All killers in Dead by Daylight and who is the best for you – February 2026

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 81 minutes
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Which killer in Dead by Daylight is best suited for you? We present all killers and reveal their strengths and weaknesses.

In the asymmetric horror game Dead by Daylight, there are currently 42 different killers with different abilities and playstyles (as of February 2026). We briefly introduce all the killers, name their strengths and weaknesses, and explain which killer suits you best.

Note: This article was updated on February 02, 2026, and is current for Patch 9.4.0 of Dead by Daylight and ready for “The First”.

Dead by Daylight: All Killers

All killers from Dead by Daylight: Currently, there are 42 killers in Dead by Daylight:

About the Author:

Cortyn has invested well over 2,500 hours in Dead by Daylight, testing all killers thoroughly, but also playing diligently against them as a survivor. Over many updates and patches, Cortyn has developed a deep understanding of the pros and cons of the different killers and enjoys experimenting with new or seemingly absurd perk combinations.

asks meinmmo cortyn

[toc]

The Trapper

The Trapper is the “basic” killer and probably best suited for beginners. He is a typical “all-rounder”, easy to learn, and perfect for mastering the basics of Dead by Daylight. His stats are the “base” and the standard for most other killers. Even without addons, he is a solid choice that can effectively take out survivors.

Special Ability: Bear Traps – The Trapper can place bear traps on the ground that injure and hold the next survivor who steps into them for a while. The 6 traps can be found spread out across the map; their auras are shown to him. The killer is immediately notified if a survivor steps into a trap. Other survivors can quickly free the trapped survivor, but the trapped survivor can also repeatedly try to free themselves. Without addons, a survivor needs a maximum of 6 attempts to free themselves from the trap. If the killer reaches the survivor in the bear trap, he can lift them directly from the trap without having to hit them again.

However, survivors can also disarm the bear traps before stepping into them. If this occurs, there is a loud noise that alerts the killer to the disarm.

How to use the bear traps correctly? The tactical placement of bear traps is the be-all and end-all of the Trapper.

  • Place traps in hard-to-see areas, such as tall grass that leads close to buildings or behind windows that are only accessible from one side (for example, windows leading onto roofs in Haddonfield).
  • Focus on one “half” of the respective map. Covering the entire map with traps is virtually impossible.
  • Do not place traps directly under a palette. In this case, the survivor can simply knock over the palette and slip “over” the trap.
  • If you place traps in tight exits (like doorways), make sure they are centered. Otherwise, survivors can squeeze past the trap while the killer steps into it (as he has a larger body).
Pro
  • Solid killer without special weaknesses
  • Good gameplay even without addons
  • Defensive playstyle that rewards tactics and planning
Contra
  • Takes a lot of preparation time in a match to place his traps
  • Traps are scattered all over the map
  • Traps can be disarmed

Who is the Trapper suitable for? Those who are new to Dead by Daylight and delight at someone stepping into their tactically placed traps will be happy with the Trapper. Since he works well even without addons, he is also suitable for players without a large supply of blood points.

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6 Games Where I Don’t Need My Boyfriend to Get the Spiders Away from Me

Johanna Johanna Reading time 3 minutes

Players with arachnophobia are often provided with a corresponding mode if spiders appear in the game. The developers’ creative solution for censoring spiders is presented to you by MeinMMO in this list.

Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. According to AOK, around 5% of the population in Germany suffers from this fear. However, more people feel uneasy at the sight of spiders.

I’m not sure if I really have arachnophobia, but just thinking of spiders gives me the chills. At least I feel STRONGLY uncomfortable when I think of spiders or even have to see them. My friend always has to rescue me from the crawling beasts, throwing himself in front of me and taking the little creature outside.

Since spiders are popular enemies to defeat in some games, many offer an arachnophobia mode. In this mode, players no longer have to face the sight of spiders but are confronted with something else instead.

These solutions can look quite different, and I’ve picked out 6 examples of games that have come up with exciting alternatives.

Hogwarts Legacy

Start video
Hogwarts Legacy: Official Launch Trailer

Hogwarts Legacy features some spiders as enemies and opts for a kind of diminishment regarding the arachnophobia mode. Spiders retain their rough shape but start floating as red balls.

