Pokopia reminds of one of the objectively best Pokémon games because you can chat quite a bit

In Pokémon Pokopia, we only encounter other pocket monsters, but not other humans. Therefore, it is even more important that the individual creatures have a unique personality, as the developers explain.

What is special about friendships? The Japanese magazine Famitsu conducted an interview with the developers of Pokémon Pokopia. Representatives from The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, and Koei Tecmo Games were involved.

As Kanako Murata, producer of Pokopia, revealed, The Pokémon Company was responsible for localization. Senior Director Shigeru Omori (Game Freak) responded that the localization was likely a challenge compared to other works of Pokémon:

The localization was likely particularly difficult compared to other Pokémon works. One of the reasons I wanted to make Ditto the main character was that I wanted to depict a conversation between Pokémon this time. I didn’t want to show a relationship between trainer and Pokémon, but rather that of friends who are so close that they can also tease each other.

Omori was surprised at how many unique dialogue lines ended up being created. Chief Director Takuto Edagawa (Koei Tecmo) emphasized the importance of highlighting the individuality of each Pokémon. 

Due to the sheer volume of text, the title is considered one of the best Pokémon games of all time. Sounds familiar, right?

Start video
With Pokémon Pokopia, Nintendo mixes two of its most popular franchises for the Switch

Huge amount of text also in another Pokémon game

Where else is there such a large amount of text? The many dialogues and the individuality of the Pokémon remind one of the Mystery Dungeon series. In it, we wake up as Pokémon and must fight our way through randomly generated dungeons.

We form a rescue team and develop a deep friendship with our best friend. There are many emotional stories, which is why the series is so popular among fans. The Pokémon feel so lively and unique, as is probably also aimed for in Pokopia.

What kinds of friendships are there in Pokopia? Since the Pokémon live in a sort of post-apocalypse, there are no other humans. You can only interact with other Pokémon that settle in the habitats of the map.

An important point of contact is Professor Tangoloss. He takes care of us and all Pokémon that settle in our area. He not only guides us through important game mechanics, but also becomes a mentor.

In addition, there are special Pokémon like the Schlappchu, where we first have to find out what has happened to them in the game.

Was Mystery Dungeon really that good? This is what MeinMMO editor Jasmin thinks: In fact, the spin-off series is rather average. On Metacritic, the ratings hover around 65 points. Critics criticize the repetitive gameplay associated with the dungeons.

However, for those who see the monotonous gameplay more as meditation, Mystery Dungeon is one of the best spin-offs. I am also a huge fan of the series. This is mainly due to the different personalities that characterized the individual characters. 

I fondly remember my partner Bisasam as he went through tough times with me. I have never been able to build such a bond with another Pokémon. I hope that it will be similar in Pokémon Pokopia.

The headline of the article should therefore be seen with a wink, as it was written from the perspective of a die-hard Mystery Dungeon fan.

MeinMMO editor Niko is also a big fan of Pokémon and looks forward to Pokopia. However, he is concerned about the number of pocket monsters that will be found in this title. You can read his concerns here: Pokémon Pokopia is already better than Legends Z-A in an important aspect 3 weeks before release, but that’s still not enough

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

One of the largest PC manufacturers in the world announces a solution to the rising RAM prices that you probably won’t like

RAM is becoming more expensive – and this also affects gaming laptops. However, instead of using cheaper components or reducing specs, HP is taking an untested path and wants to rent hardware as a subscription.

What strategy is HP pursuing? HP has already begun in the USA to offer certain laptops not only for traditional sale but also as a rental model. Instead of paying the full purchase price, customers can pay monthly installments and use the device for a limited time.

Start video
Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes

The background includes rising costs for components such as memory. Recently, even studio TT Games lowered the system requirements for the latest LEGO game in response to the difficult situation in the hardware market.

Memory chips for DRAM such as DDR5 and DDR4 memory modules and graphics memory are currently at a record high due to the global memory crisis. If memory prices rise as they have recently, this significantly increases the costs of devices.

Instead of choosing cheaper RAM suppliers, reducing specifications, or drastically increasing prices again, HP is opting for a new subscription model for its in-house Omen gaming hardware (via Wccftech).

The mobile contract for gaming notebooks

How does the subscription work? Users pay a monthly fee for their rented laptop – similar to a smartphone contract. This model could appear attractive to some gamers. The barrier to entry is lowered because a few thousand euros do not have to be paid upfront.

However, there is a crucial difference: at the end, the device typically does not belong to you. In return, subscribers receive a current laptop from the OMEN or Victus series, 24/7 support, and – as a key selling point – the option to replace the device with a new model each year (via Omen & GamestarTech).

In the long run, a rental model can become more expensive than a purchase. Additionally, players lose some control over independent upgrades. The idea behind this, “Hardware as a Service,” is already well-established in the business sector but not yet in the private sector.

What are the contract terms? In addition to the high monthly costs of the subscription model, the terms are also not without (HP). If someone wants to cancel the subscription early after the trial period, they must pay the full amount as a compensatory cancellation fee. This fee can even exceed the original price of the respective model.

And even after paying a compensatory fee, users are required to return the device (PCGamer).

So far, the model has only been launched in the USA. Whether and when HP will bring the model to Europe is currently unclear.

Rising RAM prices are just a symptom of a tense market. Manufacturers are responding with new models – not always to the satisfaction of gamers. How far this will go is also evident from strategies against fraudsters: RAM thieves and fraudsters have become so brazen that a manufacturer is now using a new trick to protect you

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

The D&D community encounters the most disturbing miniature they have ever seen and instantly falls in love with the “abhorrent” thing

Many groups use miniatures in their campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons, which they often paint themselves. A game master wanted to create a very special miniature for his friends as a small Easter egg, but in the process, he created a creature that is so “grotesque” that the players immediately had to fall in love with it.

What kind of “grotesque” did the game master create? The game master and miniature artist of the mentioned figure wanted to create a very special Myconid to surprise his D&D group. Myconids are a rather peaceful race of sentient mushroom beings from the Underdark, which you can also encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3.

In his Myconid, the DM Totally_Sprued wanted to base it on an already existing mushroom man and used as a reference the only other Myconid he knows: Toad from the Mario franchise.

The only “problem” with the finished project on Reddit (if you want to call it that): Toad and the Myconids from Dungeons & Dragons have a slightly different stature, which is why Totally_Sprued’s miniature looks a bit “dehydrated,” as Careful_Repair_5 tries to explain lightly.

Others, like bamacpl4442, are not so restrained in their opinions: “Holy shit, this is awful. Just grotesque. Well done!” 

In the trailer for the fourth campaign of Critical Role, you can also see some miniatures of the heroines and heroes:

Start video
The 4th Campaign of Critical Role starts now and is bigger than ever

Miniatures don’t need to look “perfect” to be effective

Why does the community love this miniature so much? Even though the Toad miniature looks like it’s screaming for redemption from within, this very perversion of the squeaky little guy from the Mushroom Kingdom is, in the eyes of the community, an absolute masterpiece.

It not only looks like a horror variant of the well-known character, transforming him into a morbid reflection of himself. For this reason, it is also suitable for use in various scenarios, whether in a fantasy setting or eldritch horror:

“This is the most versatile miniature of all time,” acknowledges Suh-Shy, “Mario Homebrew? Check. D&D? Check. Cthulhu: Death May Die? Check.”

“I’m cracking up,” writes Typical-Spot-6674, “please bring this character into a serious game and film the reactions.”

What do other miniature artists say about the poor Toad? The vision of this nightmarish Toad-Myconid also inspires another fan of the miniature hobby (TheVoidListens on Reddit) who immediately fell in love with the game master’s creation. And he knows exactly how to make Toad EVEN more hideous and better.

With some clear glue, he could add a kind of slime. If he mixes in some color, it could either look like blood or like corrosive slime. TheVoidListens has already applied this himself and caused disgusted reactions, which for the artist was the best compliment ever.

The creator of the Toad miniature did not expect such enthusiasm from the community. In a further post, he thanks for the friendly comments and reveals that he actually created Toad to provide a silly Easter egg to get a few laughs from his D&D friends.

Through the post, he was able to bring much more joy than he probably expected when painting Toad. It remains to be seen whether more grotesqueries will follow.

If, as the game master intended, “ugly” results are produced, it can lead to great fun. It is much more frustrating when that happens more inadvertently. A miniature newbie was already on the verge of quitting the hobby due to disappointing results, but the community was able to turn him around just in time: A miniature newbie wants to quit the hobby due to “ugly” results, but the community knows the words that really help at the start

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

A creature from Fallout is the perversion of a mythological being, takes out even super mutants

Just as there are different places from which centaurs originate, there are also different types of them. One is more disturbing than the other.

Start video
The official trailer for Fallout Season 2 takes us back to the apocalypse

How many heads should there be?

What types are there? The Masters’ centaurs from the West are primarily notable for having two heads. One comes from a human, the other from an animal, usually a dog. You can also tell because the latter still wears a collar.

Under each head sits a fleshy torso. Six legs or arms, depending on your viewpoint, support the body and move it further. Often, a centaur will only use two or four legs, dragging the rest behind it.

When the two-headed variant encounters an enemy, the dog head primarily attacks. However, sometimes it also happens that it attacks the human head on its own body. A little brainpower and competitive spirit seem to still be present in this hybrid creature.

The horrific appearance of the centaur is rounded off by red tentacles growing behind the hanging spine.

What type is there still? The centaurs of the East Coast, on the other hand, mostly have only one head. However, this does not make it any better. A mutated, three-part tongue hangs out of their mouths, far too long.

The eyes are dark and seem to be dead. Below the head is a muscular torso. Tumors and other growths can be found on the back. This type of centaur also drags itself around on six arms.

Although this type actually comes from the East, some have moved to the West over time.

Besides these two main types, there are advanced forms of centaurs. They are even larger and stronger. Some of them can even take on super mutants; for example, in Fallout New Vegas, one can find a dead mutant in the crater “Devil’s Throat”. Centaurs are crawling around him, including a highly developed specimen.

Fun fact: Centaurs may be disgusting, but that does not deter some people in the Fallout world from eating their flesh. In Fallout 2, there is a restaurant in the town of Den where the dish is on the menu.

Since significant parts of a centaur come from a human, one can safely label the connoisseurs of this “delicacy” as cannibals. One character from the Fallout series has experienced something in the course of his story that could also end in a rather bizarre mutation: The silly guy from season 2 of Fallout transforms into a monster, but it’s probably worse than a ghoul

The horrific appearance of the centaur is rounded off by red tentacles growing behind the hanging spine.

