Have you already finished Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree? These Soulslikes are coming in 2025

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

After Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, you won’t have to be bored in 2025. For fans of Soulslikes, there is much to offer in the new year.

What defines a Soulslike? Although the term Soulslike is used today for many games that are simply designed to be a bit harder, this article deals with “real” Soulslikes modeled after Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. Three points were important to be included in the list:

  • The combat system: Parrying, dodging, and tactical approaches with precise controls are the foundation of a Soulslike.
  • The difficulty level: The game is difficult, it takes practice to defeat enemies, and dying is part of it. Furthermore, you cannot change the difficulty level.
  • The atmosphere: A dark and oppressive atmosphere with a slightly mysterious flair and no colorful, vibrant world.

Not every difficult game is a Soulslike by this definition, yet in 2025, five promising titles await that you can look forward to:

[toc]

AI Limit

Start video
The Sci-Fi Soulslike AI Limit Shows First Boss Fights in Gameplay Trailer

What kind of game is this? In AI Limit, you take on the role of Alisa, a resurrected mech warrior. In this post-apocalyptic science fiction Soulslike, you explore the last human remnants in the city of Havenswick, aiming to uncover the truth behind humanity’s downfall.

The Soulslike is set to be released on March 27, 2025, for PC and PS5, focusing on an oppressive game world and plenty of atmosphere. In battle, you can expect the classic system with parrying, backsteps, and various types of weapons.

Witches of the New World

Start video
The horror Soulslike Witches of the New World takes you to 17th century Salem

What is the game about? Witches of the New World transports you to the 17th century in the city of Salem during the witch trials, bringing a horror approach with it. The Soulslike combines melee and ranged combat with a magic system that aims to offer new tactical possibilities, deviating from the classic combat system.

The world is full of secrets and unexplained phenomena as well as moral decisions surrounding the Salem witch trials. Your choices influence the course of the story and the fate of key characters, which also brings replay value. One special feature, alongside the intriguing atmosphere, is the dynamic weather effects, which very few Soulslikes have.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Start video
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – Showcase trailer for the new action RPG on PC and console

What does the game bring? Wuchang: Fallen Feathers tells a story set in a world plagued by chaos and darkness at the end of the Ming Dynasty in China. You take on the role of a mysterious warrior who must face enemies with perfect timing and skilled combat techniques.

Even though the game may not graphically match Black Myth: Wukong, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers offers a coherent atmosphere with particularly fanatical enemies. The beautiful effects in combat are colorful but never disrupt the serious tone of the game. For the game world, the developers took locations from the real world as inspiration, contributing to the credibility of the narrative.

The Relic: First Guardian

Start video
In The Relic: First Guardian, you experience the Middle Ages as a Soulslike, thanks to an ancient relic

What makes the game special? The Relic: First Guardian brings Soulslike to the dark medieval period, characterized by ancient relics and dangerous creatures. You play as the guardian of a powerful artifact who uses the artifact to combat challenging bosses and receives new fragments of the relic from them. In the end, you must drive away the darkness to save the land.

The game offers you five different types of weapons with unique abilities that you can adapt to your playstyle. Instead of leveling up traditionally, your character grows stronger by collecting runes, items, and crafting. As usual, you will also need precise timing in The Relic: First Guardian to defeat the bosses.

The First Berserker: Khazan

Start video
The First Berserker: Khazan offers intense battles against powerful foes in Soulslike style

Where does the journey go this time? The First Berserker: Khazan presents you with challenging trials in a dark and conflict-ridden world. You assume the role of Khazan, who embarks on a quest for revenge to uncover the conspirators behind the death of the great general. Available weapons include two-handed swords, spears, and axes, each with its own attack and defense mechanisms depending on the desired playstyle.

The game is set to be released on March 27, just like “AI Limit,” and takes you to both snowy mountains and destroyed cities. The art style of the game leans more toward the cartoon, comic, and anime direction without becoming overly colorful and vivid.

More on the topic
Twitch streamers discover a new game, trap their colleagues on an island and see what happens
von Johanna
Conan Exiles is becoming a completely new game on Steam – 15 images show what the UE5 is all about
von Cedric Holmeier
He went to sleep normally: When he woke up, he had debts to Google of more than 15,000 euros
von Benedikt Schlotmann

The year 2025 is likely to be very interesting for fans of Soulslike games. In all five titles, you can expect dark worlds, a precise combat system, and a high difficulty level that encourages learning. More difficult is also the path taken by a completely different game. Path of Exile 2 is now often compared to Dark Souls: Path of Exile 2 is for many players like Dark Souls, and that’s exactly what causes frustration in the community.

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

Very Serious Guide: How to Make Friends in Any MMO Instantly!

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 5 minutes

Struggling to get into MMOs? We give you valuable tips that will help you make a great first impression in every situation!

For newcomers diving into an MMORPG like World of Warcraft, SWTOR, or The Elder Scrolls Online, it can be quite challenging. How does one gain access to other players as a lone wolf? How do you find a nice guild and leave a good impression right away? We provide you with a clear guide that will make all other players dance to your tune.

Start video
The “Deep Dive” is supposed to immerse us into MMORPGs deeper than ever before – What is it actually?
This article originally appeared in November 2017. It was updated in December 2024.

The Right Start – The Gold of Others

Being completely new in an MMORPG can often be a difficult experience. But it’s frustrating to have to earn all achievements by yourself. Therefore, at the start of your career, you should aim directly for a big capital city with many players and leave your first impression immediately: Ask for gold!

Use the general channel or a “shout” function frequently. If you don’t ask at least every 30 seconds, then you’re not taking this seriously enough.

WoW Goblin Gold
The starting gold should be well begged for!

Whether it’s for the first mount, a better sword, or simply more inventory slots, every player knows your problem and will immediately feel empathetic towards you. By persistently begging (preferably even by opening a trade window before whispering the first sentence), friendships for life can be formed here. After all, those who owe you money will contact you every few days on their own.

Claim Loot for Yourself

In MMORPGs, it’s all about the loot. In many games, you have the option to pass on received equipment to other players. When fancy loot drops in dungeons or raid instances, the joy among the fortunate is always great.

Warcraft Warrior Artwork

Here you have the chance to be particularly courteous! You see a fellow player has received an epic piece of equipment? Check immediately if you could use the item as well. Inspect your fellow player’s character and see if the item would be an upgrade for them. If not? Approach that player immediately and demand the transfer of the item.

A simple “Give me [Chain Shirt of Bold Demands]” is perfectly sufficient. Don’t be tempted to use polite words like “please” or “thank you” – MMORPG players have little time and don’t want to read too many words.

Accept a Defeat!

As previously mentioned, time is a valuable commodity for MMORPG players, and it should be used effectively. Especially in PvP battles, it can sometimes take a long time. Did your team not score “First Blood” or fail to capture the majority of control points after the start?

PvP SWTOR

Then the battle is of course lost! Directly urge your team not to resist any longer so that the round can end as quickly as possible. Because everyone knows: Better a quick defeat than a lengthy battle. That would ultimately mean uncertainty. With an “Typical Alliance”, “As always when playing with people from Aegwynn”, or “It was so obvious that the Republic would lose again” you make it clear to everyone that it’s not about the opponents, but simply about the wrong choice of faction – then you won’t be quite so sad!

Give Them Valuable Tips!

Once the first hurdles have been overcome and you’ve formed a solid group of players thanks to the above hints, it’s time to give back generously to your fellow players.

Provide them with assistance in difficult game content! Did the rogue stand in the dragon’s fire effect and die from it? Explain politely with a “Lunessa died in the fire” what the mistake was. No, not in the whisper channel. In the group channel, so that everyone knows what happened. It would be a shame if someone is left confused!

But your duty doesn’t end there. You can earn further points in the following way:

Inspect your fellow players’ characters at every opportunity. Check exactly which equipment they are wearing and whether it is optimally enchanted. If you find gaps that you can fix yourself, immediately point it out to the player. Can you craft better equipment or organize an enchantment? Excellent!