To avoid crawling movements, they wear roller skates in the special mode and glide around.

Spiders in Hogwarts Legacy in the arachnophobia mode
The spiders get nice roller skates (Source: YouTube).

Monster Hunter Wilds

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players find the arachnophobia mode almost creepier than the spiders themselves. Monster Hunter Wilds transforms the spiders into giant blobs that crawl across the ground.

Some players rightfully wonder on Reddit whether perhaps the spiders are actually better and easier to tolerate:

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Satisfactory

Satisfactory opts for cats in the arachnophobia mode. Instead of spiders, players see giant 2D cat heads. I find that much easier to endure than spiders!

For some players on Reddit, however, this mode seems even scarier:

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Grounded

Grounded offers probably the worst experience for arachnophobia. After all, players are transformed into small figures while defending themselves against the giant insects, including spiders. One reason why I have never played the game!

In contrast to the other entries on this list, the game Grounded does not directly replace the spiders but offers players various gradations of small crawling creatures:

  • Level 1: Instead of eight legs, the spiders have four legs.
  • Level 2: All legs are removed, causing the spiders to float.
  • Level 3: The spiders’ mandibles are removed, making them look less scary.
  • Level 4: The head becomes a large ball with only two eyes.
  • Level 5: The spider transforms into an abstract object made up of two white balls that floats.

Lethal Company

The indie game Lethal Company has found one of the simultaneously least creative yet funniest ways to protect players from spiders. When you turn on the arachnophobia mode here, instead of small creatures, just large letters spelling “SPIDER” appear.

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By the way: When the spiders die in the arachnophobia mode, the letters rotate. For me, definitely the favorite of the list!

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World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft replaces the spiders simply with crabs, similar to Hytale. However, they are not necessarily less creepy when you look at the corresponding pictures. Thus, the creep factor certainly does not disappear.

MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has actually played the arachnophobia mode so intensely that he now has a fear of crabs. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: I played a raid in WoW in the mode for people with a fear of spiders – Now I have a fear of crabs

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

WoW: Community finds Puzzle Chamber, veterans get a great title

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

A new secret has been uncovered in the World of Warcraft community. However, this comes with fresh puzzles.

For some, they are annoying, for others the best pastime in World of Warcraft – puzzles and secrets. WoW is full of them and almost always there is an exclusive reward at the end, such as a special mount, a pet, or a transmog item. Now the community has found a hidden area where all puzzles are honored and new ones are presented.

Start video
WoW: Housing-Cinematic in WildStar style

What has been found? If you dive at a very specific location, you will be teleported to a new position – a place that cannot be reached any other way. At this location, numerous NPCs wander around, and characters are honored for their previous puzzle achievements. You can join the Cabal of the Mindseekers and earn the title “Mindseeker”.

WoW Guide: How to become a Mindseeker

To become a Mindseeker, you need to travel to a location that has caused much speculation in the past: a sunken, glowing pearl deep on the ocean floor, which seems unreachable – but it can be reached.

To reach it, you need two things:

  • Underwater breathing (either from a warlock, a potion, or quest progress in Vash’jir)
  • A fast underwater mount (like a seahorse)

Proceed as follows:

  • Travel to Vash’jir at coordinates 16 / 85, to the ocean surface. This is southwest of L’Ghorek.
  • Swim straight south from there until you reach the exhaustion zone.
  • Swim a short distance back until the exhaustion zone ends.
  • Dive straight down now and push a little further south repeatedly – and pull back as soon as you reach the exhaustion zone.
  • At some point, the screen will become dark blue at the edge. Shortly after, you will reach a depth, but the exhaustion zone also begins.
  • Mount up on your seahorse (at the latest now) and swim straight towards the pearl.

If you have done everything correctly, you should reach the pearl before exhaustion drains your health points. Once you have “swum into the pearl,” you will be automatically teleported.

WoW Pearl in the Dark
You need to reach the pearl above the skeleton – without drowning or succumbing to exhaustion.

Where are you teleported to? It is a modified version of the Seat of Knowledge in Pandaria. Here you will find several NPCs and see through holograms which various puzzles you have already solved. Additionally, you can buy alcohol from a succubus, bind your hearthstone there, use various portals, and get hints on unsolved puzzles.

