The largest lance of Westeros is no joke

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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gives fans a new insight into the world of Westeros. In episode 2, there is a clumsy-looking gag, but as Marco from Nerdkultur analyzes, there is more behind it.

Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been publishing videos on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur that cover various films and series through reviews, analyses, news, or interviews.

Additionally, he talks with his colleague Yves Arievich once a week on the Nerd und Kultur Podcast about various topics from popular culture.

Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.

Marco’s new video deals with the 2nd episode of the series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which started on January 19, 2026, on the new streaming service HBO Max and includes Ser Arlan of Pennytree.

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The Outlook of Ser Arlan

What is so special about Ser Arlan? When looking at various platforms for some memes about episode 2, the major topic is not the new information about the Targaryens, but the genitals of Ser Arlan of Pennytree, played by Danny Webb. In the episode, there is a scene in which the actor is completely naked.

This also leads to some gags:

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Marco also addresses the question of whether his large sword is real in his video. Ira Parker, the showrunner of the series, couldn’t remember in an interview with Entertainment Weekly whether Arlan’s penis was a prosthetic or real. Marco compares it to Boogie Nights. In the film by Paul Thomas Anderson, it was also long unclear whether we saw Mark Wahlberg’s real genital or just a stand-in.

As Marco explains in the video: In A Knights of the Seven Kingdoms, it is a prosthetic made by the special effects department.

The whole scene was made according to Parker because previously only jokes were made about Ser Arlan. One should see the other side of the hedge knight.

No matter how silly or mean Arlan is portrayed, he took care of Duncan. This reflects his loyalty, as he even dedicates his coat of arms to their journey. Duncan wants people to remember Arlan. Marco puts it this way:

Duncan will prove to them who Ser Arlan really was! We see a redemption arc. And so he eats their shared meal at the end of the episode, determined.

Targaryens and Kingsguards also exist

What about the other aspects of the analysis? In Marco’s video, it is not only about Ser Arlan. Two important motives for him are the Targaryens and Dunk’s foolishness. Unlike the previous two series, we do not see the perspective of the Targaryens, but rather the people’s view of them. The focus is on Dunk’s perspective.

The Targaryens have lost much of their power. 56 years before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the last dragon died, but within the family, there are still various viewpoints. Baelor is a noble knight, the only one who does not have silver-blonde hair, but rather the hair color of his Dornish mother. He is the heir to the throne.

On the other hand, there is his brother Maekar, the last son in line for the throne (the others are only briefly mentioned). Maekar is disinterested and cruel. Two of his sons are missing: Daeron and Aegon. His other two sons are Aerion and Aemon. The former shows his arrogance in the series, while the latter is known by fans of Game of Thrones as Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch. He resembles his uncle Baelor more.

Regarding the Targaryens in the series, the Kingsguard is also important. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, their armors are completely white. According to Marco, this also matches the official illustrations of the novellas by George R. R. Martin. However, the other armors show bright colors, whether they belong to the Baratheons or the Targaryens.

Dunk is not stupid, he is naive

What about Dunk? At the end of his video, Marco also talks about Duncan. When you watch the series, it often seems like Duncan is foolish. In many situations, he simply says the wrong things. Marco says: Dunk, on the other hand, continuously says the wrong thing at the wrong time. A running gag of this second episode. But that does not really portray him as “foolish.” Rather, it is naive. Uneducated, but honorable.

Duncan is a good person who knows what knights need: good armor and a horse. However, as we also learn here, a story grows with each retelling. Even Dunk’s. If you missed the analysis of the first episode, you can find it here: Expert explains why A Knight of Seven Kingdoms is so different from Game of Thrones

Source(s):
  1. YouTube

With Chapter 3, Dune: Awakening looks more like the survival MMORPG it was always meant to be

Funcom has just released Chapter 3 for Dune: Awakening, bringing a ton of “Quality of Life” improvements and new content to the game. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus got to preview the changes and wonders why all of this wasn’t already in the game at launch.

On February 3, Chapter 3 for Dune: Awakening was released. Since December, we have known roughly what content the new chapter brings to the survival MMO. In short:

  • an improved Landsraad system with new missions
  • the ability to specialize and unlock new bonuses
  • customization options for weapons and armor
  • more locations on the overworld map, including new dungeons
  • new weapons, quests, and story
  • tons of quality improvements, such as the removal of taxes or packages for returning players

In advance, Funcom invited MeinMMO to view the changes in a live presentation with the developers. I saw how the specializations work and some of the dungeons along with their new boss mechanics.

Although I already had a rough idea of what to expect, the gameplay looked quite like what I hoped for before the release of Dune: Awakening: a survival MMO that is different from everything before.

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

Dune: Awakening is becoming more of an MMORPG, but remains true to its survival roots

Specializations are pretty much the highlight of the chapter, along with the new missions. Through exploring, crafting, or gathering, players can now earn special experience points in Chapter 3 to level new skills up to level 100. This results in new abilities that expand the player’s playstyle.

Together with the already available skill trees in the game, this creates something akin to “roles” you know from MMORPGs: damage, support, survival. Additionally, it is possible to adjust gear accordingly through augments. The devs make it clear that there is no “holy trinity” and no tanks. But those who want to can develop more towards one of these orientations.

In line with this, there are new dungeons with various “themes”, such as an electric dungeon and a fire dungeon, each providing unique loot, but also bringing completely new enemies and especially bosses.

Dungeon bosses with real mechanics

The bosses are what made me think the most about fights in dungeons from other MMOs. Because now there are real mechanics! As an example, the devs show me the electric boss:

  • The fight is divided into several phases, which are triggered depending on the boss’s health.
  • Moving lightning appears all around the room, which you must avoid.
  • Depending on your gear, you have to approach the mechanics differently to survive.

Additionally, there are up to 20 difficulty levels and puzzles in the dungeon itself that you must solve to even reach the boss. Difficulties scale with the group size, so everything is possible solo – but it sounds like more of a party activity.

Furthermore, there are new PvE tasks in the open world that you can accept, for example through the Landsraad. This ranges from assassinations in the new locations on the overworld map to time trials with your sand speeder.

Chapter 3 is what I expected from Dune: Awakening

When Dune: Awakening was announced and I had the chance to play the first rounds, I was completely hooked by the game and sounded like the next big player in the survival area – alone with Funcom behind it, whose games I have always enjoyed playing.

However, after the release, there came a quick disappointment, especially with the endgame, which has since improved, but couldn’t hold my interest. Like many others, I drifted away.

Now, with Chapter 3, the game looks completely different than it did at release. Whether it will win me back, I don’t know yet, as there are currently just too many new games and content elsewhere that keep me occupied. But the chances are at least good for a second look at the game.

The direct competition for Dune: Awakening is also on the move. In the last few months, there have not only been new survival titles but also many updates for existing games in the genre, some of which are still in Early Access: The 31 best survival games for PS5, Steam, and Xbox

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

Overwatch 2 is better than ever before because Blizzard made 3 decisions

MeinMMO editor Dariusz has been playing Overwatch every day for months and must admit: He is having a lot of fun, and it comes down to three points.

In 2025, I started playing Overwatch again after a long break and tested some new features that were introduced in the previous seasons. Since then, I’ve been playing Overwatch 2 almost every day. The hero shooter even managed to become my most played game of the year on Steam in just 4-5 months, just ahead of Rainbow Six: Siege, Battlefield 6, and Borderlands.

According to Steam, I have around 350 hours in Overwatch 2, almost all of which are from last year, because the last time I actively played OW2, it wasn’t on Steam yet. Before that, I only accumulated a few hours out of professional curiosity.

Over the past few months, there have certainly been moments when I was frustrated with the game or my teammates, but I still have to admit: I have never had as much fun in Overwatch as I do now. And that is mainly due to 3 changes.

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Overwatch 2: The Most Important Things About the Hero Shooter in 43 Seconds

1. The Comeback of the Year

The main reason I’m enjoying Overwatch so much right now is the return of 6v6. The mode initially made a temporary comeback, but due to its popularity, it stayed in the game and may receive more attention from Blizzard in the future.