TESO Group

It is important that you never offer such services for free. Because then your fellow players lose a great deal of self-esteem. Here the old rule applies: “What costs nothing is worth nothing.” Base your prices on the costs in the auction house and multiply them by 1.5.

More Popular Articles:
More on the topic
10 Types of Players You Have Met in Groups
von Cortyn
More on the topic
10 Ways Every MMORPG Player Has Died
von Cortyn
More on the topic
10 types of people in your MMORPG guild
von Cortyn

Give Your Fellow Players Breaks

Time is a valuable commodity these days. More and more people suffer from stress and burnouts. They should at least be able to switch off during their free time! If you lead an organized life, you can significantly improve your fellow players’ lives. A long raid evening with 10-25 fellow players starts at 8:00 PM and goes until midnight? Order your pizza so that it arrives during the raid time – around 9:00 PM. Because a healthy meal is important, your fellow players will show plenty of understanding and will cheerfully wait half an hour for you.

They will surely thank you for those extra minutes of relaxation.

Pizza Omnomnom

By the way, you’ll gain even more bonus points as a smoker. Just hammer a “Cigarette break!” in the chat and immediately go afk to enjoy your smoke. The raid leader will also appreciate the five extra minutes of peace.

If you heed these tips, it won’t take long before you have a reverent reputation on your server. This lays the foundation for many years of fun in the game. If you become too popular and no longer want to play the game, you can also just pretend to have a broken arm – it’s always convincing!

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

He names his daughter after a character from Genshin Impact – finds out later what the name means

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The action RPG Genshin Impact (PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC, Mobile) is one of the most popular games in the world. Many players hold the characters close to their hearts. A couple has now named their newborn daughter after a character from the game: Furina Focalores. But they probably should have googled the name beforehand. Because “Focalor” is the name of a duke of hell from the Middle Ages.

This is the name of the child: A couple from the Philippines has shown a birth certificate of their newborn daughter that lists the name “Furina Focalors.” According to the certificate, she was born on August 18 in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

According to the website xatanka, referencing the Genshin Impact community on reddit.

The proud father shared a picture of his child and a screenshot of the birth certificate.

Start video
Genshin Impact: Trailer shows gameplay for Natlan

Daughter is apparently accidentally named after a demon

What is the problem? The name “Focalor” is from Christian mythology of the Middle Ages and refers to a powerful demon, a “Grand Duke of Hell.” He is also known as the Prince of Tears.

According to the myth, Focalor commands storms and the sea; he has the power to drown anyone who binds themselves to him in a sea of sadness and can cause ships to sink in an ocean of tears. Focalor is said to be a fallen angel who was banished from heaven after joining Lucifer in the rebellion against God.

It can be assumed that the couple in the Philippines did not know exactly what they were naming their daughter after.

Hell is, according to some human concepts, strictly hierarchically organized. There are said to be 72 powerful demons in that hierarchy. This is evident from a 17th-century book, the Ars Goetia.

In Genshin Impact, Furina Focalores is a character who divides into two aspects: Furina is passionate and emotional. Focalors, on the other hand, is rough and straightforward. This part of her personality is known for her intelligence.

genshim-impact-gebursurkunde.v1

Tip: Wait until the end before naming your daughter after a fictional queen

Does this happen often? Many named their daughters “Daenerys” during the hype around Game of Thrones. For years, this was considered a great idea, as Daenerys was a fierce warrior for good and justice, who did not let anyone push her around. Moreover, the name could be stylishly shortened to Dany.

However, the name choice backfired in the series finale, when the “Mother of Dragons” turned out to be a malevolent tyrant who burned down King’s Landing and intended to do the same with the whole country. But well: at least she wasn’t a Duchess of Hell.

One of the most well-known people named after a video game character is Zelda Williams, the daughter of actor Robin Williams, who had a fondness for the Nintendo games: World star Robin Williams was such a big fan of the game Zelda that he named his daughter after her: “You’re lucky you weren’t named Mario”

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

Legendary developer observed his child gaming: ‘Does the boy even have a mind?’

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Before video games are released, they are tested extensively multiple times. To ensure that this testing is not done only by the developers themselves, sometimes uninvolved individuals are also allowed to play certain sections. A legendary developer had his game tested by his child but could hardly bear to watch.

Which developer is it? Almost every gamer has surely played a game that Shigeru Miyamoto worked on. The Japanese development legend from Nintendo is responsible for many iconic franchises. Super Mario, Zelda, or Donkey Kong are 3 of his most famous games.

Miyamoto was also involved in the important Super Mario 64. The game transformed the red plumber into three dimensions for the first time. To test the fun of the game, Miyamoto had the game tested by independent players, including his child. However, watching the gameplay was hard for him.

Start video
There are noodles from Nintendo – 7 quirky facts you didn’t know about the company behind Super Mario

Children should test the game too

How did his child play? The website shmuplations has compiled Japanese interviews from strategy guides from 1997 in which Miyamoto talked about many things regarding Super Mario 64. It also mentions that someone tried to experiment with the game by throwing King Bob-omb off a cliff.

Miyamoto recalls a playtesting story with his child, where they let 10 students play the first level of Super Mario 64. They observed this and drew conclusions from it. One of those children was also his child.

He tells how his child tried countless times to climb a mountain, even though it was not actually possible. Miyamoto thought to himself: My God, does this child have any sense?

After playing, the children found the game fun and wanted to keep playing. From this, Nintendo concluded that it is not always about whether you can complete a game. It should be fun, even if you are not achieving anything at the moment.

The game was also designed for players who explore and look at everything, not just for those who want to go straight to the next levels.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Actor leaked Super Mario animated film, but now sees other evidence that he must not be part of Part 2
von Cedric Holmeier
More on the topic
Only thanks to Popeye does the Mario universe exist as it is today
von Cedric Holmeier
More on the topic
A completely unknown game sold better than Zelda and Mario in the Nintendo eShop in Japan in 2023
von Fabienne Kissel

Super Mario is one of the greatest icons in video game history, and this is also because Nintendo likes to experiment with its games. The other big Nintendo character is Link from the Zelda series. Despite his heroic deeds, he seems quite defenseless: A developer admits that Link is actually totally defenseless in the Zelda games

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

The new ring in WoW was almost a flop – But Blizzard saved it

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Circe’s Ring is the sought-after, new ring in World of Warcraft. However, due to time gating, many would have probably ignored it for a long time.

In World of Warcraft, Patch 11.0.7 has been live for a few days. In classic Blizzard fashion, not everything went as smoothly as the developers had hoped. Because although Blizzard tried to make the ring truly “overpowered” this time, so that every character would want to use it, it nearly didn’t work out. The culprit is an old, known problem: time gating.

Start video
Siren Island – The New Content in WoW Patch 11.0.7

Everyone wants the one ring in WoW

What kind of ring is this? Circe’s Ring is one that hardly any character can pass by. The ring can be obtained very quickly on Siren Island and starts with an item level of 639 – the entry level is as high as the best possible gear currently available in the game. Each week, the item level will even be increased, making it virtually impossible to pass up the ring.

Unlike other rings, Circe’s Ring must be socketed with special gemstones, the citrines, which are also found on Siren Island. Citrines provide various effects, such as additional healing, a lightning strike effect, or secondary attributes.

What was the problem? Circe’s Ring is equipped with various citrines. The gemstones can be unlocked through various events and quests on Siren Island. However, not all of these events are available in the first week.

This led to some classes not being able to obtain their best citrines right away, making the ring unattractive.

Blizzard saves the ring with a hotfix in WoW

How did Blizzard solve the problem? Just under two days after the patch’s release, Blizzard released a quick hotfix to remove the time gating. Now, the events on the island grant citrines for repeated completions until the collection is complete. This means that all classes can farm exactly the gemstones they need for their perfect ring.

More about 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
von Karsten Scholz
Blizzard promised quick updates with WoW Midnight without loss of quality – The endeavor has failed
von Karsten Scholz

Are there still problems? Yes. The hotfix that freed all citrines from time gating unfortunately also brought another bug. Because although in theory all gemstones are available, this is only the case in theory.

