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.

Start video
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

21 years after the release, Guild Wars gets a new update, bringing a fresh game mode

Although Guild Wars has existed for 21 years, there have been frequent updates recently. The latest brings a game mode that stands out mainly for its difficulty.

What kind of game mode is this? 21 years after its release, the developers of Guild Wars are adding a new game mode to the cooperative RPG. As they explain in the patch notes on Steam, it is a “self-found” mode called “Melandru’s Accord”.

This is based on a community rule set that prohibits building your character with the help of others. This means that the game mode has some restrictions. It is forbidden:

  • to trade with other players
  • to pick up item drops from other players
  • to access the account storage
  • to use skill tomes or learn skills from the account
  • to visit the “Zaishen Menagerie”
  • to trade with other players via the auction house or NPCs
  • to recruit mercenaries into your roster

Additionally, there are some other restrictions that are meant to ensure that players achieve everything on their own and without assistance in this game mode.

Here you can watch the trailer for Guild Wars Reforged:

Start video
Guild Wars Reforged verströmt im Launch Trailer liebgewonnene Nostalgie

German Language in Guild Wars

What else did the patch bring? The developers of Guild Wars have released further innovations in the patch. There is now a translation of the in-game texts into new languages. Guild Wars is now available in German for the “in-progress” game modes Melandru’s Accord, Dhuum’s Covenant, and Reforged Mode.

Furthermore, the developers have improved touch screen support for the Steam Deck, enhanced the user interface, and provided the Prophecies campaign with more experience points.

Thus, the cooperative game also receives valuable updates 21 years after the release, which will certainly increase its replay value.

Why is it still being patched after 21 years? For the 20th anniversary of Guild Wars, the developers resumed work on the game. With Guild Wars Reforged, there was a major update on December 3, 2026, that focused on more modern graphics, an improved interface, and increased accessibility for newcomers.

Especially on the Steam Deck, the RPG has become popular and cherished by fans, as thanks to the update, the title plays well there. Since the release of the “Guild Wars Reforged” version, the developers have consistently provided updates and also plan further improvements to the game in the future.

Since the release of Guild Wars Reforged, the developers have been working hard to make the return to the predecessor of today’s still popular MMORPG appealing. The new game mode is just one of many changes. How the comeback went can be found here: 20-year-old MMORPG classic Guild Wars celebrates a strong comeback, bringing back the feeling of the past

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

The 10 most popular ships from Harry Potter – Which pairing has the most fanfictions?

To Harry Potter there are countless fanfictions. Often, it revolves around the relationship between two characters. But which couples are particularly popular among fans?

What kind of list is this? Many fans of Harry Potter and other franchises like to come up with their own stories about their favorite fandoms: so-called fanfictions. One of the most popular sites for this is “Archive of Our Own“, short AO3.

On Reddit user Agamar13 posts an interesting statistic: The Top 100 Ships that were tagged most frequently on AO3 in 2025. This shows us which couples had the most contributions – especially fanfictions – written about them last year.

Included are many pairs from Harry Potter, of which we want to look at the Top 10 on this list. Besides the most common name of the ship, you will also find out how many entries there were for the couple in 2025 and what place it landed on the “Top 100” list.

Start video
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Trailer for the 6th part of the fantasy series

Rank 10: Marlene McKinnon/ Dorcas Meadowes

  • Ship Name: Dorlene
  • Entries: 2,867
  • Overall Placement: 67

At the first entry of this list, one might wonder if they landed in the wrong fandom. But indeed, Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadowes are official characters from Harry Potter. But don’t worry if the names don’t ring a bell. The two witches are only mentioned in a few sentences in the books, so you haven’t missed much.

Marlene and Dorcas were members of the first Order of the Phoenix, during the same time as Harry’s parents. Both were killed in the wizarding war, and Dorcas even by Voldemort himself.

Not much more is known about the two. Also, whether they actually had a romantic relationship. That’s why they are so well-suited for fanfictions. Since they are official characters, the story integrates perfectly into the original. Still, one can get creative. Additionally, the first Order of the Phoenix and the time of the Marauders are very popular among many fans. The result: over 2,800 fan works about Marlene and Dorcas, just in the last year.

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

Here’s how to get the new monster Flamigo in Pokémon GO – All information about the Carnival of Flamigo

In Pokémon GO the next event starts. Included is a monster that you can obtain for the first time in the game here, as well as 3 monsters that you can get more easily as Shiny.

What kind of event is this? The “Carnial of Flamigo” starts on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM. It runs until Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 8:00 PM.

How do I get Flamigo? Flamigo is a monster that resembles a flamingo in both appearance and name. It is from Generation 9 and has the types Flying and Fighting.

You can find the monster in the wild during the event, although it is a bit rarer. Additionally, there are supposed to be encounters with event Pokémon through field research, collector challenges, and time-limited research during the event. It can be assumed that you can also obtain Flamigo here – however, this is not yet guaranteed.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

All content from the Carnival of Flamigo

Which monsters are at the event? In addition to the new monster, there are several others that you can encounter in the wild.

  • Lotad**
  • Buneary*
  • Pipipek**
  • Spritzee** (rare)
  • Flamigo(rare)

While you have the regular chance to get Buneary as Shiny (*), the chance of getting the shiny variant of Lotad, Pipipek, and Spritzee (**) is additionally increased during the event.

What bonuses are available at the event? During the Carnival of Flamigo, the following bonuses are active in the game:

  • double effect duration for incense
  • double effect duration for the daily adventure incense
  • increased chance to get Lotad, Pipipek and Spritzee as Shiny
  • 500 additional Stardust when you catch Flamigo

Further content of the event: Field research and collector challenges are also part of the event. While you can receive encounters with event monsters as rewards in both field research and collector challenges, there are additionally experience points and Stardust in the collector challenge.

A free, time-limited research will also be available during the event. Here you can also obtain encounters with event Pokémon, as well as 2 incense and Stardust.

For $4.99 (about €5), there is also a paid, time-limited research. There you will receive among other things 1 star piece, an avatar pose, and additional encounters with event monsters. If you purchase the ticket in the Pokémon GO web store, you will also receive a premium battle pass.

Not only the Carnival of Flamigo awaits you in February 2026 in the game. There are many other events and content. If you want to get an overview of what they are and when they take place, 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.

Pokémon GO: Jirachi Quest “A Thousand-Year Sleep” – Guide

The special research for Jirachi called “A Thousand-Year Sleep” is now available in Pokémon GO. We will show you the stages and give you tips for solving them.

In Pokémon GO, you can now complete the special research about the mysterious Pokémon Jirachi. You need to complete 7 stages to finally encounter Jirachi. The research is comparable to the tasks related to Mew or Celebi.

The special research is called “A Thousand-Year Sleep” and presents you with some tricky tasks. Jirachi was previously only available at all 3 GO Fests and is now catchable worldwide through this quest.

Special Research “A Thousand-Year Sleep” – The Quests

All 7 stages on the way to Jirachi present different challenges. You need to make friends or catch and photograph special Pokémon.

pokemon go jirachi

We will now give you an overview of the stages.

Stage 1/7

  • Catch 25 Pokémon
    • Reward: 1000 XP
  • Spin 10 PokéStops or Gyms
    • Reward: Encounter with a Jigglypuff
  • Make 3 new friends
    • Reward: Encounter with a Feebas

Reward at the end of the stage: 1x Moss Module, 1x Glacial Module, 1x Magnetic Module. This is how the new modules work in Pokémon GO.

