MMORPG with Huge Ambitions Crashes at Launch on Steam, Only 22% Positive Reviews

With The Quinfall, a new MMORPG started in Early Access on Steam on January 24, 2025. The ambitious game has already received negative feedback during the Closed Beta. It seems that this will continue in Early Access.

Note from the editorial team: In the original version of the article, it was stated that the developer had not commented on the issues so far. However, this occurred on the Discord server. We have adjusted that part of the article.

What is The Quinfall? The Quinfall comes from the studio Vawraek Technology Inc., founded in 2021. The medieval MMORPG is quite ambitious. As a Pay2Play MMO, the game currently costs €19.50 in Early Access.

On its own Steam page, the game describes itself as a completely new MMORPG experience, and its graphics are described as a hyper-realistic world with advanced graphics and the latest systems. The focus is also on the large open world. Additionally, they aim to offer a modern experience in combat, whether PvP or PvE.

Even beforehand, the game received a lot of negative feedback. It seems that this has not improved with the Early Access release. At least when looking at the Steam reviews.

You can watch gameplay of The Quinfall here:

Start video
New Video of The Quinfall Shows 21 Minutes of Revised Gameplay

Players complain about server issues and an empty open world

How is The Quinfall received on Steam? The current Steam reviews are overall mostly negative. Only 22% of the 1,056 reviews are positive (as of January 25, 2025, 1:35 PM). The game has achieved a peak of 6,081 players so far (via SteamDB).

The most current problems seem to be with the servers. According to the reviews, there are login issues and server errors that sometimes make playing impossible.

Many players are also unconvinced by the world, which is said to be quite empty, and the advertised graphics. User Floki (via Steam) even compares the title to the flop The Day Before. It doesn’t help that the game is offered as early access. User deufoev (via Steam) writes in his review that as a “paying customer,” one can expect certain standards even in early access.

Some of the few positive reviews say that one should wait and see how the game develops. At least some aspects are quite good. Other positive voices seem more like joke reviews, as a thread on reddit shows.

How are the developers responding? On the official Discord server of the game, the developers have addressed the server issues. They state that they are aware of the problems and are actively working to solve them.

Have you tried The Quinfall yet? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. If you’re also interested in other multiplayer games, take a look at our release list for 2025: New MMOs and multiplayer games in 2025: Here are the releases you can look forward to

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

Civilization 7 ends in one of the most significant eras of young history, apparently already has the first DLC planned

The great 4X strategy game Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 will be released soon and will be different in many ways than its predecessors. We now know until which time you can play your campaigns – and roughly how it will continue after that.

What we know about the game:

When does Civ 7 end? The Modern Age is the last epoch you can play in Civilization 7. In a livestream, the developers explain how this will proceed (via YouTube).

The Modern Age begins in Civ 7 around the year 1750, as monarchies come under increasing threat and revolutions begin in America and France. Napoleon is an important figure in this context.

The last major event during which Civ 7 is set will be the Cold War, that is, the dramatic arms race between the USA and the Soviet Union after World War II. While no specific year is provided, the latest known victory condition is the first manned flight into space, which was carried out in our world by Yuri Gagarin in 1961.

The Cold War was considered one of the most significant eras of modern times and has advanced many civilian and military research areas or laid the foundations for them, such as:

  • Space travel and rocket technology
  • Computer and information technology
  • Electronics
  • Aerospace engineering
  • Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons
Start video
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 shows gameplay in the trailer

Civ 7 has no information age “at launch,” but that may come later

In the stream, Creative Director Ed Beach explains that the ages are meant to be large blocks, featuring a “big, climactic conflict.” The possible research options in the third age should reflect that.

Beach explains that history continued after the Cold War, but “this is something you won’t see in Civ 7 at launch.” However, they want to share more about what comes next “in due time.”

This suggests that Firaxis, the developers of Civ 7, have already planned the first DLC or the first major update. However, whether this will only extend to our modern times from the 1960s to now, or even have futuristic elements, we do not yet know.

Civilization 7 will be released on February 11, 2025, for PC, Mac, and Linux. If you don’t want to wait that long or are too impatient, in the meantime, you can find other games to shorten your waiting time: Those waiting for Civilization 7 can grab a fantastic alternative on Steam for 20 € – I have already played 264 hours.

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

One of the best building games on Steam costs only 15 euros right now, each round is different from the previous one

MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has been raving about Against the Storm for years, a roguelite building game on Steam. It has been getting better since its early access. It is now on sale.

What kind of game is this?

  • In Against the Storm, you continuously build a settlement and must gain the favor of the queen. The catch: recurring storms make it increasingly difficult to survive.
  • You explore forests and clearings, face dangers and disasters while also meeting the needs of your citizens; otherwise, the village will perish.
  • The further you go, the higher the rewards and you can unlock various bonuses, new buildings, and effects. The game itself becomes increasingly challenging if you want it to.

What makes Against the Storm so good: Every round in the game is different. Each time you start a new map or a new village, you have different requirements. Different species accompany you, or you receive other blueprints.

Because of this, you must adapt every time; there are no “cookie cutter” builds. Foxes have different needs than humans or beavers but also different abilities – and accordingly, the village should look different.

It is this very variety that has led MeinMMO editor Gerd Schuhmann to invest 50 hours in Against the Storm in just 4 days.

By the end of 2024, Against the Storm will have received its first DLC with a new race: frogs. Both the base game and the DLC are currently on sale on Steam:

Start video
Against the Storm: The Gameplay Trailer for the First DLC ‘Keepers of the Stone’

“An outstanding building game that keeps you motivated throughout”

On Steam, Against the Storm has a rating between 92 and 95% and is thus very to extremely positive. Players praise the variety in the game, which keeps it from ever becoming boring, as well as the ability to unlock new content while playing. A user with over 670 hours in the game writes:

Super relaxing to play, yet captivating due to the meta-game (the seals). I think a game has never held me for so long.

Gruphy on Steam

For me as a survival and strategy fan, Against the Storm is the absolute comfort game that I always return to. Despite the challenging difficulty, the relatively short rounds have a cathartic feel that tempt you to play just one more round.

However, what you won’t find in Against the Storm are fights. All problems are solved without weapons and mostly through economic means. If you feel like something more strategic, you can find a wide selection on our list: The 15 best strategy games for PC

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

“You Will Never Be Happy” – Many are currently complaining about too much loot in Diablo 4, casual players find it just right

As so often, a discussion in the community is once again centered around the loot drops in Diablo 4. Some feel overwhelmed by the flood of items, while others find it just right. Now they can finally play and craft properly.

This is the current state of the loot: In Season 6, many players complained about the few and hardly useful loot drops. Powerful items with larger affixes (GA) dropped rarely and usually had only minimal aspect values. A player defeated 2,400 bosses and documented the drops. His conclusion was sobering.

On January 21, Season 7 started in Diablo 4, and the community is once again discussing the loot drops. Compared to Season 6, players are now practically overwhelmed with loot. For some, that’s too much of a good thing; others find it just right. A player explains on Reddit that the massive amount of drops is truly a “gift” for him.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows its witch powers in Season 7 in the trailer

More loot = more options for testing & crafting

What is the player happy about? In his post on Reddit, Ok_Standard3735 explains that the massive amount of loot is perfect for him. He can understand that some people find the many loot drops bothersome. But for someone like him, who literally has to carve out time to play and can’t grind for 8 to 10 hours a day, it is just right.

While he would like a loot filter, what he hopes for more is that the community will finally stop constantly complaining about the loot. For him, this season is the first in which he truly feels he wants to stick around. “If [the developers] weaken the drops or the loot level again, I see no point in it,” he writes.

He can finally work on affixes, gems, and materials. He is also happy to be able to create different equipment sets and get affixes more easily. “Why complain about loot, especially when last season everyone complained about the low GA drops, etc.?” he asks in the comment.

Already on the PTR (Public Test Realm) for Season 6, the loot system was a major point of criticism. The community found that Diablo 4 is too strenuous. Players also lacked ordinary materials for crafting in Season 6, preventing them from upgrading their gear. Blizzard listened to the criticism and revised the loot drops again.