What are the requirements for the title? To become a Mindseeker, you must speak to Anakron. Although the requirements have not yet been fully confirmed, it seems that you must have solved at least 17 of the previous WoW puzzles. This corresponds to a large portion of the puzzles that have been published so far.

WoW Cabal of the Mindseekers
There is a small ceremony when you receive the title.

If you have not mastered so many puzzles yet – no worries. You can simply bind your hearthstone there and have quick access to this location again later to pick it up. Just keep in mind that you can quickly reach your capital using the housing system, even without using a hearthstone.

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If you are hearing about the puzzles in World of Warcraft for the first time, don’t worry. We have already deciphered a large part of these secrets and packaged them into various guides for you: These are the greatest secrets of WoW and how to solve them.

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

Markiplier’s film Iron Lung breaks one of the most important rules of filmmaking and gets everything right in doing so

Johanna Johanna Reading time 4 minutes

The YouTuber Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach has been accompanying MeinMMO author Johanna since her high school days. Naturally, she was even more excited to see him on a German cinema screen. On January 30, 2026, Markiplier brought his movie Iron Lung to theaters for a limited time. Johanna watched it and was pleasantly surprised by her favorite YouTuber.

What kind of film is this? The film Iron Lung is based on the game of the same name by David Szymanski (on Steam). In the game, the gameplay is limited to controlling a submarine in a sea of blood on an alien moon. The horror factor mainly comes from one’s own imagination, as players must navigate blindly.

The YouTuber Markiplier also played this game in 2022. Although the Let’s Play is quite short at only 45 minutes, the YouTuber was so excited by the concept that he wanted to produce a movie based on it. Now, about 4 years later, we can finally see the fruits of his labor.

On Friday, January 30, 2026, viewers could watch the film in select cinemas. However, since no major film production company is behind the film, Markiplier relied on his fans to ask cinemas if they would show it. Even here in Germany, some cinemas are showing the film.

What is the Iron Lung movie about? Iron Lung takes place in the future, where large parts of the galaxy have disappeared. Humanity has drastically reduced and is on the brink of extinction.

On an alien moon, whose oceans consist of blood, the prisoner Simon, played by Markiplier, is sent on a mission in a submarine. He is supposed to navigate through the blood with the submarine and get an impression of the ocean floor. There, he quickly realizes that he is not alone.

Note: You don’t have to worry about spoilers in this review of Iron Lung!
Start video
In Iron Lung kämpft der YouTuber Markiplier in einem U-Boot ums Überleben

Markiplier makes the leap to the big screen

I went into the film with bias. After all, I have been watching Markiplier for a long time and like him as a content creator. However, I was also skeptical. Because my favorite YouTuber is still primarily a YouTuber, not an actor or director.

Even though he had already produced elaborate cinematic YouTube projects like A Heist with Markiplier, this is a different caliber.

As with the game, the entire film takes place in the submarine. A quite a challenge, as you always have to come up with new, exciting things to entertain the audience.

Especially at the beginning, the audience is put to the test. The film, especially in the first 30 minutes, is a real slow burner and takes its time to get going.

What surprised me particularly positively was the camerawork. There were camera shots that really caught my attention. They were abstract and not the usual “shot and counter-shot”.

However, towards the end, the film drags on. At some point, the suffocating feeling as a viewer becomes not only suffocating but annoying, and I want it to be over. Therefore, the film could have been about 15 to 20 minutes shorter, because at some point you think: “Okay, I get it!”

Tell, don’t show!

Even though the setting is just a submarine, the film still manages to create vivid characters and give us a good impression of what the world outside looks like.

The film succeeds in hopeless horror by breaking an important film rule: “Show, don’t tell!” Filmmakers, including actors, are often advised to show rather than tell elements of a film. This way, viewers can generate their own feelings instead of being spoon-fed everything through dialogue.

Iron Lung does the exact opposite: It shows us nothing but the inside of a submarine, blood, and the prisoner Simon. The world as it is now, and what happened before, is conveyed to us through snippets of dialogue.

The rest takes place entirely in the viewers’ minds. And that is what makes it so scary.

