In EA FC 25, even newcomers can now build really good teams for less than 150,000 coins. We show you a strong starting XI, with which you will definitely be competitive.
Update from January 14, 2025 (3:30 PM): We have given the article a comprehensive upgrade with a new lineup and new players.
What makes the team stand out? Especially as a newcomer in EA FC, it’s important that you are not too wasteful with your coins. Therefore, none of our suggested players should cost more than 20,000 coins.
In general, you should pay less attention to a player’s rating at the beginning, and more to how well the card plays on the pitch. The service site EasySBC has developed such a meta-rating that relates to the playability of the cards in Ultimate Team, in collaboration with various eProfis.
Which formation is suitable for a starter team? After 4 months of EA FC 25, the 4-2-1-3 formation has established itself as a strong setup among professionals. It offers you a stable defense defensively and a variable attacking play offensively.
Strong Team in the 4-2-1-3 Formation
We have used the Squad Builder from EasySBC to help build the strongest possible team for a maximum of 150,000 coins. It was also important to us that the individual players at least reach one chemistry point so that they receive a value boost in-game:
A possible starter team in the 4-2-1-3 for under 150,000 coins (via EasySBC)
Player List and Prices on the Transfer Market:
Player (Version)
Position(Role)
Club
Market price in coins (As of: January 14, 2025)
Ederson (Gold)
GK (GK-Libero)
Manchester City
12,750
Itakura (NumeroFUT)
LB (Outside Defender)
Real Madrid
13,250
Balerdi (NumeroFUT)
CB (Defender-Professional)
Olympique Marseille
10,750
Dante (NumeroFUT)
CB (Defender-Professional)
OGC Nice
13,000
Davitashvili (Winter Wildcards)
RB (Outside Defender)
AS Saint Etienne
12,500
Sierro (NumeroFUT)
CDM (Defensive Midfielder)
FC Toulouse
10,750
Fred (Winter Wildcards)
CDM (Deep-Lying Playmaker)
Fenerbahçe
13,250
Savanier (Thunderstruck)
CAM (Playmaker)
HSC Montpellier
18,500
Sahraoui (Winter Wildcards)
LF (Inside Forward-Professional)
OSC Lille
12,250
Zhegrova (Thunderstruck)
RF (Wing)
OSC Lille
13,750
Gonçalo Ramos (NumeroFUT)
ST (Striker-Professional)
Paris Saint-Germain
11,000
Total: 141,750 coins
We also placed value on ensuring that the cards fit into the 4-2-1-3 system with their player roles. Therefore, you will see one or two green plus signs below each player in the image.
What are player roles? This new gameplay mechanic determines how your players move off the ball. For each position, there are player roles with offensive, defensive, or balanced approaches. You can read even more detailed information about the new feature on MeinMMO: EA FC 25: What does the plus next to my player mean?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Baldur’s Gate 3 there are several truly challenging fights, some already in Act 1. One of them becomes incredibly easy with a seemingly useless spell.
Witch Bolt is a level 1 spell that does 1d12 lightning damage. It requires an action and a spell slot. The range is 18 meters or 60 feet. If you hit, the Witch Bolt connects you to your target and can deal an additional 1d12 damage each round.
One side effect is that you always know where the opponent is located. This makes fighting especially against one opponent much easier.
Start video
Baladur’s Gate rettete Larian Studios und ist jetzt noch beliebter
Taking the opponent to the lightning leash and fighting easier
What kind of fight does it trivialize? In Act 1, you encounter Aunt Ethel, a swamp witch disguised as an old woman. When you confront her, she entangles you in a really nasty fight. With 112 hit points and an armor class of 17, she is not an easy opponent.
Especially nasty are these three abilities:
A Witch Circle: Creates illusion copies of Ethel and hides the original with invisibility.
Auntie’s Trickery: Five illusion copies of Ethel appear and are shuffled with the original in the combat area.
Damsel in Distress: Ethel disguises herself as Mayrina, while Mayrina takes on Ethel’s appearance. Both are then teleported to new points in the arena.
Ethel is designed to confuse players as much as possible and to avoid being found.
However, once you hit with Witch Bolt, the executing character remains connected to the original Ethel until the spell is dispelled. So Ethel can summon as many copies or transform as she wants. As long as she is connected, you always know where the original is located. You just have to overcome the armor class of 17.
Warning: If you play in Honour Mode, every spell used by a player-controlled character triggers the effect Legendary Action: Strange Magical Wave. This causes even more copies of Ethel to appear.
How do you get the spell? Witch Bolt is available in various ways. At Level 1, it can be learned by Sorcerers, Warlocks, Wizards, and specifically Wizards with the Lightning Subclass. Arcane Tricksters (Rogue) and Mystical Knights (Fighter) get the spell at Level 3.
Alternatively, you can choose one of three talents: Magic Novice Sorcerer, Magic Novice Warlock, or Magic Novice Wizard.
In 2025, the universe of John Wick continues. Instead of a fifth part, you can expect the spin-off of a young dancer who is trained to become an assassin.We at MeinMMO will reveal all the information that is known so far.
What is Ballerina? 2 years after the last part of John Wick, a spin-off titled Ballerinais released, which in the original has the additional subtitle From the World of John Wick.
Eve Maccaro is a gifted dancer, but one day her parents die. She ends up with the Ruska Roma, a criminal organization that trains her to become an assassin. Her only goal is revenge for the death of her parents.
When is the release of Ballerina? Ballerina will be released later this year, on June 5, 2025.
Is there a trailer for Ballerina? Ballerina also now has a trailer. You can watch the English trailer for the film here:
[toc]
Start video
Ballerina – Trailer for the Spin-Off of the John Wick Series
Ballerina: All About Cast, Budget, and Rating
Which actors are in Ballerina?
The lead role is taken by Ana de Armas. But some actors from the John Wick series are also returning.
Eve – Ana de Armas
John Wick – Keanu Reeves
Pine – Norman Reedus
Winston – Ian McChane
Charon – Lance Reddick
The Director – Anjelica Huston
Catalina Sandino Moreno in an unknown role
Gabriel Byrne in an unknown role
Frank – Abraham Popoola
Nogi – Sharon Duncan-Brewstar
Dex – Robert Maaser
Captain – Togo Igawa
What is the budget of Ballerina?