What do other players say? From the Reddit post and the comments, it becomes clear that many players are now accordingly happy about the masses of loot. For example, unsichtbar_dabble writes that he agrees and is glad when he can play for a few hours on the weekend. Others believe that people always have something to complain about and that Blizzard simply cannot please everyone. Already in March 2024, players complained that Diablo 4 wants to please everyone and is therefore worse than it could be.

“Loot is raining everywhere like from a piñata”

What does the opposing side say? However, there are also many players who find the loot drops “too crazy”. They note that they are currently spending more time sorting out their items than grinding. GideonOakwood writes in his comment that he also only plays a few hours a day, but finds the amount of loot “completely exaggerated”. “The new zones are fun and exciting, but loot is raining everywhere like from a piñata,” he writes.

In other Reddit threads, players also report that they are overwhelmed by a flood of items and are currently discussing whether this is really intentional. For some, this actually contradicts the philosophy that Blizzard introduced with Season 4. Back then, the aim was to reduce the loot drops to make them more interesting. You can read more about it here: “It’s getting out of control” – In Season 7, players in Diablo 4 encounter an old problem that Blizzard actually wanted to fix.

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

The 10 coolest armors from Monster Hunter World for all fashion hunters 

In Monster Hunter, the selection of your armor plays a major role. It should not only provide protection, but ideally, it should also look good. The coolest armors from Monster Hunter World are presented to you by MeinMMO in this list.

Many players are drawn to prepare for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds in its predecessor Monster Hunter World. In doing so, they also indulge in the hunt for the perfect outfit and search for the most stylish armor.

Because there was considerable criticism regarding the appearance of the armors in this title at the time, MeinMMO editor Alexander has made it his mission to dig up his 10 coolest outfits from the chest. With his personal list, he wants to prove that even in Monster Hunter World, there are armor sets that are really worth the grind visually.

[toc]

Who is writing here? MeinMMO editor Alexander Schürlein has logged over 1,000 hours as a monster hunter. Over the years, he has explored numerous titles on various consoles and prefers to go hunting with dual blades.
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: Daisy Ridley explains the lore

Nergigante Alpha Set

The Nergigante Alpha Set belongs to the armors of the base game. You do not need the Iceborne expansion for this. To craft the set, you must face the high-rank version of Nergigante.

Particularly cool are the horns and spikes that adorn the armors, as well as the small skull version on the belt.

Here you see a list of materials you need for crafting:
  • Nergigante Horn + x3
  • Immortal Dragon Scale x18
  • Nergigante Shell x22
  • Nergigante Gem x1
  • Nergigante Claw x2
  • Elder Dragon Bone x3
  • Nergigante Tail x2
  • Firecell Stone x1
  • Nergigante Juvenile Plate x6
  • Novacrystal x1
  • Elder Dragon Blood x3

Legiana Alpha + Set

For the Legiana Alpha + Set, you need the Iceborne expansion. To walk around in its attire, you must compete with Legiana at Master Rank and have luck with your loot – or a lot of patience.

I particularly like the pattern and the interplay of colors in this set. A noble set for every hunter.

You can find a list of materials you need for the outfit here:
  • Legiana Thick Hide x10
  • Legiana Membrane x4
  • Legiana Hard Claw x3
  • Pure Crystal x1
  • Legiana Scale x4
  • Shamos Scale x3
  • Strong Claw x3
  • Legiana Tail x3
  • Cryo Sac x3
  • Wingdrake Fine Leather x3

Banbaro Beta + Set

The Banbaro Beta + Set also belongs to the Iceborne expansion. For this, you must hunt Banbaro at Master Rank and steal several parts from it.

The horns and the fur of the armor are quite impressive and give me a certain Skyrim vibe.

Here you will find what materials you need for this outfit:
  • Banbaro Spine x10
  • Banbaro Great Horn x3
  • Anteka Antler x2
  • Banbaro Cortex x6
  • High-Quality Fur x2
  • Banbaro Whip x1
  • Frozen Bone x2
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

MMORPG Streamer of the Year has been playing WoW since 2008, loses duel for Twitch guild against noob who has only been playing for 2 months

Chance “Sodapoppin” Morris (30) won the award for MMORPG streamer of the year in 2024 and has been playing World of Warcraft for at least 17 years. However, in a duel for the Twitch guild “OnlyFangs”, he recently lost to Tyler1, who has only been involved with WoW for a few months. This is something he now has to hear from everyone.

What connects Sodapoppin with WoW? The first documented instance of Sodapoppin playing WoW dates back to 2008. At the age of 15, he began streaming World of Warcraft on the service Xfire. It can be assumed that he had already been playing the MMORPG before that.

In 2012, he switched to Twitch and made a significant career there over the last 13 years, transforming from a pure WoW streamer to one of the most successful variety streamers on the platform.

Since Blizzard announced WoW Classic a few years ago, Sodapoppin has been back in full force. Recently, he founded the streamer guild “OnlyFangs” on a hardcore server and has been more successful than ever since. In 2024, he was even crowned “MMORPG streamer” of the year, which he clearly enjoyed because he could rub it in Asmongold’s face.

According to his own statement, he even turned down a huge deal for the launch of WoW Classic 2018, as the game is that important to him.

Start video
Blizzard bans the man who ruined WoW Hardcore

Streamer loses duel to someone who has only been playing WoW for 2 months

Now this is his great disgrace: Sodapoppin died during a stupid pull in WoW Classic and lost his hardcore character in the process. Therefore, he also had to give up the leadership of the guild. He transferred the guild leadership, more as a joke, to Tyler1. Although he is a popular streamer, he has actually nothing to do with WoW, as he has only played LoL for years.

When Sodapoppin then leveled a new character to level 60 in a marathon, he wanted to get his guild back from Tyler1, but he had no intention of stepping down and instead challenged Sodapoppin to a best-of-9 duel.

However, Sodapoppin lost this duel for guild leadership, making it a humiliation 4-5 against the newbie in WoW.

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Streamer placed many subs on Sodapoppin, is stunned by the defeat

This is what he has to hear now: The New Zealand streamer Quin69 said in a stream:

He disappointed me. He just disappointed me. I believed in him. He was my war chief.

Quin69 says he placed a “ridiculous amount of Twitch subs” on Sodapoppin’s victory because he couldn’t imagine him “losing to a guy who has no idea what he’s doing.”

Tyler1 had to look at his keyboard to walk back. The guy may have been playing for 2 months, while Sodapoppin has been playing WoW all his life since he was 15. For Quin69, it’s inexplicable how on earth Sodapoppin could lose this duel.

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Quin69 is sure: Sodapoppin has simply become a total has-been. “I don’t know what happened. He used to be good at the game. I don’t know if it’s his damn VTuber girlfriend or what is going on?”

His “damn VTuber girlfriend” made Sodapoppin’s life hell after the defeat, even more so than Quin69, who mourns his lost bet.

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She accused him of enjoying losing to guys like Tyler1. He “mentally crushed” him and Sodapoppin seemed to like it. Veibae even went so far as to ban Sodapoppin from calling her “Bae”. From now on, she will only be “Vei” for him – he lost the right to call her Bae. Twitch streamer loses guild in duel in WoW, then his dignity and 430,000 watch

What do you think: How is it possible that someone who has played WoW for 17 years loses an important duel with the same gear against someone who has only been playing for 2 months?

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

Used cell phones are suddenly more expensive on eBay than new ones because they have an app installed

Used smartphones are increasingly appearing on eBay, being offered at inflated prices of thousands of dollars – just because TikTok is pre-installed. Despite the lifting of the TikTok ban in the USA, the app remains missing from US app stores, and a return date remains uncertain.

This is what eBay currently looks like: Used smartphones are increasingly appearing on eBay with TikTok installed, listed at high prices. These smartphones, equipped with the popular social media app, are sometimes listed for a price of $50,000. Even though such exorbitant prices are the exception, most listings fluctuate between $2,000 and $5,000. As an example, an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (via idealo.de), which you can buy for around €1,200, is being offered on eBay in used condition (with TikTok) for $5,000.

