Red Dead Redemption 2 is a big game full of small details. One of these has been noticed by a Reddit user. It involves a very expensive loot item that the gang around Arthur Morgan was tricked out of.
What detail is it about? Red Dead Redemption 2 is full of details, which not all players discover right away. In the game, there are numerous activities including robberies of stagecoaches. As Arthur Morgan, you can go out and rob the unsuspecting transports full of valuable loot.
During one of these missions, a painting is being transported. It portrays the U.S. President George Washington. This image is not a creation of the developers at Rockstar Games, but it really exists. In reality, it is titled “Washington at Princeton.”
Start video
Red Dead Redemption 2: Official Trailer
A real stroke of luck
What’s special about the painting? The Reddit user Bagged_bolts brought it to attention because the detail is not trivial. The painting depicts the first president of the USA in 1779, shortly after the Battle of Princeton during the American Revolutionary War.
The special thing about the painting: It is worth a lot of money. In 2006, it was auctioned at Christie’s in London for a whopping 21.3 million dollars – approximately 20.3 million euros.
Today, the painting hangs in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and can be viewed there. If the gunslingers from Red Dead Redemption had known how much the painting was worth back then, they probably wouldn’t have let themselves be tricked.
In the game, the painting is sold to the NPC Seamus for a mere 40 dollars. This is absurd because the painting was already worth about 643,636 euros in 1899, so during the time of Red Dead 2. Arthur and Co. would have been quite upset – good thing they apparently don’t know much about art.
In Pokémon GO there is currently a really good box that is worth it. However, the “Special Box” will not remain available.
What kind of box is this? The Special Box is currently available in the Pokémon GO shop. It costs 399 coins.
Inside it are:
An item bag expansion
A Pokémon storage expansion
5 Super Incubators
5 Premium Battle Passes
Why is it worth it? The storage and item expansions normally cost 200 coins each, so together 400. You can’t get them in any other way than through the shop. A Super Incubator costs 200 coins, and 5 of them would cost 1,000 coins. Battle Passes cost 100 each, so 5 would be 500 coins.
With 399 coins instead of a total of 1,900 coins, you get everything much cheaper; it’s basically an extra on top of the expansions for the incubators and battle passes. Anyone who had planned an expansion of their item and Pokémon bag soon should probably take this box instead.
How much time do you have? The box is available for 5 days according to the shop. To get the necessary coins from 0, you need 8 days in gyms, which yield 50 coins each with ideal defense. If you still need some coins to get the box, you should see if you can earn them in the next few days.
Because such a good offer is very unusual for the Pokémon GO shop.
Start video
Pokémon GO reveals the new season Dual Destiny in the trailer
Community wonders about strong box in the shop
Normally, the offer boxes in the shop do not turn out as well as the new Special Box. They usually cost too many coins or offer items that you can’t really use or get through other means. This has led to criticism in the past. However, the new box offers a lot of good items at a good price.
This is how fans react: In the subreddit for Pokémon GO, the box is also discussed (via reddit). Some comment on how unusual the offer is and that they usually don’t even look at the shop anymore.
“One of the best deals I’ve ever seen, but I will have to save some coins,” comments user ZenithVoid151 (via reddit).
“Thank you, I almost never look in the shop! Last time I missed it, so I’m glad my saving coins have paid off since then,” says user “alucardoceanic” (via reddit).
“I bought it right away. This must be a mistake,” believes user mz80 (via reddit).
In fact, there was a case in 2023 where a box had the same content. It was taken offline after a short time. This time, however, everything seems to be going as planned, as the new box was also announced in the game.
You should note this: The new box can only be purchased once, not multiple times. And, importantly: If your storage is already at maximum capacity, you cannot buy the box, as some users have already noted. You should keep that in mind.
What else is happening in Pokémon GO? Winter has broken out, which can also be seen on the map. There is snow everywhere, and in the background of the catching screens, there are snow Pikachus. And that’s not surprising, as the holiday event has just started in Pokémon GO. You need to make a path choice. What the differences between Sierra and Spark at the holiday event are, you can read here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Final Fantasy XIV has had quite a few event collaborations. Recently, among others, Final Fantasy XVI, Fall Guys, and Yo-Kai Watch. One of the developers now wants a collaboration with one of the most successful games in the world.
Who is the developer? The developer in question is Masaki Nakagawa. He works as Lead Battle Content Designer on the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV and is known in the community as Mr. Ozma. He designs epic raids for the game, as well as the chaotic alliance raid that will be available from December 24, 2024.
In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, he spoke about his hopes for new content collaborations with other games. Recently, there was a crossover with the J-RPG Final Fantasy XVI, the annual Yo-Kai Watch event, and the popular Fall Guys minigames.
However, Mr. Ozma desires a very special collaboration with a game that he personally enjoys playing.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Trailer for the big ‘Crossroads’ update
At the developer’s request: Aatrox and Aurelion Sol as raid bosses
Which game does he want to collaborate with? In fact, Mr. Ozma has taken a liking to a very special game that does not come from Square Enix:
When it comes to titles from other companies, I personally love League of Legends and have been playing the game for a long time, so a crossover with this game would be a dream come true.
Specifically, he would love to see the LoL champions Aatrox and Aurelion Sol as raid bosses in Final Fantasy XIV. Conversely, he would also like to see Final Fantasy XIV characters make it into the roster of LoL.
He also has a very clear message for any Riot developers who might be reading: If a representative from Riot is reading this – it would be an honor to speak with you!
Are there any other collaborations he would like? Of course, Mr. Ozma has more crossover hopes. These include a cooperation with Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, the team behind it is currently working on the third and final part after Remake and Rebirth.
I definitely don’t want to interfere with the development of Final Fantasy 7, so I would like to maybe bring up the topic at a suitable opportunity.
A collaboration with Final Fantasy 7 (Remake) is not entirely out of the question: Final Fantasy XIV is a theme park MMORPG that repeatedly picks up elements from earlier games. The story of the patch series after 6.0 is inspired by Final Fantasy IV. Dawntrail contains elements from Final Fantasy IX and features an alliance raid based on Final Fantasy XI. The Stormblood alliance raid, in turn, is directly inspired by Final Fantasy XII.
