter(), 0, X): changes the approval rating of a character (insert UUID) to X
  • SetMaxPartySizeOverride(12)
    Osi.PROC_CheckPartyFull()    : increases party size

You can find the UUIDs for companions and items on the mod’s page.

More on the topic
Baldur’s Gate 3 Coop Guide for PS5, PC, Xbox: Tips for Multiplayer
von Benedict Grothaus
Baldur’s Gate 3: Recruiting Minthara – How to Get the Powerful Companion
von Benedict Grothaus
Astarion’s actor had so much fun with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it damaged his health, his conclusion today: “It’s stupid”
von Johanna

Are there any other options? Another method to get cheat codes in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the “Cheat Engine“. Here, too, there are numerous console commands to make the game easier for you or to customize it to your liking (via fearlessrevolution.com). However, it might happen that Cheat Engine is detected as a virus and initially blocked. To avoid damaging your save games, we strongly recommend a backup here.

These would be the best ways to get cheat codes via console command in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you still don’t know which class you want to play, take a look at our overview: Baldur’s Gate 3: All 12 classes in overview – Which one suits you?

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

In 2022, an MMORPG had a historic launch on Steam, at the 3rd anniversary only 1.8 percent of the players remain

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 5 minutes

It’s time for our MeinMMO format “MMORPG news in two minutes.” We summarize the most important news around the best genre in the world. Look forward to a reunion with Deathwing, more information about WoW housing, many content updates, the 3rd anniversary of Lost Ark, a new battleground for New World, and fresh insights into Ashes of Creation.

The highlights of the week:

  • After 20 years, WoW is finally set to receive a housing system. This week, there was new information about the cash shop, rent, neighborhoods, and more.
  • Exciting: In Blizzard’s blog post about housing, the developers couldn’t help but throw some jabs at other MMORPGs.
  • While there was no date yet for housing, progress has been made on other fronts: Phase 7 of the Season of Discovery is in full swing; on February 6, 2025, Naxxramas opened its doors (via worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com).
  • Additionally, there was a date given for the Hour of Twilight from WoW Cataclysm Classic: Starting February 19, 2025, you can dive into the dungeons of End Time, Well of Eternity, and Hour of Twilight. The Dragon Soul raid will follow on February 21, where you’ll face off against the final boss, Deathwing, among others. All details are available on worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com.
  • Lost Ark is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with in-game events and gifts (via playlostark.com) – on February 11, 2022, the MMORPG from Amazon Games and Smilegate had one of the most successful launches in Steam history. Of the previously 1.3 million concurrent players, unfortunately only about 24,100 are still active during peak times today (1.82 percent).

What else happened? The developers of World of Warcraft have had many, many bad ideas for the MMORPG over the decades. MeinMMO demon Cortyn has taken a humorous look back at some of these terrible features: The 5 worst features of WoW that Blizzard actually thought were good.

Housing? Check! What about WoW 2.0? Take a look:

Start video
For the 20th Birthday, Blizzard Speaks About ‘WoW 2’ and What We Think About It

Test the new battleground of New World this weekend

This is what happened in the major MMORPGs:

This is what happened in the smaller MMORPGs:

  • The MMORPG Ultima Online loses an important employee. This is the producer of the game, who has been part of the team for many years and oversaw the project. The community is now uncertain about the future of Ultima Online.
  • The developers of Lord of the Rings Online have published a comprehensive FAQ about the new 64-bit servers that are set to go live in 2025. MeinMMO summarizes the most important points for you.
  • On February 6, 2025, the delayed Ultimate Recruitment Event for DC Universe Online started. You can find all the info at dcuniverseonline.com.
  • The update from February 3, 2025, introduced interface sharing to RuneScape. You can now import the interface settings of other players or share your own UI with the community (via runescape.com). In Old School RuneScape, royal titans are clashing (via runescape.com).
  • Do you still remember Riders of Icarus? The last four EU servers from the 2016 MMORPG were supposed to merge into two worlds. However, just before the deadline, the merge was canceled (via vfun-lounge.valofe.com).
  • A mysterious countdown has appeared on the website of tibia.com. According to this, an announcement will be made soon. What could it be?
  • For Albion Online, the Rogue Frontier update was released on February 3, 2025. You can find the overview and patch notes at albiononline.com. The trailer is shown below:
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This is what happened in MMOs in development:

