We asked how often you clean your keyboard, and many of you should really be ashamed

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

We wanted to know how often you clean your keyboard and controller. And a third of you completely ignore hygiene. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann is surprised by this.

What kind of survey is this? Recently, we asked our readers on MeinMMO how often they clean their keyboard or controller. Until February 12, 2026, 853 people voted. And I was actually surprised by the results:

  • A third (30%, 259 votes) admitted that they clean their devices almost never.
  • 44% of participants (379 votes) stated that they at least clean their devices when they look like they need cleaning.
  • At least a quarter of the respondents reported that they clean their keyboard regularly once a month or several times a year.
Survey Keyboard Cleaning 2026
This is how users voted on MeinMMO until February 12, 2026.

I truly cannot understand this situation and am shocked that people do not clean their devices regularly, at least a few times a year. For me, the keyboard is one of the most important tools in everyday life that requires attention.

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Turtle Burst II Pro in Review: Find out in 3 minutes if the mouse is worth it for you

Mouse and keyboard are my daily tools and need to be maintained

My keyboard is my essential tool in everyday life. Whether at work or while gaming, the keyboard is always with me. Without a keyboard, much is not possible, although I occasionally pick up a controller. Most of the time, I estimate 80-90% of my gaming time is spent using a mouse and keyboard.

And for me, it’s simply part of the routine to clean my daily tool regularly. With pets in the household, it is essential, as pet hair usually ends up everywhere. And since I also clean my computer regularly, the peripherals are included as well. A clean keyboard just feels “better”. And with PBT keycaps, the keys also get dirty half as quickly.

Moreover, you should not underestimate the cleaning of your keyboard or controller, as the keyboard can become a real hygiene problem in everyday life.

Several studies consistently report that you can find more germs on your keyboard than on an average toilet seat. A few years ago, British consumer protection advocates tested dozens of keyboards in an office for health risks and also warned of high germ levels (source: srf.ch).

If you play on your keyboard after work and regularly stick your fingers into a chip bag, then the germs from the keyboard also migrate into your mouth along with the chips.

And cleaning a keyboard is really not complicated and with a few simple tips, you can free your keyboard from dirt. You just need to take half an hour in your daily life to properly clean your peripherals. After that, the keyboard not only feels better again, but you also reduce the wear and tear on your hardware.

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But maybe we won’t need keyboards at all sooner or later. The CEO of the German company SAP stated in a conversation that keyboards will become unnecessary soon. Because speech input for AI is now so good that we will soon not need keyboards anymore: The CEO of a German tech company says that in three years, no one will need to use keyboards anymore

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

Upcoming role-playing game on Steam reminds of Game of Thrones, but from the perspective of a dragon

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

In a fantasy world like Game of Thrones, fly through the skies as a powerful dragon, wage battles, and build your own kingdom: An upcoming role-playing game aims to make this possible. An early access on Steam is already planned.

Which game is being talked about? The game is called Dragontwin and is being developed by a small studio named Draconic Interactive. The project is currently funded only by studio founder Gustaf Sidén and donations that the team collects through Patreon.

Dragontwin sends you into a medieval fantasy world where you play as a “dragon twin”. This is a mortal whose soul is bound to a powerful dragon. 

With your dragon, you soar into the skies, participate in battles, burn entire cities to the ground, and conquer new lands – just as House Targaryen did in George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the source material for Game of Thrones.

Here you can see more of the open world that you can explore on the back of your dragon:

Start video
The upcoming role-playing game Dragontwin shows more than 7 minutes of free flight from the dragon’s perspective

In Dragontwin, you fly on your very own dragon

What kind of game is this? Dragontwin aims to offer a mix of open-world role-playing and strategy. There is currently no mention of a main story, instead, the game releases you into a sandbox. You can freely decide what you want to do or not. 

The same freedom also applies to creating your two characters: You can freely customize both your human and your dragon. For your dragon, you can even go into detail and change aspects like the shape of the snout or the length of the neck.

The movements of the dragons are based on a physics model, not on a handful of pre-made animations. This is intended so that every dragon can move realistically, regardless of how the proportions turn out.

When is the game supposed to be released? Dragontwin is still very early in development. According to an FAQ on the official website, the final release is “many years away.” This is also evident from the first images and videos, which are still filled with placeholder models.

Those who support the developers’ Patreon channel can already play an early version of Dragontwin. Later, an early access release on Steam will follow, but there is no exact date for that either.

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Dragons are among the most popular fantasy creatures for a reason: so powerful, majestic, and massive, few other beings compare. If you are also fans of Dungeons & Dragons, we have the list for you: The 5 most powerful dragons from Dungeons & Dragons ranked

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

A new role-playing game for D&D relies on a rule that Baldur’s Gate 3 has ignored, providing more tabletop feel

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 3 minutes

The new role-playing game Solasta 2 on Steam has decided to implement a 5e rule from Dungeons & Dragons that was not even present in Baldur’s Gate 3. This rule can decide between life and death in combat and primarily relies on one thing: patience.

What is this rule? Solasta 2 explains in a developer update on Steam that they are implementing a rule from Dungeons & Dragons meant to provide a realistic tabletop experience. It is the “Prepare Action” rule, which is stated in the Player’s Handbook of the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons (2024) as follows:

You prepare an action that you execute in response to a trigger that you define.

[…}

You can forgo movement or the performance of an action during your turn or do nothing at all. If you can’t decide what to do, consider the Dodge or Ready action to delay your action.

In simple terms, this rule allows for delaying actions and preparing them in advance to execute at the right moment. The rule can be extremely powerful, as players have come up with ideas like a railgun made from peasants – which, however, is only possible with a bit of rule bending.

What this regulation means for Solasta 2 and how close it will be to tabletop is explained by the team in their community post, but one thing is already clear: They are taking a step further than even Baldur’s Gate 3.

Here you see the trailer for Solasta 2:

Start video
Solasta 2: Trailer for the Demo of the Role-Playing Game on Steam

Waiting for the right moment with some patience proves to be a tactic

How will “Prepare Action” work in Solasta 2? In the post on Steam, the team explains that at the beginning of Early Access on March 12, 2026, the delay and preparation of weapon and targeted spell attacks should already work. You could wait until an opponent is in sight or range before acting, or wait for a healing spell until an ally can come close enough before finally casting it.