By only describing the world rather than showing it, I imagine it myself, creating a much greater hopelessness in my imagination than any image could ever provide.

Although there are always shock or disgust moments, it’s clear that the greatest horror arises individually. As viewers, we only know the inside of the submarine. That is, at that moment, our world, and it gives us a sense of hopelessness. Nevertheless, you can root for the main character to find an escape.

It all started with a Let’s Play from 2022 (Source Screenshot: YouTube).

The worst part: Because the horror is greatest in my imagination, I naturally take it home with me, so I really had trouble falling asleep at night after the movie.

Conclusion: This film is not for everyone

This film will not be for every viewer. Especially for those who prefer jumpscares and fast action, this is not the right place. The horror of Iron Lung comes largely from the imagination of the viewers and takes its time to dive into the world (pun intended).

Even if I risk having to spend another night standing by the wall in fear, I would actually watch it again. Just to understand everything and put myself back in that suffocating atmosphere.

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The film market seems to be becoming increasingly attractive for some content creators. This also applies to Irish YouTuber Seán “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin, who is also taking on a horror film. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: A YouTuber and streamer follows Markiplier’s example, producing a new horror film that excites fans

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Pokémon GO: Defeating Dialga – The 20 Best Counters in the Raid Guide

Franzi Korittke Franzi Korittke Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, you can encounter Dialga in Level 5 raids. We at MeinMMO will show you the best counters and movesets against the legendary raid boss.

What kind of Pokémon is Dialga? Dialga is a legendary Pokémon from the 4th generation, belonging to the Steel and Dragon types. The monster does not have a pre-evolution or further evolution.

To defeat it as quickly as possible in Level 5 raids, we have listed the best counters against Dialga below.

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Defeating Dialga in Raid – Best Counters

  1. Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
  2. Mega Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere
  3. Primal Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
  4. Keldeo with Low Kick and Secret Sword
  5. Shadow Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
  6. Mega Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power
  7. Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
  8. Mega Heracross with Counter and Close Combat
  9. Shadow Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere
  10. Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
  11. Shadow Excadrill with Mud-Sap and Scorching Sands
  12. Landorus Therian with Mud Shot and Sandsear Storm
  13. Shadow Raikou with Thunder Shock and Aura Sphere
  14. Shadow Conkeldurr with Counter and Dynamic Punch
  15. Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
  16. Mega Swampert with Mud Shot an Earthquake
  17. Kartana with Fury Cutter and Sacred Sword
  18. Mega Gallade with Low Kick and Close Combat
  19. Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere
  20. Shadow Landorus with Mud Shot and Earth Power

What weakness does Dialga have? Since Dialga belongs to the Steel and Dragon Pokémon types, it is particularly weak to Fighting and Ground attacks. Therefore, you should use these in battle.

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Is there a Shiny Dialga? Yes, with some luck, you can encounter a shiny specimen after the battle. It is easily recognizable by its green body.

Pokemon-Go-Dialga
Dialga normal (left) and as Shiny (right)

How many trainers are needed? With the best counters and a high trainer level, experienced players can defeat Dialga with just three. However, to make it a bit easier, you should gather a few more players for assistance. Then Dialga shouldn’t be a problem for you and should be defeated relatively quickly. By the way: It’s worth having Dialga on your team, as the Steel and Dragon Pokémon is among the best Dragon attackers in the game.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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WoW shows the roadmap for 2026 – many raids, new game modes, endless content

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The roadmap for the year 2026 in World of Warcraft has been revealed. The developers maintain that there will be plenty of patches in a short amount of time.

In the recent stream regarding the “State of Azeroth,” the developers discussed a lot of details for the still young year 2026. Although the expansion Midnight has not yet been released, we already have a good impression of what is still to come this year.

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WoW Midnight – The roadmap for the year 2026

Spring 2026

Patch 12.0.5

  • Void Attacks: The Void has not been defeated and continues to attack – it must be repelled at various locations around the world.
  • Prop Hunt: A fun pastime where some characters try to disguise themselves as harmless objects while a team of seekers aims to uncover them (known from Overwatch, for example).

Patch 12.0.7

  • Story & Quests: New story quests continue the narrative.
  • Void Attacks escalate: The void attacks become more intense.
  • New Raid: A new 1-boss raid to conclude the season.
  • Turbulent Timeways: The well-known event from many time-walks happening in succession.

