The best 5 MMORPGs for the Nintendo Switch in 2025

Alexander Leitsch Alexander Leitsch Reading time 9 minutes

MMORPGs are available on many platforms, but in recent years, the Nintendo Switch has become increasingly popular among gamers. Therefore, we present to you five MMORPGs that you can play on the handheld console.

What is this list based on? In this list, we present five MMORPGs that you can play on Nintendo consoles. The games were originally selected by Alexander Leitsch, who has played each game himself. Now, MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz has taken over the regular updates of the list.

At the end of the article, you’ll find additional titles that we did not include directly in the ranking. Fans of Sony and Microsoft consoles will find this interesting: The 5 best MMORPGs on PS4, PS5, and Xbox that you can play in 2025.

This article was last updated in December 2024 to adjust the respective areas of “What has happened recently?”.

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DC Universe Online

Setting: Superheroes | Developer: Daybreak Games | Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: January 11, 2011 | Model: Free2Play

What kind of game is this? In DC Universe Online, you take on the role of a superhero or villain. In the game, you follow a story that takes you to Gotham City and includes characters like Batman, Superman, Joker, or Harley Quinn.

  • Many quests await you that you can complete.
  • There are action-packed battles with powerful abilities.
  • The max level is 30, but there is still much to do afterward to improve your equipment and become stronger.
  • In the endgame, there are dungeons, raids, missions for solo players, or small groups.
  • For PvP fans, there is arena PvP or optional PvP in the open world. Here, heroes can fight villains. There is also a special mode where you can take on the role of iconic heroes and use their abilities.

In July 2021, DC Universe was updated so that Free2Play players could experience more. For example, the new chapters and daily login rewards were removed from the optional subscription and made available to all players. Additionally, the maximum cash and housing system were expanded. This makes the superhero MMORPG particularly interesting for newcomers.

Criticism exists for the outdated graphics, the relatively low difficulty at the beginning, and in the open game world, as well as for the shop where you can buy special superpowers that you cannot get otherwise.

At the end of 2020, the developer of DC Universe Online surprisingly announced the player numbers. At that time, there were about 420,000 different players online per month, and there were 40,000 subscribers.

We are embedding the trailer for the release on the Switch:

Start video
DC Universe is now available on the Nintendo Switch – Watch the trailer here

What has happened recently? DC Universe Online continues to receive regular updates with new, often free content. For example, in September 2024, Episode 48 was released, focusing on “Harley Quinn vs. Apokolips,” which included a raid, a solo mission, and new open-world tasks.

Moreover, players were able to temporarily acquire a character boost to CR 368, and recently, they could secure Wonder Woman as an ally. A new structure for story expansions is planned for 2025, which will be complemented by suitable events.

More about DC Universe Online:
Amazon’s MMORPG has only 1 percent of its players left, responds to the case with … a new subscription
von Karsten Scholz
The 10 MMORPGs on Steam with the best ratings in March 2026
von Alexander Leitsch

Who is DC Universe interesting for? For fans of the superhero universe, DC Universe can be one of the most interesting MMORPGs. After all, players can meet their heroes, who are also fully equipped with voice acting.

In the game, you can expect an interesting mix of PvE and PvP content so that basically every player type should be satisfied. However, the graphics and even the combat system seem somewhat outdated.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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WoW: Tanks feel too weak – “It’s so sad to experience this”

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Tanks are suffering in World of Warcraft, as the game is simply too difficult. The fantasy of a steadfast hero who protects is at risk.

That in World of Warcraft not everyone is really satisfied with the balance is an old story by now. However, it’s rare for tanks to feel significantly weak in the dungeons of the MMORPG. But the current season is causing more and more tanks to throw in the towel and hope for drastic improvements.

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

What is the problem with the tanks? Until the end of Dragonflight, tanks were extremely resilient. In most dungeons, they could keep themselves alive and withstand groups and bosses for a long time, even if the healer had to attend to others or had already died. In some cases, tanks – given enough time – could finish the fights alone.

However, tanks are now significantly more threatened. Even at relatively low key levels, they rely on healers and can only survive alone for a short time.

Warriors currently form an exception, as they are still considered the mightiest tanks of the current season.

All other tank classes are rather dissatisfied with the current state, as the pressure has increased further. Besides the leader role in the group and the overall responsibility for the rate of progress, tanking often feels very “panicky”. The fantasy of a steadfast hero who endures the onslaught of enemies and protects their comrades is hardly fulfilled at present.

This situation has also led to more and more tanks and healers throwing in the towel and preferring to play something else.

Here’s what the community is discussing: In the World of Warcraft subreddit, the state of tanks is repeatedly discussed. In a relatively new post by Damnpudge, it is discussed how tanking has changed and how the health bars of tanks often feel like they are playing ping-pong.

The damage I take is not consistent. It’s exhausting that I jump between 1 HP, half health, and fully healed every few seconds. Reactive healers, like monks, can sometimes catch this, but otherwise, it’s just disgusting.

I actually enjoy tanking and healing, but damn, it’s just so sad to play.

Most reactions to this are understanding, as other tanks are also currently quite dissatisfied:

  • “That’s just how tanking is this season. Tanking has become much harder, and you need a plan for every single pull regarding which cooldowns to use in which order, or you will get caught cold and become a victim of a oneshot.” – charging_chinchilla
  • “It’s not your fault. The tank changes at the beginning of this expansion were a mistake.” – pbapolizzi300
  • “A +9 is as hard as a +19 in the last expansion. It just hurts.
    The system is too harsh for casuals.
    Mental health simply feels bad when wiping on low keys like a +5 and having problems.”     – Nemdraz
More around WoW:
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz
WoW hotfixes from April 15, 2026 make raids and dungeons easier, fix annoying bugs
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Blizzard promised quick updates with WoW Midnight without loss of quality – The endeavor has failed
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Will this improve in Patch 11.1? Currently, it doesn’t look like the situation for tanks will greatly improve in the second season. While there are some adjustments for most classes, the major tank changes are not included. Generally, the current season is considered one of the hardest ever. Therefore, one can at least hope that the overall difficulty of the dungeons in Patch 11.1 will be somewhat lower – at least Blizzard is also saying goodbye to the most annoying affix.

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

A gaming developer is heavily criticized on Steam, yet Asmongold comes to the rescue

MeinMMO MeinMMO Reading time 3 minutes

The developer of an indie game on Steam says he has been the victim of a targeted campaign for months. Twitch streamer Asmongold supports him.

This is the situation: On December 28, 2024, Artur Smiarowski, the developer of the roguelike “Soulash,” posted on X, complaining about an ongoing campaign by “spoiled rainbow brats” against him and his game.

  • Every update has led to negative reviews, with insults found under every post about his game
  • “They” will continue until all sales platforms, communities, and influencers have “canceled” him
  • In 2025 he wants to fight against this oppression

The post was picked up by Twitch streamer Asmongold. In a stream clip titled “WTF is wrong with these people?”, watched by over 700,000 people on YouTube, he explained: The developer is being unjustly harassed just because he didn’t want same-sex relationships in his game.

Asmongold is clearly behind the developer.

Select a MMO video…

Discussion about same-sex relationships in the game escalates

Here’s the background: The discussion dates back to an update on August 15, 2024, when Smiarowski introduced family creation as a feature in his game. This should allow players to continue playing as descendants after the inevitable death of the game character.