Fallout two-headed centaur
The centaurs with 2 heads from Fallout 1 and 2, appropriately pixelated, yet the horror still comes across (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

What type is there still? The centaurs of the East Coast, on the other hand, mostly have only one head. However, this does not make it any better. A mutated, three-part tongue hangs out of their mouths, far too long.

The eyes are dark and seem to be dead. Below the head is a muscular torso. Tumors and other growths can be found on the back. This type of centaur also drags itself around on six arms.

Although this type actually comes from the East, some have moved to the West over time.

Fallout centaur with one head
And here is the centaur with only one head, encountered in Fallout 3 and New Vegas. (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

Besides these two main types, there are advanced forms of centaurs. They are even larger and stronger. Some of them can even take on super mutants; for example, in Fallout New Vegas, one can find a dead mutant in the crater “Devil’s Throat”. Centaurs are crawling around him, including a highly developed specimen.

Fun fact: Centaurs may be disgusting, but that does not deter some people in the Fallout world from eating their flesh. In Fallout 2, there is a restaurant in the town of Den where the dish is on the menu.

Since significant parts of a centaur come from a human, one can safely label the connoisseurs of this “delicacy” as cannibals. One character from the Fallout series has experienced something in the course of his story that could also end in a rather bizarre mutation: The silly guy from season 2 of Fallout transforms into a monster, but it’s probably worse than a ghoul

Just as there are different places from which centaurs originate, there are also different types of them. One is more disturbing than the other.

How many heads should there be?

What types are there? The Masters’ centaurs from the West are primarily notable for having two heads. One comes from a human, the other from an animal, usually a dog. You can also tell because the latter still wears a collar.

Under each head sits a fleshy torso. Six legs or arms, depending on your viewpoint, support the body and move it further. Often, a centaur will only use two or four legs, dragging the rest behind it.

When the two-headed variant encounters an enemy, the dog head primarily attacks. However, sometimes it also happens that it attacks the human head on its own body. A little brainpower and competitive spirit seem to still be present in this hybrid creature.

The horrific appearance of the centaur is rounded off by red tentacles growing behind the hanging spine.

Fallout two-headed centaur
The centaurs with 2 heads from Fallout 1 and 2, appropriately pixelated, yet the horror still comes across (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

What type is there still? The centaurs of the East Coast, on the other hand, mostly have only one head. However, this does not make it any better. A mutated, three-part tongue hangs out of their mouths, far too long.

The eyes are dark and seem to be dead. Below the head is a muscular torso. Tumors and other growths can be found on the back. This type of centaur also drags itself around on six arms.

Although this type actually comes from the East, some have moved to the West over time.

Fallout centaur with one head
And here is the centaur with only one head, encountered in Fallout 3 and New Vegas. (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

Besides these two main types, there are advanced forms of centaurs. They are even larger and stronger. Some of them can even take on super mutants; for example, in Fallout New Vegas, one can find a dead mutant in the crater “Devil’s Throat”. Centaurs are crawling around him, including a highly developed specimen.

Fun fact: Centaurs may be disgusting, but that does not deter some people in the Fallout world from eating their flesh. In Fallout 2, there is a restaurant in the town of Den where the dish is on the menu.

Since significant parts of a centaur come from a human, one can safely label the connoisseurs of this “delicacy” as cannibals. One character from the Fallout series has experienced something in the course of his story that could also end in a rather bizarre mutation: The silly guy from season 2 of Fallout transforms into a monster, but it’s probably worse than a ghoul

In Fallout, various strange creatures roam around, just think of the ghouls or super mutants, as they appear in the Amazon-series. One being is especially eerie, and was created due to rather questionable experiments.

What creatures are we talking about? Centaurs are beings from the Fallout world that appear as enemies. They are only remotely related to the mythical centaurs from Greek mythology.

For the hybrids, which display both human traits and animalistic features, look quite eerie. The centaurs represent prime body horror, directly linked to their creation.

There are primarily two places from which they originate. On the west coast of the USA, namely in New California and the Mojave Desert, there are particularly specimens that were created by the “Master”.

This creature, which is quite bizarre itself, has a slight god complex and experiments with the FEV virus at the Mariposa military base. This virus alters the DNA of living beings and causes them to mutate.

In the case of the centaurs, the Master combined humans and animals such as dogs or cats. He sometimes used the entire body, but sometimes only individual parts. Thanks to the FEV virus, the centaurs came into existence.

On the east coast around the capital, super mutants in Vault 87 ensured that centaurs came into the world. The new beings served as companions and a kind of watchdog for the super mutants.

Although this type actually comes from the East, some have moved to the West over time.

Fallout centaur with one head
And here is the centaur with only one head, encountered in Fallout 3 and New Vegas. (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

Besides these two main types, there are advanced forms of centaurs. They are even larger and stronger. Some of them can even take on super mutants; for example, in Fallout New Vegas, one can find a dead mutant in the crater “Devil’s Throat”. Centaurs are crawling around him, including a highly developed specimen.

Fun fact: Centaurs may be disgusting, but that does not deter some people in the Fallout world from eating their flesh. In Fallout 2, there is a restaurant in the town of Den where the dish is on the menu.

Since significant parts of a centaur come from a human, one can safely label the connoisseurs of this “delicacy” as cannibals. One character from the Fallout series has experienced something in the course of his story that could also end in a rather bizarre mutation: The silly guy from season 2 of Fallout transforms into a monster, but it’s probably worse than a ghoul

The horrific appearance of the centaur is rounded off by red tentacles growing behind the hanging spine.

Fallout two-headed centaur
The centaurs with 2 heads from Fallout 1 and 2, appropriately pixelated, yet the horror still comes across (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

What type is there still? The centaurs of the East Coast, on the other hand, mostly have only one head. However, this does not make it any better. A mutated, three-part tongue hangs out of their mouths, far too long.

The eyes are dark and seem to be dead. Below the head is a muscular torso. Tumors and other growths can be found on the back. This type of centaur also drags itself around on six arms.

Although this type actually comes from the East, some have moved to the West over time.

Fallout centaur with one head
And here is the centaur with only one head, encountered in Fallout 3 and New Vegas. (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

Besides these two main types, there are advanced forms of centaurs. They are even larger and stronger. Some of them can even take on super mutants; for example, in Fallout New Vegas, one can find a dead mutant in the crater “Devil’s Throat”. Centaurs are crawling around him, including a highly developed specimen.

Fun fact: Centaurs may be disgusting, but that does not deter some people in the Fallout world from eating their flesh. In Fallout 2, there is a restaurant in the town of Den where the dish is on the menu.

Since significant parts of a centaur come from a human, one can safely label the connoisseurs of this “delicacy” as cannibals. One character from the Fallout series has experienced something in the course of his story that could also end in a rather bizarre mutation: The silly guy from season 2 of Fallout transforms into a monster, but it’s probably worse than a ghoul

Just as there are different places from which centaurs originate, there are also different types of them. One is more disturbing than the other.

How many heads should there be?

What types are there? The Masters’ centaurs from the West are primarily notable for having two heads. One comes from a human, the other from an animal, usually a dog. You can also tell because the latter still wears a collar.

Under each head sits a fleshy torso. Six legs or arms, depending on your viewpoint, support the body and move it further. Often, a centaur will only use two or four legs, dragging the rest behind it.

When the two-headed variant encounters an enemy, the dog head primarily attacks. However, sometimes it also happens that it attacks the human head on its own body. A little brainpower and competitive spirit seem to still be present in this hybrid creature.

The horrific appearance of the centaur is rounded off by red tentacles growing behind the hanging spine.

Fallout two-headed centaur
The centaurs with 2 heads from Fallout 1 and 2, appropriately pixelated, yet the horror still comes across (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

What type is there still? The centaurs of the East Coast, on the other hand, mostly have only one head. However, this does not make it any better. A mutated, three-part tongue hangs out of their mouths, far too long.

The eyes are dark and seem to be dead. Below the head is a muscular torso. Tumors and other growths can be found on the back. This type of centaur also drags itself around on six arms.

Although this type actually comes from the East, some have moved to the West over time.

Fallout centaur with one head
And here is the centaur with only one head, encountered in Fallout 3 and New Vegas. (Image source: Synonymous on YouTube)

Besides these two main types, there are advanced forms of centaurs. They are even larger and stronger. Some of them can even take on super mutants; for example, in Fallout New Vegas, one can find a dead mutant in the crater “Devil’s Throat”. Centaurs are crawling around him, including a highly developed specimen.

Fun fact: Centaurs may be disgusting, but that does not deter some people in the Fallout world from eating their flesh. In Fallout 2, there is a restaurant in the town of Den where the dish is on the menu.

Since significant parts of a centaur come from a human, one can safely label the connoisseurs of this “delicacy” as cannibals. One character from the Fallout series has experienced something in the course of his story that could also end in a rather bizarre mutation: The silly guy from season 2 of Fallout transforms into a monster, but it’s probably worse than a ghoul

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

Wenn du kein passendes Kupferkabel für deine Sound-Anlage hast, kein Problem: Eine Banane tut’s auch

In a somewhat unusual audio blind test by a user, even experienced HiFi fans could not tell whether music was transmitted through copper wire, a banana, or wet mud.

How did the blind test proceed? A user in the HiFi forum DIYAudio wanted to know for sure – and set up a testing arrangement that was both simple and unusual. Instead of sending an audio signal solely through ordinary copper wire and comparing the quality differences, he also transmitted it through a banana and wet mud (via TomsHardware).

Pano, the user behind the experiment setup, asked other forum members to listen to several sound examples – each in four different sound versions through various media: one directly from the original CD file, the other three traveled once through 180 centimeters of professional audio copper cable, through 20 centimeters of wet mud, through 120 centimeters of old microphone cable soldered to US cent coins, and over a 13-centimeter long “banana plug” (DIYAudio).

The first feedback showed: For most listeners, it was difficult to impossible to correctly assign the individual audio tracks to their respective wiring setups.

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

Pano drew his inspiration for the experimental setup according to TomsHardware from a documentary in which the US Army laid a single telegraph line in the Philippines and tested various materials for it.