Currently, there is 6v6 competitive and open queue, in case you don’t want to play ranked. The only thing I’m missing is a closed role queue, because it’s frustrating when our 4 random players all play DPS.

Overall, 6v6 is what I’ve been missing in Overwatch 2. In 5v5, it always felt like the tank role was too crucial for the outcome of the game. If you get a bad tank, the match is often as good as lost. If the tank is really strong, you can sometimes crush the opponents. In 6v6, with two tanks, you won’t get run over immediately when one tank makes a mistake.

There’s just a different game dynamic in 6v6.

Regardless of me, it’s a truly strong comeback because there’s still the option to play 5v5 if that’s preferred. Players have not lost anything; they simply have more options.

OW2 Unranked Modes

2. A Strong Innovation

With Season 15 in 2025, the so-called hero perks were introduced into the game. Every hero can choose one of two minor perks and later one of two major perks during a match. These perks enhance the various abilities of the heroes.

For example, I usually play Ana. She has the following 4 perks to choose from:

Minor:

  • Dazed: Opponents hit by the sleep dart are slowed for 2 seconds upon waking and take 50 damage during this time.
  • Tempo Serum: Nanoboost increases the movement speed of Ana and her target by 40 %.

Major:

  • Biotic Bounce: Biotic Grenade bounces after exploding and explodes again for 60 damage and healing.
  • Bounty Hunter: Biotic Rifle can deal critical hits to opponents.

These perks not only bring variety to the game. They are also truly powerful. I eventually stopped playing Overwatch 2 when Ana was nerfed over and over again, which bothered me. However, the perks have made her so much fun to play again that I don’t care about the nerfs of the past.

Other heroes also have strong perks. Baptiste has a shoulder shield that automatically heals allies when using abilities. Sojourn’s disruption shot slows down affected opponents. Sigma can charge his shield by throwing hyperspheres at enemies. And Kiriko can heal teammates by dealing damage with kunais.

OW2 Kiriko Perks

3. A Whole New Gaming Experience

In April 2025, Overwatch then received a brand new game mode called Stadium as part of Season 16, which has almost a MOBA-like principle that combines it with typical Overwatch gameplay and modes.

The individual rounds in Stadium are generally shorter than a normal Overwatch match, but since you play multiple rounds with individual buying phases, the entire match is a bit longer.

Speaking of buying phases:

In Stadium, you have a wide selection of upgrades that you can buy between rounds. There are items that improve your damage, abilities, or defense, and there are powers that give your abilities a new, powerful effect. For example, Ana can fire sleep darts with her rifle or give allies a weakened nanoboost with her grenade.

I admit, I’m not a big fan of Stadium and prefer classic 6v6, but the mode has been really well received by a large part of the community and is very popular among my friends. Blizzard has created something here that meaningfully expands the gameplay and also offers long-time players something new to invest a lot of time in.

A Successful Year for Overwatch

Overall, Overwatch 2 has taken a very good path in 2025 and has managed to win me back as a player. If I want to jump into a competitive shooter for a few rounds after work now, it’s usually Overwatch – which would have been hardly imaginable two years ago.

I am currently really enjoying the hero shooter and am curious about what 2026 will bring. Hopefully, Blizzard can maintain the course and make good decisions in the new year.

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

The MMORPG where you are always the best player receives a big update, bringing a new class

Erenshor now receives a major new update that brings not only a new class but also guilds to the MMORPG on Steam.

What kind of MMORPG is this? Erenshor is a very special MMORPG; you are the only real player in it. All other players who chat with you, invite you to groups, and trade with you are simulated by the game.

No matter how fast or slow you play, the NPCs always match your level from the leveling phase to the endgame dungeons. Like in a real MMORPG, you have different classes to choose from, and everything else you usually do in the best genre in the world is simulated by Erenshor.

Here you can see the trailer for the game:

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Erenshor: Trailer for the Singleplayer MMORPG on Steam

Major Update for the MMORPG

What’s included in the new update? The new update features 3 important new features. The first important feature is the new class. The “Reaver” is a Void Knight who becomes stronger the more damage he takes.

The new class comes with a stance system, as well as fear spells that can frighten enemies or yourself. The Void Knight can be played as a DPS, tank, or support class, but usually exchanges health points for mana.

What else is new? The update “Rising Shadows” also introduces guilds. Players can create their own guild or join a simulated guild and interact with other players as usual.

In line with the new guild system is also the new player hub “Reliquary”. It features portals to various locations in the game world and also a personal area where players can run their own shop, an auction house, or a bank.

The players’ own guild can visit and interact with the player’s business.

What else is simulated? Also new are simulated announcements from the Game Master, which point out the rules of the MMORPG and can also impose penalties. As a player, you can break the rules and then experience the consequences firsthand.

You can find the complete patch notes for the update on Steam.

Erenshor may not be a real MMORPG, but it offers players exactly what they always hope for: companionship, challenge, and adventure. It is these cravings that lead players to constantly seek new Kickstarter MMORPGs. One of them has now failed: YouTuber claims the head of Ashes of Creation sold his MMORPG, blaming others

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

Has ARC Raiders become boring? 7 things you can do to have fun again

ARC Raiders can keep players entertained for a while, but eventually everyone reaches a point where boredom sets in. Therefore, we show you 7 things you can do to have fun again in the extraction shooter. 

What kind of list is this? In this list, we present possible options with which you can continue to pass the time in ARC Raiders. Sooner or later, every game becomes repetitive, but with our suggestions, you can get the most out of the extraction shooter and stave off boredom.

If you want to skim the list or jump to a specific point, feel free to use our directory:

[toc] 

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ARC Raiders receives new matchmaking option and trophy display with Headwinds

Challenge Runs

What are Challenge Runs? Challenge Runs refer to self-imposed challenges. You set these based on parameters that you adhere to during your round, adding flavor to your gaming experience. Some examples to illustrate the principle would be:

  • Blank Run: Spawn into a round without items and weapons and try to survive
  • Mine Run: You only fight with mines and try to defeat opponents this way
  • Stealth Run: You sneak through the map constantly and try not to be seen by raiders or ARC. Those who notice you must die.

With the variety of items and maps, you can create diverse experiences. And if you have friends, you can challenge each other.

Trials 

What are Trials? Starting from level 15, you can view and complete the weekly trials in Speranza. A total of 5 in number challenge you every Monday and require you to achieve scores and highscores to secure rewards.

ARC Raiders Trials
The tasks rotate every week

These tasks range from “Damage hornets, wasps, and co.” to “Download data from the hidden bunker.” Depending on your chosen strategy, these tasks can keep you busy for a whole week. Moreover, the loot you can earn will reward you for your efforts.

If you want to approach the trials effectively and with the best tactics, you can check out our guide: ARC Raiders: Weekly Trials – Best Strategies for Maximum Rewards

Complete Everything 

What does this mean? We mean: Achieve everything that can be achieved and completed in ARC Raiders.

  • Max all workbenches
  • Complete all quests
  • Collect every blueprint
  • Earn every trophy for 100%
  • Reach the maximum level

If you take this step casually, you’ll have plenty to do for a long time and can also alternate or combine goals.

Expedition (Hard Reset)

How do Expeditions work? An expedition represents the optional seasonal reset in ARC Raiders. Optional, because during the active period, you can decide whether you want to participate or not.

In expeditions, you need to collect materials over several stages and then donate them for the construction of a vehicle. Once you have donated all the necessary resources, the construction is completed, and you must wait for the reset window to expire.

ARC Raiders Expedition
Building takes a long time to complete the expedition

If you choose to participate now, you send your raider and, thus, your collected progress away. This means you lose everything, including your items in your inventory and storage, as well as your character’s level – you start again at about 0.

This is especially worthwhile if you are after the rewards of the expedition (usually a skin) or simply want to start over and regain a purpose in the grind.

Roleplay 

What does this mean? When you’re active in roleplay, you take on the role of a character. You can act and immerse yourself even more in the world of ARC Raiders.