In tabletop, you specify exactly what action would trigger your action to use it delayed when the condition is met. However, in a video game, it is not so easy to provide all possible triggers for this. The challenge of this problem is explained by the team as follows:

In tabletop, you might say: “I prepare a Scorching Ray and fire all three rays at any goblin that puts its dirty claw on that lever.” There are many conditions: First, the spell only activates if someone touches the lever. […] Second: If it isn’t a goblin, there is no Scorching Ray. It might be your (non-goblin) arch-nemesis. Third, your DM, depending on how mischievous they want to be at that moment, could argue that a goblin touching the lever with a tool instead of its claw … 

– Tactical Myzzrym on Steam

To still implement this rule, the team wants to start with a very simple mechanic at the Early Access release: It will be triggered when a valid target enters the area of the prepared action. If it is a ranged attack (whether by a weapon or a spell), it will be activated as soon as an enemy moves into range. When preparing a healing spell, it will activate as soon as an ally approaches the spellcaster.

The latter is demonstrated with a clip on YouTube:

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Will the team expand this rule further? Based on this explanation, it should initially only involve spells and weapon attacks that affect a target. However, the team plans to implement AoE spells and multi-target spells like Magic Missile in the future. According to the Technical Director, there should be a future function that allows prepared actions to be adapted to advantages and disadvantages, but that will require more time.

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Until the game is released in Early Access on March 12, the team also wants to present the character editor to create your own heroes. The classes and subclasses will be summarized here on MeinMMO: New RPG on Steam is just right to fill the void after Baldur’s Gate 3, presents all classes for release

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

The first indie hit of the year on Steam does it like the Simpsons, has 200 different intros and each has its own joke

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Each episode of The Simpsons has its own version of the intro, giving the characters their own joke. A new roguelike on Steam does the same, although hardly anyone sees it.

What is this Steam hit? The new game Mewgenics is currently a hit on Steam. With over 80,000 players on the day after its release and better revenue than Counter-Strike 2 and Apex Legends on Steam, the indie game can currently (February 12, 2026) crown itself.

In the game, you control an army of cats that become stronger in turn-based battles against enemies. Through battles, the cats gather genetic changes that they can also pass on to provide the next generation with even better conditions.

Thus, the tactical game sold over 500,000 copies within 36 hours, becoming a mega success for the developers. However, of the 500,000 players, only a few have likely seen a secret unfolding right before their eyes.

Here you can see the trailer for Mewgenics:

Start video
Mewgenics: Trailer and release date for the new game by the creator of The Binding of Isaac

200 Intros but hardly anyone sees them

What’s up with the intros? Developer Edmund McMillen revealed in a video on YouTube that every intro of Mewgenics is slightly different. Just like in The Simpsons, he says, each intro has its own “couch joke.”

This refers to the details that always change in the intro. In the intros of Mewgenics, there is always a different cat, which might even mutate or be dead, while in other cases, there is graffiti saying “Fat” on the developer’s gravestone in the intro.

In total, there should be about 200 different intros in the game, and each game start should play a different one. So if you want to see all the intros, you need to start Mewgenics at least 200 times.

Why do hardly anyone see the intros? While the intros in The Simpsons have achieved a cult status, video game intros are traditionally skipped right away.

Developer Edmund McMillen knows this too, as he mentions in a YouTube video about a conversation with co-developer Tyler Glaiel. Glaiel is said to have said, “No one will know, they will never watch it a second time.”

Even though the intros are uniquely designed, without the developer’s hint, this feature might have remained an open secret for some time.

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Mewgenics is not only successful on Steam but also popular. The title enjoys an excellent rating, which is likely to make the developers just as happy as the financial blessing that the game brings: Over 250,000 sales: Mewgenics only needed 3 hours on Steam to recoup the entire budget of 14 years of development time.

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

A single sentence in the trailer for the Scrubs revival gives me hope that they won’t repeat the mistakes of season 9

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

The revival of Scrubs is just around the corner. For MeinMMO editor Niko, the new trailer already shows that the series is going in the right direction, and it only takes one sentence from Dr. Cox.

What is the Scrubs revival? In the USA, the revival of Scrubs will premiere on 25.02.2026. J.D., Turk, and the other familiar doctors are returning to face the everyday challenges of hospital life once again. Although there is still no concrete information about the German release, I watch every trailer and teaser.

Scrubs is one of the best series of all time for me. I can’t count how many times I’ve watched the 8 seasons. The 9th was a disappointment, but I just love Sacred Heart. When I’m not feeling well, I just turn on Scrubs.

That’s why I’m also skeptical about the revival. Again, it’s about new faces, but the current trailer gives me hope, especially one sentence from Dr. Cox.

You can see the new trailer here:

Start video
The latest trailer for the Scrubs revival showcases the key elements of the series

The approach of season 9, but implemented differently

What was the problem with season 9? In an interview with Esquire, Zach Braff, who played J.D., revealed that season 9 was actually planned as a spin-off. You can tell. The old characters were sidelined, and new characters took on the lead roles.

Season 9 focused on medical students who want to become doctors. Not a bad approach in itself, but the new characters could not carry the season and the high expectations. The charm and magic from Sacred Heart were missing. The great strengths that can even be seen in a small side character are absent.

The revival now seems to refocus on aspiring doctors, but with a completely different approach, which Dr. Cox perfectly describes in just one sentence: These residents need someone to do for them what I did for you.

The revival of Scrubs seems not just to rely on nostalgia; it aims to continue the characters’ stories.

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Nostalgia alone is not enough

Why is this sentence so good? Throughout the trailer, there are many gags, returning characters, and a relaxed atmosphere. But that one sentence from Dr. Cox is like an emotional moment in the episode. It fits perfectly into the trailer because it captures the essence of the original series: Yes, there are many gags, but Scrubs is always deeply human.

Although almost 15 years have passed since J.D.’s last appearance, he must grow as a person and a doctor. He must become the one that Dr. Cox was for him. In the original series, J.D. often grew beyond himself, but now he must become exactly that mentor.

The other moments in the trailer show: Working in the hospital is still challenging after decades. Even the preview of the series has good timing for balancing humor and drama.