Banana as Replacement Cable

How did the experiment turn out? After Pano waited a month for the submission of the test results, the following results were compiled:

Source: Pano/DIYAudio

As can be seen in the illustration, out of a total of 43 attempts, only six responses were correct. In a summary table, it became apparent that only 13.95 percent of the assignments were correct.

Additionally, using the binomial distribution, it was calculated how likely such a result would be by mere guessing. The probability of randomly arriving at the same number of or fewer correct answers was 6.12 percent. This value lies just above the commonly used statistical significance threshold of 5 percent (over 5% = not significant; hence no evidence of actual auditory differences) (via PCGamesHardware).

The result therefore does not provide statistically reliable evidence that differences were reliably heard. In other words: Even if the appropriate cable is missing, the banana from the fruit bowl could apparently also serve as a signal path in an emergency – at least technically.

Such experiments are not completely new. Similar attempts were made as early as the 2010s. Back then, various objects such as fruit, vegetables, and even drinks were tested as audio carriers. One of them comes from the musician and producer J.Views, who played songs using fruit.

In competitive gaming, a suitable sound quality can quickly determine success or failure. Whether using a banana as a sound carrier for your own headphones is advisable must be decided by each individual. But there are also other extremes: A manufacturer now sells in-ears that cost more than a powerful gaming PC

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

7 vs. Wild announces new season, but fans find that the series itself has to fight for survival

Surprisingly early, the creators of 7 vs. Wild announced the new season 6 with a hype trailer. For the fans, it is clear that this time it is about more than just the candidates.

What does the trailer show? The new trailer, released by the creators of the show on February 16, 2026 on YouTube, does not yet show any new scenes from season 6. Given the timing and the parallel airing of the Swiss season of 7 vs. Wild, it is clear that the series has not yet been filmed.

Accordingly, the trailer only shows a compilation of scenes from past seasons with little information about the new season 6.

In the new trailer, Knossi is also prominently featured again:

Start video
From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi

New season raises high expectations

What is known about the new season? The upcoming sixth season of 7 vs. Wild will be released as usual in autumn 2026 on Amazon Prime. A few weeks later, the show will also air on YouTube for those who do not have a Prime subscription.

In a related press release, the creators of the show explained that the exact filming location has not yet been determined. The seven participants are also set to be announced only in the coming months.

About the new season of 7 vs. Wild, apart from its existence, not much is really known. However, this does not prevent fans from arriving with high expectations for the new season.

What are the fans expecting? The previous season 5 of 7 vs. Wild was marked by the departure of the founders and stood in a poor light for that reason alone. While the season was supposed to serve as a harmonious counterpoint to the conflicted group in season 4, the view counts on YouTube were lower than ever.

However, this is likely also due to the fact that the format of isolating the participants as a group was far from a highlight for viewers. Accordingly, fans have repeatedly expressed their displeasure in recent months about the decline of the series.

The comments on YouTube clearly reflect this mood:

  • @Bodo1844: “The survival show – this time the format itself fights for survival.”
  • @vondenes: “Trailer already cooler than the entire season 5”
  • @michaelhuck1204: “Please no group isolation”
  • @phloHbaeLI: “I’m ready to give it a chance, but if it turns into another group mess, I’m out immediately.”

The last comment received a heart from the official account of 7 vs. Wild. Whether this already confirms that the creators want to isolate the candidates individually this time remains unclear.

Even without the original founders of 7 vs. Wild, the series continues. Just before the release of the new trailer, one of the founders of the show broke his silence and talked about the reasons for the exit: Creator of 7 vs. Wild reveals the true reasons for the exit, explains how he will move forward in the future.

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

Crimson Desert avoids one of the biggest weaknesses of Black Desert: “Anything else would have been an insult”

The developers of Crimson Desert have commented on the monetization of the open-world role-playing game: Is there a shop and microtransactions like in Black Desert?

How is Crimson Desert monetized? The new open-world adventure RPG from Pearl Abyss is set to be released on March 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, MacOS, GeForce Now, and PC. The developers are offering various editions for purchase, with the physical collector’s edition likely already sold out. The standard and deluxe versions are priced at €69.99 and €89.99, respectively.

It is also clear: If Crimson Desert becomes a success, there could be paid DLCs and expansions for the game after launch.

For a long time, there was a big question mark regarding further monetization. The MMORPG Black Desert, also from Pearl Abyss, relies on an in-game shop, seasons, and real money currency in addition to the purchase price.

Will Powers, Director of Marketing for Crimson Desert, has shed light on this in the podcast “Dropped Frames”. When asked if there will be a cosmetic cash shop, he stated:

No, I can definitely say that. There is no cosmetic cash shop. The [game] was made to be a premium experience that you buy and then enjoy the world, and not for microtransactions.

Will Powers in the Podcast “Dropped Frames”

Therefore, anyone who buys the game has access to all the contents of the respective version and does not have to expect additional expenses for shop, battle pass, or other monetization mechanics. You can catch the nearly 3-hour long talk on YouTube.

Start video
Crimson Desert shows more of the fights and progression in the action RPG in the new gameplay video

“That sounds wild”

How does the community react to this? With every piece of information and every video, our impression is that many players’ anticipation for Crimson Desert is growing. That there will be no further monetization besides the purchase price only intensifies this anticipation.

  • _soulkey writes on Reddit: “At a price of €80, anything else would have been an insult.”
  • ElRetardoGiganto tries to calm himself on Reddit: “Stop raising my hopes so high. I haven’t been this excited about a game in a long time!”
  • Maleficent-Tip-9654 jokes on Reddit: “What do you mean, we buy a game and get full access? That sounds wild.”
  • coffee_nights expresses skepticism on Reddit: “Don’t forget that it’s Pearl Abyss, which only means there won’t be a cash shop for now. Anyone who has been playing Black Desert for years knows how unpleasant the situation can become.”

How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate this? I was also a bit skeptical, due to my experiences with Black Desert. So I am glad that Pearl Abyss aims for a monetization model more like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 instead of Where Winds Meet.

So: Buy once, then just enjoy (hopefully it will be good), and maybe invest some money in one or two DLCs later. This fits much better with the single-player and story focus of Crimson Desert. My anticipation definitely grows every day more – and that also has to do with Black Desert: Because of an MMORPG, Crimson Desert is the game I am most looking forward to in 2026

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

User breaks an important tradition, gives away a graphics card, RAM, and a CPU for the wedding instead of gold

An RTX 5090, RAM, and a CPU for the wedding. A user gifted this to a friend for their marriage. Usually, it is customary to give gold at a Turkish wedding.

What exactly can be seen? In a video that was shared on Reddit, a person is seen giving gifts to a Turkish wedding couple. First, the person drapes a GeForce RTX 5090 in its packaging around the groom’s neck, then gives the bride 4 sticks of RAM, and finally hangs an Intel CPU around the groom’s neck.

With the current rising prices, the gift is likely to have considerable value: According to the poster, the RTX 5090 currently costs about 3,600 euros in Turkey.

Nevertheless, the user or streamer is breaking an important Turkish tradition.

Start video
Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes

Instead of traditional gold jewelry, there is computer hardware here

Why does this break with traditions? At a Turkish wedding, it is traditionally customary to give gold jewelry: Gold symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and financial security. During the “Takı Merasimi” ceremony, guests typically gift gold coins or gold bracelets that are directly placed on the couple (via Celinni.com).

The gold is considered the starting capital for the marriage, which can later be used to pay for things like a car, a house, or other purchases. But instead of gold jewelry, the person hangs hardware around the couple’s necks.

There are also several comments on Reddit criticizing the gift for this very reason: After all, it should be a gift for the couple. Gold or something similar would have been a long-term investment for them. However, some reply that the value of the hardware could indeed correspond to a quarter’s salary.

The gift seems to be well-received: Both the bride and groom are excited about the friend’s gift.

A couple celebrates their 1st anniversary, and the wife wanted to know from her husband what he wished for the anniversary. He jokingly mentions components for a PC. He was then astonished when the items actually appeared on his table. More on MeinMMO: Gamer is asked what he wants for his wedding anniversary, jokingly wishes for a gaming PC – His wife gifts him hardware worth 2,000 euros

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

WoW: The Housing Future in the Interview – More Decorations, New Game Modes and Why Hard Grinding is Important

For housing, you often have to spend a lot of time and grind in World of Warcraft. This is definitely intended, as explained to us by a Blizzard developer in the interview.

We at MeinMMO had the opportunity to conduct an interview with a developer from World of Warcraft in Berlin. In conversation with Joanna Gianulis (Senior UX Designer), who has worked extensively on housing in World of Warcraft, we mainly discussed this topic: the player housing and social features. We got a glimpse into the future, addressed a problem of the RP community, and also learned why some housing items take so dreadfully long to farm – because that is exactly intended.

Start video
WoW: Early access to housing has started

Note: The interview has been shortened at some points for better readability. Context has not been lost at any point.

Anna Alberg from MeinMMO: Recently, we learned about the “Prop Hunt” game and I’m quite excited because I love these social minigames. So I’m wondering: Are you planning more of these evergreen minigames in World of Warcraft? Like a social gathering point where players can play minigames together and earn rewards – maybe even play Hearthstone in WoW.

Joanna Gianulis: “The team working on Prop Hunt is always looking for new ways to play WoW. This is definitely something that is being discussed, but I don’t know anything about the specific contents they are planning. I know they are currently very focused on making Prop Hunt. But we have also had things like Plunderstorm, and we are always looking for new ways for people to experience WoW.”

Was the housing system always planned to be this gigantic? Or has it grown over time, based on community feedback?

“I would say yes and yes. I think we always wanted to do as much as possible. We knew we had to deliver really good work here. Because so much time has passed since the community wanted housing that we knew: when we finally release it, it has to be good. And those of us who got to work on it early on also wanted it to be really good – after all, we are also players. We had all these ideas and thought: Let’s just see if we can implement this.

We initially had the expectation that we would have to make it a little smaller, but then we thought: ‘No. This is good. This is how we will continue.’

The same thing happened when the community could play it themselves. They had ideas that you still needed this and that. We listened to that and thought: ‘Yes, that’s right! Let’s do that too.’ Many people really worked hard on it because they also want to see these things in the game.”

WoW Warband three characters titel title 1280x720
Roleplayers celebrate the housing in WoW – but they have a few open wishes.

A question for the roleplaying community in WoW. They were very excited about housing because they can build houses for their events and such. But currently there is a limit to how many characters can be in a house at the same time. Are you planning to raise this limit?