For example, you could take on the role of a rescue raider who supports and revives helpless and innocent raiders. Or you could take an dishonorable path and become a rat. You annoy other players, lure them into ambushes, and then defeat them to get their loot.

There are various types and ways in which you can be active in roleplay, as long as you live them out.

Conduct Explorer Trips and Find Secrets

How does that work? The maps of ARC Raiders consist not only of buildings and ruins that you can use as cover. Many places also hide secrets, containing loot or details that may be useful. In stressful situations, especially when being hunted by enemies, there is little time to explore the maps more closely.

For this reason, you can take the opportunity to do just that. Try to reach places with your grappling hook that you cannot normally access on foot. Explore the fringes and enjoy the atmosphere. Let the world influence you and find out what happened to the world due to the ARC – perhaps you will uncover some secrets as well.

Stuff Your Vault with the Most Valuable Items

How does that work? Once you’ve polished your build and have strong weapons, you can set out and stuff your vault with the strongest and best items. Why should you do this? So that later, when you take a break and return after weeks, you can play with the weapons and items you want without worrying about necessary resources.

Additionally, this goal keeps you occupied for a long time, as the vault has a lot of space. If you only want to fill it with the best items, it takes time – especially if enemies want to loot you.

This was our list of tips on how you can have fun in ARC Raiders again. Do you find the extraction shooter boring or are you still enjoying the looting? If you’re looking for PvE alternatives to ARC Raiders, we have the right list for you: 5 games like ARC Raiders that focus solely on PvE

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

Pokémon GO: You should start playing PvP today if you have missed it so far

In Pokémon GO it’s worth participating in the Battle League if you want a rare Pikachu. But time is running out.

Why should you play PvP? Currently, in Pokémon GO the Season Valuable Paths is ongoing, and this season is considered a transitional season in the PvP League.

The interesting thing about it is the maximum rank and the associated reward: If you reach Rank 20 in the PvP League, you will get a chance to encounter the Wrestler Pikachu.

And this is an opportunity that no collector should miss.

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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

What is special about Wrestler Pikachu in Pokémon GO?

This special variant of Pikachu can only be obtained through the Battle League, and usually, it’s significantly harder than it is currently.

Normally, you have to reach the rank Legend to encounter the Wrestler Pikachu. This rank is much more difficult to achieve than Rank 20, as from Rank 20 a points system is activated, which gives you points for wins but deducts them again for losses.

Ascending from Rank 20 to the ranks Ace, Veteran, Expert, and finally Legend is therefore a task that only the best PvP players can master.

Rank 20, on the other hand, can also be reached if you play enough and win victories. Therefore, you should start doing this if you haven’t already.

How much time do I have left? Exactly about a month, because the current season ends on March 3, 2026. It is likely that after that new rewards will again be distributed in the PvP League.

What should I keep in mind? There is a downside regarding the Pikachu: It can’t be shiny this season. The chance of that anyway is low, but now it is zero. Thus, you currently won’t get the rarest version of the monster.

Nonetheless: Wrestler Pikachu is a pretty cool catch that is currently easier to achieve than usual.

The new season is still a few weeks away, but there is still a lot to do beforehand. February has quite a few exciting dates for you – like the Kalos Tour or the way to Kalos. New Pokémon are also appearing in the current Carnival event. In short: There’s a lot going on. You can see exactly what here in our overview of all events in February 2026 in Pokémon GO.

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

After 5 years in Early Access, Valheim surprises fans with an update, but they hope: The real gift is yet to come

For 5 years, Valheim has been in Early Access, the developers are celebrating the milestone with a special update. This brings not only some nice extras but also significant improvements in performance. However, fans hope that the real gift is yet to come — and soon.

What kind of update is this? With patch 0.221.10, Iron Gate, the developer studio behind Valheim, celebrates the 5th anniversary of their game. The open-world survival game, in which you fight through a kind of purgatory of Vikings, launched in Early Access on February 2, 2021.

Start video
Der Trailer zum PS5-Release vom Survival-Hit Valheim

Festive decoration, an axe, and performance boost

What’s included in the update? You can find the detailed patch notes on Steam. Here are the changes at a glance:

  • a festive hat
  • “Early Axes” (a pun with “Axes”, which means “axes”, sounding similar to “Access”)
  • Sweetened sweet bread
  • New emotes (and a menu wheel for emotes)
  • New hairstyles
  • 2 new buildable garlands
  • Engine upgrade
  • Several bug fixes and improvements

The engine upgrade sounds particularly exciting. It is supposed to noticeably improve the game’s performance. Additionally, you can now adjust more settings in the graphics options.

Moreover, the game is now also supposed to run smoother on the Steam Deck. In performance mode, the game now reaches 60 FPS. There are also presets to help conserve your handheld’s battery. Lastly, Valheim now uses your Steam Deck’s native resolution from the start.

Fans eagerly await the release

How are fans reacting to the update? The update is surprising, but it is generally received positively by the community. Fans are much more excited about what this update might lead to: the release of version 1.0.

Seeing Valheim leave Early Access would be the true gift for fans. The fact that the developers are now focusing on performance is also seen by some fans as a sign that a release is not far off:

“Optimization can only mean one thing: 1.0 is here and coming soon,” writes YouTube user deadfishy666 under a video by YouTuber Jade PG, who discussed the update.

When will Valheim leave Early Access? There is currently no official release date (as of February 3, 2026, 12:13 PM). However, Iron Gate has announced that Valheim is set to leave Early Access in 2026 and will receive a PS5 version.

Right at the beginning of the Early Access phase, the game won many fans. Valheim quickly became one of the best survival games on Steam and has remained so to this day. You can find more recommendations here: The 31 best survival games of 2025 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox

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

Helldivers 2: Patch Notes for Update 6.0.1 – New War Bond, Tanks, and Combat against the Automatons

In Helldivers 2 the new major update 6.0.1 has been released and this marks the new chapter for the update “Into the Unjust”. We will show you what the highlights of the update are and what the patch notes reveal.

What kind of update is this? At 11:00 AM German time, Arrowhead released the latest update in Helldivers 2 for “Into the Unjust”. This not only brings a new story but also a general order that sends you into battle against the Automatons.

The battle is intensified, and Super Earth proves this by equipping you with new gear. According to the developers, the focus is now on Cyberstan, the main base of the robots.

What are the highlights of the update? The highlights of the update include the following content:

  • Bastion Tank
  • Chinese Voiceover
  • New Premium Warbond “Siegebreakers”
  • War Horse Set
  • Emotes & Victory Poses

How large is the update? The update is approximately 5 GB on Steam and can be downloaded right now.

[toc]

Start video
Helldivers 2 shows the new expansion “Into the Unjust” in the trailer and takes players deep underground

All Patch Notes for Update 6.0.1 

The developers introduce the major update with a message from Super Earth, which is meant to prepare you for the upcoming battle:

INCOMING MESSAGE FROM HIGH COMMAND

We have confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt, with concrete evidence, that the Automaton collective has stolen our plans for the “Star of Peace”. We must not allow them to turn this defensive tool of peace into a destructive weapon of war. It is now up to you, our most elite and formidable unit, to hold them accountable on their own turf.

We have authorized the deployment of new gear to aid the troops in swiftly eliminating the Automaton threat.

Advance toward Cyberstan and put an end to this affront to Guided Democracy. Helldivers, let this be the last time the Automatons steal from Super Earth.

Patch Highlights

  • Bastion Tank: A new armored vehicle with heavy firepower to crush entrenched enemies.
  • Chinese Voiceover: Helldivers 2 now supports Chinese VO.
  • New Premium Warbond “Siegebreakers”: The new war bond contains a devastating hammer for “Persuasion” in melee combat and an upgrade for the LAS-16 Trident!
  • War Horse Set: Available in the superstore.
  • Emotes & Victory Poses: With a few exceptions, these are now interchangeable!