This is what a typical listing on eBay looks like.

What lies behind the prices? The reason for these prices is that TikTok is not accessible to new users in the US stores. Those who have deleted the app or buy a new device cannot currently download TikTok anymore. Sellers on eBay have recognized this and are offering used phones with the pre-installed app. Buyers can thus continue to use TikTok without relying on the uncertain return date of the app.

The idea is that sellers do not reset their devices to factory settings, but only log out of their Google or iCloud accounts. TikTok remains installed on the device, and buyers can continue to use it. Sellers are thus trying to take advantage of the current situation and profit from the desperation of some buyers.

Why is this also a problem? The ban on TikTok is not 100% off the table. The decision on whether TikTok will be permanently banned in the USA has yet to be made. So, anyone who has bought a phone for thousands of euros because of the TikTok app may not be able to use the app after a permanent ban in the USA, no matter how much the user ultimately paid for the smartphone.

Start video
“Basically, it’s GTA 6”: The game of a hobby developer goes viral on TikTok, everyone wants to play it

The TikTok Ban and Legal Uncertainty

How did this situation arise? The reason for this market is the recently imposed TikTok ban in the USA. A law was passed there that banned TikTok unless ByteDance (the company behind TikTok) sold it to a US company. TikTok temporarily disappeared from app stores, but an Executive Order postponed the ban (via Gamestar.de). However, the app remains inaccessible to new users. While existing users can continue using TikTok, there is no way to reinstall the app.

The uncertainty caused by the TikTok ban, concerns about security risks, and calls for a company sale have contributed to the future of the app in the USA remaining unclear.

Whether the phone even has a future has recently been questioned by Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta (Facebook): He not only declared the end of the phone but also introduced a successor: Mark Zuckerberg announces the end of the phone and introduces a successor.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Wired
  2. Ebay
  3. Idealo

New monster in the jungle of LoL criticized for rewarding you when you die extra

League of Legends has been in its 15th season since January 9, 2025. Many changes have been made to champs and items, and a new jungle monster has been added that gives players a crazy advantage.

Which monster is it? It’s about Atakhan, the new epic jungle monster. He appears at the 20-minute mark and has two forms with different buffs for the entire team. The buff Atakhan grants depends on champion kills and the damage dealt. 

Through a lot of action in the game, the Destructive Atakhan appears, and with less action, the Insatiable Atakhan appears. Each provides a unique buff for the team that killed him.

What do the buffs do? By killing the Destructive Atakhan, the entire team receives a 25% bonus on all jungle effects. This means that every dragon, baron, and other buffs are further amplified. 

The Insatiable Atakhan grants each champ on the team that kills him a state for 150 seconds in which no one can die. In case of a champion’s death, they are put into stasis for a few seconds and then teleported back to spawn.

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

Immortality is not a good idea

How are you rewarded for dying? With a minimal gain for the opponent of only 200 gold upon death and the quick teleportation to spawn, this buff encourages risky actions. Without suffering many losses. 

Getting the last minions, a quick gank, or an entire team fight are significantly less dangerous. In the worst case, it leads to the team gathering at spawn. They may have lost the fight, but they are right back in the base.

While many players agree that the 25% amplification of all jungle effects is acceptable, the 150 seconds of immortality presents some issues. On Reddit, it is criticized that the professional scene has become quite boring. The aftermath of defeating the Insatiable Atakhan is often the same.

  • “It’s hard to get excited about a team fight after one of the teams has killed Atakhan because you already know how it will end. The team with the buff wins, even if they actually lost the fight; that’s not a good viewer experience,” writes KriibusLoL (via Reddit).

The post has received quite a bit of support with over 3000 upvotes and more than 400 comments, but also some backlash.

An Aggressive Playstyle Emerges

Is the buff only criticized? Another user on Reddit agreed that team fights after Atakhan are less interesting, but works as intended by Riot.

It invites players as well as professionals to adopt an aggressive and interesting playstyle, rather than just waiting for the next mistake of the opponent before acting. Such mechanics also make it possible to compensate for a previous gold disadvantage.

Riot is currently addressing the players’ criticism regarding the time it takes to unlock a champ and might come up with something new for this buff soon.

While players criticize the new Atakhan buff, a streamer is focusing on the whole new season and claims that Riot is only trying to adjust the game for the Arcane fans: Top streamer for LoL on Twitch criticizes “terrible” patch, saying it is only for Arcane fans

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

One of my favorite games of 2024 on Steam is from Ubisoft, but I will probably never see a sequel

Ubisoft has been rather negatively in the headlines in recent weeks. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes had actually given up on the studio until he checked out a smaller game from 2024 on Steam that he had missed.

When I was younger, I loved many games from Ubisoft. I devoured the Assassin’s Creed series up to part 3 and also loved some of the Rayman games.

At some point, I lost sight of the studio. I tried out Rainbow Six Siege, For Honor, and xDefiant, but nothing really convinced me. Even the new games in the Assassin’s Creed series couldn’t pique my interest.

At the beginning of 2024, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was released. Since I had no previous contact with the series, I initially ignored the game. However, when several best-of lists praised this very game at the end of the year, I was intrigued: a game from Ubisoft on current best lists?

I had to find out for myself. So I started playing it and quickly realized: It’s fantastic and exactly my thing.

Start video
Prince of Persia – Summer Game Fest Trailer

Gameplay-wise, it’s one of the best titles in the genre

What kind of game is it? Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was the first new addition to the series since 2010. The game was developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. At its core, it is a classic Metroidvania game like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or, more modernly, like Hollow Knight. 

The Lost Crown is a great representative of the genre. I felt comfortable with the controls right away. The jumps and movement of the main character Sargon feel precise, and you always have full control. Attacks can be canceled with a dodge roll, which also allows for forgiveness in the combat system.

But don’t be fooled by that. The platforming is challenging, and you have to use all abilities to move through the trap-filled corridors. 

The combat system is also challenging. One of the most important mechanics in Persia is parrying. It not only feels great, but it’s incredibly useful. Even tough opponents can be countered with it, provided you understand their movements. 

The basic combat consists of combos that can be executed in the air or on the ground. Additionally, there are dashes, ranged attacks, or charged attacks with which you can break shields. 

I was already excited about that. As a passionate Souls player, I love parrying, and with the combos, I could be creative. As a Jump & Run fan, the precise jumping sequences were the perfect addition to the fine gameplay mix.

But aside from the gameplay, there’s another highlight for me: an absurd, almost anime-inspired presentation.

Like an exaggerated anime

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is colorful and sometimes exaggerated, which is also evident in its presentation. The story is quite simple. As a warrior, you must rescue the prince, who has been kidnapped. Instead of grounded powers, there are magical abilities.

There are classic anime tropes such as powerful forms into which the main character can transform. This is also evident in the cutscenes. They employ epic camera movements and focus on exaggerated gestures and dialogues about honor and betrayal.

In addition, there are combat choreographies with teleportations and sword swings that are only shown once the sword is sheathed again. This also reminds one of video games like Devil May Cry. 

That’s what makes parrying so wonderful. When an opponent lights up yellow, you can finish them off with a successful parry. This is also beautifully staged. Sargon then makes impressive leaps onto huge scorpion needles or delivers impressive kicks to opponents’ faces. This not only rewards the player, but also makes the 2D battles more cinematic.

You have to appreciate that, but as an anime fan, it’s just right.

A great game that probably wasn’t worth it for Ubisoft

Despite the enthusiasm, I play The Lost Crown with a heavy heart. Even though the game has received many great reviews on Steam and also on Metacritic, the team behind the game has been disbanded, as Eurogamer reported. This was likely due to unmet expectations.

Plans for a sequel have been scrapped, which makes me incredibly sad, because The Lost Crown shows how much potential lies within Ubisoft. 