“I know we have tried to set the limit as high as we could safely support. We started with a value we were confident would work. We could probably raise it further, but we wanted to make sure it works in the current version first. Because we also don’t want people to crash our game or have players experience connection issues. We first wanted to ensure that everything works.

And then, when it is released, people play it, and everything works well, then we can gradually raise it. I know that’s definitely something we are keeping an eye on. We have people calculating all these numbers to make it work somehow.

The big thing we are currently working on is the exterior lighting to ensure it doesn’t crash the server.

So yes, one step at a time, but we are always looking to see if we can gradually increase all these things so that players can do more and more.”

Hard grind is sometimes a must for rewards to feel valuable

Some items in housing currently require old currencies when you want to buy them – and then you only get them once. If I want a lot of one item, then I know I’ll have to farm for hours and hours.

Have you thought about an alternative unlocking system where you might only have to unlock an item once, like a blueprint, and then you can craft it with materials like wood or something? Or maybe a unified currency with which you can buy stuff from all the old expansions? Are there plans to make this a bit less grindy?

“Not currently, but I know they are keeping an eye on it. It was very important to the designers for the rewards that the system feels like one that has existed for a long time. It should be important to revisit and complete old content. And we see that exactly that is happening. We see people playing content they haven’t visited in 10 years and having fun. We really want to encourage that kind of gameplay. We also want you to work hard for some of the decorations because then you feel better when you get them – when you have them in your house and can show them off because you know you worked hard for it.

But we are also continuously adding new recipes for crafters because we want them to have plenty to do. Because you talked about wood and other materials – there will definitely be more recipes coming.

It will be such that you might not want to farm that candle in Boralus, but there is a craftable alternative that you can use instead.”

WoW Female Humans Housing Icon titel title 1280x720
Housing is good – but it’s still at the very beginning. Much more is to come.

In the old expansions, there are a lot of decorations that you still cannot obtain. When you look through the old houses of the expansions, you think you want this or that from various races and factions. Are you planning to bring more of that?

“We have a gigantic list of things we want ourselves. We are working our way through that big internal list. When we see lists from players, for example in the forums, with all the things they wish for, we take notes.

It’s just that there is so much that we have to make a selection of what we can do.

But to say this: For everything you think ‘That would be really cool!’, rest assured, we have also been there and thought the same thing.”

New features like Copy&Paste

Maybe you can create a feature where you click on items in the world and then see directly where you can get them.

“We have a great new feature coming soon, the Inspect mode. When you are in a friend’s house and see something great, you can simply click on the sofa and it will immediately open the catalog at the right place, so you can see how to obtain the item. You can already see this in the interface, the button is already there, but it currently says ‘Coming soon’.”

Will it be possible to place more items at once? Because currently, if I want to place 10 candles, I have to go into the catalog and pull them into the house 10 times. That is quite repetitive.

“We are currently looking at a lot of features that will primarily help hardcore decorators. Ion [Hazzikostas, the Game Director] recently talked about ‘Copy and Paste’. So my job right now is to figure out how exactly that will work. What would be most helpful for our player base? Because there are many different ways we can do that. It may sound like a simple tool, but there are many small details that need to be decided. For example: Does it also copy the coloring? Does it copy the orientation? We are currently working on these details.

We want to ensure that what we create is ultimately the best possible version for our players.”

Start video
WoW: Housing-Cinematic in WildStar style

I’m in a big guild. And every time, really every time we raid, we take a picture together. How cool would it be if we could put these pictures in a frame in the game and then hang them in our house? Have you ever thought about that?

“That’s something that quite a few people have asked us about, so it’s definitely on our radar. But that’s a bit technically more challenging. But I would say if that’s something that players want and keep asking for, then we will consider it.

Also, keep in mind that housing will be an evergreen feature. We will continually add new stuff. The question is always just what we tackle first.”

If you had to live in WoW …

Now we come to a few personal questions that are a bit more casual. If you had to live in World of Warcraft: Which race would you be, which class, and where would you live?

“I play a Night Elf Hunter, so probably that, because I like pets. Where I would live is hard, because I actually like it everywhere. I first went to the Alliance neighborhood, but then I got my Horde house and made it really cozy, and now I’m really into it. It’s really hard to decide.”

And if you had to live in the old expansions? So not in the neighborhoods, but somewhere in the world.

“I actually like it everywhere in Northrend, because that was my first expansion that I completed. I also like snow, which is good, because it’s currently snowing here in Berlin.”

Do you have a personal wish feature that has never made it into the game?

“Honestly, I think all of those things are just things that haven’t made it into the game yet. For example, the previously mentioned ‘Copy and Paste’ I wanted a long time ago – but we had to focus on releasing other features. Currently, I am really looking forward to pets. I think I told [the team] very early on: ‘Can I have pets in my house?!’

There were many things I wished for and we have already implemented. It’s really fantastic to experience that as a player and as someone who works on it.

But I think that’s also what makes housing so great. The entire team is really passionate. So we are all working on things that we want to see ourselves as players.

Every day, someone actually comes in and says: ‘Can we do this or that?’ It’s just nice because everyone loves it in some way.”

Thank you for the interview!


A lot is changing in World of Warcraft with Midnight. Not only is housing a major innovation, but there are also drastic changes in PvE – such as in gear acquisition. To upgrade your equipment, you will now have to pay in gold.

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

Monster Hunter Wilds: All armor sets of the high rank in overview

In Monster Hunter Wilds hunting is the major gameplay mechanic of the game. From the hunted monsters, you can not only craft weapons but also armors with various abilities and designs. We list all the armors from Monster Hunter Wilds that you can obtain in high rank.

Update: The following article has been updated on 02/17/2026 with the armor sets for the Bale set, Omega set, Akuma set, and the Gogmazios set.

Armors, together with weapons, represent significant progression in Monster Hunter Wilds. Regardless of whether you want to build the best build or the prettiest outfit, you will have to farm a lot for armors. We show you in the overview which armors are available in high rank.

Unlike in previous installments of the series, it is sufficient to craft an armor in high rank normally in order to receive it as a cosmetic decorative armor.

The armors are divided into Alpha and Beta armors. Alpha armors provide more levels to the armor’s abilities; Beta armors have more slots for decorations.

Everything about the different monsters can be found here: Monster Hunter Wilds: All monsters with habitats, prey, and tips in the list

If you want to jump to a specific armor, use our table of contents:

[toc]

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Monster Hunter Wilds Shows What It Has to Offer in Launch Trailer

List of all Alpha and Beta sets in Monster Hunter Wilds

In the following section, you will find all the current armor sets in Monster Hunter Wilds. In addition to their appearance, you will also see which stats and equipment skills each set has. We have also included the required materials.

Since there is no longer a gender lock, each armor has two versions – one male, which you can see in the first screenshots per set, and one female variant, which is visible in the second per set.

Hope Set

Hope Set Alpha

Monster Hunter Wilds Hope Set Alpha Version 2
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Hope Mask Solid Bone x 2 / Iron Ore x 1
Hope ArmorSolid Bone x 1 / Earth Crystal x 1
Hope Arm GuardSolid Bone x 2 / Earth Crystal x 1
Hope Hip RingSolid Bone x 1 / Iron Ore x 1
Hope Leg ProtectionSolid Bone x 3

Leather Set

Leather Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Leather-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Leather-Set-A1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Leather HeadgearGuardian Pelt x 1
Leather VestGuardian Pelt x 1 / Machalite Ore x 1
Leather GlovesGuardian Pelt x 1 / Machalite Ore x 1
Leather BeltGuardian Pelt x 1
Leather PantsGuardian Pelt x 1 / Machalite Ore x 1

Chain Set

Chain Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kettenset-A-scaled
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kettenset-A1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Chain HeadgearGuard Scale x 1 / Icium x 1
Chain ArmorGuard Scale x 1
Chain GlovesGuard Scale x 1 / Icium x 1
Chain BeltGuard Scale x 1
Chain PantsGuard Scale x 1 / Icium x 1

Bone Set

Bone Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Bone-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Bone-Set-A1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Bone HelmQuality Bone x 1 / Frozen Ice Bone x 1
Bone ArmorQuality Bone x 1 / Charred Oil Bone x 1
Bone ArmguardQuality Bone x 1 / Frozen Ice Bone x 1
Bone Hip RingQuality Bone x 1 / Sturdy Guardian Bone x 1
Bone Leg GuardsQuality Bone x 1 / Charred Oil Bone x 1

Alloy Set

Alloy Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Alloy-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Alloy-Set-A1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Alloy HelmKarbalite Ore x 1 / Dragonite Ore x 3
Alloy ArmorKarbalite Ore x 1 / Dragonite Ore x 2
Alloy ArmguardKarbalite Ore x 1 / Dragonite Ore x 3
Alloy Hip RingKarbalite Ore x 1 / Dragonite Ore x 2
Alloy Leg GuardsKarbalite Ore x 1 / Dragonite Ore x 2

Bulaqchi Set

Bulaqchi Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Bulaqchi-Set-A-
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Bulaqchi-Set-A1

Bulaqchi Set Beta

Monster Hunter Wilds Bulaqchi Set B
Monster Hunter Wilds Bulaqchi Set B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Bulaqchi GlassesBulaqchi Back Armor x 5

Talioth Set

Talioth Set Alpha

Monster Hunter Wilds Talioth Set A
Monster Hunter Wilds Talioth Set A1

Talioth Set Beta

Monster Hunter Wilds Talioth Set B
Monster Hunter Wilds Talioth Set B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Talioth Arm GuardTalioth Scale+ x 3 / Sharp Fang x 2

Piragill Set

Piragill Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Piragill-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Piragill-Set-A1

Piragill Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Piragill-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Piragill-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Piragill Leg GuardsPiragill Fin+ x 3 / Karbalite Ore x 2

Vespoid Set

Vespoid Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Vespoid-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Vespoid-Set-A1

Vespoid Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Vespoid-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Vespoid-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Vespoid HelmVespoid Shell x 2 / Monster Broth x 3
Vespoid ArmorVespoid Shell x 2 / Vespoid Inner Wings x 2
Vespoid ArmguardsVespoid Shell x 2 / Vespoid Inner Wings x 3
Vespoid WaistcoatVespoid Shell x 2 / High-Quality Bone x 2
Vespoid LegguardsVespoid Shell x 2 / High-Quality Bone x 1

Kranodath Set

Kranodath Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kranodath-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kranodath-Set-A1

