In The Lord of the Rings, there is a place that is worse than Mordor

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Mordor in The Lord of the Rings is considered one of the most terrible and dangerous places in all of Middle-earth. However, in the movies, you only get a small glimpse into a world that harbors many other dangers. One of the most dangerous places is probably Nan Dungortheb.

What is Nan Dungortheb? Ered Gorgoroth is a mountain range in the north of Beleriand. There lies the valley called Nan Dungortheb, which is also known as Dark Valley of Death. In the Silmarillion, you learn more about this terrible place, which originated thousands of years before the events of the films.

Similar to Mordor, Nan Dungortheb is also a place of evil, yet it differs significantly from Mordor, primarily due to the source and nature of the malign forces.

The Rings of Power gives you more insights into the world of Middle-earth:

Start video
Lord of the Rings – The Rings of Power: The official trailer for the series

The source of evil is a powerful being

Why is Nan Dungortheb so dangerous? Mordor is a place where evil is organized and directed. A ruler decides on the actions of the minions. Nan Dungortheb is different. The place was created by the being Ungoliant, who fled before Morgoth’s Balrogs after being betrayed. Morgoth was one of the most malicious beings in Middle-earth.

The spider being Ungoliant bred countless horrific creatures there. The offspring infested and covered everything in Nan Dungortheb with their webs, completely blocking the valley from light.

No other beings live in Nan Dungortheb either. There were no camps or settlements of other creatures nearby, and Morgoth’s armies were said to have avoided the place as well. It is like a dark labyrinth, surrounded by silence but also by thousands of malignant creatures.

The spider beings in Nan Dungortheb are instinctively destructive. They do not act for a greater goal but solely out of hunger and malignant nature. Anyone who gets lost there will most likely die in a brutal manner and end up as food.

The man Beren was one of the two known individuals to manage to travel through Nan Dungortheb and survive. However, he seemed to be so traumatized by the experiences that he never spoke about the place and the experience within it. Nan Dungortheb is pure chaos and thus a place full of horror.

More on the topic
More on the topic
The Lord of the Rings: Frodo and his Companions in the Power Ranking – Who is the Strongest?
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
A legendary actor finally clarified the question of whether Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings is better
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
The Lord of the Rings: 7 Differences Between the Books and Movies
von Christoph Waldboth

In the movies, you can only catch a small glimpse of the world of Middle-earth. Tolkien created a vast and complex world, filled with creatures and characters that had a significant influence. One of them is Tom Bombadil: A character in Lord of the Rings is so powerful and could have changed everything, yet he is absent in the films.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3DJuegos
  2. tolkiengateway.net
  3. CBR
  4. Bildquelle: Filmstarts

Player reportedly banned for 50 years for wanting to skip dialogues in Genshin Impact

Esmeralda Eickemeyer Esmeralda Eickemeyer Reading time 2 minutes

A player of Genshin Impact recently lost his account, into which he had invested a lot of time: He was banned for 50 years due to the use of an auto-clicker to skip dialogues. This drastic measure has sparked heated discussions in the community.

How did the account ban happen? The affected player reported on TikTok that his high-ranking account was banned for 50 years. He claimed he did nothing wrong, but only used a so-called auto-clicker tool to skip dialogues in the game.

This is a program that automates repetitive actions—in this case, clicking through text passages.

The news is currently causing discussions on YouTube, as the auto-clicker is not a cheat that directly influences gameplay or gives the player an unfair advantage. The question arises of where exactly the line between allowed convenience and prohibited interference lies.

Start video
Genshin Impact: Trailer shows gameplay for Natlan

Players help themselves because there is no official solution

Where was the problem? The developers of Genshin Impact, HoYoverse, adopt a strict zero-tolerance policy against the use of third-party tools or mods. This leads to even seemingly harmless tools like auto-clickers being considered a violation of rules because they alter the gameplay mechanics.

No distinction is made between simple “quality of life” tools and unfair cheats.

From the developers’ perspective, such programs could represent a gray area that might jeopardize control over the gaming experience in the long run.

A Reddit post supports this view and explains that HoYoverse seems to pursue a clear artistic vision in which dialogues and narrative elements are essential to the gaming experience.

“A good example is the Meropide section: It dragged on endlessly and made me really tired of the place, almost as if I was really a prisoner of the fortress. If I could have skipped the dialogues, this section would not have had the same effect on me,” writes the Reddit user.

However, other community members long for an official feature to skip lengthy dialogues. One user on Reddit says: “Most of the Genshin fandom doesn’t consider that some people do not have the time to watch 4 hours of dialogues but still want to play the FPS parts of the game.”

Should players be worried about their accounts? For some players in the comments, the question now arises whether they too risk being banned. In principle, as long as one adheres to HoYoverse’s terms of use and does not use third-party software or mods, there is no reason for concern.

Moreover, the long-term ban of a player is probably rather unusual. A user on YouTube explains that there are warnings before a final ban: The first ban lasts 7 days, the second 30 days. Thus, the banned player would have been sufficiently warned and should not be overly surprised by the harsh ban. However, this cannot be verified.

More on the topic
With Arknights: Endfield launching today, it is the biggest competitor to Genshin Impact in years, but it has a special feature
von Cedric Holmeier
New anime game combines Genshin and Satisfactory, and over 35 million players are eager to play it
von Cedric Holmeier

For the banned player, it might be worth taking a look at alternatives to the RPG: 6 games like Genshin Impact. After all, they now have 50 years to spare. Some of the games even have such a loyal community that they were nominated for the audience award at the Game Awards.

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

The 5 Best Weapons for Starting in Monster Hunter Wilds

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 3 minutes

Weapons play a crucial role in Monster Hunter – especially in the latest installment Monster Hunter Wilds. With around 14 different weapon types, it is often not easy for newcomers to find the right one.

Why is the right weapon important? The chosen weapon significantly shapes the gaming experience of every hunter. It is the loyal tool that accompanies players on their hunts and has a great influence on play style.

Among the 14 different weapon types, there is theoretically something for every player type. For example, there are particularly fast weapons, weapons that provide high mobility, or those that offer some protection alongside attacks. There are also weapons geared towards close or ranged combat.

The dilemma of choice often leads players to initially choose the particularly “cool” or “exotic” weapon types because they attract interest. However, these often prove to be complex in terms of handling.

As a result, it’s common for newcomers to make poor choices when selecting their weapons. They underestimate that an inappropriate weapon can not only ruin their enjoyment of the game but also make it so that they find it hard to get into Monster Hunter.

To make the selection easier for you, MeinMMO introduces which weapons are particularly accessible and why they can be a good choice at the beginning.

Who is writing here? MeinMMO editor Alexander Schürlein has over 1,000 hours of experience as a monster hunter. Over the years, he has played many titles on various consoles and prefers to hunt with dual blades.

[toc]

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: Daisy Ridley explains the lore

Sword and Shield

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: This is how it plays with Sword & Shield

Even though Sword and Shield may initially sound boring compared to other weapon types, this combination is probably the most versatile option for newcomers. It allows for fast attacks and simple dodging maneuvers, keeping players flexible and preventing them from being caught up in long combos. At the same time, the shield provides the ability to block attacks, which offers more safety for newcomers.

A significant advantage is also that players can use items, such as healing potions, without having to sheathe their weapon. The simple combos and effectiveness against many monsters make Sword and Shield the perfect choice for beginners who want to learn the game and its mechanics at a comfortable pace.

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

Dual Blades 

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: Trailer for the action RPG showcases the dual blades

Dual blades are particularly accessible because they allow for quick consecutive attacks and are relatively easy to handle. Their high mobility enables players to dodge easily and makes them less vulnerable to monster attacks. The Demon Mode provides an easy way to temporarily increase damage at the press of a button when the opportunity arises.

Additionally, dual blades do not have complicated charging or timing elements, making it easier for newcomers to get started. They can focus entirely on attacking and dodging. This dynamic makes dual blades ideal for players who want to jump into the action without having to practice combos beforehand.

On the next page, we continue with the hammer, the bow guns, and the lance.