A player asked the developer if it would be possible in the future to also allow same-sex relationships in the game.

The developer explained: The system is only for reproduction. Due to limited interactions with NPCs, he sees no way to depict relationships beyond that, which is why he currently has no plans to expand them.

This led to a discussion in the Steam Community Forum: Some players wished for a revision of the relationship feature, while others opposed it.

Some clearly didn’t like the developer’s decision and expressed their displeasure through negative reviews on Steam. Soulash 2 had previously received mostly positive ratings, but on August 19, Steam shows 34 negative reviews. One player complains that he was banned from the forum just for asking for same-sex marriages.

Developer on Steam sees rainbow flag as a symbol of oppression

On August 24 and 25, the developer then published several posts on X, equating the demand for same-sex relationships with wanting to “f*** everything that moves.” X and the rainbow flag, the symbol of the LGBTQ community, were compared with oppression by religion or the Nazis (via X).

The stronger negative backlash of 103 negative ratings, however, is only recorded for August 26. While it is difficult to retrospectively trace which review followed which statement, it seems that most negative reviews came after the developer’s comments on X.

On the same day, Steam also reported 510 positive ratings, after the topic was taken up by opinion leaders like Mark “Grummz” Kern and Asmongold.

These are the facts:

  • Soulash 2 received negative ratings in August 2024 after the developer stated that the relationship system in the game primarily serves reproduction, which is why implementing same-sex relationships is not a priority for him
  • Some negative reviews refer to the developer, not the game.
  • Under the post from itch.io on Bluesky, there are comments that insult Smiarowski and advise against buying his game.

Reaction to negative criticism by influencers helps the game more than the criticism harms it

The facts are also:

  • The criticism does not solely relate to the decision not to implement same-sex relationships but also to statements made by the developer on X
  • Many negative comments have dozens of hours of gameplay and criticize the gameplay. Among the positive comments, there are many with little playtime, openly admitting to supporting the developer only because of his stance.
  • Ultimately, Smiarowski benefited from the situation. He reported selling over 3,500 units within a week, more than he usually sells in 2 months (via X)
  • Even now, the developer is benefiting again: After the initial uproar in late summer 2024, there were only a few new reviews on Steam, with an overall positive trend. After the post on December 28, some negative reviews were added, but many more positive ones:
Soulash 2 Steam ratings
Trend of Steam ratings for Soulash 2 on Steam

The narrative “Indie developer is being targeted because he didn’t want same-sex relationships in his game,” which Asmongold reached 700,000 people on YouTube with, only reflects part of the truth.

As Asmongold himself says, he and his community were able to offset and compensate for the negative criticism through positive reviews.

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A similar situation occurred in February 2023, at the release of Hogwarts Legacy. At that time, although some people spoke out against supporting the franchise and its creator, the support was much greater than the criticism. Twitch: Fans support Gronkh with €37,000 after uproar surrounding Hogwarts Legacy – “Should have more shitstorms”

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

Fan asks if the 26-year-old predecessors of Baldur’s Gate 3 are still worth it today, gets a clear answer

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a huge success and is now considered one of the best video games of all time. This places it well alongside its predecessors, which were already regarded as masterpieces. But are the ancient role-playing games still worth it today? Fans have a clear opinion on that.

These are the predecessors:

  • Just like Baldur’s Gate 3, the first two parts are classic CRPGs set on the Sword Coast, in the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
  • Baldur’s Gate 1 was released in 1998, and part 2 came out shortly thereafter, in 2000. There are already remasters for modern devices, which have made it back onto our list of the best role-playing games on Steam.
  • However, the predecessors were not created by Larian, but by BioWare – the studio you know today for Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Anthem. BioWare recently created Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

This is what the fans say: On Reddit, a user asks whether Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 are still worth playing today. He doesn’t care about the old models and textures as long as the gameplay and story are as good as in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Many fans in the comments respond that they have difficulty answering this question objectively. One always views these ancient games with a certain nostalgia, which makes them seem better than they may actually be.

The comment with the most agreement comes from the user grousedrum:

Lore/Story/Background – yes, incredible, definitely worth it. Gives you a lot of context for the Origin/Dark Urge story and for Jaheira.

Gameplay – absolutely different, real-time with pauses and uses much older D&D rules, which can feel restrictive and counterintuitive.

The user zoonose99 is even more radical and says: Baldur’s Gate 3 is top-tier but not “better than anything that came before.” Baldur’s Gate 1, on the other hand, was better at the time than anything that had come before.

Start video
Middle finger to the AAA industry: Baldur’s Gate 3 was no coincidence

“Baldur’s Gate 1 was revolutionary”

zoonose elaborates that Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 are must-play games for anyone interested in game design, especially regarding CRPGs and dungeon design: “They are fundamental to the genre and part of the literature for game developers.”

Whether the games are really as revolutionary as zoonose claims is already being hotly debated in the comments. However, the fans agree that anyone interested in CRPGs should take a look at Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2.

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However, do not expect the same gameplay as in Baldur’s Gate 3. Fans explain: especially Baldur’s Gate 1 has an open world that enhances the feeling of discovery. And the combat system in the predecessors is entirely different.

Here you can find more games like Baldur’s Gate 3 that don’t have a turn-based combat system

If you enjoyed the gameplay of Baldur’s Gate 3, there are significantly better and modern alternatives. The best match is probably Divinity: Original Sins 2, the direct predecessor from Larian. The two games are very similar in terms of gameplay mechanics.

Alternatively, you have Solasta, a current CRPG set in the world of D&D, and the Pathfinder games, an early offshoot of the pen-and-paper system. And for those who want to look into the distant future after so much fantasy, there is a strong, modern title with Rogue Trader: If you love Baldur’s Gate 3, I have an RPG here that does 4 things even better

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

YouTube supports content creators with AI, but it only makes them look like a stupid narcissist

Johanna Johanna Reading time 3 minutes

YouTube has introduced several new features recently; many of them are based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). A YouTuber has now presented a feature that should actually support content creators on the platform, but fails in its implementation.

Who is the YouTuber? It is the American YouTuber Drew Gooden. He started on the short video platform Vine and uploaded commentary videos to YouTube after the app was shut down.

In these videos, he is mostly ironic, but this is now humorously backfiring on him with a YouTube AI feature.

In the German-speaking YouTube space, HandOfBlood is an important part. We present him to you in the video:

Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute

AI feature should make it easier for YouTubers to respond to comments

What kind of feature is it? In addition to AI-generated summaries of videos, there is also a feature that gives YouTubers the ability to provide AI-generated responses to comments. Initially, this feature was very generic: It suggested phrases like “Thank you”, “Glad you liked it” or “Sorry”.

The feature was presumably intended to help YouTubers respond to comments under their videos faster without having to write much.

However, the feature was then updated to be even more accurate. The generated responses are now tailored to the individual style of the respective YouTuber.

The suggested responses are, however, rather disappointing and amusing for Gooden than actually useful. Drew Gooden noted this in one of his YouTube videos.

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Link to the YouTube content

AI suggests many inappropriate responses

What kind of responses does YouTube generate? For a comment, the function, for example, comes up with a nasty response and suggests responding to a slightly longer comment with “That is a very long comment” or “I don’t care”.

When it comes to comments that have a serious tone, YouTube seems unable to grasp this. For example, a user talks about his bad experiences with gambling, and YouTube suggests commenting with “That’s great!”.