Additionally, there are collaborations like the recent one with Final Fantasy XVI, which introduced a special battle against the boss Ifrit into the game. A few years ago, the MMORPG also implemented a limited-time quest series about Final Fantasy XV.
In fact, Final Fantasy XIV could benefit from more and, above all, more diverse content. Partly due to the current story, which is not loved by everyone, the game’s weaknesses are becoming more and more apparent. This was also a struggle for MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiss until she found the best way to play Final Fantasy XIV: I found the best way to play Final Fantasy XIV and finally had fun playing
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Addons in World of Warcraft are too powerful. With the next patch, Blizzard wants to impose even more restrictions.
It is now hard to imagine a World of Warcraft without interface addons. However, where addons have helped to customize the gaming experience, enable creative interface representations, or even allow role-playing in the game, there are also downsides. Especially in raids, addons indirectly lead to fights becoming increasingly difficult.
Something that Blizzard wants to actively address in the future – a path that has been started long ago.
Start video
WoW celebrates 20 years of the highlights of Azeroth
What is the problem with addons? Addons (sometimes also “mods”) can change World of Warcraft in many ways. They overhaul the entire interface, provide role players with numerous options for character descriptions, allow an overview of all cooldowns within the group, or track performance in the form of a “damage meter”.
However, especially in raids, addons often make some fights significantly easier than originally intended by the developers. The infamous “Weak Auras” can often solve complex problems almost independently.
This leads Blizzard to a dilemma. If addons are widely used, mechanics must become more complex to make the fight more exciting. This, in turn, means that players without addons have a harder time and are more likely to resort to addons. A vicious circle that has reached its peak over several patches.
Many raid groups rely on addons – without them, it is hardly possible.
What is Blizzard doing about it? Already in past raids, Blizzard has indirectly limited the functionality of some addons. So-called “Private Auras” describe effects in the game that cannot be read by addons. This seems to have only been the beginning, as in an interview with PCGamer magazine, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas stated that further adjustments will follow:
I believe this is an area where it is very likely that we will continue to restrict functionality, as long as we ensure that the basic player experience provides players with the information they need to have an engaging time.
When will we see the effects of this? In a few weeks, the test realm for Patch 11.1 Undermine(d) is set to start. Then, the new raid will surely be tested, making the various bosses accessible. By that time, it should be clear whether Blizzard is already implementing the changes with the upcoming update and limiting the functionality of addons.
On December 17, 2024, episodes 9 to 15 of the animated anthology series Secret Level were released on Amazon Prime Video. Highlights include the episode about the online shooter Concord.
What is Secret Level? This is a series of disconnected, animated short films about video games, produced for Amazon Prime Video by director Tim Miller (Deadpool). With Love, Death & Robots, the creative mind had already created a similar series for Netflix in a fantastic manner.
On December 10, 2024, nine episodes had already gone live, featuring some highlights such as Keanu Reeves’ appearance as a pilot in Armored Core: Resource Management, the wonderfully silly episode on New World: Forever King, the epic Dungeons & Dragons: The Cradle of the Queen, or the delightfully brutal episode on Warhammer 40K: Fear No Evil.
A week later, on December 17, 2024, the rest of Season 1 followed, with The Outer Worlds, Mega Man, Spelunky, and Honor of Kings. However, a surprising highlight of the second half of the season is the short film about the online shooter Concord.
Here is the trailer for Secret Level:
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Teaser Trailer for Secret Level – the anthology series on Prime Video
The Thieves of the Galaxy
What makes the episode about Concord special? In just under a quarter of an hour, the episode “The Story of the Implacable” tells of a heist by the Freegunner crew led by Captain Cassidy, where the thieves must take on the powerful guild and attempt an escape through a deadly space storm.
Expect a colorful, likable group of outsiders who throw quips at each other, execute plans with more luck than sense, and continuously remind one of the Guardians of the Galaxy. There are both quirky and silly situations. The typically high-quality animation of the anthology series. The 15 minutes went by far too quickly.
A few months ago, this would have been the perfect starting point to promote the shooter of the same name and its heroes, to give the universe a profile and get genre fans excited about the online shooting. However, it is now too late for that. Concord has been offline for a long time. The responsible studio has closed.
Maybe that’s for the best. After all, the short film would have set up an expectation regarding the story and characters that the shooter in its final form could never fulfill. The focus was too heavily on the Games-as-a-Service foundation. Here again the most important points about the quick end of the multiplayer shooter:
According to various reports, Sony is said to have invested a three-digit million sum into the project. An insider even speaks of 400 million US dollars (without the acquisition cost for the studio).
In Elite Dangerous, players have had the chance to explore the game world for years. The developers have now revealed how much has already been explored and provide a glimpse of what is to come.
What game is it about? Elite Dangerous has been around since 2014 and combines space simulation with MMO and FPS aspects. The game world is a persistent, simulated version of our Milky Way, which interested players have been able to explore freely for the past 10 years.
Now, the developers have unveiled that the community has only explored about 0.06% of the game world so far. And that in, as mentioned, 10 years. This is not due to the players’ laziness, but rather to the sheer size of the universe, which consists of hundreds of billions of stars.
Ten years after the release, the game is set to receive a major update in 2025 that will also change the game world.
Here you can watch a video about Elite Dangerous:
Start video
Elite Dangerous – Arrival
Even larger game world
What will happen in Elite Dangerous in 2025? As announced by the developers, the “Powerplay 2.0” update is set to be released in 2025. The focus of this update is on the colonization of systems. Players will have the opportunity to expand human civilization throughout the universe and settle new worlds.
The decisions of the players are expected to play a significant role and influence the direction and development of the galaxy. Furthermore, the game world of Elite Dangerous will be even larger in 2025 than it is now.
The new update will drive the exploration of the Milky Way and make it both more dynamic and expansive. The update will allow players to unlock new parts of the galaxy for humanity. This means that the map will not only become larger, but also grow in possibilities.
What is there to celebrate 10 years of Elite Dangerous? For the tenth anniversary, all players will receive an email with a summary of their game statistics from the last ten years, essentially an Elite Dangerous Wrapped.
All players will also receive a golden wireframe paint for the Anaconda spaceship, which can be claimed on the game’s website (via elitedangerous.com) until December 20, 2024.