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

Head of Warhammer explains why Space Marine 2 is so successful and why the next title doesn’t have to be.

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the most successful games of 2024. Now the brand’s head is talking about the future.

How successful was Space Marine 2? Launched in September 2024, Space Marine 2 is among the most successful games of the year. On Steam, it has over 100,000 reviews and is 83% positive. The shooter is praised for its dynamic gameplay as well as its good level design.

Financially, the game has also paid off for the developers at Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment. With over 4.5 million units sold by October 2024, the third-person shooter has become a hit on Steam (via X.com).

The CCO of Saber Interactive even stated that Space Marine 2 fundamentally changed the studio’s perspective, and they now view things “through a different lens” (via ign.com). An important reason for the success is the combination of accessible gameplay with the faithful implementation of the “Warhammer 40,000” universe. Plenty of action and a fitting atmosphere seem to be the reason for the great success.

But not only the developers and publisher of Space Marine 2 have reason to be happy. The good sales figures also mean high revenue for the licensors Games Workshop.

Here you can see what content to expect in Space Marine 2 soon:

Start video
Space Marine 2 shows in the video what content is coming in the next few months

This is what the future of Warhammer as a video game looks like

What does the head say about the future of the brand? Despite the success of Space Marine 2, Games Workshop CEO Kevin Rountree warns against taking success for granted. In a recent financial report, he explains: “We recognize that successes like this for Warhammer are not a given. Of course, we are already looking for the next big title. However, we remain cautious in forecasting royalties.” (via ctfassets.net)

The reason for the good revenues in Games Workshop’s gaming sector is, according to Rountree, both the established games and the licensing revenues generated through Space Marine 2 and the racing game Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks. The high-quality gaming experience of Space Marine 2 appears to have fit perfectly into Games Workshop’s strategy.

In the future, the company plans to maintain the momentum gained from Space Marine 2 but wants to approach it with realistic expectations, as replicating such success is not guaranteed.

What about the next Warhammer game? After the mega hit Space Marine 2, Games Workshop is already working on new projects for the brand. One highlight is expected to be Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II, which is currently being developed by Bulwark Studios. Details or even a release date are not yet known.

Besides Space Marine 2, Games Workshop was also able to achieve a small success with Speed Freeks, a combat racing game by Caged Element. The game has 78% positive reviews on Steam. With a peak player count of 66 during weekends on Steam (via SteamDB), the player base, however, is very small.

More on the topic
One of the best games of Warhammer 40,000 in recent years damages its reputation with a lousy DLC, now the devs are apologizing
von Ody
A loyal order of the Space Marines is so brutal that it would be better suited to Chaos – Soon you will be able to play it yourself
von Benedict Grothaus
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 shows off what the new class can do: puts the iconic Omnissian Axe in the spotlight
von Dariusz Müller

With Space Marine 2, Games Workshop has set high expectations for revenue from the licensing business, so it’s logical that the company is on the lookout for the next big hit. A Warhammer MMO is also said to be in the works. What we know about it can be found here: A new MMO for Warhammer sounds almost too good to be true – Here’s what we know

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gamesradar.com
  2. gamesradar.com
  3. gamespot.com
  4. ctfassets.net

Marvel Rivals: 7 characters you don’t know from the MCU

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 5 minutes

Marvel Rivals offers many superheroes from the Marvel universe as playable heroes as a hero shooter. Not only familiar faces appear, but also many heroes that you might not know from the MCU universe of games and movies. MeinMMO explains 7 of the most unusual heroes to you.

How was the list created? In this list, we show you the most unusual heroes that you can play in Marvel Rivals. Several factors come into play:

  • No major appearance in MCU series or films
  • It may be that the characters on this list appeared in other films, but they had no significant role there
  • The mentioned characters have unusual abilities in the comics and other media

Feel free to write in the comments which quirky hero you would like to see for the game.

You can watch a trailer for the new season of Marvel Rivals here:

Start video
Marvel Rivals kicks off the first season with a new trailer

1. Peni Parker

Peni Parker in the movie Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse

First appearance: Edge of Spider-Verse No. 5 (2014)

Who is Peni Parker? Instead of gaining spider powers through a bite, Peni is a mech pilot. A radioactive spider helps her control her bionic suit SP//dr. After the death of her father, she takes on the role of New York’s protector. Besides that, she is an ordinary student (via Marvel.com).

She is a clear reference to mech anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Gundam.

What are Peni Parker’s abilities?

  • The ability to control the mech suit SP//dr
  • Genetic connection with a radioactive spider

2. Psylocke

Psylocke in X-Men Apocalypse
Psylocke in the movie X-Men: Apocalypse

First appearance: Captain Britain No. 8 (1976)

Who is Psylocke? Elizabeth Braddock is a mutant who has already been seen on screen in X-Men: Apocalypse. Her trademark is her psionic sword. However, she can also shoot projectiles with her telekinetic and psionic powers. Her twin brother is another superhero named Captain Britain (via Marvel.com).

What are Psylocke’s abilities?

  • Telekinetic katana/sword
  • Telekinetic abilities
  • Immunity to telekinetic manipulation
  • Trained in martial arts
  • Mind manipulation
  • Trained assassin
  • Superhuman strength, from Captain Britain’s suit
  • Some variations can: fly and create barriers
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Marvel Database
  2. Marvel.com
Pages: 1 2 3

The developers hide a scene in Pokémon TCG Pocket where even Ash had to cry in the anime

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The anime adaptation of Pokémon had some emotional moments. In one, Ash even had to cry. This scene made it into a card in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

What kind of scene is this? In the 21st episode of the Pokémon anime, Ash, Brock, and Misty encounter several Butterfree. They perform a dance ritual to find a partner for life. Ash lets his own Butterfree out of the Pokéball, but there are no other Pokémon interested in his butterfly Pokémon.

By the end of the episode, however, Ash’s Butterfree meets a partner. The two fall in love, and Ash accepts that he must send his Pokémon into the wild. The scene takes place against a beautiful sunset, and there are several scenes showing how the little Caterpie transformed into the Butterfree that Ash is now saying goodbye to.

The scene was particularly sad because Caterpie was Ash’s first self-caught Pokémon. Not only did Ash shed a few tears at the farewell, but many viewers also cried along with the ten-year-old Pokémon Trainer. Those who want to watch the scene again can do so on the YouTube channel of Netflix Anime.

MeinMMO reveals more reasons why Pokémon TCG Pocket is pure nostalgia:

Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket scores with pure nostalgia

A card in Pokémon TCG Pocket reminds of a sad moment

In which card is it featured? In the Reddit forum, a user shares the image of the Butterfree card from Pokémon TCG Pocket. The image shows a Butterfree in the foreground and another in the background. The two Pokémon are flying towards the sunset.

The illustration bears a strong resemblance to the scene you know from the anime. Therefore, many users are reminded of their childhood when they cried along with Ash at the farewell of Butterfree.

What do the users say? Many are convinced that the image of the card alludes to the scene in the anime. User Bluepaynxex believes that the developers of the mobile game are great fans of Pokémon, which is reflected in their attention to detail in designing the cards. A proof of this is the many locations from the video games that are hidden in the cards.

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

Some commenters write about how emotional this scene makes them. One user asks who is cutting onions, and another replies that they still haven’t gotten over this scene.

In the game itself, Butterfree is unfortunately not a strong card. If you want to build one of the strongest decks, you should take a look at MeinMMO’s Tier List. Here you will find an overview of all strengths, weaknesses, and a ranking: Pokémon TCG Pocket: Tier List of the best Meta decks

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

“I don’t want it to challenge me” – Players discuss whether Diablo 4 is too easy, praising it for its casual-friendliness

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

The question of whether Diablo 4 is too easy continues to spark discussions among players. On Reddit, the community provides a clear answer – and it primarily relates to players’ expectations.

What kind of discussion is this? Compared to Path of Exile 2, which officially launched in Early Access in December 2024, Diablo 4 is significantly less complex. While PoE 2 requires players to “study” numerous build options and an absurdly large skill tree, its biggest competitor is perfect for casual players. And for the “gamer dads” who want to have a few relaxed gaming hours after work.