YouTube comes up with something not very appropriate for this comment.
YouTube comes up with something not very appropriate for this comment.

Drew Gooden believes that what makes this feature so useless is the fact that most responses consist of a variation of “I don’t know”:

  • „I don’t know what that means”
  • „I don’t know how to use that”
  • „I don’t know what you are talking about”

Drew Gooden says in his video: “Even if that were my actual reaction, why do I need your [the AI feature’s] help for that? Am I so dumb that I can’t even think of ‘I don’t know’ on my own!?”

However, the feature not only portrays Drew Gooden as dumb but also as vain. Some suggestions for compliments in the comments are the following:

  • User: „Top-tier video“ – Suggestion: „I know, right?”
  • User: „Good video!“ – Suggestion: „Yes, it was so funny.”
  • User: „Such an important video“ – Suggestion: „Yes, I know it’s a big deal”

AI apparently does not recognize irony and sarcasm

What is the reason for that? YouTube draws its information to create responses in the sense of the YouTuber from the transcript of the video. The problem: If a creator is sarcastic or ironic in their statements, the function does not recognize this.

This leads in the AI-generated responses to Drew Gooden appearing as a dumb narcissist. He himself takes the whole thing in stride and says: “It’s really funny that they want me to be a huge narcissist and a complete idiot. They’re really not doing me any favors by imposing that on me.”

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This AI feature from YouTube is quite amusing, but other functions in different areas can quickly become dangerous. MeinMMO author Benedikt Schlotmann addresses the dangers of AI in this article: Researchers warn of 700 options for AI failures: 3 particularly dangerous ones have already occurred

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

If you can only watch 10 animes in 2025, then these

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 7 minutes

In 2025, new content for anime fans is on the way. MeinMMO reveals to you which are the most promising series for the new year.

Who doesn’t know it: The Pile of Shame from last year is still unhealthily high and the new anime hits are already at the starting line. However, it may also be that you simply don’t have enough time to wade through all the shameful Isekais and other series to find your perfect evening entertainment.

That’s why MeinMMO presents you 10 Animes you absolutely must see in 2025. These include complete new releases, new seasons of existing Animes, and movies that will hit theaters in 2025. We will also provide you at the end with a list of other Animes that we can recommend if you have a bit more time.

10 Promising Animes Releasing in 2025

One-Punch Man (Season 3)

Start video
One-Punch Man: Special Announcement for Season 3 of the Anime
  • Release: 2025
  • Streaming provider: unknown, Seasons 1-2 available on Crunchyroll

What is it about? One-Punch Man tells the story of the hero Saitama. He has trained so hard that he defeats every opponent with just one punch. He joins the Hero Association, an organization that employs heroes to protect the population from monsters and criminals.

In Season 3, the Monster Association Arc continues from the end of Season 2. The Monster Association aims to incite a war between humans and monsters, with Orochi and Gyoro as the leaders of the monsters. A showdown occurs between Saitama’s pupil Genos and the hero hunter Garou, with the latter being rescued by the Phoenix Man of the Monster Association.

Who is it suitable for? The anime is known for its crude humor and silly scenes. If you’re looking for a funny series that often doesn’t take itself too seriously, One-Punch Man might be for you. Alternatively, you can try Mashle: Magic and Muscles.

The Summer Hikaru Died

Start video
The Summer Hikari Died – Teaser Trailer for the Horror Anime
  • Release: Summer 2025
  • Streaming provider: Netflix

What is it about? Hikaru and Yoshiki have been best friends since childhood. They live in a small village and are the only people of the same age, which brings them even closer. But one summer, Yoshiki suddenly notices that something is off with Hikaru.

Hikaru’s appearance hasn’t changed, but his behavior has suddenly shifted. When Yoshiki brings it up with his best friend, Hikaru turns into a creepy creature and threatens to kill Yoshiki if he cannot accept this new being. Strange occurrences in the village also hint at something worse.

Who is it suitable for? The Summer Hikaru Died is likely for fans of the horror genre. The trailer already promises a visually demanding anime and may soothe the fans who were disappointed by the poor animations in Uzumaki.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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Survey: Which Death in Harry Potter Was the Saddest?

Fabienne Kissel Fabienne Kissel Reading time 2 minutes

In Harry Potter, there are many deaths that break the fans’ hearts. MeinMMO wants to know from you: Which death affected you the most?

The “Harry Potter” series is full of unforgettable moments – including the losses of cool characters that shaped the story. Some of these deaths were surprising, while others seemed almost inevitable.

In our survey, we want to know from you: Which death was the saddest? Was it the loss of an innocent soul like Cedric Diggory, the heroic death of Dobby, or perhaps the moment when Sirius Black disappeared through the veil?

Here is how you can vote: Use the survey tool (below this section) to make your choice. Since there were several deaths in “Harry Potter,” you can select up to 2 that affected you deeply. We have listed the deaths of Remus and Tonks as well as James and Lily Potter individually in the survey.

We will use the results to create a MeinMMO community ranking of the saddest deaths from Harry Potter. If your favorite is not on the list, you can choose the option “Another” and let us know in the comments who you would have chosen.

Just a little note: In this survey, we focus exclusively on characters from the Harry Potter films and exclude Fantastic Beasts.

After 13 years, HBO plans to retell Harry’s story as a series. Here you can see the latest teaser:

Start video
Teaser for the new ‘Harry Potter’ series evokes nostalgic feelings

Tell us more

Tell us in the comments which death in Harry Potter affected you the most and why. Which loss did you least expect? Would you like to see another survey or ranking? If so, on what topic? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, and otherwise: enjoy voting! We look forward to your results. MeinMMO author Linda Baumgartl has ranked the 10 saddest deaths in Game of Thrones for you – do you agree?

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

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Promo A 008 – What is behind the missing card?

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 3 minutes

Card collectors had a hard time in Pokémon TCG Pocket. Whoever wanted to collect all the cards comes to their limits, especially with the promo cards, because one of them actually does not exist yet.

Why is the card missing? The promo card A 008 has so far puzzled players, as it was not found in the overview. While there is A 007 and A 009, there is a gap between them, as if A 008 does not exist at all.

However, it has finally appeared, and there are even theories about when and how you can get it. You can read here how to find the card and what kind of card it is.

Please note that we will continuously update the post if new information becomes available.

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Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Watch the booster ‘Mythical Island’ in the official trailer

All about the card Promo A 008

What card is it? Behind Promo A 008 is a Pokédex card that has the same abilities as a common Pokédex card. It allows you to look at the top 3 cards of your deck.

How do you know what card it is? There is a way to change the settings to show hidden, uncollected cards. When you enable this, the missing slot will be displayed in the overview.

The hidden side of the card Promo A 008.

What is different about Promo A 008? Unlike common Pokédex cards, it has a special illustration created by Yuu Nishida. When you go to any Pokédex card after activating the relevant settings, the presumed design is displayed in black and white under “Similar Cards”.

Meanwhile, the design has also appeared in color on various websites and social media channels, such as Pokéos.com, showing a Pokédex surrounded by the three starter Pokémon of the first generation plus Pikachu.

The design by Yuu Nishida.