One of the three excavation events is currently still bugged and does not grant the specified reward upon completion. This means that for some classes, the “best in slot” gemstone is still not available.

However, this is likely just a temporary issue, and another hotfix – which should go live in the coming days – will fix this as well. Once that happens, we will update this article here.
Aside from the ring, the island is also worth it for role-players, as there are many great ‘RP must-haves.’

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. us.forums.blizzard.com/en/

Destiny 2 has fewer players on Steam than ever before: parts of the shooter are no longer playable

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The online shooter Destiny 2 is going through its weakest phase since at least 2019. In December 2024, Destiny has an average of only 24,560 players online on Steam – such low player numbers have never been recorded for Destiny 2 on Steam since its release in October 2019. This has implications for the playability of the content.

How bad is it? In the last 30 days, there have never been more than 40,000 players online at the same time on Steam. The average player count for Destiny 2 is 24,560. It has never been this bad before.

So far, Destiny has always managed to maintain over 30,000 average active players despite all its problems. Now it has clearly slipped below that mark. This is likely the lowest player count Destiny has ever had since its release in September 2014. We only know the player numbers from Steam, as Destiny only came to the PC platform in 2019 after parting ways with Activision Blizzard and leaving the Battle.net platform.

The low player count could have a snowball effect.

Start video
Destiny 2: The launch trailer for the new episode ‘Returners’

Players can no longer find a group for raids

What’s the problem? As more and more players quit Destiny, it becomes increasingly difficult for the remaining players to find groups with which they can tackle challenging content in the shooter. This sets off a “death spiral”: when players feel a game is dead, they play it less themselves, contributing to its further decline.

In Destiny 2, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that, compared to Destiny 1, there have always been fewer players participating in raids, the endgame content for PvE groups.

Recently, there was a post on reddit titled “Where has everyone gone?”, where a player described wanting to run a raid, but it took unusually long to find a team, even though it was a featured raid, he was looking on the weekend, and the raid had just received fresh loot.

Players responded to him:

  • The player base is at a record low, and many players aren’t raiding in Destiny 2 anyway. Those who do raid have already acquired all the items they need.
  • Other players added that they are currently playing “Path of Exile 2” and have found it as a replacement for Destiny 2.
  • Users recommended he join a Discord group and look for teammates there or directly try group searches at the start of a reset.
More on the topic
Destiny 2: All promo codes in April 2026 for free emblems – Here’s how to get them
von Christos Tsogos
Former Destiny Developer Highlights One of Bungie’s Biggest Mistakes, Fans Fume: Has ‘Irrevocably Damaged’ the Game
von Dariusz Müller
Fans of Destiny 2 are envious because Marathon gets what they have wished for from Bungie for years after one week
von Dariusz Müller

In the summer, there were still over 300,000 players online, but the bad news hit

What’s behind it: 2024 is certainly marking a low point for Destiny and Bungie. Just from the company headquarters, there have been bad signals for the future of the game, as many people were let go and projects were canceled. The company appeared to be battered by the crisis and seemed unable to provide answers, at least not answers that instill confidence in the players.

Additionally, there’s currently a game in hype called Path of Exile 2, which, although entirely different from Destiny, still attracts the core audience due to the “loot and level” factor.

Destiny has now been running for 10 years and experiences valleys repeatedly. However, this year, the valley seems particularly deep. The question is whether Bungie will once again manage to break free from it – especially since it appears that more and more resources are lacking in game development. Currently, the shooter that once dominated gaming from September to December 2014 has become relatively quiet.

In June 2024, the peak player count was still 314,000 – but compared to earlier, most players stuck around for only a short time. While Destiny used to be played diligently for months, by 2024, player numbers had already shrunk to a normal level just a month later – it now looks dire: Destiny 2: The best people have been working on new Destiny for years – project is canceled, they are fired.

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

In a bar, you could order a slap from the waitress, but the offer had a flaw in reasoning

Gerald Wessel Gerald Wessel Reading time 2 minutes

Until recently, the Japanese restaurant chain offered a special service: slaps. But then an incident occurred.

Was a slap on the face listed on the menu in Japan? Yes, as reported by South China Morning Post, a slap was a dish that could be ordered for a few euros at the restaurant chain Yotteba in Japan, called Binta. And it really meant a slap with an open hand to the face. It is not a poetic description for a farewell dessert.

You will distribute far more than slaps in the new Assassin’s Creed Shadows. There, you will assassinate in historical Japan. The title will finally be released soon, after it had been postponed again.

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

Slap for farewell

Why would anyone pay for a slap? We can only speculate about the personal reasons of the individual. But the motivation for the offer was, according to the South China Morning Post, to provide customers with a clear head for their trip home. The chain also serves alcohol with their dishes and is particularly known for its cheap beer and chicken wings.

A slap cost 500 yen, which is approximately 3 euros. Those who paid an additional 100 yen (60 euro cents) could even choose the person who delivered the slap. A compilation of some recorded slaps can be found on X by user Bangkok Lad.

Stop after injury

Why was the offer discontinued? As a spokesperson for the chain explained to the South China Morning Post, Binta has now been removed from the menu. Reasons cited include the desire for a “change of image.” Moreover, Binta had not been particularly popular anyway. However, the decision was made after a customer complained about an injury caused by such a slap.

According to company statements, the offer was on the menu for about two years.

According to the report from the South China Morning Post, Yotteba was not the only chain that slapped its customers upon request and for a fee. Shachihoko-ya offered something similar. However, the service was stopped at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and was not resumed.

More on the topic
Users are currently looting thousands of DVDs from red kiosks because they believe that these no longer belong to anyone
von Gerald Wessel
More on the topic
Japanese love to shop online, but who brings the goods to the customer? A 500-kilometer-long conveyor belt is supposed to replace 25,000 trucks
von Gerald Wessel
More on the topic
A country drinks more beer than all others and it is not Germany
von Gerald Wessel

How did someone even come up with the idea? Binta likely dates back to the Meiji era (1868-1912), according to the South China Morning Post. At that time, police officers took punishment literally into their own hands: they slapped offenders on the side of the head for infractions.

What is not going as well in Japan as the government had hoped is the 4-day work week. Despite good reasons to work shorter, significantly fewer companies and employees follow the nationwide initiatives than assumed: In a country, peoplework more than they have to, voluntarily forgoing the 4-day work week

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Titelbild: Bangkok Lad, X
  2. Xataka

Essential game series on Steam angers fans after 24 years with pure greed, now refrains from 3 annoying traits

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The gaming franchise “Total War” fell out of favor with fans following the release of the latest games: Total War: Warhammer 3 and Total War: Pharaoh angered fans of the series. Many negative reviews piled up on Steam. The creators seemed greedier. For 2024, they promised improvement, which they plan to implement definitively for 2025.

What was the problem with Total War: Warhammer? Total War is an essential game series on PC. The series shapes gaming on PC like few other strategy game series, perhaps comparable only to Civilization and Crusader Kings. The series is known for its battles; Total War began in 2000 with Shogun and reached a first peak in 2004 with the outstanding Rome: Total War.

Games in the “Total War” series now live off continually growing with DLCs, generating revenue. One of the two current games “Total War: Warhammer 3” has received DLCs and expansions worth several hundred euros.

However, in recent years there have been dissonances, especially with “Total War: Warhammer 3”. Fans felt: They weren’t getting enough for their money. Expensive DLCs in the range of 20 to 30 € brought only a few new features. The game fell short of user expectations and was penalized on Steam.

At the end of 2023, the developers announced a course change: They wanted to listen to fans again and show more friendliness.

Start video
Total War: Warhammer 3 – The Trailer for the New DLC Omens of Destruction

3 annoying features to be removed from Total War

This is now the announcement: By the end of 2024, the developers note that they started addressing numerous issues in 2024 and increased the quality of the content. The team summarizes (via creative-assembly): “We have taken some solid first steps.”

