Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone will soon receive a new, major update along with the new Season 2. You can find out what the main changes are and when the update goes live here.
When does Season 2 start? Black Ops 7 and Warzone will receive a new update on February 5, 2026 – Season 2 is set to launch. As usual, you can expect the start of the update in the evening between 6 and 7 PM.
How large will the download be? We can’t say for sure right now. However, our experience suggests a data size of approximately 10–20 GB. Typically, these updates for Call of Duty tend to be larger.
Will there be a preload? That is also not known yet. We will update this part as soon as we know more.
What are the main changes? With Season 2, new content comes to the multiplayer, the zombie mode, and Warzone. This includes new maps, weapons, and modes. Here’s what you can expect:
9 multiplayer maps throughout Season 2
1 new Warzone map
1 new zombies map
6 modes
Events for all three modes (multiplayer, Warzone & zombies)
7 new weapons and 6 new attachments
50+ new camos to collect
A new Battle Pass and various bundles for the shop
A new trailer for Season 2 is also already available, which will get you excited:
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CoD: Black Ops 7 zeigt seine kommende Season 2 im neuen explosiven Trailer
You have to wait a few more days until you can play the new content, but when the release is approaching, we will be ready with a live ticker.
We will then report on the state of the servers, and if they cause problems and prevent you from logging in, we will inform you about it. So feel free to bookmark our post and return on the evening of February 5 to not miss anything.
After Overwatch 2 received criticism from many players, the development team is changing its course. In a new livestream, it was announced that the number will be dropped from the title and significant changes will be made.
What changes are these? Overwatch 2 will now be known simply as Overwatch. The year 2026 is said to be a major turning point for the developers and will change the future of the hero shooter. Thus, the 2 will be dropped from the name and it will continue as Overwatch.
You can watch the stream here:
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The hero shooter is set to usher in a new, story-driven era that will last for years. There are several changes that players can look forward to:
The first new story arc will be titled “The Reign of Talon”.
There will be 10 new heroes.
The first new season is set to start on February 10, 2026. It will last for 1 year, until 2027.
There will be a new meta event called Conquest.
The user interface and UX will be revamped. This includes a new hero lobby and faster navigation.
From February 10 to 23, there will be an in-game event featuring Hello Kitty.
There will be an updated Switch 2 version that will be released in the spring.
Especially the focus on the story will likely please many players. After the launch of Overwatch 2, there was a lot of criticism. Alongside several scandals surrounding the discarded PvE mode, questionable monetization, or the possibly upcoming return to “6vs6”, there are recurring critiques and requests for changes.
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A Major Competitor of Overwatch is Finished, the Game is Essentially Dead
Overwatch brings numerous innovations
What is this story about? The very first story will revolve around the antagonists of Talon. They are trying to gain control over the world. The Overwatch team wants to prevent that. To tell the story, there will be in-game events, trailers for new heroes, animated comics, short stories, and map updates. The story will be told over 6 seasons.
What are these new heroes? On February 10, the first 5 new heroes will be revealed. On Talon’s side, these are the tank Domina, damage dealer Emre, and support Mizuki.
Joining the Overwatch side are damage dealer Anran and support Jetpack Cat. The other 5 heroes will be introduced in seasons 2-6.
What is this event? In another update, there will be the new meta event called Conquest. Here, players choose a side: either Overwatch or Talon. Over 5 weeks, they must complete challenges to earn rewards like loot boxes, skins, and titles.
The Ultra Beasts in Pokémon have a rather atypical appearance. And there is a good reason for that, as the designer of the monsters has revealed.
What are Ultra Beasts? Unlike the well-known monsters from the world of Pokémon, Ultra Beasts are from another world or dimension. They come from the so-called Ultra Dimension and enter the Pokémon world through Ultra Wormholes.
This is also the reason why Ultra Beasts are difficult to catch with regular Poké Balls. For this, special Ultra Balls were developed, which allow you to catch the monsters from the other dimension much more easily.
Ultra Beasts made their debut in the main games Sun and Moon and have also become a staple in other games of the series, like Pokémon GO. A former employee of Game Freak, the developers of the Pokémon games, has now commented on the appearance of the beasts.
