Pokémon GO boosts the chance to turn your biggest disappointments into elite monsters

In Pokémon GO a new event has been announced. There you can expect bonuses for trading with friends as well as an increased chance for multiple Shinies.

What kind of event is this? In China, the Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 17, 2026, based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Accordingly, there will be an event in Pokémon GO that starts on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM and runs until Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 8:00 PM.

In addition to some interesting bonuses, you can especially look forward to an increased chance of getting several Shinies here – albeit with some minor restrictions.

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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Trading and Collecting

What bonuses are there in the event? In addition to the increased Shiny chance for several monsters, there are bonuses in the Lunar New Year event:

  • increased chance of receiving lucky Pokémon when trading with friends
  • increased chance of becoming lucky friends
  • PokéStops can also become Golden PokéStops without using a golden lure module

It is worth trading gifts with your friends during the event, with whom you have already reached the “Best Friend” level, as you can become lucky friends with daily interaction. Accordingly, you can receive, send, and store more gifts, if you have reached level 25 in the current GO Pass.

A lucky monster is worth it twice: on the one hand, the stardust costs are reduced when you perform level-ups. In addition, monsters receive new IV values when traded. If you receive a lucky monster, it has at least 12 points in all 3 IV values. With a bit of luck, you can also get a Hundo (a monster with all values at 15).

Which monsters have an increased Shiny chance? During the event, there are 3 monsters that you can receive as Shiny more easily: Elezeba, Flampion, and Gierspenst. Elezeba and Flampion are among the monsters that you can find in the wild during the event. However, they are rarer than the other wild spawns of the event.

Gierspenst is obtained through the use of the coin pouch. To obtain this, you must connect Pokémon GO with a Nintendo Switch. With a bit of luck, Gierspenst can also appear at Golden PokéStops. These will also be present in the event without the need to use a Golden lure module.

If you do not have a coin pouch, it will be quite difficult to obtain Gierspenst.

What monsters are in the event? In addition to the slightly rarer Elezeba and Flampion, you can also encounter Ponita, Galar-Ponita, and Krokel in the wild. The 3 monsters have a higher chance of appearing in the wild than Elezeba and Flampion. While the Shiny chance is increased for Flampion and Elezeba, it is not additionally increased for the other monsters.

Additional contents of the event: There are also event field research tasks in which you can receive encounters with event monsters as rewards. Also, a collector challenge, where you can earn stardust and more monsters from the Lunar New Year, is part of the event.

For $1.99 (about €2), you can also purchase a paid, limited research. Here you will receive 200 PokéCoins, 2 lucky eggs, 1 incense, and further encounters with Elezeba and Flampion.

Not only the Lunar New Year awaits you this month in the game. There are plenty of events, raids, spotlight hours, and more content again. If you want to know what to expect when, feel free to take a look at our overview with all events in February 2026 in Pokémon GO.

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

A miniature beginner wants to quit the hobby due to “ugly” results, but the community knows the words that really help at the start

All beginnings are hard, many people have to realize this when starting a hobby. A tabletop fan had to find this out himself as he wanted to start painting miniatures for Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons. Before he gives up the hobby due to disappointing results, veterans from the community rush to help.

What did the newcomer present to the community? A tabletop fan and newcomer to the hobby of miniature painting turned to the community on Reddit with a downcast self-realization: “I think I’m going to stop painting miniatures.”

Along with a picture as evidence, he explains that he is tired of spending money on miniatures that always look “ugly” in the end. All the tutorials he watched show good results that he simply cannot achieve himself by following them. He also adds that he has motor coordination problems with his hands and is bad at anything that requires patience.

Before the miniature community loses one of its own due to a rough start, experienced hobby painters rush to help him. They know exactly how hard it is to start a creative hobby and what really matters. The newcomer receives exactly the tips that he as a beginner – and also others interested who have starting difficulties – really need.

Some miniatures of the heroes can also be seen in the trailer for the fourth campaign of Critical Role:

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

“It’s neither a race nor a beauty contest”

What tips does the community offer? Other miniature painters from the community on Reddit urge the newcomer with various tips to improve his skills but also to stay optimistic. Based on his miniature, the following things stand out:

  • The paints he used are too thick. The layers of paint take away all detail from the miniature, making it hard to see what is depicted under the dried liquid. Diluted paints and thus thinner layers would make a big difference.
  • A brush is handled differently than a pen. One should not use the tip but the stroke of the brush. Strokes instead of dots.
  • A grip for the miniature can help provide more stability and control. Otherwise, it also helps to support both hands against each other.
  • Errors are part of it. Paint will always end up where it doesn’t belong. One just has to remember to touch up these places later (with thin layers!).

“It’s neither a race nor a beauty contest,” explains one of the helping miniature painters PalOfAFriendOfErebus on Reddit. He also points out that it is not always helpful to watch the professionals on social media. Painting minis is often their job, and they have invested a lot of time and money into the hobby.

He recommends as encouragement and strong help “Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy” on YouTube, where he presents his own first miniature that the veteran painted 25 years ago. And it looks almost as good as the desperate newbie’s:

Duncan Comparison
Duncan Rhodes’ development over 25 years (Source: YouTube)

How did the newcomer deal with the help? Based on further posts that the beginner published later, one can see that he did not give up and is steadily trying to implement the community’s feedback and keep asking for help. Especially the tip regarding diluted paint ensured that the details of his figures are visible again:

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The other hobby painters continue to help and motivate him to support him beyond the entry.

“It’s getting better. Keep going, keep improving,” writes laztheinfamous. New-Trainer7117 also thinks: “Yeah, man, they look great together. Really great that you didn’t give up, that’s the most important thing.”

If you want to start the hobby yourself or want more testimonials from real pros, you can read our interview with the miniature painter Bubblegum Angels, who shared her own tips with us: An artist turns tough Warhammer soldiers into “silly little guys”, hitting a nerve with the community

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

Hey Blizzard, World of Warcraft has a patch problem and people are noticing it

MeinMMO demon Cortyn finds the state of the latest patches in World of Warcraft shocking. Unfortunately, a trend continues.