Additionally, 4 new ships have already been introduced in the game this year, named Cobra Mk V, Python Mk II, Type-8, and Mandalay. The major update “Powerplay 2.0” will conclude the anniversary in 2025. Despite many years of live service, the space MMO continues to face criticism: Space MMO does it again despite criticism: Selling a strong spaceship, but only for real money
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Harry Potter there is a passage that drove an actor crazy. He claims that author J.K. Rowling deliberately included the sentence to annoy him.
Which actor is it about? It is about Stephen Fry, who is also very well known as a narrator in the English-speaking world alongside his work as an actor. His audiobooks for all the Harry Potter volumes are particularly popular.
He reads the extensive volumes with his pleasant voice and brings the different characters to life. However, as he recounted at a panel at the Hay Festival in 2019, there was a passage that posed some difficulties for him.
It was just three simple words that the experienced narrator struggled to say in sequence.
German trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
“Harry pocketed it”
What is the passage about? While recording the first volumes of Harry Potter, Stephen Fry initially had no problems. This is not surprising, as it was not the first audiobook he had read. However, when he had to say the three words “Harry pocketed it,” the problems began.
Fry struggled greatly to say the three words cleanly in succession. Individually, they were not a problem, but together they became a tongue twister.
The actor requested to postpone the sentence and called the creator of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, during the break. He recounted the incident and asked her to change the passage. His suggestion was simply to say “Harry put it in his pocket.”
But according to Stephen Fry, Rowling was strictly against it because she did not accept differences between the original and the audiobook. So the actor had no choice but to keep trying. Eventually, he managed to get through this part as well. However, the films made some changes.
How did the story end? Stephen Fry tells that Rowling continually used the phrasing “pocketed it” in the following books to annoy him. Although she knew it was a tongue twister for him, she did not change those passages.
What does Rowling say about it? The writer contradicts Fry’s assumption that she deliberately used the passage in further books. On x.com, she says that while the anecdote is lovely, it did not happen exactly like that, and the sentence does not appear in all parts. In fact, it seems to be missing from Book 3 and Book 7, as a compilation on YouTube shows.
Currently, there are many cheaters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. In an update, the developers now speak up with an admission.
What problems are currently facing CoD Black Ops 6? In the latest installment of Call of Duty, there are numerous complaints about cheaters. All game modes are affected, particularly the Ranked Play, the mode where players compete for leaderboard placements.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 uses the in-house anti-cheat system Ricochet, which is supposed to exclude cheaters. However, the developers now come forward with a sobering message for the players.
Here you can watch a trailer of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6:
Start video
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 shows its new multiplayer in the trailer
Anti-Cheat has “missed the target”
What do the developers say? The developers of Call of Duty have communicated with a recent update regarding the anti-cheat to the players. In the article, they report that their anti-cheat system Ricochet was supposed to work well during the launch period. The development team then focused on preparations for Season 1.
However, problems began with the first season. Particularly the Ranked mode, where many players compete for glory and honor, became an attractive target for cheaters. Here, the cheaters often encountered streamers and other influential players from the community who made the issue public.
Even though the developers are constantly trying to improve the anti-cheat, they admit in the update (via callofduty.com) that they “did not hit the target with the integration of RICOCHET Anti-Cheat at the start of Season 01 – especially for Ranked Play”.
The developers are therefore missing their goal and allow their weak anti-cheat to be blamed for the current number of cheaters in CoD Black Ops 6, who can play without consequences for an extended period.
What measures are the developers taking against the cheaters? So far, the developers have implemented a series of measures against the cheaters. In their update (via callofduty.com), they list the following:
Anti-cheat at the kernel driver level that is supposed to detect and prevent game manipulation early.
Replay tool that automatically creates clips of potential cheaters and has them reviewed by both artificial intelligence and humans.
Leaderboard clean-up of cheaters who want to place themselves as prominently as possible.
Hourly account bans and large ban waves; for example, in November, 19,000 accounts were banned all at once.
What does the future look like? In the future, the team wants to do even more. Throughout Season 2 and Season 3, these improvements are expected to come:
Further updates for the anti-cheat at the kernel driver level
Introduction of new security measures for the game servers
Further, unspecified updates
The developers are therefore committed to putting a stop to the cheaters, even though they still seem to be one step ahead. The developers’ admission is therefore not a capitulation but a declaration of war for the future. Whether the cheaters will find it harder later remains to be seen. The competition from Riot has even put a bounty on their anti-cheat: Riot’s anti-cheat in LoL and Valorant is so good that you can now earn almost 2 years’ salary if you can overcome it
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After the outcry in the community, the developers of the MMORPG Tibia announced that they would like to review some of the character deletions that had been carried out. Now the results of the review are in.
What happened in Tibia? In November 2024, there was a delayed spring cleaning of a different kind in the MMORPG from the Regensburg studio CipSoft. The developers actively targeted accounts and characters that were said to have violated the terms of service by using unauthorized scripts and macros.
The new project of the Tibia developers in the trailer:
Start video
Persist Online is the new MMORPG from the developers of Tibia, showcasing zombie action in the trailer
Some players breathe a sigh of relief, others foam with rage
What update has there been now? Due to feedback from the community, the developers of Tibia stated at the end of November that they would re-examine the deletions that had been made. A few days ago, players then noticed that some of the deleted characters were once again available – including the rich druid and the high-level knight (via Reddit).
The affected players were contacted by the developers via email and received compensation in the form of premium game time along with an apology. One of the beneficiaries of this decision writes on Reddit that he had never cheated and is now happy to be able to play again.
How does the community react? In various other posts, Tibia players also complain that among the 1,100 characters, for which the deletion seems to have been lifted (of almost 8,000 in total, via Reddit), there should also be many who were actually cheaters.
The player Morelinvention points out in his post on Reddit that there are numerous “videos, posts on Discord and WhatsApp groups” in which cheaters, who now have access to their characters again, allegedly admit to using macros. As an example, Morelinvention links to a video by Vda_pedro on YouTube, which uncovers corresponding messages for almost 25 minutes.