How you can display Promo A 008

To make the hidden slot visible in your overview, you need to follow these steps:

  • First, go to the overview “My Cards”
  • There, enable this switch:
  • Then tap on the magnifying glass and scroll down to the bottom of the settings to activate the following switches:

If you now confirm and go back to the overview, the slot will be displayed and the card can be selected.

How to get the card Promo A 008?

There are currently only theories about how to obtain the card. Some of these are being discussed on Reddit. When looking at the card’s page, it states under “Availability” that the card can be obtained as part of a promotion.

User SolemnEzi reports in the thread via Reddit of a theory suggesting that the card is related to a promotion for the Chinese New Year. According to this, the number of promo card 008 refers to a lucky number in Chinese culture, which could indicate that the card might be part of such a promotion, if it exists.

This also fits with the release date of the new set on January 30, 2025, as Chinese New Year begins on January 29. There might actually be something to this theory.

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So, it is worth keeping your eyes open if you want to collect all promo cards. For those who are still missing any cards from the Promo A series, we have an overview of all cards and how to get them here: Pokémon TCG Pocket: Promo A – What kind of cards are they and how can you obtain them?

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

His Steam Deck swells and sets the case on fire – Here’s how to enjoy the console longer

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 3 minutes

The new year started with an unpleasant bang for a user on Reddit: His Steam Deck exploded, as he mentioned in a post on January 1, 2025. Here you can read why the Deck went up in flames, whether this can happen to you as well, and how to behave correctly.

What happened to the Reddit user? On January 1, 2025, the Reddit user WhispieBoiiii posted in the SteamDeck subreddit pictures of his exploded Steam Deck (Launch Edition). Since he had removed the back cover beforehand, you can see well what condition the expensive device is in.

WhispieBoiiii claims that after unpacking his suitcase from a trip, he noticed through his hard plastic carrying case that the Steam Deck started to swell. He then removed the back cover, extracted the SSD, and unplugged the battery of the Deck.

For further storage, he left the device in the included carrying case. However, the battery continued to swell until it exploded in the case just two hours later. Meanwhile, he keeps the corpse of the device in a grave of cat litter to avoid further fire development.

Another Reddit user also recently noticed that the Steam Deck battery is swelling. However, this user has not yet reported an explosion. In the meantime, WhispieBoiii’s device looks like this:

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Link to the Reddit content

Warning, battery! This is why the Steam Deck exploded

Why did the Steam Deck explode? WhispieBoiiii describes in his comments under the Reddit post that he discovered the Steam Deck was swelling after a trip. He identified the built-in battery as the cause, which was getting larger and hotter.

On the official website for the Steam Deck, the type of battery used is not specifically named. However, the swelling and subsequent explosion fit the behavior of an aging lithium-ion battery:

In lithium-ion batteries, energy is created through a chemical reaction. If such a battery is used for an extended period, the reaction may no longer complete correctly after some time, leading to the formation of gases that cause the swelling of the battery or device.

This can lead to gas leakage and even, as happened here, explosions (ifixit).

Therefore, not only the Steam Deck can be affected by this problem, but any device that contains such a battery. This can be the Nintendo Switch, your phone, the laptop, or even regular household appliances.

Start video
Check out the official trailer for the Steam Deck OLED

The phone is swelling – what to do?

How should you behave correctly in this situation? If you discover a swollen battery in any of your devices, you should no longer use the device. Do not charge it anymore. If in doubt, store the device in a fireproof bucket filled with sand or cat litter.

Do not puncture the battery!

The defective battery must be replaced to continue using the device. You can have this done at an electronics repair shop in your area. Those who are skilled with electronics can also try to do it themselves. You can find relevant instructions, for example, at Ifixit.com.

Warning: Lithium-ion batteries are very sensitive and can catch fire or even explode if mishandled. Be extremely careful with the swollen device and only attempt to remove the battery if you are sure you can do so safely.

How can you dispose of the battery? Lithium-ion batteries – swollen or not – should never end up in household waste. You can dispose of them in dedicated collection boxes or at the municipal recycling yard. Repair shops offer the disposal of the old one when installing a new battery in some cases.

Important: Do not ship a device with a swollen battery or send the battery alone via mail.

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Preventing swelling – Is that even possible?

Can the problem be prevented? If you want to prevent the premature demise of your device or battery, you should definitely pay attention to how you charge the device. This means that you should not overcharge your Steam Deck, phone, Nintendo Switch, etc., and unplug them as soon as they reach full charge (via evlithium).

The Federal Environment Agency also advises to charge electronics with such a battery exclusively with the intended charging cable or device. Furthermore, it should be noted to conduct the charging process in a room with smoke detectors. The agency also recommends being present during the charging process, not conducting it while sleeping, and using a fireproof surface underneath the devices.

More tips for a long-lasting battery:

  • The battery should not be exposed to extreme temperatures. Temperatures between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius are ideal.
  • The battery should never be completely discharged or fully charged.
  • The continuous operation of the device with an internal battery should be avoided.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely prevent the swelling of a lithium-ion battery. However, the aforementioned tips for a longer-lasting battery should help delay swelling for as long as possible.

Specifically regarding the exploded Steam Deck of the Reddit user, we requested a statement from Valve together with the colleagues from GameStar Tech. As soon as we receive a response, we will update this news accordingly.

A device that can also be affected by swelling batteries is the Nintendo Switch. Its successor is currently in development, and there are fresh leaks now and then. Recently, rumors about the first launch games emerged: Nintendo Switch 2: New leak gives clear hint about which game the console could launch with

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

After 4 years, a YouTuber quits a new MMORPG, harshly confronts it – CEO responds

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

Ashes of Creation is for some the great hope that a wonderful new MMORPG will come from the West. The indie project has been in development since 2016 and is considered the spiritual successor of the failed Everquest Next. For the YouTuber and Twitch streamer Narc, this hope has faded after 4 years. He harshly criticizes the MMORPG. This even prompts the game’s head, Steven Sharif, to respond.

Who is Narc? The YouTuber and Twitch streamer Narc has recently focused almost exclusively on content about Ashes of Creation, specializing in the MMORPG.

In one month, he could release 8 different videos on topics such as Ashes of Creation is more ArcheAge than Archeage 2, Here is the long-awaited PvP showcase, or Is Ashes of Creation just a scam to attract whales?.

Narc states: He has a critical perspective on the MMORPG, does not want any personal contact with the devs, but rather observes the project from the outside. He finds it generally absurd that an MMORPG sells early access for $250.

In 2023, Narc was even the largest Twitch streamer for the MMORPG. However, that changed in 2024 when PirateSoftware decided to talk more about Ashes of Creation. PirateSoftware has 10 times more reach than the relatively small specialist Narc and is raving about the new MMORPG.

However, in early 2025, Narc seemingly lost his patience. He has lost faith in Ashes of Creation and is criticizing the game.