Summer 2026

Patch 12.1

  • New Area: Currently unknown, but data mining suggests a large troll area near Zul’Aman.
  • New Raid
  • New Dungeon
  • New Depths
  • New World Boss
  • Housing, Social, and Interface Updates: The friends system is set to be fundamentally redesigned and renewed.

BlizzCon 2026: On September 12, BlizzCon 2026 will take place. There, the subsequent content (meaning Patch 12.1.5 and beyond) will be presented in more detail, and a first look at “The Last Titan” is likely to be given. Accordingly, the subsequent information is a bit vaguer, as these will be presented more concretely at BlizzCon.

WoW Roadmap Midnight 2026
The roadmap for the WoW year 2026 is set.

Autumn 2026

Patch 12.1.5

  • Labyrinth: This type of “Mega-Depths” is supposed to provide larger and long-term challenges for solo players and small groups.
  • New Raid: Another mini-raid at the midpoint of the season.
  • New Content and Systems: Currently unknown.

Patch 12.1.7

  • Story & Quests: New story quests continue the narrative.
  • Holiday Updates: Holidays will be updated with new rewards.
  • New Game Mode: A currently unknown, but apparently creepy game mode from the team that also developed “Remix” and “Plunderstorm.”.
  • Turbulent Timeways: The well-known event from many time-walks happening in succession.
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More Raids, more to do

It is striking in the Midnight roadmap that Blizzard apparently puts a larger focus on raids. Instead of presenting a raid only at the start of each season, there are now also smaller raids consistently in between patches to provide more variety and tell smaller stories with major adversaries. This should be a refreshing change for all who enjoy participating in raids when a raid seems exhausted after 6, 8, or 10 weeks.

What do you think of Blizzard’s plans for the WoW year 2026? Is there a lot that interests you? Or does it look like a rather boring year in Azeroth and would you rather know what’s next with “The Last Titan”?
Until then, though, you still have plenty of time to work on your own house – like with these 5 new decorations you might not be aware of yet.

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

„Noob DM“ forgets to prepare his 2nd session – Delivers a much better outcome than he could have ever planned

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

Sometimes the best situations in Dungeons & Dragons arise spontaneously and completely out of nowhere. A Game Master with little experience discovered exactly that and provided his table with an unforgettable, thrilling experience.

What is actually the role of a “DM”?

  • A DM, short for “Dungeon Master”, is the Game Master of a D&D group. He is basically the god of the world, narrates the story, plays the NPCs, and decides what happens and what does not.
  • The DM significantly influences how deeply the players can immerse themselves in a session and how challenging their experiences may be. For instance, he might present them with tricky puzzles that require clever solutions or allow them to take the “brute force” approach through a problem.
  • With a good DM, sessions can easily be played for years, even up to 40 years, if the group can manage it. However, an important skill for DMs is often overlooked: improvisation.

This arose from improvisation: Typically, DMs prepare their sessions, take notes, and create characters that the group may encounter. Essentially, they start building the world into which the players will dive and plan some situations or battles.

However, it often happens that the players do not do what the DM plans – or go in the completely opposite direction. Or that the DM forgets to prepare something. This happened to a user on Reddit.

confused_gooze writes that after his first session as a “Noob DM,” he completely flubbed the second one, but ended up achieving an even better result than originally planned:

  • From his fictional notes, which he never made, he introduces a wanted rogue to his group.
  • While exploring, one of the players fails a perception roll and gets robbed. The group chases the thief believing they are hunting the wanted criminal.
  • In the end, the party reaches a hideout of an entire halfling thieves’ guild that the DM spontaneously came up with. A fight breaks out, during which one of the players goes down and the rest barely manages to claim victory. Close, but exciting for everyone.
  • When asked if the treasure room is filled with traps, the DM responds with “yes” – even though that was not planned at all. The question itself led to that.

The entire situation was derived by the DM from the backstory of one of the players and then simply improvised with prompts that the group itself provided – like the failed perception roll. The community agrees: that is how the best stories are created.