The official budget of Ballerina is not known yet. The last film of John Wick (John Wick: Chapter 4) cost 100 million US dollars. Ballerina will likely have a smaller budget.
What is the rating of Ballerina?
There is no official rating for Ballerina yet. The first two trailers have a rating of 16.
This is the second spin-off of the popular John Wick films after the series The Continental. John Wick is a relatively modern action series that impresses with spectacular choreography. However, there are also action films outside the series that you should watch: 5 Movies Like John Wick
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Palworld, there are particularly powerful weapons and armors dropped by strong Alpha Pals after battle. MeinMMO lists all the locations of the Legendary blueprints and the status values of the Legendary weapons and armors.
Update on January 14, 2025, at 3:00 PM: New legendary blueprints and the German translations have been added to the list. The structure has also been adjusted for better clarity.
What kind of blueprints are these? Unlike the normal blueprints that can be purchased from the traveling merchant, Legendary blueprints require defeating Alpha Pals. They are stronger versions of normal Pals and can be immediately recognized by their size and the red name at the top of the screen. They respawn every 60 minutes.
What is the chance of getting a legendary blueprint? The drop rate is said to be around 3%. Accordingly, you will likely need to defeat the Alpha Pals multiple times to obtain the Legendary blueprints. Another option is to find the Legendary blueprints in golden chests.
[toc]
This is how you can level up quickly to defeat the Alpha Pals:
Start video
Palworld: How you can level up quickly
Palworld: All Legendary Blueprints at a Glance
How many legendary blueprints are there? As of now, there are 20 different Legendary blueprints with which you can craft particularly powerful equipment. They are divided into 9 weapons and 11 armors.
Some of the equipment items are still listed in English. We will update the names as soon as we have the German names. These include the following equipment items:
All Weapon Blueprints at a Glance
Name
Attack
Durability
Alpha Pal / Location
Legendary Old Bow
247
350
Kingpaca (Lv. 46)
Legendary Crossbow
490
700
Bushi (Lv. 23)
Legendary Pistol
625
1,200
Beakon (Lv. 29)
Legendary Shotgun
385
400
Suzaku (Lv. 45)
Legendary Assault Rifle
560
3,000
Blazamut (Lv. 49)
Legendary Rocket Launcher
14,000
700
Jetragon (Lv. 50)
Legendary Musket
2,000
700
Quivern (Lv. 23)
Legendary Double Barrel Shotgun
399
700
Vaelet (Lv. 38)
Legendary Single Shot Rifle
2,310
3,500
Verdash (Lv. 35)
Legendary Flamethrower
675
12,000
Sakurajima Dungeons
Legendary Laser Rifle
1,875
6,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Grenade Launcher
4,500
1,200
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Rocket Launcher
8,850
600
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Multi-Rocket Launcher
8,850
600
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Gatling Gun
562
12,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Fire Arrow Crossbow
490
1,400
Level 30 Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Poison Arrow Crossbow
490
1,400
Level 30 Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary High-Tech Bow
8,700
1,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Compound Bow
1,650
700
Feybreak Dungeons
Legendary Scrap Shotgun
376
400
Feybreak Dungeons
Legendary Scrap Assault Rifle
297
3,000
Feybreak Dungeons
Legendary Scrap Submachine Gun
175
2,000
Feybreak Dungeons
Legendary Submachine Gun
227
4,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Semi-Automatic Rifle
1,610
2,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Semi-Automatic Shotgun
282
1,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Old Revolver
1,500
800
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Plasma Cannon
13,000
600
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Laser Gatling Gun
689
16,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
All Armor Blueprints at a Glance
Name
Defense
Durability
Alpha Pal / Location
Legendary Pal Metal Helmet
560
1,200
Frostallion (Lv. 50)
Legendary Heat-Resistant Pal Metal Armor
1,200
11,000
Necromus (Lv. 50)
Legendary Cold-Resistant Pal Metal Armor
1,200
11,000
Paladius (Lv. 50)
Legendary Cloth Clothing
24
350
Chillet (Lv. 11)
Legendary High-Quality Metal Helmet
160
2,850
Menasting (Lv. 44)
Legendary Cold-Resistant High-Quality Metal Armor
288
3,300
Lyleen Noct (Lv. 49)
Legendary Heat-Resistant High-Quality Metal Armor
288
3,300
Astegon (Lv. 48)
Legendary Metal Helmet
80
1,330
Warsect (Lv. 30)
Legendary Metal Armor
112
1,500
Elizabee (Lv. 31)
Legendary Fur Armor
56
700
Azurobe (Lv. 17)
Legendary Feather Hair Decoration
24
200
Penking (Lv. 15)
Legendary Plastic Steel Armor
616
36,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Plastic Steel Helmet
390
36,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Heat-Resistant Plastic Steel Armor
640
36,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Cold-Resistant Plastic Steel Armor
640
36,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Light Plastic Steel Armor
640
36,000
Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Hexolite Helmet
455
40,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Hexolite Armor
754
40,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Heat-Resistant Hexolite Armor
780
36,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Cold-Resistant Hexolite Armor
780
36,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Legendary Light Hexolite Armor
780
36,000
Feybreak Gold Chest on Oil Rig
Locations of the Alpha Pals
Depending on what type of ammunition you have on hand or what your preferred weapon is, you can hunt for different Legendary blueprints. We recommend starting with Chillet since it is the weakest Alpha Pal on the list.
If you want to learn more about the locations of the individual Alpha Pals that you need to hunt for Legendary blueprints, the following MeinMMO article will help you:
Alternatively, we have put together some images to help you find the individual Alpha Pals. For the images, we used the interactive map from Mapgenie.
Here you can find Jetragon.Here you can find Blazamut.Here you can find Bushi.Here you can find Kingpaca.Here you can find Chillet.Here you can find Beakon.Here you can find Frostallion.Here you can find Suzaku.Here you can find Necromus and Paladius.Here you can find Astegon.Here you can find Azurobe.Here you can find Elizabee.Here you can find Lyleen Noct.Here you can find Menasting.Here you can find Penking.Here you can find Quivern.Here you can find Vaelet.Here you can find Verdash.Here you can find Warsect.Here you can find all Sakurajima Dungeons.