For a few weeks now, the Pre-Patch 12.0 of World of Warcraft Midnight has been live, and the feedback is quite mixed. While fans of housing are over the moon building mage towers, cursed caves, or simply crazy houses, things are crunching at all other corners.

The new interface has problems, disconnects are occurring more frequently, the new talent system is partially faulty, and the new Devourer specialization crash-landed at launch. This is all quite embarrassing for an over 20-year-old MMORPG that, although it delivers significantly more content now, still cannot ensure the quality of these patches more than 3 years after the release of Dragonflight.

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WoW: Housing-Cinematic in WildStar style

Public perception and reality clash hard

I like videos like the “State of Azeroth” from a few days ago. There, the developers spoke for about 30 minutes about the current and future World of Warcraft. Sure, most of the information was already known if one follows the news somewhat regularly. Nevertheless, I find such regular communication with the community important – because not everyone works (like me) in the field or absorbs every WoW info like a sponge.

Yet there is quite a reality gap between “This is how we present the game” and “This is how the game really is right now”:

  • The interface frequently outputs LUA errors for many players – even without installed addons. Some recommend an absurd macro because of this.
  • The Devourer Demon Hunter was a total flop in the first days. Both in terms of gameplay and damage dealt – leveling with him was barely possible, as there were no weapons for him during the leveling phase.
  • Disconnects are occurring more frequently, whether flying, in housing, or just jumping, as many are reporting again today in the WoW Subreddit.
  • A bug caused players’ characters to be ported against their will.
  • The pre-event had to be patched on the very first day because some rare enemies were bugged, and the necessary time for earnable rewards was unbelievably long.

No, Patch 12.0 is certainly not the qualitatively best pre-patch World of Warcraft has ever seen. I also don’t believe it’s “the absolutely worst pre-patch of all time” – but it’s simply not good.

This is incredibly unfortunate.

WoW Blood elf black lips shocked Demon Hunter Metamorphosis titel title 1280x720
The new Demon Hunter was a flop – and first needed significant help.

Community becomes the test team, patch day becomes a flop

Once again, the community has realized that they are basically being used as “second beta testers” and still are. When one announces in a video how great it currently is in World of Warcraft, how exciting the pre-event is, and how good the talent overhaul is, it’s simply a shame when in the game:

  • You experience a pre-event where you have to wait 10 minutes after each rare mob just to receive 1 badge, of which you need 40 for a single item.
  • Talent trees show “red” lights because they supposedly require talents that were removed with the patch.
  • You see a new specialization that is monotonous, deals no damage, and seems unfinished.

Yes, many of these issues have since been fixed. The Devourer Demon Hunter has improved, in the pre-event enemies now appear every 5 minutes, drop 2-3 tokens, and the costs of items have been reduced. But that took time.

Logging in on patch day and discovering that everything isn’t working properly or is poorly balanced has unfortunately become tradition in World of Warcraft.

Every single event that World of Warcraft has brought in the last 3 years has been poorly calculated at the beginning. The ratio of “time invested in play” to “what rewards do I get for it?” has every time been a complete flop.

Just to illustrate this with numbers from the pre-event:

  • The number of tokens for rare enemies has been increased from 1 to 2-3 (which is +100% to 200%).
  • The timer for rare enemies has been reduced from 10 minutes to 5 minutes (that’s x2, as there are twice as many enemies leaving tokens).
  • The costs for items have been reduced from 40 to 20, thus 50% less (that’s x2, as there are twice as many items for the same amount of tokens).

If you now add these numbers together, Blizzard has increased the event and the rewards through the rare enemies by more than 600%.

Or, to express that in necessary time:

  • Before the changes, one had to farm for 6 hours and 30 minutes for a single purchasable item.
  • After the changes, it’s only 45 minutes (at worst) or 30 minutes (at best).

Blizzard is not “just barely hitting the mark” here – they aimed in a completely different direction.

Because it’s very current: Fresh today (February 4, 2026), Blizzard has even completely dismantled this goal again by essentially saying “Now everything doesn’t matter anymore”: Second characters now receive the tokens for weekly and world quests as well. This means that one can complete the whole event within a few hours if one just plays on 3-4 characters.

The patch is tested in the live environment

No matter how you turn it: No recognizable work has gone into the reward system of this patch.

The patch day should be the day that one looks forward to – when one feels a “hype”. Small errors can be forgiven. But when events and new content are structurally poorly balanced or faulty, it is detrimental.

Midnight looks really good. I’m immensely looking forward to the release of the new expansion and believe that we will get one of the best expansions of all time. But that does not excuse how this patch turned out.

Because the disappointing WoW reality we have to live with right now is: “Oh, a new patch is here? Better wait another 2 weeks before you play it.” It just shouldn’t be this way.
We do know that not everyone will survive the world soul saga – but it would be nice if that also applied to the bugs.

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

A manga has been running for 14 years, but even fans judge: If this continues, it will be one of the biggest failures

A manga has just announced that after 14 years of running, the first part is completed for now. However, many readers see a dark future if things continue as they have been.

What manga is this? The manga that has been running since 2012 is Bungo Stray Dogs. It is an action-mystery series featuring supernatural abilities set in the fictional Japanese port city of Yokohama.

The young orphan Atsushi Nakajima is thrown out of his orphanage and is on the brink of starvation. By chance, he saves a man named Osamu Dazai from drowning, although Dazai was actually trying to take his own life.

Osamu Dazai is a member of the “Armed Detective Agency”. These are individuals with supernatural abilities who take on cases that are too dangerous for the police or military. Atsushi also discovers that he has a special power and joins the agency. The remaining story mainly revolves around the power struggle between various organizations in Yokohama.