Start video
Ashes of Creation Trailer for the first Alpha

YouTuber accuses Ashes of Creation of being more façade than substance

This is his criticism: In a “This is my last video on Ashes of Creation” video, Narc lists a number of problems he has with the game. In short, these points can be summarized as follows:

  • An untrustworthy development where more is promised than is actually there
  • The developer uses FOMO tactics to sell expensive access to alphas and betas and also employs dubious business methods
  • Technical issues made the game almost unplayable
  • The team repeatedly promises progress but then delays it
  • The developers moderated their own Reddit and deleted legitimate criticism
  • YouTubers would benefit from a program that ties them to the success of the MMORPG, which compromises their opinion, as they would profit financially from portraying the MMORPG positively
  • The developers would openly lie to the players

The streamer says he distances himself from the game and the alpha. In the video, he sounds frustrated and charged with the situation surrounding the MMORPG and especially with what he sees as deceptive communication from the developers. In a comment on the video, however, he wishes the developers much success and only the best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS0dNgfhX78&t=1s

Head of the MMORPG says: The journey is not for everyone

This is what the boss says: The head of Intrepid, millionaire Steven Sharif, has responded to the allegations and finds a tone that balances between harsh denial and understanding (via Reddit).

On one hand, he states: The claims are untrue and defamatory. He argues that the people banned from Reddit were part of Narc’s community, who then boasted in his stream about the ban they provoked.

Sharif says he welcomes Narc’s decision to take a step back from Ashes of Creation. He explains that during the complex development of an MMORPG, difficulties arise: “The journey is not for everyone.”

ashes-of-creation-sharif
Steven Sharif in portrait.

The development of a game is extremely complex, and the development of an MMORPG is ten times more so. There will come a time when they will heavily promote and market Ashes of Creation, but that time is not now. At some point, the game will be ready for more players and testing, and then they will spend money on advertising, but that time is not now, and he has reiterated this every month.

The most important thing that can be said about Ashes of Creation right now, and what Narc has also recognized, is: It is not finished yet.

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Head of Ashes of Creation comments on allegations of fraud in 11 pages, announces legal action
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Court document proves: Riot wanted to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Ashes of Creation despite the LoL MMORPG
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Development time of an MMORPG is frustrating for everyone

Here is the background. Sharif’s response is indeed logical and well-formulated, but the frustration of the YouTuber is also understandable.

Games like Ashes of Creation are in a dilemma: They must present an attractive version of the game and sell it to fans in order to gain the financial support of players. After all, Ashes of Creation wants many players to invest in the expensive alphas and betas.

At the same time, the game is still in development. It is not really intended to be shown and played yet. An MMORPG in development is not optimized for factors such as fun or playability. With another funding model, it would not even be shown yet.

With traditionally developed MMORPGs, especially from South Korea, it is completely normal for them to go dark and for years to hear nothing, even if a demo showed that the MMORPG was almost finished. During the development of Lost Ark, players repeatedly thought the game had been canceled, given how much Silence Smilegate maintained while developing in secret.

For someone who professionally follows the development of such a project as a YouTuber, an open development like that of Ashes of Creation is also a frustrating situation because there are constantly talks of supposed highlights and milestones in the development that, in the end, do not create the hype or success that a YouTuber hopes for.

Sharif is right: For most players, it is healthiest and most normal to engage with a game only when the developer calls: We are ready, everyone look here, we are finished. As long as the “sausage is still being made,” as Sharif says, sometimes it is better not to look too closely.

However, it must also be said that for 8 years Ashes of Creation has faced accusations that there are some wild aspects to the development and funding model. The game still has not shed its image after such a long time: Millionaire explains why his MMORPG is great and why he is not a pyramid scheme scammer

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

A rarely used level 1 spell is now a must for experienced players in Baldur’s Gate 3

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 2 minutes

Baldur’s Gate 3 is known for giving players incredible freedom. With a little creativity, it’s easy to overcome the toughest challenges. A simple spell can, for example, lead to one of the best weapons in the game right at the start.

What spell is that? Those who want to gain early advantages, including powerful weapons from nasty opponents, can cast the spell Command as early as level 1. It has several variations: Flee, Lie Down, Come, Stop, and Drop.

Interestingly, the version Drop forces the creature targeted by the spell to immediately drop whatever it is holding in its hands. This can be an item, another creature, or a weapon.

For example, you can secure one of the most powerful weapons in the entire first act on the Nautiloid right at the start. Fans are currently celebrating this, among other places, on Reddit.

Start video
There are secret rooms in Baldur’s Gate 3 that only a few of you will ever see

Stealing weapons from nasty opponents with the spell at level 1

What can the weapon do? The weapon you can secure in the first act is the Everburn Blade. It actually belongs to the NPC Commander Zhalk, a creature with 150 hit points and an armor class of 18. You meet him in the last room of the Nautiloid, where he is fighting a mind flayer.

Commander Zhalk is not an opponent that a group of level 1 characters could easily defeat. However, using Drop from Shadowheart, you can secure his sword. Here are the stats:

  • Damage: 3 – 16 (2d6 slash damage; 1d4 fire damage)
  • Feature: Everburning (Always Burning); weapon is engulfed in flames permanently
  • Weapon Type: Two-handed sword, melee
  • Requirement: Character can handle great swords or has Martial Weapons Proficiency

The sword, with damage up to 16, is one of the strongest weapons available in act one—especially since it can be obtained before the end of the tutorial.

The effectiveness of Command: Drop is not limited to the Everburn Blade. You can apply the spell to any opponent or NPC. Or at least try to.

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How do you get the spell? Command: Drop is a level 1 enchantment. Clerics and the Warlock subclass The Fiend get the spell as soon as they reach level 1. Paladins can access it starting from level 2. Bards of the College of Lore receive Command at level 6. All other Bard subclasses can issue commands starting at level 10. Alternatively, you can choose the feat Spellcaster: Cleric.

If you want to play a different class and use Command from the very beginning, you can try to recruit Shadowheart on the Nautiloid. You can find out how to do this in our guide to recruiting all possible companions.

Baldur’s Gate 3 continues to thrill players just as much as it did at its release in 2023. The game is still receiving important updates—Patch 8 has already been announced. Recently, fans were delighted because Larian Studios adjusted an otherwise useless item.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki via Fextralife
  2. Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki

In Borderlands 4 you can travel anywhere you can see in the game – even to the moon?

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

Everything you can see in Borderlands 4 should also be accessible – and this might not only apply to the planet you are on. This comes from an interview with Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford.

What is this interview about? Jordan Ramée from GameSpot was allowed to talk with Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford and Creative Director Graeme Timmins about Borderlands 4 a week before the Game Awards. The game was presented with a new trailer at the show.

You can see the trailer for Borderlands 4 from the Game Awards here:

Start video
Looter-Shooter Borderlands 4 showcases its action-packed gameplay in the trailer

An open world without loading screens

What was the focus of the interview? A key theme of the interview was the game world. According to Pitchford, it should be as open and free in Borderlands 4 as it has ever been in the franchise. This indicates a different approach than in part 3, which, despite different planets, feels less open.

During the interview, a trailer was also shown. At one point, Pitchford paused it to reveal more about the construction of the game world.

If you look at [this] scene [in the trailer], you can see the characters looking at a view. In every video game you’ve ever played, that’s a backdrop, right? In Borderlands 4, you only see playable space that you can reach without loading times.

Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software

When Pitchford said this, a moon was also visible in the background. The interviewer jokingly addressed this, stating that such a claim seemed a bit exaggerated, especially with that image. Pitchford only replied: “Everything in the scene, Jordan. Everything in the scene.”

So can you seamlessly travel to this moon in the finished game or not? The CEO’s answer remains quite vague. However, Jordan Ramée seems to assume that Pitchford meant exactly that.

The CEO does not speak of an “Open World”

So does Borderlands 4 have a classic open world? According to Pitchford, certainly not. He himself does not refer to it as such, as it would differ too much from what other games have established as open world. There are things that they deliberately do not do because they are Borderlands.