But for the future, they promise more:

  • They want to forego the “standard” 4-euro DLC that comes with every game and unlocks blood and gore effects. This could lead to future games having a higher age rating, but the step is necessary, the developers explain.
  • Moreover, they want to abolish their own “Total War” launcher so that people can log in directly from Steam.
  • Additionally, they will no longer unlock entire factions as bonuses for pre-orders: While they will grant pre-orderers additional advantages, it won’t include entire factions. This made a pre-order feel too much like a “mandatory purchase”.

In 2025, the 25th anniversary of the series will be celebrated, and they are planning new content for Total War: Warhammer 3, which remains clearly the star of the offering. The unloved Pharaoh is not mentioned much. They have practically completely overhauled and relaunched it with the free mega-update “Pharaoh: Dynasties”.

How players are reacting: The mood among fans has improved significantly, but there are, of course, many further demands. Players wish for more content for their favorite faction in Warhammer or demand that the developers also remove Denuvo while they are at it.

There are also players who desire a stronger historical focus, without “superhero leaders” as seen in the newer titles.

More on the topic
More on the topic
All Chaos Gods in Warhammer 40,000 Ranked – Who is the most powerful?
von Benedict Grothaus
More on the topic
A game on Steam even costs 272 € in the sale if you want it completely, but the best campaign is free
von Schuhmann
More on the topic
A people in Warhammer 40,000 could easily wipe out one of the greatest threats of the world, but it has been sleeping for 60 million years
von Benedict Grothaus

The trend is moving away from using proprietary launchers

What it’s about: The things they are cutting are typical “corporate” things that benefit the company but annoy players: The trend that one is only a real company or franchise if one has their own launcher has been met with much resentment. People simply want to start everything via Steam.

For 2024, Creative Assembly has to be given a good report for the Total War series; however, one must also wonder why such a course change was necessary and why the series had to fall so low before it could recover. More on Total War: Warhammer 3: Two years ago, I wasted 60 € on a game on Steam: It should finally be good now.

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

Players have been wanting to remove a mechanic for 5 years, yet it continues to annoy in Path of Exile 2

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Path of Exile 2, there is a game mechanic that has been carried over from the predecessor, although nobody really liked it there either.

What kind of game mechanic is that? In Path of Exile 2, there are many different game systems and mechanics that interact to make the game feel just right. One of them is the so-called “On-Death” effects, meaning things that happen when a monster dies. However, this mechanic is not about loot but rather harmful effects like explosions that are triggered upon a monster’s death and affect the player.

Many players die because of this game mechanic, which has been causing a lot of frustration within the community for at least five years.

Not annoying, but useful is this NPC from Path of Exile 2:

Start video
This NPC in Path of Exile 2 identifies your items

Frustration among players: Monster dies, drags players to their death

Why are players annoyed? The death effects of monsters are likely one of the most common causes of death in the game for the veterans and professionals of Path of Exile 2. Enemies that deal massive damage even after their death are often not easily recognizable, and the damage from the death effects can sometimes take players out with just a single explosion.

The problem with the “On-Death” effects has existed for at least five years, as shown in a post on Reddit. The user zephibary shares a screenshot of various complaints about the effects from the last five years on Reddit.

The posted messages have titles such as: “Harvest Fight ends, 8 seconds later one shot by a death effect” or “Dear GGG, can we please stop with the death effects that punish us for looting?” The poster wonders: “Why are the developers hell-bent on keeping this terrible mechanic?”

How does the community respond to the question? The community responds with their own experiences and stories. Many players mention that they would simply like to see the enemies with the “On-Death” effects highlighted. So far, they don’t really differ visually from other foes.

For Maleficent-Egg6861, this seems to be the biggest problem on Reddit: “If they really want to keep them, they should at least make the monsters glow like a nuclear reactor before they go off, so we know to stay away.”

Also, RagnarRodrog wants to see better on Reddit with whom he is dealing: “I just want Rares to have some kind of glow, so I can actually know that it’s a more dangerous monster and it could have death effects.”

ThrowawayyTessslaa thinks he knows the background on Reddit: “Without the ‘On-Death’ effects, there is very little that could slow the players down. The other option is to create maps with tight corridors and doors (which everyone hates) or to massively decrease movement speed (which is also a ninja skill/difficulty nerf). One could also pump up the HP, but they have already tried that and it only harms player progression in maps and builds with high defense/low DPS. Any method to slow down players is hated by the community.”

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

Whether the developers really implemented this game mechanic just to slow down the players is uncertain. After all, they decided to incorporate it into the new part of the game. However, one death effect has already been removed from the game in the second week: the Volatile Crystals. This death effect consisted of 3 purple balls that chased you and then exploded. You can find out what else has been changed in the latest patch here: Path of Exile 2: Massive update is here, strengthens classes and skills more than expected – Official patch notes in German

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Path of Exile 2

A legendary developer was told that games don’t need a good story – So he read 300 books to prove the opposite

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

Hideo Kojima is considered a legendary developer by many gamers, but in his early days, he faced a lot of resistance.

Who is it about? The Japanese game developer Hideo Kojima spoke in a podcast on YouTube about his beginnings in the gaming industry, among other things.

  • Kojima is known as the creator of the “Metal Gear” series. Among many gamers, he has since achieved a kind of legendary status. The games are appreciated by fans, among other things, for their story. Kojima is regarded as a lover of the art of film and is often seen as a kind of “filmmaker of the gaming industry.”
  • The Metal Gear boss enemy Psycho Mantis is still considered a stroke of genius to this day. He could read his opponent’s thoughts and thus avoided all attacks from players. To defeat him, one had to plug the controller into a different socket on the PlayStation 1.
  • Kojima’s most recent work, Death Stranding, was released in 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and was produced by his own studio called Kojima Productions.
  • Kojima is currently working on a sequel. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to release in 2025.

In Kojima’s early days in the gaming industry, games with deep stories were rather rare – so he became a regular at a library and did a lot of research to change that.

If you want to get a sense of Kojima’s games, here is the launch trailer for Death Stranding:

Start video
Death Stranding – Launch Trailer

What does Kojima say about stories in games? In the podcast, Kojima shares that it was difficult in his early days to give games a story because everyone was against it. He was even criticized for going to the library for research:

Back then, there wasn’t much one could do. I wanted to go to the library to research things like plotlines. When I went there during work, people said, “You don’t need to go to the library.” I asked why, and they told me, “Because games don’t need stories.”

However, this did not stop Kojima, he reports. Instead, he took the proverbial reins into his own hands: “So, I paid for everything out of my own pocket, for example, when I wanted to buy books. I read about 300 books to develop a game.”

More on the topic
More on the topic
Studio creates a bunch of good movies that hardly anyone knows – now working with Hideo Kojima on Death Stranding
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
If Death Stranding 2 really becomes like the trailer, a great sequel is coming our way
von Marie Friske
More on the topic
A penguin by Kojima is the lonely star of a game console that hardly anyone in Germany should know about
von Benedikt Schlotmann

Later, Kojima shares in the podcast that he generally had a difficult standing when he started in the industry. He did not want to make only arcade games without stories, where it was just about quickly shooting at enemies or objects.

Moreover, no one in the company wanted to work with him because he was the newcomer who had never developed a game. However, that changed after his first small success. After that, he became the guy who makes “weird stuff.” One such “weird idea” from Kojima was ultimately discarded: Developer legend Hideo Kojima once toyed with the idea of making you fight a boss for 2 weeks.

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

The housing in Guild Wars 2 is more powerful than expected – players build SciFi rocket stations

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

When the new housing feature of Guild Wars 2 was introduced with Janthir Wilds, the perfect building kit for creatives landed in Tyria. Whether it’s the Eye of Sauron, a giant chessboard, or a Sci-Fi rocket station – the possibilities of the editor seem endless.

What is the community building in Guild Wars 2? In our “MMORPG News in Two Minutes” from September 15, 2024, MeinMMO had already celebrated some works from the community of Guild Wars 2. For instance, heroes of Tyria used the kit of the homesteads introduced with Janthir Wilds to build the Eye of Sauron, a hobbit estate, or a Greek temple.