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In the trailer for Pokémon Tekken you see the monster battles from a different perspective
“Manifestation of my own resentment”
Who is the former employee? Yusuke Omura is an illustrator and character designer who worked at Game Freak until 2016. In this position, he was also responsible for creating new Pokémon designs.
According to Omura, there is a unique story behind the appearance of the Ultra Beasts that not all Poké fans appreciate. They look like rejected Pokémon because, in essence, they are. This relates to Ken Sugimori, the art director of Game Freak, who is responsible for the design of characters and Pokémon.
The Ultra Beasts were created by revisiting all the designs that Mr. Sugimori had rejected up to that point and then deliberately using the reasons for those rejections as guidelines for the new designs.
In a way, they are also a collective manifestation of my resentments and grudges, which is quite scary, isn’t it?
However, this does not mean that I hate Mr. Sugimori or anything like that.
The design of the Ultra Beasts is based on ideas that Omura had for new Pokémon that were dismissed by Sugimori. In the form of the Ultra Beasts, however, they ultimately found their way into the world of Pokémon.
Stardew Valley can captivate players for hundreds of hours. And yet, not all the game’s secrets have been uncovered to this day.
What kind of game is it? Stardew Valley is a simulation game that also features role-playing elements. While you take care of your farm and earn money through vegetables, fruits, or animal products, you can also dive into caves, collect better equipment, and defeat nasty monsters.
The popular game was developed by Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe. And although the game will celebrate its 10th anniversary on February 26, 2026, there is still a secret that, according to the developer, has not been discovered to this day. And that is probably not so easy.
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Stardew Valley Trailer
“Don’t believe anyone will ever discover it”
What is this secret? Eric Barone recently gave a big interview on ign.com. In this interview, he answered a variety of questions regarding the upcoming 10th anniversary of Stardew Valley.
When he was asked about secrets in the game that have not yet been discovered, he replied as follows:
There is still a secret that no one has discovered. I don’t believe anyone will ever discover it. Maybe I will reveal it one day, but the problem with this secret is that it… It is basically a secret message in the game that reveals something that isn’t actually true anymore. It revealed something about… Should I reveal it or not? Well, I won’t say more about it. I would say it was a secret message that basically announced something that I then changed, and that thing isn’t even true anymore, but it is still in the game. I just don’t know if anyone will ever discover it because it is so well hidden.
The interviewer notes that the game’s code must have been thoroughly searched over the years and finds it interesting that the secret has not been found yet. Barone responds:
That’s right. That’s right. But the thing is: There are certain ways of hiding messages that can’t really be found through data analysis. If you hide something in the code, it will be found because people decompile the code and look at everything. If you hide it in the graphics or something, if it is a secret message that is somehow hidden in the graphics, then people can’t discover it so easily. They have to see it.
He also remarks: “I feel that no one will ever find it, but I hope that someone does. That would be interesting.”
So, it remains to be seen whether the secret will ever be found and whether we will learn in the future what it actually is. So next time you manage a farm in Stardew Valley, you should keep your eyes peeled. Maybe you’ll discover the previously undiscovered secret.
Stardew Valley offers many different contents in which you can immerse yourself for hours. This also includes completing the community center. However, you should be careful not to make the same mistake as MeinMMO author Max Handwerk: I hunted a fish in Stardew Valley for hours, only to mess it all up.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The shooter Arc Raiders is also not safe from cheaters. The developers are doing their best to put a stop to them. They have now come up with a new method, which unfortunately also affects innocent players.
What is this method? On Steam, family members can link with each other. Up to 6 people from one household share the game library this way. This allows multiple players to play different games simultaneously that another player has purchased. However, they receive their own achievements and save files.
However, from now on, they also share a ban; if a player messes up in Arc Raiders, the developer team informs. If any family member receives a ban, all accounts in that family are suspended. They receive the same duration as the person who was caught cheating.
It is important to understand that possible Arc Raiders accounts of family members are not banned from the game itself, but can no longer access the copy that the cheater shared with their family.