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“The BS plotlines are the best”

In the comments, some users express envy for the skill and the story that has arisen. After all, the entire group thanked confused_gooze at the end for the great session. Others continue the story and somehow even connect it to the plot of The Lord of the Rings.

However, many agree that the best stories are those that are not thought out beforehand, even sharing their own stories:

Oh yes. Players wanted a party > bullshitted a crazy alchemist barkeep > I make up experimental booze that causes players to see other planes > accidentally created a plotline about saving a god. The BS plotlines are the best.

Faeruy on Reddit
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One should never underestimate the power of “blind panic”, says another comment with helpful tips. Simply letting go and allowing the players to lead the story can result in truly learning how good D&D can be.

How important a good DM can be is perhaps best illustrated by the legendary storyteller Matthew Mercer. Mercer has led most campaigns of the well-known D&D group Critical Role, with his career being more of a coincidence: An anime nerd just wanted to become a voice actor – today he fills whole arenas with his friends and plays Dungeons & Dragons

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

Anthem is now definitely dead, fans don’t want to accept that, working on a revival

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

Until a few weeks ago, Anthem was still playable, but now the servers are down and the shooter is finally history – or is it? Some unyielding fans refuse to accept the end of Anthem and are working on a revival, but it won’t be easy.

It was clear early on that the loot shooter from BioWare was dead: The game was released on February 22, 2019, two years later, Anthem was declared dead. Yet players were boldly promised that this would be “the start of a 10-year journey”.

This journey has now ended after 7 years, with 5 years without new content. On January 12, 2026, in a final move by the publisher EA, the servers were shut down. However, some fans are already working on making the loot shooter playable again.

A video on YouTube has already shown how the return of Anthem could work and gives fans hope. But it won’t be as easy as it looks in the video.

A lead developer of Anthem recently explained why the game really flopped:

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The engine still stands in the way of Anthem’s return

The return of Anthem? The people behind the revival of Anthem recently spoke about the project in an interview with Ars Technica. They are optimistic – but ask fans to temper their expectations. Because the revival is complicated.

At the center of the efforts is The Fort’s Forge, a Discord server. On this server, a handful of volunteers have gathered to make the shooter playable again. One of them is Ness199X, who already has experience with games running on the Frostbite engine, which Anthem uses.

The engine presents the biggest challenge so far. The game uses, like many other titles from EA, the Frostbite engine. However, it uses it differently than previous games, Ness explained to Ars Technica. This makes it much harder to understand how it works – and to make the game playable without EA’s servers.

So will Anthem return after all? Quite possible, but one shouldn’t expect it soon. Fans are using the last hours for a final excursion into the world of Anthem. Many shared their sorrow over the end, the farewell from the loot shooter resembled a digital funeral.

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Our colleague Michał from the international “Find Your Next Game” team experienced the end of Anthem live in the game. He shares his impressions of the last hours in a video on the official YouTube channel of MeinMMO. You can find it through this article on MeinMMO: “I was present in the final hours of Anthem and it was truly oppressive”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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  2. Ars Technica

Ashes of Creation was considered a great MMORPG hope of the West, now it seems like it will never be released

Ody Ody Reading time 3 minutes

Most new MMORPGs have recently come mostly from Asia. In contrast, very few innovations come from the West, at least regarding major projects. Ashes of Creation was, therefore, a beacon of hope – now its future seems uncertain.

What is happening with Ashes of Creation? On the night of January 31 to February 1, 2026, Steven Sharif, CEO of Intrepid Studios and Creative Director of Ashes of Creation, shared a concerning message on the official Discord server for the game.

The message from the chief indicates that he and other executives have left the studio. Subsequently, there was a “mass layoff,” he says.

Ashes of Creation only entered Early Access on Steam on December 11, 2025:

Start video
Ashes of Creation stimmt im Trailer auf Early-Access-Start auf Steam ein

Studio Chief Resigns, Executives Follow

This is what the chief says: Sharif writes in his message to the community that he has lost control of the company. The board has since begun making decisions that he could not ethically agree to or implement. He does not specify what these decisions were at this point.

Ultimately, Sharif decided to resign “in protest” rather than support these actions. A large part of the leadership team left the studio afterward, prompting the board to carry out a mass layoff.

With this message, Steve Sharif announced his resignation.