The game world of Borderlands 4 is said to be seamless, extensive, and larger than anything they have ever made, but it should not feel systemic or like it was filled by an algorithm. Whether this is just marketing talk or not cannot be assessed without real gameplay.

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When exactly Borderlands 4 is set to be released is still unknown. However, a fan has already been allowed to play a prototype of the shooter. You can read the whole story in this article on MeinMMO: Borderlands developers fulfill the wish of a terminally ill fan to play Borderlands 4 before anyone else

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

Is it worth taking a vacation for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds? Community expresses concerns about wasted time

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 3 minutes

The release of Monster Hunter Wilds is gradually approaching, and fans are starting to prepare for it. They discuss whether they should take vacation time for this or whether it might be wasted after all.

Why is the community asking this question? Many players want to get as much as possible from their highly anticipated game and ideally be there from minute 1. Some are even taking extra vacation to effectively use the time and enjoy the game for as long as possible in its early hours.

However, the question arises as to whether it is worth taking vacation from the release day.

With the ever-approaching release date of February 28, 2025, fans of Monster Hunter Wilds now face a dilemma. In various threads on different platforms, players (for example on Reddit) are discussing various arguments for and against taking time off in this case.

In the latest video, actress Daisy Ridley introduces you to the story of Monster Hunter Wilds:

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: Daisy Ridley explains the lore

Vacation or no vacation?

What supports taking vacation on release? Reasons they mention for wanting to take a week or more off include:

  • Many want to be there from the very beginning and share their experiences with other hunters and enjoy the game
  • The release day is a Friday, so taking that day off gives a long weekend for gaming
  • They fear missing out or getting spoiled if they’re not there from the start

In the comments, there are mostly fans advocating for vacation, some of whom have already submitted their requests.

What does the opposing side say? In their discussion, the proponents also encounter the following counterarguments:

  • Players have concerns that Monster Hunter Wilds won’t be unlocked exactly at 00:00, which would mean they might not have the whole day to play, potentially wasting a significant portion of their day
  • Since the release day is a Friday, some think the vacation day would be wasted as the weekend starts the next day and most players will start then
  • Some fear bugs and problems that could make the game unplayable or ruin their enjoyment – these could be addressed with a potential hotfix or patch after the release day

The most common argument against taking a vacation day right on the release is the potential instability of the game servers. Players fear there might be outages that could make the game unplayable for a longer time on that day, thus wasting their free day.

Many games, especially around the release, struggle with initial problems that often need to be resolved through day-one patches. Additionally, online games often suffer from server issues at launch (like Throne and Liberty), which is frequently discussed, for example, in this thread on Steam.

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The beta as a stress test for the servers

What counters these arguments? Many from the community are trying to reassure other fans about exactly this concern. To prevent issues, there was a beta at the end of 2024, which served as a stress test for the servers.

In the beta, over 360,000 players participated within 20 minutes and there were lobbies with up to 100 simultaneous hunters. Additionally, some fans point out that there have been rather few issues in the past with Monster Hunter games (via Reddit).

The issue of the timing of the game release is also on many people’s minds and is a reasonable argument. However, if you look at the official product page of Monster Hunter Wilds, you can see the times until which you can receive the pre-order bonuses.

This could provide a hint as to when the game will be available. Accordingly, players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S would be able to start hunting monsters at midnight – PC players would have to wait until 7:00 AM (CET).

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Also, the other bugs and problems that existed in the beta have been addressed or are the focus of further development until the release. Therefore, the community sees little reason to worry that a vacation day for the release would be wasted. Ultimately, whether it is worth taking vacation for the game and how long to take it, everyone will have to decide for themselves.

The editor-in-chief of MeinMMO, Leya, had the opportunity to interview the lead developer at an event in Japan, which could also alleviate some fans’ concerns: “Some beta feedback won’t be a big problem by the release” – The lead developers of Monster Hunter Wilds in the interview

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

Marlon Brando acted once more in The Godfather before his death, but EA could only use a few of his lines

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

The finale of a gangster icon: While the reactions to EA’s adaptation of the gangster film The Godfather were mixed, a former main character agreed to collaborate on the project. Marlon Brando dedicated the last performance of his life to the game.

What game is it? The Godfather is a game by EA, which was released on March 21, 2006. While it drew inspiration from games like Mafia or GTA, its storyline is mostly tied to that of the original film. Players complete missions, earn respect, and can upgrade their abilities through collected experience points.

During the development, EA integrated actors from the film, such as Robert Duvall, James Caan, and also Marlon Brando, into the game, who lent their voices to their characters through newly recorded dialogue. However, with the latter, there were some difficulties due to his health.

Here you can see the trailer for the original film, which was shared for the 50th anniversary by Paramount Pictures:

Start video
Paramount Pictures releases a anniversary trailer for 50 years of The Godfather

Mixed enthusiasm from the participants

How could a sick Marlon Brando contribute to the project? At the time of production, Brando was in a fragile health state but still agreed to record lines for the game. Therefore, EA visited the actor at his estate on Mulholland Drive in February 2004 to work with him on site. 

However, the recordings would have been unusable due to the buzzing of the oxygen tubes in his nose, as audio producer Ken Felton admits. For this reason, a professional impersonator ultimately had to be hired to voice Vito Corleone.

Nevertheless, one of Brando’s recordings was incorporated into the final version of the game, preserving his last performance, even if it is hardly understandable.

Where can you see Brando’s final performance? A scene in the seventh mission of the video game shows Vito Corleone lying in a hospital bed after an assassination attempt, reflecting on the game’s situation. Thus, the last recorded lines are Brando’s final appearance: “Well, that’s life. Everyone has their own story of suffering.”

Brando died on July 1, 2004, just under a year and a half before the game was released. One of the estate administrators of the actor revealed that Brando was fascinated by technology in general and experimented with all sorts of things. He simply found the idea amusing.

What was the reaction of the actors and filmmakers of the original? Almost all the actors from the main cast of 1972 agreed to participate in EA’s adaptation. James Caan told the New York Times that he would love for his children to be able to continue playing with him in this way after his death.

Al Pacino is the only actor from the ensemble who declined to participate in EA’s game, which is why a different face and voice were created for his character Michael Corleone.

But Coppola, the director of the Godfather trilogy, also criticized EA for the lack of prior warning about its production. He did not participate in the realization in any way, nor does he like or approve of what he has seen of the result. (Source: Vida Extra)

Anyone wanting to read more about new and older films can find it here on MeinMMO. Just recently, we published an article ranking all 9 films by the popular filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. Here you can read the ranking: All 9 films by Quentin Tarantino ranked – Which is the best?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Vida Extra
  2. The New York Times
  3. YouTube

So much for 4k gaming: More than 56% of Steam users play with a resolution that has existed for 18 years

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Valve has surveyed the users of Steam about their hardware. By the end of 2024, new statistics have emerged, which have now been published. Particularly interesting: although 4k gaming is frequently advertised, most players are still gaming at 1080p.

What resolution is that?

  • 1920 x 1080p, or “Full HD”, has been the most widely used resolution for gamers for years. This resolution is also the most common among MeinMMO readers.
  • The “HD P.U.R.E. Black Panel” by Pioneer from Japan is considered the first 1080p screen for the mass market. It was introduced in April 2006 (via Pioneer).
  • The Xbox 360 released last year and the PS3 released in 2006 were already “Full HD” capable. Since then, this resolution has become the standard in gaming.