It shows that you don’t always need the gigantic open world that often artificially keeps you engaged for 100 hours. AAA games are expensive and take an incredible amount of time. Smaller titles can bridge that gap and simultaneously play with creative ideas.

Metroidvanias are a genre that works especially well in the indie sector. However, these genres can also be wonderfully reinterpreted by large studios. 

Ubisoft showed with games like Child of Light, Rayman Legends, and now also The Lost Crown how many creative ideas are in the minds of many developers. And it would be a shame if these weren’t utilized.

Big games like Assassin’s Creed should not disappear. But large studios should experiment with smaller games. The stakes are also lower than with major titles like Skull and Bones.

I hope that better times await Ubisoft in the future, and that someday I might still play a sequel to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown with shining eyes. The team of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will be disbanded – according to a lead from Baldur’s Gate 3, a subscription is to blame for this

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

A new role-playing game for PS5 aims to fill the big gap left by Final Fantasy

With the transition of the Final Fantasy series from turn-based battles to real-time, a gap has arisen that a new role-playing game for PS5 now aims to fill.

Which game is being referred to? It is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the first game from the development studio Sandfall Interactive. This is a role-playing game featuring turn-based battles, which have been given a modern twist.

In a new trailer, the developers have announced a release date for the game. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be released on April 24, 2025, for the following platforms:

You can see the trailer here:

Start video
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – JRPG with French Flair has Release Date

French Fantasy with Turn-Based Battles

What is the game about? The world of Expedition 33 is haunted by a mysterious and dangerous painter. Year after year, she paints an ever-decreasing number on her monoliths, causing everyone of that age to turn to dust. Your task is to seek out the painter and prevent her from ever painting a number on her cursed monoliths again.

The setting is inspired by the French “Belle Époque,” while the developers drew inspiration for the gameplay from classic JRPGs like the old Final Fantasy titles and the Persona series. On your journey, you are also accompanied by a cast of voice actors featuring real stars, including Jennifer English (Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3).

In terms of gameplay, Expedition 33 takes a different approach than the Final Fantasy series: While the newer entries rely on action battles in real-time, developer Sandfall Interactive aims to revive the feeling of old JRPGs – something that might currently be missing in Final Fantasy.

Expedition 33 features a turn-based combat system expanded with real-time actions. You perform parries, counters, and evasions in real-time; mastering certain attack patterns allows for powerful combos, and firearms let you target your enemies’ weaknesses.

Is the Role-Playing Game Too Obscure?

How is the game currently being received? Looking solely at the view counts of the trailers, interest in the game doesn’t seem very high. The new trailer has nearly 100,000 views on the YouTube channel of PlayStation (as of January 24, 3:17 PM), and other channels don’t show better results.

However, a glance at the comments under the trailer shows that anticipation for the game is already high: The stunning graphics, the strong voice acting, and the combat system are enough reason for many to try the game on day one.

One can only hope that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t remain too – well, obscure. Similar concerns were raised regarding another promising role-playing game. You can learn more about this game here: The role-playing game Avowed could finally fill the gap left by Skyrim

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

WoW: Dataminers Find First Housing Details – Looks Like WildStar and Final Fantasy

First details about housing in World of Warcraft have been found. The first code is in the game.

Although not much is known about the next WoW expansion “Midnight”, one of the biggest features is already clear: Player Housing. After many years of waiting, the heroes of Azeroth finally have a home of their own that they can furnish and design as they wish.

But how extensive will the system be? Is it just a “Garrison 2.0” in the end? Or is there much more possible?

Initial data mining provides clues – as new details about housing have already been discovered in the game data.

Start video
WoW gets Player Housing – An initial teaser

What has been found? The data miners from wowhead have found a whole series of new lines of code in the game data of the latest PTR for Cataclysm Classic. These are directly related to player housing.

The lines mainly consist of error messages and assignments. There are adjustments for the exterior and interior, but apparently also many different permissions that can be set in one’s own house. Among other details, there are the following:

  • AddDecor: Adding decorations.
  • RemoveDecor: Removing decorations.
  • ChangeDecorParam: Adjusting decorations – presumably in size and orientation.
  • EnterDecorEditMode: Starting the mode in which decorations and furniture can be moved.

It seems clear that there is a special mode in which the house can be designed and customized.

At first glance – and only based on the lines of code discovered so far – the system resembles WildStar or even Final Fantasy XIV.

How housing will actually look, we will probably only find out in the summer when the “Midnight” expansion is extensively presented – at least the roadmap promises that.

Why was this discovered in the Classic version? Many speculate that housing could also appear in the Classic version of World of Warcraft, after all, the new information was found in its game data.

However, that is rather unlikely. World of Warcraft uses the same code base in all current versions. Therefore, major innovations, such as the housing feature, can already appear in the code of Classic before they show up in the retail version. With a very high probability, these files will also be found in the next PTR update for patch 11.1.

The fact that the data appeared in the Classic variant is solely because that is currently the “newest” PTR state that has been activated. It is not an indication that housing will occur in Classic. The next stop in World of Warcraft is first Lorenhall – with patch 11.1.

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

An insignificant regional league makes LoL the biggest game on Twitch

2025 is so far the year of League of Legends in esports. Due to a rule change, Riot Games has shifted the balance of power in LoL. The world of esports suddenly revolves around a league that has never played even the smallest role in recent years: the NCL. But now the 3 biggest Twitch streamers for LoL are in the league, and one of them is German.

What is this league? The NCL is a regional league in Europe. Here, teams from Scandinavia and Great Britain play against each other, at least each team must have 2 members from these countries. However, there is no way to be promoted from this league to the professional league LEC. The LEC is a franchise league that requires a buy-in.

The NCL was insignificant for years: The most important leagues in Europe, which regularly compete for the European championship, were based in Spain and France. To a lesser extent also in Germany, after all the team of HandOfBlood became European champions.

But in 2025, everything is different: The 3 biggest Twitch streamers in the world for League of Legends either play in the league themselves or at least have a team there. This changes the balance of power.

Start video
Former German LoL Pro is Now One of the Most Successful Twitch Streamers – This is NoWay

The 3 biggest streamers for LoL play in a league – One of them is German

Who are the 3 top streamers playing there? The biggest streamer for LoL on Twitch is Caedrel. He is the founder and “coach” of the NCL team Los Ratones. They are the main attraction of the league and currently hold 4-0 in 1st place in their group. Caedrel was watched on Twitch for 6.6 million hours in the last 30 days, and his channel grew by another 26% at a high level. Overall on Twitch, he is number 5.

The second biggest streamer for LoL is the German NoWay. He is the midlaner for the team “NORD Esports.” They stand with 3-1 in 2nd place in their group, only against Los Ratones did they suffer a defeat. His channel grew by 20% in viewer hours last month.

The third biggest streamer for LoL is Thebausffs, the overly confident top laner from Los Ratones. His channel grew by an impressive 52%.

The hype around the league also benefits former elite player Rekkles, the number 8 for LoL on Twitch. The supporter of Los Ratones hadn’t streamed at all in the previous month and is now entering with 1.2 million viewer hours.

lol-rekkles
Former top players like Rekkles also give the league a sporting value.

Synergy effects boost the growth of streamers for LoL on Twitch

How do streamers benefit from the league? For the streamers, the league is an endless source of content: They can stream every training, every practice match, and every point game.

During team meetings, they might close the curtains and shut down the stream, but much of what is otherwise kept under wraps happens in public.

When big streamers collaborate, valuable synergy effects arise that benefit all parties involved:

  • Those who already have a large channel reach new viewers, who are fans of other streamers, and get free content that they don’t have to produce laboriously
  • Those who still have a small channel benefit even more because the fans of the other streamers can discover them

How enormous the draw such synergy effects develop could be observed in the past with group play in Fortnite, role play in GTA 5, the communicative Among Us, or recently in the WoW streamer guild OnlyFangs. All these opportunities led to tremendous viewer growth and suddenly provided some previously unknown players with a career.