  • Although Kaetram has managed to earn more and more positive ratings on Steam since its early access launch in May 2024, the 2D MMORPG is still flying under the radar of many players. The largest update to date has been released and aims to change that.
  • Almost 9 years ago, an ambitious MMORPG project named Chronicles of Elyria managed to attract over 10,000 supporters and raise 1.3 million dollars. By October 2019, nearly 8 million dollars had been collected. However, a release is still nowhere in sight. On the contrary: An update on the website has been lagging behind the schedule for weeks.
  • According to a former lead from Unchained Entertainment, almost half of the developers who worked on the MMORPG Camelot Unchained have been laid off. A comment from studio lead Mark Jacobs is expected within the next 90 days. Meanwhile, fans are threatening legal action.
  • Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen received update 0.15.837 on February 6, 2025. The focus was primarily on an upgrade of the Unity engine and the introduction of a new enemy. You can find the patch notes on Steam.
  • A Kickstarter campaign for Stars Reach is set to launch in a week. Last week, the developers revealed what rewards genre fans can earn through their financial support for the ambitious MMORPG. A community Q&A took place on Reddit, where studio head Raph Koster answered many player questions.
  • In the developer update of Ashes of Creation from early February 2025, topics included treasure hunts and dungeon visits in a desert biome. The almost 90-minute video can be found on YouTube.
More on MMORPGs:
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The best MMORPGs of all time for PC and consoles: The MeinMMO community has voted
von Karsten Scholz
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YouTuber for MMORPGs plays Kingdom Come 2, is so excited that he questions the direction of his channel
von Karsten Scholz

With this, we have summarized the most important points that have happened recently in the world of MMORPGs.

What have you been excited about this week? What upset you? Let us know in the comments. If you are looking for a fun yet informative overview of online role-playing games, be sure to check this out: Report, columns, talks, and the top list of the best MMORPGs of all time – that was the theme week of MeinMMO.

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

Pokémon GO: Guide to the Community Day with Snover and Laukaps – How to Make the Most of the Event

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 3 minutes

The next Community Day is waiting for you in Pokémon GO. This time, there are even 2 monsters participating in the event.

What kind of event is it? The Community Day is a regularly occurring event in Pokémon GO. Here, you can expect at least one Pokémon that is the focus and appears not only in very high numbers but also brings some bonuses.

The Community Day in February 2025 features 2 monsters. Here, you can look forward to Snivy and Fomantis.

What to expect at the event and how to make the most of it, we have looked at for you.

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

Community Day in February 2025 with Snivy and Fomantis – Start & Event Bonuses

What? Community Day with Snivy and Fomantis
When? Sunday, February 9, 2025 – From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Exclusive Attack: Charged Attack Energy Ball for Hydreigon and Charged Attack Leaf Blade for Cavalanzas, if you evolve them by February 16, 2025, at 10:00 PM
Bonuses:
– Increased Shiny chance for Snivy and Fomantis
– Double candy when catching Pokémon
– Triple amount of experience points when catching Pokémon
– Double the chance for XL candies when catching Pokémon starting from Level 31
– Lure modules and incense last 3 hours (excluding daily adventure incense)
– Snapshot surprises with Snivy and Fomantis
– Field research with Snivy and Fomantis
– PokéStop showcases with the event Pokémon

Bonuses until 10:00 PM local time:
– One additional special trade
– 50% less stardust cost when trading Pokémon

Additional content for Community Days: If you log into the game during the Community Day, you will receive a limited research task that you have until February 16, 2025, at 10:00 PM to complete. Here, you can receive one Fomantis and one Snivy with a special background.

In addition, you can purchase a ticket for $2 (approximately €2). Here, you will receive 2 encounters with Fomantis and Snivy with a special background, additional encounters with the two Pokémon, a premium battle pass, and an XL special candy.

If you spin PokéStops or open gifts during the event, you can also receive event stickers.

During the event, you can purchase 2 different boxes. The first costs 1,350 PokéCoins and includes 50 Ultra Balls, 5 Super Incubators, 1 Elite Charged TM, and 5 Lucky Eggs. The second box costs 480 coins and provides you with 30 Ultra Balls, 1 incense, 3 Super Incubators, and 1 lure module.

Who benefits from the Community Day with Snivy and Fomantis?

For collectors: If you enjoy collecting Shiny Pokémon, you should take advantage of the event to catch both Pokémon in their Shiny variants. Since the chance is significantly increased during the event, this is the perfect opportunity to obtain Snivy, Fomantis, and their evolutions as Shinies.

For fighters: Snivy and its evolution Hydreigon are not suitable for raids and are not among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.

Cavalanzas, the evolution of Fomantis, is a good Bug attacker. If you are still looking for Pokémon for this purpose, the Community Day might be worth your time.

Neither Hydreigon nor Cavalanzas are good representatives in the battle leagues. It is important to note that it is still unclear how effective the two monsters will be with their exclusive moves and whether their usefulness will change as a result.

If you are participating in the battle leagues, it might be advisable to catch and keep suitable specimens just to be safe.