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Bungo Stray Dogs: German trailer for the anime with superpowers

Fans feel mocked by the manga

What are the latest news? At the end of the current chapter 129, there is a note that the next chapter will conclude Part 1. After 14 years and 130 chapters, the mangaka has thus officially concluded the first part for now.

So far, there is no news about Part 2. How things will proceed thereafter, whether the manga will take a short break or how the story will develop, is still unclear. However, many fans like the X account Nine of Cups speculate that it will most likely continue.

How do fans feel about it? Many fans cannot believe that this is supposed to be Part 1 for now. After all, the manga has been running for 14 years. They also hope that the author of the story of Bungo Stray Dogs will finally stop doing one thing.

The author is known for staging the deaths of main characters only to revive them a few chapters later. Readers criticize the lack of courage to include real consequences in the plot.

It happens constantly that one of the main characters has a near-death experience. They are caught in explosions, get mutilated, nearly drown, or even suffer a gunshot wound. Yet, every one of these dramatic scenes has been survived so far.

The problem is: A chapter ends dramatically with the death of a beloved character, and fans start to grieve. Only later does it turn out that it was just a trick. This makes readers feel like they have been made fools of.

If you’re into short mangas and animes, we have some recommendations for you that you’ll surely enjoy. We have listed 5 strong series from Japan that you can easily binge-watch over the next weekend if you have time: 5 strong animes for the next, way too short weekend

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

More than 115,000 players flood Valve’s new shooter on Steam because an update brought more content than other games receive in a year

Valve’s latest shooter Deadlock is currently receiving a mega-update that is attracting many players back to the shooter.

What kind of update is this? With the new update “Old Gods New Blood,” the developers at Valve have dedicated a massive update to Deadlock. Several aspects of the shooter are changing:

Perhaps the most important aspect of the update is the six new heroes that will be gradually introduced into the game.

Select a MMO video…

New heroes drive the boom

What are the heroes about? With the update, the developers have also added six new heroes to the game, although not all of them are unlocked yet. Players will vote to determine which character will be released each Monday and Thursday.

So far, players have chosen the sleepy owl creature Rem and the bounty hunter Graves, who operates on behalf of the undead. The newest heroine is now the werewolf Silver, who can maneuver extremely quickly and agilely across the battlefield while also dealing significant damage.

Her release created quite a stir among players. The werewolf suddenly attracted over 117,000 players to the Deadlock servers on Monday evening according to SteamDB. This is the highest player count since the developmental release in summer 2024.

How important is the update for Deadlock? Although Valve’s latest shooter had a strong launch, the hype around Deadlock drastically faded in 2025. The player numbers of the shooter dropped to below 15,000 players at one point, according to SteamDB.

The large update is therefore extremely important for the new shooter, even though the official release has yet to occur.

Comparing this update to an update for Counter-Strike 2, where often only individual details on the maps are changed, it is clear that Valve has brought more content with “Old Gods New Blood” than other games receive in a year.

According to the developers at Valve, Deadlock is still in the early stages of development, and it is currently unclear when a release will actually occur. However, the new update is already laying the foundation for the future. A detailed analysis of the update has been provided by MeinMMO author Nico Scheibel: Valve seemingly wanted to quietly release an update for their MOBA shooter on Steam, but their hunger for pizza gave them away

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

AMD’s CEO says: The Steam Machine is definitely coming in spring 2026 and explains why

AMD’s CEO explains in the Q4 report that the Steam Machine is still on track. She also adds that an AMD chip will also be used in the upcoming Xbox.

AMD’s CEO Lisa Su spoke in the Q4 2025 earnings report to analysts and financial experts about AMD’s sales figures and finances. Here she explained that Valve is still preparing for the release of the Steam Machine.

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Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer

Delivery of the Steam Machine is set to start in Spring 2026

The CEO of AMD stated that Valve is on schedule with the production of the new Steam Machine. Additionally, she noted that AMD hardware will also be used again in the next Xbox console (via videocardz.com):

For 2026, we expect a significant double-digit percentage decline in the annual revenue from semi-custom SoCs, as we are now entering the seventh year of a very strong console cycle.

From a product perspective, Valve is on track to start delivering its AMD-based Steam Machine early this year.

And the development of Microsoft’s next generation Xbox with an AMD semi-custom SoC is progressing well, with a market launch planned for 2027.

SoCs are specialized chips primarily used in consoles, mobile phones, and other finished devices.

What is the current situation? According to AMD’s CEO, the Steam Machine is still expected to launch in Spring 2026. So far, Valve remains silent about details and information surrounding the Steam Machine, and some fear that high RAM and SSD prices could delay the launch of the Steam Machine.

Even large companies like Zotac are currently warning that the end of high prices is not in sight and that they could continue to rise. The AI hype is not over yet. Even game consoles like the Switch, PS5, and Xbox, which were long considered price-stable, could be affected and become significantly more expensive.

With the Steam Machine, Valve will soon release a new device. Officially, the Steam PC is expected to appear in 2026, but many important details, including the price, are still unknown. MeinMMO presents all the important information about the Steam Machine in our official FAQ: Steam Machine: The most important questions and answers

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

Bought Ashes of Creation? Here’s how to get a refund on Steam

The situation for Ashes of Creation is not good. Many fans have lost their trust in the studio and the MMORPG, and now they want to request refunds on Steam. If you belong to this group but don’t know how to get your money back, we provide a guide here.

Update, February 11, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.

This is how to request a refund on Steam: To submit a refund for Ashes of Creation, simply click on your account name in the upper right corner of the Steam window and select “Account Details”. From there, proceed as follows:

  • Click on “View Purchase History”
  • Select “Ashes of Creation”
  • Now click on “I want to request a refund” and repeat the information
  • Now your window will expand, and you can choose which payment method your credit will be applied to
    • Note that the game will be removed from your collection after the refund
  • Now you can also indicate why you want to take back the purchase
  • Then submit your request

What you should know: The purchase must not be older than 14 days, and the game must have been played for no more than two hours. Anything beyond that may be rejected by Steam. Despite these strict rules, players are increasingly reporting accepted refunds, even though the parameters have been exceeded.