Since then, players have continuously found new ways to stretch the tools of the editor and place constructions in the fantasy world of Tyria that actually don’t belong there or – on the contrary – fit in wonderfully.

A beautiful example of how powerful the tool is was posted by Dry_Picture_9836 a few hours ago on Reddit. It features five screenshots showcasing a self-built rocket station. Alongside is a character that would fit more into a Sci-Fi setting with their equipment.

Recommended editorial content

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

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

Here is the trailer for the update “God’s Brood” from Guild Wars 2 – Janthir Wilds:

Start video
Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds – Update ‘Godspawn’ in the Launch Trailer

Like another game …

How is the community reacting to the rocket station? The players are celebrating the creation.

  • skoryy jokes on Reddit: “Choya Space Program.”
  • mammothxing is impressed (via Reddit): “That is surprisingly accurate.”
  • grannaldie has a suspicion on Reddit: “So this is how people came to Tyria.”
  • CornerOf12th celebrates on Reddit: “Creativity at its finest. 11/10, well done, OP.”
  • Taygeta wants to know: “The first picture felt almost like another game. What are your wardrobe skins?”

The response from Dry_Picture_9836: This is the Special-Ops set, the Hazard-Response backpack, and the “CJ-1 Command Sleeves” as gloves.

Just the tip of the iceberg: Many more creations from the community were recently celebrated by the developers in a dedicated video that went live on all official channels – for example, here on X. In 60 seconds, you will see among other things, a fortified castle, tree settlement, a giant chessboard, or a Japanese Zen garden.

More about Guild Wars 2:
The 12 Best Free-to-play MMORPGs 2026 in Comparison
von Schuhmann
Which free MMORPGs are still really fun in 2026? MeinMMO reveals it to you in the video
von Nico Scheibel

How do you like the works from the community? By the way, the first major content update for the expansion Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds has already gone live, featuring a very special raid challenge: After 5 years without a raid, the MMORPG Guild Wars 2 finally gets a new one, and it’s up to you whether this will be the last one

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

400 years ago, a dike broke in the Netherlands – A company still pays interest for the consequences today

Gerald Wessel Gerald Wessel Reading time 2 minutes

It is a rarity and has survived much: the oldest bond in the world that still earns interest today. Its story begins in 1624.

What kind of interest is that? On December 10, 360 euros in interest were handed over to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Behind this interest is a 400-year-old debt that a company from the Netherlands had to pay off.

The NYSE owns the oldest bond in the world for which interest is still paid – 13.61 euros per year (via Financial Times).

What is a bond? When a person invests money in a company or a state, they receive what is called a bond. The owner of this document is entitled to receive annual interest.

Nowadays, the “Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden” (HDSR), a combination of a company and water authority, is responsible for all claims arising from the 400-year-old document (via HDSR).

Much more commonplace yet somehow strange, a whole host of USB sticks appear. They stick out of walls at seemingly arbitrarily chosen spots. The following video explains what it’s all about:

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

400 Years and a Gesture of Friendship

What was the bond issued for 400 years ago? In January 1624, winter floodwaters, laden with ice, pressured the beleaguered dikes of the Netherlands and finally breached at Tull and ‘t Waal. Large tracts of land were flooded, and the damage was immense.

To repair the damage to the dike, the then-responsible predecessor authority of the HDSR, Hoogheemraadschap Lekdijk Bovendams, issued more than 50 indefinite bonds. One went to a citizen of Amsterdam, Elsken Jorisdochter.

How did the bond end up in New York? At an unspecified time around the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, Albert Andriesse purchased the bond at an auction. He was a board member of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. During a trip to New York in 1938, he gifted the document to the NYSE – a gesture of friendship with a historical background. The metropolis was founded as New Amsterdam in the year the bond was issued, 1624.

In 1941, he and his family found a new home in New York while fleeing from the Nazis. His granddaughter attended the ceremony for the transfer of the interest. He himself died in 1965. The NYSE donated the 360 euros in interest to a museum (via Financial Times).

Anyone who wants to take a closer look at the document written on parchment (sheepskin) can find a dedicated subpage for the rarity on the website of the HDSR.

The Last Representatives of Their Kind

Where are the other bonds from that time? Although they are indefinite, they could be redeemed by the lenders at any time. On the other hand, many have disappeared over the centuries since their issuance. The Netherlands and its citizens went through crises, wars, and tremendous upheavals just like the rest of Europe.

Seven remain, all of which were issued to finance investments in the 17th century. With its date of December 10, 1624, this bond is the oldest of them (via HDSR).

More on the topic
Postcard arrives after 120 years and represents exemplary fulfillment of duty by the post
von Gerald Wessel
More on the topic
An American Designed the Yacht of His Dreams, Couldn’t Afford It – So He Built It Himself in His Garden
von Benedikt Schlotmann
More on the topic
A hiker discovers something so unusual on Google Maps that a professional expedition investigates its origin
von Gerald Wessel

Sending a package from Germany to North Korea is not an everyday occurrence. The Asian country does not conform to international norms. Will a postal shipment even arrive? A German citizen thought about testing this and conceived an experiment: A German YouTuber wants to send packages to North Korea – A small gadget shows him how DHL tricks in this process.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Xataka
  2. Titelbild Hintergrund: NYSE
  3. Titelbild Münztruhe: Unsplash

New 2D MMORPG on Steam Inspired by Fallout and RuneScape, Free to Play, 90 Percent Positive Launch

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

Just before the turn of the year, a new indie MMORPG called Tombstone MMO has launched on Steam. The 2D pixel graphics might put you off, but the first player reviews are very positive.

What kind of MMORPG is this? The new game from developer Well Bucket features low-res 2D graphics and a setting that combines western and apocalypse themes. On the official website, it states that the open-world adventure was inspired by Fallout and RuneScape (via tombstonemmo.com). Key features of the online role-playing game include:

  • While there are quests, they are rare. You can follow the main story or alternatively forge your own path through the world.
  • Your choices should have an impact on the character, the gameplay, and the world. You can approach situations with raw violence or find alternative solutions.
  • You can learn and train 24 unique skills.
  • There are skills for gathering resources and crafting items.
  • A tutorial island introduces you to the systems. After that, you enter the much larger main island where the real adventure awaits.
  • Player interactions like trading, conversations, and raids are possible.
  • Early access started on December 19, 2024, on PC (Steam) and mobile. With the start of the EA phase, there should be no more progress wipes. A completely new continent is planned for the final launch.
  • Tombstone MMO is free and playable via its own launcher, Steam, itch.io, or even in a browser.

The official teaser trailer is unfortunately short and a few months old:

Start video
Tombstone MMO combines Western and Fallout in the trailer

“Check it out”

How does the community rate the game? Due to the dated graphic style, probably only a few MMO fans have taken the risk to check it out so far. Currently, there are only 21 Steam reviews, 90% of which are positive.

  • Dio Promenus writes on Steam: “The game is fantastic, I highly recommend trying it, the developers are great, the community is great, and it can only go up from here. But keep in mind that it is still relatively new, so expect some bugs. Give it a try.”
  • Wish is also satisfied after 20 hours (via Steam): “So far, it seems to be a fun little pixel MMO! The player base is helpful and the dev is active on Discord, which is always a good sign for answering questions / fixing bugs. If you like chill yet grindy games, it’s definitely worth a try!”
  • LowKeyLoki was surprised (via Steam): “I thought I would check out this little game for half an hour or so… eleven hours later, I have a mile-long to-do list and a huge map that I still need to explore. There is much more going on here than you might expect at first glance. I’m excited to see where this little gem develops to.”
More about Steam:
Conan Exiles receives a huge update on Steam, reducing the game’s size by 80 GB
von Benedict Grothaus
Upcoming MMORPG on Steam offers more Lost Ark than Lost Ark, but the developers have forgotten Germany
von Cedric Holmeier

The two negative reviews so far criticize a annoying bug and the movement mechanics. If you are looking for a genre representative for the Christmas holidays that wears a more modern coat, check this out: A fantasy MMORPG is known for its great battles – Now it’s free on Steam and you can keep it

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

In the survival hit ARK, you can now race through the wasteland with ‘Mad Max’ cars – unless you’re playing on the wrong console

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

The survival game ARK Survival Ascended has been playable for over a year now and continues to receive regular new expansions. These bring maps, dinos, and blueprints to the Unreal Engine 5 version of the dino adventure that players of ARK: Survival Evolved may already know. This includes the latest addon.