Where do the numbers come from? Steam surveyed users about their systems in a hardware survey in December 2024. It turned out that 1920 x 1080 is the most commonly used resolution at 56.12% for the primary display.

Even with multiple monitors, 1080p remains on top. Here, the resolution 3840 x 1080p leads the list with 55.10%. This is slightly less than in May 2024 (via notebookcheck.net), but still a bit more than in November.

Although there is now significantly newer technology that promises a cinematic experience, gamers apparently prefer to stick with the now over 18-year-old standard. For some gamers, 1080p is even a dream whose fulfillment brings tears of joy.

NVIDIA and AMD are getting competition, by the way:

Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video

Not even 1 in 20 play in 4k

Interestingly, the often-praised 4k gaming (3840 x 2160) is only in third place with just 4.21%. WQHD, which is 2560 x 1440p, is significantly ahead with 19.56% usage, but also still far behind Full HD. A few more interesting data points:

Also interesting: although German players like to play in German, the language is only in sixth place in terms of usage with 3.62% – behind English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Even as technology continues to evolve, many gamers apparently rely on the familiar, which has proven itself over time. Sometimes retro has a certain allure that particularly enthusiasts succumb to. This can lead to some strange occurrences: “I’ve built many PCs; this should be impossible” – a tinkerer squeezes a PC into a PlayStation 1, impressing experts.

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

“A Shame” – An Update Makes a Really Good Game Unplayable and the Community is Not Pleased

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

Ubisoft is currently going through a difficult time that doesn’t seem to end. The next problem comes in the form of a Windows update that is causing crashes and black screens in some Ubisoft titles. The community is frustrated and expresses this through review bombing of a game that was actually popular.

Which game is unplayable? It is Assassin’s Creed Origins. It was released in 2017 as a “reinvention” of the Assassin’s Creed series and was very popular. On Steam, it had a “very positive” overall rating for a long time.

Players take on the role of Bayek and his eagle Senu, exploring ancient Egypt, which represents the origin of the Assassins. But the fun ended a few weeks ago, as the game can no longer be enjoyed without crashes, freezing, or black screens.

Here you can watch a trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows:

Start video
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Der offizielle Trailer zur Open World in Japan

Windows Update Causes Frustration Among Ubisoft Players

How did this happen? The reason for this is a Windows update, specifically the 24H2 update for Windows 11. Microsoft released it a few weeks ago and it has significantly impaired the performance of certain games.

Other Ubisoft games are also affected by the issues:

  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

The community is angry: Players are expressing their dissatisfaction with the problems of Assassin’s Creed Origins through review bombing.

Review bombing refers to a practice where a large number of negative reviews are left on platforms like Steam to express their anger and dissatisfaction. Thus, the negative reviews don’t necessarily have to directly relate to the quality of the game, but rather serve as a means for players to vent their frustration.

The review bombing for Assassin’s Creed Origins has led to the game’s overall rating on Steam being downgraded from “very positive” to “mixed” (via steam).

The reviews are more aimed at Ubisoft:

  • Hard-Joe states (via steam): “It’s a shame that Ubisoft doesn’t pay attention to its old games.”
  • Zorax says (via steam): “Steam should seriously remove this game from the store.”
  • hellionb finds (via steam): “Ubisoft has been ignoring this problem for 3 months without a solution.”
  • Potato is also angry (via steam): “Good game, but DON’T BUY IT!!!”

Who is to blame for the problems is not yet fully clarified. Ubisoft is trying to figure out the cause of the crashes while simultaneously working on hotfixes for the games. This has already worked for Star Wars Outlaws, while for others it is still pending.

Within the community, there is discussion about who is at fault for the disaster and who is responsible for the repair. For example, on X:

The community discusses on X who is to blame for the problems.

The only solution so far is to avoid downloading the update or to roll it back.

More on Assassin’s Creed
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„Did Ubisoft pay for this?“ – Users find strange comments under the new trailer of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
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Even if Ubisoft is not to blame for these problems, it doesn’t cast a good light on the already shaky reputation of the game developer. Additionally, Ubisoft could soon sell Assassin’s Creed because the heads fear a takeover by a Chinese company.

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

Players kill cute desert mice in the new survival game Dune 100, even angering the developers

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

Since mid-2024, the beta of Dune: Awakening has been running continuously for a small number of selected testers. Developer Funcom has now released some data about the test, including a shocking number: many mice had to die for players to live.

What kind of game is this?

  • Dune: Awakening is an ambitious project that aims to combine MMORPG and survival. However, you play in a world where Paul Atreides was never born.
  • The game is developed by Funcom, the studio that created Age of Conan and Conan Exiles. The developers were able to learn a lot for Dune: Awakening from Conan Exiles.
  • The game is set to be released in 2025. Currently, a closed beta is running, but under NDA. So, there is not much information coming from the game itself. You can find all info on the release, beta, and content of Dune: Awakening.
Start video
Dune Trailer Shows Gameplay – From Survivor to Spice Hunter

This is why players kill mice: In a blog post from December, the developers shared some data about the game. Among them is a quite specific statistic: the beta testers have extracted over 1.5 million liters of water from corpses.

Thirst is a big enemy in Dune: Awakening. As in most survival games, you need to take care of your hydration. In the desert, this is harder than anywhere else. Therefore, there is the option to let corpses bleed out to obtain water.

This does not only work with human NPCs but also with animals – such as the cute little desert jumping mice, the “Muad’dib”. Dozens of them are said to have died to acquire their water.

The developers are shocked: “Nearly a hundred Muad’dib have had their blood drained (so the kangaroo mouse, not the son of Duke Leto, who does not exist in our world). How could you?”

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Thirst is bad – But people are worse

The main reason for player deaths is not even that they are dying of thirst. Thirst is only in third place, as the developers’ statistics show. Worse are the gigantic sandworms and especially other people:

  • NPC opponents are responsible for 58% of player deaths
  • 27% were eaten by sandworms
  • “only” 22% of players ultimately died of thirst
  • proudly, 2% have not died (yet) after 10 hours of gameplay

The figures are the official numbers from the developers – although we are not quite sure how they arrive at 107% deaths.

When you can finally see the game for yourself, we do not know yet. The beta is still closed, and you can sign up for it on the official website, but access is not guaranteed. The release date is only narrowed down to sometime in 2025.

At gamescom 2024, however, MeinMMO editor and survival expert Benedict Grothaus already had the opportunity to check out the game. After hundreds of hours in Conan Exiles, he is excited: Dune: Awakening played: The survival MMO offers exactly what I hoped for after Conan Exiles

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

Witcher 4 is proud of how it has redefined monsters – „A cunning bastard“

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The Witcher 4 is going to be quite large again – but we already know one monster. Because the developers revealed what Ciri is actually fighting against.

When the trailer for The Witcher 4 was presented at the Game Awards 2024, the excitement was great. Finally, we’re going back into the universe of the Witcher – although this time without Geralt in the lead role. Ciri takes up the mantle as the protagonist and travels through the world to defeat monsters and protect people.

Right in the trailer, we see one of these monsters and have now learned what the developers were thinking.