Stage 2/7

Evolve Feebas
In Stage 2, you need to evolve a Feebas
  • Catch 3 Swablu
    • Reward: 10 Swablu Candy
  • Evolve a Feebas
    • Reward: 1500 XP
  • Earn the Hoenn Medal in Gold
    • Reward: 1500 XP

Reward at the end of the stage: 2000 Stardust, 10 Pokéballs, 3x Incense

This is how you evolve Feebas: The evolution of Feebas is special. You need 100 Feebas Candy and must walk 20 km with the Feebas you are evolving.

So it is worth taking Feebas as your buddy right at the beginning of the special research.

Stage 3/7

Pokémon GO Snorlax Title
  • Take a snapshot of Surskit
    • Reward: Encounter with a Snorlax
  • Land three great throws in a row
    • Reward: 2000 XP
  • Earn 3 candies while walking with your buddy
    • Reward: 2000 XP

Reward at the end of the stage: 20x Silver Pinap Berry, 3x Lucky Egg, 2000 Stardust

This buddy you should take: To complete the task as quickly as possible, you should choose a buddy that only needs 1 km per candy. These include, among others, Magikarp, Pidgey, or Swablu.

Stage 4/7

Gift
In Stage 4, you need to send gifts
  • Catch 50 Psychic or Steel-type Pokémon
    • Reward: 2500 XP
  • Use a Power Up 10 times on Pokémon
    • Reward: 2500 XP
  • Send 10 gifts to friends
    • Reward: 2500 XP

Reward at the end of the stage: 1x Fast TM, 1x Charge TM, 1x Raid Pass

Look for these Pokémon: Psychic and Steel-type Pokémon are collected quite quickly. Some of them are very common, such as Hypno, Steelix, Natu, or Meditite.

Stage 5/7

Pokemon GO PvP is here
PvP battles are expected of you in Stage 5
  • Battle three times against a Team Leader
    • Reward: Encounter with a Crustle
  • Win 7 battles against other trainers
    • Reward: 3000 XP
  • Win 5 raids
    • Reward: 3000 XP

Reward at the end of the stage: 3 Rare Candies, 20 Ultra Balls, 3000 Stardust

This helps you in battles: Team Leader battles are quick to finish. It’s best to take Blanche’s Great League, as she is the easiest to defeat.

In trainer battles, you should look for a hyper-friend, as you can fight from a distance. This way you don’t have to play together.

Stage 6/7

PokéStops
You need to spin PokéStops for 7 days
  • Take 5 photos of Steel or Psychic-type Pokémon
    • Reward: Encounter with a Klang
  • Land 3 excellent curveball throws
    • Reward: Encounter with a Bronzong
  • Spin a PokéStop for 7 consecutive days
    • Reward: 4000 XP

Reward at the end of the stage: 10 Silver Pinap Berries, 10x Lucky Egg, 5000 Stardust

This helps with throwing: The excellent throws are likely to frustrate many trainers. It’s best to always use a Nanab Berry. It keeps the Pokémon still, allowing you to hit better.

Ideal Pokémon for this are Swablu, Nosepass, or Makuhita. They have large circles and are easy to hit.

Stage 7/7

Jirachi
  • Automatically completed
    • Reward: 4500 XP
  • Automatically completed
    • Reward: 4500 XP
  • Automatically completed
    • Reward: 4500 XP

Reward at the end of the stage: Encounter with a Jirachi, 20 Jirachi Candy, 1 Jirachi Shirt for your avatar

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

Pokémon GO: Vivillon Map – You Need Friends from These Regions

In Pokémon GO you can evolve Vivillon with different patterns, but for that, you need postcards from various regions. Here you will find the map and all the information about it.

What kind of Pokémon is Vivillon? Vivillon is the third evolution of Scatterbug, which can first evolve into Spewpa and then into Vivillon. With the “Rolling Scatterbug” event in 2025, the shiny variant will also be introduced to the game.

The special thing: Vivillon comes with different wing patterns, which depend on various regions.

To get Scatterbug, you need to pin postcards from your friends from these regions. 3 postcards from the same region will give you a Scatterbug encounter, whose Vivillon evolution will eventually display the corresponding pattern. In addition, you can continue to collect postcards from these regions to get more Scatterbug.

You can find out how exactly this works in the overview of Scatterbug, Spewpa, and Vivillon.

But which patterns and regions are actually relevant? We’ll look into that here and give a tip below on how you might obtain the necessary postcards.

Update from February 3, 2026: We have updated the article for you.
Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Vivillon Map 2026 – Which region brings which pattern?

Which regions have the patterns? From the following regions, you need to pin postcards to obtain the different patterns.

Pokemon GO Vivillon Map
The Vivillon map at a glance
  • Archipelago: Caribbean islands, South Africa
  • Continental: Southeast South America, Central Europe, Asia
  • Elegant: Japan
  • Garden: Great Britain, New Zealand, Ireland
  • High Plains: Southwest USA, Eastern Europe
  • Polar: Canada, Greenland, Finland, Norway, Sweden
  • Jungle: Along the Equator
  • Marine: Western South America, Spain, Portugal, Mediterranean region
  • Meadow: Italy, France, Central Europe
  • Modern: Southeastern USA
  • Monsoon: Southeast Asia
  • Ocean: Hawaii, Galapagos, Madagascar
  • Polar: Western and Eastern Canada, Alaska, southern end of South America, Scandinavia
  • River: North Africa, South Africa, Southern Australia
  • Sandstorm: Arabian Peninsula
  • Savanna: Eastern South America
  • Sun: Mexico / Central America, Eastern Africa / Madagascar, Northern Australia
  • Tundra: Iceland, Scandinavia, Northern Japan

The boundaries are still not entirely clear, but can only be approximately delineated.

How to obtain the Vivillon postcards? Trainers share friend codes on reddit

Where to get the postcards? To get the various patterns, but also the encounters needed for the candies, you need a lot of postcards. Trainers recommend using Sanana berries and Mega Bug Pokémon during Scatterbug encounters to get more candies.

In Germany, for example, one can get the Continental postcards easily, where one can even pin their own postcards. But what about the other regions?

One possibility: On reddit, trainers have already created a dedicated subreddit called “VivillonCollectors” (via reddit), where there are posts for each region.

There, trainers share their friend codes in the respective post, depending on which region they come from. This already provides a way to find friends in regions that you are still missing.

Vivillon in Pokémon GO: All patterns

How many patterns are there? As of now, 18 patterns are available in Pokémon GO.

All Vivillon patterns at a glance

You can also find an overview of all patterns directly in the game when you access the Vivillon medal. There, you can track your progress in collecting. Do you also have tips on how to better obtain Vivillon variants? Share them in the comments! Another monster in Pokémon GO that can cause you problems is Ditto. How to catch Ditto and Shiny Ditto, you can also find out from us.

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

The “Star Citizen” Syndrome: Why millions were spent again on the MMORPG castle of dreams in Ashes of Creation

Steven Sharif’s withdrawal from Ashes of Creation is the latest act in a drama that has been repeating itself for over a decade. Whether Star Citizen, Chronicles of Elyria, or Camelot Unchained – the pattern is almost always the same. MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski analyzes why it is so attractive for us to believe in the dream castle time and again and to invest in it.

There was no spectacular trailer or extravagant stage show. It all started with a simple blog post in which Steven Sharif painted the picture of an MMORPG that was supposed to become a revolution and our second home.

He spoke of a world that reacts to us. A world that we can breathe, build, and – if we want – lay waste to. As we play, nodes and regions form. The more we play in a region, entire cities develop there, land is claimed, housing systems are created, and we manage an entire political system. We fight with others for these nodes and lead our guild to glory and wealth.

All that was missing for this dream MMORPG was $750,000, which was to be raised through Kickstarter – and the credit cards were drawn. In less than 12 hours, the goal was reached, and ultimately over $3 million was raised.