Balancing

Overview of General Changes

  • Rebalancing of Melee Weapons and Armor Passives: The goal is to make armor passives that increase melee damage less mandatory while still being useful for the effectiveness of melee weapons.
    • The damage of all melee weapons has been increased, and the modifiers of the armor passives have been lowered accordingly.
    • The total damage in combination with the armor passives is now higher or equal to what it was before.
    • The standard melee attack also received a damage increase of 50%.
  • Less Sway for SMGs and Pistols: The main characteristic of these weapons remains their increased air resistance, making them melee weapons that are less effective at range. We have decreased the sway modifier so that it now matches that of most other weapons.
  • Standardization of Input Directions for Weapon Functions: Similar “weapon function modes” are now to be on the same input direction for increased memorability and to reduce the number of required key bindings.
    • Modes for programmable ammunition, ammunition types, volley modes, safety modes, and guided modes are now uniformly on the left direction key.
    • The option for under-barrel weapon swaps has not yet been moved, but we are considering moving all ammo-changing swaps to the left as well.
  • Difficulty Level 9+: Changes across all factions to increase intensity at higher difficulty levels. The biggest change concerns the Automaton front; Terminids and the Illuminated are less affected.

Value Changes

Primary Weapons

  • R-2124 Constitution & R-2 Amendment: Bayonet melee damage increased from 110 to 165; durable damage increased from 55 to 83.
  • MP-98 Knight, SMG-37 Defender, SMG-72 Pummeler, M7S SMG: Sway modifier reduced from 1.2 to 1.
  • SG-20 Halt: Weapon function “Ammunition Type” moved from Right to Left.
  • DBS-2 Double Freedom: Weapon function “Volley/Semi-Mode” moved from Right to Left.

Secondary Weapons

  • P-72 Crisper: Magazine capacity increased from 30 to 50; sway modifier reduced from 1.2 to 1.
  • P-2 Peacemaker, LAS-58 Talon, GP-31 Grenade Pistol, LAS-7 Dagger, P-113 Verdict, M6C/SOCOM Pistol, PLAS-15 Loyalist, P-11 Stim Pistol: Sway modifier reduced from 1.2 to 1.
  • SG-22 Bushwhacker: Sway modifier reduced from 1.3 to 1; “Volley/Semi-Mode” moved to Left.
  • P-4 Senator, GP-20 Ultimatum: Sway modifier reduced from 1.3 to 1.
  • Melee Weapons (CQC-30 to CQC-42): All weapons (Electric Baton, Spear, Saber, Axe, Machete) received a significant increase in damage and durable damage (approx. +50 %).

Throwing Weapons

  • G-7 Pineapple: Max. capacity increased from 3 to 4; starting amount increased from 2 to 3.
  • G-31 Arc: Max. capacity increased from 4 to 5; starting amount increased from 3 to 4.

Stratagems

  • SH-20 Ballistic Shield: Cooldown reduced from 300 to 240 sec.
  • Orbital Smoke Strike: Cooldown reduced from 100 to 75 sec.
  • CQC-9 Defoliation Tool: Damage increased from 300 to 450; durable damage increased from 150 to 225.
  • CQC-1 One True Flag: Damage increased from 110 to 200; durable damage increased from 55 to 100.
  • RS-422 Railgun: “Safe/Unsafe Mode” moved from Right to Left.
  • StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher: “Programmable Ammunition” moved to Left.
  • GL-21 Grenade Launcher: Armor penetration increased from “Medium” to “Heavy”.

Armor Passives

  • Peak Physique & Rock Solid: Melee damage bonus reduced from 100% to 40%.
  • Reinforced Epaulettes: Melee damage bonus reduced from 50% to 20%.

Enemies

General

  • Damage Adjustment against Durable Targets: For some enemies, damage against “durable” targets has been rebalanced to account for the large HP pools of Helldiver vehicles. This does not change their effectiveness against normal Helldivers but only affects their vehicles.
  • Affected Attacks: Attacks from Bile Titans, Chargers, Crescent Overseers, Overseers, rocket-firing Automatons, Hulk melee attacks, mortars, acid, etc. have been adjusted. Some adjustments only affect specific targets (e.g., the Bastion Tank), while others also affect the FRV and the Exosuits.
  • Optimized Target Tracking: Enemy targeting calculations were not always updated when many enemies tried to aim at once, resulting in Automatons sometimes poorly aiming on higher difficulty levels. They are now trying to update their target better based on available data. This means Automatons will now shoot more accurately in large groups without further impacting performance.

Terminids

  • Dragon Roach: The direct damage of the flame attack has been reduced by 25%.

Automatons

  • Rocket Raider: Rockets now deal increased damage against durable targets.
  • Devastator: The “durable” status on the arms has been removed.
  • Rocket Devastator: Rockets now deal increased damage against durable targets.
  • Hulk Bruiser: Rockets now deal increased damage against durable targets.
  • Gunship: Targeting software updated – should now hit targets better. Rockets cause increased damage against durable targets.

Illuminati

  • Overseer: The weapon of the Overseer now deals increased damage against durable targets.
  • Crescent Overseer:
    • Power of the artillery attack increased to stagger Helldivers.
    • Damage of the direct shot attack increased.
    • The weapon now deals increased damage against durable targets.

Gameplay

Emotes and Victory Poses

Emotes and victory poses are now interchangeable. With a few exceptions (such as emotes that require two people, the kick, and some others), all victory poses can now be used as emotes, and all emotes can be used as victory poses.


Fixes

Hang Detection

As part of the fight against bugs and instability, we have introduced a “hang detection” in the PC version. If the game freezes for more than 20 seconds, this feature will crash the game rather than leaving it frozen. A file called “Crash Dump” is created, which contains important information for programmers to fix the cause.

Crash Fixes

  • Fixed a rare crash due to weapon customization desynchronization.
  • Fixed a rare crash when accessing the galaxy map.
  • Fixed a crash caused by Automatons in lava missions.

Weapon & Stratagem Fixes

  • RS-422 Railgun: Magazine is now visible during the reload animation (also when reloading immediately after firing).
  • Eradication Missions: An overly eager second Pelican pilot will no longer attempt to land when one is already approaching.
  • AX/FLAM-75 “Guard Dog”: Sound effects corrected.
  • AR/GL-21 One-Two: Sound effects of under-barrel explosions corrected; shots/explosions are now visible to other players.
  • MLS-4X Commando: Rockets now correctly target the marking instead of the last target point of the Helldivers.
  • R-36 Eruptor: Incorrect zoom levels for scope attachments without zoom fixed.
  • B-1 Supply Package: Fixed issue with infinite supplies when dropped; can no longer be used when ammo/grenade/stim supplies are full.
  • Weapon Customization: Visual issues in preview fixed.
  • M-102 Vehicle: Helldivers can now reload inside the vehicle.

Enemies

  • Enemies have learned to aim better.
  • Spawn rates and points in “Rapid Acquisition” missions (levels 7-10) adjusted.

Miscellaneous Fixes

  • Automaton Dropships: Now move less erratically when dropping troops.
  • Camera: Corrected position when switching to first-person view during reloading or when doing the push-up emote.
  • Terrain: Fixed issue where one could land on command bunkers or the terrain visually “jumped” when approaching.
  • Vehicles: Vehicle speed is now carried over when exiting.
  • Command Operations: Now available on all Automaton planets.
  • Damage: Damage inconsistencies between client and host fixed.
  • Interactions: Helldivers no longer block the view of terminals; hand protocols at power plants corrected; battery light turns off after delivering.
  • Super Earth Flag: Now plays the anthem on hive worlds as well.
  • [Xbox] Fixed green artifacts in smoke on red planets.
  • Guard Dogs: Names shortened for better readability.

Optimizations

  • Fog: Quality settings “Lowest” and “Low” for volumetric fog have been aligned.
  • Performance: Building materials in colonies/cities optimized; explosions and destruction of bot factories improved.
  • Lighting: The artificial light source on the Helldiver has been removed; instead, overall visibility in dark environments has been improved.
  • Login: Fixed error “10002026” when logging in.