Blizzard has removed the often criticized world tiers in Diablo 4 and replaced them with new difficulty levels. However, even those were still too easy for the experts among the players. One of them is convinced: Anyone can “crush” these with a strong build. However, one player notes that Diablo 4 is not that simple at all, but actually “shockingly complex”. Provided, of course, that one doesn’t rely too much on prefabricated builds.

On Reddit, a user now asks whether the community truly believes that the game is too easy. Especially when disregarding the OP builds.

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

“Diablo 4 is my go-to for relaxed sessions”

What response does the player get? The general sentiment in the comments in the post is that while Diablo 4 is not difficult, that’s actually a good thing. Players use the game to unwind. They want to slay a few monsters without having to overthink.

We summarize a few comments for you:

  • AlisonSandraGator writes: “I like that it’s easy. It’s not a game that is supposed to challenge me. It’s a game I play when I want to listen to podcasts and just relax while taking down monsters.”
  • SuperDoubleDecker writes: “I’m a ‘filthy casual’ and I don’t play for the challenge. I play to mindlessly blow things up. I guess for people who play a game for 10 hours every day, it’s all very easy and trivial. Most people don’t do that.”
  • Minute_Ad2642 says: “Diablo 4 is extremely easy, but it’s fun.”
  • Dune6667 advises: “For people who think the game is too easy: I suggest starting the new season with a class you’ve never played before, without checking any online guides.”
  • Soggy-North4085 writes: “I just want to relax, think of a fun build (not one that a content creator made), and kill hordes of enemies while collecting loot. I come from loot shooters […]. I’ve been playing Diablo 4 since the beta and love it.”
  • Gumijohn explains: “If I want to play something challenging, I start Path of Exile 2. Diablo 4 is my go-to for relaxed sessions.”

For some, it was also the entry into the ARPG genre. Objective-Air5639 writes: “This was my first Diablo game, and I think it was a nice introduction to a game of this type. I have since switched to Path of Exile 2, and the game is super challenging.”

More about Diablo 4
Diablo 4: Which class will you play in Lord of Hatred? Ask the Wheel of Fortune
von Christos Tsogos
“Mama is back”: Fans of Diablo 4 thought the big villain was dead, now he is coming back
von Nico Scheibel

In the comments, heartbroken_nerd notes that while Diablo 4 is overall too easy, many of these changes stem from the community’s wishes. Therefore, it is difficult to hold Blizzard accountable. He explains that most players are eager to play on Torment 4. Other Torment levels are not being considered, although that would make sense. This leads to a “power creep.” “Making the game harder would ultimately mean taking back all the buffs that people explicitly wanted,” he summarizes.

Earlier, the community criticized that Blizzard seemingly wants to please everyone. Whatever Diablo 4 was supposed to be at release has been diluted by several changes, according to the players. More on this can be found here: Players complain: Diablo 4 wants to please everyone and as a result is worse than it could be

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

2 developers secretly pull overtime so that the favorite creature in Skyrim makes it

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

In an interview with KIWI TALKZ, developer Dennis Mejillones talked about working at Bethesda on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Together with another developer, he saved a creature from being cut from the game: the werewolf.

Which creatures are we talking about? The werewolves are powerful creatures in Skyrim. Players can become one themselves by completing the Companions questline. Infected with lycanthropy, players can transform into a werewolf at any time and slay their enemies with bare claws.

Start video
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Official Trailer

The werewolves were “really bad”

Why shouldn’t there be werewolves? According to Dennis Mejillones, the original concept of werewolves was “really bad”. They were essentially just humans with a dog head. It was a kind of Khajiit, just in dog form.

With this concept, Bethesda did not want werewolves in their game and discarded the idea for a while.

Developers secretly work overtime

This is what the developers did: Developers Dennis Mejillones and his colleague Jeremy Bryant were not satisfied with that. Secretly, they worked on another demo of the werewolves outside of their working hours.

They came up with a new concept for the creatures. They should not be normal humans, but must truly be monsters. Just like they are depicted in other media.

Dennis Mejillones states in the interview:

I basically designed a large, animalistic werewolf, and Jeremy and I worked on getting it into the game. We really did it secretly – we stayed late at night, did everything possible to get a playable demo together. I remember we kept it very, very quiet.

More on the topic
Windrose: Weapons in the Tier List – These You Should Take
von Christos Tsogos
Windrose: Mods – The best ones you can currently use
von Alexander Mehrwald
Conan Exiles receives a huge update on Steam, reducing the game’s size by 80 GB
von Benedict Grothaus

Eventually, they presented their new concept and demo to Todd Howard himself. He was thrilled and included the werewolves, as we know them now, in Skyrim. Todd Howard even ignored the objections and concerns of other developers who still doubted the werewolves.

You can watch the entire interview on YouTube here:

Recommended editorial content

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

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

In conclusion, Dennis Mejillones says that the idea was probably only taken because he could present a playable demo. If it had only stayed at models, the werewolves wouldn’t have made it into the role-playing game.

Working at Bethesda doesn’t seem to have always been satisfactory for all developers. This developer left the studio because there were simply too many meetings he had to attend: He left Bethesda because there were too many meetings – Now he is making an open world that is much larger than Skyrim

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

Really good gamers raise $2.5 million for a good cause

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The fundraising campaign Awesome Games Done Quick kicks off 2025 with over 2.5 million US dollars in collected donations. The reason for this is gamers showcasing their skills in speedrunning.

What kind of fundraising campaign is this? Awesome Games Done Quick is an annual event where gamers come together for various speedruns of games. Donations are collected, often for the Prevent Cancer Foundation or the Doctors Without Borders Foundation.

A speedrun is about completing a game as quickly as possible. There are different categories with their own rules. For example, games can be completed using or not using glitches and bugs. The version of a game also plays a role.

Speedrunners can apply with their speedrun for the event and are then assigned a time and a stage. A live audience watches the speedrun, and the event is simultaneously broadcasted on the Twitch channel GamesDoneQuick. Afterward, the individual speedruns are uploaded to the namesake YouTube channel.

This year, Games Done Quick took place from January 5 to 12.

Feel free to check out this interview with Bisalina, who talks about the speedrunning scene:

Start video
Interview with Bisalina – This is the current speedrunning scene and its development over the years

Speedrunning for a good cause

How much money was raised? This year’s event raised a total of 2,556,305 US dollars for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The foundation focuses on programs that ensure cancer can be detected more quickly or, ideally, completely prevented.

By offering their own categories or special actions in the upcoming video games, viewers are encouraged to donate more. For example, viewers can decide which ending they want to see in a video game. They can then donate for their preferred ending, and all proceeds benefit the foundation in the end.

Overall, Games Done Quick has raised over 54 million US dollars in its 15-year history. The highest revenue was in the summer of 2022 with 3.4 million US dollars.

Speedrun with live band

A special highlight of the fundraising campaign was the speedrun by Chuckles825, who played Crazy Taxi while a live band provided the music in the background. They covered the songs featured in the game.

Every time the speedrunner made a mistake, such as failing to complete a level, the band would start playing again. Additionally, the speedrun involved the live audience. With their donations, the viewers could decide which vehicle the speedrunner had to use.

You can watch the speedrun on YouTube here:

Recommended editorial content

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

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content
More on the topic
Windrose: Weapons in the Tier List – These You Should Take
von Christos Tsogos
Windrose: Mods – The best ones you can currently use
von Alexander Mehrwald
Conan Exiles receives a huge update on Steam, reducing the game’s size by 80 GB
von Benedict Grothaus

Games Done Quick is a great opportunity for speedrunners to showcase their special skills. A very special speedrun record was broken by the Twitch streamer QTCinderella: Twitch streamer QTCinderella breaks speedrun records with cookies, causing chaos in the community

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

The Finale of Demon Slayer Receives a Film Trilogy – But Germany Might Have to Wait Longer

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The grand finale of Demon Slayer will no longer be shown as a season, but as a film trilogy. Thanks to several leaks, we also know when the first anime film will premiere in theaters in Germany.