And the most important thing that made me smile: The chemistry between the actors seems as good as it has been since season 1. No wonder, considering that Donald Faison (Turk) and J.D. are good friends off-screen and even created a podcast about Scrubs.

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I am still afraid of the residents

A slight skepticism remains. I think the residents are a really good plot point. In the later seasons, Scrubs already worked with them, but I also hope that they won’t get too much focus as characters.

In the trailer, they already seem more like gimmicks, which is why I’m not too worried, but we should focus on the core characters from the old series. That’s what the fans want to see, and that should also work as a revival.

Scrubs is not the only comedy series returning in 2026. With Malcolm in the Middle, the probably most chaotic family is also returning with a miniseries. Everything you need to know about it can be found here: Malcolm in the Middle Reboot: Start, Trailer, and Cast – All Information about the Comedy Continuation

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

AI could soon be the best alternative to your gaming PC

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

The Steam Deck is probably the alternative to the gaming PC if you don’t want to go for a console like the PS5 right away. However, AI is causing prices to rise everywhere, and now it could also affect the Steam Deck. In some countries, it is already sold out, but in Europe, it is still available.

What is the current situation? RAM, SSDs, and graphics cards. Currently, prices are significantly increasing everywhere, or the products are completely sold out.

The English-language magazine TomsHardware reports that numerous users claim that the Steam Deck is currently sold out for them. The Steam Deck is regarded as the best-selling handheld and for many as the ultimate alternative to the gaming PC if they want to use their Steam games.

The cheap LCD variant has not been available for a while, but now the two more expensive OLED variants are reportedly affected as well.

In Europe, however, the Steam Deck is partially still available. A sample on Steam shows us that both OLED variants are still available in Germany. With a delivery time of 3 to 5 days.

Steam Deck Offer February 2026
Start video
Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes

Is the Steam Deck soon to be the next victim of the RAM crisis and AI hype?

How does all of this fit together? Valve recently stated that they will have to postpone the new Steam Machine and Steam Frame due to shortages and high prices (Source: TheVerge). It is still unclear what role the Steam Deck will play within Valve’s hardware plans.

Some are already concerned that the Steam Deck may soon be unavailable or that Valve may significantly increase prices. Something many other manufacturers are already doing or have done. Because the Steam Deck also contains DDR5 memory. In addition, a manufacturer has already warned that players could face the worst in terms of prices still to come.

How this will progress in the future is still unknown, and Valve has thus far remained silent on the matter. Even a Steam Deck 2.0, which has been speculated about for a long time, is likely off the table in the current situation.

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How long will prices continue to rise? The AI-driven boom in RAM and other components is expected to last throughout 2026, according to experts. Some even predict continued high prices into 2027. If you absolutely need new hardware in 2026, you should expect to pay significantly more than in 2025.

And even the Steam Deck may no longer be an affordable option then. After all, there are already some alternatives to the Steam Deck, but they are also not necessarily cheap: Steam Deck: Here are the 10 most exciting alternatives 2026

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

The Netflix series about One Piece manages to make fans suddenly like the most unpopular villain: “Can’t believe I’m saying this”

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The Netflix-series of One Piece will soon set sail for Season 2. Just recently, a new trailer was released showcasing all the characters. One of them has transformed from an arrogant villain to an absolute fan favorite.

Which character is it? In the new trailer, which features various devil powers, Wapol is also shown. He is the ruler of Drum Island and comes across as an arrogant sloth.

This is mainly because, unlike other villains, he lacks courage. He does not confront his opponents but prefers to flee when cornered. Due to his design and devil power, he also lacks the certain cool factor. Instead, his powers are often used for slapstick humor or gross moments.

How popular is he in the manga and anime? In the original by mangaka Eiichiro Oda, Wapol is rather despised or met with sheer indifference due to the aforementioned traits. This is also shown by several popularity polls. 

On Reddit, he ranked only 31st out of 36 villains.

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

Unpopular villain suddenly becomes a hot opponent

What’s the situation now? In the Netflix series, Wapol is played by Rob Colletti. In the new trailer, he is briefly seen with his arsenal of weapons and his metal jaw. Fans on Reddit believe that the villain would look really cool in the live-action adaptation. 

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The creator of a thread cannot believe he is saying this. He refers to how unpopular the character actually is, and that his appearance is rather quirky. In the comments, there are many other users who find that Wapol has a cool design.

Some fans even go further and find that the new Wapol looks absolutely hot. They even wonder if this is already the slimmer version that briefly appears in the anime.

When does he appear? The villain will be the main antagonist of what is probably the largest arc of Season 2. He will be seen almost simultaneously with the little reindeer Chopper, which many fans of the anime are already looking forward to.

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In the anime, Chopper has changed his appearance during the runtime of the anime. In fact, the reindeer looks even more mature on Drum Island than after the time skip. There, his upper body-to-head ratio changes, making him look even younger. The reason for this is the voice actress: Chopper has become sweeter over the course of One Piece – the voice actress is to blame

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

Twitch streamer grinds for weeks for the Sauercrowd raid in WoW, loses everything due to a moment of inattention

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The Sauercrowd deaths are piling up, and now Twitch streamer Mowky has also fallen victim. Instead of starting another run like others, Mowky ends her journey here.

How does Mowky die in Sauercrowd? Mowky is currently battling the dungeon boss Baroness Anastari with a group, who can cast the spell “Possession.” Initially, Mowky is affected by this spell, causing her druid to attack the allies. Only when her health drops to 50% does the mind control disappear.

This is always a dangerous situation because possessed player characters can deal high damage, and the possessed player can be killed by excessive damage. However, the team was able to resolve this situation without any issues. Normally, a second mind control does not occur because the boss dies beforehand.

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3 German Twitch streamers you should know

Normally. Because there was a lack of damage. The second time, the Baroness took over the rogue Femba. He still had his damage cooldown Blade Flurry unused in his action bar, which the boss activated immediately. This increased the attack speed. Additionally, the effect Crusader was triggered on the rogue’s weapon, granting 100 more strength.

The possessed character then attacked his teammates with these damage increases, notably catching Mowky off guard. In a brief moment, she suddenly lay defeated on the ground. The laughter literally caught in her throat.