Once you have received the blueprints, you just need to gather the necessary resources and craft the equipment at a workbench. Then, you will be well-equipped to defeat the strong boss enemies. In a separate article, you can look up how to catch these boss Pals.
But there are other items and things that players can find in the world of Palworld. A player found a strange egg and shared with the fans which Pal hatched from it. The community congratulated him on a real stroke of luck: Palworld: Player finds gigantic egg – which Pal is inside?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
YouTuber Kittxnly will try to make her mark in a regional league of League of Legends in 2025. Last year she was the most successful LoL player on the EUW server. Ironically, the 23-year-old presents herself provocatively on Twitter and Instagram. This has sparked discussions.
Who is Kittxnly? In the last season of LoL, the player reached the Challenger rank with 1,201 LP on the EUW server. Challenger is the highest rank in League of Legends (via reddit). According to her own statements, her highest peak was even 1,238 LP.
She played exclusively “Enchanter” champs, meaning support characters specializing in enhancing their teammates. In the current season, her main champs are Lulu, Nami, and Soraka.
For 2025, she has now found a team with which she wants to compete under competitive conditions. She aims to play with a streamer team in a lower-tier British league. However, she must first qualify.
Start video
Das ist LoL – Einmal richtig ehrlich erklärt
Kittxnly wants to debut in the professional scene at 23
This is her team: Kittynly plays for the team “Int Quck” and wants to qualify for the British Regional League 4 Nations. This is a lower-tier league for the UK and Ireland. It is roughly equivalent to the German 3rd Regional League.
53 teams are competing in the qualification for 5 open spots in the league. The winners will participate in the 2025 Winter Split.
The team “Int Quick” will be a mixed team, alongside her as a support player, there is also jungler Karina in the team, who has previously played in women’s teams. Additionally, players with professional experience like Kerberos and Dragdar, who have since transitioned to content creation, will join.
2025 will be the first year where it is worthwhile for content creators in LoL to play competitively in such streamer teams; previously, this was unattractive due to overly strict regulations.
Player says: Other teams rejected her because of her job
This is what the player says: At 23, Kittxnly is somewhat old to debut in the competitive scene. When asked about it, she says: She is joining a streamer team, not a normal team, so it fits. She wants to gain competitive experience but also take the attention with her.
Other teams would not take her because of her job on OnlyFans – the team is more fun (via rigas).
What about OnlyFans? The streamer presents herself provocatively on free sites like Instagram or Twitter. The goal is presumably to turn viewers into customers who can then see explicit pictures on her paid pages like OnlyFans, for which they have to pay.
The Twitch streamer Amouranth explained the business model years ago (link), according to which women like Kittxnly now operate.
How is this being discussed? The combination of an apparently strong LoL player and an OnlyFans model triggers numerous comments on reddit:
“That’s one way to build fan engagement”
“She is a dominatrix in the canyon and outside of it – I respect that.”
“We let betting sites into esports – and that’s supposed to be a problem now?”
In Marvel Rivals, there are many currencies that you can exchange for items. MeinMMO gives you an overview.
What currencies are there? The following currencies can be obtained in Marvel Rivals:
Crystal
Chrono Tokens
Units
However, Marvel Rivals is not pay-to-win. All content you can obtain with the currencies is purely cosmetic in nature. They do not provide any advantage in the game.
[toc]
You can get a first impression of the first season of Marvel Rivals with the trailer:
Start video
Marvel Rivals kicks off the first season with a new trailer
How to use the currencies properly
Crystals (Gold)
What are crystals? Crystals can only be exchanged for other currencies and are basically only used to convert real money into in-game currency.
How do I get crystals? You can only obtain crystals by exchanging real money for them in the in-game store.
This is what the store in Marvel Rivals looks like.
Chrono Tokens (Purple)
What are Chrono Tokens? Chrono Tokens are the easiest currency to obtain. You can exchange them in your Battle Pass for rewards. They are reset with each new season and can thus be collected again.
How do I get Chrono Tokens? You can earn Chrono Tokens by completing missions:
Event missions
Daily missions
Challenges
Achievements
The missions are updated according to their own timeframe. So if you don’t complete a mission, there’s no need to worry because you don’t necessarily have to fulfill them.
Under the ‘Season’ tab, you can view your missions. In light blue text, you can see how long each mission is still fulfillable.
Units (Blue)
What are units? Units are probably the most interesting currency in Marvel Rivals, as they are exchanged for cosmetic items.
How do I get units? You can get this currency by exchanging crystals for them. But some fulfilled achievements also grant you units as a reward. You can view your achievements by clicking on your profile picture and then going to “Achievements” on the far right. You can then exchange achievement points for units.
If you click on the blue unit icon at the top right, you can exchange your crystals.
The current currencies in Marvel Rivals are still manageable. If you haven’t found a character yet for whom you want to use all your cosmetic content, we recommend our tier list for all characters: Marvel Rivals: Tier List for Season 1 – All Heroes Ranked
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The German Twitch streamer Maximilian “Trymacs” Stemmler has apologized for his statement on what editors should earn in Germany. He says he did not recognize himself in his statement and believes that sleep deprivation and unprocessed traumatic experiences from 2017 and 2018 contributed to it. However, some fans find his statement hollow.
For which statements does Trymacs apologize? Trymacs does not specify any concrete statements for which he wishes to apologize, but has retracted the entire reaction video and deleted it from the internet.
He had involved his editor in the growth of his channel on a percentage basis, but fired them when his YouTube channel grew so much that they demanded more than €10,000 in monthly salary.
He also stated that editors should not be paid so incredibly well, as many could do their job and the requirements were not that high. Supply and demand determined what editors could earn. Once editors became too greedy, they could be replaced by others who were satisfied with a fixed salary.
He repeatedly expressed his misunderstanding that his position was not understood. He pays well, but it seems crazy to him if editors earn so much money. If a channel generates €100,000, one cannot involve an editor in that percentage-wise. That seems totally crazy.
Start video
Vom Pizza-Lieferant zu einem der größten deutschen Twitch-Streamer – Leben und Karriere von Trymacs in 2 Minuten
Trymacs holds unprocessed conflicts responsible for his statements
This is how he explains his failure: Trymacs now gives the impression in a new video that he does not really recognize where he went wrong. However, he has noticed how poorly his views are received by his audience.