Today, 10 years later, we are facing the ruins of this enthusiasm. Sharif is gone.

The Alpha servers feel more like a construction site in perpetual raw build than like the promised land. But what is truly frightening is not the rubble at Intrepid Studios. The frightening part is the déjà vu.

Welcome to the “Star Citizen” syndrome. Ashes of Creation is not the first project that has choked on its own dream castle – and its backers along with it.

The Dream Castle in Its Parts

To get straight to the point: The big problem with projects like Ashes of Creation, Chronicles of Elyria or Camelot Unchained is that we are not buying finished games, but a dream. And the biggest problem is that the dream consists of an unfinished air castle, where we ourselves have to fill in the last bricks.

But let’s dismantle the air castle again.

The Alluring Narrative

In Steven Sharif’s case, there is this extremely charismatic leader who presents himself as one of us. A gamer next door, who is also pursuing the dream of the ultimate MMORPG – and now wants to build this perfect game for himself and us.

All of this is of course supposed to happen without the “greedy publisher” in the background, who only wants our money and does not understand us gamers at all. A feeling of “Us against them” arises, which strengthens the bond between the community and the studio. A nearly parasocial relationship develops.

And we could observe exactly this narrative in the other Kickstarter MMORPGs as well.

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

The Paradox of Endless Freedom

We are currently living in a gaming era where especially AA studios are asserting themselves against giants like EA, Ubisoft, or Activision. The success of games like Arc Raiders or Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 underscores this.

Studios like Larian have shown with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it is indeed possible to create a complex and content-rich game without the publisher’s pressure. Studio head Swen Vincke never tires of talking about the exploitative nature of large publishers. And yes, greedy publishers certainly have a negative influence on studios and game development.

However, what must not be overlooked here is that the free-spirited studios still need to have a solid plan in place to finish their game.

Deadlines are necessary, a realistic budget calculation is needed, and strong project management is required for complex products like video games. A wonderful, creative, and ambitious idea is not enough. If you don’t have a publisher’s pressure pushing these things, a studio has to take care of it themselves.

The Psychology that Makes Us Reach for Our Wallets

We are given a sense of being able to actively shape the development. Whether in the case of Ashes of Creation the promise of the “Node System”, through which we can exert influence on how the world develops in the game. Or in Star Citizen feedback channels like Issue Council, where current balancing is discussed.

Then there is the “Sunk Cost” effect, which describes the phenomenon of holding on to projects, investments, or decisions even if they turn out to be wrong, simply because time, money, or effort has already been invested. Whoever has once spent 250 € or more for an alpha package or a virtual plot wants and must believe that it will be a success.

FOMO is the Kickstarter here, the fear of missing out. Limited alpha access and exclusive skins create artificial pressure.

The Promise We Actually Only Make to Ourselves

To secure funding, crowdfunded MMOs must sell a dream. And so come these promises that are hardly keepable. In theory, these offer endlessly deep systems like fully destructible worlds, an economy that develops automatically from PvP guilds, and political systems that also somehow arise from playing. Then there are some nice concept arts that invite us to dream.

The details are missing, and we start to fill them in our heads. And this is where the big catch lies. We have had 10 years to craft the absolute dream MMORPG in our heads and to make it bigger and more glorious than it could ever technically be programmed.

Buying access is buying a daydream. Nothing more.

Instead of Dream Castle, an Eternal Construction Site

How Ashes of Creation will proceed now is uncertain in the wake of Steven Sharif’s departure. Whether the game will be discontinued or will continue to be developed with a smaller team – and without Sharif – cannot be said at this point. The charismatic face that dreamed with us for the last 10 years is gone.

With such a development, Ashes of Creation is not alone:

  • Chronicles of Elyria started almost 10 years ago and raised nearly 8 million euros in 2019. The MMORPG is not dead yet, but is now embroiled in legal disputes.
  • Camelot Unchained has been in development for 12 years for a technology that seems outdated today.
  • Crowfall aimed to revolutionize the MMORPG genre in 2015. The game was released in 2021 without hype, intended to be revamped again, and now shows no signs of life.

Let’s come to the namesake of this article and the supergiant among crowdfunding MMOs: Star Citizen.

Pre-production began in 2010, about 16 years ago. More than 5.6 million supporters have raised over $809 million through crowdfunding. Since then, the space MMO has been in development, progressing only brick by brick.

Let’s be honest: The dream castle of Star Citizen is now so large that the science fiction MMO can no longer be released as “finished”. The dream has long become the product. The sale of expensive ships appears from the outside as the actual gameplay loop.

The hardcore community is fine with it, and to be fair, there is more than just the ship sale. For instance, it is also possible to fly through space and complete missions. Players describe this as something that is indeed not comparable.

However, the project and studio head Chris Roberts must continue to be critically observed. Reports continually emerge that depict a picture of wasteful spending, poor management, and harsh overtime phases.

This air castle could still implode.

At this point, I recommend the Kickstarter reckoning by our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz:

More on the topic
25 MMOs that wanted your money via Kickstarter – A sad balance after 14 years
von Karsten Scholz

Why We May Still Be Allowed to Hope

So is it stupid to invest in projects like Ashes of Creation or Star Citizen?

No. It is human.

We all passionately love to play and have a longing for something that major AAA publishers have denied us for years: Real innovation, real risks, and the feeling of being part of something big from the very beginning. It feels good to believe in the fairy tale of “gamer for gamers”.

However, passion alone does not write net code, and visions do not pay for servers indefinitely. A dream castle does indeed need a foundation composed of cool project management, realistic budgets, and – as much as I hate to say it – sometimes also a “bad” publisher to enforce the tough decisions, so that something actually appears at the end.

All these projects have ultimately fallen victim to the same air castle on which we built our hopes. The minds behind the games also believed that the foundation was strong enough and that the rest would come together during construction. In the end, Ashes of Creation had a playable alpha version that was partly praised before the Steam release. All of this could not withstand the dream that was sold 10 years ago.

And this applies not only to crowdfunding MMORPGs. This applies to all games that sell us a dream or fat early access packages intended to support development. There are many examples where this has worked wonderfully. This can be a great way to involve the community early in the development process. However, if we are ready to pull out our credit cards too early, the question should first arise: “Does that sound too good to be true?” – Here it should once again be remembered that hopes are not finished games. We may keep dreaming, but we should perhaps refrain from using our credit cards until real code has emerged from the concept arts.

At the end of the day, an average game that I can install today on my hard drive is worth a thousand times more than the most beautiful vision that has been swirling around in our heads for ten years.

What about you? Are you backers of any of these projects, and do you regret it, or were you aware of the risks from the beginning? Feel free to share in the comments.

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

I played Dragon Quest VII 10 years ago and was surprised how sad it still makes me feel

MeinMMO editor Jasmin has known Dragon Quest for several installments. She particularly remembers the seventh installment, which is now getting a remake. Nevertheless, the dark atmosphere emotionally impacted her.

The Dragon Quest series is one of the first JRPG series that ever existed. The special thing about the video games is that the characters were drawn by Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball.

For me, part 7 was my entry into the series. Originally released in 2000 for the PlayStation, this JRPG never made it to Europe. It was only with the version for the Nintendo 3DS that Dragon Quest 7 arrived in Germany in 2016.

10 years later, a reimagined version of part 7 is now being released. And even though I still had a rough idea of the story in my head, I was surprised by how much the stories from the game emotionally moved me. At one point, I even found a small tear forming in my eye.