Start video
Trailer for The Witcher 4 shows Ciri as the protagonist

What kind of monster is it? The monster is called Bauk and is based, like much in the Witcher universe, on Serbian mythology, where creatures dwell in the darkness waiting to devour their victims. It is said to be a sly bastard that plays with the fears of its victims.

The creators of Witcher 4 are also proud of how the definition of “monster” has evolved in the last games. The game director Sebastian Kalemba said in an interview with Gamertag Radio:

If you look at The Witcher, the way we handle the word “monster”, we now approach it from a completely different perspective than we did in The Witcher 1. [At the beginning] you had to fight regular monsters, then against humans who behaved monstrously. Then, here, you have the inner demons that you need to fight before you can find and kill [the Bauk].

We have explained more about the Bauk here.

That The Witcher 4 will also play with the different interpretations of monsters has already been shown in the big trailer. Because there, Ciri not only fights against the Bauk but also against the behaviors of humans. Although Ciri saves the girl who was chosen as a victim from the Bauk, she is killed by the humans. Just as the Bauk had previously announced with “Fate cannot be changed”.

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How big will the game be? Even though the exact scope of The Witcher 4 is still unknown – that is, the number of hours of gameplay in the story – it is already clear that the size of the game world will be approximately the same as The Witcher 3 (via gamesradar). While there are brand new regions that have never been seen before, the size of the map will be roughly the same. However, that should be enough to keep fans engaged for many hours – because some found Witcher 3 already too big, especially when wanting to explore and loot every point on the map.
By the way, the woman in the trailer is a character of great significance …

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

One of the worst successful games closes on Steam, even though it still has fans

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In the summer of 2017, the game Friday the 13th: The Game suddenly became the mega-hit on Twitch. At its peak, the trashy-looking asymmetric game had 125,000 viewers. However, the game is now losing steam, the servers are shutting down on Steam, not because of a lack of players, but because of the Warhammer problem: the expensive license is expiring – many fans of the game are saying goodbye.

What was it like in 2017? The game seemed cheap at that time, and the gaming press criticized it. It received only 61% on Metacritic. Games with such ratings are usually flops that no one cares about.

Yet Friday the 13th: The Game struck a chord with Twitch and became a hit. At its height in June 2017, it had 125,328 viewers. The developers stated: They are not concerned with reviews; Twitch is more important.

At that time, it was still somewhat new that games could do so well on Twitch despite poor reviews, boosting sales on Steam. Later, games like PUBG and Fortnite made this a new phenomenon.

Friday the 13th: The Game was completely overwhelmed by the influx of players; the developers had not anticipated such a surge. The servers crashed.

Yet on December 31, 2024, the lights went out for the horror game, with about 450 players saying goodbye – many speak of a legend being laid to rest.

Dead by Daylight has long established itself as a better alternative in the niche of Friday the 13th: The Game:

Start video
Dead by Daylight: The Dog Master is not for Animal Lovers

The deliberately trashy look made the game’s appeal

This was the appeal of the game: Friday the 13th: The Game is a very similar game to Dead by Daylight, but with familiar characters from the “Friday the 13th” film series: More or less defenseless civilians fleeing from a relentless, powerful killer.

In 2017, it was a huge amount of fun on Twitch because the game was exciting to watch but quite trashy. The appeal stemmed from a 70s horror film aesthetic and the screams of streamers when the killer caught them.

However, the game was never particularly high quality – Dead By Daylight quickly surpassed it. Still, few games evoke such a good feeling among fans as the nostalgia trip: On Steam, it eventually had 79% positive reviews.

There were bugs time and again, but they contributed to the entertainment:

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Players say goodbye to a legend

Why is it closing now? Friday the 13th: The Game must now close because the license for the films is expiring, and it apparently does not make sense to invest more money into it.

In the reviews on Steam, many are bidding farewell to the game. They say they spent so much time with the game – it had great potential. Many found the game really enjoyable.

The servers went offline on 12/31, with about 453 players online one last time to say goodbye. The peak player count on Steam of 16,077 concurrent players was reached in May 2017.

Additionally, the game’s runtime was always marked by legal issues: After 2 years of dying, Friday the 13th is finally dead

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

A chronically ill man shares how gaming helped him through the worst year of his life

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

A man reports how he discovered his love for gaming after an operation and how the shooter Helldivers 2 on the PS5 saved his life.

Note: The title image is a symbolic image via Pixabay.

What kind of story is this? A user named “niles_thebutler_” reported on Reddit on December 31, 2024, about the worst year of his life. He required two life-saving surgeries. During this process, a large part of his inner ear was removed and reconstructed.

He already had tinnitus before, but he hardly noticed it. However, due to the damage caused by a tumor and the surgeries, the ear noises worsened to a “catastrophic” level.

He describes the ear noises as if he were constantly wearing headphones at maximum volume, playing overlapping and varying ringing tones – during every movie and every conversation. While he was recovering from his surgery and getting used to his new reality, he discovered his love for gaming.

What was tinnitus again?

Tinnitus refers to ear noises that are not caused by an acoustic stimulus and are perceived over a longer period. Depending on its severity, “ear ringing” can significantly negatively impact the quality of life of those affected.

More information can be found at gesundheitsinformationen.de

Through Helldivers, he found new joy in life and made friends.

Start video
Ein Entwickler von Helldivers 2 erklärt den „Tag der Freiheit“

As he recovered from his surgery, he discovered his love for gaming

This is the role gaming played: As niles_thebutler_ reports, he never really had much to do with gaming. However, after the life-saving surgeries, he had 10 weeks of “couch time” ahead of him. The crazy shooter Helldivers 2 had just been released at that time and dominated social media.

So he spontaneously ordered a PS5 along with Helldivers 2 and did his part in the fight for democracy. For him, it was the perfect distraction from the pain and the constant noise in his head. For one to two hours a day, the tinnitus turned into just background noise, and he was able to have fun.

Through the game, he also met new people with whom he initially played for hours and who have now become close friends outside of the game.

The Reddit user says: “When I say it saved my life, I truly mean it.”

In his post, he also shared the Christmas gifts he received from his partner: a new TV with a new soundbar, a PlayStation Portal, and an Xbox to try out both consoles.

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Fellow sufferers encourage each other

In the comments, many users report similar problems. Some have been suffering from the annoying ringing in their ears for decades. They assure the poster that it will get better over time.

  • Damseletteee: “In the first year, I thought my life was over from all the buzzing and clicking, but the brain adjusts, really quite fantastic.”
  • Wayland935: “Yes, I have severe tinnitus, which has put me in a pretty bad situation. It couldn’t get worse. The great news is that time really is a great healer, which is a cliché, but it helps with tinnitus.”
  • tmb83: “The same fate befell me. Six years ago, I suddenly got tinnitus. It was terrible and caused me anxiety, I couldn’t sleep or think clearly. Over time, I got used to it and don’t perceive it as strongly anymore. […] It definitely takes a while, but you will get used to it, and life will feel normal again. Just hang in there.”

niles_thebutler_ expresses surprise in the comments at how widespread his suffering is. While it’s not pleasant, it makes him feel good that other people can understand what he’s going through and share their experiences.

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Recently, we reported on MeinMMO about a gamer who didn’t let his physical limitations stop him from gaming. You can read his story here: Blind player has spent over 800 hours in Monster Hunter World – Now dozens want to play with him

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