I was amazed by myself – I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t recognize myself. It was all completely exaggerated, totally blocked, not allowing anything, not reflecting.
Moreover, “unprocessed feelings and conflicts” from his early days came up. He says that there was a conflict with his then editors during the early days of Fortnite, which then led to their dismissal.
He now sees his role in the conflict critically. He was not a good boss back then, did not communicate well, and avoided problems.
He never processed this whole conflict, and it came up again when he spoke about the topic.
Trymacs made a lightning start on Twitch. In 2016, his channel grew to an average of 2,420 viewers. In 2017, he was able to triple his Twitch channel to 8,347 viewers. At that time, he mainly played Clash Royale. In 2018, he switched to Fortnite and was able to maintain high viewer numbers on Twitch. On YouTube, Fortnite acted like an accelerant: to this day, out of his 5 most successful videos on YouTube, 4 are about Fortnite.
Trymacs portrays former editors as unreliable newly rich and also limits this
What seems strange? In the statement, he accuses the former editors of being unreliable. The many money went to their heads, and they worked more and more unreliably, extending their vacations without notice or faking illness, and rarely meeting deadlines for videos.
In a second video on YouTube “My old editor called me after 5 years …” he also limits this criticism again. That was a good, competent editor and also a top guy. And they were very young back then. The whole thing is water under the bridge.
Felt 18 and just graduated from high school
How old was he back then? Trymacs says: Back then, he felt “18” and had just graduated from high school. In reality, however, he was already 23 and 24 years old in 2017/2018. The high school diploma was already a long time ago.
Fans find acknowledgment of guilt good, but statement content-wise hollow
How is Trymacs’ statement received? The statement seems a bit hollow content-wise, as many note on YouTube. While people generally appreciate that Trymacs admits extensively to being wrong.
But many would have wished that he would specifically criticize what was wrong with his point and how he sees the conflict differently now. Because he apparently has not grasped the actual topic and does not mention it in a single word. He retracts all previous positions but does not name any new ones.
Trymacs’ business model provides:
That an editor is involved in the success of a channel on a percentage basis, meaning they bear all the risks if the channel stagnates or performs poorly.
If the channel is successful, their salary is suddenly capped.
This model brings all the advantages to the streamer but expects the editor to take risks that do not pay off in full in case of success.
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In this business model, it apparently seems okay for the streamer if the editor earns nothing in a bad month. However, as soon as he earns “a lot” and the risk pays off, intervention must be made, and the salary regulated because it cannot be that an editor “earns more than a chief physician” – the fact that the streamer himself earns much more than a chief physician seems to be no problem and is overlooked.
On this aspect of the criticism, Trymacs says nothing in his statement. He does not get specific about where he was wrong, but his statement amounts to: “I take everything back and claim the opposite.”
While many find it generally great and also unusual for a streamer to admit his guilt at all, it apparently seems to many users as if Trymacs only quickly reacted to “Oh my God, they all hate me – I have a shitstorm” and backpedaled, and the insight that one really had represented a false position is missing for some users. You can read the original, comprehensive article on the fundamental conflict here: Twitch streamer does not understand why he should give an employee so much of his money
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The survival MMO Pioner reaches an important milestone on Steam. The unusual mix of survival struggle and MMORPG aims to appeal to various types of players.
What is Pioner? This is a survival MMORPG from the Russian developer GFA Games. It was announced 4 years ago and aims to offer players a tough fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
The twist is: Pioner aims to be interesting for PvE players, as well as for fans of competitive PvP skirmishes. You find yourself on an island that seems isolated and where anomalies wreak havoc.
This already reminds you in the description of similarly designed games like Stalker 2 – at least regarding the scenario. On Steam, Pioner has now reached a new milestone.
Here you can watch the trailer for the game:
Start video
PIONER: New trailer for the dark survival MMO on Steam
The game’s concept has many fans
What has Pioner achieved? The developers recently announced that their game has already been added to the wishlist by 100,000 users on Steam. Of course, this doesn’t say anything about the success of the title at release, but it is a good mood barometer.
Who is Pioner suitable for? Fans of dark apocalyptic scenarios will get their money’s worth in Pioner. And various player types are supposed to be addressed.
The developers explain in a Q&A on Reddit more details about the game world. According to them, it is supposed to be about 50 square kilometers in size and divided into two halves. The left side serves PvE gameplay. Here you will find classic missions that can be completed solo or in a team.
The right side, on the other hand, is a PvP area where players can fight each other. As a third option, there is also a separate, distinct area called “Shadowlands”. Here there is both PvE and PvP.
If you don’t want to deal with opposing or allied players, rest assured: Despite the multiplayer approach, Pioner is also intended to be feasible for pure solo players.
In Path of Exile 2, many players were looking forward to playing the ARPG with their friends or partners. However, many are now dissatisfied.
How does the co-op mode work in Path of Exile 2? In PoE2, groups of six players can play through the entire game together. The endgame is also available to all collectively. To ensure bosses cannot be defeated without resistance, the strength of the enemies on the map increases depending on the number of group members.
The loot that the group finds also scales with the number of players. Playing in a group sounds like a well-thought-out experience on paper. However, it is now clear that there are many issues.
Do you know this useful NPC already?
Start video
This NPC in Path of Exile 2 identifies your items
Everything Depends on the Host
What does it look like in practice? In reality, the co-op mode often conflicts with the other mechanics of Path of Exile 2. This becomes especially evident in the endgame. If a player dies on the maps, they cannot re-enter the map. However, this means that the host cannot enter anymore either.
The host is the only player who can interact with the league mechanics windows. The other players cannot access the rewards from the rituals, nor can they complete the Delirium fog or trigger explosions during the expedition.
The items obtained through the mechanics initially go to the host. While they can distribute these later, it can also be quite time-consuming with 5 guests.
How could the co-op mode be improved? The co-op mode of Path of Exile 2 could be improved in various areas. The community has collected some points on Reddit.
The user necrotwy reports on Reddit about their experience with couch co-op: “[…] Every time a player dies, the game freezes a few seconds later […] Oh, and the game continues to run in the background, while the screen stays frozen forever. […] Either you quickly close the game or you die (and of course lose the map).”
No-Special5543 also explains on Reddit what needs to be improved: “[…] I’ve noticed that you lose honor in Trials when another player gets hit. I can only hope that this is another Trials bug.”