Start video
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined: The Adventure Diary Shows Important Details About the JRPG

Short Stories with Dark Atmosphere for the Evening

We start the adventure as the son of a fisherman. The whole village believes that the island is the only place in the entire world and that the rest of the planet consists only of ocean. Over time, the fisherman’s son, along with his friends, finds different tablets that turn out to be portals to the past.

Each tablet leads to an island that suffers from a sad fate. Once we have rescued the island in the past, the same island also appears in the timeline of the fisherman’s son. While exploring the islands, we learn what has become of the descendants of the respective islanders from the past.

The story develops like many older Japanese role-playing games. Initially, it’s a simple adventure of an innocent boy. Later, the entire planet must be saved.

The special thing about the game is that each island is a self-contained short story. Each story is darker than the last. There is no perfect happy ending on any island. While there is a larger narrative surrounding the main characters, the individual islands are clearly the focus.

On one island, for example, there is an oppressive silence in the village because there are no more women. Monsters have kidnapped all the women and taken them to a mysterious tower. Our goal is to rescue the women, as the men are too weak to fight the monsters.

Even though I remembered some of the stories from my playthrough 10 years ago, one island completely floored me. Unfortunately, the story was designated as an optional island for the remake and doesn’t even have to be visited to reach the game’s ending. But I would recommend completing it.

This is what happens on the mentioned island

In this village, all the people have been turned to stone. The only survivor is an old man who was not present in the village at the time of the petrification. He has been trying for many decades to find a cure to awaken his friends and family.

He devoted his whole life to obtaining the cure. However, over the years, he realizes that the residents cannot be saved. For not only the passage of time affects him but also the stone statues. The statues have developed cracks that cannot be repaired, making revival impossible.

Thanks to our help, the old man manages to free the souls of the stone statues. When he encounters the soul of his deceased wife, he tells her that they will see each other very soon. After all, the man is already very old, and it is likely that he has not many years left before he ascends to the heavens.

The scene moved me so much at that moment that I almost cried. There are many more such stories that will likely affect each player differently. There is a high chance that one of the stories will resonate with you, and you will be emotionally swept away.

I find this especially amazing because there is no common thread between the individual island stories. Apart from the hero group, there are no connecting characters that make guest appearances on every island.

Each island manages to convey its drama within just one hour of gameplay. It doesn’t always take a 70-hour long story to emotionally engage a player, as I found out firsthand.

If you only have little time to play Dragon Quest 7, it is the perfect game for you. I enjoyed the title the most by playing in the evenings for an hour or two and completing one island per day. More than that, I just couldn’t manage mentally.

Idyllic Look around the Characters

Completely contrary to the dark atmosphere is the look of the game. For the remake, the main characters were built as puppets in real life and later digitally integrated into the game. You can see this in the figures. I could see individual fabric folds and felt like I could feel the texture with my eyes.

The developers have adapted the rest of the game to match the look of the characters. The worlds resemble small dioramas, which you might know from Fantasian Neo Dimension, another JRPG by Square Enix.

Even with the trees, I felt like they must be really fluffy, and I wanted to take them in my hands. For a cozy game, I would have expected this look, but not in such a dark game like Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined.

But it’s exactly this contrast that makes the game so good for me. After witnessing the sad fate of an island, the beautiful visuals calm you down.

However, I must say that none of the islands has any iconic location that has stuck in my mind afterward. Many of the islands are covered in forests and mountains, and the stone corridors of the individual temples and dungeons look too similar.

A Good Introduction to the Series

Since each part of Dragon Quest stands on its own, you don’t have to play the games in order. If you have never heard of Dragon Quest, part 7 might be the perfect introduction for you. And this is due to several reasons:

  • There is an automatic save after each area change.
  • The combat speed can be adjusted at any time, making annoying grinding more bearable.
  • There are no random battles anymore. This way, you control when to engage which enemy.
  • There is even an automatic combat mode where you don’t even have to press a button.
  • Content has been cut, drastically shortening the game time.

In combination with a particularly easy difficulty level, you can practically skip the fights. You run up to an enemy, press the start button, and let the fight happen. During those few seconds, you can unload cutlery from the dishwasher, hang some laundry on the line, or quickly check your phone to see who messaged you.

So it doesn’t always take your full attention when you come home after a tiring day, need to do housework, and want to play a bit. Of course, all veterans can do without such quality-of-life improvements and start directly on the highest difficulty level.

With Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, you can see if the series is something for you. Despite all the many new features, it still retains the characteristics of a classic Japanese role-playing game. Thus, there are only a handful of character models that repeat on each island, and turn-based battles are the order of the day.

Pros
  • Multiple individual stories with emotional fates
  • Hand-drawn characters by Akira Toriyama in the Dragon Ball style
  • Numerous quality-of-life features
Cons
  • Few character models
  • Little variety in the design of the islands and dungeons

Who is Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined suitable for?

You should play Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined if you…

  • are exhausted after work and want to play a quick round
  • enjoy classic Japanese role-playing games and can live with their disadvantages
  • are in the mood for dark and serious themes

You should rather stay away if you…

  • prefer action-packed gameplay
  • want to finish the game within 10-20 hours

If you still decide to play Dragon Quest in order, we have good news for you. Recently, remakes of the first two parts were also released. MeinMMO writer Niko has put them through their paces and comes to a similar conclusion as I do: I played a new RPG on Steam for almost 40 hours and didn’t even realize it was actually 39 years old

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

Stranger Things shows the release date of the new series and new monsters in the new trailer

Although the last season of Stranger Things has already aired, fans of the series won’t have to wait long for more. In the first trailer for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, Netflix confirms the release date and shows the fight against some monsters.

What kind of series is this? Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is a new animated series in the universe of Stranger Things. It takes place between Season 2 and Season 3 of the Netflix series and shows what happened in the winter of 1985 after the events of Season 2. Everything seems peaceful, but the Upside Down is still threatening Hawkins.

When does the series premiere? As the new trailer confirms, the series is set to start on April 23 on Netflix.

You can watch the first trailer here:

Start video
Stranger Things: Tales From “85 confirmed with the first teaser the series release date

Good Mood and Potential

What can be seen in the trailer? In the first trailer, you can see how the kids enjoy the winter and the returned peace. Dungeons and Dragons is being played, and even the first relationships are formed. But the peace is only a small part because monsters or creatures from the Upside Down seem to have returned.

Accordingly, you can already see some action sequences. Dustin and Steve flee in the car, other characters see an evil pumpkin creature, and apparently, horror elements are also included again.

What does MeinMMO film editor Niko say about the trailer? After the last season, I was a bit disappointed. Somehow the entire balance didn’t feel right. But after the first trailer for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, I am positively surprised.

The look is unusual, yet I quite like it. The animations look solid, and overall it feels like series from earlier that are based on films. Do you still remember the Men-in-Black series? I do, and I’ll probably never forget the intro.

The new series about Stranger Things seems to be significantly more focused, and I look forward to spending time with the gang again. If they don’t try to tell something too big again, I’m sure Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will work quite well.

What did you think of the first trailer? Are you excited about it, or have you moved on from the universe after the last season? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you’re interested in which season was actually the best, check out our list: Stranger Things has ended with Season 5, but which season is actually the best?

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

Pokémon GO: Raids, legendary bosses and raid hours in February 2026

Pokémon GO offers many raids in February 2026. Which raid bosses does the month bring you? Here is the overview.

Legendary raid bosses, mega raids, special raid events: In February 2026, there is a lot for you to catch.

One special feature of February this year is: Towards the end of the month, the event Path to Kalos is on the calendar, bringing you numerous legendary bosses. They will also have their own raid hours. We will summarize those for you here as well.