The first option, therefore, your request is usually checked by a robot. This means that if you feel betrayed by Ashes of Creation, you will find little understanding. In this case, we have a second option that allows you to reach a human support staff member. Proceed as follows:

  • Click on “Help” on the Steam homepage
  • Select “Steam Support”
  • Now go to “View My Requests to Steam Support”
  • Now click on “Ashes of Creation”
  • Now press “I have a question about this purchase”

Now describe your situation and explain why you want to have the purchase refunded. This request should ideally end up on the desk of a human support staff member. The Reddit user Echo_291 describes his success, as he got his money back. Keep in mind that you need some luck with the respective staff member, as you are dependent on Steam’s leniency.

What happened to Ashes of Creation? The MMORPG was seen as the next WoW killer, but recent reports of mass layoffs have cast a shadow over a rosy future.

Many fans now feel betrayed, as they support the development not only with feedback but also with their money. A former employee now shares how she perceived the layoffs, and everything sounds bad: Former employee of Ashes of Creation reports how she perceived the dismissal: “That was illegal”

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

“This titan is like a god” – The next opponent of Godzilla is confirmed and he is so powerful that the giant lizard needs Kong’s help again

Fans of Godzilla can look forward to some new adventures. Not only are 2 new movies being released, but a new monster is rising in February that Kong and Godzilla must face in a sci-fi series.

Which series is it about? The 2nd season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will premiere on February 27, 2026. The series revolves around the titular organization Monarch, which fans already know from the MonsterVerse franchise.

The organization deals with the monsters and titans that inhabit the Earth. They research them but also strive to ensure that not everything is destroyed by them. That is also the task in season 2. A new Kaijū appears and seems to be so threatening that Kong and Godzilla must work together again.

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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters shows in the trailer for Season 2 the dangerous Titan X

The new Titan X

What is the new monster? In the previous trailer, they hinted at the new Titan X, and now for the first time, there are large shots of the creature, which according to Lee Shaw, played by Kurt Russell, is supposed to be larger than Kong and Godzilla.

As the trailer reveals, the new monster seems to come from another dimension. It is a gigantic creature with multiple tentacles, and other water monsters seem to obey it. Visually and thematically, it reminds one of the Cthulhu mythos. In the trailer, it is said about the monster: This Titan is like a god.

What the monster’s goal is remains unclear. But Monarch wants to fight back, and if a new Kaiju tries to become the king of Earth, obviously Godzilla and Kong must be called. At the end of the trailer, it is already shown that Kong will engage in a fight with Titan X. Godzilla’s roar should of course not be missing.

Has the monster appeared before? No, the monster does not seem to be based on any known Kaijū from Godzilla’s history. While Godzilla has fought against water monsters like Ebirah in the past, that was just a giant lobster. As in the film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Legendary seems to have created a new monster.

The next months and years are a true dream for Godzilla fans. On February 27, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues with season 2 on Apple TV Plus, but that is just the beginning.

On November 3, 2026, the next Japanese Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus Zero, will be released, and on March 25, 2027, the MonsterVerse is set to continue with Godzilla x Kong: Supernova. If you want to engage with Godzilla’s opponents until then, check out this list: The 10 most powerful opponents of Godzilla in the power ranking

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

GTA 6 Chief Confirms Release Date, Reveals When We Will Finally Learn More

There are new details about the release of GTA 6 and the Take-Two CEO personally reveals when we can expect the release and trailer 3.

When is GTA 6 coming out? GTA publisher Take-Two released new information regarding the release of the open-world action game on the evening of February third. This took place during the earnings call, where Take-Two shareholders receive quarterly updates on the company’s status.

On this occasion, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed the release for November 19, 2026. There was no mention of another delay in the financial report. Instead, the developers revealed when we can expect trailer 3.

You can watch the first trailer for GTA 6 here:

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Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer

Marketing in warm summer

When will trailer 3 be released? In the financial report, the developers also talked about the upcoming marketing campaign for GTA 6. This will not start anytime soon, but rather in the summer. This could be because the sunny Miami can be sold better when it is not rainy and cold outside.

Accordingly, the next trailer, number 3, is also expected only in the summer. It could serve as the starting signal for the advertising campaign before they also promote gameplay and features.

Take-Two shares as much hope in the title as the fans do. 2027 is expected to be a record year for revenue through the sales of GTA 6. However, whether this is already an indication of the release of the PC version remains open.

What else did the CEO reveal? In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke about the use of AI in GTA 6. He explained that they have always used machine learning and AI in Take-Two’s products.

However, it is also clear that AI will never be involved in the creative processes of games, especially GTA 6. The company has long used AI to make processes more efficient, and not to create worlds.

„[…] We have actually always been leaders in this area and currently have hundreds of pilot projects and implementations throughout our company, including our studios. And we are already seeing examples of how generative AI tools lead to cost and time savings. […]

Nevertheless, I do not believe that tools alone can create great entertainment offerings. No, there is no indication that this is the case, and it will not be the case in the future. Specifically regarding GTA 6, generative AI plays no role in what Rockstar Games is developing. Their worlds are handcrafted. That is what sets them apart. They are built from the ground up, building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. They are not procedurally generated; they should not be. That is what makes great entertainment.”

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick in an interview with gamesindustry.biz

When exactly Take-Two will launch the marketing campaign and whether this will happen with trailer 3 as a trigger remains open. Before the summer, however, fans should first lower their expectations for the release of new material for GTA 6. Not only does Take-Two want a good open world: Blizzard is reportedly working on its own GTA and a job posting reveals the first details

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. take2games.com

Ex-Employee of Ashes of Creation Reports How She Perceived Her Dismissal: “That Was Illegal”

After all the developments surrounding Ashes of Creation, Margaret Krohn, the former Head of Communication at Ashes of Creation, is now speaking out. She confirms previous statements made by an insider and even reveals new details concerning the laid-off employees.