He also has another request for the developers: “[…] And we urgently need a shared minimap to know what other players have already explored. Please implement this feature if possible.”
The cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket can include many details. Some of these are so precise that you can recognize well-known locations from them.
Although Pokémon TCG Pocket was only released a few months ago, there are already some cards that you can collect. Besides the regular cards, there are also the rarer variants that come with special, immersive details.
But it’s not just the immersive details that are to be discovered on the cards. Players from the community have now even been able to use some details to identify locations from the main games where the Pokémon from the cards are situated.
Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Promo A 008 – What is behind the missing card?
Fence and Tree Astonish Players
The beginning is made by the player “asch_win” in his post on Reddit. He took a closer look at the card of Habitak (A1, 191). On the card, the player observed details such as the fence, the grass, the trees, and 2 buildings.
He noticed that the location must clearly be Route 16 next to Prismania City. Coincidentally, you can also find and catch Habitak in the tall grass on this route in some games.
In another post on Reddit, another player discovered additional cards that can be assigned to further locations in the games. The player was also able to assign the cards of Digda (A1, 238), Alpollo (A1, 121), Dodu (A1, 199), and Rattfratz (A1, 189) based on various details.
We’ll embed the Reddit post here for you:
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In the same post, another player also noticed something special. This concerns the Full-Art variant of Relaxo (A1, 250). If you take a closer look at this card, you will also find Knofensa, Myrapla, and Bluzuk.
If you now take a look at the corresponding Pokémon cards, you will discover that next to the Pokémon itself, there is also a body part of Relaxo. What this looks like in detail can be seen in the comments on Reddit.
The player also identified the location where the Pokémon on these cards are located. It is Route 12, where you can wake up and catch Relaxo in some Pokémon games using the Poké Flute.
The Marvel universe offers countless heroes that you have never seen in the cinema. Among them are not only serious characters but also some silly ones that function more as a joke. However, one heroine from the comics is so powerful that she has been able to take on the strongest villains in the universe.
Which superheroine is it? In 1991, Doreen Allene Green, better known as Squirrel Girl, debuted. Although it may seem so, she is not a mutant. However, she has many abilities:
Superhuman strength
Giant squirrel tail
Night vision
Regeneration
Her most important ability is her communication with squirrels, which she can command and use in battle. Similar to Deadpool, she is a rather silly character who also likes to break the fourth wall to chat with the reader.
But despite her absurd abilities, she has achieved a lot. She has even defeated some of the strongest villains in the comic universe.
In the new game Marvel Rivals, you can fight as Squirrel Girl:
Start video
Marvel Rivals: The launch trailer for the shooter featuring Marvel superheroes on PS5 and Steam
Squirrel Girl has also defeated Thanos
Which villains has Squirrel Girl defeated? Despite her silly appearance and quirky abilities, she has already been able to defeat some super-villains in combat. During her first appearance in Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol.2) Issue 8, she saved Iron Man from Dr. Doom, whom she defeated by sending countless squirrels against the villain.
Her greatest success was celebrated in GLX-Mas Special Vol.1, written by Dan Slott, from 2006. In this comic, she fought alongside her squirrel sidekick Tippy-Toe against Thanos himself. Although it is not shown how she did it, in one panel she stands behind the defeated Thanos while a Watcher explains that she saved the multiverse (via cbr.com).
Additionally, the Watcher mentions that this Thanos is neither a clone nor a robot. This is a side note referring to the fact that Thanos’s creator Jim Starlin explained in a comic miniseries that many times it was not actually Thanos who was defeated, but his clones.
In She-Hulk No. 12 from 2006, Dan Slott also explained that there was a Thanos clone who even managed to outsmart the Watcher.
In The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl No. 3 from 2025, she also managed to stop Galactus. However, she did not even have to fight the giant planet eater. After a conversation in which both mock Thanos, Galactus leaves Earth alone (via Screen Rant).
Whom else has she defeated?Marvel Database lists other characters that have been defeated by Squirrel Girl. These include:
Ego, the Living Planet
The Avengers
Giganto
Deadpool
Wolverine
Fin Fang Foom
Kang
Venom
Should one take all of this seriously? No. Squirrel Girl is like Gwenpool, a character that has been intended as a joke from the beginning. It is absurd and the gag of these stories that such a character can defeat powerful beings. This usually only happens in special comics that serve as funny events or collections of short stories.
In the major events of the comics, she has no significant appearances. One can also assume that she will not take on a major role in the MCU. However, as a minor cameo character, there could very well be an appearance. According to MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, the Hulk should finally receive an important role: I still can’t forgive Marvel for wasting one of the most exciting heroes after 16 years
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Others also report their negative experiences, such as meggles_, who writes:
I am a woman and used to play at the top of the raid rankings with my guild (Top 10 in the world) and unfortunately, it is like this: The higher you go, the worse it gets. Of course not all men are like this, but in my experience, guilds at the higher end tend to have more of these problem cases than casual guilds, and they are less likely to kick such players because skilled players are hard to replace.
The best advice I can give you is not to let them win – defend yourself verbally if you feel able to. Don’t let yourself be put down. Don’t be afraid to leave if the people are terrible – there are always better guilds out there. The ranking isn’t worth being treated like dirt. I wish someone had told me that back then.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Others also report their negative experiences, such as meggles_, who writes:
I am a woman and used to play at the top of the raid rankings with my guild (Top 10 in the world) and unfortunately, it is like this: The higher you go, the worse it gets. Of course not all men are like this, but in my experience, guilds at the higher end tend to have more of these problem cases than casual guilds, and they are less likely to kick such players because skilled players are hard to replace.
The best advice I can give you is not to let them win – defend yourself verbally if you feel able to. Don’t let yourself be put down. Don’t be afraid to leave if the people are terrible – there are always better guilds out there. The ranking isn’t worth being treated like dirt. I wish someone had told me that back then.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
World of Warcraft is still difficult to play as a woman at a high level. Many report that it only gets worse in the higher ranks.
That women often feel uncomfortable in World of Warcraft is not just an “old hat”, but unfortunately a persistent issue. Again and again, there are stories of women who are either harassed or insulted because of their gender or feel uncomfortable – even though they just want to enjoy a game.
One of these stories has now been discussed in detail. Many fellow players give tips on how to defend oneself against such misconduct.