As always, possible shinies are marked with an asterisk*. In the list below, you will also find all relevant counters against the raid bosses as a link.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

All Raid Hours in Pokémon GO in February 2026

The raid hours usually take place every Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. During this time, the mentioned raid bosses appear in all available gyms.

However, during the Path to Kalos event, some extra raid hours on other weekdays will also be added. These will also take place from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. All dates can be found here in the list.

Date of the raid hourBosses
February 4Dialga* and Palkia*
February 11Dialga* and Palkia*
February 18Solgaleo
February 23Articuno*, Zapdos* and Moltres*
February 24Crypto-Lugia* and Crypto-Ho-Oh*
February 25Lunala*, Proto-Kyogre* and Proto-Groudon*
February 26Dialga* and Palkia*, Dialga (Primal)* and Palkia (Primal)*
February 27Reshiram* and Black Kyurem*, Zekrom* and White Kyurem*

All Raid Bosses in Pokémon GO in February 2026

You will encounter the following raid bosses in February 2026 in 5-star or mega raids. They are legendary Pokémon or mega evolutions, some of which are among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.

DateRaid Boss
February 4 – 16Dialga*
Counters against Dialga
February 4 – 16Palkia*
Counters against Palkia
February 4 – 16Mega-Pidgeot*
Counters against Mega-Pidgeot
February 16 – 21Solgaleo
Counters against Solgaleo
February 16 – 21Mega-Sableye*
Counters against Mega-Sableye
February 21 – March 4Lunala
Counters against Lunala
February 21 – March 4Mega-Absol*
Counters against Mega-Absol
February 23Articuno*, Zapdos* and Moltres*
Counters against Articuno
Counters against Zapdos
Counters against Moltres
February 24Crypto-Lugia* and Crypto-Ho-Oh*
Counters against Crypto-Lugia
Counters against Crypto-Ho-Oh
February 25Proto-Kyogre* and Proto-Groudon*
Counters against Proto-Kyogre
Counters against Proto-Groudon
February 26Dialga* and Palkia*, Dialga (Primal)* and Palkia (Primal)*
Counters against Dialga (Primal)
Counters against Palkia (Primal)
February 27Reshiram* and Black Kyurem*
Counters against Reshiram
Counters against Black Kyurem
February 27Zekrom* and White Kyurem*
Counters against Zekrom
Counters against White Kyurem
On weekendsCrypto-Regigigas in Crypto-Raids
Counters against Regigigas

Which monsters do you want to catch from the raids in February 2026? Let us know in the comments! And if you want to know which Pokémon you can encounter outside of raids, be sure to check our event overview for the current month. Here you will find all events in Pokémon GO in February 2026.

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

Player refuses to replace his bad spear in Dungeons & Dragons, DM wants to reward him now

A player places the emotional value of his spear in Dungeons & Dragons higher than the actual skill and refuses to equip a more powerful weapon. His dungeon master appreciates this attitude and wants to reward him for it.

What makes the spear so important? The dungeon master Leytra reports to the Dungeons & Dragons community on Reddit that one of her players has never stopped opting to keep his simple and rather unremarkable spear rather than replace it with another weapon. The spear has no special properties and is nothing more than a simple weapon in the campaign’s story that the adventurer bought from a blacksmith at the very beginning. But that’s exactly what makes the spear so indispensable,

“All the others have switched to magical items, but he has rejected every found item because his character is attached to his spear, because it’s his,” explains the dungeon master, “He has accompanied him through all the shit that has happened.”

The dungeon master greatly values this attitude, as it is really great for role-playing and narrative. However, she wants to do something to reward this commitment and eliminate the mechanical disadvantage that the rather humble spear brings due to its simplicity. As far as the rules are concerned, she doesn’t care, because she would “homebrew it to hell and back’ to make it worthwhile for the story.

Start video
22-year-old classic of Dungeons & Dragons shows in the trailer what it still wants to excite you with after all this time

Characters don’t have to be the only ones who can level up in Dungeons & Dragons

How can the dungeon master upgrade the spear? For the Dungeons & Dragons community, homebrew is not a foreign concept. It is not uncommon for dungeon masters to create and invent their own rules, which can lead to very special and personal moments with the group’s agreement.

The open-mindedness of the dungeon master allows the community to take many approaches they can borrow for their campaign and spear:

Players suggest giving the spear to a cleric or a blacksmith who can make it magical and allow a +1 bonus to attacks and damage rolls. If this should be something more spectacular, it could also happen through the blood of a powerful defeated opponent, whose power flows into the spear.

Regardless of how she decides, the community already seems excited about her approach as a dungeon master, as does HeySpudEyeSeeYou: 

“I generally think this mechanic is great. Instead of buying equipment in the typical old magic shop, the players’ gear simply ‘levels’ with them.”

Why is this just right for the dungeon master’s campaign? From the dungeon master’s description, it seems that for the player, it is not too important to be the most powerful in combat; otherwise, the spear would not have remained the main weapon for so long. It is evident from the explanation that the entire group along with the dungeon master places a greater focus on role-playing – an important aspect that should be discussed in a so-called Session Zero.

Considering the preference for role-playing and narrative decisions, it makes sense to elevate the sentimental value to the true power of the spear. The community recognizes this as well:

“This weapon has simply been perfectly primed for further development, gathering ‘experience’ together with the player and thus creating its own legend,” explains Commercial-Formal272. But feypop also explains why the dungeon master’s approach sounds perfect: “Modesty, patience, sentimentality, and care must be at the center. A spear is just a spear. It is the time we devote to it that makes it special.”

Just as the player was rewarded for his outstanding commitment to role-playing, this can, however, backfire. Based on another dungeon master’s experience, every player in his campaign deserves a reward, except for one – and that is his own fault: Player faces the consequences of his actions in Dungeons & Dragons and is the only one not to receive important rewards, causing despair for the dungeon master

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

MMORPG with 93% positive ratings on Steam turns veterans into pigs to help noobs

With Project: Gorgon, an MMORPG is more popular than ever on Steam. However, to help noobs, the developers must now turn into pigs.

What kind of MMORPG is this? Project: Gorgon is an indie MMORPG from Studio Elder Game, inspired by EverQuest 1 and Asheron’s Call. The focus is therefore on the immersive experience in the game world. For example, there is no fixed class system. Instead, you decide for yourself which skills you learn.

The MMORPG offers a lot of freedom, whether summoning an army of the dead as a necromancer or earning a living as a beastmaster: Project Gorgon offers a lot of variety. You can also transform yourselves into animals, and veterans are now experiencing this.

Here you can watch the trailer for the game:

Start video
Project: Gorgon – Steam Release Trailer

Veterans Become Pigs

What’s up with the pigs? After the early access of Project: Gorgon, the game is currently experiencing a peak of attention on Steam. While the player peak during early access was only a few hundred players, on Sunday, according to SteamDB, there was a new high with over 2,200 players.

Reason enough for the developers to create more space for players. A brand new server for the MMORPG has been announced, aimed primarily at newcomers. To ensure that veterans do not have an advantage over newcomers on the new server, there are some restrictions for experienced players.

All players who have played 40 or more hours of Project: Gorgon will be transformed into a “support pig”. This animal is a kind of class in the game and has some unique abilities, but above all, it has no hands. This makes the experience extremely difficult and is intended to give new players the advantage they need to enjoy the MMORPG.

Veterans can also play in groups with regular players and support them. This is expected to develop a new style of play. Those who want to restart despite their 40 hours of playtime can permanently delete their previous progress via chat command.