Mowky exits Sauercrowd

How does Mowky react to her own death? Mowky’s first reaction was actually laughter. Later, however, some tears followed. The Twitch streamer seemed affected by her end, after all, she was level 60 and could have participated in the upcoming raid. She later explains on YouTube that she incredibly enjoyed the journey together:

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Mowky unfortunately has no time to play up to level 60 again, as she has a move ahead of her. Therefore, her journey in Sauercrowd is over. However, she still wants to help with the organization and management of the Sauercrowd bank. Nevertheless, it is very unfortunate, considering that she has put in over 476 hours in the last 90 days (Source: SullyGnome.com).

Could Mowky’s death have been prevented? Twitch streamer Sieglinde has analyzed Mowky’s death in detail in a video on YouTube. He is sure that the death could have been prevented.

  • Players should demonstrate good cooldown management when the boss has the possession ability. Special abilities should be used as quickly as possible so that the opponent cannot access and use them during the possession.
  • Additionally, Mowky’s group had a curse on them that reduced hit chance. If this had been removed earlier, the group could have likely killed the boss before the second possession.
  • Finally, the possessed player should have been weakened by the group with stun effects to not pose a danger to the remaining players.

Another Twitch streamer has also faced death in Sauercrowd: Mahluna. However, her death was not the end for her, but the exact opposite. She took it as motivation to start a new run: Twitch streamer finally reaches level 60 in Sauercrowd, using knowledge from her previous demise

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Mowky auf Twitch
  2. Cliplinde auf YouTube

300,000 brave warriors return to Helldivers 2 and explain why they would keep coming back

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Helldivers 2 peaked Wednesday evening at a player count not seen in a long time. Players are now explaining why they keep coming back to the co-op shooter for the updates, even though the developers are not running major advertising campaigns.

How many players are currently in Helldivers 2? On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, there were nearly 300,000 players online at the same time, according to in-game display. The mission currently driving Helldivers 2 is the fight for Cyberstan, the home world of the Automatons, where the new cyborgs can also be found.

These are new enemies and hybrids of man and machine. The invasion of this world is the current goal of OverEarth and presents a real challenge, as the missions and especially the new enemies are quite formidable. However, the reasons why players return to the game for a mission long after release go beyond just cyborgs.

Here you can watch the trailer for the new expansion:

Start video
Helldivers 2 shows in the trailer for Machinery of Oppression how the new cyborgs change the fight

Campfire Moments and Fair Monetization

What are the reasons for the success of Helldivers 2? This question has also been posed by players in a Reddit post and debated. The fact that two years after the release, players are still returning in such large numbers to the co-op shooter is unusual.

For fans, the reasons lie mainly in two points. The first point is fair monetization. In Helldivers 2, every piece of equipment can be earned in-game with enough time.

However, if one purchases a war bond (the equivalent of a Battle Pass), there is no fear of completing it within a certain time frame. Thus, you can also return after two years and pick up where you left off. The war bonds do not disappear from the game but remain available forever.

What is the second reason? Another reason are the campfire moments that Helldivers 2 continually creates. You could also call them gaming highlights, as the co-op shooter ensures that new missions become must-plays simply because the battles for certain planets, including new enemies, are highlights that connect players.

Nevertheless, Helldivers 2 is often declared “dead,” as Reddit user DonKidd explains: “A few months ago, people were still saying ‘This game is so dead,’ and I had no idea what they were talking about. The developers have changed a lot of things and released new content, so I’m one of many very happy players.”

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Even if the player counts of Helldivers 2 sometimes drop to a baseline level, you can be almost sure that a major update along with a new heroic task is waiting for players soon, and they will gladly return. For those who find the new update too difficult, this loadout will help them deal more easily with the new cyborgs: Helldivers 2: Cyberstan Loadout – The best weapons and stratagems against the robot threat

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

The best Diablo manages to drop shadow, making me immediately start the download after 4 years of break

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 4 minutes

Blizzard throws all the current plans of MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz into disarray with a surprising shadow drop for Diablo 2: Resurrected. Sanctuary calls. Everything else must wait.

Actually I am currently leveling my Alliance rogue on the Sauercrowd server of WoW Classic Hardcore. Over the weekend I reached level 40, still without a visit to the spirit healer. After that, it was actually firmly planned for me to check out Project: Gorgon – which is an indie MMORPG that is receiving incredibly good reviews and increasingly attracts more players to the servers.

Both must now wait. Blizzard has unexpectedly announced and immediately released a new class for Diablo 2: Resurrected: the Warlock. That alone would have been enough for me to download what I consider the best Diablo installment once again after a 4-year break.

Here you see gameplay of the new Warlock class:

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

25 years of waiting is over

It has been nearly 25 years since Blizzard added a new class to Diablo 2. At that time, Assassin and Druid complemented the offering of the base game with the Lord of Destruction expansion consisting of Amazon, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, and Sorceress.

When in 2021, Diablo 2: Resurrected went live as the great modernization of the hack & slash classic, there were important innovations for the outdated technology and comfort, but fans had to “settle” for the familiar classes through the 4K version of Sanctuary.

It is still fun, even after years, to slash through the hellish hordes as a Javazon, Hammerdin, Poison-Necro, or Iceorb-Sorc, but the still very popular version of Diablo certainly deserved more fresh content – especially a new class.

Now the developers have finally fulfilled this wish. Better late than never. And also through a surprising shadow drop.

D2R: Reign of the Warlock - Ancients
There is a new challenge with the Ancients.
D2R: Reign of the Warlock - new loot chest
The loot chest has been revamped.
D2R: Reign of the Warlock - new items
Of course, there is also new loot.
D2R: Reign of the Warlock - Warlock summons demons
The Warlock summons demons.

What’s new in Diablo 2: Resurrected?

The new class relies on the tried-and-true method of fighting fire with fire in the war against Hell. Or to put it differently: unleashing demons upon demons and bombarding diablo’s hordes with hellfire. Thus, it combines the Sorceress and the Necromancer, only in a devilish manner.

Will that be fun? I don’t know yet. But after 25 years of class thirst, I definitely want to find out! The various other novelties from the Warlock DLC “Reign of the Warlock” will likely enhance my next D2R run:

  • Custom loot filters and the new loot chest provide more comfort.
  • The new Chronicle system helps complete your collection of legendary loot.
  • The revamped Terror Zones offer a greater challenge in the endgame.
  • With the Ancients, there is a new challenge for experienced players.
  • There are over 30 new items and a new rune word.