The players’ accusation against the developers: They didn’t conduct a thorough reassessment of the deletions to achieve the best outcome for the community, but just retrieved accounts to avoid significant revenue loss (via Reddit). In this way, Tibia would show all cheaters that it doesn’t matter whether one cheats or not (via Reddit). What do you think about that?
What do I need to know about Tibia and CipSoft? The studio from Regensburg was founded in 2001 after the MMORPG Tibia, released in 1997, had become a success. The online role-playing game with its charming retro look has attracted 32 million players and generated 200 million euros in revenue over the years, and is said to be more successful today than ever before.
Accordingly, the studio was able to grow sustainably, currently employing 100 people. In 2019, Tibia even won the German Developer Award in the “Evergreen” category. Thanks to all this, Tibia is one of the oldest and most successful online role-playing games in Europe. Recently, the developers entered the world of cryptocurrencies with the MMORPG introducing the Tibia token.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
LocalThunk, developer of the Game of the Year-nominated game Balatro on Steam, ironically counters the PEGI rating, which makes their game accessible only from the age of 18. Its “evil playing cards” are evidently rated more strictly than other potential candidates.
How did the developer respond to the rating? LocalThunk shared his reaction to the rating in a statement on X:
Since PEGI has given us a rating of 18+ because we have evil playing cards, maybe I should add microtransactions/loot boxes/real gambling so that the rating, like EA Sports FC, can be lowered to 3+.
The double standards that LocalThunk addresses in his comment is the fact that games like EA Sports FC are rated less strictly and deemed suitable for children according to PEGI, despite having microtransactions in the form of “random content” through card packs or loot boxes.
Here you can see the trailer of the game:
Start video
Trailer for the roguelike poker game Balatro by LocalThunk
No real money, but real poker hands
How does PEGI justify the 18+ rating? The high age rating for Balatro is justified by the fact that it teaches players theoretical poker knowledge through game mechanics and processes. Balatro rewards players with chips, explains the structure of real poker hands, and generally has a striking poker aesthetic.
However, unlike real poker, no real money is used. Real money that can be quickly spent on microtransactions in other video games with lower PEGI ratings. And that is LocalThunk’s weakness.
“Just to clarify,” the developer adds in a subsequent post on X, “I am much more annoyed about the 3+ for these games with real gambling mechanisms for children than the 18+ rating for Balatro. If the other games were rated correctly, I would gladly accept the ridiculous 18+ rating.”
The developer seems to want to lighten the situation with a bit of humor: “The red logo looks kind of cool.”
Gambling in Gaming – A problem?
What connects microtransactions with gambling? As early as 2019, a researcher from York St. John University, Dr. David Zendle, linked loot boxes to “problematic gambling.” He explains that the more people spend on loot boxes, the more serious the suspicion of gambling becomes. This is not only his own research but an effect that has been observed by several independent labs worldwide.
Zendle emphasizes that it is a concerning problem that the gaming industry does not address. The gaming companies are the ones benefiting from consumer spending. Dr. Zendle’s assessments were also reported by PC Gamer in 2019.
What is LocalThunk’s stance on gambling? Balatro is an indie game without microtransactions or paid content. Despite the obvious poker aesthetic and PEGI’s rating, the developer has no interest in promoting problematic gambling. LocalThunk explicitly wants to ensure this, which he even wrote down in black and white in his will.
According to the developer’s statement, the Balatro IP must never be sold or licensed to a gambling company or casino.
Whether one shares LocalThunk’s opinion or understands PEGI’s rating more, is up to each individual. However, if you want to know more about Balatro, which was also nominated for Game of the Year this year, you can read a more detailed overview of the game on MeinMMO: Steam: The new indie hit is like poker, but much better – Costs only 14 €
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, the Holiday Event is running, part 1. This brings a limited-time research where you can choose a path. What are the differences?
Here is a path choice: You will find the path choice in the current limited-time research. It is named exactly like the current event “Holiday Part 1.”
You will find the research if you first click on the binoculars icon in the bottom right and then scroll all the way to the left. However, the limited-time research is only available during the event – so you should hurry.
In total, the research consists of three steps. The path choice occurs when you have completed the first step. Then you can decide whether your research should revolve around Spark or Sierra.
Depending on your choice, the tasks and rewards differ. We summarize all of them for you here.
Start video
Pokémon GO reveals the new season Dual Destiny in the trailer
Holiday, Part 1 – Step 1/3 of the limited-time research
This step of the limited-time research applies to all players and leads you to the path choice. Complete the following tasks.
Task
Reward
Catch 10 fire or ice Pokémon
10 Ultra Balls
Spin at 5 gyms or PokéStops
Arctip
Walk 2 km
Sankabuh
Stage reward: Upon completing the stage, you will receive 1,000 Stardust and 1,000 XP. Additionally, the path choice between Spark and Sierra will now occur.
We will now show you the rewards with Spark first, then with Sierra.
Holiday, Part 1 with Spark – Step 2/3 of the limited-time research
Task
Reward
Catch 10 ice Pokémon
10 Nanab Berries
Take 5 snapshots of various wild Pokémon
20 Poké Balls
Complete 5 field research tasks
500 Stardust
Stage reward: Encounter with Alola Vulpix and 2,000 XP.
Holiday, Part 1 with Spark – Step 3/3 of the limited-time research
Task
Reward
Catch 25 ice Pokémon
10 Hyper Balls
Make 10 upgrades on ice Pokémon
1 Golden Razz Berry
Collect Dyna particles from 3 power sources
100 Dyna particles
Stage reward: You will receive an encounter with Sankabuh, 3,000 XP and 2,000 Stardust. Also, for the final completion of the research, you will receive an additional 2,500 XP and 2,500 Stardust on top.
If you choose Sierra instead, here’s how step 2 of the research continues.
Holiday, Part 1 with Sierra – Step 2/3 of the limited-time research
Task
Reward
Catch 10 fire Pokémon
10 Nanab Berries
Take 5 snapshots of various wild Pokémon
20 Poké Balls
Complete 5 field research tasks
500 Stardust
Stage reward: Encounter with Shadow Vulpix and 2,000 XP.