For the new players of Project: Gorgon, the new server offers exactly what they need to experience the game anew, without being surrounded by veterans who have long gained many advantages. Why the MMORPG is so successful despite its old-school character, you can find out here: New MMORPG on Steam emulates EverQuest, starts 92 percent positively in the final release

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

New RPG on Steam is just right to fill the void after Baldur’s Gate 3, presents all classes for the release

In March, a new role-playing game called Solasta 2 will be released on Steam, which has already impressed with its predecessor. Anyone who liked Baldur’s Gate 3 should definitely check out the game. The creators are now revealing which classes you will be able to play at launch.

What kind of game is this?

  • Solasta is based on the rules of the 5th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. It is a classic cRPG with an isometric perspective and turn-based combat. Even the first part is one of the best alternatives to Baldur’s Gate 3.
  • Unlike in Baldur’s Gate 3, you do not experience the stories of individual characters but build your team entirely from scratch. This will also be the case in Solasta 2.
  • Solasta 2 continues the story of its predecessor and is set to enter Early Access on March 12, 2026 on Steam. A demo is already available to play.

These are the classes at launch: In a new post on Steam, the developers revealed which classes and subclasses (or specializations) you can expect. Many of the subclasses are not from official rulebooks but created specifically for Solasta (“homebrew”):

  • Fighter
    • Commander: Melee fighter with support abilities
    • Aether Warden: Armored half-spellcaster with a defensive focus
  • Wizard
    • Court Mage: Magical “bodyguards” with good defense and support abilities
    • School of Ruin: Pure damage class focused on area spells
  • Rogue
    • Shadowcaster: A mix of assassin and spellcaster
    • Scavenger: Strong melee fighter with a trading bonus
  • Paladin
    • Oath of Judgement: Offensive subclass with some supportive skills
    • Oath of Liberation: A kind of “trickster” who can blind enemies and protect allies from status effects
  • Sorcerer
    • Mana Painter: Defensive spellcaster who protects themselves by using offensive spells
    • Star Child: Damage dealer who causes extra damage with metamagic – strong against single targets
  • Cleric
    • Life Domain: classic healer
    • Oblivion Domain: Hybrid spellcaster who can support or heal and deal damage
    • Battle Domain: Melee fighter with strong buffs and good defense

It will be possible to combine classes. However, we would only recommend the so-called “multiclassing” if you know what you are doing. There is a chance that you might severely limit your potential.

In Solasta, you create your own party of four adventurers, which you create entirely yourself. You can choose which classes to take with you (and of course, which races you want to play).

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

Solasta 2 is the perfect alternative for anyone looking for a substitute for Baldur’s Gate 3

With Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian has created a game that keeps players engaged for years after its release and often provides thousands of hours of gameplay. The problem: for some, other games now feel dull.

Solasta 2 uses the same rule set, and the predecessor was considered one of the best implementations of D&D in the video game space among fans. The developers have even delivered a really strong co-op mode.

Colleague and role-playing game expert Fabiano Uslenghi from GameStar is looking forward to Solasta 2 more than any other role-playing game. However, note that the game will only be available in Early Access, and only the first part of Act 1 will be playable. The Early Access is expected to last about a year. More content and changes will come over time.

If you enjoyed Baldur’s Gate 3 and are now looking for an alternative, Solasta 2 is definitely worth a look – especially if you are waiting for the next title from Larian and want to shorten the waiting time.

With Divinity, the studio announced its newest and largest title to date, although no release is guaranteed and will certainly be a long way off. In the meantime, Solasta should keep you engaged for quite a while. And if that’s not enough, there are still the predecessors of Divinity: The head of Larian recommends the predecessors of Divinity as good preparation, but he also says: You don’t have to play them

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

Father works alone on a Sci-Fi game on Steam, where you should feel like Boba Fett from Star Wars

Are you still hoping for a game where you can feel like Boba Fett or Mando from Star Wars? A sci-fi game on Steam promises just that. It is being developed by a single person, a family man.

Which game is being talked about? The game is called Riftwalker and is set to be a story-driven sci-fi action RPG. It is being developed by Ethan McKinnon, who, according to his LinkedIn profile  brings more than 25 years of experience in game development.

McKinnon is the sole developer of Riftwalker. At the time this article is published, he also does not have a publisher. So the family man is taking on the work and financing of the project himself, as he reveals in a post on X.

Start video
Riftwalker: A new sci-fi game on Steam looks like a mix of Star Wars and Dune

Star Wars meets Dune, meets… Max Payne?

What is the game about? Riftwalker makes you a bounty hunter who hunts targets with guns, a jetpack, and a floating sci-fi motorcycle. This strongly resembles two of the most famous bounty hunters from Star Wars like Boba Fett and Din Djarin, better known as the Mandalorian or simply Mando.

With your bounty hunter, you will travel across seven different worlds, one of which the developer is already showcasing in the game trailers. With its dry desert landscape, it resembles the planet Tatooine from Star Wars, but also the desert world Arrakis from Dune.

McKinnon describes Riftwalker as a mix of The Mandalorian, Dune, and Max Payne – the latter is primarily meant to deliver inspiration for the combat and the dark background story. As in the game trilogy from Remedy Entertainment and Rockstar Games, there will also be bullet-time action in Riftwalker.

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Augmentations and dark powers included

Where is the RPG element? This mix of Star Wars, Dune, and Max Payne is paired in Riftwalker with RPG mechanics. You will be able to enhance your bounty hunter with cybernetic modules and even equip them with permanent augmentations that change your gameplay.

Throughout the game, you will also draw new powers from the Void. These, however, are said to cost you a part of your humanity. What exactly this means is not quite clear yet. It sounds like the Void will play a larger role.

On Steam, there is already a shop page for Riftwalker. There you can follow the game or add it to your wishlist if you want to stay updated. If you want, you can also support the developer through Patreon.

Boba Fett and the Mandalorian are indeed the two most well-known bounty hunters in the Star Wars universe, but certainly not the only ones. How do they measure up against the competition? MeinMMO had them face off in the power ranking: The 10 most dangerous bounty hunters from Star Wars in the power ranking

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

Sauercrowd: Twitch streamer shaves his head to celebrate reaching level 60, dies with 2 hits in WoW Hardcore a week later

One of the members of Sauercrowd has achieved what many thought was impossible: despite some setbacks, he reached level 60 in WoW Hardcore. For his achievement, several streamers shaved their heads. Just a week later, his character dies, although nearly anything could have saved him.

Who is the streamer?

Why the shaved head? Even before the start, streamers Kutcher and Vlesk had created a tier list of the Sauercrowd members to evaluate a “skill ranking”. Broeki ended up, along with others, in last place: “Season ticket in the starting area.”

Driven by ambition – HandOfBlood explains that Broeki shortly “went around once, offended everyone” and then left (on YouTube) – the LoL streamer was determined to reach level 60.

Kutcher, Vlesk, and HandOfBlood subsequently made a bet: should Broeki manage to reach max level, the three other streamers would shave their heads. On January 27, it finally happened: Broeki reached level 60 and to “lead by example,” he had his hair shaved live on stream (on Twitch).

The betting debts have already been partially settled: Vlesk and HandOfBlood are bald, while Kutcher has only short hair. As for Broeki … his success didn’t last long.

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Broeki dies in the endgame dungeon, a single defensive spell could have saved him

On Sunday, February 1, the streamer went into the lower Blackrock Spire with a group – the “easier” version of the dungeon, not the one where almost an entire group of level 60s was wiped out.

In the fight against a summoner, the group briefly gets into trouble. A summoner of the Blood Axes casts Flame Blast, an area ability that hits opponents in the vicinity, deals damage, and knocks them back.

The first cast kicks the tank into a pit and deals damage to all those nearby. No problem, the opponent is almost defeated, Broeki as a mage and the group’s warrior are still standing. Only Broeki doesn’t survive the second attack.