LoL overtakes GTA 5 and Marvel Rivals to become number 1 on Twitch

Is this also good for LoL? LoL gained 22% in viewer hours last month and is currently the biggest game on Twitch, ahead of GTA 5, Marvel Rivals, and the currently also flourishing WoW.

Here, the NCL surely also plays a decisive role.

Germany as a model for the rule change, but not benefiting from it now

What is the reason for this? Riot Games has long wanted to push the regional leagues in LoL, but it went wrong:

  • First, they entered into collaborations with large YouTubers in Spain (Ibai), Germany (HandOfBlood), and France (Kameto) to build their own teams in the regional leagues of their countries
  • Then they focused more on co-streaming, allowing popular influencers to comment on the official broadcasts of the league games. In Germany, they put Tolkin in a prominent position.

But that apparently still wasn’t enough.

Esports at this level was not profitable for the teams. There were too few viewers and sponsors, and some people lost a lot of money here. A team from Berlin even spoke of a black hole that just swallows money.

Probably fueled by the extreme viewer numbers that the German streamer team NNO achieved in the year they were promoted to the first league, the rules were changed for 2025 so that streamers could broadcast their own games.

This led to a hype around the regional leagues, and large streamers and ex-pros formed teams together. The English-speaking NCL is the big beneficiary of this development.

The boom could have perhaps also happened to some extent in Germany, but the most important German streamers for LoL have had a falling out with the German league: It is getting ugly between the big streamers on Twitch and the league in the German LoL scene

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

FC 25 provides the community with strong players and updates – fans suspect a reason: ‘Have hit EA where it hurts’

In EA FC 25, the community is currently benefiting from a successful gameplay patch and strong players that you basically get for free. On Reddit, fans believe they have found the reason why EA is being particularly generous at the moment. You can read the details on MeinMMO.

Which strong players are you getting for free right now? In line with the Team of the Year (TOTY), an event that releases the strongest cards currently available in FC 25, EA Sports is feeling generous.

On one hand, you can develop your own TOTY card for free in the evolutions (EVOs), a feature where cards receive upgrades. In the end, you will get a player who can show stats above 80 and thus can at least somewhat compete with a strong TOTY card, which usually costs over a million coins or more.

For more information on how to get your TOTY star, read here: In EA FC 25, you can secure a TOTY EVO star for free – Here’s how it works

On the other hand, at the start of the TOTY, everyone received a special version of the French icon Zidane for free. Players who had already played Ultimate Team before October 31, 2024, were able to further develop this card in the EVOs and ended up receiving an even stronger icon than the base card. And all of it completely for free.

Start video
EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for Ultimate Team

Before the TOTY: Streamers & community praise gameplay update

However, even before the TOTY and before the gifted cards, one of the largest gameplay patches made during a season improved the mood among players.

What kind of update was it? The title update 8, named “Gameplay Refresh,” brought a number of significant changes to the game mechanics:

  • Strikers can finally run fast again and escape defenders
  • Passes and pass combinations are now successful even without corresponding playstyles
  • Good goal-scoring chances lead to more goals due to improved shots
  • Defending is once again more in the hands of the players and less controlled by the AI

The patch, which made for a more offensive style of football, was viewed positively by most content creators regarding FC 25. This includes the otherwise very critical streamer NickRTFM, who compared the changes of the update to the feeling of a new game (“FC 25.5”).

In a detailed critique video on the update on his YouTube channel, he even stated that EA had saved FC 25 with the patch. And even in the comments, the community showed a mostly positive sentiment:

  • KevRMA2000: “The update is really incredible. I can’t believe EA actually did this. Such a rare W [W for Win, meaning a win, note from the editor]” (via YouTube)
  • andreipop4363: “I love this game. I defend and am really rewarded.” (via YouTube)
  • Kev2000: “Finally a game where the attacking AI moves, the defending AI isn’t as dominant, and the passing game is relatively good now.” (via YouTube)

Fans suspect ‘painful’ reason behind EA’s engagement

In the past, the development company often had to hear that it placed too little value on community feedback and hardly responded to problems. This seems to contradict EA’s current engagement regarding gameplay patches and gifted, strong players in FC 25.

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What reason do fans suspect behind EA’s engagement? In a thread titled: “It seems that a decline in spending and sales was the reason for FC receiving a complete overhaul of gameplay,” some fans seem confident that they have found the reason for EA’s stronger turning toward the community.

User Broken_Pikachu, the author of the post, additionally writes: “Apparently, the free Zidane and other gestures were also part of the declining numbers.” (via Reddit)

He refers to a recently released financial report from EA. In this, CEO Andrew Wilson stated that EA FC 25 “did not meet expectations for net bookings.” According to a report by Jason Schreier on Bloomberg, they were about 300 million dollars short of the targeted sales for FC 25.

Other users also see connections between the declining numbers and the current tendency to accommodate the community more:

  • SupplyYourPips: “It’s almost as if it forces the company to change its tactics and sometimes make a better product when it hits them where it hurts more (money).” (via Reddit)
  • User Every-Shape4959 sees it more critically: “So the state of the game doesn’t really matter to them as long as the financial numbers look good, which is probably the case every year with FIFA/FC, regardless of the state of the game.” (via Reddit)

Aside from the critical view that EA is engaging more in FC 25 simply because sales figures are not matching, this can be a win-win situation for fans and the company. EA has taken the first steps to get closer to the community with the comprehensive gameplay patch and the free items for the TOTY, which have been mostly positively received by players.

Perhaps players can look forward to more such goodwill in the future. Meanwhile, EA can benefit from rising sales figures due to improved public perception. Since the end of November, EA has been giving out free rewards every Monday:
EA FC 25: Every Monday, as a viewer of the FC Pro Open, you can receive free rewards – Here’s how it works

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

“The device out of control” – In Season 7, players in Diablo 4 face an old problem that Blizzard actually wanted to improve

With the new Season 7 in Diablo 4, there isn’t just fresh content, but also plenty of new loot. Players report that they are being inundated with items and are currently discussing whether this should be the case.

What’s going on with the loot? In every new season, the community discusses the loot in Diablo 4. Blizzard has changed items multiple times in the past:

On January 21, 2025, Season 7 started in Diablo 4, and once again, loot is a major topic of discussion in the community. Some players feel that they are being inundated with items after too few strong items dropped in Season 6. Others note that this actually goes against the philosophy Blizzard wanted to establish with Season 4. The calls for a loot filter are growing louder again. This was a point that an expert criticized shortly after release.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows its witch powers in Season 7 in the trailer

Players Demand a Loot Filter

What bothers the players? The community of Diablo 4 is currently discussing a lot about the loot, as several Reddit posts show. User Ravelikegandhi describes in his Reddit post that the loot currently feels “crazy” and asks: “Is this intended?” Other players agree with him, noting that they are currently spending more time sorting their items than actually playing.

In the comments, Blubbpaule writes: “I was fully equipped with Legendaries at Level 30 and already had two Uniques. Something is extremely off here.” And crayonflop3 states: “Loot this season is completely out of control, and I’m only Level 30! A loot filter is definitely needed.”

Deskdemonnn also wishes for a loot filter and writes on Reddit: “I only want to see relevant items on the screen because there are already enough effects without a million items lying around. I’m 99% sure I’ve already salvaged several upgrades because I don’t want to check each item individually to see if it’s better or not.”

Blizzard has so far refrained from integrating a loot filter in Diablo 4. Before Season 4, the developers stated that they had no plans in that regard – they wanted to first see how the adjustments to loot were received.

In a comment on Reddit, TheCursedTroll refers to the changes to loot in Season 4 and states:

This is essentially the opposite of [Blizzard’s] philosophy. The loot change in Season 4 was actually intended to make loot rarer but more meaningful. That was also their argument against a loot filter. For me, both are okay: Either they reduce the legendary items at the start or they give us a loot filter. But the amount of items without a filter is simply too much right now.

“This Makes Starting the New Season Easier”

Are there also other opinions? Some players view the current amount of loot quite positively. User Papichurch writes on Reddit that while the loot drops are “crazy,” they are also somewhat fun. Another user comments on Reddit that the loot drops are “a gift” – especially for people like him who work a lot and have little time to play.