What is known so far? On February 1, there was news from Steven Sharif, the then CEO of Intrepid Studios and Creative Director of Ashes of Creation, that he and another executive would be leaving the studio and that there would be mass layoffs.

However, it remained unclear what the future holds for the MMORPG. Those searching for Ashes of Creation on Steam will currently find nothing. The game has been removed from the store, and so far there are no refunds for those who purchased the title.

Now, the former Head of Communication of Ashes of Creation is sharing her perspective on X, detailing how she experienced the layoffs.

Start video
Ashes of Creation: Early Access Guide stimmt euch auf den Start auf Steam ein

Personal Layoff within 24 Hours

What does Krohn report? According to her, there was news on January 28, 2026, that 100 developers were to be laid off. At that time, she still hoped that there could be a way to satisfy everyone together.

In the morning, she shared this information with her team. By the end of the day, she received the information about which individuals would be laid off.

On January 30, she spoke with each individual on the team and informed them whether they were affected. Even those who were affected showed the professionalism that she loved about her team.

But the next day, there was a bombshell. A confusing email was in her inbox stating that the entire team would be laid off:

It is still shocking. The entire studio gathered to try to understand what had happened and what it meant for our future. Ultimately, none of us would receive our final paycheck, the 60-day notice period and compensation as stipulated in the WARN Act, PTO payouts, or any other owed compensations.

In the comments, she also reveals that there was no communication to the players because everyone from the communication team was laid off. The players deserved better, and the developers would have continued to develop Ashes of Creation. What happened was 100% illegal.

She then lists her thoughts on the different parties involved:

  • She apologizes to the players and reveals how much love is put into Ashes of Creation. She regrets how this journey ended and hopes that the players receive their well-deserved refunds.
  • She sees the development team as her family. They will support each other during this difficult time.
  • She appeals to recruiters that they could refer to a submitted form to possibly distribute the developers to other companies.

The explosive development regarding the mass layoffs at the studio of Ashes of Creation thus occurred within a week. At first, the head of the development studio tried to appease and comfort the fans: There were layoffs at the studio behind Ashes of Creation, the studio head reassures the fans of the MMORPG

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

WoW announces severe losses: Not everyone will survive the Soul of the Worlds saga

The major characters in World of Warcraft are not safe from death. The WoW heads say: Many will not make it through.

You really only have to worry about the major heroes of World of Warcraft rarely. Characters like Sylvanas, Anduin, or Thrall have a nearly comical “plot armor,” meaning: they cannot die because they are too important for the story. No matter what predicament they find themselves in, somehow they survive every problem.

But that will not remain the case in the Worldsoul saga. Because Maria Hamilton from the WoW team said: There will be death. A lot of it.

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WoW Midnight – The opening cinematic of the new addon shows the attack on Silvermoon

What was said? In an interview with the magazine PC Gamer, Maria Hamilton spoke about the losses that will occur in the Worldsoul saga – during “Midnight” and “The Last Titan.” She said:

Important characters will not survive the trilogy. I fear there will be a lot of death. These are tough decisions. We have discussions about things like ‘Is now the right time? What do we do when the person is gone?’

Does dead mean really dead? Especially in World of Warcraft, the community often laughs off death a bit. Because in the past, it has been clear that death does not always truly mean the end – particularly the Shadowlands have drastically softened some concerns there. Also at the beginning of The War Within, it seemed as if Khadgar had died, only to return (more or less) lively afterward.

Who is at risk? Here, of course, we enter the realm of speculation, as reliable information is still lacking. The three Windrunner sisters are definitely at risk, especially Alleria – she plays a significant role in the first part of Midnight. Turalyon may also be in danger due to the increasing light madness.

In the end, who really gets hit and how permanent death is this time remains to be seen. Do you have a fan favorite that must not die? Or do you know of one or another character that could slowly step down?
If you’re interested in more about the story of World of Warcraft, you can read that in our comprehensive story summary of WoW.

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

For just under 7 euros, you can get two unique action games on Steam based on The Lord of the Rings, in which you can easily spend over 100 hours

Fans of The Lord of the Rings can secure two unique action games in the world of Middle-earth on Steam: For just under €7, you get entertainment for over 100 hours.

Which games are being referenced here? These are the action games Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Both games were developed by Monolith Productions and tell their own stories around the ranger Talion and the ringsmith Celebrimbor.

Until February 9, 2026, the so-called Shadow Package is available on Steam for €6.99 instead of €69.99. It includes both main games along with all DLCs.

Here you can see a trailer for Shadow of War, the newer of the two games:

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Offizieller Story-Trailer zu Mittelerde: Schatten des Krieges

What are the games about? On the timeline, the games bridge the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. You play as Talion, a ranger from Gondor and captain of the guard at the Black Gate. He was stationed there to prevent the return of Sauron. After his defeat at Dol Guldur, Sauron could reclaim his old fortress Barad-dûr at any moment.

One fateful day, it happens: Sauron and his chief lieutenants attack the Black Gate. Talion loses his family and his life in the assault, but is resurrected by the spirit of an elf. This elf is the smith Celebrimbor, who once forged the Rings of Power.

Talion and Celebrimbor then embark on a quest for revenge, quite literally. Later in the game, the two have an entire army of Uruks in tow, which are larger and more vicious than orcs, and you can subjugate them with the power of the ringsmith.

A unique gameplay mechanic that entertains for hundreds of hours

What makes the two games unique? The Shadow games share a special gameplay mechanic: the so-called Nemesis System. Throughout your journey, you encounter powerful Uruk captains and war chiefs, who are generated from a variety of backgrounds, personalities, and traits. This makes each Uruk unique. 