Flame Blast deals 1,250 fire damage. The tank, a paladin, already has a fire resistance aura active. Broeki has 2,440 health points – so two spells kill him with 60 points over death (on Twitch). This is especially unfortunate because almost anything could have saved Broeki:

  • Counterspell would have completely interrupted the casting of Flame Blast.
  • Mana Shield or Ice Barrier would have given him enough shield to survive the second spell.
  • Even partial resistance from the aura would have been enough to avert the fatal damage.
  • Even a weak health potion, the weakest potion in the game, would have healed at least 70 health points – enough not to die.

On Reddit, some players are even certain: if Broeki had simply stood still after the first spell instead of moving closer again, he would have been out of range for the next Flame Blast. Thus, his mage passed away.

Broeki’s death is not the only one recently, but it definitely stands out as one of the most bitter – not just because of the head-shaving event, but especially due to the hard work put into reaching level 60. You can find an overview of the deaths here: Sauercrowd: All deaths of recent days and their levels in an overview

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

A player struggles for months with his overheating graphics card, but a part for 7 euros solves the problem immediately

A player’s graphics card gets very hot under load: The solution costs him almost 7 euros. Other players claim to have had similar issues with their graphics cards.

A player reports on Reddit that he built a new gaming PC a few months ago. The PC has been running without issues since then, but his graphics card gets way too hot while gaming: According to him, the GPU temperatures constantly reach 80 – 82 °C in some games, which he considers too high. How hot a graphics card can get under load can be read on MeinMMO.

Upon inspection, the user later found that there is a large gap between the backplate and the heatpipes of his graphics card. He suspected that the backplate could not properly dissipate the heat, making it impossible to cool the graphics card effectively.

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Thermal pads for 7 euros solve the graphics card heat problem

The user’s solution: He bought thermal pads, cut them into strips, and stuffed them into the gap. Immediately, the temperatures of the graphics card under load dropped. He explains on Reddit:

So I got some thermal pads, cut them into thin strips, and stuffed them in this gap to fill the space. Now my temperatures under the same load are at 65-67 °C. I suspect that due to this gap, the backplate did not transfer the heat properly and the thermal pads have fixed the problem.

He mentioned that he paid about 8 US dollars for the thermal pads. Converted, that’s almost 7 euros. On Amazon, you pay between 5 and 10 euros for customizable thermal pads.

Is he the only one with the problem? No, under the thread on Reddit, several users report that they have had similar problems with their graphics cards.

The graphics card purchased by the user, a Gigabyte Windforce RTX 4070, is considered a well-known candidate in the community when it comes to heat issues. One person from the community refers on Reddit to the fact that Gigabyte later adjusted its Windforce model of the RTX 4070: The current model has been modified so that temperatures should no longer be an issue.

A player is desperate: The temperatures in his gaming PC are way too high, especially his CPU is a problem. None of the solutions have worked, and only an upgrade for 15 euros is the decisive solution. He himself cannot believe what a difference the upgrade makes: A player upgraded his gaming PC and is surprised at what a single upgrade for 15 euros can do

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

Twitch streamer has been training in Minecraft for 3 months, fails for 8 hours

The YouTube and Twitch streamer Ludwig Ahgren has been playing Minecraft speedruns for weeks to rise up a rank on a leaderboard. However, even after an 8-hour stream, he is unable to reach his set goal, despite receiving support from his viewers.

Which streamer is playing what? The American streamer Ludwig Ahgren is known for constantly setting himself challenges in gaming. Currently, he is working on improving his speedruns in Minecraft.

For this, he plays the “Ranked Minecraft Speedruns” mode. Here, two players compete against each other in the same world. Whoever completes Minecraft faster earns points that place them higher on the leaderboard.

There are, as the name of the mode suggests, various ranks inspired by elements in Minecraft: they start at Coal I and end at Netherite. Ludwig Ahgren wants to finally reach the rank Gold I; he is currently at Iron III.

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8 hours for the exact opposite of the goal

How did Ludwig want to prove his skill? Previously, Ludwig apparently did not have enough skill to progress far in MCSR: he trained for over 50 hours in the game, only to end up in last place out of 10,000 players. For nearly 3 weeks, he has been engaged in the speedrun.

Even now, it seems to look similar. According to SullyGnome, Ludwig has played almost 90 hours of Minecraft in the past 30 days. He should be very practiced in the game by now.

In his stream on February 1, 2026, Ludwig announced his ambitious rise to Gold rank. He needed just 4 more wins to achieve that. However, he failed miserably. Instead of leveling up, he dropped down to a lower rank, Iron II, after an 8-hour stream.

Ludwig includes viewers in the stream: For the stream, Ludwig came up with something special: his viewers had the chance to participate musically. Viewers covered famous songs and wrote new lyrics, fitting Ludwig and his Minecraft mission.

Taylor Swift’s song “You Belong With Me” for instance no longer told the story of a lovesick teenager, but that Ludwig would be stuck in his Iron III rank forever. Sometimes the viewers’ songs were motivating; other times, it was seemingly just about including as many subtle insults as possible.

Before turning to Minecraft speedruns, Ludwig tried to complete Minecraft in Hardcore mode. He struggled so much that his viewers initially couldn’t believe his success: Twitch streamer has pranked his viewers too often, now actually reaching a milestone, but nobody believes him

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

A player ignites a giant firework in ARC Raiders, the community jokes: Did the servers get fried?

A player and his buddy launched hundreds of flare guns in ARC Raiders. The community is amazed and jokes about the consequences of the action.

What was that action? A few days ago, the Reddit user “81nmIsbucko” shared a video in the subreddit for ARC Raiders. In this video, he and his teammate reportedly ignite 168 Raider flares simultaneously.

The two Raiders had filled 2 loot markers Mk2 completely with flares and taken them into the raid. They then placed them in a long line and sat back at a greater distance to appreciate their work when igniting.

You can watch the video here:

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“This guy crashed the servers with Raider flares”

This is what the community says about the action: The subreddit for ARC Raiders is excited. The post garnered over 13,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments. Many celebrate the fireworks and hope for more cool actions from the community in the future.

Many users also respond humorously. One jokes: “There was never a DDoS attack. This guy crashed the servers with Raider flares,” and receives over 3,000 upvotes. The comment refers to the server issues on January 28, 2026, which left ARC Raiders down for hours. According to the developers, DDoS attacks were the cause of the problems.

Other players write that he brought weaker gaming PCs of players on the other side of the map to a boil with the fireworks.

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ARC Raiders receives new matchmaking option and trophy display with Headwinds

This is how he did it: The actual fireworks are not a big challenge. You just have to pack enough remote-controlled flares and place them in a row. Then, when you hit “Activate,” all placed flares are ignited simultaneously.

In the comments, “81nmIsbucko” reports that he packed, placed, and ignited half of the flares. His buddy handled the other half. The only “problem” is the risk of packing so many flares. If your Raider dies, everything is lost.

“81nmIsbucko” and his teammate lost two full inventories in their attempts before they could successfully ignite the fireworks. But since you can buy unlimited flares at Apollo and a full inventory costs only about 45,000, it doesn’t bother him.

While “81nmIsbucko” and his buddy are putting on a fireworks show in ARC Raiders, another player is experiencing cinematic action and is celebrated by the community as the “ARC Knight,” a nod to Batman, the Dark Knight. More about it here: Someone experienced a real action movie in ARC Raiders, and fans are wondering if they are playing the same game

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

Palworld: All Admin Commands and How to Use Them

In Palworld you can use admin commands. We list all commands for you and explain where you can use them.

What are admin commands? With admin commands, you can manage various things on a server in Palworld. For example, you can shut down the server or ban players from the server.