LurkerOnTheInternet also finds the amount of loot good and writes on Reddit: “It used to take forever to unlock aspects, but now I get a good amount of legendary items early on. Plus, all the gems and resources that the revealed roots drop. This makes starting a new season so much more enjoyable.”

Other players note in the comments that they constantly have to go to the blacksmith to salvage the enormous amounts of items. However, it is positively highlighted that the process of handing in the gifts has become significantly faster. In the new “head-hunting zones” of Season 7, you can submit your gifts to the ravens of the tree and collect loot in return. These zones are not just ideal for farming items but also perfect for quick leveling: Season 7 brought new zones in Diablo 4 that are perfect for leveling – players find: They should stay permanently

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

I tested a keyboard for 220 euros and it feels almost like cheating while gaming

Glorious has launched a new keyboard with the GMMK3 series. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested the 75% model and explains whether the purchase is really worth it. Above all, the high volume does not really convince him. On the other hand, you have a real advantage over other players with certain features.

[toc]

With the GMMK3 series, Glorious has introduced its first line of keyboards with Hall Effect switches. This is also what the “HE” in the HE models stands for. Glorious focuses primarily on modularity with its new line: This means you can detach and replace almost any component of the keyboard. So, more or less, a ready-made custom keyboard.

The highlight of the keyboard, however, are the Hall Effect switches, as they can be extremely finely adjusted. This provides tangible advantages when gaming, as I discovered while testing the GMMK3 HE (75%). In the following article, I explain what you get for the price of 219.99 Euros and why the HE switches are so good.

Test overview

Who tested it?

I am the Tech Editor at MeinMMO and have a penchant for peripherals and test mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets. Gaming mice are particularly among my absolute favorites. Besides the PS5, I also play on my Steam Deck.

Transparency notice: The model was provided to us by the manufacturer for testing purposes.

asks meinmmo benedikt

Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO

Technical Details
Here you will find the technical details in table format (click to expand):
Design/InterfaceWired, 75% design
Key typemagnetic, linear switches (Glorious Fox HE) in German layout; PBT keycaps
programmable keysYes
LightingYes
CompatibilityPC, Mac (with replacement keys for Mac)
Scope of deliveryKeyboard, USB cable, manual, spare switches, tool for (dis)assembly of switches and keycaps.
Special featuresTKL design with a dedicated rotary knob.
Price (RRP)219.99 Euros

Scope of delivery, design, and build

What does the scope of delivery look like? In the box, in addition to the keyboard, there is plenty of accessories that you can use to customize your purchased keyboard. This includes, in addition to screwdrivers, screws, and spacers, a few replacement keys and some test switches of different color types.

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For a short test, this is practical, but it is too little for installation. On the other hand, you typically already decide on a set of switches when purchasing, which is placed under the keys. I would have found a few spare switches with the same type as the already installed switches more sensible in case of a defect.

Glorious GMMK3 HE view from above
Glorious GMMK3 HE, view from above. The keyboard looks understated at first glance.

How is the keyboard constructed? The keyboard offers you an official 75% profile. This means that the arrow keys sit directly below the Enter key and are thus slightly recessed into the main body. The same applies to a handful of special keys. Function keys (F1 – F12) are also present, but a number pad is missing.

In the top right corner, there is a so-called “knob” that can be turned to change the volume in the default setting or turned off completely with a press.

What does the keyboard look like? The keyboard comes in a white design with white keycaps. However, the keyboard is also available in black. Basically, you can also equip the keyboard with other keycaps and thus change the design.

Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?

Processing

The keyboard relies on a plastic body and thus seems less valuable at first glance than the Akko Mod007B-HE (for testing), which is made of aluminum and weighs almost 2 kilograms. On the other hand, the weight of the Glorious keyboard remains just under 1 kg. However, Glorious relies on aluminum for the switch plate. For about 20 Euros more, the Akko Mod007B-HE has a significantly higher quality of processing.

The most interesting point, however, is the modularity that Glorious actively advertises. Thanks to the modularity, (almost) all components of the keyboard can be detached and replaced with others. Even the dampening and sealing system can be changed. However, things get quite complicated and fiddly.

Glorious GMMK3 HE side view from right
Glorious GMMK3 HE, side view from right.

Software

Regarding the software, Glorious relies on “Glorious Core”. The software is quite hefty, and you first have to download almost 500 MB. The installation then requires another 1 GB on your hard drive or SSD.

On the other hand, and this surprised me during testing, the software only requires a slim 20 to 30 MB of RAM. This is almost nothing compared to other manufacturers (Logitech, Razer, and Corsair) and is particularly almost absurd in comparison to the software’s gigantic size.

Equally good: Almost all features can also be used without a login or account. The exception is cloud profiles, for which you need a “Glorious ID”.

Glorious GMMK3 HE Software 01
Glorious GMMK3 HE Software 01

Ergonomics

The keyboard is more ergonomic than large keyboards that fill the entire desk due to the small design (75%). Because with a small keyboard, you have more space on the table for your “mouse arm”.

However, in its basic setup, the keyboard is surprisingly high: The lowest point of the body at the front is 2 centimeters, including the spacebar, it is already 3.5 centimeters. A wrist rest is not included in the scope of delivery but can be purchased from the manufacturer for around 25 Euros. I myself purchased a bamboo wrist rest, which makes the key height of the GMMK 3 feel more pleasant.

Glorious GMMK3 HE right side with height profile
Glorious GMMK3 HE, right side with height profile.

The Keys

Under the keycaps of the keyboard are “Glorious Fox HE” switches. These are Hall Effect switches. Magnetic switches are considered to be the fastest switches you can currently use in a keyboard.

Additionally, you can customize the activation of each individual key according to your needs. The settings range from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm. This is generally what other manufacturers of HE switches offer, such as Akko or SteelSeries.

Glorious GMMK3 HE close-up with switches
Glorious GMMK3 HE close-up with switches and keycaps.

At first, it feels unusual when you manually set the keys differently, but it provides you with a speed advantage. For example, if you assign a special ability to the “Q” key and set it to 0.1 mm, the key will trigger with a simple touch.

What are magnetic or Hall Effect switches?

“The gaming keyboard has the abbreviation “HE” in its name, which stands for Hall Effect. Magnetic switches have several advantages for gamers:

  • Magnetic switches are more durable because there is no physical contact between the keycap and the switch. The result is less wear and tear, which leads to a longer lifespan and less pollution since there is no physical element.
  • Additionally, magnetic switches offer a tremendous speed advantage compared to mechanical switches. This is an important point, especially in games where speed matters.
  • Hall Effect switches generally have a customizable actuation distance and are softer and quieter when typing than mechanical switches.

Why does it feel almost like cheating? You can adjust your keys so finely that your reaction speed is significantly faster than that of other players. When you only have to press the keys 0.1 mm deep, it is simply faster than having to press the key all the way down.

At first, this feels unusual, because you might trigger keys too early. This happened to me often enough in everyday life, that I triggered an ultimate ability into nothing because I set the key too finely. However, once you get used to it, you are significantly faster, whether it’s with movements or abilities in the game.

Glorious GMMK3 HE Software 02 Switches
Through the software, you can adjust either all keys or individual keys. Here you can also activate “Rapid Trigger.” Behind it lies a really fun, yet controversial feature.

In this context, I must also mention the “Rapid Trigger” function. With “Rapid Trigger”, the confirmation point of each key can be dynamically adjusted. In contrast, every tiny movement is registered. This is advantageous when you need to press keys very quickly, such as during “strafing” in Counter-Strike.

The discussion is not entirely new among gamers, whether keyboards can make players “too good”. It has even gone so far that certain keyboard features like Rapid Trigger have already been banned in certain shooters. Because this tends to give you an advantage over other players who do not use such modern hardware.

However, I must restrict that I am not a pro when it comes to shooters or other genres. Therefore, my gaming advantages are also limited. In the hands of a professional, this keyboard would likely unleash its potential even more.