What are these new expansions? ARK Survival Ascended received two expansions on December 20, 2024. On one hand, the free expansion “Extinction Ascended” was added to the game. On the other hand, the paid expansion “Bob’s Tall Tales 3: Wasteland War” was released.

Extinction Ascended features the map of the same name, “Extinction,” which is characterized by an abandoned, futuristic city in the center of the map. At the edge of the map, you can discover various biomes that are located within a sort of enclosing dome. For example, there is a snowy landscape in one of these domes, even though the area surrounding the dome consists only of scorched wasteland.

The paid expansion Bob’s Tall Tales 3: Wasteland War introduces new content in the style of Mad Max to the survival game. This includes cars, new structures and weapons, as well as a dog.

Here you can watch a trailer for the two expansions:

Start video
ARK Survival Ascended showcases Extinction and ‘Mad Max’ vehicles in the trailer

Players on the “wrong” console have to wait: Players on Xbox are unfortunately still waiting. As the developers of the survival game announced via X.com, they are still waiting for Microsoft to certify and release the update. For now, only players on PlayStation and PC can access the new content.

The Dinos Meet Mad Max

What are the “Mad Max” cars about? Bob’s Tall Tales 3: Wasteland War brings the so-called “BattleRigs” into play. These are cars that the developers refer to as “off-road war machines.” They come with a variety of different devices that you can build onto the vehicles. In total, there are supposed to be 10,000 variations.

The design of the cars is heavily inspired by the style of Mad Max. Everything appears rugged and brutal. The new outfits for your characters are also designed to fit, for example, with spikes on the shoulders.

Additionally, there is a garage for the BattleRigs where you can customize your cars.

What else does the expansion bring? In addition to the BattleRigs, there is now a dog, the Armadoggo. He digs for treasures and fetches items for you. He also wears armor that can be equipped with different upgrades.

Moreover, there is a new grenade that can extinguish fires, as well as an explosive spear waiting for you. The update also brings a fresh laboratory and a machine that allows you to produce dry food and raw materials from bio food.

A complete list of the contents of Bob’s Tall Tales 3 can be found on Steam.

More on Survival Games
More on the topic
In a new survival MMO, you fight against robo-bears on a post-apocalyptic Soviet island
von Ody
More on the topic
The 31 best survival games 2025 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox
von Benedict Grothaus
More on the topic
A survival game rated 18 is currently available for half price, it brought Steam’s servers to a standstill upon release
von Ody

With the release of Extinction Ascended, several creatures that were already playable in ARK Survival Evolved with the map are also back. These include primarily the Snow Owl, the Gacha, and the Managarmr.

However, the expansion also introduces a completely new creature, the Dreadnoughtus. This is a herbivorous dinosaur that has a long neck similar to the Brachiosaurus or the Diplodocus.

Back in September 2024, ARK Survival Ascended received a major update with 2 expansions, which at that time added the “Aberration” map and its associated creatures, as well as Bob’s Tall Tales 2: Survival hit ARK gets a new, strong expansion while ARK 2 remains silent

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

One of the best boss fights in Dark Souls was so sad that I didn’t even want to defeat the monster at the end

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 3 minutes

Dark Souls is known for difficult boss battles. One of the easier ones was still challenging for MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth – this had nothing to do with skill.

The bosses from the first Dark Souls from 2011 are legendary. The duo Ornstein and Smough, for example, has instilled fear in many players and was also my first major hurdle in the world of Souls games.

Since I have overcome them, I love the series and also the other titles from FromSoftware, such as Elden Ring. However, no other game has managed to engage me emotionally like this one. In the case of Dark Souls, this is due to a boss that is not too difficult from a gameplay perspective. Instead, its story is quite sad, which complicates the fight for moral reasons.

If you are looking for help with Souls games, you will find it on MeinMMO: Here are 6 tips for new players

Start video
The Dark Souls Remastered in the Trailer

A boss that makes you feel sorry

Which boss is being talked about? The one in question is Sif, the large, gray wolf. He waits in the area of the Darkroot Garden at the grave of his master, Artorias.

The wolf protects the final resting place with a sword in his mouth. His lore is touching. Many years ago, Sif accompanied his master Artorias when he tried to protect the city of Oolacile from the evil forces of the abyss.

However, the two were overwhelmed by the hostile power, and Artorias was overcome by corruption. Before that, he built a protective wall around his wolf, so nothing would happen to him. After Artorias’ death, Sif returned to his grave, where he meets the player of Dark Souls in the present.

How does the fight go? As the wolf sees the grave as threatened, he confronts us players, and a boss fight ensues. Sif fights with his gigantic sword, which he carries in his mouth. He is quite nimble and likes to jump around the arena, in the center of which Artorias’ grave rises into the night sky.

The fight was not particularly difficult for me even on the first playthrough. Sif’s attacks are easy to recognize, and I could dodge them well. I diminished his health bar without major issues. However, something happened at about the halfway point that I did not expect.

Sif started limping. His animations immediately made it clear that the wolf was suffering from injuries from the fight and was becoming weaker. The more I hit him, the worse it got.

Then I began to feel sorry for Sif. Suddenly, I didn’t want to defeat the boss anymore. The sight of the limping wolf touched me, and combined with his lore, everything in me rebelled against continuing the fight.

Ultimately, I reluctantly defeated Sif and also grabbed his boss soul along with the “Covenant of Artorias” ring. You need that later to face another boss, the “Four Kings.”

More on the topic
More on the topic
I spent over 100 hours with an alternative to Dark Souls on Steam – Currently costs as much as a McDonald’s meal
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
The presentation of the new Elden Ring excites fans at first, but that quickly changes – developers already contradict a major fear
von Jasmin Beverungen
More on the topic
Dark Souls with Dance Interludes – New game on Steam lets you beat bosses with Brazilian martial arts
von Ody

The DLC makes up for many things

This was not, however, the last encounter between Sif and me. In the DLC “Artorias of the Abyss,” which takes place in the past, you meet the wolf behind the magical protective wall that his master had erected earlier.

If you save Sif at this point, he helps as a phantom in the following battle against Manus, one of the hardest bosses in the entire game. This at least calmed my guilty conscience a bit, as I could help Sif, and we could fight together against an even stronger opponent.

Still, I hesitate, with each new playthrough, to enter the Darkroot Garden and Sif’s arena. Because I know it will be emotional again. That he is one of the mandatory bosses of Dark Souls and has to be defeated on the way to the end does not make the matter any easier. Currently, FromSoftware is causing a stir again: Elden Ring surprises everyone with a spin-off, a mix of rogue-like and battle royale – fans are excited

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

One of the biggest German YouTubers for MMORPGs explains why New World Aeternum disappoints

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 4 minutes

Despite extensive adjustments and the launch on PlayStation and Xbox, New World Aeternum has only managed to attract a manageable number of players sustainably to Aeternum. The YouTuber and streamer specialized in MMORPGs, Entenburg, reveals in a new video why he is also disappointed with the reboot.

How successful has New World Aeternum been? Without exact numbers from Amazon Games, this cannot be said with complete certainty. What is known:

  • The peak on Steam during the Aeternum launch was 61,437 concurrent players (via steamdb.info). During the expansion the previous year, it peaked at 77,642. Two months after the new high, there are only about 15,000 concurrent Steam players during prime time again – with a downward trend.
  • This month, 968 new reviews have been added on Steam. At least 75 percent of user reviews were positive. The month before, it was only 66 percent out of around 1,630 reviews.
  • Unlike Throne and Liberty, Amazon Games has still not published any specific player numbers for New World Aeternum, which is always a sign that there is nothing to celebrate in terms of player numbers.
  • In November, Amazon Games announced the first server merges since the Aeternum launch. EU servers were also affected.