More on the topic
Pokémon GO: All Events in May 2026 – Dates in the List
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Dynamax-Regirock in Pokémon GO: The best counters against the boss
von Paul Kutzner
All lure modules in Pokémon GO explained – With spawns and evolutions
von Patrick Freese

How to prepare for the Community Day in February 2025

Make space: In order to catch the many Pokémon that will appear on Community Day, you should make space in your Pokémon boxes in advance. The right filters can help you save time.

Collect items: You should also have some items on hand to fully utilize Community Day.

  • Balls: To catch many Pokémon, you need plenty of balls as well. Here’s how to get balls in Pokémon GO.
  • Pinap Berries: During the event, you receive double the amount of candy for catching Pokémon. If you use Pinap Berries, you can even get four times the amount of candy for each catch.
  • Incense and lure module: Activating these two items during the event gives them a duration of 3 hours. This will allow you to attract additional Pokémon.

Which Mega Pokémon are worthwhile for the event? With an appropriate Mega Evolution, you can receive additional experience points and an extra candy with every catch.

Since both Pokémon are Bug type, you need to activate a Bug-type Mega Evolution. You can choose from the following evolutions:

  • Mega-Scizor
  • Mega-Pinsir
  • Mega-Scyther

In addition to Community Day, there are many more events and content waiting for you in February. If you want to know what they are and when they take place, feel free to take a look at our overview of all events in February 2025 in Pokémon GO.

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

League of Legends fans criticize Riot for its greed, worried about the LoL MMORPG

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

Recent innovations for League of Legends have fans of the Runeterra universe looking anxiously at the ambitious LoL MMORPG. Is the developer destroying a large part of its own fan base due to greed before the game even releases?

Why is there concern? The optimal monetization of a free-to-play game like League of Legends is a balancing act. On one side, players want to enjoy the actual content for free without feeling pressured to spend money regularly due to pay-to-win elements, strict restrictions, or random offers.

On the other side, developers need to create incentives for purchasing microtransactions in order to survive under current market conditions. MyMMO recently reported that Riot Games has not always handled this balance well: Players find the new system in LoL worse than gacha games, criticize skins for 200 euros.

Start video
League of Legends opens the 2024 season with an emotional trailer

Short-term financial success vs. long-term wise decisions

What does this have to do with the LoL MMORPG? OmegaTier100 expresses concern on Reddit that Riot could significantly harm itself in the foreseeable future due to its own greed for ever-increasing revenues and profits:

“Financially, they may be doing well with the recent changes, but in the long run, they will lose a lot with these decisions.”

OmegaTier100’s thesis: Such actions would drive players away from LoL and take away their interest in the Runeterra universe.

However, an MMORPG needs a large player base to achieve long-term success. Therefore, Riot should be interested in getting as many people excited about the games already released in the Runeterra universe as possible. In their opinion, they are doing the opposite.

How does the community evaluate this? More than 3,200 upvotes and nearly 1,000 comments show that there is a need for discussion. Riot is receiving plenty of criticism, yes, but some players do not believe that the monetization of League of Legends will negatively impact the LoL MMORPG.

  • FelysFrost writes on Reddit: “The larger a company gets, the more short-term its planning seems to be, it’s strange.”
  • sydal believes (via Reddit): “I think you’re vastly overestimating the number of people who will be driven away by the poor monetization. […] I mean, you must not forget that they have entire teams working on how to best retain players and maximize revenue.”
  • eMan117 comments on Reddit: “Is Riot’s greed problematic? Yes. But their MMO success will be based on the merits of their MMO game. There will certainly be many day-1 players, but if the game isn’t fun, people will leave after a month, and their large investment will be a failure.”
More about LoL:
“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

How does MyMMO editor Karsten Scholz assess this? In the past two decades with MMORPGs, one thing has stood out to me: There are many players who can complain wonderfully about a game for years, only to keep playing it over and over again.

It’s also somewhat clear: If something is important to you, you get annoyed when it takes a wrong turn. Once there is an emotional connection, however, it takes a lot to sever that connection forever and irrevocably.

However, even more importantly, each game stands on its own. Naturally, fans of the Runeterra universe are especially looking forward to the LoL MMORPG. But from my perspective, it won’t matter how one feels personally about League of Legends or Riot if the game is ultimately really good and fun.

And conversely: If Riot should drive the LoL MMORPG into the ground, perhaps due to a greedy payment model, that would be due to the quality of the LoL MMORPG and not because of what was done in the years prior with League of Legends.

What do you think? Can the quality of League of Legends negatively impact Riot’s MMO project? When do you expect the game’s release? If you want to know more about it, check here: Everything we know about the new MMORPG for LoL in 2025

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