What type of post is this? The 20-year-old player LuciCuti describes in her Reddit post that she has been playing WoW for over 4 years and is trying to break into the higher levels of play – that is, Mythic+, the Gladiator title in PvP, and mythic raiding. However, she has repeatedly faced problems with male players who behave inappropriately towards her. From unwanted flirting attempts to insults and accusations, it’s all there. Here are a few excerpts from the post:
I had people asking me in the middle of a raid if I was single, where I was, and all that. I sent a screenshot to the guild leader, and he wanted to have “a serious word” with the person, but that never did anything except make the person message me even more aggressively.
In PvP, her experience was different. There, she was immediately dismissed as bad – simply because she is a woman:
In PvP, I know you don’t necessarily need Discord to become a Gladiator, but almost all groups ask if you can join voice chat, and saying “no” seems to ruin the mood. But I’ve also been insulted because I supposedly get carried – just because I’m a woman and that happens immediately as soon as I join the conversation, even though they’ve never seen me play. They insulted me and kicked me out, so I’m done with PUGs in PvP.
In other guilds, she has experienced that others help her, precisely because she is a woman – she is treated specially and even if she contributes almost nothing, the men seem to be fine with that. She doesn’t feel taken seriously as a player:
I also don’t want to be taken along just because people want to get closer to me. At the beginning of the expansion, I was pretty busy, so I hardly accomplished anything in the game. I found a guild that I could play with, and they knew I was busy; it was a simple heroic raid guild. They told me to just ask, and then they would take me through dungeons with four people, and I thought that was just a nice thing they did in the guild.
After two weeks, I realized that I was the only woman in the guild and the only person they were doing that for. It took almost a week of me deliberately going afk at every single pull in the dungeon before they finally said something.
In summary, her criticisms are:
Many men don’t play with her because they value her performance as a group member, but because she is a woman and hope for something from it.
Intrusive behavior in many guilds is “normal” and is often tolerated by the leadership.
In many groups, she is insulted as soon as it becomes clear she is a woman.
Shortly after, she edits her post again and adds:
To all the people sending me private messages [on Reddit] and inviting me to their guild while your whole profile is full of porn, I hope you’re doing this as a joke because that’s the dumbest shit ever if you’re serious about it.
This is how the community reacts: While there are certainly some inappropriate comments, which have many downvotes, the community also has some good tips on how to deal with the problem – because LuciCuti seems to be far from the only one with such experiences.
SharkRaptor recommends the “Visage Program” from Raider.io. Guilds that mark themselves with this label claim to be particularly inclusive towards women and other marginalized groups.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Others also report their negative experiences, such as meggles_, who writes:
I am a woman and used to play at the top of the raid rankings with my guild (Top 10 in the world) and unfortunately, it is like this: The higher you go, the worse it gets. Of course not all men are like this, but in my experience, guilds at the higher end tend to have more of these problem cases than casual guilds, and they are less likely to kick such players because skilled players are hard to replace.
The best advice I can give you is not to let them win – defend yourself verbally if you feel able to. Don’t let yourself be put down. Don’t be afraid to leave if the people are terrible – there are always better guilds out there. The ranking isn’t worth being treated like dirt. I wish someone had told me that back then.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What looks like the rejected alpha version of a Metal Gear Solid 6 is Black State – a new shooter on Steam, where doors are not just doors.
What kind of game is this? Black State is a story-driven third-person shooter from the developer Motion Blur. The devs are based in Istanbul and state on their website motionblur.com that they make “AAA games with an independent soul.” Black State is the studio’s third game.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), there was gameplay from an early version of the shooter. In about three and a half minutes, it becomes clear what famous game franchise likely served as inspiration for the developers and what is intended to make the shooter special.
You can watch the gameplay trailer from CES here:
Start video
Black State: Shooter on Steam reminiscent of Metal Gear shows new gameplay
Metal Gear from Turkey
What does the trailer show? At the beginning, the protagonist wanders through a lavish estate, with the highly polished marble floor reflecting the entire surroundings. But waiting behind the first door is a group of enemy soldiers.
In combat, our character seems as if they have trained under Big Boss himself: The animations in close combat and gunfights strongly resemble Snake (also known as Big Boss) from Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear series. We wouldn’t be surprised if the protagonist has pilfered from his wardrobe.
After the first firefight, the game’s big feature is introduced, as the same door through which we just entered the room suddenly leads into a futuristic hallway that wasn’t there before. When closing and reopening, the level behind the door changes, and all of this happens without a loading pause.
A lot of fuss about doors
How are the reactions to the trailer? Many comments under the trailer on YouTube address the similarities to Metal Gear. ITMeCE writes: “Metal Gear… is that you???” samhanmma especially feels “old MGS vibes,” while Drawerofstuff00 feels it “like an alpha of what MGS6 could have been.”
A detail in the trailer that is mocked concerns the doors. They are not always opened with a matching animation, and when they are, they look “like when my grandmother pulls aside a curtain,” comments znt_.
Some have also noticed that the doors open in the wrong direction relative to the hinges. This is nitpicking at a high level, but if one wants to score points with realistic graphics and doors play such a big role, such little details stand out negatively.
When and where will Black State be released? The developers have not yet provided a release timeframe. Currently, only PC is known as a platform, and there is already a shop page for the shooter on Steam.
The Hong Kong Customs has once again seized undeclared electronic components worth nearly 1.8 million euros. The alleged smuggler now faces a hefty fine.
What exactly happened? During a routine inspection at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, Hong Kong Customs stopped an outgoing container truck that was officially carrying micromotor materials.
Micromotors are small, powerful motors used in medicine, electronics, automotive technology, and robotics. However, during the search, officials discovered a large amount of undeclared electronic components. These were clearly different from the motor components and were hidden among the declared goods.
According to a press report from the relevant authorities, the 47-year-old driver was arrested and released on bail after an initial interrogation; investigations are ongoing (via customs.gov.hk). So far, the authorities have only referred to a “suspected smuggling case” as the connections have not yet been fully clarified.
What components were found? Among the seized items were:
Approximately 670,000 integrated circuits: various semiconductors, presumably for different applications
Around 80,000 other electronic components: possibly watch movements, RAM units, mobile phone lenses, and motherboards.