When looking at how much energy has gone into the revisions and console ports, Amazon Games cannot be fully satisfied with this.

Here you see the gameplay trailer for the launch of New World Aeternum:

Start video
New World Aeternum: Well-Staged Gameplay Trailer for Launch

“I really tried to like New World Aeternum…”

What is Entenburg’s analysis like? A few days ago, a video was posted on the main channel of MMORPG enthusiast Entenburg, where the popular streamer and YouTuber summarizes his impressions of New World Aeternum.

Below we summarize the most important insights for you. If you want to watch the full 26 minutes and 16 seconds – which we highly recommend – you can find the analysis on YouTube or directly here:

Recommended editorial content

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

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

Entenburg makes it clear right at the beginning that you can expect an “audiovisual orgy of disappointment” from the video. He delivers AAA, i.e., accusation, reckoning, and farewell in one. Although he admits that the planned farewell due to the roadmap announced at the end of November will only become a “pause” again.

The YouTuber emphasizes before starting his analysis that he has been following New World since its development. His hope all these years was that Amazon Games could eventually better highlight the unique and partly great aspects that New World has to offer. With the launch version of New World Aeternum, he believes this did not succeed. The reasons:

  • Like many other long-term PC players of New World, Entenburg is also dissatisfied with Aeternum because there are not enough new contents that specifically address these fans who have stayed loyal to New World from the launch until this year.
  • This is exacerbated because the developers actually have to make up for a lot with the PC players due to the long drought of content and the often difficult communication.
  • Frequently requested contents like practice wars or fresh PvP modes are still missing.
  • There is a new gear tier for the endgame, but it is far too disconnected from the actually good dungeon content.
  • The new solo challenges are nicely done, but too easy and quickly become unworthy. The Gorgon raid is good but extremely difficult. The new open PvP zone can be fun but can also frustrate quickly. Overall, this is – once again – too little to attract many veterans to the servers in the long term.
  • The new entry offers a visual and staged wow-promise that New World cannot keep afterwards.
  • The new archetypes suggest a class system that does not actually exist in that form. This causes confusion and false expectations among new players.
  • Although Amazon Games has put in a tremendous effort to improve the campaign and quest experience, the leveling phase is now disappointingly short and easy.
  • New World Aeternum was full of bugs at launch, there were crashes, and of course, many well-known and new PvP exploits are also in place.
  • Frequently requested quality-of-life improvements like saveable talent builds or guild chests are still missing. Additionally, not all UI adjustments hit the mark, especially regarding the display of debuffs.
  • Being able to target enemies with a target lock and automatically hit them takes one of the MMORPG’s greatest strengths: the previously unique gameplay that is sometimes designed to specifically target certain body areas of the opponent. Moreover, it is now much too easy to hit moving adversaries with certain spells and skills effortlessly.
  • Unfortunately, the new test phase is only available for consoles and not for PC.
More about New World:
Amazon silently removes the last hint of the MMORPG for Lord of the Rings
von Karsten Scholz
The most successful MMORPG from Germany since Tibia is not only becoming more beautiful but also conquering new platforms
von Karsten Scholz

How does the community evaluate the video and NWA?

  • KK-be8rv writes on YouTube: “I gave the game a chance. In the end, it feels like just another to-do list that I have to complete after my work.”
  • GortunNET reveals on YouTube: “For me, many new features come too late, and I don’t like some of the changes that are now in place at all.”
  • jerasco6202 praises on YouTube: “As always, a great work by Entenburg. Names problems objectively and criticizes fairly. I fully agree.”
  • EiterPommes wants to know on YouTube: “I am a returning player and have to say that I am really enjoying the game at the moment, 🙂 I’ve been working on the leveling phase for days and haven’t reached the maximum level yet – how did you manage to do it so quickly?”

From the perspective of MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz, New World Aeternum also had to struggle with another point: the release timing, to be precise. You can find his analysis on this here: Aeternum was supposed to bring significant momentum to the MMORPG New World, but Amazon Games made a predictable mistake

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

Website reveals how much money you have spent in WoW – players don’t want to know: ‘Ignorance is bliss’

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

Thanks to subscriptions and purchase prices, World of Warcraft has been generating high revenues for Blizzard for two decades. But how much is your share of the financial blessing actually? A website now reveals how much money you have put into WoW so far.

What kind of website is this? On Reddit, the WoW fan CloudyBastien introduced the project spentonwow.com, which he and a friend have been working on for some time. He himself says: “It is an initial basic version, so we are sure that there are bugs and we might have missed something about how Blizzard takes our money.”

The website works as follows:

  • You select your region, the server, and the character, and then click “Embrace the Truth.”
  • The website calculates an amount of money in euros or dollars that you have put into WoW since 2008.
  • You find out how many Big Macs you could have bought for that money, how many gold coins the money is worth, and what your share would have been if you had instead put the money into the production of a movie.
  • Scroll down to see how long your subscription has been running during this period, which expansions you bought in which variant, and into which mounts, pets, toys, and bundles additional money has gone.
  • An extra pie chart visually represents the expenses as well.

The website unfortunately is not one hundred percent accurate and does not fit every player perfectly. On the one hand, there are certainly a few who have been playing WoW since 2005, 2006, or 2007. For them, all subscription payments made before 2008 are missing.

Moreover, the website does not recognize all content correctly. For example, the Viridian phase hunter is supposed to cost 25 euros. However, the corresponding deluxe version of Burning Crusade Classic was significantly more expensive. Additionally, discount purchases, subscriptions paid through tokens, or free keys from Blizzard are not recognized.

WoW is celebrating its 20th anniversary, how long have you been playing?

Start video
WoW celebrates its 20th anniversary – Here’s what you can earn

Afraid of the Truth?

How does the community evaluate the website? Some players are happy with the website and the insight it provides into their own WoW past. Others do not want to know exactly how much money they have spent on the Blizzard MMORPG over the years.

  • NoPark5849 writes on Reddit: “I don’t want to know …”
  • abiert feels similarly (via Reddit): “Ignorance is bliss.”
  • For ItsRaevenne, the case is clear (via Reddit): “3,420 dollars. All in all, I would rather spend that money on WoW than on Big Macs again. I’m just saying.”
  • _TheBgrey sees it this way (via Reddit): “187 dollars per year for 16 years of entertainment is a pretty solid return.”
  • Emeckk jokes on Reddit: “It’s only 13 euros, so it can’t add up that much. … ohh shit.”
  • NiceWrathy summarizes on Reddit: “Funny, but not even close to accurate. Doesn’t count tokens, has an incorrect subscription duration (says less than 4 years, even though I’ve been paying for a subscription since Vanilla). Still a clever little website.”
More about WoW:
Housing fans can now secure the cutest decoration item ever in WoW if they last 4 hours
von Karsten Scholz
Blizzard responds to criticism of WoW Patch 12.0.5, players suspect: Here an AI apologizes
von Karsten Scholz

How long have you been playing WoW? How long is your playtime likely to be? How much money have you invested in World of Warcraft over the years? Do you know the answers to the last two questions, or would you rather not know them as well? Let us know in the comments! By the way: Player plays 40,000 hours of WoW, doesn’t even use a mouse

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

The 7 best superhero movies that are not from Marvel or DC

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 4 minutes

Since 2008, Marvel has dominated cinema with the MCU. The superhero hype has had a significant impact on the cinematic landscape. However, there are also superhero films that are not from DC or Marvel. We present 7 of the best in this list.

How was this list created? The MCU started in 2008 with Iron Man, and it didn’t take long for the franchise to create a massive hype. Every studio, including DC, tried to establish a Cinematic Universe.