Captains evolve over time and remember encounters with you. They even build rivalries (and friendships) among themselves. Here are some examples of how the Nemesis System works:

  • If you flee from a captain, he may mock you the next time you meet
  • If an Uruk manages to kill Talion in battle, he becomes stronger. Even ordinary foot soldiers can be promoted to captains
  • If you kill an Uruk who had a blood brother, that Uruk will follow you to the ends of the earth to avenge his death

In Shadow of War, the Nemesis System was further developed and provides even more unique interactions and personalities among the Uruks. This system is also the core of the games: No other game has it in this form.

In terms of gameplay, you can expect a mix of stealth and brutal close combat that plays as smoothly as in the “Batman: Arkham” series by Rocksteady. All of this ensures that you can beat your way through Uruks for hundreds of hours while rarely getting bored, as you constantly experience new personal stories.

Would you rather relive the story of the films? For just €6.62, you can also get the Lego games for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in the bundle. If you don’t mind the sometimes very silly humor, you get two strong games that you can also play in co-op. 

In the Lego games, the DLCs are not included in the bundle. You can purchase the three small add-on packs with new characters and items for €0.99 each if you wish.

Do you want to learn more about the lore of Middle-earth? Then you’re in luck, because on MeinMMO, you will find loads of specials on the various characters and races from Tolkien’s books and the films. You can find an overview here: The Lord of the Rings: Everything about the lore and history of Middle-earth

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

Aion 2 becomes a big hit for its developers, earning over 58 million euros, bringing joy to NCSoft

While players in the West continue to wait for the release of Aion 2, the new MMORPG is already becoming a success in Asia, much to the delight of NCSoft.

What kind of MMORPG is this? With Aion 2, the developers at NCSoft are successfully implementing a new theme park MMORPG, which is also the successor to the well-known “Aion” from 2008.

Unlike the predecessor, the focus is more on PvE than on PvP. The developers have also adapted the MMORPG to the new way games are experienced. Instead of day-long raids, there are shorter, more engaging experiences.

The new business figures have shown that the concept works well. NCSoft has already generated over 58 million euros with Aion 2, and the trend is rising. Player numbers continue to increase three months after the release, despite the fact that the game can currently only be played in Korea and Taiwan.

You can watch the trailer for Aion 2 here:

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Aion 2: New trailer prepares for the Korean launch of the MMORPG

Joy at NCSoft

What are the consequences? The success and good numbers at NCSoft have resulted in rewards for the developers in the form of promotions. NCSoft explains to South Korean media:

“The success of the continuation of AION led to promotions throughout the development team. Baek Seung-wook, who led the production, has been appointed Vice President. Producer Kim Nam-joon and head of the business department So In-seob have also been promoted to Executives. Lee Yeon-soo, head of NC AI subsidiary, and Lee Joon-soo, head of the research department, have been promoted to Executives as well.”

For the employees, Aion 2 has definitely been beneficial for their careers, but players also seem to enjoy the MMORPG. Aside from critiques of pay-to-win mechanics and the abundance of content, many players are satisfied with the new MMORPG.

What about the release in the West? According to the latest information, Aion 2 is still set to launch in the second half of 2026. NCSoft’s revenue forecasts, according to mmorpg.org.pl, have been revised upwards and are expected to generate one million more.

The most important thing that needs to change with the release of Aion 2 in the West is likely the monetization, which fans repeatedly criticize. Recently, there was sharp criticism regarding the second season and the associated costs: MMORPG Aion 2 announces battle passes for €47 for the new season, creating significant frustration among fans

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

9 nasty mimics in D&D that make even the bravest adventurers paranoid

No monster in Dungeons & Dragons causes as much stress as a mimic. They are not only sneaky opponents, but they can also make even mundane objects seem suspicious. MeinMMO editor Caro has fallen victim to the self-proclaimed “mimic paranoia” and presents you in this list the nastiest ideas to further fuel this distrust.

Mimics are among the most famous creatures in Dungeons & Dragons alongside dragons and beholders, and they can be seen in various media such as Baldur’s Gate 3 or the film “Honor Among Thieves” from 2023. But much more importantly: they are absolutely nasty and cunning beings that I fall victim to far too often myself.

I could blame it on naivete, bad luck, carelessly touching all kinds of loot, or too much trust in my DM (shoutout to them). But ultimately, it is the nature of the mimic, as described in the official Monster Manual (2014):

Mimics are shape-shifting predators that can take on the form of inanimate objects to lure creatures to their doom. In dungeons, these cunning creatures usually assume the shape of doors and chests, as they have learned that this form consistently attracts prey.

Mimics can alter their outer texture to resemble wood, stone, and other simple materials, and they have learned to adopt the appearance of objects that other creatures are likely to interact with. A mimic in its altered form is nearly indistinguishable until potential prey stumbles into its reach. Then the monster grows fake limbs with which it attacks.

Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons (2014), p. 220

And I “stumble into its reach” quite often and willingly. It has become a running joke that I cannot escape. For this reason, I have developed a sort of “mimic paranoia” that I cannot shake off, making even mundane objects look like potential enemies.

In the trailer for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a mimic can also be seen:

Select a MMO video…

In this list, I will name possible mimic ideas from the community that definitely do not help me combat this paranoia. However, I do not want to be alone in this fear and want to raise the awareness of MeinMMO’s readership about potential threats in your campaigns. You’re welcome.

The Classic: A Chest

The chest is the most well-known version of a mimic, and as described in the Monster Manual, for good reason. Mimics are predators that lie in wait, silently anticipating their prey to approach. And what attracts brave adventurers more than their greed for gold and powerful equipment? 

Chests have always proven to be reliable disguises. However, due to their notoriety as mimic disguises, they are no longer a significant threat. Even a somewhat experienced adventurer knows that chests should be checked carefully multiple times to ensure that it is a creature. 

Which mimics you should be even more wary of, I will present to you on the next pages.

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

Trainer receives his monster back in Pokémon GO after more than 6 years of waiting

Some events in Pokémon GO may require you to wait a bit longer. A trainer demonstrates how long some things can take.