In retrospect, it also doesn’t help to kick family members out of the family. There is only one way to circumvent this.
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ARC Raiders receives new matchmaking option and trophy display with Headwinds
Family members can free themselves from the punishment
How can one bypass the ban? To still be able to play Arc Raiders, innocent affected players must leave the family and obtain their own copy of the shooter. They will have to pay the full price of around €40 on Steam.
An alternative would be to wait for the cheater’s ban, if they were not banned permanently. Because the ban duration also applies to family members.
What do the players themselves say about it? On Reddit, the news about the approach to Arc Raiders was shared. There are many comments expressing joy about the new type of ban.
Some users write, for example, that this would be good news. Others consider it already a principle. In some comments, such as “Cheaters are crying”, there is even a bit of schadenfreude.
For some, it would now be perfect if cheaters were permanently banned for the first offense. So far, they can afford 3 strikes before they can never enter the game again.
A new update for Guild Wars 2 changes how raiding works and brings new content. There is also an important update for the true endgame.
What kind of update is this? Guild Wars 2 released the new update “Visions of Eternity: Raids & Wardrobe” on February 3rd, which, as the name suggests, aims to improve two different aspects of the game, but in addition to raids and outfits, also brings several other minor changes to the game.
Guild Wars 2 can also look really beautiful:
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Guild Wars 2 zeigt die hübsche Strandregion der neuen Erweiterung Visions of Eternity
Revised Raids
What has changed with the raids? The most beloved activity in the endgame of MMORPGs has been adjusted by the developers of Guild Wars 2. While there used to be a difference between “Strike Missions” and raids in the game, these have now been integrated into the normal raid system.
The short boss fights are now officially called “Raid Encounters” and are expected to gain more popularity through the new name and location. The currencies from the raids have also been standardized so that one currency can be used for different raids.
Additionally, the update has added the new raid “Guardian’s Glade.” The new 10-player challenge pits teams against one of the guardians of Castora and is expected to be available later in the challenge mode as well as in the normal mode.
The raid feature has also been expanded with a quick play function that gives casual raiders the opportunity to join groups and lend a hand. They receive buffs for their efforts to increase the likelihood of success.
What does “Wardrobe” bring? The second part of the update introduces new fashion templates for complete looks into the game. Players can now save armor skins, weapons, colors, and backpacks as templates and quickly switch between them.
By default, each character receives two slots for templates. However, it is possible to purchase additional template slots in the shop, allowing a character to have a total of nine. Thus, the developers are focusing not only on the endgame but also on what is often referred to as the true endgame, like skins and outfits.
Superman is considered one of the strongest superheroes of all time, but a starfish from space is so dangerous that a group of DC heroes had to be formed 66 years ago. Even Superman has little chance alone.
Which villain is it? Anyone who has seen the film The Suicide Squad (2024) by James Gunn has encountered Starro. The large starfish from space is not just a new monster; it is a rather important villain in DC’s history.
It made its first appearance in the comic The Brave and the Bold No. 28 in 1960. It was the first comic in which the Justice League of America teamed up to defeat a supervillain. This was also badly needed, because although it merely looks like a giant monster, Starro is one of the most powerful villains in the DC Universe.
Start video
The Suicide Squad sends dangerous villains on a challenging mission
A Powerful Alien Community
What is Starro? Starro was originally an alien monster that sought planets to conquer. For this, it used small parasitic starfish that attach themselves to the faces of humans, allowing it to control them with a collective consciousness. This enables it to control an entire planet in no time, even powerful beings like Superman or Wonder Woman.
In 2009, DC changed its backstory. In the comic R.E.B.E.L.S. Annual No. 1: Starro the Conqueror, it is shown that the starfish are distributed by a mother star across planets to enslave the inhabitants.
This also happened on the planet Hatorei, whose peaceful inhabitants possessed telepathic communication. They were also conquered by a queen to live as slaves. However, due to the telepathy, they were not completely controlled. They could not control their bodies, but they could think within their community.