When is it happening? In Germany, the first film of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is scheduled to premiere on September 25, 2025. This is relatively late compared to when the anime will premiere in other countries:

  • In France, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is set to premiere on September 17, 2025 (via ComingSoon.net), which is about a week before the German release.
  • Fans in the USA might get to see the film even earlier: it is expected to hit theaters on September 12, 2025 (via X). That would be almost 2 weeks ahead of Germany.

It has happened before that anime films start in different countries at different times. One Piece Film: Red premiered on August 6, 2022, while in Germany it didn’t release until October 11, 2022.

You can watch the teaser trailer for the Infinity Castle here:

Start video
Demon Slayer: Trailer for the Infinity Castle Arc Movie

German cinema wants to obscure the film, gets everything wrong in the process

Where does the leak come from? The leak comes from CineStar, a cinema chain in Germany. The film was briefly listed there as an “Untitled Sony/Crunchyroll/Aniplex” event film, stating the exact release date of September 25, 2025. The page has since been deleted.

The big mistake: Both in the link and in the film description, it stated that the film is Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. If you want to verify this leak yourself, you can access the page via Web Archive.org.

More on the topic of 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 I see the film? Since CineStar has already listed the film, we can assume that it will be shown in participating theaters of the chain. Presumably, Infinity Castle will then be available on the anime streaming service Crunchyroll after a few weeks. The exact timing has not yet been disclosed.

When will the other films come out? Unfortunately, there is still no information about the second and third films. We suspect that they will release at one-year intervals, so in 2026 and 2027.

For the Demon Slayer anime, one element was invented that does not exist in the manga. However, this leads to spectacular battles, for which the anime is known. You can find out what this is about here: Demon Slayer deceives its viewers in the anime about what fans love the most

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

EA FC 25: Thunderstruck Tracker – All players, upgrades and dates

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 4 minutes

The Thunderstruck event brought a series of new cards to EA FC 25 that have the chance for upgrades. With our tracker on MeinMMO, you are well informed about the progress and improvements of all players. We also show you when the stars have the next opportunity for upgrades.

Update from January 16, 2025 (09:00 AM): We have updated the tracker with the latest, detailed upgrades. Only Svenja Huth from VfL Wolfsburg still has the chance for upgrades.

What is Thunderstruck as an event? The promo brought really strong players and icons to Ultimate Team. All cards can even become better over the next few weeks.

The players’ upgrades depend on the real performances of their clubs (for icons, their former clubs). It doesn’t matter whether the player appears on the card itself.

How do players receive upgrades? To receive improvements, the teams of the players must meet the following requirements:

  • The team wins 2 of the next 5 league matches → +2 PlayStyles (PS) and 1 Role+
    • for women: 1 of the next 5 league matches → +2 PlayStyles (PS) and 1 Role+
  • The team scores 6 goals in the next 5 league matches → +1 Overall Rating (OVR) and 1 Role+
    • for women: 4 goals in the next 5 league matches → +1 Overall Rating (OVR) and 1 Role+

All matches from November 29, 2024, will be considered for progress.

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

Thunderstruck Tracker: All Players, Upgrades, and Dates

This is what the Thunderstruck Tracker offers you: The table shows you players, ratings, clubs, and positions. Improved ratings are bold and marked with a ⬆️. Behind that, you can see all new PlayStyles of the cards including those that have been added through the upgrades.

In the columns “Wins”/”Goals” you can see the progress for the improvements. If the player has met the requirement, you will see it marked with a green check ✅. You can also identify behind it which new player role is available.

The last two columns provide information about when the player has the next chance for upgrades or whether they still have open matches available.

To keep track of the total of 54 Thunderstruck cards, we have divided them into players and icons.

All Thunderstruck Players (37 Cards)

Player (Rating)Club (Position)new PlayStyles (compared to Gold)Wins/GoalsGoalsnext matchopen
Mbappé (94)⬆️Real Madrid (ST)-Unyielding.
-Lob		2/2✅
Setpoint+		6/6✅
Wing Motor+		Upgrades received/
De Bruyne (93)⬆️Manchester City (CM)-Curled Shot
-Technique		1/2❌6/6✅
Box-to-Box+		//
Foden (92)⬆️Manchester City (RF)-Curled Shot
-Quick Step
-Cutting Pass
-Hard Pass		1/2❌6/6✅
Shadowstorm Pro+		//
Rashford (92)⬆️Manchester United (LM)-Curled Shot
-Unyielding.
-Hard Pass
-Tricks
2/2✅
Wing Motor+
6/6✅
Wing+		Upgrades received/
Reiten (91)⬆️FC Chelsea (LM)-Technique
-Flair		1/1✅
Wing Motor+		4/4✅
Half Wing+		Upgrades received/
Valverde (91)⬆️Real Madrid (CM)-Acrobatic.
-Deciding Pass		2/2✅
Inside Storm Pro+		6/6✅
Security+		Upgrades received/
Gyökeres (90)Sporting Lisbon (ST)-Powerful.
-Speed
-In the air
-Powerful Header.
-Quick Step
-Lob		2/2✅
Setpoint+		5/6❌//
Pajor (90)⬆️FC Barcelona (ST)-Curled Shot
-Technique
-Powerful.
-Unyielding.
-Acrobatic.
-Tiki-Taka		1/1✅
Setpoint+		4/4✅
Wing+		Upgrades received/
Barella (90)⬆️Lombardia FC* (CM)-Deciding Pass
-Long Pass
-Edge		2/2✅
Box-to-Box+		6/6✅
Motor+		Upgrades received/
Saka (90)⬆️FC Arsenal (RF)-Speed
-First Touch
-Unyielding.		2/2✅
Wing Motor+		6/6✅
Wing Midfielder Pro+		Upgrades received/
Saliba (90)⬆️FC Arsenal (CB)-Block
-Intercept
-Edge
-Acrobatic.
-In the air
-Deciding Pass		2/2✅
Stopper++		6/6✅
Active Defender++		Upgrades received/
Karchaoui (90)⬆️Paris Saint-Germain (LB)-Intercept
-Calm		1/1✅
Wing Defender+		4/4✅
Outside Defender+		Upgrades received/
Koundé (89)⬆️FC Barcelona (RB)-Intercept
-Hard Pass		1/2❌6/6✅
Defending Pro+		//
Olise (89)⬆️FC Bayern (RM)-Speed
-Tricks		2/2✅
Shadowstorm Pro+		6/6✅
Motor+		Upgrades received/
Isak (89)⬆️Newcastle United (ST)-Technique
-Trivela
-Powerful Header
-Powerful Shot		2/2✅
Shooting Pro++		6/6✅
False 9+		Upgrades received/
Zaha (88)⬆️Olympique Lyon (LM)-Curled Shot
-Trivela
-Hard Pass		2/2✅
Wing+		6/6✅
Wing Motor+		Upgrades received/
Kolo Muani (88)⬆️Paris Saint-Germain (ST)-First Touch
-In the air
-Trivela
-Powerful Shot		2/2✅
Setpoint+		6/6✅
Shooting Pro++		Upgrades received/
Reijnders (88)⬆️Milano FC* (CM)-Quick Shot
-Cutting Pass
-Long Pass
-Unyielding.		2/2✅
Half Wing+		6/6✅
Box-to-Box+		Upgrades received/
Huth (87)VfL Wolfsburg (RM)-Curled Shot
-Speed
-Tricks		1/1✅
Wing+		3/4
02.02.253
Andrich (88)⬆️Bayer Leverkusen (CDM)-Anticipation.
-Edge
-Powerful Header.
-Long Pass		2/2✅
Vert.-Profi+		6/6✅
Stopper+		Upgrades received/
Greenwood (88)⬆️Manchester City (CB)-Edge
-Anticipation.
-Slide tackles
-Unyielding.
-Cutting Pass		1/1✅
Outside Defender+		4/4✅
Wing Defender Pro+		Upgrades received/
Unai Simón (88)⬆️Athletic Bilbao (GK)-Long Goal Kick
-Catching Crosses
-Fingertips.		2/2✅
GK Libero++		6/6✅
GK Pro++		Upgrades received/
Savanier (87)HSC Montpellier (CAM)/0/2❌5/6❌//
Kim Min-Jae (87)⬆️FC Bayern (CB)-Anticipation.
-Edge		2/2✅
Stopper++		6/6✅
Active Defender Pro++		Upgrades received/
Führich (87)⬆️VfB Stuttgart (LM)-Speed
-First Touch
-Hard Pass
-Powerful Shot
-Tricks		2/2✅
Half Wing+		6/6✅
Wing Midfielder Pro+		Upgrades received /
Gallagher (87)⬆️Atlético Madrid (CM)-Edge
-Slide tackle
-Technique
-Calm
-Deciding Pass
-Cutting Pass		2/2✅
Security+		6/6✅
Deep-lying Motor+		Upgrades received/
Brais Méndez (87)⬆️Real Sociedad (CM)-Deciding Pass
-Anticipation.
-Long Throw
-Cutting Pass		2/2✅
Motor+		6/6✅
Midfielder Pro+		Upgrades received/
Buongiorno (87)⬆️SSC Napoli (CB)-Push off.
-Anticipation.
-Edge
-Deciding Pass
-Block
-Slide tackle		2/2✅
Defending Pro+		6/6✅
Defending Pro++		Upgrades received/
De Ketelaere (87)⬆️Bergamo Calcio* (CAM)-Curled Shot
-Lob
-Technique
-Tricks
-Unyielding.
-Deciding Pass
-Cutting Pass		2/2✅
Setpoint+		6/6✅
Shooting+		Upgrades received /
Orsolini (87)⬆️FC Bologna (RM)-Deciding Pass
-Quick Shot
-Hard Pass
-Long Pass
-Curled Shot
2/2✅
Wing Motor+		6/6✅
Wing+		Upgrades received/
Gudelj (87)⬆️FC Sevilla (CB)-Edge
-Anticipation.
-In the air
-Cutting Pass		1/2❌6/6✅
Deep-lying Motor+		//
Bartra (85)Real Betis (CB)-Block
-Anticipation.
-Cutting Pass		1/2❌5/6❌
//
Zhegrova (86)⬆️OSC Lille (RM)-Speed1/2❌6/6✅
Wing Midfielder Pro+		//
Evanilson (86)⬆️FC Bournemouth (ST)-Curled Shot
-Technique
-First Touch
-Powerful Shot
-Calm
-Quick Shot
-Acrobatic.
-In the air		2/2✅
Shooting++		6/6✅
Storm Pro+		Upgrades received/
Dodô (85)AC Florence (RB)-Push off.
-Intercept
-Hard Pass		1/2❌4/6❌//
Ekitiké (86)⬆️Eintracht Frankfurt (ST)-Speed
-Powerful Header.
-In the air
-Curled Shot
-Lob
-First Touch
-Powerful Shot.		2/2✅
Player role+		6/6✅
False 9+		Upgrades received/
Ryerson (86)⬆️Borussia Dortmund (RB)-Intercept
-Anticipation.
-Technique
-Hard Pass		1/2❌6/6✅
Falseback+		//
Baumgartner (86)⬆️RB Leipzig (CAM)-Curled Shot
-Speed
-Deciding Pass
-Unyielding.
-Cutting Pass		2/2✅
Shooting+		6/6✅
Storm Pro+		Upgrades received/