The only detail that bothers me a bit is the price. The new DLC for Diablo 2: Resurrected is supposed to cost nearly 25 euros. From my perspective, that is quite a lot when considering that there isn’t a new act in a fresh region, but “only” a class and detail additions. After all, the foundation is almost 26 years old. I can understand anyone who says: that is too expensive.

Start video
Blizzard presents the new Warlock class for Diablo 2, Diablo 4, and Immortal in the cinematic trailer

Why is Diablo 2: Resurrected worth it in 2026?

There are various reasons why, despite two successors, Diablo 2 enjoys the reputation in parts of the community as the best installment of the iconic hellish franchise. The game from 2000 was the logical progression from the somewhat crude first part.

The flow of looting and leveling and the character progression still captivates today. The atmosphere of the world is – unlike in Diablo 3 – wonderfully dark and looks wonderfully detailed even today thanks to the Resurrected version.

It also lacks the artificially imposed MMO garb of Diablo 4. Those who want to play D2R with friends can do so. Otherwise, you just fight your way alone through the oppressive world of Sanctuary. Perfect!

If you could fault D2R for anything, it would be the rather sluggish start to the adventure from today’s perspective. The stamina mechanic slows down the pace. The same goes for the regularly necessary visits to town to convert stuff to gold and thus clear out the inventory. The comprehensive expansion of the loot chest should eliminate the latter annoyance.

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For my part, I will spend the next few weeks in Sanctuary. What about you? By the way, another game from Blizzard is currently celebrating a surprising comeback – or would you have thought that at some point we would hear positive things about Overwatch? Overwatch 2 ushers in a new era, drops the number from the name and brings 10 new heroes

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

Pokémon GO forgets bonus in an event again, compensates you for it now

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO you may receive a bonus that should have been active earlier. However, not all trainers benefit from it equally.

It often happens that the content of an event in Pokémon GO does not work as planned or is unlocked, and trainers are subsequently compensated for it. The compensations are not always well received in the community, as they are sometimes not as strong as they would have been during the respective event.

The “Down into the Depths” event, which ran in the game from January 27, 2026, to February 1, 2026, was affected by such an error, as Pokémon GO now reports. A corresponding compensation has now been announced, but it is not as strong as the bonus would have been during the event.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Same Bonus, Different Pokémon

Which bonus is affected? In the game itself, you will find a post under News titled “Update: Down into the Depths”. It states that there was a problem with the halved egg hatch distance during the event.

Therefore, affected trainers will retroactively receive the bonus during the period from February 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM to February 15, 2026, at 8:00 PM, which ensures that you only need to cover half the distance to hatch an egg.

Who receives the bonus? The post only refers to “affected trainers.” It is not exactly known whether this refers to individual trainers or to trainers living in a certain time zone.

If you want to know whether the bonus is active for you or not, it is best to test this carefully. If possible, use the infinite incubator instead of the valuable incubators that are destroyed after three uses.

Is the bonus worth it now? Considering the monsters you can currently get from 7 km eggs, the bonus may be less interesting for some trainers than it would have been for the planned event.

During the “Down into the Depths” event, you could obtain 3 strong monsters from the 7 km eggs, including Larvitar, Bagon and Deino, all of whose evolutions are among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.

Currently, the Valentine’s Day 2026 event is active in Pokémon GO. Here, the possible monsters you can get from 7 km eggs have been adjusted. The possible monsters are:

  • Nidoran (male)
  • Nidoran (female)
  • Cleffa
  • Igglybuff
  • Cherubi
  • Happiny

While you have an increased shiny chance with the two Nidoran variants here, strong attackers are completely missing. If you are aiming for these, you will come out comparatively empty-handed. Collectors, on the other hand, might benefit if these shinies have not yet made it into their collection.

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While the Pokémon franchise turns 30 this year, Pokémon GO also celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. In this context, the first celebrations are already active in the game. And there you can receive some strong rewards – if you know what to do: A new trick in Pokémon GO gives you special candies, but you need to do something unusual for it.

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

20 Effects in Dungeons & Dragons That Make Even the Most Powerful Wizard Look Like a Clumsy Apprentice

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 6 minutes

In Dungeons & Dragons it can happen that a spell has another surprise in store for the caster, one that is unexpected. This so-called Wild Magic contains effects that can cause quite a bit of chaos. In this list, we present to you particularly noteworthy effects from the rulebook and the community.

Wizards from Dungeons & Dragons and those who venture into the wrong substances from the Feywild will have had their first experiences with “Wild Magic,” which is unleashed through chaotic magic.

The Player’s Handbook from 2024 describes Wild Magic as follows:

Your intuitive magic comes from the forces of chaos that underlie the order of creation. You or an ancestor may have been exposed to raw magic, perhaps through a planar portal to the limbo or to the elemental planes. Perhaps you were blessed by a fey creature or marked by a demon. Or your magic is sheer chance, having no discernible cause. Wherever this magic comes from, it bubbles within you, just waiting to be unleashed.

– Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook (2024), page 173

This type of magic allows for so-called “surges of Wild Magic” to be triggered. A wizard can consciously do this by rolling a d20 and triggering Wild Magic on a roll of 20, but it can also happen in other ways. Perhaps you eat an enchanted tart, trust a fey creature, consume a strange substance, or stumble into an enchanted trap.

No matter how you trigger it: The surges of Wild Magic contain a special effect determined by a roll of a d100. Based on the number rolled, a table is consulted to see which effect is triggered.

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The Player’s Handbook contains such a table, which includes a ton of strong, dangerous, but also ridiculous effects, the latter being particularly regarded as funny by players. The community is so thirsty for even wilder and funnier ideas for Wild Magic that many homebrew tables are shared online, featuring even more absurd effects for even more chaos.

In this list, we want to introduce you to particularly creative surges of Wild Magic that exist in the rulebook as well as within the player base of Dungeons & Dragons. Feel free to use it as inspiration for your own table or share your own experiences with Wild Magic with us!