You can find the original list of patch notes on the official Helldivers 2 Discord server (Source: discord.com).

These were all the important details regarding the patch notes for Helldivers 2. Are you excited about the tank and Cyberstan and can hardly wait to spread democracy? You can also find more about Helldivers 2 here: Chef of Helldivers 2 says he wants customizable mechs and is currently checking 8-man missions

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

Streamer starts after over 10 years on Twitch, has to justify because he pays his employee too well

The streamer Kevin “GTime” Lohse is currently experiencing a surge on Twitch. His success is also due to his employees who support him in his career. The good pay for his editor has drawn some critics.

Who is it about? The Twitch streamer GTime is by no means a newcomer in the German YouTube and Twitch scene. Quite the opposite: he started his career on Twitch in 2014.

However, big numbers have been missing for a while, so the Twitch streamer gave himself another year on Twitch. That was exactly what he needed, along with a content revamp.

Whom does GTime pay so well? In a past Twitch stream, GTime talked about how he pays his editor Enno. Enno is responsible for editing Twitch streams into YouTube videos and simultaneously manages several channels on different social media platforms.

For this, Enno receives a fixed salary of 4,800 euros gross and additionally half of the earnings from the YouTube channel. Considering other past payment patterns from Twitch colleagues, this seems very generous.

GTime justifies the payment by saying that Enno puts a lot of passion into his work, which should be rewarded. For GTime, it’s perfectly fine if he doesn’t make big profits from his YouTube channels; after all, he earns more than enough with Twitch.

But not everyone seemed to be able to understand this line of thought.

Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google

“What kind of world do you live in?”

According to the Twitch streamer, there were some TikTok comments criticizing GTime’s payment model. The Twitch streamer gTasty even called it “stupid” (Source: Twitch). However, GTime dismissed the criticism:

What kind of world do you live in? What kind of lousy boss and person are you when you see a person as a resource and say everyone is interchangeable?

GTime further explained that regarding the issue surrounding Papalatte, the Twitch streamer was harshly criticized, but apparently different standards are applied here.

As a reminder: Papaplatte was involved in a shitstorm when he publicly accused his former editor of not being paid fairly. Papaplatte did not want to pay his editor a high salary, even though he himself earned a lot of money with the edited videos.

Papaplatte commented on the issue, eventually recognized his mistake, and reconciled with his former editor.

What is the situation with the payment of editors? The issue of how editors should be paid by content creators has always been a major topic in the German YouTube and Twitch scene. This also applies to Trymacs, who agreed with Max Schradin that there should be an upper limit for the payment of editors. Even though he himself earns far above this limit. Later, however, he apologized for these statements and acknowledged his mistake.

In the payment of editors, it often concerns editing the reactions of Twitch streamers. The discussion surrounding reactions is a separate topic and has also been frequently raised in the editor discussion. A YouTuber saw the problem in the debate surrounding Papaplatte: YouTuber sees a much bigger problem in the drama around Papaplatte that costs many creators real money

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

Experts find cooling that can reduce temperatures by more than 50 degrees Celsius in seconds

Researchers have discovered a cooling method that can significantly reduce temperatures within seconds. This cooling could be the solution to many problems associated with the AI hype: the high energy consumption and the large waste heat of data centers.

What have the experts found? Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have found that water saturated with ammonium thiocyanate salt, when pressurized and then suddenly depressurized, cools down by 30 °C at room temperature and can even cool by up to 50 °C in warmer environments. You can find the entire research paper directly at Nature.com.

What advantages does the new cooling method have? In addition to its very rapid cooling performance, there are mainly two points that are advantageous:

  • On the one hand, the theoretical efficiency is supposed to be much higher than that of conventional cooling methods currently in use.
  • On the other hand, no special construction measures are required: Even though ammonium thiocyanate is a salt, it does not attack many common metals, so no special piping is necessary for the cooling.

What other problems still exist? The cooling still requires electricity to compress the refrigerant. The salt can also cause burns and irritations, making it harder to handle than some other compounds.

Select a MMO video…

This novel cooling method is especially interesting for data centers

Who is the new cooling method interesting for? This novel cooling method is particularly exciting for modern data centers, of which there are increasingly more due to the AI hype. However, all of them share a common problem: The energy consumption of data centers is enormous and the waste heat from servers must also go somewhere. Without cooling, servers cannot operate and shut down.

Here, the novel cooling method could solve several problems at once: on the one hand, significantly reducing energy consumption and on the other hand, lowering the temperatures.

Alternatives, such as submerging entire data centers in the sea and using seawater for cooling, are already being actively implemented. However, these options are very expensive and complicated.

The energy consumption of data centers is a major problem: To operate their massive AI data centers, tech giants are now relying on old airplane turbines. While these provide quick power, they also create new environmental and supply problems: Because your AI asks so many dumb questions, data centers are now buying turbines from airplanes to supply enough energy

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

After just 3 weeks, Hytale has its own MMORPG and the developers explain what lies behind it

The developers of Hytale want to provide modders with a good playground from the very beginning to bring in their own creations. Now, a developer team has created its own MMORPG in the survival game.

What kind of MMORPG is this? In Hytale, the MMORPG Labyrinth is currently being developed. It is a PvE dungeon MMORPG that focuses primarily on levels filled with enemies and bosses during its development.

These can be completed solo or in teams, equipping your character with new items and further improvements. The trailer already shows what you are dealing with.

Here you can watch the trailer for Labyrinth:

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After 3 weeks already an MMORPG

How can there already be an MMORPG so early? According to a comment from the developers on X.com, the rapid development was only possible through dedication and passion. They explain that it took many “sleepless nights and marathons” to move the project forward.

However, the truth is that Labyrinth should not be measured against completed titles like WoW or Guild Wars 2 yet. The developers are currently working on creating the framework of a dungeon-based MMORPG, which is expected to be playable by early February 2026.

The goal is to offer players freedom in upgrading their class and to provide not only monster slaughtering but also bosses, secrets, and diverse levels.

Is it the only project of its kind? No, the Minecraft MMORPG Wynncraft has also announced an expansion to Hytale. The MMORPG in Minecraft, which has existed for over 10 years, plans to port to Hytale. However, according to the developers, this will not be easy, which is why they want to take more time.

Wynncraft, in contrast to Labyrinth, is already a finished MMORPG with all sorts of expansions, a large world, and various classes as well as its own ecosystem.

More and more MMOs from the West are failing:

Start video
MeinMMO and GameStar discuss the death of western MMOs

Whether Wynncraft or Labyrinth, the modding community will sooner or later turn Hytale into a real MMORPG, just as it has already happened in Minecraft. That Labyrinth has already created an early version after 3 weeks shows how easy it is for modders with Hytale. You can find the best mods for Hytale here: Hytale: Best Mods – How to enhance your gaming experience

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After 20 years, I have lost interest in One Piece, but the Netflix series showcases the Straw Hat in top form

MeinMMO editor Niko grew up with One Piece, but he no longer follows the anime and manga. The Netflix-series gives him a sense of nostalgia.

Like many people my age, I also grew up with the anime on RTL2. One Piece (although Dragon Ball is still my favorite) was something very special. No anime, no series could convey the feeling of adventure as much as One Piece.

I tried to watch every episode, and when I had completely caught up (it was already airing on Tele 5), I picked up the manga and regularly read the new chapters there too. But now, nearly 20 years after my first contact with the anime, I’m out.

About with the “Wano Kuni” arc, I stopped reading the manga. I still get to hear about major events, but I lack real interest. However, the 2nd season of the Netflix series, which will be released on March 10, 2026, could rekindle my love, even though the series looks quite silly.

Who is writing here? Nikolas Hernes primarily focuses on movies and series for MeinMMO, but he grew up with anime. Even if he doesn’t watch as much as he used to, he is still passionate about the medium.