How loud is the keyboard? The switches themselves (in my case, Glorious Fox HE) are absolutely silent and not audible. The sound-dampening elements inside the keyboard do a good job. To make a comparison: With the Akko Mod007B-HE, you hear a clear and distinct “click” with every keystroke. With the Glorious keyboard, you only hear the keys, but not the switches or a magnetic (after) click.

Nevertheless, the keyboard itself is anything but quiet. Every keystroke can be clearly heard, and the keys sound almost “rattly”.

Particularly loud and unpleasant is the spacebar. However, I must add that with other keyboards, the spacebar is usually also the weak point when it comes to noise. If you want to use the keyboard in a large office for work, I would rather advise against it.

Title image Glorious GMMK3 HE detail view
Glorious GMMK3 HE, detail view.

Sound test: To illustrate the volume of the keyboard, I recorded three different keyboards while typing quickly. The difference between GMMK3 and Dark Project Midnight can be heard very clearly:

GMMK3 HE 75%, switches: Glorious Fox HE (linear, magnetic):

Sound test keyboard Glorious GMMK3 HE 75

Dark Project Midnight TKL, switches: G3MS Zircon (linear, mechanical):

Sound test keyboard Dark Project Midnight

Corsair K65 Plus Wireless, switches: Corsair MLX Red (linear, mechanical):

Sound test keyboard Corsair K65 Plus Wireless

Conclusion: Good gaming keyboard for too high a price

Is the keyboard worth it? With a recommended retail price of 219 Euros, the gaming keyboard is not exactly cheap, but it is in line with other keyboards with HE technology. If you are looking for a very good, modular keyboard with plenty of settings options, then the Glorious GMMK3 is a very good overall package.

If you don’t need the very fast switches or such extensive options for customizing your keyboard, then there are better and significantly cheaper options for a gaming keyboard.

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What alternatives are there?

  • The Akko Mod007B-HE is currently my recommendation if it’s not sold out: top quality, good switches, and a quiet, crisp typing feel. Only the software is not really good. The price is around 240 Euros.
  • With the SteelSeries Apex Pro (TKL), you also get a very good keyboard with HE switches. The software is a bit overloaded, but you get good battery life and a pleasant typing feel. The price is also around 230 Euros.

More gaming keyboards: Are you looking for further recommendations in the peripherals area? Then take a look at the following buying guide on MeinMMO. Here we explain which keyboards are currently the most worthwhile: The best gaming keyboards you can currently buy

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

A detail in the trailer for Pokémon TCG Pocket shows: A new feature is coming

With the new expansion for Pokémon TCG Pocket, players can apparently look forward to a new card type: Pokémon Equipment.

It’s almost time: The new expansion “Collision of Space and Time” for Pokémon TCG Pocket will be released. The new packs and cards are set to be available in the game on January 30, 2025.

Thanks to the new trailer for the expansion, some of the upcoming cards for Pokémon TCG Pocket are already known. And one of these cards makes it clear that we will be getting a new card type in the game.

In the trailer, the card “Pachirisu-ex” is briefly visible. The interesting part is the effect of the attack “Device Spark”:

If 1 Pokémon Equipment is attached to this Pokémon, this attack does 40 more damage.

So it’s clear: The Pokémon Equipments that you already know from the main trading card game are now also appearing in TCG Pocket. You can even filter your card collection for them right now, as there is already a corresponding button in the search function – just no results yet.

But what kind of cards are these actually? Let’s take a quick look here.

Here you can see the current trailer revealing the expansion:

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

What is Pokémon Equipment in the Pokémon Trading Card Game?

This is Pokémon Equipment: These are cards that essentially correspond to the portable items of your Pokémon from the video games. These equipment cards are considered item cards.

You can attach such equipment to your Pokémon. The equipment remains attached to the Pokémon until it is knocked out or the card is resolved by some other effect. At least in the analog TCG, Pokémon can only hold one equipment at a time.

There are plenty of examples, and accordingly, many effects. Common effects either increase the damage a Pokémon deals or reduce the incoming damage. But there are also plenty of other variations, like effect prevention, reduction of retreat costs, and more.

Which equipment cards will appear in TCG Pocket remains to be seen – as well as how many. Additionally, it is still unclear how exactly the cards will be implemented in the mobile game. However, the Pachirisu effect suggests that we will also be dealing with cards held by Pokémon here. What is certain is: It could introduce some new tactics into the game. In general, this new set could shake up the established meta when looking at certain cards.

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

“I dreamed of this day!” – After 10 years, the sequel to a strategy game has been announced on Steam

A strategy game on Steam is getting an unexpected sequel after 10 years, which is set to be released later this year. In the reveal trailer, the developers announce an early access release for 2025.

What game is this about? We are talking about Endless Legend 2, a strategy game in the style of Civilization, but set in a high-fantasy world. The predecessor was released in September 2014 and is rated “very positive” on Steam.

  • If you still want to catch up on Part 1: On Steam, Endless Legend currently costs only €6.24.

The last few years have been a real odyssey for developer Amplitude – and not just because they took 10 years for the sequel. After Endless Legend, they ventured into rogue-likes, a 4X game in space, and even a direct competitor to the Civilization series

At the end of 2024, they finally parted ways with publisher Sega. Therefore, Endless Legend 2 will be published by Hooded Horse. Other games in the publisher’s catalog include Manor Lords, Against the Storm, and Old World, all of which have been well received by players.

Endless Legend 2 was officially announced for the first time on January 23, 2025. You can see the reveal trailer here:

Start video
Endless Legend 2: The Reveal Trailer for the Strategy Game on Steam

A world with new challenges

What is the game about? Endless Legend 2 leaves the world of the first part behind and takes players to the oceanic Saiadha. However, this is only as paradise-like as a place can be where the tides can make entire seas disappear.

With the changing seasons on Saiadha, sea levels fluctuate enormously. But every catastrophe also offers opportunities:

The ocean floor indeed turns into new regions that are fertile, present dangers, but also offer rewards. And this happens for everyone at the same time. It is like a sudden rush to new land, where everyone knows it is happening.

Romain de Waubert de Genlis (via PC Gamer)

Great anticipation among fans

How great is the interest in the game? Bringing a sequel after 10 years is a risky move. One cannot assume that all players from back then will return – the likelihood is high that they have simply moved on. 

The reveal trailer on the official YouTube channel of the developers has (as of January 24, 11:26 AM) already surpassed 100,000 views. On Hooded Horse’s YouTube channel, there are only about 2,600 views. Fans of the first game are nonetheless happy that a sequel is on the way.

They write in the comments under the two trailers:

  • Pravus Gaming: “I have dreamed of this day!”
  • Maganyos: “YES! I loved the first part! I can’t wait to see how it gets even better. Lots of love for all your games and the world you’ve created for us to enjoy!”
  • apokaboom2317: “Goodbye, Auriga, you will be missed. Now we sail to someone who is even more chaotic.”
  • heliumprime: “What is truly endless are the times I watch this trailer over and over, and the hours I know I will invest in this game.”

When is the game expected to be released? There is still no exact release timeframe. The trailer mentions that Endless Legend 2 will enter early access “soon.” The price for the game is also yet to be determined.

Not only Humankind, but also two other games tried to preempt Civilization 7 and claim the crown of historical 4X strategy. However, they failed: 2 Games wanted to be the new Civilization: But the games are even too much work for Germans, as Steam shows

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

Pokémon GO: Guide to the Community Day Classic with Trasla – How to Make the Most of the Event

On January 25, 2025, the Community Day Classic will take place in Pokémon GO. We’ll show you how to make the most of the event.

What kind of event is this? The Community Day Classic is an event where a Pokémon that has previously had its own Community Day is in focus. The corresponding Pokémon appears in very high numbers during the event, along with some strong bonuses.

In January 2025, you will find Ralts in the Community Day Classic. The Pokémon from Generation 3 has the types Psychic and Fairy. It can initially evolve into Kirlia and then into Gardevoir or Gallade. Only male specimens can evolve into Gallade.