On the next page, we will start with chaotic effects found in the rulebook.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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Highguard was just released 3 weeks ago, now the first developers are already looking for a new job

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

As a new raid PvP shooter from the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall, Highguard was supposed to be the new great hope on the horizon. No less than 3 weeks after the release, the first layoffs are already happening.

Who was fired? On LinkedIn, the level designer of Highguard, Alex Graner, talks about the layoffs at the developer team of Wildlight. He reports that he has been laid off along with most of the team.

The level designer does not disclose which other developers were affected by the layoffs. However, he mentions that it particularly hurts him that there are so many unreleased contents:

This really hurts because there was a lot of unreleased content that I was really looking forward to and that I and others had designed for Highguard.

Whether these contents will ever be released remains unclear with his statement.

Finally, he writes that he would look forward to the next steps in his life. He appeals to those who need an experienced level designer and posts his portfolio, which outlines what he has accomplished in the AAA sector over the past 7 years.

Start video
Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet

Highguard had a bumpy start

Why are layoffs happening now? In the message from the level designer himself, there is no information on why a large part of the team was laid off. However, it had already become apparent beforehand that most players were not even aware of the shooter.

Highguard did not rely on marketing, but on the element of surprise. After the announcement at the Game Awards, there was no information about the shooter. Players were so desperate that they even scoured the trophies from PS5 for hints about the game.

Nevertheless, the developers believed in the element of surprise, which had also worked with Apex Legends. The players who had played the shooter are mostly satisfied. However, many others may have overlooked the hero shooter.

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What’s next? Whether Highguard will last long remains to be seen. So far, there are no official statements regarding the mass layoffs and whether the plan for the free shooter has changed. Patience is required here.

If Highguard is indeed discontinued, it would be bad news for MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier. He has uninstalled 3 other shooters and completely lost himself in Highguard. Why the game does everything better than any other shooter can be read here: After a round in Highguard on Steam, I can uninstall 3 other shooters

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

Dune: Awakening listens to its players, fixes annoying problem that eats your items

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Dune: Awakening, the developers have addressed the community’s biggest issue with a patch and are receiving a lot of praise for it.

What is the issue? The durability of items in Dune: Awakening was too low for many players. It felt for the community as if they were using a toy version of armor or holding a toy tool. Repaired items lose overall durability, creating the impression that players are consuming themselves through the tools.

The community has been complaining about the speed at which items broke since the major update Chapter 3 and has written countless posts about this issue. Now their wishes have been heard.

Here you can see the trailer for Chapter 3:

Start video
Dune: Awakening shows Chapter 3 and the free content update in the trailer

Developers Listen to Players

How did the developers respond? In a new update on Discord, the developers discussed players’ wishes. They explained that they have been following the community’s discussion and acknowledge the problem.

At the same time, they announced a patch for next week that will significantly slow down durability loss. Although the exact patch notes for the update are still missing, the developers mentioned three key points that can be expected.

  • The base durability of all items (except junk) will be increased by 100%, effectively doubling their lifespan. This should be helpful for high-quality items like Power Packs, Suspensor Belts, and Compactors.
  • The durability loss on defeat will be reduced from 5% to 2%, helping to alleviate durability strain when fighting tougher enemies or content.
  • We are reducing the maximum durability loss from 20% to 15%. So, for example, if you repair an item from 0 to maximum, you will reach 85% instead of 80%.

They further explain that they also consider other improvements to the game necessary and are currently looking into issues that concern the community. Therefore, players can expect a larger patch with many improvements next week.

How is the community reacting? The voices of the community have been heard, and correspondingly, the players are joyfully considering their issues resolved. That is why there is much positive feedback in the comments on Reddit.

As subileus says on Reddit: “A big step in the right direction! Thank you, Funcom.” Similar sentiments are echoed by Ubiquitouslastname who explains on Reddit why the problem is harder to solve than many might think: “This is a good step. It’s hard to find balance: durability should play a role in a survival game but shouldn’t devolve into a burdensome chaos. A revision of the combat system would also help here.”

That this topic is particularly important to the community is also reflected in the reaction of Reddit user ZakuIII, who writes: “Damn yes, I’m pausing the game until next week.”

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The community is happy about the changes and is simultaneously looking forward to the patch that is supposed to fix even more issues. However, the biggest issue in the game remains the unresolved identity crisis: Dune: Awakening’s update doubles player counts on Steam, but according to the community, the identity crisis is not resolved

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

After 10 years we finally know what Xal’atath actually wants in WoW

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

What the motivation behind the actions of Xal’atath in World of Warcraft is, has been a mystery until now. Now we finally know.

Xal’atath is the main antagonist of the World Souls saga, but she was already introduced with the expansion “Legion” ten years ago in World of Warcraft. Back then, she was “only” a legendary dagger that came into the possession of the priest character; today, she is one of the greatest cosmic threats. But what does Xal’atath actually want? What is her drive? Until now, we could only speculate about that. But in the latest cinematic, she has made that very clear.

Start video
WoW: The Origin of Xal’atath and Salhadaar’s Decision in the “Superiority” Trailer

Xal’atath only wants one thing: to survive

What do we learn about Xal’atath’s motivation? In a conversation with the Nexus king Salhadaar, we gain insight into Xal’atath’s past. She belonged to a dying people on a foreign world a long time ago – she was presumably even the last survivor of her people, wandering through the desert of her world before she too was swallowed by the Void. Back then, she was allegedly “consumed by hatred and revenge”.

In the further course of the video, she explains that she has learned one single thing for eternity: “Only survival matters.”

That is probably the motivation behind Xal’atath’s endeavors: survival.

WoW Xalatath Knaifu Waifu Void Elf and Blade titel title 1280x720
Once, Xal’atath was just the blade of a priest. But she became much more.

This is the simple but effective motivation behind her actions, but it immediately raises new questions: Why does the Void – for Xal’atath is currently probably its most powerful creature – have to fight for survival? Is the survival of the Void threatened by another cosmic power (such as the Light)?

At least we can already sense in Midnight that the Light also has some rather “dark” plans that are slowly being put into action. The balance between the cosmic powers could slowly be shifting out of balance.

To what extent Xal’atath needs the Sunwell and its corruption – and ultimately the World Soul of Azeroth – remains to be seen.