*Lombardia FC = Inter Milan, *Milano FC = AC Milan, *Bergamo Calcio = Atalanta Bergamo

All Thunderstruck Icons (17 Cards)

Player (Rating)Club (Position)new PlayStyles (compared to Base)WinsGoalsnext matchopen
Zidane (96)⬆️Juventus Turin (CAM)/1/2❌6/6✅
Box-to-Box+		//
Zico (93)⬆️Udinese Calcio (CAM)-Curled Shot
-Tricks		2/2✅
Box-to-Box+		6/6✅
Half Wing+		Upgrades received/
Gullit (93)⬆️Milano FC* (CAM)-Cutting Passes
-Unyielding.		2/2✅
Motor+		6/6✅
False 9+		Upgrades received/
Matthäus (92)⬆️FC Bayern (CM)-Long Pass
-Intercept		2/2✅
Deep-lying Motor (CM)+		6/6✅
Half Wing+		Upgrades received/
Raúl (92)⬆️Real Madrid (ST)-In the air
-Powerful Shot		2/2✅
Shooting Pro++		6/6✅
Setpoint Pro+		Upgrades received/
Rooney (91)⬆️Manchester United (ST)-Speed
-First Touch		2/2✅
Shooting+		6/6✅
Motor+		Upgrades received/
Smith (91)⬆️FC Arsenal (ST)-Speed
-Tricks		1/1✅
Setpoint++		4/4✅
False 9+		Upgrades received/
Jairzinho (91)⬆️Olympique Marseille (RF)-Acrobatic.
-Tricks
-First Touch		2/2✅
Wing+		6/6✅
Setpoint+		Upgrades received/
Desailly (90)⬆️FC Chelsea (CB)-Calm
-Intercept		2/2✅ Security+6/6✅
Deep-lying Motor+		Upgrades received/
Fernando Hierro (90)⬆️Real Madrid (CB)-Anticipation.
-Intercept		2/2✅
Stopper+		6/6✅ Stopper++Upgrades received/
Riquelme (90)⬆️FC Barcelona (CAM)/1/2❌6/6✅
Classic 10+		//
Thuram (90)⬆️FC Parma (RB)-Intercept
-Unyielding.		2/2✅
Falseback+		6/6✅
Wing Defender Pro+		Upgrades received/
Vieira (90)⬆️FC Arsenal (CM)-Cutting Pass
-Anticipation.		2/2✅
Motor+		6/6✅
Security++		Upgrades received/
Rush (89)⬆️FC Liverpool (ST)-Powerful Shot
-Quick Step
Calm		2/2✅
Storm Pro++		6/6✅
False 9+		Upgrades received/
Barnes (89)⬆️FC Liverpool (LF)-Hard Pass
-Speed		2/2✅
Inside Storm Pro+		6/6✅
Wing Motor+		Upgrades received/
Cole (88)⬆️FC Chelsea (LW)-Intercept
-Unyielding.		2/2✅
Falseback+		6/6✅
Wing Defender Pro++		Upgrades received/
Keane (88)⬆️Manchester United (CM)-Tiki-Taka
-Deciding Pass		2/2✅
Motor++		6/6✅
Half Wing+		Upgrades received/
Gattuso (88)⬆️Milano FC*-Push off.
-Cutting Pass
-Slide tackle
-Intercept		2/2✅
Deep-lying Motor+		6/6✅
Box-to-Box+		Upgrades received/

* AC Milan

When will the upgrades appear in the game? Since the matches in the leagues are mainly held on weekends, the upgrades will appear during the following week. The earliest they will be seen in Ultimate Team will be with the new Team of the Week, so Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM.

More on the topic
EA FC 25: Griddy to Glory – here is how to unlock the goal celebration for FC 26
von Thomas Dummer
EA FC 25: Player Group 23 for SBCs – What is behind the condition?
von Thomas Dummer
Pre Season in EA FC 25: Here’s how to quickly earn rewards for FC 26
von Thomas Dummer

With Thunderstruck, the third event with dynamic cards for Ultimate Team has now arrived. To not miss any upgrades, you can regularly check in at MeinMMO. We will continually update the article with the latest results and improvements. Another live promo also experiences new dynamics every week: EA FC 25 Pro Live Tracker: All Players, Upgrades, and Important Dates

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

Mark Zuckerberg has announced the end for programmers at Meta – And he is not the only one planning such a step for 2025

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Mark Zuckerberg has announced the beginning of the end for programmers at Meta. He is not the only entrepreneur planning the same for 2025.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta and founder of Facebook, said in an interview on the episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast (via YouTube), that he wants to use AI in his company that should take over the work of programmers.

He explained that by 2025 it will probably be the time when Meta and other companies in this sector “have an artificial intelligence that can be a sort of mid-level engineer that you can have in your company and that can write code”. This could save hundreds of thousands of euros in the future, as programmers earn annual salaries of $500,000 in the USA.