One Piece, along with Dragon Ball and Naruto, played an important part in his life that he doesn’t want to miss even after over 20 years. That’s why the Netflix series of One Piece is also a major highlight for him.
Start video
One Piece: Netflix shows new trailer for season 2 with Nico Robin

Silly, but full of adventure

I can understand anyone who continues to actively follow One Piece. There are new characters, big new revelations, and epic battles. But for me, personally, it’s too much. The spirit of adventure before the time skip, the 2-year time jump after the Sabaody arc, is missing for me. I miss the feeling of being on a treasure hunt with the Straw Hats. Nowadays, I prefer to watch shorter anime or series.

But that’s where the live-action series on Netflix comes into play. When the 1st season started in 2023, I, like many others, was initially skeptical. A good live-action adaptation of anime seemed impossible, but Netflix made it happen. They found a middle ground. Nothing is too realistic, often even silly. But that was how the anime was back then.

Every time I see new trailers for season 2, I get excited. Yes, I know the story almost by heart, but it’s about the feeling – the feeling of fun, adventure, and friendship. Much of the set design looks almost theatrical, and the effects are not always good. But that’s what creates a special charm.

I want to feel the camaraderie of the Straw Hats again, not just in dramatic moments, but also in exploring new islands or interactions on the ship. That is something that is missing in today’s anime and manga.

In addition to a reinterpretation of many characters, I especially look forward to the fights, because something special is missing from today’s One Piece: more ingenuity in combat.

Not hitting harder, but rethinking

What I really liked about the early arcs in One Piece were the fights. The many abilities were so unique that the Straw Hats had to rethink to defeat their enemies. I immediately think of the fight Luffy vs. Crocodile or Chopper and Lysop’s 2 vs. 2 against Mister 4 and Miss Merry Christmas.

Seeing those fights in a new light will be a fun experience. Back then, the environment was still used, and Devil Fruits were creatively interpreted. That is something I miss a bit these days. In new fights, it often feels like the one who wins is the one with the cooler ability, not the one who uses it the smartest.

A major highlight for me is already Mister 3. I really like seeing David Dastmalchian in films and series, and his first images as a villain of the Baroque Works are fantastically silly (via x.com). In general, I have to praise the actors. With every interview, I feel like they love the characters. Taz Skylar as Sanji is especially impressive, who underwent tough training.

That is also an important factor for the fights. Besides the camera and choreography, the actors must also embody the situation. One has to approach such a live-action adaptation with fun and a little silliness, not with pure realism.

I am super excited for Season 2 of One Piece because I already know that I will feel like a child turning on RTL2 after school to watch the latest adventure of the Straw Hats. MeinMMO author Sophia is especially looking forward to the villains: I have been waiting for two years for the new season of One Piece and I can’t get enough of the new villains.

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

A player buys a computer, really wants to play Fortnite on it, but his brother has to shatter that dream

A player buys a computer: He wants to play Fortnite on it, but the hardware is not sufficient. His brother now has to explain to him somehow why this computer won’t work for that.

Our cover image is a symbolic image.

A player reports that his brother has bought a new computer. His wish is to play Fortnite with it. But the player has to disappoint his brother, although he does not want to say it too directly. Because the hardware of his “new computer” is simply hopelessly outdated:

The installed processor is an Intel Pentium E5500, the CPU is from 2010 and has not been supported for a long time. In addition, there are 4 GB of DDR2 RAM. A dedicated graphics card, on the other hand, is not installed. At least, as the user states, his brother paid “only” 14 US dollars for the system, which is about 12 euros. So he writes on Reddit.com:

My brother asked me if his PC would run Fortnite. I’m not joking, he seriously asked me that. I don’t know what to tell him; when he got it, he was so happy.

He cannot play Fortnite with the device, but at least, as the thread starter explains, his brother can play Roblox on the computer. Because that seems to run on the system despite the completely outdated hardware.

How does the community react? A few people offer the user to gift or sell better hardware to his brother. One user, for example, offers him a computer with an Intel 6700K and a Radeon RX 580, and another wants to donate DDR4 RAM to it. However, the player has not reacted to the offer yet.

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

Completely outdated hardware is not really worthwhile even in 2026 despite high RAM prices

Is such old hardware even worth it today? No, almost not at all. The completely outdated hardware is often too slow for modern Windows versions, especially the DDR2 RAM for modern software. In addition, many older components are no longer manufactured today. If an old motherboard or the RAM fails, it is significantly more difficult to obtain spare parts.

What such hardware is still worth it for at best is as a system for tinkering or experimenting. For example, to test Linux or to set up a home server if one does not want to buy a Raspberry. However, a modern Raspberry would definitely be cheaper and more efficient than a 15-year-old PC.

RAM has become really expensive. Some users are now going so far as to buy 18-year-old hardware: DDR3 RAM and suitable processors are significantly cheaper. Dealers report that the sales figures for old hardware are supposed to have risen rapidly: Users are currently buying 18-year-old hardware out of desperation because modern RAM is way too expensive

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

Pokémon GO gives you 400 Poké Coins, but you have to earn them

In February, there is again a GO Pass in Pokémon GO. And it comes with some strong, free rewards.

What is the GO Pass? The GO Pass is a rewards system in Pokémon GO, where you level up by completing tasks. For each level, you receive a reward, and additionally, you unlock bonuses at certain levels that remain active until the end of the pass. There is a free and a paid version of the GO Pass.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the February edition of the pass starts. It will be active until Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Here, you can expect some strong rewards – including 400 free PokéCoins.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Complete tasks, receive rewards

How do you earn the coins? If you want to receive the PokéCoins, you must collect points for the GO Pass. You can earn a certain amount of points every day by catching monsters, hatching eggs, or completing raids. The amount of points you can collect daily is limited to 100.

Additionally, there are daily and weekly tasks that will provide you with extra points. This way, you can make further progress, in addition to the daily limited number of points. To see your tasks and progress and to claim your rewards, go to the “Events” tab.

At which levels are the free coins available? To receive the free coins, you must achieve the following levels in the GO Pass:

  • Level 10: 10 PokéCoins
  • Level 20: 20 PokéCoins
  • Level 30: 30 PokéCoins
  • Level 40: 40 PokéCoins
  • Level 60: 60 PokéCoins
  • Level 70: 70 PokéCoins
  • Level 80: 80 PokéCoins
  • Level 90: 90 PokéCoins

You can therefore receive a total of 400 PokéCoins in the GO Pass. If you buy the paid version of the pass for €8.99, you can receive an additional 1,000 coins, totaling 1,400 coins.

What other rewards are there? In addition to a variety of experience points and some items and stardust, there are also various candies for Pokémon as well as encounters with the monsters as rewards.

Particularly interesting is the Pokémon encounter at level 100 of the pass. Here, you will receive Giratina in its altered form. You can view all rewards in the game in the “Events” tab. Alternatively, here is an overview that a trainer posted on Reddit:

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What bonuses are there? If you reach levels 25, 50, and 75, you will unlock certain bonuses in the game for the remaining duration of the GO Pass. These include the following:

  • Level 25
    • Open up to 40 gifts per day
    • Collect up to 125 gifts per day from gyms and PokéStops
    • 10 additional gifts can be stored in the item bag
  • Level 50:
    • Double duration for daily adventure incense
  • Level 75:
    • Receive up to 2 additional free raid passes daily from gyms

In the paid version, the bonus for level 25 changes slightly. Instead, you will receive the following bonuses:

  • Open up to 50 gifts per day
  • Collect up to 150 gifts per day from gyms and PokéStops
  • 20 additional gifts can be stored in the item bag

Not only does the GO Pass await you in February. There are again many events and content that are active in the game. If you want to get an overview of when which content is available in the game, 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.

Sandbox MMORPG announces full release on Steam, but the veterans are not pleased at all

The developers of The Quinfall have announced the full release of the MMORPG. However, alongside the excitement for the big update, there is also a lot of criticism from the players.

Update: The developers provided an update regarding refunds on Discord on February 3rd at 14:14. Now, all purchases after the wipe will be refunded, regardless of when they were made.

What kind of MMORPG is this? In early 2025, a new MMORPG named The Quinfall launched in Early Access on Steam. The developers aimed to engage players with grinding, a vast world, and many sandbox elements, including the option to freely build their own houses and bases.