Due to ongoing legal matters, Sharif cannot say much at this time. Therefore, it is unclear how many employees are to be affected by the mass layoff at the studio. An official statement has not been released by the time this article is published. However, such a statement could follow on Monday, February 2, 2026.

The developers are not to blame for this situation, Sharif writes in his message:

What I can say is that the developers and staff acted in good faith and deserved better than the uncertainty they are now facing.

Steven Sharif

Is Ashes of Creation Coming to an End?

What does this mean for the MMORPG? The future of the development studio remains uncertain, as does that of Ashes of Creation. Whether the game will actually be discontinued, as many fear, or whether it will be further developed with a smaller team – and without Sharif – remains to be seen.

On social media platforms like X and Reddit, both the founder’s message and the layoffs are being actively discussed. Some players have invested significant sums into the MMORPG since the start of the Kickstarter campaign.

  • Damn, I really put $1000 into this game since October 2020. Just for it to get canceled before it was ever released, writes Juliet (@ttvjuliet) on X
  • Looks like Ashes of Creation is imploding, says MMORPG expert and critic Bellular on X
  • X user Savvo Games (@SavvoGames) shares a screenshot in which there is said to be a final message from the developers to the players. It states: “We truly did our best. Out of our control. You guys are incredible and keep on keeping on.” (on X)

Many angry fans in the Ashes of Creation Subreddit talk about a scam, with sadness mixed with schadenfreude. Others are already looking for people to switch to another MMORPG with them. For instance, one user asks in a Reddit post: “Anybody want to hop with me to Archeage?”

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Just a week ago, layoffs at the developer studio caused concerns for the fans. At that time, Steve Sharif still had not hinted at anything negative. What he had to say about the layoffs can be found here: There were layoffs at the studio behind Ashes of Creation, the studio head reassures fans of the MMORPG

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

The last guild leader of Sauercrowd reaches level 60, uses one of the best quests from WoW Classic, breaks into tears

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

After a severe defeat at level 58, Metashi, the last guild leader of Sauercrowd, has finally reached level 60 in WoW Hardcore. From the final experience points, the Twitch streamer made a big event and specifically saved his favorite quest from one of the early areas to achieve this ascent.

What quest is that?

  • For the last XP, Metashi chose the quest: “The Love of a Daughter” from Duskwood. The streamer explains that while the quest chain is short, it is one of his favorites in the entire game.
  • “The Love of a Daughter” concludes the quest chain about Morgan Ladimore, better known as “Mor’Ladim,” an elite skeleton in the cemetery of Duskwood, which has cost many WoW players their virtual lives.
  • The story: Morgan Ladimore regrets not having protected his family. His – unbeknownst to him – surviving daughter forgives him. She brings a ring to his grave, which redeems his spirit (and also grants a fancy two-handed weapon as a reward).

This is how Metashi reached level 60: The streamer calculated exactly how many experience points he would get for the quest. The XP reward changes when you turn in quests for which you are already at a significantly higher level.

Metashi knows he will get 140 XP. Until just before the ascent, he continues to turn in quests in the Eastern Plaguelands, until only 2,077 XP are missing. He has a portal opened to Stormwind, rides to the Deadwind Pass, and takes out a few buzzards.

When only 84 experience points are left, he flies back to Stormwind and gathers dozens of onlookers around him. The group marches in “RP walk” to the grave in Duskwood, with all the low-level fans bravely protected by the other heroes (in the Twitch stream at hour 05:16:45).

Upon arriving at the grave, Metashi finally reads the entire story of Morgan Ladimore from the diary he has been carrying since early levels. With many thanks to his group, his girlfriend, and his viewers, Metashi turns in the quest and reaches level 60 – and breaks down emotionally in tears (in the stream at hour 05:34:19).

Start video
WoW: Guild loses 30 characters on a hardcore server – And it wasn’t even a boss fight

Metashi reaches level 60 as the last guild leader, Molten Core raid in 2 weeks

Metashi could have been one of the first Sauercrowd leaders to reach level 60, but due to a wrong decision he died at level 58 along with 2 other players. The way back was surprisingly quick nonetheless.

Just a few days earlier HandOfBlood also reached the maximum level, being distracted by a multitude of organizational tasks that demanded his attention.