Holiday, Part 1 with Sierra – Step 3/3 of the limited-time research
Task
Reward
Catch 25 fire Pokémon
10 Hyper Balls
Make 10 upgrades on fire Pokémon
1 Golden Razz Berry
Collect Dyna particles from 3 power sources
100 Dyna particles
Stage reward: Here, too, you will receive an encounter with Sankabuh, 3,000 XP and 2,000 Stardust. The finale also brings 2,500 XP and 2,500 Stardust.
With that, you have completed the research and you can return to the normal Pokémon routine – or wait for the next big event. After all, there are quite a few dates coming up this month. You can find an overview of them here: All Events in December 2024 for Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The shooter series “Borderlands” is known for a certain kind of humor that is sometimes rough and alludes to current trends on the internet. However, nowadays such references can quickly become outdated, as time is becoming ever more fast-paced. This emphasis might change with Borderlands 4. A question from a gaming journalist made Borderlands 4’s director, Sam Winkler, reflect.
What was the question? The gaming journalist Paul Tassi (Forbes) asked if Borderlands 4 would feature a weapon called “Hawk 2A.” This is a reference to the so-called “Hawk Tuah” girl, a TikTok phenomenon (via Spiegel).
An employee from Gearbox apparently took the question seriously and forwarded it. Sam Winkler explains this on X.
I don’t want to say there are no toilets, but if the word “skibidi” appears in the game under my watch, I will cry real tears. Paul Tassi joked that we will have a weapon called Hawk 2A, and a colleague asked me if that was real, and I wanted to stick my hand in the garbage disposal.
Skibidi refers to an internet trend from February 2023. At that time, short clips of toilets with singing heads were a huge trend on YouTube. The trend is seen as something that older people do not understand and shake their heads at, while members of a younger generation find it amusing.
Start video
Looter-Shooter Borderlands 4 showcases its action-packed gameplay in the trailer
Less short-lived references than before in Borderlands
What does that mean? Borderlands has always been known for its humor, which was exuberant and engaged with current developments.
Apparently, they want to move away from that and save references to fleeting trends or crude “toilet” humor. The trailer already suggests that Borderlands 4 is to have a more serious direction than earlier installments in the series.
Regarding the question about the “Hawk 2A” weapon, which really sounds like the unfortunate “Hawk Tuah” girl who is currently embroiled in a scandal, Sam Winkler seems to draw a line. This time, they want to choose a different path that is not quite as silly as earlier parts of the series.
Why is this happening? The 2019 game “Borderlands 3” was criticized for being superficially vulgar enough to no longer be considered as “edgy” as earlier parts of the series.
PC Gamer wrote that the game feels like it came from the late 2000s: back then, memes on the internet were relevant for months. But today, they are often only relevant for days. Earlier, such humorous references were still new – but now they feel exhausting.
The new booster “Mysterious Island” is now available in Pokémon TCG Pocket. But which cards in the set are particularly strong?
What’s in the new booster: The “Mysterious Island” brings 80 new cards. The cover prominently features Mew as the new star of the set – and of course, this special Pokémon is among the best you can pull from the set.
But which cards are also worth it? Which ones should you consider adding to your deck?
In this list, we’ll take a look at some of the best cards in the new set of Pokémon TCG Pocket. The key factor wasn’t rarity, but the utility in battles against other trainers or the computer.
But of course: Some of the rarest cards are among the best you can play. Just see for yourself.
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Pokémon TCG Pocket: Watch the booster ‘Mythical Island’ in the official trailer
Celebi ex
Celebi ex is already becoming the star of the new set, even though Mew is technically featured on the booster. Celebi comes with an extremely strong attack: For each energy attached to Celebi, you flip a coin. On heads, “Powerful Bloom” deals 50 damage. In extreme cases, you can inflict several hundreds of damage in one hit.
And Celebi ex is particularly good in conjunction with…
Serpiroyal
Serpiroyal has the ability “Jungle Domination.” This means that each grass energy attached to grass Pokémon counts as double. This allows you to quickly ramp up the energy amount for Celebi (or other Pokémon). And in Celebi’s case, depending on the coin flip, this directly translates into extra damage.
Aquana’s new card has the ability “Washing Away.” With it, you can move water energies between your water Pokémon. An extremely useful ability in water decks that rely on Misty, for example. Cards like Gyarados, Lapras ex, or similar can quickly gain energies you previously used for your weaker monsters.
Tauboss ex
Tauboss ex becomes stronger the more Pokémon your opponent has on the bench. With its ability, its attack deals 20 extra damage for each of your opponent’s bench Pokémon. In the best case, Tauboss ex can deal 140 damage with “Angry Cyclone.” Additionally, it has 170 HP, so it can take a beating.
Leaf
The new trainer card will be important if you want to perform many Pokémon switches. It reduces the retreat cost of a monster by 2 points for one turn. Especially with stronger cards, the retreat costs can be quite high. This way, you can save energy when using Leaf. And: It can even be combined with X-Initiative if you want to save even more energy.
Shardrago
Shardrago should not be underestimated, as this dragon Pokémon not only has a lot of HP but also deals 20 damage each time the opponent attacks it in the active position. This could prove to be quite a good block at the start of the game when opponents can hardly afford to attack Shardrago with weaker Pokémon.
Marshadow
The basic Pokémon Marshadow brings the attack “Revenge,” which costs only 2 energies. It normally deducts 40 points but receives an additional 60 damage if one of your Pokémon was knocked out in the last turn. This way, you can counter relatively quickly and effectively.
This interesting card brings one of the opponent’s basic Pokémon back to the bench. That sounds counterproductive at first, but it could be useful for disrupting the opponent’s strategies. For example, you can block a bench slot with resurrected, weak basic Pokémon.
Blue
Blue is somewhat like the anti-Giovanni in the new set. He ensures that you receive 10 damage in battle during the next turn. This can be quite decisive depending on the course of the battle.
It remains to be seen how the coming days will develop and which cards will stand out in strong combinations. Therefore, we will continuously update this article as soon as more strong cards are known. So make sure to check back often! And until then, you can find the list of the best decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
One of the best role-playing trilogies of all time is currently available on Steam for the price of a kebab – and a rather cheap one at that.
Which games are we talking about? Mass Effect is for many RPG fans one of the best game series of all time. The games were developed by BioWare and tell a large, coherent story full of friends and foes, romances and betrayals.