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Does Xal’atath speak the truth in the video? The question of the veracity of Xal’atath’s past and her motivation is, of course, crucial. However, it would be curious if Blizzard releases a video that addresses exactly this issue, only to then say “That was all a lie”; that seems unlikely.

At the same time, it must be noted that Xal’atath is an extremely manipulative character who, however, has never outright lied. Therefore, it is to be assumed that Xal’atath has also spoken the truth in this video and is indeed looking for a way to ensure the survival of the Void.
If you are interested in the story of World of Warcraft but cannot find a good starting point, we have something for you: The entire story of World of Warcraft summarized.

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

Forget the new class – An inconspicuous feature is the true highlight in Diablo 2 after 26 years

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

For the 30th anniversary of Diablo, Blizzard has announced a plethora of new features, not just for Diablo 4, but also for Diablo Immortal and Diablo 2: Resurrected. The supposed highlight: a new class, directly for all three games. But especially Diablo 2 has received something much more important.

After the leak, many players speculated that the Warlock would be the new class for Diablo 4, and now the rumor has been confirmed: After out of nowhere the Paladin has joined the action RPG, Diablo 4 will feature the Warlock as its second class with Lord of Hatred.

Not much is known yet, except that the Warlock wields the powers of hell and represents a stark contrast to the Paladin. Thus, Diablo 4 will soon have two classes for every “Main Stat” in the game. More importantly, the Warlock will come in three varieties.

Both Diablo Immortal and Diablo 2: Resurrected will also get the class, the latter already right now, on February 12, as a Shadow Drop, along with the expansion “Reign of the Warlock” – enough to get our veteran Karsten to reinstall Diablo 2 right away.

Right in this expansion, which is released nearly 26 years after the original release of Diablo 2, are changes that could overshadow even the Warlock (are there shadows in hell?).

Start video
Blizzard presents the new Warlock class for Diablo 2, Diablo 4, and Immortal in the cinematic trailer

Dozens of characters had to store your items in Diablo 2, but that is now over

With Reign of the Warlock, there will be the official ability to stack items in the loot stash in Diablo 2: Resurrected for the first time since the release of Diablo 2. Previously, only mods allowed this function.

Blizzard is expanding the stash functionality to store items like gems, consumables, and runes in stacks – and there are even dedicated slots for these items. This amounts to a huge expansion of the notoriously small inventory.

To illustrate the extent of this change: Diablo players previously had to create dozens of characters whose sole purpose was to carry the main hero’s stuff. These “pack mule” characters stored only items in their inventory and stash. Nothing else.

Besides the obvious necessity to continually create new characters as additional banks, this whole method obviously consumed time, as one constantly had to log in and out. In online games, one even needed a second player to trade or had to stash their items somewhere in the world and hope that they wouldn’t be stolen before the main character arrived.

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A new endgame and plenty of improvements

Blizzard is constantly working on Diablo 2, although significantly slower than on Diablo 4. Recently, new runewords were added to the game in 2023, after some game mechanics had been adjusted earlier.

Now the developers are raising the bar further. Diablo 2 will not only receive the improved stash but also several quality improvements, such as:

  • a loot filter that has always been missing
  • a kind of “loot diary” that allows you to track which items you’ve found and where they dropped

However, the biggest change takes place in the endgame. The terror zones introduced in 2022 will become even more dangerous: new enemies will appear in hell difficulty, hunting you down.

These “heralds of terror” will grow stronger each time they appear – sounding similar to the famous Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor. If you defeat the enemies, you will receive statues that you can assemble in the Horadric Cube to face a new (and even tougher) boss battle.

If you’re waiting for the Warlock for Diablo 4, you’ll have to be a bit more patient. Information about the new class is to follow at a later date, and you will only be able to play it with the release of Lord of Hatred. You can find information about it here: Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred – All important information about release, price, trailer, and content

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

The Elder Scrolls Online will change significantly in 2026 – MeinMMO explains for whom it is worth it this year

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Since 2014, The Elder Scrolls Online has continued with new content and expansions. The year 2026 could be one of the most important for the MMORPG. In a new YouTube video, MeinMMO explains whether it’s worth getting back into (or starting) the game.

What is our new YouTube video about? On MeinMMO’s YouTube channel, we regularly publish videos about MMORPGs. Recently, it was about the scandal surrounding the failed Kickstarter MMORPG Ashes of Creation.

In the latest YouTube video, we discuss The Elder Scrolls Online, particularly the year 2026 and the major changes for the MMORPG.

Find out what changes are coming your way and for whom returning or even starting again makes sense:

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The Changes of The Elder Scrolls Online in 2026

What kind of game is this anyway? The Elder Scrolls Online has existed since 2014 and is an MMORPG set in the world of Tamriel, which you may know from Skyrim or Oblivion. You can also explore well-known areas from Bethesda’s single-player RPGs in the MMO.

What will happen to the game in 2026? Overall, the entry for beginners and the return of old players should become more pleasant. New methods such as a new release model, more content for solo players, or more tightly bundled content are being introduced.

You can find a detailed list of upcoming features in the YouTube video.

Start video
The Elder Scrolls Online: Seasons of the Worm Cult – Part 1 – Release Trailer

Who should take a look at The Elder Scrolls? 2026 could be a good year for both newcomers and veterans:

  • The large and freely explorable world is interesting for solo players and newcomers, as they can dive into the story at their own pace. Additionally, Elder Scrolls fans will get to see many areas and stories from Tamriel before The Elder Scrolls 6.
  • Those who have played The Elder Scrolls Online before might find it a good time to return in 2026 since content is expected to be more bundled.
  • Veterans can look forward to new experiments as well as adjustments to well-known systems like combat in 2026. However, patience will probably still be required for the major issues.
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What do you think? Are you still playing the MMORPG or would you like to get back into it? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. If you want to see the upcoming changes and a detailed assessment, feel free to check out this article: Is The Elder Scrolls Online worth it in 2026?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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Fan fears that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will end like Game of Thrones, but the head behind the series warns: “We know much more”

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms, the new spinoff-series of Game of Thrones, will eventually run out of books. Fans fear the worst, but the showrunner gives reassurance: Fans need not worry about a fiasco like the final season of GoT.

What kind of series is this? A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms is the second spinoff series of Game of Thrones on HBO after House of the Dragon and another prequel.