Since the press release provides few details about the seized components, it cannot be clearly stated what specific components they are.
Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video
Additionally, Hong Kong Customs conducted Operation “Sea Guardian” in August and September 2024, where three alleged smuggling cases were uncovered using deep-sea vessels. This operation resulted in the seizure of large quantities of allegedly smuggled electronic products with an estimated market value of about 500 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 62 million euros) (via Customs and Excise Department Hong Kong).
Why is smuggling happening in Hong Kong? Hong Kong is a free port and does not impose import duties and taxes on products or services. Duties, specifically tariffs, are only levied on a few products, such as tobacco or high-proof alcohol (via HKETO Berlin).
In contrast, mainland China imposes a standard VAT rate of 13% on the sale of goods and import VAT (as of January 2025, via WKO). However, the amount of VAT typically depends on the type of service.
The tax difference between Hong Kong and China increasingly incentivizes smugglers to bring goods across the border without declaration, for example, to gain competitive advantages through lower prices.
What penalties do the perpetrators face? Individuals caught smuggling can expect severe penalties. In Hong Kong, fines of up to 2 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 250,000 euros) and prison sentences of up to seven years can be imposed. The seized goods are generally confiscated and destroyed or otherwise disposed of. This information can be clearly derived from the import and export legislation of Hong Kong (via Hong Kong e-Legislation). As is often the case, the severity of the penalty can vary significantly depending on the specifics or circumstances.
Monster Hunter Wilds is on the starting blocks and will be released worldwide on February 28, 2025: Humble Bundle is already sending you on a hunt in the predecessors for €24.09.
What kind of offer is this? On Humble Bundle, the New Year Hunting Collection is currently available in preparation for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds.In this collection, you will receive the full versions of the last two installments of the main series of Monster Hunter, including the deluxe upgrades and both DLCs.
From €9.62 – Monster Hunter Rise + Deluxe Kit
From €14.43 – Sunbreak DLC + Deluxe Kit
From €19.24 – Monster Hunter: World + Deluxe Kit
From €24.05 – Iceborne DLC + Deluxe Kit
The offer is valid until January 25, 2025.
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: New Trailer Reveals Release Date
What is included in the DLCs and Deluxe Kits? Iceborne (World) and Sunbreak (Rise) offer new areas, a lot of monsters, weapon skills, new equipment, and fresh quests/events as well as a new story.
The Deluxe Kits only include cosmetic additional items such as hairstyles, face paint, armor sets for your hunters, Palico and Palamute (only Rise), as well as gestures and stickers for online mode.
The total price of all games and content amounts to about €150. Furthermore, there is already a 20% voucher for the spin-off games Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2 from the first price category.
Who is the bundle worth it for? Anyone looking forward to Monster Hunter Wilds and who has little to no experience with the franchise might find this deal definitely interesting. The base games alone offer over 500 hours of content according to howlongtobeat.com, and the DLCs expand the experience by hundreds more hours.
Experienced hunters will also get their money’s worth
Even those who have spent several hours in the games can use the two DLCs Iceborne and Sunbreak to bridge the waiting time until Wilds and will surely find a challenge in Master Rank.
If you already own something from the collection, you can alternatively currently put together a bundle of individual base games or DLCs on Fanatical.com.
Monster Hunter World already changed the formula of the earlier parts and created larger, freely explorable areas. Thus, World provides a good basis to engage with the fundamental game mechanics and the many weapons that will return in Wilds.
In Fortnite today, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the new update is activated. All information about Patch 33.20 can be found here.
Tuesday, 14.01.2025
12:21 PM
The downtime is over and you can log in again. However, there are still no patch notes available. If Epic Games provides these later, we will update our article.
12:16 PM
So far, there is no information on how much longer the downtime will be delayed. We are keeping an eye on it.
11:41 AM
King Kong is also supposed to be available as a skin. His files have been found and show his head and body:
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According to Shiina, the OG styles of Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper will be added today. These have returned so that players who missed them can earn them. However, only the original fans will receive the OG styles.
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You will slowly be kicked from the servers one by one so that the downtime can begin. An update cannot be downloaded yet.
09:33 AM
The player search is now gradually being disabled. The server shutdown will follow at 10:00 AM, so be ready.
What happens when the server is down? The servers are shut down. During this time, you cannot play Fortnite.
Server Down in Fortnite – from when? The servers will be shut down on January 14, 2025, at 10 AM. Matchmaking will be disabled 30 minutes prior (via x.com).
When can I play Fortnite again? That depends on the duration of the downtime. This is a somewhat larger patch after the long winter break. So expect that you will not be able to play for 1-3 hours.
When will patch notes be released? Epic Games only sporadically presents patch notes for updates and usually only after downtime. Once they are available, you will read them here.
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Fortnite: Chapter 6 – Season 1 showcases its new skins and Godzilla in the gameplay trailer
Fortnite: Patch 33.20 – What do leakers say?
What can I expect with the upcoming update? The leaker Shiina has already made several guesses on X.com about what exactly could be in the update. You can expect the following things:
Godzilla is supposed to appear as an event on the map for you to defeat
Hatsune Miku is coming as a skin
Many instruments are supposed to soon be used as back accessories
First leaks about Season 2: OG
New shoes for your skins
King Kong is supposed to come to Fortnite
The “Ballistic” mode is supposed to receive an update
Possibly new information about Demon Slayer in Fortnite
We will accompany the start of the downtime and provide you with the most important information, so if you are excited about any leaks, make sure to stay tuned. Meanwhile, a player has reached level 10,000 in Chapter 6 Season 1 and the community is not celebrating it: Player reaches level 10,000 in Fortnite – Generally criticized
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A candidate goes to their job interview, but it is over after 5 minutes. Because they did not know that the evaluation began the moment they entered the company building.
A young man applied for a position at a company and showed up for the interview, but after 5 minutes it was already over. Because the HR manager did not like his behavior.
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Candidate enters the office and behaves unfriendly right away
What was the problem? An employee from the company reports that the candidate showed up for the interview. But he was dismissive towards the receptionist and rejected contact with her. The receptionist tried to engage the candidate in conversation, but he showed no interest.
What the candidate did not know was that the “receptionist” was actually the HR manager, who was already assessing his skills. The employee explained on Reddit:
She called him back into the conference room and explained to him that every single person on our team is valuable and deserves respect. Due to his interaction with the “receptionist,” the HR manager felt that he did not fit into the company. Thank you for your time, but the conversation is over.