Kranodath Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kranodath-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kranodath-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Kranodath ArmorKranodath Skull+ x 4 / Fire Cell Stone x 2

Comaqchi Set

Comagchi Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Comaqchi-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Comagchi-Set-A1

Comagchi Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Comaqchi-Set-B
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Comaqchi AccessoriesComaqchi Back Armor x 5

Kut-Ku Set

Kut-Ku Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kut-Ku-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kut-Ku-Set-A1

Kut-Ku-Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kut-Ku-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Kut-Ku-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Kut-Ku HelmKut-Ku Scale+ x 2 / Kut-Ku Wing x 2 / Monster Sharp Bone x 1
Kut-Ku ArmorKut-Ku Certificate S x 1 / Kut-Ku Scale+ x 2 / Kut-Ku Wing x 1 / Fire Cell Stone x 1
Kut-Ku ArmguardKut-Ku Certificate S x 1 / Kut-Ku Back Armor x 3 / Giant Beak x 1
Kut-Ku Waist RingKut-Ku Certificate S x 1 / Giant Beak x 3 / Kut-Ku Ear x 1 / Hell’s Bag x 1
Kut-Ku Leg GuardKut-Ku Scale+ x 2 / Kut-Ku Back Armor x 2 / Kut-Ku Wing x 1 / Kut-Ku Ear x 1

Chatacabra Set

Chatacabra Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Chatacabra-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Chatacabra-Set-A1

Chatacabra Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Chatacabra-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Chatacabra-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Chata Head ProtectionChatacabra Scale+ x 2 / Chatacabra Jaw+ x 1 / Strong Bone x 1
Chata VestChatacabra Certificate S x 1 / Chatacabra Back Armor x 2 / High-Quality Bone x 1
Chata GlovesChatacabra Scale+ x 2 / Chatacabra Skin+ x 2 / Chatacabra Jaw+ x 1 / Chatacabra Back Armor x 1
Chata Waist RingChatacabra Certificate S x 1 / Chatacabra Skin+ x 3 / Chatacabra Back Armor x 1
Chata PantsChatacabra Certificate S x 1 / Chatacabra Scale+ x 2 / Chatacabra Jaw+ x 1 / Flight Dragon Skin+ x 1

Quematrice Set

Quematrice Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Quematrice-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Quematrice-Set-A1

Quematrice Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-QUematrice-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Quematrice-Set-B
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Quematrice HelmQuematrice Certificate S x 1 / Quematrice Trigger+ x 2 / Quematrice Skin+ x 2 / High-Quality Bone x 1
Quematrice ArmorQuematrice Certificate S x 1 / Quematrice Crest+ x 1 / Quematrice Tail x 1/ Smelting Stone x 1
Quematrice GauntletsQuematrice Scale+ x 3 / Quematrice Skin+ x 3 / Quematrice Trigger+ x 1 / Quematrice Crest+ x 1
Quematrice WaistguardQuematrice Certificate S x 1 / Quematrice Skin+ x 2 / Quematrice Crest+ x 1
Quematrice LeggingsQuematrice Scale+ x 3 / Quematrice Trigger+ x 1 / Monster Sharp Bone x 1

Lala-Barina Set

Lala-Barina Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Lala-Barina-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Lala-Barina-Set-A1

Lala-Barina Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Lala-Barina-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Lala-Barina-Set-B
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Barina HeadgearLala-Barina Certificate S x 1 / Barina Back Armor x 3 / Lala-Barina Claw+ x 2
Barina ArmorLala-Barina Fiber+ x 2 / Barina Back Armor x 2 / Lala-Barina Saliva+ x 1 / Lala-Barina Spike+ x 1
Barina GauntletsLala-Barina Certificate S x 1 / Lala-Barina Claw+ x 1 / Lala-Barina Spike+ x 1 / Monster Broth x 1
Barina WaistguardLala-Barina Fiber+ x 2 / Lala-Barina Saliva+ x 2 / Karbalite Ore x 2
Barina LeggingsLala-Barina Certificate S x 1 / Lala-Barina Fiber+ x 2 / Lala-Barina Saliva+ x 1 / Nova Crystal x 1

Congalala Set

Congalala Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Congalala-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Congalala-Set-A1

Congalala Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Congalala-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Congalala-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Congalala HelmCongalala Pelt+ x 2 / Congalala Fang+ x 1 / Strong Bone x 1
Congalala ArmorCongalala Pelt+ x 2 / Congalala Claw+ x 2 / Congalala Fang+ x 1 / Luminous Pelt+ x 1
Congalala ArmguardCongalala Certificate S x 1 / Luminous Pelt+ x 1 / Conga Pelt x 2
Congalala WaistcoatCongalala Certificate S x 1 / Congalala Claw+ x 3 / Luminous Pelt+ x 1
Congalala LeggingsCongalala Certificate S x 1 / Congalala Pelt+ x 2 / Congalala Fang+ x 1 / Sharp Fang x 1

Rompopolo Set

Rompopolo Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Rompopolo-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Rompopolo-Set-A1

Rompopolo Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Rompopolo-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Rompopolo-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Rompo MaskRompopolo Certificate S x 1 / Rompopolo Claw+ x 3 / Rompopolo Beak+ x 1
Rompo JacketRompopolo Hide+ x 2 / Spotted Poison Hide+ x 2 / Monster Sharp Bone x 1
Rompo BracersRompopolo Hide+ x 2 / Rompopolo Claw+ x 2 / Spotted Poison Hide+ x 1 / Rompopolo Beak+ x 1
Rompo Waist RingRompopolo Certificate S x 1 / Rompopolo Hide+ x 2 / Spotted Poison Hide+ x 2 / Kranodath Skull+ x 1
Rompo PantsRompopolo Certificate S x 1 / Rompopolo Beak+ x 2 / Toxin Sac x 1

Gypceros Set

Gypceros Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Gypceros-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Gypceros-Set-A1

Gypceros Set Beta

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Gypceros-Set-B
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Gypceros-Set-B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Gypceros HelmGypceros Certificate S x 1 / Gypceros Wings x 2 / Gypceros Head x 1
Gypceros ArmorRubber Hide+ x 2 / Gypceros Wings x 1 / Gypceros Tail x 1 / Gypceros Head x 1
Gypceros BracersRubber Hide+ x 2 / Gypceros Tail x 1 / Monster Sharp Bone
Gypceros Waist RingGypceros Certificate S x 1 / Rubber Hide+ x 2 / Gypceros Tail x 1 / Nova Crystal x 1
Gypceros Leg Guards Gypceros Certificate S x 1 / Gypceros Head x 1 / Toxin Sac x 1

Nerscylla Set

Nerscylla Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Nerscylla-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Nerscylla-Set-A1

Nerscylla Set Beta

Monster Hunter Wilds Nerscylla Set B
Monster Hunter Wilds Nerscylla Set B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Nerscylla HelmNerscylla Back Armor x 2 / Nerscylla Claw x 1 / Monster Broth x 2
Nerscylla ArmorNerscylla Certificate S x 1 / Nerscylla Claw x 1 / Nerscylla Talon+ x 2 / Bird Wyvern Stone x 1
Nerscylla Arm GuardNerscylla Back Armor x 3 / Nerscylla Talon+ x 3 / Nerscylla Claw x 1 / Nerscylla Spike+ x 1
Nerscylla Waist RingNerscylla Certificate S x 1 / Nerscylla Talon+ x 2 / Nerscylla Spike+ x 2 / Comaqchi Back Armor x 2
Nerscylla Leg GuardNerscylla Certificate S x 1 / Nerscylla Spike+ x 1 / Rubber Hide+ x 2 / Komab Sack x 1

Balahara Set

Balahara Set Alpha

Monster Hunter Wilds Balahara Set A
Monster Hunter Wilds Balahara Set A1

Balahara Set Beta

Monster Hunter Wilds Balahara Set B
Monster Hunter Wilds Balahara Set B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Balahara HelmBalahara Certificate S x 1 / Balahara Back Armor x 2 / Balahara Skull+ x 1
Balahara ArmorBalahara Scale+ x 2 / Balahara Skull+ x 1 / Monster Sharp Bone x 1
Balahara Arm GuardBalahara Scale+ x 2 / Balahara Back Armor x 2 / Balahara Skull+ x 1 / Balahara Tail x 1
Balahara Waist RingBalahara Certificate S x 1 / Balahara Skull+ x 1 / Plummet Bag x 1
Balahara Leg GuardBalahara Certificate S x 1 / Balahara Scale+ x 2 / Balahara Back Armor x 2 / Balahara Black Pearl x 1

Hirabami Set

Hirabami Set Alpha

Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Hirabami-Set-A
Monster-Hunter-Wilds-Hirabami-Set-A1

Hirabami Set Beta

Monster Hunter Wilds Hirabami Set B
Monster Hunter Wilds Hirabami Set B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Hirabami HelmHirabami Certificate S x 1 / Hirabami Hide+ x 3 / Hirabami Tail Claw+ x 2
Hirabami ChestplateHirabami Certificate S x 1 / Hirabami Tail Claw+ x 1 / Frier Bag x 1
Hirabami ArmguardsHirabami Certificate S x 1 / Hirabami Scale+ x 2 / Hirabami Fabric+ x 1 / Wyvern Stone x 1
Hirabami WaistguardHirabami Scale+ x 2 / Hirabami Fabric+ x 1 / Monster Talon x 1
Hirabami LeggingsHirabami Scale+ x 2 / Hirabami Hide+ x 2 / Hirabami Fabric+ x 2 / Hirabami Tail Claw+ x 1

Rathian Set

Rathian Set Alpha

Monster Hunter Wilds Rathian Set A
Monster Hunter Wilds Rathian Set A1

Rathian Set Beta

Monster Hunter Wilds Rathian Set B
Monster Hunter Wilds Rathian Set B1
Armor PiecesRequired Materials
Rathian HelmRathian Scale+ x 2 / Rathian Fabric x 2 / Monster Talon x 2
Rathian ArmorRathian Certificate S x 1 / Rathian Scale+ x 2 / Rathian Ruby x 1
Rathian ArmguardsRathian Scale+ x 3 / Rathian Back Armor x 3 / Rathian Spike+ x 2 / Toxin Bag x 2
Rathian WaistguardRathian Certificate S x 1 / Rathian Back Armor x 1 / Rathian Medulla x 1
Rathian LeggingsRathian Certificate S x 1 / Rathian Back Armor x 2 / Rathian Fabric x 2 / Dragon Bone Relic x 1

More armors can be found on page 2

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

ARC Raiders: Complete Eyes in the Sky – Here you place the Lindar scanners

In ARC Raiders, Shani sends you on the quest “Eyes in the Sky.” We will show you how to complete it in our guide.