The plot does not follow any of the major houses, but the knight Ser Duncan “the Tall”. He is accompanied by his young squire nicknamed “Egg”. The series is once again based on a book by George R. R. Martin, this time it is the three Hedge Knight novellas.

Start video
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows in the final trailer that one can expect more humor than in Game of Thrones

What are fans afraid of? The creators of the series are slowly but surely running out of books: There are only three Hedge Knight novellas, and a second season is already in production. Fans are afraid of a significant decline in quality if the book source material is exhausted and the series continues.

The same fate befell the original series. The showrunners of Game of Thrones, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, ran out of book material from season 5 onwards. The following seasons were received worse and worse, culminating in the final fiasco of season 8. 

The last season of Game of Thrones was not well received by fans at all:

  • On Metacritic, season 8 has the worst user score of all seasons with 4.1/10 (based on 1,699 ratings)
  • On Rotten Tomatoes, the finale fared no better, as only 30% of over 10,000 viewer ratings were positive

The showrunner is open about it – and reassures fans

What does the showrunner say about it? During a Q&A on Reddit, a fan asked the showrunner of A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms, Ira Parker, a very direct question:

“Is there anything you can say to assuage those fears, along with maybe some rough plans for what you guys are going to do after Season 3?”

Parker explains that the risk of a fiasco like with GoT season 8 is not completely gone, but it is lower. He states: “in some ways, we know a lot more about what happens after these three novellas because of all the supporting material.” The “supporting material” in this case being George R. R. Martin’s main book series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

If the series continues after the third book (which is not guaranteed), they also want to work closely with the author.

“Anything beyond book 3 (if we could ever be so wonderfully lucky) would highly involve George.”

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Some actors have also commented on the ending of Game of Thrones. Not all of them were pleased with how the finale was executed. The actor who plays Jon finally speaks about the botched ending of Game of Thrones and the mistakes of season 8

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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Marathon wants to do one thing differently than ARC Raiders, does not punish you if you are ‘rats’

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

ARC Raiders uses a controversial feature to group like-minded players in the same lobby. Marathon is not supposed to do this, says the Game Director.

What is this feature? Virgil Watkins, the lead designer of ARC Raiders, confirmed in January 2026 what many fans had already suspected: the matchmaking for rounds also takes into account whether players frequently attack from behind.

ARC Raiders recognizes who shoots first in a confrontation and tends to group players who often shoot others in the back (referred to by some as “rats”, which is a very negatively connoted term) more frequently with other “rats” in a lobby.

This form of “aggression-based matchmaking,” as the players call it, is controversial in ARC Raiders. Some players actively exploit the system to land in friendly lobbies. Once there, they mow everything down, especially other players (as reported by GameRant).

Start video
Bungie zeigt neuen Gameplay-Trailer zu Marathon

No “aggression-based matchmaking” in Marathon

Could Marathon implement a similar system? According to Joe Ziegler, Game Director of Marathon, this type of matchmaking will not exist in the game. “We don’t have special matchmaking rules to separate ‘non-combat-oriented players’,” Marathon Bulletin quotes the head developer. 

The quote comes from a press event for Marathon and was reported by the Chinese news outlet Ali213. Marathon Bulletin is an unofficial channel for Marathon on X.com, dedicated to news and updates about the extraction shooter.

You can see the post here:

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The question of whether another player is hostile or not, according to Ziegler, is at the core of the survival experience. He further explains: “It’s that uncertainty that drives how unpredictable each run can be.”

There will still be a proximity chat in the game, so you can talk to other players nearby. It remains up to you whether you play cooperatively or attack every player directly, but that alone will not influence your lobbies.

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Marathon is indeed the latest game from the developer studio Bungie, but the system requirements for the game are still quite generous. You can also save quite a bit on RAM – good for those who couldn’t afford to stock up on it anymore. You can read more about this in this article: Marathon shows system requirements: You can even play the shooter if you can’t afford a new PC due to the RAM crisis

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

“It is a post-apocalypse”: Developers behind Fallout 76 are surprised at how friendly the community is

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

The wasteland in Fallout 76 is not a pleasant place. Everywhere there are dangers that threaten the lives of the players. But it is precisely the other players who seem to pose no problem in the post-apocalypse, as the Director explains.

The Fallout series is one of the most successful RPGs by Bethesda. With Fallout 76, the series received an online installment in 2018, which can be described as MMO-lite, as it continues to be filled with new content to this day.

In the game, you are not alone this time; other players wander through the wasteland and complete quests. The really nasty ones attack other former Vault dwellers and deal with the consequences.

However, the latter is a smaller problem than one might think. Even the developers behind the RPG are surprised at how peacefully the players act in the post-apocalypse.

Start video
Fallout 76: In the Survival MMO on PS5, you can let your inner Ghoul out

It is the exact opposite

What do the developers say about player behavior? In an interview with The Game Business, Lead Producer Bill LaCoste and Creative Director Jon Rush discussed the community of Fallout 76 in light of the 2nd season of the Fallout series.

Before the release, the developers expected that players would kill each other, after all, it is the world of Fallout. But the community acted quite differently:

Before we released the game, we were like… it’s post-apocalyptic, it’s Fallout, they’re going to all want to kill one another. It’s the complete opposite. It’s been great to see that. I’ve never experienced a community as great as the Bethesda Game Studios community.

Jon Rush on the community of Fallout 76

The community creates a good onboarding experience for newcomers, who might be tempted to start playing due to the series. According to Rush, they build camps, explain things to them, and even give them freebies.

As developers, they regularly make smaller adjustments in the game to make it easier for new and returning players to start with Fallout 76. Especially the series seems to ensure that players venture into the wasteland. Shortly before the release of the 2nd season, they released an update with the legendary ghoul, which attracted 20,000 players.

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Although Fallout 76 takes place in a nasty post-apocalypse, there are many mechanics that promote a more relaxed gameplay style. You can build bases, fish, or complete missions in co-op. If you attack other players as a nasty type, you will be punished with a bounty and become the hunted.

The world of Fallout contains many secrets and crude experiments of the Vault Tec company, which make the monsters in the wasteland seem harmless. They also did not spare children in their quest to create perfect humans: One of the most insidious vaults in Fallout is located under a school, separating children from their parents

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