The first rule is therefore: Be nice to everyone in the building, no matter who you meet. Because all people in the company are equally valuable and deserve respect, even if they do not work on the executive floor.
Many people on Reddit agree and say: Kindness is really important in everyday life.
Among young people of Gen Z, a trend seems to be particularly popular: Job Ghosting. This is now shown by survey data from a platform that asked candidates and companies: 78% of all candidates are said to have intentionally ignored the employer: There is a popular trend among Gen Z: They do not show up for interviews
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of Ubisoft’s most important projects in recent years. After fans were unsettled by several delays, a developer speaks up on X.
What does the developer say about the game? Dan G, a Lead Animator at Ubisoft, commented on January 4, 2025, about a new teaser that shows a video of a meditation minigame from the new Assassin’s Creed Shadows:
I work for Ubisoft and … there are many of our own games that I do not play … we have free Ubisoft games on PC and 2 free ones on console per year … I can hardly wait for this one! A new era of Assassin’s Creed is dawning!
Several delays of the release, which according to the latest information is scheduled for March 20, 2025, have caused uncertainty among fans. In a statement Ubisoft justifies this decision by saying that these additional weeks are needed to ensure a more engaging gaming experience from day one.
This way, Ubisoft might want to avoid a similar situation to that of Star Wars Outlaws, which caused Ubisoft’s stock to drop by 13.5%. All the more pressure is now on the new Assassin’s Creed-project.
What does the future of the franchise look like? CEO Yves Guillemot says in an interview on the official studio site, that reinterpreted and modernized remakes of older Assassin’s Creed-games are in the works. He adds that the worlds in older games are still extremely rich.
Simultaneously with the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Animus Hub is expected to be launched, which will serve as a launch platform for all upcoming Ubisoft games in this series.
How is it going at Ubisoft? The studio has been under critical public scrutiny for a while. A report from an industry expert portrays Ubisoft’s current situation.
According to rumors, there are deeper structural and cultural problems within the company, and Ubisoft’s management suppresses critical analyses as they prefer new content over solving existing problems.
In Path of Exile 2, there is a wide variety of builds, skills, and classes that aim to allow every player to play the ARPG in their own way. A gamer has now taken this concept to the extreme.
What has the player achieved? Path of Exile 2 is considered a challenging ARPG. Some have already compared it to Dark Souls. Despite elaborate builds, valuable weapons, and sophisticated bonuses, adventurers often fail against bosses in the game. One even relies on damage as the best defense. Many gamers even resort to meta builds to successfully master their runs.
In stark contrast is Reddit user llnesisll. He has built a character that is completely different from all others. For fighting, the ranger only uses his fists, without any weapons or other active skills.
He shows how the fight looks on Reddit:
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What does the gamer’s build look like? Instead of dealing damage to enemies with skills or minions, a player faces his foes only with bare hands. Without active skills, without spirit gems, and without other buffs, he has defeated the campaign of Path of Exile 2.
However, he was not unskilled. In a longer video on YouTube, he shows his stats and the passive skill tree. When defeating the final boss, he had 78% fire resistance, 84% lightning resistance, 57% cold resistance, and 0% chaos resistance.
His character also has 1435 health points, 37 energy shield, 457 mana, and 100 will, which he does not use. Additionally, his ranger is equipped with 12% armor, 65% evasion, and 25% block chance.
As a class, he plays the ranger and focuses heavily on melee damage with the built-in jewels. He needs that to defeat the bosses and other enemies without any abilities.
To ensure that his punches deal the necessary damage, he has enhanced his fists with passive skills such as “Rage,” “Martial Tempo,” “Elemental Focus,” and “Close Combat.”
Here you can see the cinematic intro of Path of Exile 2:
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How does the community view the character? The player base of Path of Exile 2 is astonished on Reddit that llnesisll has made it so far with his ranger and was even able to defeat the campaign’s final boss. Comparisons to the famous One Punch Man are also mentioned on Reddit.
Without abilities, there is also no need for mana, which is why the fist fighter is still using the smallest mana flask from the beginning of the game. Soft_Relationship_23 also notes this on Reddit, writing: “Nice mana flask, brother.”
After eight years of development, the release of the mod “Classic Offensive” for CS:GO is blocked by Steam. The developers are unable to explain why it was suddenly rejected, as the project had previously been coordinated with Valve.
What kind of mod is this? “Classic Offensive” is an ambitious mod for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that aimed to bring back the classic gameplay experience of Counter-Strike 1.6 into the modern version of the game.
Since the beginning of development in 2016, the team worked on transferring the nostalgia of the early days with classic weapons, sounds, physics, and gameplay elements into the Source engine of CS:GO. The mod had been available on ModDB for years, receiving regular updates and support from the modding community.
Now, the finished mod was supposed to be released on Steam, but Valve put a stop to it.
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Counter-Strike 2: Valve once again impresses with the launch trailer
Developers do not understand what is going on
Why did Steam stop the release? According to the developer team, they adhered to all legal requirements for using Valve’s Counter-Strike IP and submitted the final build for review on October 6, 2024, as stated in a statement on X.com.
Steamworks had previously required that the build must be finalized before a release could occur. However, instead of approval, the developers received only an automated message weeks later that the Steamworks app for the mod was “withdrawn” – without explanation.
“We do not understand what has happened,” the team explained in their statement. Since the end of 2020, the developers stated there had been no communication with Valve, despite many employees of the company being informed about the project.
What are the next steps for the mod? In the statement, the team expresses disappointment over the sudden rejection and warns other modding teams working on projects related to Valve’s games.
“We feel compelled to advise other modding teams that rely solely on Steam as a release platform to reconsider their strategies,” the team writes. They believe that other projects could also face similar fates, if Valve decides to block them.
Nevertheless, there remains hope to find a solution through further attempts to contact Valve or other companies in the Counter-Strike environment to finally publish “Classic Offensive”.
The reactions of the gaming community to the blocked release of the Counter-Strike mod are mixed. While many players are disappointed as they had been looking forward to the mod, there are also critical voices (via X.com). Some players argue that the developer team should have anticipated a rejection from Valve and that the team might have been better off developing an independent game.