The superhero or comic genre consists of more than just films from the Marvel or DC universe. In this list, we introduce you to some of the best superhero and comic films that are not based on Marvel or DC.

[toc]

1. The Incredibles

Release: 2004 | Director: Brad Bird | Streaming service: Disney+

Start video
The Incredibles – Trailer for the superhero film by Pixar

What kind of film is this? The Incredibles is the 6th film from the animation studio Pixar and tells the story of a family that actually wants to lead a normal life. However, they have superpowers. When the past of the family patriarch, Mr. Incredible, threatens his family, they must once again don their costumes.

The big highlight of The Incredibles is the charming characters and the fun animation. The characters are parodies of classic tropes, but they also have their own individuality. The humor works, and today the references to superheroes may resonate even better.

If you want more after the first film, you can watch the sequel from 2018.

2. The Crow

Release: 1994 | Director: Alex Proyas | Streaming service: Joyn PLUS+ (Free if you register with an ID), several Prime channels

Start video
The Crow – Trailer to the dark comic adaptation with Brandon Lee

What kind of film is this? The Crow is based on the comic of the same name and tells the story of Eric Draven. After he and his fiancée are brutally murdered, he is resurrected. Now, equipped with immortality, Draven seeks vengeance against the gang responsible for their deaths.

The Crow is the complete opposite of The Incredibles. It is a depressing and dark story with a unique style. The Crow is brutal, ruthless, but also a film that significantly differs from today’s superhero films. The Crow was also the tragic end of Brandon Lee. The son of the legend Bruce Lee died in an accident during filming.

However, one should steer clear of the 2024 remake, which lacks the interesting aspects of the original.

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

Throne and Liberty is struggling with the same problem as Lost Ark – this is set to change, even if players are wondering

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 2 minutes

In the new edition of “Tico Talks,” Amazon Games reflects on the recent updates of Throne and Liberty and reveals what is planned for the near future.

What does “Tico Talks” reveal? As in every month, Globalization Design Manager Daniel Lafuente from Amazon Games (nicknamed “Tico”) took the time in December 2024 to talk about the current status of Throne and Liberty. Here are the key insights from his holiday letter (via playthroneandliberty.com):

  • That the launch phase of Throne and Liberty was exciting and very labor-intensive for everyone involved at Amazon Games should not come as a surprise to you. Tico is particularly enthusiastic about how guilds have coordinated the battles so far, how veterans have helped newcomers, and how passionately players have discussed all aspects of the MMORPG.
  • After the latest content update, Tico found it particularly exciting to see how creatively some players incorporated the spear into their builds and playstyles. The developer never anticipated some of the strategies. The same goes for how certain groups from Solisium mastered the new dimension-testing dungeons.
  • The rune grind has already been alleviated by patches, at least for PvE players. According to Tico, they also have not forgotten the PvP players, for whom there are supposed to be new sources for runes in the near future.
  • Furthermore, the plan is to address the community feedback in 2025 that Throne and Liberty feels too much like work and a “tedious obligation” regarding daily activities. Amazon Games has been struggling with similar criticism in Lost Ark for years.
  • In addition, the developers currently aim to significantly optimize the “combat, movement, and targeting systems.” Specifically, this means: the character’s interaction with the world should feel more intuitive and fluid.

Will Throne and Liberty create a positive trend in 2025?

Start video
Throne and Liberty loses more than 70 percent of players on Steam in 2 months

How does the community judge the statements? Some players praise Tico’s holiday letter, while others wonder about the feedback that Amazon Games is said to have received from the community.

  • MosassauroLoiro celebrates the letter on Reddit: “Damn, I don’t know about you, but NCSoft seems really open to opinions and is considering a lot. Very nice!!!”
  • Low_Reality8920 also thinks the publisher is doing a good job (via Reddit): “I’ve played MMOs run by NCSoft, and they all went down because of their stupid decisions (except maybe GW2). Amazon is putting pressure on them, and I think Tico has a big share in it because he plays the game and can see all the problems we’re experiencing.”
  • xXMarkgovXx does not see the problem of tedious obligation within the game (via Reddit): “A large part of the stress people feel is self-inflicted. I hope they don’t change the system too much because it is pretty good as it is. It’s up to the individual how much they do in the game. You can take a break whenever you want.”
  • AyeYoTek writes on Reddit: “I am 34 years old and have a full-time job, and nothing feels like work. I do something different every day and enjoy the entire time I’m logged in.”
  • Trip_C90 jokes on Reddit: “In my day, we had to walk through 30 miles of snow uphill to get to the public library and play Runescape on the public computers.”
More about Throne and Liberty:
Amazon silently removes the last hint of the MMORPG for Lord of the Rings
von Karsten Scholz
Amazon’s MMORPG has only 1 percent of its players left, responds to the case with … a new subscription
von Karsten Scholz

How do you evaluate the work of publisher Amazon Games on Throne and Liberty so far and Tico’s statements? Share your thoughts in the comments! More information on the latest measures based on community feedback can be found here: New update for Throne and Liberty massively eases rune grind – Community celebrates the improvements

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

Path of Exile 2 makes the same mistake in player trading as its predecessor

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

In Path of Exile 2 trading works just like in the predecessor. A mistake, as MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier finds.

How does trading work? In Path of Exile 2, trading takes place through the developers’ website (via pathofexile.com). To sell an item there, players must place it in a public premium stash and set a price.

To buy, players also need to go to the website and find a seller who is currently online. This seller is contacted via direct message to initiate the purchase. Then a group must be formed, and they must meet at a common place in the game for the trade.

There is always the risk that the seller or buyer will try to trick their counterpart by placing fewer items or the same items with different values in the trade window, hoping that this deception goes unnoticed.

An NPC in Path of Exile 2 is particularly useful:

Start video
This NPC in Path of Exile 2 identifies your items

Trading like from the MMORPG primordial times

The trading between players in Path of Exile 2 was already a thorn in my side in the predecessor. Leaving the game just to go to a website to trade is something that one associates with the early days of MMORPGs. About the time when players still exchanged information in forums instead of via Discord.

Who is writing here? Cedric Holmeier is a freelance author at MeinMMO and a veteran of Path of Exile 2. He was able to play the new installment before anyone else and already knows the predecessor from the closed beta. Outside of Path of Exile, he is well-versed in MMORPGs and has spent thousands of hours in games like Swords of Legends Online, Throne and Liberty, and Tarisland.

Even in the predecessor of Path of Exile 2, the trading system was actually outdated. To this day, Path of Exile is one of the few games that also offers an active forum with an even more active trading area. The community has even developed its own programs for the predecessor that simplify trading and price checks.

That the developers rely on exactly the same system for the sequel is a missed opportunity. Yes, the existing system also works in Path of Exile 2, but it also has the same clunky approach that is so unfamiliar to new players that most of them are likely to play involuntarily in SSF mode (Solo-Self-Found mode, no groups & no trading allowed).

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

Sorry, it’s 2024

What solution does MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier propose? The fact that Path of Exile 2 does not take a new approach here is a missed opportunity, especially since with this installment they wanted to be more beginner- and user-friendly. There is clearly a lack of an auction house!

An auction house would improve many things:

  • Trading would take place natively in the game
  • Players could buy items directly in the auction house without having to find an online seller
  • For new players, trading would be much easier
  • Valuable items could be auctioned off
  • A gold tax like in other games could limit bots’ access to the market

In MMORPGs, auction houses are long the industry standard. And even if Path of Exile 2 does not want to rely on gold in player trading, an auction house would definitely be feasible. Especially if players can simply exchange the requested item from the seller.

If a new MMORPG were to be released today, where the majority of trading takes place through an external site and players need to meet in the world to trade, players would probably be visibly confused.

One can only hope that the developers will add this feature by the full release and do everyone a favor by at least adding the auction house to trading if they do not let all trading run through it.

An auction house could thus simplify several things for the players and eliminate the detour through the website. The system around the filters already works well and could serve as a foundation for the auction house. Another complex system is the passive skills: Path of Exile 2: Skill Tree explained – This is how the complex system works

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