With the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the original trilogy has received a remaster. This improves the graphics, among other things, with high-resolution textures. Additionally, there are some quality-of-life improvements. The first two parts benefit the most from the remake.
You can see the enhanced graphics particularly well in this trailer:
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Mass Effect Legendary Edition: Graphics Comparison to the Original Trilogy
Memorable sci-fi adventure with complex characters
What is the series about? You take on the role of Commander Shepard, who is sent on a secret mission. An ancient artifact has been discovered at a human colony on another planet, which you are to retrieve. But no one could have guessed what events this mission would set in motion.
In combat, Mass Effect is a classic third-person shooter: you take cover, shoot down enemies, and occasionally throw a grenade at their feet. If you play as a biotic, you also have access to some spell-like powers. Additionally, you take two companions on each mission who support you and share their opinions on the current events.
The greatest strength of the Mass Effect trilogy is the characters and world-building. Your companions are a colorful bunch of humans and aliens with their own complex personalities. Whether you hate them or love them – you will not easily forget your comrades.
All inhabitants of the Milky Way have their own, often very dark past filled with conflicts, mistakes, and prejudices. This makes the world feel alive and significantly larger than it actually is. This past will also influence how your companions behave and what they value or cannot stand about you.
Above all, there looms a danger of cosmic proportions, whose origin and motivation remain unknown for a long time. Your task is to get to the bottom of it. Your path will be paved with difficult decisions that could cost your people their lives.
How long will I be occupied with the series? If you focus only on the main story, according to howlongtobeat.com, you will spend about 60 hours. However, you can easily spend over 100 hours in the world without getting bored. This is also recommended, as many good stories are hidden in the side missions.
You can currently get all this on Steam for a price of 4.79 €. The entire trilogy is thus cheaper than most kebabs that you can find nowadays in Germany, which usually start from around 5 € (via accofashion.de). Moreover, you will get significantly more time out of the games.
After Mass Effect: Andromeda was not the successful return of the series that many fans hoped for, all hope now rests on Mass Effect 5. According to reports, BioWare’s full focus is now on the game, which you can read more about in this article: After Dragon Age, BioWare is finally working hard on Mass Effect 5
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
An inconspicuous item in Baldur’s Gate 3 can not only solve visible hygiene problems for your party but can also be useful in gameplay. Players are celebrating that Larian has made this item usable and report how they have already been able to apply it.
Which item is being referred to? Many players have probably already noticed the various item categories in Baldur’s Gate 3. In addition to gear and materials, there are also items that are grouped as “Miscellaneous.” These usually consist of clothing, valuables, and books, but also include … “Other.”
The mentioned item is located next to other seemingly useless items like rotten food, rags, and ropes in this category. These are often sold for little gold to the next merchant after accidentally picking them up, but now players have discovered that a certain item turns out to be useful: It is a sponge bowl, or rather the sponge itself.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
For clean faces and backgrounds
What can you use the sponge bowl for? A player discovered the sponge bowl in their inventory and happened to read in the description that the item includes an action: When used, it removes dirt, blood, face paint, and conditions that involve odors. Also, it is not a single-use product, but can be used indefinitely.
So far, many players have suspected that a long rest is the only way to reset the mentioned conditions, but this can be accomplished much faster.
How relevant this is for individual players varies quite a bit. However, several fans of the game express that it can break immersion when, in an important, dramatic scene, a character delivers an emotional monologue with a clown face or covered in blood.
In what case is a clean appearance relevant? During an interaction in Act 3, you will be checked for special odors at the entrance of a circus to test if you are dangerous. As no traces of blood can be smelled on a washed character, you can pass the check as a (seemingly) harmless visitor without an ability check and explore the circus and its contents.
A single exception in this situation is the “Dark Urge,” which is always sniffed out during this situation. To wash it off, more than soap or a sponge is needed.
What are the reactions of the players? They are celebrating the sponge bowl in a discussion on Reddit:
Lopsided_Blacksmith5 says: “Over 1,100 game hours and I’m only learning this now.”
Citrusssx comments: “Larian really made more out of a sponge bowl than other AAA games can make out of entire quests.”
Gen1Swirlix notes: “The fact that sponges are more useful in a DND-inspired game than ropes hurts me for some reason.”
Wiggijiggijet admits: “I’ve always carried soap with me since Gale called me musty.”
However, some players highlight that there are already other ways that can trigger the same effect as the sponge bowl. Other cleaning items like bars of soap, but also throwing water or the spell “Create Water” can wash the player and other characters. Therefore, the soap bowl is merely an addition, but at the same time a nice surprise and an example of Larian’s attention to detail.
In Path of Exile 2, there are many systems and mechanics that even experienced gamers can overlook. In this example, one of the largest MMORPG YouTubers has encountered this.
Who is it about? Content creator Craig “TheLazyPeon” Mayor brings together over 750,000 people on YouTube and almost 80,000 on Twitch. The content on his channels mainly revolves around MMORPGs. For his video series “Is It Worth Playing?” he repeatedly examines new MMOs and shares his assessment of the game.
The content creator has now also looked at Path of Exile 2 for his video series on YouTube. Below his video about the game, there is a comment that made TheLazyPeon view the game differently.
A NPC in Path of Exile 2 is particularly useful:
Start video
This NPC in Path of Exile 2 identifies your items
Some skills need to be activated
What was the comment? Below the YouTube video from TheLazyPeon, there is a comment from @don_holiday, stating:
“If you keep playing, little tip: right-click on your buff spells from the Spirit Gems in your skill window (G), your Ice Herald will give your build an amazing feel regarding damage and clearspeed once you have it activated :)”
And indeed, the content creator played the entire game without activating Spirit Gems. You not only need to equip them but also activate them. TheLazyPeon apparently did not know this and played Path of Exile 2 incorrectly until the endgame, as he explains on X.com:
“I spent about 60 hours in POE2, got to the maps, and just now realized that you have to right-click to activate the passive abilities. I played the entire game with 0 Will and only noticed it because people mentioned it in my YouTube comments. My build feels amazing now!”