Start video
“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real

Zuckerberg avoids the word layoff, but it is clear where the industry has been heading for months

Is he talking about layoffs? No, in his interview he avoids using the unpleasant word “layoffs”. But it is quite clear what the long-term trend will be: Zuckerberg is not the first person planning such a step. Other companies are also considering laying off or at least reducing certain groups of employees.

The Spanish magazine 3Djuegos.com reports that the software company “Salesforce” stated that it does not want to hire programmers anymore due to AI technology. And Klarna, a payment service provider, recently laid off 22% of its workforce. Even the head of Klarna stated, that in the future an AI could take over his job.

Elsewhere, a whole team was fired to let AI do the work now. And this meets a fear of those who have long believed that AI will make thousands of people unemployed.

Mark Zuckerberg himself stated that the transition could be expensive at first, but that the switch would be worth it. He said:

At first, it will be more expensive and one can become more efficient. And at some point, there will be a point at which a large part of the code in our applications, including the AI generated by us, will be developed by AI engineers and no longer by human engineers.

And what will happen to the programmers? Zuckerberg replied that the “change” will help people because “they will be able to be much more creative and do crazier things”.

With the rise of AI agents that become virtual employees capable of performing complex tasks without human intervention, large companies transitioning to similar models will lead the rest and set the trend.

More on the topic
More on the topic
A woman was cheated out of 800,000 euros and left her husband because someone used AI to impersonate Brad Pitt
von Benedikt Schlotmann
More on the topic
A candidate ruined his job interview in the first 5 minutes after entering the building because he forgot something important
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Secure jobs against AI: The founder of OpenAI and lead developer of ChatGPT has spoken out. He explains that 34 professions can never be replaced by AI. Unsurprisingly, these are mainly physical jobs that are expected to remain secure in the future: The inventor of AI ChatGPT reveals which 34 professions can never be replaced by AI

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

Marvel Rivals has hundreds of thousands of players on Steam daily – Explains how it intends to maintain this.

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

Marvel Rivals has been out for over a month now and continues to captivate thousands of players every day. For many gamers, the comparison to Blizzard’s Overwatch is obvious, but it has been struggling for months. Now the developers of Marvel Rivals have presented an ambitious plan to retain players and ultimately surpass Blizzard’s competitor.

What is this plan? The developers of Marvel Rivals revealed in an interview that they want to release a new season every 3 months, which will bring new seasonal stories, maps, and of course new heroes (via MetroUK).

Each season is supposed to include 2 new heroes, one at the start of the season and another 1.5 months later for the mid-season update. So there is a new hero every 1.5 months. You can look forward to at least 8 new heroes a year. Season 1 of Marvel Rivals even brings 4 heroes along.

Start video
Marvel Rivals kicks off the first season with a new trailer

Most games of this kind, especially shooters like Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Valorant, bring at most 4–5 new heroes per year. A frequently seen model is one hero per season/3 months. Ubisoft’s tactical shooter Rainbow Six: Siege is one of the few counterexamples, having also introduced 8 new operators per year in its early years, although it has long since reduced this rhythm.

No restrictions for superheroes

What do the developers say about the future of the shooter? A much-discussed topic in the community is the composition of teams, which is why one of the interview questions aimed at the potential introduction of a role lock.

A role lock means, for example, in the ranked mode of Overwatch 2, that you cannot play a supporter if your team already has 2 supporters. Marvel Rivals has no role lock, meaning there is no restriction on how often a role (tank, DPS, support) can be present in a team – and that should remain the case.

The developers want to give players more opportunities to form teams without restrictions, explains Marvel Rivals game director Guangyun Chen. The team is convinced that the absence of a role queue – where you can only play one of the roles you previously selected – leads to a better gaming experience.

More about Marvel Rivals
More on the topic
Over 20 million players are playing Marvel Rivals, but the community believes something is wrong with their matches
von Dariusz Müller
More on the topic
Marvel Rivals: Tier List for Season 1 – All Heroes in the Ranking
von Christos Tsogos
More on the topic
A Marvel heroine is even sillier than Deadpool and so strong that she was able to defeat 3 of the strongest villains
von Niko Hernes

How is Marvel Rivals doing right now? Really well! On Steam, the hero shooter celebrated a new peak of 644,000 concurrent players on January 10th. On January 14th, Marvel Rivals peaked at 468,000 players. Similar numbers have been recorded daily since January 4th (via SteamDB). The players on PlayStation, Xbox, and through the Epic Games Store are in addition to this.

In December, the developers announced that the game had 20 million players. This strong player count is likely to be secured by the release plan for new heroes. You can check which heroes are already in Marvel Rivals here: Marvel Rivals: All characters – Which playable heroes are in the game?

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

Film expert says: You must watch these 10 movies in 2025

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

In a new video, Marco Risch from Nerdkultur takes a look at the film year 2025. He explains which movies to keep an eye on in 2025.

Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been dealing with news, analyses, reviews, and interviews about current films and series on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur .

Additionally, he meets weekly with his colleague Yves Arievich and chats on the Podcast Nerd & Kultur about pop-culture film topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. 

Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.

In a new video, Marco showcases films that will be released in 2025 and that you should definitely keep an eye on. Alongside Nosferatu, Better Man, and Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance with Wings, he presents 10 more promising films expected to come out this year.

You can find Marco’s new video here:

Start video
Marco from Nerdkultur shows 10 movies to watch out for in 2025

Music, Action, and Anti-Heroes

The first four films mentioned by Marco in his video will take you back to familiar worlds. At number 10, he mentions the music film Kneecap. The film is a semi-fictional biopic of the real Irish band Knee Cap. What makes the film special is that the band members play themselves in it.

Number 9 takes us back into the assassin world of John Wick. This time, however, in the spin-off Ballerina. There are some doubts due to reshoots, but they were done by the creator of John Wick himself, Chad Stahelski. This could even be the last film in which we see Keanu Reeves as John Wick.

At number 8, Marco surprisingly mentions a Marvel film. It is not Captain America, but Thunderbolts. The team full of anti-heroes resembles DC’s Suicide Squad. Of all MCU projects in 2025, Marco places the most hope in Thunderbolts.

Number 7 goes to Marco’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning. With the 8th installment of the action series, he hopes for a worthy farewell. Although he had issues with the 7th part, which also flopped at the box office, hope remains, especially for the visuals.

More on the topic
More on the topic
After that you will see Darth Vader with different eyes
von Niko Hernes

Zombies, Cars, and an Animated Sequel

In places 6 to 4, Marco presents 2 sequels and a film that aims to take your breath away with its technology. At number 6 is 28 Years Later, which we also presented in our horror preview 2025. The sequel to the modern zombie classic is expected to start a new trilogy. Especially exciting is the fact that the film was shot entirely with an iPhone.

With Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski showcased breathtaking images from a cockpit. He continues this in Marco’s number 5, but this time with cars. In F1, Brad Pitt takes the wheel of a racing car. The film was shot on real Formula 1 racetracks.

In 2025, another Disney sequel, Zoo-topia 2, will be released in theaters. Marco is really looking forward to it, especially since he loved the buddy-cop style of the two characters. He even names the original Zoo-topia as one of his favorite animated films.

More on the topic
More on the topic
After this, you will see DUNE 2 with different eyes
von Linda Knabe

Clones, Crime Stories, and the Superhero Above All

Which 3 films should you keep an eye on in 2025? In 3rd place, Marco names the sci-fi film Mickey 17 by Bong Joon-ho. The South Korean director celebrated worldwide success with Parasite, and social criticism seems to be present in this latest film as well. Marco even says it could be the next possible Everything Everywhere All At Once.

With Wake Up Dead Man, the Knives Out series by Rian Johnson continues in 2025 and is Marco’s number 2 on his list. The 3rd installment of the crime series will feature many well-known actors again. If you don’t want to wait that long, Marco also recommends the series Poker Face by Rian Johnson.