The MMORPG consciously opted out of many activities typical of theme parks and focused more on a true challenge and social features. The Early Access period on Steam has been rather mixed, as the MMORPG currently holds a 47% positive rating with over 7,000 reviews, making it balanced.

During the Early Access period, many of the significant issues, such as technology and the combat system, have gradually been improved. The latter now looks really good and is probably the most important change since the Early Access launch. Now the developers have announced the end of Early Access and the full release.

Here you can watch the release trailer for The Quinfall:

Start video
The Quinfall presents new trailer for the full release on Steam

A release with consequences

What have the developers announced now? The developers of The Quinfall have set the full release date for their MMORPG on February 6th. Additionally, for the upcoming year, they plan new content such as new quests, an open PvP zone, terraforming, combat golems, sieges, airships, and balloons, as well as a wedding system.

However, the developers would like all players to initially experience the updates of the past year at the same level, which is why they will also wipe all player progress with the new update.

Players who have spent money on the game will receive part of their expenses back, depending on how long ago the purchases were made (Source: Discord). Those with parts of the “Ancient Armor” will get these back after the wipe, but the veterans are not pleased about it at all.

How are the veterans reacting to the wipe? Unlike the developers, the veterans generally view the wipe negatively. They claim on Reddit that the developers promised beforehand that there would be no wipes.

The fact that not everything will be returned to players for their character in real-money spending is also causing frustration among veterans. Player Drelkag also complains on Reddit: “They are deleting everything, and the cash shop coins that people bought at the beginning of the testing phase won’t even be fully refunded. What a scam.”

Indeed, according to the announced guidelines on Steam, players whose sales are older than 9 months will receive no refund at all. The developers state:

The refund of VCoins will occur gradually after the introduction, based on the original purchase date:

  • 100% refund: All VCoins purchased within the last 3 months,
  • 60% refund: All VCoins purchased 3 to 6 months ago,
  • 20% refund: All VCoins purchased 6 to 9 months ago.

This structure was designed to provide all players with a fair and sustainable transition. […]

Announcement by the developers on Steam

The developers further explain explicitly that there will only be the announced refunds for VCoins and “Ancient Armor,” and that no further refunds will be carried out.

For new players, starting at a level where everyone is on the same level is surely a good incentive. At the same time, it is questionable whether the developers are being too harsh with the veterans who supported the development of their MMORPG over the past year. MeinMMO expert Karsten Scholz had no positive words for the launch of the MMORPG: 2025 will go down in history as one of the worst years for MMORPG fans

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Only because of the bravest dog did Tolkien’s most beautiful love story succeed

In the universe of The Lord of the Rings, there are not only imaginary creatures, but also pets like dogs populate Middle-earth. Long before the events of the films, an animal became a mighty ally, one that could even take on Sauron.

Dogs play no significant role in The Lord of the Rings films, yet they exist in Tolkien’s stories. In the First Age, several thousand years before the Fellowship’s journey, a special dog even became an ally of the Valar. These are ancient beings created by the divine being Ilúvatar.

Huan was a wolfhound, whose true age is unknown. He was chosen by the Valar and granted special abilities, including immortality and the ability to never need sleep. According to a prophecy, he would speak three times before his death.

Originally, he was a hunting dog of Oromë, a Valar known as a hunter and one of the strongest of his kind. He later gave Huan to Celegorm, one of the sons of Fëanor. He too was a hunter and a friend of Oromë, who taught him many things.

Huan was not only a strong hunting dog but a true hero.

Start video
The Rings of Power Season 2 – SDCC Trailer for the Latest Season of the Amazon Series

Mightier than Many Warriors

What was Huan’s life like? Along with Celegorm and other Noldor, he traveled to Middle-earth. One day, while hunting with Celegorm and Curufin (another son of Fëanor), Huan found Lúthien, the daughter of King Thingol, who ruled in Doriath.

She was searching for her great love Beren. At that time, he was on a suicide mission with Finrod, the king of Nargothrond: Since Lúthien’s father did not truly accept their love, he sent Beren to retrieve a Silmaril, one of the three powerful gemstones, which were at that time in the possession of the true villain Morgoth.

Celegorm and Curufin were aware of this and captured Lúthien to use her as leverage against Thingol, to convince him to agree to an alliance. However, Huan helped Lúthien. During her captivity, she often talked to the dog.

Huan spoke for the first time, helped her escape, and traveled with her to Tol-in-Gaurhoth, a fortress of Sauron, who was then still a lieutenant. There, Beren was imprisoned.

In keeping with the other name of the fortress, Isle of Werewolves, Lúthien and Huan had to fight against them. Once that was done, even Sauron himself transformed into a werewolf, as a prophecy stated that Huan would die by a werewolf. But with Lúthien’s help, Huan was able to defeat him. Sauron fled, and the lovers were reunited.

On their way back to Doriath, Beren and Lúthien encountered Curufin and Celegorm again, to whom Huan also returned. The now exiled Elves attacked Lúthien, but Huan defended her. They fled in fear.

The Death of Huan

How does the story of Huan end? Beren decided to continue searching for the Silmarils and sneaked away alone. Huan and Lúthien naturally followed Beren on the way to Angband. When they met, Huan spoke for the second time and informed Beren that he must face his fate together with Lúthien.

Beren, disguised as the werewolf Draugluin, and Lúthien, disguised as the bat Thuringwethil, made their way to Angband, initially without Huan. To defend Angband and protect himself from Huan, Morgoth created a powerful werewolf of his own.

Carcharoth is a descendant of Draugluin, the first werewolves, and was fed living flesh by Morgoth.

Beren and Lúthien managed to steal a Silmaril, but the great evil wolf of Morgoth was waiting. He bit off Beren’s hand that held the gem. But Huan helped the two by sending the Eagles for their rescue (as seen in the films). The lovers returned to Lúthien’s father, who accepted their love after hearing what had happened.

However, Carcharoth had a problem: The Silmaril in his stomach caused him endless pain, driving him mad as he tried to hunt the heroes. Just before he reached Thingol’s kingdom, Thingol sent a troop (himself included) out to hunt the werewolf.

A final great battle between the two creatures ensued. Beren and Huan were able to kill the werewolf, but both died. Huan spoke for the last time and said goodbye to Beren and Lúthien.

Huan is proof that not only humans, elves, or dwarves have resisted evil, but also animals. Furthermore, he represents a central element of the story: loyalty. If you want to learn more about The Lord of the Rings and Middle-earth, 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.

A loyal order of the Space Marines is so brutal that it would be better suited to Chaos – Soon you will be able to play it yourself

For many fans, the Space Marines and the Imperium in Warhammer 40,000 are considered “the good guys” of the setting, even if that is already questionable. However, one Order of the Space Marines cannot be counted among them: the Carcharodons, an Order of slavers. Space Marine 2 will soon bring them as DLC.

In the world of Warhammer 40,000 there is not exactly “good and evil”, but some factions come very close to the extremes. The Carcharodons are one of these factions. They are one of the most controversial, but also one of the most popular Orders of the Space Marines.

When exactly the Carcharodons were created is not known in detail. However, they are said to have existed since shortly after the Horus Heresy, roughly since the 32nd millennium. Their origin is also unknown.

Speculation suggests they are outcasts of the Raven Guard, one of the original Orders of the Space Marines. The reason for their banishment: they were simply too brutal, their methods not compatible with the morality of the Imperium or at least their original Order.

Since their exile, they have followed the “Forgotten” and fight on the borders of the Imperium against the enemies of humanity, for despite everything, they are loyal to the Emperor of Mankind.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 presents its roadmap for the second year of the popular third-person shooter

So brutal that the Imperium has banished them

Their name means roughly translated from High Gothic “Space Sharks” and they behave exactly like that. They still murder, kidnap, and enslave citizens of the Imperium today, and that was also the reason for their original banishment.

It is not known when exactly or by whom the Carcharodons were cast out, but the “Raven Guard” theory is probably the most likely: after the return of the primarch Corvus Corax, he expelled the brutal part of his Legion.