What are the limitations?

  • Admin commands can only be executed on a server. You need the corresponding admin password to do this.
  • In single-player and coop mode, you cannot officially use the commands. You have to unlock them with third-party software. Without cheat or trainer software, you cannot use commands in single-player mode.

All commands in a quick overview:

Note: Our article was first published on January 29, 2024. We updated our article on February 2, 2026, adjusting its structure and updating a note on banning players.

Last updates: February 2, 2026, September 24, 2025, May 19, 2025, January 29, 2024.

Palworld: All admin commands for your server

The following commands can be used by an admin on a running server.

CommandDescription
/adminpassword PASSWORDInstead of PASSWORD, enter the admin’s password. You will then have access to the commands. The game will then confirm your admin rights.
/Shutdown {Seconds} {MessageText}This starts the timer to shut down the server. With {MessageText}, you can add a message.
/DoExitImmediately shuts down the server without a message.
/KickPlayer {Steam ID}Kicks the specified player from the server. The player can rejoin.
/BanPlayer {Steam ID}Bans the specified player. This player cannot rejoin the game and is permanently banned.
/Broadcast {MessageText}You can send a message to all players on the server. Enter your text in the curly braces.
/TeleportToPlayer {Steam ID}Teleports you to the specified player.
/TeleportToMe {Steam ID}Teleports the specified player directly to you.
/ShowPlayersDisplays a list of all players currently on your server.
/InfoShows you information about the server.
/UnBanPlayer {Steam ID}Unban player from the server.
/ToggleSpectateIf you have administrator privileges via /AdminPassword command, switch to spectator mode. You can change with \ key.
/SaveSave the world data.

Removing bans from players in Palworld: There is now a command that allows you to unban a player. This means you no longer have to search for the server file and manually delete the player’s Steam ID.

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Palworld: All admin commands for single-player

Warning: Officially, commands in single-player and coop are blocked. If you want to use these commands or cheats in your game, you need to download trainer software. Downloading and using it is at your own risk.

The following commands can be used in your game if you have unlocked them in single-player. Even in the German version of the game, you must enter the commands in English. For simplicity, we have added the German explanations in parentheses behind them in our list.

Player-related changes:

  • Infinite Player Health
  • Infinite Pal Health
  • Infinite Stamina
  • Infinite Satiety
  • Temperature Always Normal
  • Set Stat Points
  • Set Technology Points
  • Set Ancient Technology Points

Movement and dodging:

  • Instant Acceleration
  • Set Walking Speed Multiplier
  • Set Jump Height Multiplier

Inventory:

  • No Item Weight
  • [Select Item] Set Amount

Values:

  • Infinite Sanity
  • Set Experience Multiplier

Weapons:

  • Infinite Weapon Durability

General:

  • Instant Crafting
  • No Crafting Requirements
  • 100% Capture Chance
  • All Pals Are Rare
  • Stop Time
  • Add Time
  • Decrease Time

Are there more commands? Yes, theoretically you can summon any item from Palworld with a command. This makes the game significantly easier, but for many players it is a form of cheating. A complete item list that you can create via command can be found on Gameleap (English list).

All guides to Palworld: Are you looking for more tips, tricks, and assistance for Palworld? Then check out MeinMMO. We accompany the game for you and have bundled all the guides that are supposed to help you in a clear list: Palworld Guides: All tips, tricks, and Pals at a glance

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

Pokémon GO: All Spotlight Hours in February 2026 and their bonuses

In February 2026, you can look forward to several Spotlight Hours in Pokémon GO. MeinMMO will show you what they are and whether they are worth it.

What kind of event is this? The Spotlight Hour is a recurring event that takes place every Tuesday in Pokémon GO. It runs for 60 minutes and brings you at least one Pokémon that will appear in large numbers during this time. The Pokémon is accompanied by a bonus.

We have looked at which Spotlight Hours await you in February 2026 and what content you can find there, and we have summarized it for you.

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All Spotlight Hours in February 2026

When do the Spotlight Hours take place? A Spotlight Hour starts every Tuesday at 18:00. Exactly one hour later, at 19:00, the event ends. What Pokémon and bonuses you can expect in February is detailed in the following table. Pokémon that can also appear as Shiny are marked with an *.

DatePokémon & Bonus
February 3Whismur * and double Candy for catches
February 10Munna* and double XP for catches
February 17Horsea* and double Candy for transfers
February 24Totodile* and double Stardust for catches

Spotlight Hour on February 3, 2026

Which Pokémon is the focus? The Normal-type Pokémon Whismur awaits you in the first Spotlight Hour of February. This Pokémon from Generation 3 can evolve into Loudred and subsequently into Exploud.

What bonus is active? If you catch Pokémon during this Spotlight Hour, you will receive double the amount of Candy.

Is the event worth it? Whismur and its evolutions are not particularly strong Pokémon. They are not very worthwhile for your raid teams or in the battle league.

If you have Pokémon rewards that you can collect from research, you can collect them during the Spotlight Hour to get double the Candy.

Can you catch Shiny Whismur? Yes, you may also encounter the Shiny variant of Whismur.

Spotlight Hour on February 10, 2026

Which Pokémon is the focus? Munna is the center of attention during this Spotlight Hour. This Psychic-type Pokémon comes from Generation 5 and can evolve into Musharna.

What bonus is active? For each Pokémon you catch during this Spotlight Hour, you will receive double the amount of experience points.

Is the event worth it? If you are looking for new strong attackers, this Spotlight Hour unfortunately is not for you. Munna and Musharna are not suitable for raids or the battle league.

If you are currently collecting experience points, you can use the Spotlight Hour to earn some extra experience points from catching Pokémon. If you use a Lucky Egg, you will even receive quadruple the amount of experience points.

Can you catch Shiny Munna? Yes, the Shiny variant of Musharna is in the game and can be found by you if you are lucky.

Spotlight Hour on February 17, 2026

Which Pokémon is the focus? The small Water-type Pokémon Horsea from Generation 1 will await you on February 17, 2026, during the Spotlight Hour. It can evolve into Seadra and then into Kingdra.

What bonus is active? If you send Pokémon to the professor during this event, you will receive double the amount of Candy for this.

Is the event worth it? While Kingdra is not suitable for raids, it can be used in the battle league. In the Super League, this Pokémon is currently ranked 52 among the best Pokémon, and in the Hyper League, even ranked 32.

If you still have Pokémon you want to send to the professor to free up some space in your Pokémon box, then this event is perfect for that. This goes especially quickly if you have previously tagged the corresponding Pokémon with a tag.

Can you catch Shiny Horsea? Yes. If you are lucky, you can also find the Shiny variant of Horsea.

Spotlight Hour on February 24, 2026

Which Pokémon is the focus? In the last Spotlight Hour of the month, Totodile awaits you. This Water-type starter Pokémon comes from Generation 2 and can evolve into Croconaw and then into Feraligatr.

What bonus is active? For each Pokémon you catch during this event, you will receive double the amount of Stardust.

Is the event worth it? The last Spotlight Hour of February 2026 features a Pokémon that is really impressive. Feraligatr is among the top 10 Water attackers in Pokémon GO.

Furthermore, this Pokémon is among the best Pokémon you can use in the Hyper League. Currently, it holds the 9th rank.

Can you catch Shiny Totodile? Yes, you can also catch this Pokémon as Shiny. However, since the chance is not increased, you will need some luck.

If you are interested in the Spotlight Hours, it can be very helpful to visit PokéStops during your tours. This way, you will not only receive field research but also new items. If you want to know which PokéStops are on your routes, a new feature can help: There is finally a map that shows you all important locations in Pokémon GO.

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