One day, an inhabitant managed to regain control to kill the queen. However, she used the inhabitant’s brother, Cobi, to defend herself. After Cobi killed his brother, he tore the parasitic star off his face (Alien says hello). The queen attached herself to Cobi, but he managed to control her.
Thus, Starro the Conqueror was born, who could control the other Starros in the galaxy and became stronger with each conquered civilization. However, the young boy Cobi still lives within him, as the Starro queen explains on his body:
Deep inside him still lives the long-lost boy from Hatorei, who once knew love, hope, and family. A boy who longs for someone, anyone, to prove to him that heroes exist and that kindness matters in this cold, indifferent cosmos.
What abilities does Starro have? Its most dangerous abilities are reproduction and parasitic mind control. The mini-Starros can be sent out to control humans and other intelligent beings. Like a collective consciousness, Starro can then control multiple beings simultaneously.
Since the parasites can be as small as starfish on Earth, it is also hard to foresee that the monster is beginning to conquer Earth. This works even on powerful heroes. One mistake, and you’re under Starro’s control.
Otherwise, it also has other useful abilities:
Starros can regenerate
Many conventional weapons like bombs are ineffective
Starros age very slowly
Could Starro really defeat Superman? There have been several instances where Superman and other heroes were conquered by Starro. In the animated series Batman Beyond, an older Superman and other heroes were taken over by Starro, even Superman by the Starro queen.
Batman (not Bruce Wayne, but Terry McGinnis) only managed to free Superman with a trick and a targeted attack on the monster.
In the animated film Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons, all major heroes, including Batman and Superman, are infected and controlled by Starro. Only the sons of both manage to free the heroes and defeat Starro.
Of course, a large alien starfish is not the only one who has managed to defeat Superman. Although he is the Man of Steel, he has been beaten in battle multiple times. We’ve summarized 10 moments of this in this list: 10 Characters Who Defeated Superman in Battle
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Helldivers 2 has received a tank that is currently the talk of the community, but a little hammer is stealing the show.
What’s the deal with the tank and the hammer? On February 3, 2026, Helldivers 2 released update 6.0.1. Along with the update came various new content, including a tank that has dominated community discussions since the update was released.
The tank is the “TD-220-Bastion MK XVI”, also simply known as “Bastion”. This is a new vehicle that you can call in during combat as tactical equipment. This tank has thick armor, powerful weaponry, and can easily wipe out enemy outposts with a good tank crew.
Start video
Spieler erhält zum Geburtstag eine Nachricht von einem Helden aus Helldivers 2
However, the update also introduced a new melee weapon, a sledgehammer. At first glance, this hammer may seem unassuming, but early players are already noticing: it’s the secret star of the update.
A hammer to enslave them
Why is the hammer the secret star? The “Breaker Hammer”, as the new melee weapon in the game is called, is stronger than you might think. It truly breaks through almost everything, no matter what – even heavily armored robots… Everything falls to the ground after a powerful swing.
Clips on Reddit showcase the incredible strength that lies within the tool. For example, a Helldiver dismantles a factory runner with just a few hits:
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Other posts show how, for example, a Hulk or a charger at the bug front gets hammered to death (see Reddit). Even now, the troops of Over-Earth are whispering: This isn’t just better than expected; it’s by far the best melee weapon in the game.
Some are already working on strong hammer builds. They use the hammer with the jump or warp pack to quickly get into swinging range. Others equip the supply pack to strike more often – the hammer cannot be used indefinitely.
How do you get the Breaker Hammer? The hammer is part of the new war bond “Siege Breakers”, which you can buy for 1,000 Over-Credits. You can unlock it on page 1 for 75 medals.
The head of a large AI company warns about the impact of AI. Many people do not understand what effects AI has on various jobs.
Dario Amodei, head of Anthropic, one of the world’s leading AI companies, spoke with Axios magazine about AI and potential risks.
He explained to Axios that AI could destroy half of all entry-level jobs for employees and increase unemployment to 10 to 20% in the next one to five years. In comparison, the average unemployment rate in the USA, which he refers to, is currently between 4.5 and 6% (via statista.de).