Corvus Corax is possibly the most powerful of all Primarchs and is, based on his origin story, absolutely opposed to slavery. Raised on a tyrannized world and among slaves, he has grown up as a rebel and freedom fighter.

The kinship of the Carcharodons to the Raven Guard is indicated by titles they give to their Astartes. However, they are also attributed a certain kinship to fallen brothers, followers of Chaos, which is not surprising given their methods.

Recruits rarely come voluntarily and the gene-seed makes them into monsters

Carcharodons raid Imperial worlds and call it the “Red Tithe”. There, they take most citizens they can find as slaves and make them servants of their Order.

Some few chosen “get to” undergo the trials, to ultimately become a Space Marine, albeit not necessarily voluntarily. Those who do not pass the trials likely die.

When a Space Marine is created, an Apothecary implants the gene-seed of the Order, which slowly changes the man’s body. However, in the case of the Carcharodons, this has severe side effects because the seed itself is unstable and prone to mutations, similar to the Raven Guard:

  • The skin becomes pale, almost corpse-like.
  • The eyes lose their color and become jet black, without pupils.
  • Carcharodons become more aggressive and malevolent purely from the gene-seed, showing no regard for civilians.
  • Older Carcharodons even develop grayish scales on their skin.

The Ashen Claws, a traitorous but not Chaos-corrupted branch of the Raven Guard, do not view the Carcharodons as brothers, but rather as unnatural hybrids – and even equate them more with the treacherous World Eaters.

Carcharodons coming to Space Marine 2

At the end of February 2026, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will receive its Patch 12. This brings the Tech Marine as a new class into the game, as well as new DLCs for the game, including the Carcharodon DLC.

The DLC includes the complete heraldry of the Carcharodons, with which you can customize your Space Marine for coop missions and PvP: two helmets, left and right shoulder plates, and chest pieces. Unlike other cosmetic DLCs, you do not get a new heraldry page, but get the armor pieces directly in the selection when you purchase the contents.

In addition, Focus Entertainment will also provide the “Raven Guard” DLC… the kinship of the two Orders is a widely spread theory. Additionally, there will be a new map, new weapon variants, and new equipment for healing.

The Carcharodons are not one of the most well-known, but definitely one of the most notorious Orders in Warhammer 40,000 – and with their behavior certainly not the first choice for most (new) fans. If you want to know which Order suits you, take the test here: In Warhammer 40,000, the Emperor created 20 perfect sons – which gene-seed would you receive?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. wh40k.lexicanum.com

The Lord of the Rings: Everything about the lore and history of Middle-earth

The Lord of the Rings offers a rich universe full of stories, lore, and characters that do not all appear in the movies. In this overview, you will find all the articles available on MeinMMO about Tolkien’s creations.

What does this overview provide? In short: A listing of all our articles that deal with the lore of The Lord of the Rings and the extended universe of J.R.R. Tolkien.

This includes stories about individual characters, events, or places. The articles delve deep into the history of Middle-earth and the planet Arda. For better orientation, we have categorized the articles into different categories.

You can find a table of contents here:

[toc]

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Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship

Mysterious and Powerful Beings from Middle-earth

The following articles tell about various beings that are quite mysterious and often possess great power.

Ainur – The Offspring of the God Ilúvatar

Maiar and Valar

Wizards

Dragons

Spirit Beings

The Peoples of Middle-earth

The following articles deal with various peoples that have left their mark on Middle-earth.

Hobbits

Men

Elves

Dwarves

Orcs

Eagles

Other Creatures from Middle-earth

Middle-earth is full of strange creatures that sometimes have a great influence on the story. They are sometimes quite old, in other cases, their origin story is curious.

The Rings of Power

In Middle-earth, everything revolves around the Rings of Power. In addition to the One Ring from Sauron, the others also play an important role.

Places in Middle-earth

Some places in Middle-earth are very special, as important events took place there or they are noteworthy for other reasons.

Weapons, Armors, and Armies

There is a lot of fighting in The Lord of the Rings, and the right weapons and armies are of great importance.

Miscellaneous

These were all the articles we have for you about the lore of The Lord of the Rings on MeinMMO. The overview will be updated in the future as new contributions appear. Everything else we have about the franchise outside of lore, can be found here on MeinMMO.

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

Is Pokémon GO worth the Spotlight Hour today?

The first Spotlight Hour of February 2026 is waiting for you in Pokémon GO. MeinMMO shows you what to expect there.

What kind of event is this? The Spotlight Hour is a short event that lasts only 60 minutes. It takes place every week on Tuesday. There is at least one Pokémon that is in the spotlight, along with a bonus.

In the upcoming Spotlight Hour on February 3, 2026, the Pokémon Whismur is waiting for you. This Pokémon is from Generation 3 and can first evolve into Loudred and then into Exploud.

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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Spotlight Hour on February 3, 2026 – Start and Bonuses

When does the Spotlight Hour start? As usual, the short event starts at 6:00 PM. It ends again after 60 minutes, at 7:00 PM.

What bonus is active? Each Pokémon you catch during the Spotlight Hour will give you double the amount of candies.

Can you catch Shiny Whismur? Yes. You can also encounter the shiny variant of the Pokémon. However, the chance of finding a shiny specimen is not increased.

Is it worth it to participate in the Spotlight Hour? Whismur and its evolutions are unfortunately not strong Pokémon and do not appear in the list of best attackers in Pokémon GO for raids.

If you still have Pokémon rewards from research or the raid pass, you can at least use the event to claim those rewards and get double the amount of candies for them.

The new month has started. And with it come countless events, raids, and other content waiting for you in the game. In addition to the Spotlight Hours, there are many other events in February. If you want to know what they are and what to expect from each of them, 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.

Steam stops selling Ashes of Creation, examining possibilities for potential refunds

Since Ashes of Creation lost most of its leading developers along with the studio head, the MMORPG does not look good. Whether the game has been discontinued has not yet been confirmed, however, Steam has now decided not to offer it any longer.

What is the situation for Ashes of Creation on Steam? After the announced resignation of the now former CEO of Intrepid Studios and Creative Director of Ashes of Creation, Steven Sharif, the future of the MMORPG initially remained uncertain. Many concerns that the game would be discontinued seem to be confirmed by further news: Ashes of Creation is no longer available on Steam at the time of this article (February 3, 2026, 7:30 AM).

In addition to a current “balanced” rating (45% positive), which summarizes the negative sentiment of the community, there are no more options to purchase Ashes of Creation.

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

Players Demand Refunds, Steam Looks Into It

What does Steam say about refunds? Angry players who are now turning to Steam to request refunds report in community discussions on the platform as well as on Reddit about their current knowledge regarding this topic.

According to Hokagefall on Steam, they contacted support to request a refund, and received the following message: 

Hello,

I understand the problem. Please note that we are investigating this matter further. As soon as we have more information, we will update your ticket.

Since another user received a similar response from Steam support, these reports seem credible.

Steam Support Refund Ashes of Creation
Steam support regarding a refund ticket (Source: LawdAizen on Reddit)

The community therefore recommends all players who also wish for a refund for Ashes of Creation to also submit a ticket.

How did this situation arise? In addition to Sharif’s resignation, mass layoffs ensured that a large part of the management team left the studio as well. No CEO, no management team, and missing developers who have previously worked on the project suggest a bleak future for Ashes of Creation.

Just a few weeks ago, the former studio head expressed reassuring words that there was no fear of an end to Ashes of Creation with the first layoff of 9 people. In his last message on the official Discord server for the game, which includes his resignation, he can no longer make these statements. Further details he cannot “responsibly comment on at this time due to ongoing legal and administrative matters.”

The resignation of Steven Sharif and the expected consequences for Ashes of Creation is not a new drama, but a pattern that seems to be repeating itself. This topic has been analyzed in more detail by editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski and written here on MeinMMO: The “Star Citizen” syndrome: Why millions were spent on the MMORPG castle in the air again

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