Time is undoubtedly an important factor in Pokémon GO. Whether it’s about time-limited events or raid bosses, or whether you finally have enough candies for an evolution or leveling up a monster.

A trainer demonstrates on Reddit that you may need to plan a bit more time for the return of your beloved little monsters. In this specific case, even several years.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

“Like all good things, this too has come to an end”

What did the trainer do? As the trainer reports in his post on Reddit, he was out on a rainy day in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, USA. Here, he played Ingress, another game by Niantic, which is also considered a predecessor to Pokémon GO.

In Ingress, the trainer had to wait before he could continue with his current plan in the game. Since both games use the same data to generate interesting points in the game, he took advantage of the waiting time to open Pokémon GO. There, he discovered an empty gym.

He made his way to the gym and was able to place a shiny Turtwig in the gym despite some issues with his mobile data. And thus began a years-long mission for the little monster.

How long did he wait for his monster? As the trainer himself states, he is not very active in Pokémon GO, so he checked the game for the first time after several months. He discovered that his Turtwig was still bravely defending the gym.

He then checked back in the game several months later. And still, he saw the brave Turtwig staying in the gym. And that became a tradition. Every few months, he checked the game, found his monster in the gym, and closed the game again. As he reports, he only shared screenshots of the defender in his group chat and posted on Reddit.

On February 1, 2026, it finally happened: the Turtwig was defeated and returned to the trainer. This earned the trainer 50 coins, and the little brave turtle a record-breaking defender time of a whopping 2329 days. That corresponds to more than 6 years and 4 months.

The trainer himself comments on this with the following words: “Until yesterday. Like all good things, this too has come to an end. And so, after 2,329 days and 22 hours (just under six and a half years), his watch has ended. And I am 50 coins richer. So that’s the result, I think.”

What are your records for the longest defense of a gym? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you want to know what events await you in the game this month, then feel free to check out our overview with all events in February 2026 in Pokémon GO.

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

How to become lucky friends in Pokémon GO for guaranteed lucky Pokémon

The lucky friends in Pokémon GO are live! Niantic releases the new feature with the current update.

What are lucky friends? This feature was already found in the code of Pokémon GO a few days ago. Lucky Pokémon are guaranteed through this feature.

We will show you how this new feature works and tell you what it brings when you have lucky friends.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

This is how the “lucky friends” feature works

How do you become a lucky friend? The most important requirement for a lucky friend is the friendship level. Only players who are “Best Friends” can become lucky friends.

Lucky Friends
This is what the lucky trade looks like.

You trigger a lucky friend when you interact with your best friend. This can be done by:

  • Raiding together
  • Opening gifts
  • Fighting together at gyms
  • Trading Pokémon
  • A PvP battle

How does triggering work? It is likely that this principle happens randomly. So if you send a gift to a best friend, you could become lucky friends, but this is not guaranteed.

However, it is already known that this can only be done with the first action of the day. So if you have already taken an action with your best friend and are not yet lucky friends, you will have to try it the next day.

This is how you get guaranteed lucky Pokémon: If you are lucky friends together, the trade of your next Pokémon is guaranteed to be lucky. So you will get guaranteed lucky Pokémon.

How do I recognize a lucky friend? When you become lucky friends, you can see this directly in your friend’s overview. There will be golden circles around the name and the friend will be generally highlighted in gold.

How often does it work? You can become a lucky friend with each best friend once per day. It is possible to have several lucky friends in a day.

This is what lucky Pokémon bring: When you receive lucky Pokémon through trading, they bring many advantages. Leveling up only costs half the Stardust and the Pokémon has at least 80% IV.

With lucky friends, you can now determine which Pokémon will become a lucky Pokémon. This way, you can trade particularly strong Pokémon as Luckys and thus gain a tremendous advantage.

Initially, there were only up to level 40 in Pokémon GO, but now there are a total of 80 levels that you can climb. For the last 10 levels, it is not enough just to collect experience points. In addition, you also have to complete tasks. What these are, you can find out in our overview of levels 71 to 80 in Pokémon GO.

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

The head of Epic Games does not want to “dance on the grave of Steam”, has other plans for the relationship with Valve

The head of the Epic Games Store, Steve Allison, spoke about the current state and future plans of the launcher. He also talked about how they plan to deal with Steam as a competitor.

What is Steve Allison planning for a relationship with Valve? In an interview with IGN, the head of the Epic Games Store, Steve Allison, discussed the platform and the upcoming goals. Currently, around 68 million people use the store monthly, a significant portion of whom are also on Steam.

Steve Allison explains that while they would be happy to see larger numbers than Steam, that is not the plan: “Our goal is not to dance on the grave of Steam or anything like that. We want to create a sustainable place where developers can expect to sell 25 to 30% of their games.”

One of Epic Games’ biggest games is Fortnite:

Start video
Fortnite: Shows Chapter 7 “Pacific Break” in its new cinematic trailer

Epic Games focuses on mobile and Fortnite

What are the goals of the Epic Games Store? The Epic Games Store aims to achieve a market share of 25 to 30% on PC. The platform should become so relevant that developers cannot overlook it and it is regarded as a “must”.

Furthermore, Steve Allison states that the Epic Games Store should not only operate on PC. It should be cross-platform, serving as a hub on both PC and Android and iOS. Naturally, mobile titles such as Genshin Impact are also in focus.

In the future, customers will be drawn to the Epic Games Store by offering exclusive cosmetic items in Fortnite. If one purchases a specific game in the Epic Games Store, a specific corresponding item will be unlocked in Fortnite. For example, those who purchased Hogwarts Legacy in the Epic Games Store were able to enjoy a chocolate frog backpack for their character in Fortnite.

The store itself is also set to be revamped and receive community features.