How did the mistake happen? The problem with the Spirit Gems is that you cannot just place them to activate them, like the other abilities. Each Spirit Gem requires Will, a resource that is displayed as a bar around the mana display.
To truly activate a Spirit Gem, you need to click on it in the skill window (G). Then you’ll also see how the Will bar decreases. The more Will your character has, the more Spirit Gems you can activate.
In the case of the content creator, the comment led to the realization that he has been playing Path of Exile 2 incorrectly until now. Another system where many mistakes can happen is the passive skill tree. How to navigate it, we have explained here: Path of Exile 2: Skill Tree explained – This is how the complex system works
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
During the winter season, Diablo 4 brings an event where you should slay a bunch of treasure goblins to secure fat rewards. But don’t worry – you don’t have to do it aloneto finish them off.
What kind of event is this? In the “Sleigh Ride to Hell” event, numerous treasure goblins spawn in Sanctuary. If you slay enough of them, you can expect all sorts of rewards – including cosmetics and finally a “Magnificent Spark”, with which you craft Mythic Uniques.
When is the event taking place? The winter event “Sleigh Ride to Hell” takes place from December 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM to January 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM. During this time, you fight the treasure goblins together as a community and unlock individual milestones. With each milestone achieved, loot awaits you.
Blizzard explains the Spiritborn, the new class in Diablo 4 and its spirits
Winter Event: All Milestones
What rewards are there? In total, there are 5 milestones you can reach in the “Sleigh Ride to Hell”. You fight the treasure goblins together as a community and thereby unlock reward levels:
Milestone 1: Goblin Bag – 5 million treasure goblins slain in Sanctuary
Legendary Weapon Chest (contains 3 bequeathed legendary items with a guaranteed large affix)
1 legendary rune and 2 random runes
Random tribute for the Under City of Kurast
Milestone 2: Goblin Bag – 10 million treasure goblins slain in Sanctuary
Unique and Legendary Weapon Chest (contains 3 bequeathed legendary items and 1 bequeathed unique with a guaranteed large affix)
1 legendary rune and 3 random runes
Random tribute for the Under City of Kurast
Milestone 3: Large Goblin Bag – 15 million treasure goblins slain in Sanctuary
Unique Weapon Chest (contains 3 bequeathed legendary items and 2 bequeathed uniques with a guaranteed large affix)
2 legendary runes and 3 random runes
5 tributes of glow for the Under City of Kurast
Mount trophy “Fruits of the Harvest”
Milestone 4: Large Goblin Bag – 25 million treasure goblins slain in Sanctuary
3 bequeathed uniques (all with a guaranteed large affix)
6 runes (3 legendary, 2 rare, 1 random)
Citadel coins
Mount trophy “Totem of the Harvest Mare”
Milestone 5: Mythical Goblin Bag – 40 million treasure goblins slain in Sanctuary
3 bequeathed uniques, 8 bequeathed legendaries (all with a guaranteed large affix)
8 runes (5 legendary, 2 rare, 1 random)
3 tributes of ascent, 5 tributes of glow
20,000 Citadel coins
Mount armor “Horse Armor of the Harvest Mare”
1 Magnificent Spark
Where do I collect the rewards? You can collect the rewards after each milestone at the Goblin Square in Kyovashad. The rewards that are part of the “Vessel of Hatred” expansion (i.e., runes, tributes, and citadel coins) will be received by those who own an edition of the DLC in the form of an additional reward chest. You can retrieve the cosmetics in the shop.
The cosmetics you receive during the winter event. Source: Blizzard
“Hopefully a trial run for more community events”
How is it being received? Many players seem to be excited about the announcement of the winter event. In a post on Reddit, YellowFew6603 mentions that he is particularly drawn to the Magnificent Spark as a reward. For K_U, it’s the tributes that have caught his attention. He notes that if you use them and do rotations, you have a good chance at mythics.
KnowMatter hopes that the event is “a trial run for more community events in the future.” And welshy1986 thinks: “Cosmetics, shared progress for everyone, and bonus XP – that’s a solid event.” xiaopewpew writes: “Christmas is saved.”
In another Reddit post, Flat_Wallaby_8725 writes: “Imagine if the Hell Tide Worm spits out goblins. How cool would that be?!” And mvrspycho finds the idea cool and adds: “What if Snorzer occasionally spits some out?” Snorzer is one of the world bosses in Diablo 4.
Others hope that the event will help them achieve the achievement “Arch-Nemesis of All Treasure Goblins” and secure the player title. However, for this challenge, they must slay over 6 million treasure goblins. Some players even speculated about a possible goblin level when they noticed the extraordinary challenge. You can read more about it here: Blizzard wants you to kill treasure goblins in Diablo 4 for 48 years – But how is that supposed to work?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
It will get easier for tanks and healers in World of Warcraft – at least a little. The strongest abilities of the enemies will be weakened.
Tanks and healers are becoming increasingly rare in World of Warcraft. The group search takes longer and in various forums, posts are piling up, that healers and tanks are throwing in the towel. More and more responsibility, more and more stress, and the feeling that it just isn’t enough. Some feel no longer powerful enough, while others have the impression that they have to achieve much more than other roles.
Blizzard seems to partly agree, as some of the particularly painful abilities in dungeons are being adjusted so that tanks and healers can breathe a little easier.
Start video
WoW celebrates 20 years of the highlights of Azeroth
What are the changes? The adjustments mainly target tanks and healers. They reduce some particularly painful points in the various dungeons. Affected by the weakenings are primarily debuffs that cause damage over time and so-called “tank busters” that deal particularly high damage to tanks.
Even if this does not fully address the underlying problem, it should make all dungeons a bit more pleasant.
These are the changes in detail: Here you will find all adjustments to the dungeons pending for “Mythic+”:
Ara-Kara, City of Echoes
Ki’katal the Harvester
The periodic damage from Cultivated Poisons is reduced by 10%.
City of Threads
Orator Krix’vizk
Subjugate deals 20% less shadow damage.
Royal Venomous Armor
The periodic damage from Poison Beam is reduced by 25%.
Grim Batol
Twilight Flamebreaker
The initial damage from Shadow Flame Slash is reduced by 25%.
Molten Giant
Lava Fist deals 21% less damage.
The cooldown of Lava Fist has been increased.