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Pokémon GO reveals the new season Dual Destiny in the trailer

Community Day Classic in January with Ralts – Start & all Event Bonuses

What? Community Day Classic with Ralts
When? Saturday, January 25, 2025 – From 14:00 to 17:00
Exclusive Attack: Synchronoise for Gardevoir and Gallade if you evolve it by 22:00
Bonuses:
– Increased shiny chance for Ralts
– Eggs require only 1/4 of the distance to hatch (if you place them in an incubator during the event)
– Lures and incense last for 3 hours (not the daily adventure incense)
– Snapshot surprises with Ralts
– Field research with Ralts
– PokéStop showcases with Ralts

Other event contents: During the event, you have the chance to complete a free limited research task. You’ll encounter Ralts and receive 4 Sinnoh Stones as rewards. You need these stones to evolve Kirlia into Gallade.

Additionally, you can receive another free special research task by logging in during the event. You have a whole week after the event ends to complete this task. You can expect a Ralts with a special background as a reward.

You can also purchase a ticket for $2 (about €2) that includes a special research task. As rewards, you will receive a premium battle pass, an XL candy, and 3 encounters with Ralts including a special background.

Is Ralts worth it?

For collectors: The event provides the perfect opportunity to snag a shiny version of Ralts. If you haven’t had any luck so far, you can catch a total of 4 shiny monsters in your Pokédex with all evolutions.

For fighters: If you evolve Ralts into Gardevoir, you will have one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO of the Fairy type. Unfortunately, Gallade is not worth using in raids. Neither Pokémon is suitable for the battle league, so you should rely on other monsters.

How to prepare for the Community Day Classic in January

Make space: To catch as many Ralts as possible, you need space in your Pokémon storage. This way, you can prevent having to send Pokémon repeatedly during the event.

If you still need to quickly sort Pokémon during the event, our trick for quickly sorting Pokémon may help you.

Prepare items: There are several items that you need for the event or that can increase your yield:

  • Balls: No ball – no catch. So make sure to gather some balls in advance so you can catch as many Ralts as possible.
  • Razz Berries: Using a Razz Berry, you can double the amount of candy you receive when catching.
  • Lure and incense: By using lures and incense, the duration of which has even been increased to 3 hours when activated during the event, you can attract more wild Pokémon.

Which Mega Pokémon should I activate? If you have the right Mega evolution activated during the event, you can earn an additional candy for each Ralts catch. To enjoy this bonus, you need to activate one of the following Mega evolutions:

  • Mega Gardevoir
  • Mega Gallade
  • Mega Diancie
  • Mega Altaria
  • Mega Alakazam
  • Mega Latias
  • Mega Latios
  • Mega Manectric

During the Community Day Classic, another event will also take place, where Meikro will appear in the game for the first time. You can hatch this Pokémon from eggs, which will go even faster due to the bonus from the Community Day Classic, increasing your chances of catching Meikro in Pokémon GO.

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

Monster Hunter Wilds lets you carry a second weapon, but is it worth it for everyone?

Monster Hunter Wilds brings some new features that will impact gameplay. One of these is the ability to take two weapons on the hunt. Fans are wondering in which combinations this makes sense.

What does the feature do? In Monster Hunter Wilds, for the first time you can carry two weapons. It doesn’t matter which combinations you choose. Whether two identical weapons, one melee and one ranged weapon, or weapons with different elements: You can fully customize your combinations to suit your needs.

The feature is intended to be optional for hunts and to give players more freedom in their play style. Fans are asking in which situations it makes sense to switch weapons during a hunt or even in the middle of a fight. They find one variant particularly not very sensible at first.

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Monster Hunter Wilds: 20-minütiges Gameplay zeigt Karminwald und neue Monster

Switching from ranged main to melee?

The community has various scenarios ready: Since the focus in Monster Hunter Wilds will also be on hunts with multiple monsters, the feature offers strong possibilities. User realPanzerHAnz shares in his thread on Reddit various possibilities in which he can imagine that the new feature will be very useful.

Many other players comment with their ideas below. The most common ones are:

  • You switch between the same weapon types but with different abilities or elements to counter various monsters or weather effects.
  • As a melee main, you carry a ranged weapon to counter flying monsters and keep particularly fast monsters at bay.
  • With two rifle weapon types, you can easily switch between close and long range or different types of ammunition.
  • You take the same weapon twice to achieve double sharpness and not have to sharpen immediately.
  • You pack one sharp and one blunt weapon to be able to focus on different monster parts.

Is it worth it for ranged mains? Only the combination of a ranged main taking a melee weapon and switching during the hunt seems to generate more discussion. User realPanzerHAnz is not sure if there is a situation where this variant makes sense.

He can only imagine that it makes sense when you want to sever certain monster parts or there are monsters that you can’t do much against from a distance.

But the players in the comments below also have some suggestions for this. Primarily, they suggest ways to enhance yourself and your teammates with the hunting horn. After that, you could switch to your main weapon and the buffs would remain. They also confirm that they think the options realPanzerHAnz lists are possible.

In addition to the new weapon switching feature, Monster Hunter Wilds also offers a whole range of other innovations that will have a greater impact on gameplay. We have picked out the best for you and show you why they make the new installment better than its predecessors: 8 new features that make Monster Hunter Wilds better than its predecessors

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

Since yesterday, I have already seen the new trailer for South of Midnight 12 times and feel all about the Gothic folklore vibe

As part of the Xbox Showcase on January 23, a story trailer for South of Midnight was shown, and MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya feels that the game was developed personally for her. For her, it looks like a very special game that you don’t get to see very often.

I can’t stop watching this trailer. I want to dive into the world of South of Midnight now and explore the mystery with the protagonist Hazel, which suddenly allows catfish to speak and undead to strum Dark Country on the guitar.

Before we continue, take a look at the trailer yourself:

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South of Midnight: Story Trailer Shows Dark Figures from American Folklore

I know that the aesthetics and atmosphere won’t appeal to everyone. But I also don’t think that South of Midnight wants to be a game that everyone likes. I respect that.

For me, this dark folklore fairy tale from the South is just one vibe that you either feel or you don’t.

A sarcastic catfish as a companion and in stop-motion

If you’re encountering this game for the first time, let me summarize what you can expect here.

South of Midnight is a new action-adventure game from Compulsion Games. A tornado devastates the home of the protagonist Hazel, who lives deep in the American South. Suddenly, she develops mysterious powers that allow her to see a supernatural world. She encounters creatures from folklore, which can either be friendly or malevolent. Additionally, her mother has disappeared after the storm, and now Hazel sets out to search for her.

The talking giant catfish that accompanies Hazel on her journey has already stolen my heart. I would immediately go on an adventure with him.

What I find particularly cool is that Compulsion Games is actually using stop-motion technology here, which I simply love. Movies like Coraline or Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio have been on repeat for years with me. Not only is the technique visually replicated, but actual puppets and models were built that are used in the game.

This also makes the gameplay look a bit clunky, which is a bold decision. Because some people will definitely have an issue with this, as it strays from the norm. Personally, I love it.

Soulslike combat with fantastically evil bosses

The new trailer offers small glimpses into the boss enemies we have to defeat with Hazel. Among them is this amazingly cool spider lady named Molly. Her trademark is red thread that she spins, and she wears a patchwork quilt made of children’s clothing. Because Molly snatches up children and is part of Southern folklore.

Combat could become one of the game’s weaknesses, as it looks quite slow. But man, are the bosses beautifully designed!

I already know that I will play South of Midnight mainly for the atmosphere and story. By the way, music is also supposed to play a big role, with each monster coming with its unique song. And what can I say… I have a playlist called “Gothic-Dark-Country,” and the trailers have totally hooked me here as well.

South of Midnight releases on April 8, and I hope that the entire game can ultimately maintain the vibe of the trailers consistently.

The new Doom was also presented at the Xbox Showcase: Doom: The Dark Ages comes out in May – Fans celebrate the new combat style with shields and “ridiculously strong guns”

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