A significant advantage of the Epic Games Store is the regular giveaway of video games. Hogwarts Legacy has also been among the games given away. This feature is well received by users of the Epic Games Store: Big competitor of Steam lures players for years with free games, has conditioned them perfectly: ‘I set up an alarm’

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

Call of Duty now fights players who spend hundreds of euros to win on console even without skill

In shooters, many players resort to illegal means on consoles. Call of Duty is now intensifying the fight against pesky cheaters.

What kind of players are they? Players who want an unfair advantage on consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S often resort to so-called spoofers. These are devices like the Cronus Zen or the XIM Matrix that manipulate the input signal from controllers, thereby providing players unauthorized assistance in various games.

With these “tools,” it is for example possible:

  • to reduce the recoil of a weapon,
  • to set up macros,
  • to enhance the aim assist of a game
  • to automatically fire semi-automatic weapons at maximum fire rate at the press of a button

Furthermore, these devices allow for universal controller usage on different consoles. For instance, players can use an Xbox controller on the PlayStation – or use mouse and keyboard in games that do not even support mouse and keyboard. Alternatively, players can get aim assist from controllers while using mouse and keyboard on the console because the device trick the console into believing a controller is being used.

Start video
CoD: Black Ops 7 zeigt seine kommende Season 2 im neuen explosiven Trailer

This is the new measure from Call of Duty: In a new blog post, the developers explained that they are introducing new detection features to identify prohibited devices as well as accounts using them.

These detection measures target input devices that “simulate mechanically perfect accuracy and recoil control and thus provide advantages that no human player can achieve naturally.”

The team analyzes the timing, consistency, and reaction patterns of inputs “to distinguish natural human gameplay from mechanically modified inputs.” They want to identify recoil control, aim behavior, and input accuracy that goes beyond what is physically possible with a standard controller or mouse.

Often, users of these tools remain undetected because they are designed to be as difficult to spot as possible. Call of Duty is now focusing on changing that and being able to better identify certain input patterns. However, the developers emphasize that this remains an ongoing process.

Those caught using such a tool can expect to face penalties.

Is this really cheating? Yes. The use of so-called spoofers is prohibited in many competitive games, including Rainbow Six: Siege, Valorant, and also Call of Duty. The CoD developers made this clear again in the latest blog post:

“To be clear: These devices are not allowed in Call of Duty. They are cheating tools, even if they disguise themselves as accessibility aids.”

Nevertheless, many players on consoles resort to these devices to gain an unfair advantage and increase their chances of victory. However, this reflects in their wallets. A Cronus Zen or XIM Matrix costs around €130 from the respective manufacturer, not including special controllers with shoulder buttons, or attachments like the controversial Strike-Pack by Cronus.


In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, the second season also starts this week, bringing new maps for multiplayer, Warzone, and the zombie mode. You can find the most important information about the upcoming update here: CoD Black Ops 7 & Warzone: Season 2 starts in 2 days – All important information at a glance

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

Twitch streamer finds out that she has been an emote for years and over 4,000 channels have used her face without permission

The American Twitch streamer Maya Higa noticed that her face is used for a widely used emote. This visibly confuses her, as she does not think it is very good.

Who is it about? Maya Higa is an American Twitch streamer who primarily uses her content creator status for animals. She founded Alveus Sanctuary, an organization that takes in and cares for animals that can no longer survive in the wild.

On Twitch, she entertains her nearly 1 million followers mainly in the Just Chatting category. In the past 365 days, according to SullyGnome, she has spent over 454 hours engaging with her viewers. The rest of the time, the streamer plays games like Elden Ring.

But the Twitch streamer seems to have another career: She is a famous emote and therefore known to even more people.

Start video
3 German Twitch streamers you should know

“It’s not even a good emote”

What kind of emote is it? In one of her recent streams, Maya discovered that her face is used for an emote: the “lmao” emote on 7TV.

You can see a screenshot of it here. You can view the whole emote in motion here on 7TV.

Maya Higa Emote

Previously, she probably thought that only she would see her face on her own Twitch channel, not other people.

When a viewer points out to her that the emote is even used by many, Maya replies: “Why? It’s not even a good emote.” (Source: Twitch). She then joked whether this was now her chance at success, considering 4,000 channels use this emote.

Maya Higa, as mentioned, is committed to animals through Alveus Sanctuary. This also enables other beings to aspire to a successful career on Twitch – even if they are a cow: Twitch streamer “is living the dream”, receives donations and food when she moos at the camera

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

Where Winds Meet takes you back in time, builds new regions in ancient China

Where Winds Meet has shared new information about the upcoming DLC and the second season – and it goes back in time.

What is behind the time travel? The developers of Where Winds Meet have addressed players in a letter and shared some new information about upcoming content (via Instagram).

In the letter, the team behind the action RPG reveals that the first DLC named “Hexi” will be released on March 6. With the DLC, players are set to embark on a “dreamlike journey” that lets them travel back in time.

What exactly lies behind the time travel is currently unknown.

Start video
MyMMO in the GameStar Talk: Our MMORPG expert sums up the Chinese RPG Where Winds Meet

What else is included in the DLC: The DLC will be released in stages, bringing a new region to ancient China every 28 days. There will be a total of three new regions: the “Jade Gate Pass”, “Liangzhou”, and “Quinchuan”.

Furthermore, a new combat style called “Bamboocut – Dust” will be introduced in March. In April, a new weapon called the “Heng Blade” will follow. This is a historical sword based on the design of the Chinese Jiannan region.

What to expect before the DLC: On February 6, the second season of Where Winds Meet will already begin, launching a new chapter. Among other things, there will be a new spotlight mode and the new sect “The Masked Group”.

Moreover, the developers emphasized again that they continue to work on optimization for PC, PS5 and Mobile as well as on improving multilingual localization. They have therefore invested more time and effort in the DLC so that players can properly enjoy the new content.

A few days ago, the developers of Where Winds Meet talked about their plans for 2026, and localization as well as fixing technical issues was a major topic: Where Winds Meet has already received 6 important updates in 2026, and the developers explain what is coming next

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