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Why is RAM so expensive? The current situation explained in 2 minutes
AI companies need to stop downplaying the impending developments
Amodei said that AI companies and the US government must stop downplaying the impending developments: the potential massive destruction of jobs in technology, finance, law, consulting, and other employee professions, especially in entry-level jobs.
And this leads to several problems that many would not pay much attention to:
Lawmakers do not understand the risks and therefore do not respond, for example, by taxing AI companies.
Company leaders hesitate to speak openly about the issues, even though they are aware of the risks posed by AI.
And many employees will only recognize the problems when they are directly affected by layoffs.
The head of Anthropic stated that many are not even aware of what lies ahead in the coming years:
Most of them are not aware that this is coming. It sounds crazy, and people just don’t believe it. We as the makers of this technology have the duty and obligation to be honest about what the future holds. I do not think people are aware of this.
It is a very strange dynamic where we say: ‘You should think about where the technology we developed is leading.’
Others also warn about the risks of artificial intelligence
Why should one take the warning seriously? Andrew Yang, former presidential candidate of the USA (Election 2020), stated in a television interview that Amodei warned of significant job losses. And he is not doing this out of self-interest; rather, his warnings are quite credible. Yang explained to CNN.com:
Laura Dario Amodei is the CEO of Anthropic, one of the currently most successful AI companies. Claude, to the right, replaces programmers throughout the industry, and Dario has spoken up and said: You know what, you should tax AI companies, including us, because in the next one to five years we will replace up to 50% of entry-level jobs for employees.
He does not speak out of self-interest. He is actually stating how he sees the situation, and we should believe him 100%.
In Helldivers 2 there is currently a new general order against the Automatons. The robots have deployed heavy artillery, but Over-Earth does not give up and provides the soldiers of democracy with the Bastion. What the new vehicle can do, we will show you here.
What is the Bastion? The Bastion, also known as “TD-220-Bastion MK XVI,” is the latest stratagem for the Helldivers, introduced with Update 6.0.1. You can currently acquire it at the terminal of your ship management for requisition tokens and then take it with you on your missions starting now.
How do you unlock the Bastion? To unlock the Bastion, you only need to download the latest Update 6.0.1 and then purchase the “Bastion MK XVI” under tactics equipment at your ship management for 35,000 requisition tokens. When setting your stratagems, you can then pack the tank into your loadout. Please note that you must be level 25 to make the purchase.
Start video
Helldivers 2 shows the new expansion “Into the Unjust” in the trailer and takes players deep underground
What can the Bastion do? The Bastion is a heavily armored tank equipped with a 120mm high-velocity cannon (31 shots available) and a heavy coaxial machine gun (2000 shots available).
The vehicle can move and must be operated by a soldier. Up to four people can fit in the tank – two are the minimum, as someone should operate the steering and of course one operates the guns.
Due to its weight, the war machine can easily crush light and medium units with its tracks – naturally, this also applies to Helldivers, so be careful when you are at the wheel.
The Bastion can now be purchased
Additionally, you can destroy dropships with one shot, warp ships of the Illuminated with two shots, and overships with eight shots using the tank’s cannon.
The tank itself is immune to light armor penetration. However, medium to heavy projectiles can penetrate the outer shell. As a reference: When the tank has full health, you can easily take 2 shots from the recoilless rifle.
As for the protection for the occupants, they are immune to explosions and fire while in the tank. However, note that these elements can still damage the tank. If your vehicle has lost all its health, you have enough time to exit before it bursts into flames and then explodes.
That was all the information we can currently give you about the Bastion. Have you already unlocked the tank, and if so, what do you think of it? Aside from vehicles, there are also weapons that you can use to topple the enemies of democracy. Find out which ones are the best here: Helldivers 2: Tier List of the best weapons and grenades for every mission
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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.
Start video
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.
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:
Start video
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 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.”
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.
Start video
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
The map of Deadlock has been modified. There are new alleys and paths as well as more details.
Instead of the usual base of the teams, there are now gods that have become the objective of the match and have adjusted their bases accordingly.
Moreover, there are two new items and many updates for the user interface that reveal more information about the current match.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