Fog of Tirna Scithe
Fog Shroud Guardian
Protector of the Fog now only increases damage by 2% per stack (previously 3%).
Siege of Boralus
Curse Blade of the Iron Tide Thief
Cursed Cut now only increases damage susceptibility by 10% (previously 15%).
The Stone Vault
Voidbound Plunderer
The cast time of Shadow Claw has been increased to 2.5 seconds (previously 1.0 seconds).
The cooldown of Shadow Claw has been increased.
Cursed Intruder
The periodic damage from Void Infection is reduced by 25%.
When do the changes go live? The changes go live with patch 11.0.7, on December 18, 2024. Thus, the patch brings not only a new, powerful ring and the island of the sirens but also a significant relief for tanks and healers.
In Pokémon TCG Pocket since December 17, 2024, there is a new booster pack Mystical Island, which brings some new strong cards. One card has already proven to be a standout, but it’s not Mew as players initially suspected.
What did the players expect? When the new booster pack was announced, most players were looking forward to Mew’s ex-card. Mew-ex can be included in any deck because its strongest attack requires three colorless energies.
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Moreover, it can counter strong ex-cards with that very attack, as it can use the opponent’s attacks as its own.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new booster pack “Mystical Island”:
Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Watch the booster ‘Mythical Island’ in the official trailer
Celebi-ex is the new star in Pokémon TCG Pocket
What kind of card is this? It is the ex-card Celebi. It has come with the new booster pack Mystical Island and has proven to be one of the strongest cards.
This is what the Celebi ex-card looks like in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
What makes the card so special? Celebi-ex does not need to evolve and only requires two energies to attack. This is relatively low compared to other ex-cards. For example, a Charizard-ex requires three energies to attack and four to use its stronger attack.
However, the greatest strength is Celebi’s attack itself: With two energies, the attack does a base damage of 50 points.
For each additional energy, a coin can be tossed. Each coin that lands on heads adds an additional 50 damage points. Celebi can therefore be quick and strong and becomes stronger with each round, with each additional energy.
How are players reacting to Celebi-ex? Players recognize the new card as strong in the subreddit r/PTCGP:
GKz_Mk3 says (via reddit): “Celebi-ex with Serpiroyal will clearly be a top-tier deck.”
NoSleepGoblin has already encountered Celebi in battle (via reddit): “I have already faced one of these decks and… my only regret is that I probably won’t be able to build it myself, lol.”
Player DarkAplex refers to the Celebi-ex card as the “new Misty card” (via reddit).
The new game from Naughty Dog “Intergalactic” sparks a discussion on Twitch, as the main character of the game is bald. This brings two streamers into the fray, who stand on different ends of the political spectrum on Twitch.
Who are the 2 streamers?Asmongold is a trained MMORPG nerd who has realized since the trial regarding Johnny Depp that his fans also like to hear him discuss political issues. He sees himself as the “voice of reason” while the world around him has gone mad. Critics accuse him of perpetuating sexist stereotypes while denying being sexist. A few weeks ago, he went through a phase of regret after a ban on Twitch and admitted that he had turned into a terrible version of himself. But that was almost 2 months ago, so it doesn’t count anymore.
HasanAbi is a left-wing commentator on Twitch who comments on the global situation and stands out with controversial views that are often critical of the US. In our context, he would politically be a mix of Gregor Gysi and Oskar Lafontaine – in the USA, he is seen by some hardliners as an unpatriotic terrorist and traitor. Critics accuse him of preaching water while drinking wine. He is labeled a champagne communist who rants against capitalism, while living in an expensive villa and enjoying life.
What are they discussing? Naughty Dog has released a trailer for their new sci-fi game “Intergalactic”. The provocative topic is the protagonist, an Asian woman without hair, with harsh facial features.
Trailer for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the new game from the studio behind Uncharted & The Last of Us
“Whoever develops away from the target audience will not succeed”
This is what Asmongold says: Asmongold expresses in a tweet from December 13:
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the market for masculine, non-conventionally attractive female protagonists in games is not as large as the video game industry thinks.
He further elaborates in a video related to the tweet (via YouTube): Five years ago, when Intergalactic was created, the situation might have been different, but the mood has changed. Intergalactic clearly directs its presentation and orientation towards a predominantly male target audience, so the game needs a protagonist that appeals to that audience. The game looks great, but the protagonist will not fit the male audience:
If you create a character that does not appeal to the main target audience, the game will not work well.
Asmongold.
One can be frustrated with players and call them racist and misogynistic. But one has to accept reality. Ultimately, you cannot force players to accept such a character and buy the game.
Asmongold sees confirmation in Naughty Dog publishing the trailer for Intergalactic with comments turned off. You don’t do that if you expect good reactions.
HasanAbi: Then you cannot live in a civilized society
This is what HasanAbi says: The streamer comments on Intergalactic:
The standard for female characters should not be whether one can jerk off to them.
Anyone who takes this stance unironically is a pervert and cannot live in a “civilized society.”
People should be ashamed to say things like: “Oh, the gaming industry does not cater to my masturbation fantasies at all.”
Some games do that – others simply do not. That must simply be accepted.
This is HasanAbi.
HasanAbi states: He himself is just too normal. When he sees a new video game, his first thought is not whether he can jerk off to the protagonist. He finds it strange to think this way – this mindset needs to be erased.
For him, it is disappointing that the reaction to a new game from a great studio like Naughty Dog is: “They have a bald Asian woman – so I hate it.”
He emphasizes that he finds the game interesting simply because the fantastic Trent Reznor (“Nine Inch Nails”) is working as a composer on the game (via vice).
HasanAbi appoints a friend of Asmongold, the streamer Tectone, as the target of his criticism, who complained on Twitter about how unattractive female heroes are compared to the heroines from Asian games like Stellar Blade. That guy needs to hear what HasanAbi has to say.
What’s behind it: This is the rehash of a discussion that has been ongoing in the politically divided USA for years. The thrust within gaming is approximately:
Western companies no longer understand what we gamers really want and bombard us with their political agenda by making women ugly. They want to educate us so that we do not sexualize women.
Asian companies give us gamers exactly what we want by providing us with beautiful women and leaving us alone with their political agenda.