In 1st place, Marco has the return of perhaps the most classic superhero of all time: Superman by James Gunn. What makes this film special is the expectations and opinions of the fan community. Because Superman is not only a reboot of the hero, it is the first film of the new DC universe that has already started with Creature Commando in the form of an animated series.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Do you see this trick in DUNE 2?
von Linda Knabe

Which films are you particularly looking forward to in 2025? Let us know in the comments. In 2024, there were many successes in the film landscape, but also some flops. We have summarized 5 of the biggest flops of 2024 in a list: The 5 biggest flops of 2024 – Which films failed at the box office

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

Player starts fresh with WoW, experiences one of the most iconic moments ever – Community celebrates it

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

A player has just started with World of Warcraft and is experiencing an unpredictable “oh wow” moment during the leveling phase, which the community is celebrating.

What happened to the player? On Reddit, DopeBikes reports that he recently started playing WoW. When he reached level 44 and completed a long dungeon, he was chilling with his pet owl in one of the beautiful fields of Azeroth.

As he rummaged through his bags, the aspiring world-saver suddenly burst into flames. Surprised, he looked up to the sky, where he could faintly make out something with huge wings. Meanwhile, he unlocked the achievement “Bathed in Fire.” Deathwing himself had caught the newbie.

Who is Deathwing? The fearsome dragon is known by many names. Formerly Neltharion, Earth-Warder, and Aspect of Death, he was driven mad by the Old Gods.

At the start of the expansion Cataclysm, the Master of Destruction managed to break free from his prison beneath the earth and rise to become the final boss. Until the last confrontation, it could happen to adventurers that the dragon suddenly swooped down from the sky to literally turn them into a barbecue on two legs.

This unpredictable event triggered multiple emotions in DopeBikes. He was surprised, of course, but also laughed out loud thinking, “This game is fantastic!” You can find more great WoW moments here:

Start video
WoW celebrates 20 years of the highlights of Azeroth

Welcome to WoW!

How does the community react to the report? They celebrate it with over 1,095 upvotes and almost 100 comments, showing that WoW can still have this effect on new players after all these years.

  • DrPandemias writes on Reddit: “Welcome to WoW. I wish I could go back 20 years to experience everything this game has to offer from the beginning.”
  • Valianne11111 remembers on Reddit: “That was my favorite achievement. I was in the Blasted Lands and thought my graphics card was dead.”
  • Silist jokes on Reddit: “This is one of those ‘I’m old’ moments.”
  • ChibiCharaN recalls on Reddit: “My favorite quest in all of WoW is from Cata. It starts in the Badlands, The Day Deathwing Came. The first time I encountered it was completely unexpected and simply delightful.”
More about WoW Classic:
Turtle WoW makes it official: The date for the server shutdown is now set
von Cedric Holmeier
Amazon’s MMORPG has only 1 percent of its players left, responds to the case with … a new subscription
von Karsten Scholz
n

Some Reddit users wonder which version of WoW the newcomer is playing. Traditional-Roof1984 asks: “Wait a minute, the guy is still flying after 15 years?” After some digressions about Chromie Time, it is clarified: DopeBikes jumped straight in with Cataclysm Classic.

Do you remember how you experienced the moment when Deathwing caught you? Share it in the comments! You can find another beautiful story from Azeroth here: Player has been carrying the letter from his deceased father in WoW for 15 years, moving the community to tears

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

A developer from Valve says: SteamOS should not replace Windows if you have good experiences with Windows

Yana Yana Reading time 2 minutes

At CES 2025, Pierre-Loup Griffais spoke about the fact that SteamOS is not intended as a replacement for Windows. Rather, it is meant to be an alternative for users. Now, Valve is working to further expand the compatibility of SteamOS and optimize it for various devices and platforms.

SteamOS as an alternative for gamers: SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system from Valve, has been in development since 2012 but gained wider recognition through the Steam Deck. It is specifically designed for gaming and allows for improved performance by removing unnecessary additional features.

The team continues to work on making the OS compatible with various devices and platforms. At CES 2025, the Lenovo Legion Go S was presented, and a developer from Valve commented on the “competition.”

Start video
A user asks Valve if he can bequeath his many games on Steam – they reply

The Future of SteamOS – Choice Instead of Competition

Who is speaking? Pierre-Loup Griffais, a developer who has been involved with SteamOS from the beginning, emphasizes that Valve does not aim to displace Windows users:

“I don’t think it’s our goal to achieve a specific market share or to pull users away from Windows. If a user has a good experience with Windows, there is no problem.”

Rather, SteamOS is meant to provide a choice for users looking for an alternative.

What is Valve’s goal? Currently, Valve’s focus is on improving compatibility, for example, by optimizing open-source drivers. “There is simply a lot to do,” says Griffais. Thanks to the open structure of SteamOS, one can benefit from the work of the community. In the long run, SteamOS could offer an alternative not only on handheld devices but also on traditional PCs and other devices. Because SteamOS offers various advantages and disadvantages compared to others:

Advantages of SteamOS:

  • Free: No licensing fees for manufacturers, making devices cheaper.
  • Gaming-optimized: Specifically developed for games, without unnecessary ballast.
  • Security & Privacy: Higher security due to the Linux base, less susceptible to viruses and malware

Disadvantages of SteamOS:

  • Limited compatibility: Not all programs and games run natively on SteamOS.
  • Performance losses: Depending on hardware and requirements, performance may be somewhat weaker because SteamOS is based on Linux.
  • Limited stores: Not every store and software is directly accessible, which could be a hindrance for some users.
More on the topic
More on the topic
Steam Deck: These are the 9 most exciting alternatives 2025
von Benedikt Schlotmann
More on the topic
„A good year to learn Linux“ – Microsoft tests more ads in Windows 11
von Lydia

SteamOS represents a flexible alternative to traditional systems and offers new perspectives and possibilities for gaming. This is particularly important for handhelds. You can find the best gaming handhelds currently available directly on MeinMMO: Here you can find out more about the popular handhelds of the last year.

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

A woman was cheated out of 800,000 euros and left her husband because someone used AI to impersonate Brad Pitt

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A fraudster poses as Brad Pitt and gains the trust of a woman. She transfers around 800,000 euros to him until the fraud is eventually uncovered.

The user Culture Crave, which is a news portal with a newsletter, reports on X.com/Twitter that a woman in France was defrauded of 800,000 euros: A fraudster posed as the well-known actor Brad Pitt and thus gained the trust of the French woman.

However, the fraud was ultimately uncovered when the French woman saw in the news that the actor had a new girlfriend. Otherwise, the fraud would probably have continued for much longer, and the person would have lost even more money.

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

Fraudsters generate strikingly realistic images and videos using AI

How did the fraud work? The fraudster or fraudsters, the exact number of people is unknown, posed as the actor Brad Pitt to get money from a French woman.

The criminal contacted her directly on Instagram to convince her that he was real. He succeeded with fake images and videos that he generated with AI. And so well that the French woman divorced her husband because she hoped to build a relationship with Brad Pitt.

The fraudster also convinced her that Brad Pitt no longer had access to his bank account because he had divorced Angelina Jolie. However, he urgently needed money for a kidney operation. The French woman, who had come to trust the scammer, paid him around 800,000 euros.

How was the criminal caught? The defrauded woman realized that she had fallen for a forgery when she saw in the news that Brad Pitt appeared with a new girlfriend. And to her surprise, it was not her.

More on the topic
The MMORPG to Star Wars is taking the next step for better graphics, breaking the game down into its components
von Cedric Holmeier
A new setting makes Crimson Desert even more immersive, and we show you how to set it up
von Christos Tsogos

Other tricks with AI are significantly more harmless and only result in a large company being scammed out of money for a few hamburgers. Because a Brit explained in a podcast on YouTube how he was able to eat at McDonald’s for free for a year: A user used ChatGPT to eat at McDonald’s for almost a year for free – His trick was a simple request

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

A creature in Monster Hunter is so cute that players refuse to hunt it

Nico Scheibel Nico Scheibel Reading time 2 minutes

In Monster Hunter, it is a hunter’s everyday life to fight against huge and dangerous monsters, whether it be small Jaggis or the feared Teostra. However, the community agrees that a blue lizard should be the exception.