What do you have to do for the quest? Shani sends you to various maps to place Lindar scanners. However, these must be installed at high locations. The quest steps are as follows:

  • Install a Lindar scanner on top of the control tower on the dam battlefields
  • Install a Lindar scanner on the communication tower in the spaceport
  • Install a Lindar scanner on the Galleria sign in the buried city

Unfortunately, the maps are large, and those who are not familiar may give up desperately searching for the locations. However, do not be discouraged, as we provide you with directions and images to help you know where to go.

Select a MMO video…

Control tower on the dam battlefields

You can find the first scanner on the roof of the building “Control Tower” in the middle of the dam battlefields. You must enter the building past the lobby into the rear area of the building.

Then use the cable car up and pull past the turret to the end of the shaft. Now run up the stairs, defeat some pops, and break down the last door that separates you from the roof.

Communication tower in the spaceport

The second tower is located in the “Communication Tower” area – sometimes you even spawn directly in front of the tower. If not, you can travel there yourself.

The tower is hard to miss. You can use the ladder, and directly on the platform, you will find the holder in the northeast direction.

Galleria sign in the buried city

You can find the third holder on the tower of the building “Galleria.” Note that you need a cable car to reach the top of the tower – without it, you cannot reach the holder.

Now go to the Galleria building and try to reach the roof after a climbing session. Now stand in front of the tower and place your cable car so that you pull yourself onto the broken platform.

Once you have placed all scanners, you can visit Shani and complete your quest to collect your rewards. That was all the important information you should know about the quest “Eyes in the Sky.” You can find more about ARC Raiders here: ARC Raiders: All keys and locations of their doors – Here you can find them

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

The first mini-DLC for Total War: Warhammer 3 is official, introducing a race that fans have speculated about for a long time

The developers of Total War: Warhammer 3 have now officially announced the first mini-DLC for the great strategy game. It delivers a faction that fans have been speculating about for a long time, but also contains a big surprise.

What kind of DLC is this? Fans will have to be patient until Nagash heralds the end of the world in the next major DLC for Total War: Warhammer 3. Before that, there will be new content for Cathay – a China-inspired faction in Warhammer Fantasy, ruled by powerful and ancient dragons.

This new DLC is the first of several planned mini-DLCs, called “Character Packs”. These will provide fans with new content at a faster pace than extensive DLCs allow. However, the content will also be more limited.

The first Character Pack introduces a faction in Total War: Warhammer 3 that has been on fans’ radar for a long time: The Tiger Men. They have been mentioned in several places in the game, but not much more. With the DLC, you can finally take some of them to the battlefield as Cathay.

A trailer for the Tiger Men is not yet available, but they are part of Cathay:

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Der Trailer zur Fraktion Großkaiserreich Cathay in Total War: Warhammer 3

The Tiger Men are officially the first mini-DLC

What’s included in the DLC? The Character Pack includes:

  • 1 legendary lord (and thus a new playable faction)
  • 1 normal lord that you can hire for your armies
  • 1 normal hero with special abilities
  • 3 unique units

The new legendary lord is Bhashiva, a powerful tiger woman with white fur. With a Katar (a historical dagger from India) in each hand, she is said to move like a shadow on the battlefield and be especially fast.

Bhashiva is, by the way, a completely new character in the lore of Warhammer Fantasy and was created by Creative Assembly in collaboration with Games Workshop. The normal hero is a “Clawspeaker”, a spellcaster with access to the Lore of Beasts.

In addition to the DLC, a legendary hero will also be released, but free for all players. The developers have not revealed who it will be.

Fans are surprised but also excited

How are the fans reacting to this? So far, the community’s response to the first mini-DLC has been overwhelmingly positive. 

The Tiger Men have been longed for. And even though some fans expected a different legendary lord (such as the monkey king, of which there is also a version in Warhammer), the tiger lady is being welcomed warmly.

  • “I was fully expecting Li Dao or monkey king, full on new character is surprising”, writes a fan under a post on Reddit
  • Another one says, “This is lowkey hype, definitely will add more identity to the Cathay roster.” (Source: Reddit)

The price of the new DLC is also well received. The Character Pack will cost £3.99 (€4.99). “seems fair”, says sock_with_a_ticket on Reddit.

When will the DLC be released? The developers have not yet revealed an exact release date, but the DLC is expected to be released before the end of spring and before “Lords of the End Times”.

If you want to expand your DLC collection before the release of the Tiger Men, now is a good opportunity. Currently, all DLCs for Total War Warhammer are discounted. You can read more about it here: One of the best games about Warhammer is on sale on Steam with all DLCs from the last 10 years, still costing over 200 Euros

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

Battlefield 6: I played Season 2 for you – Is the return worth it?

In Battlefield 6 this week, Season 2 begins. MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller has already checked out the new content. But is it worth returning to the shooter for that?

The new season of Battlefield is again divided into 3 sections. The first section starts on February 17, 2026, and brings some new content. In the test, three highlights stood out for me:

  • the new map “Contaminated”
  • a new assault rifle
  • the Little Bird is coming!!!!

The other gadgets and weapons are certainly useful, but these three highlights have shaped my gaming experience from all the new content the most.

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Battlefield 6: New cinematic trailer prepares for Season 2

With hallucinations through the new map

The new map “Contaminated” is a German military base in a mountainous landscape. The terrain is correspondingly uneven and there are some hills that can be used as lookout points or cover from enemy fire. Additionally, you will find some buildings with somewhat narrow, dark corridors.

Overall, the map is rather medium-sized: not as small as “Iberian Offensive” and larger than Eastwood, but smaller than Mirak Valley.

During our previews, we also played the upcoming limited-time mode, which spreads a psychoactive gas on “Contaminated” that causes hallucinations. This gas was primarily found on different flags and changed the dynamics of the battle for the respective spot.

Although every soldier is equipped with a gas mask, it has a declining durability, so you can’t camp in the gas continuously and guard a flag.

If you decide to sniff the hallucinogenic substance for an extended period, you will feel dizzy and unable to distinguish friend from foe.

Additionally, the gas, of course, affects visibility.

Battlefield 6 Preview Gas-Event

The weapons

The VCR-2 introduces a new fully automatic assault rifle to Battlefield 6. It boasts a fire rate of 900 rounds per minute, the highest fire rate of all assault rifles – equal to the KORD 6P67. However, unlike the KORD (20 damage), the VCR-2 causes 25 damage.

In practical tests, the VCR-2 was clearly the winner among the new weapons, especially if you have a fairly aggressive playstyle and fight at short to medium range. At longer distances, the assault rifle suffers from relatively high recoil. Overall, however, the VCR-2 cut through enemy lines like a hot knife through butter.

If you prefer LMGs, the new M121-A1 is a good addition. The recoil is particularly easy to control with the right attachments and with 33 damage per shot, it packs a punch. Among LMGs with 33 damage, it also has the highest fire rate at 654 RPM.

If you want to suppress enemies at longer to medium range, the new LMG is significantly better suited than the assault rifle.

The new DMR did not impress me, and this applies to most DMRs in Battlefield 6. These are very situational, and since the gunplay in the game is not very challenging and many weapons also allow fully automatic precise hits at longer distances, fully automatic weapons are almost always the stronger choice.

Battlefield 6 Preview Season 2 Little Bird guided missile

The Little Bird

The Little Bird comes with a strong soundscape and sounds almost like a Warthog when its miniguns fire. Additionally, it can equip various missiles that can take down tanks.

I am not a pilot and therefore cannot provide a valuable report from the cockpit of the helicopter, but from an infantryman’s perspective, I can say:

I haven’t really felt threatened by it yet.

From the ground, it looks quite nimble and agile, and the content creators in the preview matches are also (almost) skilled enough to dodge guided missiles, but the new anti-air guided missile launcher does not make it easier for the little heli. Additionally, the new map is quite open, and depending on positioning, you can see helicopters over long distances.

My test of the guided missile launcher was still rather disappointing, and at least against good pilots, I resorted to the good old RPG-7 again. And as it turned out:

One hit is enough, and the Little Bird will turn into scrap metal.

Is it worth returning to Battlefield 6 now?

Whether returning to Battlefield 6 is worth it for you depends entirely on your expectations. What comes to the game on February 17 is not much: a new map, a couple of weapons, the Little Bird…. Personally, the new content will not keep me engaged for a whole month. However, they are cool and certainly fun additions, definitely worth checking out again, especially if you don’t want to miss the limited-time modes.

I am speaking here from the perspective of a player who plays tactical and competitive shooters. That means I usually grind for several hours a day and learn new heroes or maps. Battlefield 6 encourages a very different playstyle. I play that more occasionally. There, I jump in for a few rounds every few weeks to have some fun.

  • If you want to grind Battlefield 6 every day, the Season 2 update is a bit thin.
  • If you occasionally play a few rounds with friends after a party, that’s probably enough.

Once Season 2 is playable for everyone, I will definitely play a bit more intensively for a few days to test the VCR-2 in more detail. It is quite possible that it is among the strongest assault rifles in the game – and then I have to update the list of the best weapons in Battlefield.

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

A vampire game on the PS5 takes place in a Leipzig goth nightclub and is a hidden gem on Steam

Vampire Therapist is already available on Steam, but will also be released for PS5 on February 17, 2026. The game was developed in close collaboration with therapists and sends you into the nightlife of a vampire.

What is Vampire Therapist about? In Vampire Therapist, we take on the role of Sam Walls. He is a former cowboy from the Wild West and has been living as a vampire for several centuries. Over time, he undergoes a transformation: he wants to reorient himself in life and tries out a career in therapy.

The title is set in present-day Leipzig in a goth nightclub. There, Sam meets the vampire Andromachos, who at 3000 years old is a veteran even among vampires. He helps other immortals cope with their psychological issues.

Our clients are various vampires from different historical periods, such as the Bronze Age or the Renaissance. They all bring their own emotional baggage, from narcissism to guilt or addiction issues. 

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Vampire Therapist makes you the therapist for immortals in the new trailer

Even vampires need therapy

What makes the game so special? Our task is to identify cognitive distortions during conversations and help the clients correct these. The game mostly consists of dialogues in which we sometimes need to recognize when a vampire gets stuck in a particular thought pattern.