Which monster are we talking about? In the Monster Hunter Wiki, one can find a good description of the Dodogama. Its bluish round body, a big jaw, and its preference for eating stones and crystals are its main characteristics. 

It lives in the home of the Elders and is peaceful towards humans unless attacked. Through its special saliva, it can transform certain crystals into explosive bombs and can defend itself well despite its calm nature and low position in the food chain.

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds in the atmospheric 5th trailer

Why do players find it so hard to hunt it? The main reason is simple: it is just too cute. Its big round eyes, its loving gaze, and its peaceful traits are irresistible. This seems to be reason enough for thousands of players to refuse to even give the Dodogama a mean look.

How do the developers respond to the neglect of many hunters? Through all the hype around the Dodogama, even the developers have had some fun. The quest name and the description of the master rank Dodogama hunt make players’ eyes sparkle.

Thus, Capcom has immortalized Dodogama’s enthusiasm in Monster Hunter World in the quest Can’t Bring Yourself To It (translated: I can’t bring myself to it).

The quest description states: We are currently facing a rather unique problem. Research has been halted due to a wild Dodogama. However, most of our hunters refuse to hunt it because they find Dodogamas… “cute”.

Whether the Dodogama will return in Monster Hunter Wilds remains to be seen, but there is already a proper list of known monsters.

MHW-Dodogama_Render_001
The Dodogama in Monster Hunter World

A Reddit user has a good explanation

While one Reddit user does not understand the hype around the Dodogama, another user presented an interesting theory (via reddit).

He introduces the Bloofus theory (Blue-Doofus theory). This theory states that if a character is blue and looks foolish, it will be loved by fans. Based on some examples, one could somewhat agree with him:

  • Morlord from Pokemon
  • Jeff from Marvel Rivals
  • Stitch from Lilo and Stitch

Accordingly, it is not surprising that the community has created a special subreddit called r/dodogamareserve (translated: Dodogama Reserve) to give the fan favorite a safe home.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Player Wonders About Missing Large Cities in Monster Hunter – A Terrible Event is to Blame
von Nico Scheibel
More on the topic
For less than 25 euros, you can currently get a good preparation for Monster Hunter Wilds and stay engaged for over 700 hours
von Nico Scheibel
More on the topic
Players fear that Monster Hunter Wilds might be too easy – Developers now address these concerns
von Alexander Mehrwald

However, the Dodogama is not the only cute monster in Monster Hunter. Mein-MMO editor-in-chief Leya asked the developers about the new monster Rompopolo from Monster Hunter Wilds: Because you were mean to the Rompopolo in Monster Hunter Wilds, it made its designer sad and that’s not okay

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

You can currently snag two popular zombie games for just €15 on PS5 – one is a real classic, the other is Resident Evil 3

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

For horror fans, there is almost no way to avoid the Resident Evil series. If you have somehow managed to stay away from the series so far, you can currently grab two really good remakes for just 15 € on PS5.

Which games are those? We are talking about Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, more specifically the remakes from 2019 and 2020. Until January 18 at 00:59 CET, you can get both titles in the Raccoon City Edition for only 14.99 € (via PS Store). The games are available on both PS4 and PS5.

Resident Evil Resistance is also part of the bundle. The multiplayer spin-off, which resembles games like Dead by Daylight in its gameplay, is included in every edition of Part 3. However, since this title is not necessarily a reason to buy, we will focus on the single-player experience in the following article.

In this trailer for Resident Evil 3, the developers introduce the overpowering Nemesis:

Start video
Resident Evil 3 Provides a First Look at the New Nemesis

Three Different Stories from Raccoon City

What are the games about? Raccoon City is plagued by a pandemic that turns people into deadly zombies. Resident Evil 2 lets you experience the events from the perspective of young police officer Leon S. Kennedy and student Claire Redfield. Both have separate campaigns.

Resident Evil 3 also takes place in Raccoon City, but on the day before the outbreak. In it, you play as S.T.A.R.S. agent Jill Valentine and mercenary Carlos Oliveira. Throughout the story, you switch characters; this time, there are no separate campaigns. 

In both games, you face the abominations of the ominous Umbrella Corporation and fight for your survival. In RE2, this fight is even more relentless, as ammunition is scarce and your knives can easily break.

More on PS5
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
The Stardew Valley with corpses suddenly announces a sequel after 8 years, gives away part 1 on Steam and PS5
von Ody

A Very Good Game in the Shadow of a Masterpiece

Is it worth buying both games? That really depends on what you expect. RE2 is a horror classic and is among the best that the series has ever delivered. However, since your resources are always limited, the game allows for less mistake until you’ve messed up your own run.  

RE3 has taken a slightly different approach and has lost some fans as a result. You will find more ammunition lying around and your knife no longer wears out – so you are almost never completely helpless. Overall, RE3 requires less methodical approaches, but there is more action.

By the way, if you’ve ever wondered what Resident Evil would look like in a sci-fi world, you should check out Samurai Unicorn. You can find out more about it here: New horror game on Steam is like Resident Evil, but in a dark sci-fi world with a unique twist

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

Player in Path of Exile 2 Receives So Much Loot on a Map That Others Have to Help Him Collect It

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Path of Exile 2, there is no shortage of loot in the endgame, as a new video proves. The user even had to get help collecting it.

Who is this about? The Reddit user LeavingTheGame had a lot of luck with a map in Path of Exile 2. According to his own statements, his map contained 15 Breaches. The league mechanic “Breach” is currently considered meta in the community because it provides an extreme amount of loot. This was also true in this case.

In a video on Reddit, the player shows his haul. A whole screen full of loot, as far as the eye can see. However, the abundance of loot also posed a significant challenge for him.

You can see the video in the following Reddit post:

Recommended editorial content

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

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

Almost Impossible Alone

What was the challenge? The gamer is playing Path of Exile 2 on the PS5, which means he couldn’t use a loot filter at the time of the map.

Loot filters are a useful tool in PoE2 that hide unimportant loot and highlight valuable items. They will only be available on consoles with the next update. Currently, they are only available on PC or through roundabout ways on consoles.

The massive number of items not only obstructs the player’s view but also prevents him from getting an overview. Without a loot filter, he faces an impossible mammoth task.

As he tells on Reddit, he had to seek help from players with loot filters. Otherwise, he would have spent hours on it alone. Even with the help of some gamers with loot filters, collecting and sorting took more than 30 minutes.

The collected items also need to be identified; this NPC does it for free:

Start video
Path of Exile 2 shows new gameplay trailer for early access

How does the community react to the loot? The community thinks it’s time for loot filters to finally come to consoles as well. This will only happen with the next patch, which is supposed to come out this week. However, some players can hardly believe their eyes because they have never seen so much loot themselves.

For instance, Ancient-Educator-186 writes on Reddit: “You are playing a completely different game than I am. Even without a filter, I don’t have anywhere near what is seen on this screen.”

User secondcircle4903 criticizes the developers on Reddit: “Adding a loot filter is really just a quick fix to this problem; they completely missed the point of simply ‘playing’ without a loot filter.”

LegalizeRanch88 is also currently dissatisfied, writing on Reddit: “And you can’t target any loot until you’ve killed every single monster… Looting and auto-targeting is really bad on consoles. Whenever I play with PC players, they have no problem grabbing all the loot in the middle of a fight. On the PS5, it’s impossible.”

More on the topic
More on the topic
Path of Exile 2: Before the release, the boss said the predecessor doesn’t have to die for the successor to live, now I understand it
von Cedric Holmeier
More on the topic
After 60 Hours of Path of Exile 2, One of the Biggest YouTubers for MMORPGs Learns He Had Been Playing Wrongly
von Cedric Holmeier

In the meantime, the developers have acknowledged that it is no longer feasible in Path of Exile 2 on consoles without loot filters as a tool. The most well-known of these loot filters comes from a German developer who has made a name for himself in the community: German developer creates loot filter for Path of Exile 2 – What NeverSink can do

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