To ensure that the psychological aspects are accurate, the development team worked with licensed therapists. They reviewed and approved the concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy used in the game, also known as CBT.

  • One example is the formulation with “should.” In the game, vampires must consider who sets these demands and why something should be done in a specific way.
  • Black-and-white thinking is also a specific pattern that needs to be recognized in a conversation.
  • Another possibility is labeling certain individuals. The patient applies a specific stereotype that they could break at any time.

Real psychological techniques are used to teach players how to recognize unhealthy thought patterns.

How well is it received? On Steam, the game is rated 95% positive overall from 788 votes (as of February 16 at 3:24 PM). All recent reviews are even at 100%.

However, there have only been 17 votes for the recent reviews. The game is still a real insider tip that could please all visual novel and vampire fans.

MeinMMO editor Jasmin says: I have already been able to preview the PS5 version for a few hours. The game runs technically flawlessly and it is fun to apply the practices from therapy myself. I often felt as if I was in the exam of a psychology student and had to recognize the correct technique.

However, there are 2 major negative points for me. On one hand, there were moments in the game where it froze during the selection of possible techniques. I had to exit and restart the game to continue.

Furthermore, the game is entirely in English. There is no German voice acting or text, despite the game being set in Leipzig. It is quite amusing that the German accent of the vampires sounds terrible in the English voiceover. They talk somewhat like long-term Germans would speak English.

On Steam and PS5, there are all sorts of quirky vampire games. MeinMMO editor Benedikt recently tested a new vampire game where he has to collect taxes and cut down trees. Yet in the survival game, he still feels like a bloodsucker: In a new vampire game on Steam, I have to collect taxes and cut down trees, but still feel like a vampire

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

New game looks like Diablo as Battle Royale, now announces free demo on Steam

On Steam you will soon be able to try a new action game from the former lead developer of World of Warcraft out. It looks like Diablo if it were played as a Battle Royale.

Which game is being talked about? It is called Arkheron and is an action game being developed by Bonfire Studios. The team was founded by Rob Pardo, who was once the lead developer of World of Warcraft at Blizzard.

With its dark fantasy setting and isometric camera perspective, Arkheron actually resembles Diablo more than WoW. However, this is not surprising, as Pardo also worked on the Diablo series.

In September 2025, there was already a playtest for Arkheron, for which one had to sign up and hope for a key. Now, at the Steam Next Fest, there is another chance to play Arkheron – and this time everyone can participate.

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Action game Arkheron announces a free demo for the Steam Next Fest

Arkheron returns with a free demo – this time for everyone

When is the demo for Arkheron available? It will be playable for everyone from February 20 to March 2, 2026. You just need to download the demo on Steam. This applies to those who have already participated in the playtest, as the demo runs on a different game client.

The demo is expected to come with several improvements compared to the first playtest. There is supposed to be a tutorial that helps new players get started, many of the items are said to have been revised, and much more. You can find the patch notes at www.arkheron.com.

What is the game about? Arkheron is a PvP action game that focuses on a mix of hack’n’slay, MMO, MOBA, and battle royale. 

Several teams of 3 players each fight to reach the top of a mysterious tower. With each ascent, a few of these teams are eliminated until only one remains at the end.

There are no character classes in Arkheron. Your abilities solely depend on your weapons and other equipment that you collect in the tower.

What happens after the demo? After the Steam Next Fest, the developers plan to announce another closed beta. For this, you will again need to obtain access to play it. You can request this via Steam.

Diablo 2, on which the former Blizzard developer also worked, is now available on Steam and is doing really well there. The player numbers of the remaster even exceed those of part 4. You can read more about it here: Diablo 2 celebrates a strong debut on Steam after 26 years, has more players than Diablo 4

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

Inventor of 7 vs. Wild reveals the real reasons for leaving, explains how it will continue in the future

The great survival show 7 vs. Wild kept many viewers engaged and allowed them to cheer on their favorite influencers. However, after the sale of the show, the original creators stepped back after season 4. Now there is a new sign of life.

Who is it about? Maximilian Kovacs and Johannes Hovekamp are the minds behind 7 vs. Wild, who founded the show with Fritz Meinecke and made it so successful. However, after the emotional farewell video from 7 vs. Wild, in which they announced their final exit, things went quiet around the two behind the camera.

Now Johannes Hovekamp breaks his silence and explains why he really had to sell 7 vs. Wild and what will happen next.

Also, Knossi is part of the inventory of 7 vs. Wild, having thrilled the audience in two seasons:

Start video
From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi

A life in front of and behind the camera

Why was 7 vs. Wild sold? In his first video on his own YouTube channel, Hovekamp goes through his career. From the beginnings as a small YouTuber to his training and his first meeting with “7 vs. Wild” participant Survival Mattin.

He explains that the greater the success of the show became, the worse it got for him and co-founder Maximilian Kovacs. He explains in the video: “With all these highlights […] there were […] also a few problems. Especially that Max and I just had no time for anything anymore […] too little sleep, too much stress, bad food, no exercise, and so on.”

These were also the reasons for the decision to sell their own project and not to produce it themselves anymore. Contrary to the bad mood from the community, he shows himself very happy about how the project was continued and that they found someone in CaliVision who implements the project at its core as it was once intended.

According to his own statement, he and co-founder Maximilian Kovacs benefited greatly from stepping back. Thus, both have regained time for sports and a generally healthier lifestyle.

Here you can see the whole video:

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What happens next? Johannes Hovekamp has mainly been active behind the camera so far, working as a cameraman and editor for various survival YouTubers. But he also took care of the marketing and the development of YouTube channels like the “Fritz Meinecke Live” channel and the channel of marine biologist and research diver Robert Marc Lehmann together with Maximilian Kovacs.

In his video, he now explains that he also wants to step in front of the camera and wants to share his life with the viewers. At the same time, he emphasizes that he is not just a pure outdoor YouTuber who only makes and releases tours like the channels he oversees. It will be interesting to see what the content on the channel actually looks like.

At the end of the video, co-founder Maximilian Kovacs also speaks out again. He also looks visibly well, even though he wants to stay behind the camera for now. For both of them, just like for Fritz Meinecke, there seems to be no turning back to 7 vs. Wild, which may be bitter for the fans, but for the three of them likely means a gain of much quality of life.

Even without the three, the first international edition of 7 vs. Wild is currently running on Swiss television. Among the participants is also a familiar face who has already survived the Amazon. Who is also taking part and where it is going, you can find out here: 7 vs. Wild suddenly announces new season for January 2026, but you can’t watch it

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

Diablo 2: Warlock Build – This is how you make it to the endgame with the Warlock

With Diablo 2: Reign of the Warlock, Blizzard has introduced a new class in its classic hack & slash title. Many are wondering which build to start with, and we provide you with the appropriate answer.

What can the Warlock do? With the release of the Warlock, you have the chance for the first time in 25 years in Diablo 2 to play a new class. With its talents, you have the opportunity:

  • to summon demons and sacrifice them or have them fight for you
  • to wield abhorrent weapons imbued with magic and throw them at opponents
  • to unleash hellfire and the void upon your enemies

This opens up new possibilities in the endgame to successfully climb the ladder. But to do that, you need a powerful build. Therefore, we looked around and wanted to find out which talents can take you far as a Warlock.

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Diablo 2: Resurrected introduces the new class of the Warlock in the gameplay trailer

Warlock Build – How to set up your build

Early Game (Normal): In normal difficulty, it is first important to level up your character and progress. Here you can try things out, but we recommend the skill “Ring of Fire” (engl. Ring of Fire). This skill in the “Chaos” tree can take you up to the “Hell” difficulty.

With it, you create a ring of fire around you at the push of a button, which deals damage to enemies and knocks them back. While using Ring of Fire, you cannot move, but you don’t need to, as no one can get close to you. You will handle the few fire-immune enemies with your mercenary and the magic attacks from the Chaos tree.

Mid-Game (Nightmare/Hell): In mid-game, in addition to Ring of Fire, you will use the skills Flame Wave (engl. Flame Wave) and Apocalypse (engl. Apocalypse). Both skills complement each other well, as you can alternate between them while one of them is on cooldown, meaning it is not ready.

Apocalypse causes all enemies in the inverted pentagram to burst into flames. Flame Wave, on the other hand, throws a wall of flames in the direction your Warlock is facing, dealing extra damage to all affected enemies. Nice: Apocalypse lowers the fire resistance of your enemies, which is extremely helpful at higher difficulty levels.

When leveling, make sure to max out Ring of Fire and Apocalypse first before leveling Flame Wave. As for your equipment, you should only make sure to carry a two-handed weapon that gives you 3+ points in your fire skills.

Endgame (P7+, Uber Tristram and co.): To get the most out of the Warlock, you should respec your build to “Hailstorm Strike.” Here’s how you should prioritize your points:

  • Abhorrent:
    • Hailstorm Strike (Max.)
    • Mirrored Blades (Max.)
    • Blade Teleportation (Max.)
      • Optional (an either/or choice)
        • Hover Mastery (for more damage)
        • Cursing: Corruption (to harm enemies outside of physical damage)
  • Daemon:
    • Consumption (Max.) to consume Goat Demon

As for your item values, you should consider the following effects:

  • + to Warlock skills or all skills
  • + % in spell rate
  • + % increased damage
  • + % death strike
  • + % drained mana per hit

For a weapon, you should choose a Thunder Hammer as a base, as it has the slowest attack speed but deals the highest damage. Since you will throw the hammer at your opponents anyway, the attack speed doesn’t matter – you mainly benefit from the damage.

You can easily use ethereal weapons. The Abhorrent skills trigger effects like mana drain or death strike, but your weapon does not lose durability. So you never have to repair.

These were all the important details you should know to start the new ladders in Diablo 2 when it comes to a build for the Warlock and its progression. Diablo 2 is doing better than ever since its latest update, and this is especially reflected in its player numbers: Diablo 2 celebrates a phenomenal debut on Steam after 26 years, has more players than Diablo 4

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

Twitch streamer from Sauercrowd makes a wrong step, 1 hour later she would have been nominated for the first raid

Initially, the Twitch streamer Fanasia was definitely planned with her Paladin for the first raid of Sauercrowd in WoW Classic. However, shortly before the announcement of the roster, she made a fatal mistake in a dungeon.

What is the situation? Before the guild meeting that took place on the evening of February 15, 2026, Fanasia was in the dungeon Scholomance with four other Sauercrowd members. The group was already clearing the last chambers to prepare for the fight against the final boss.

During this cleanup operation, you encounter Rotten Corpses that cause surprisingly large explosion damage as soon as they pass away. To avoid any risk, you prefer to deal with them from a safe distance while slowing them down with Frost effects – for example, through traps or mages.

Unfortunately, Maxim also had a mishap during the Sauercrowd project:

Start video
Sauercrowd guild loses its “indestructible” tank just before level 60

At the Wrong Time in the Wrong Place

What happened to Fanasia? Paladins are also very effective against undead. The plate-wearers possess offensive Holy attacks and even an exclusive Fear spell. Fanasia plays such a Paladin and wanted to support her team in the fight against the undead hordes. However, she underestimated – like many others before her – the range of the explosion.

After several corpses were defeated in quick succession, Fanasia’s hardcore character took fatal damage in a matter of moments. The player was so surprised that she didn’t even think to use emergency abilities like Lay on Hands or Divine Shield. You can see the scene on Twitch or in Sieglinde’s analysis on YouTube.

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The hardcore death of Fanasia is doubly bitter: Almost an hour later, the guild leaders HandOfBlood and Metashi announced the roster for the first raid in the Molten Core. When it came to the fourth place in group 7, Hänno stated (source: YouTube):

Due to the passing of Fanasia, we had to change the plan an hour before this show – and once again heartfelt condolences to Fanasia, this is truly ultra-bitter, and please don’t die until next Sunday, folks – we had to adjust on short notice.

How bitter it is shows the reaction of Fanasia, who struggled with tears after her hardcore mishap. Once she collected herself, she admitted that it was only her fault … she simply stood too close.

For Fanasia, Marc-Oliver aka BododerKillerkarpfen was brought into the roster, who made it to level 60 after his unfortunate demise, managing to bring another character to the maximum level in time.

Fingers crossed that no more level 60 characters get caught in the coming days. If you want to know who else will be participating in the first raid in the Molten Core, check this out: Sauercrowd sets the 40 Twitch streamers for the first raid, Metashi and HandOfBlood play it safe

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

One Piece Season 2: Trailer, Release and Cast for the Netflix Series

The Netflix series about One Piece has been well received by many fans, which is why season 2 will soon set sail. You can find all the current information about the release, cast, and more on MeinMMO.

Update on February 16, 2026: The latest trailer has been added.

The most important information at a glance:

Season 1 aired on August 31, 2023, on Netflix. It contained 8 episodes and was rated an average of 8.3 out of 10 possible points on IMDB. The manga has been around for several decades, but the Netflix series only covers a small part of it. Therefore, there are still plenty of episodes that could be released in the future. We already know what to expect in season 2.

You can watch the trailer for season 1 here:

Start video
A new sneak peek shows behind the scenes of One Piece season 2 and how some fight scenes were filmed

One Piece Season 2 on Netflix: What We Know About the Release So Far

Trailer: Is there already a preview?

If you want to see all the characters and Devil Fruits that exist in One Piece again, the latest trailer is perfect for you. It gives a great overview of the upcoming season.

Start video
Netflix shows in the new trailer for One Piece the many new villains of Season 2

In another trailer for Season 2 of One Piece, Nico Robin is in the spotlight. Fans love her for being such a cynical antagonist as in the source material. Additionally, more agents of the Baroque Works can finally be seen in motion:

Start video
One Piece: Netflix shows new trailer for season 2 with Nico Robin

Netflix also revealed, what Chopper will look like in Season 2. The reindeer will be completely animated with CGI. Unfortunately, we only see the castle where Chopper is currently located. For more material on the Netflix series, we will have to be patient.

Start video
One Piece: Season 2 reveals release year and Tony Chopper

Additionally, there is another trailer that provides a preview of the upcoming Season 2. Here we see different islands like Whiskey Peak or Logue Town. Moreover, we get a first glimpse of one of the two giants, Nico Robin, Vivi, and Captain Smoker. Even the whale Laboon is briefly visible:

Start video
Der Trailer zu Staffel 2 von One Piece auf Netflix zeigt direkt, dass Staffel 3 kommen wird

Release: When is One Piece Season 2 Coming? 

As Netflix announced on October 28, 2025, the second season of One Piece is set to premiere on Netflix on March 10, 2025. The streaming service also released new images to accompany the announcement.

Cast: Who is in Season 2?

The actors we already saw in season 1 have remained in their roles. They will also appear in season 2 if the manga template allows it. The following actors are already confirmed for season 2:

  • Gavin Gomes as Chopper (Heavy Point) (known as the Spanish soldier from Black Sails)
  • Callum Kerr as Captain Smoker (known as Christopher Foxworth from Flowers in the Attic: The Origin)
  • Julia Rehwald as Tashigi (known as Kate Schmidt from the Fear Street film trilogy)
  • Rigo Sanchez as Dragon (known as Lightner from Outer Banks)
  • Clive Russell as Krokus (known as Captain Tanner from Sherlock Holmes)
  • Brendan Murray as Boogey (known as Victor from Dark Matter)
  • Werner Coetser as Woogey (known as Blitz from Getroud met rugby)
  • Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9 (known as Barnabus from London Calling)
  • Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday (known as Edwina Sharma from Bridgerton)
  • Yonda Thomas as Igaram (known as Gary from Red Ink)
  • Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5 (known as Luke Fox aka Batwing from Batwoman)
  • Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine (known as Eliza Pendleton from Warrior)
  • David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3 (known as Thomas Schiff from The Dark Knight)
  • Sophia Anne Caruso as Miss Goldenweek (known as Sophie from The School for Good and Evil)
  • Joe Manganiello as Sir Crocodile (known as Alcide Herveaux from True Blood)
  • Lera Abova as Miss Bloody Sunday (known as Maude from Anna: The Agent)
  • Katey Segal as Dr. Kuleha (known as Peggy Bundy from Married… with Children)
  • Mark Harelik as Doc Bader (known as Dr. Eric Gablehauser from The Big Bang Theory)
  • Tyrone Keogh as Dalton (known as SA Page from Blood Diamond)
  • Rob Colletti as Wapol (known as Connor Brussel from WTF: World Thumbwrestling Federation)
  • Mark Penwill as Chess (known as Dr. Copley from The Fix)
  • Anton David Jeftha as Kuromarimo aka K.M. (known as Furiad from Dominion)
  • Sendhil Ramamurthy as King Cobra (known as Mohinder Suresh in Heroes)
  • James Hiroyuki Liao as Ipponmatsu (known as Albert Nguyen from Barry)

In addition, there is one character who does not appear until many episodes later in the anime. The role of Bartolomeo is already known through the career of an actor.

Episodes: How many episodes does One Piece Season 2 have?

Season 1 had 8 episodes. There is still no information on how many episodes there will be in season 2. However, we can assume that it will also be around 8 episodes – with an approximate length of 55 minutes. If it behaves like season 1, all episodes will be released on the same day.

Streaming Service: Where can I watch the series?

The live-action adaptation is an exclusive production of Netflix. Therefore, season 2 – just like season 1 – will be available on Netflix. You need a paid subscription to watch the series. The episodes will be available in numerous language versions, including the German dubbing or the Japanese soundtrack with German subtitles.

Story: What happens in Season 2?

Season 1 ended at the point where the Straw Hat crew sets off for the Grand Line. Based on the manga template and the actors presented, we can already estimate what we will see in season 2. Presumably, season 2 will cover the following arcs:

  • Logue Town
  • Reverse Mountain
  • Whisky Peak
  • Little Garden
  • Drum Island

Whether Alabasta will be included is still unknown. Either way, there are some moments for MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen that the production team must not botch. These are often very emotional moments: 8 important scenes in One Piece season 2 that Netflix must get right

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

56 years ago, a famous Western used CGI for the first time, changing cinema forever

CGI is a common practice in cinema today, used in countless movies and series. Nowadays, excessive use is criticized. But did you know which film first used these computer effects over 50 years ago?

Which film is it about? Michael Crichton is an important name in the film world. He is best known as the author of the novel Jurassic Park, for which he also wrote the screenplay for the adaptation by Steven Spielberg.

But he also worked as a director. In 1973, he directed the sci-fi western Westworld, which he also wrote. The film is still captivating not only for its theme but also because it was the first film to use CGI, even though it was produced quite differently back then.

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Westworld shows a completely robot-themed park in the 1973 trailer

To show the perspective of a machine, you should use a machine

What kind of film is Westworld? Similar to Jurassic Park, Westworld presents viewers with a type of amusement park brought to life by robots. The film is about 2 vacationers who go to the Wild West paradise. However, a malfunction occurs, and a robot starts hunting the vacationers.

What was CGI used for? The rampaging robot is played by Yul Brynner, and at certain points in the film, we see his perspective. It is depicted as pixelated. To represent this accurately, Crichton wanted to use CGI, as he explains on his own website: I suggested a rather simple solution: To show the perspective of a machine, one should use a machine. I wanted to shoot the scenes and then edit the film with a computer.

This technique had not been used in Hollywood before, but it was in aerospace, as the YouTube channel Vox explains. To take images of the moon, cameras were used that did not produce a classic image but sent back a code with numbers, from which a picture could be generated. Essentially paint by numbers.

Crichton wanted to do this for Westworld as well and initially approached the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA institute, because the special effects studios had no idea about it. However, there was a problem at JPL too. Previously, the technique had only been used for individual images because immense computing power was needed. They could have done it for Westworld, but for 2 minutes of film, it would have cost $200,000 (about €168,000). For a film that ultimately cost an estimated $1,250,000 (about €1,054,000) (Source: IMDb), that was too much. The production time would have been too long as well.

Therefore, they turned to John Whitney Jr., who managed to do it as a special effects artist in 4 months for $20,000 (about €17,000). But that took a lot of overtime since he could only produce a few seconds per week.

On paper, it was not 3D CGI as we know it today but 2D CGI. 2D images were generated and turned into short scenes. Ironically, the sequel Futureworld from 1976 was the first film to use 3D CGI (Source: historyofinformation.com).

Where can I watch Westworld? If you want to see the film yourself, you can either rent or buy it on various platforms, or watch it with a subscription on HBO Max. Tron was another milestone for CGI in 1982: This film revolutionized CGI in movies, yet it did not win an Oscar because computer effects were considered a “cheat”

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