As the first player in the leadership, Papaplatte managed to do so – only to die right after. His current character, a gnome mage, is at level 26.

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Metashi’s ascent still marks an important milestone for the guild, especially since his statement about The Burning Crusade had previously raised doubts about whether the project could continue.

However, the concern about the end was alleviated a few days later during a guild meeting, and the leadership even took a step further. The actual goal of Sauercrowd, the raid of the Molten Core, is getting closer: The first raid of Sauercrowd has a date, Metashi makes it clear: “We will pull this off together”

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

I completed a game on Steam over a weekend where my book knowledge was really useful

Johanna Johanna Reading time 3 minutes

MeinMMO author Johanna is quite interested in one or another cozy game on Steam. One of them has been on her wishlist for 3 years and she almost missed it. But now she has just played it through in one weekend.

What kind of game is it? It is the cozy game Tiny Bookshop. In this game, you have a small bookshop on wheels. You move to the small town of Bookston, where you can unlock various locations for your mobile passion.

Every day the sales location changes, you pack books into your shelves, and off you go to sell. The goal is, of course, to have a financially viable bookshop. You can also decorate your bookshop on wheels with small decorative items, plants, or even two animals.

You will be supported by the residents of Bookston. They assist you with advice and favors as you complete various quests for them, and in return, you are rewarded with more decorative items.

The art style of the game is simple, yet detailed. The pace is moderate. Typical cozy game indeed. You won’t be rushed, but relaxed.

Here you can get your own impression of the game:

Start video
In Tiny Bookshop, you sell books to a small town

For the first time, I became aware of Tiny Bookshop in 2022. In a small trailer, the idea was shown to me on my For-You page. I was immediately fascinated by the game concept and followed the developers’ request to add the game to my wishlist.

In August 2025, it finally happened: The game was released. However, I had completely forgotten about it by that time. On a Friday, while browsing through my Steam wishlist, I discovered Tiny Bookshop, so to speak, “again”.

I bought it right away, as I didn’t want to forget it again, and jumped right in. Before I knew it, it was Sunday evening and I had no other memories of the weekend than having played the game.

Two hobbies in one activity

What makes Tiny Bookshop so special? Tiny Bookshop allows me not only to relax through simple gameplay in a cozy atmosphere but also to indulge in my two hobbies simultaneously. I love gaming and reading. Tiny Bookshop brings these together for me.

Winter in Tiny Bookshop
The game goes through the different seasons, during which various events take place. The decorations also adapt to the season.

Now and then, customers need a book recommendation. The special thing about this game is that your shelves contain real books that you can also buy in real life.

This made the gameplay feel personal for me. My knowledge of books, whether read or just informed about, gives me an advantage in customer advising. The customer wants to read a real horror classic? No problem, here is Frankenstein or The Shining.

Additionally, this has a lovely side effect: The books also always come with a synopsis, leading me to discover new books that I want to read.

Overall, Tiny Bookshop offers about 30 to 40 hours of cozy gaming fun, depending on how thorough you are, whether you want to complete all quests and collect all decorative items.

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Another cozy game has caught my interest: Disney Dreamlight Valley. Since I will probably finish Tiny Bookshop soon, as I’ve seen everything, I might switch back to the game. You can read more about my experiences with Disney Dreamlight Valley here on MeinMMO: In a simulation on Steam, I help well-known Disney heroes from my childhood, a journey that has occupied me for almost a week for over 20 hours

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

“I temporarily ruined my life” – player spends 300 hours in ARC Raiders for something that only 14 people own

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

A player challenged herself to earn the rarest achievement in ARC Raiders. Two months and 300 hours later, she wonders: Was it even worth it?

Which achievement are we talking about? Streamer and YouTuber Evelyn “Eskay” Hollis set herself the goal of achieving an achievement in ARC Raiders that only 14 other players have ever achieved. We are talking about the “Cantina Legend” rank, for which only the top 100 players qualify. 

The rank is achieved through the weekly trials, where players earn progress to secure a spot on the leaderboard. Players can only rank up twice a week, meaning for Eskay’s plan to become Cantina Legend, she had to rank up every week at every opportunity throughout the entire season. And this becomes increasingly difficult with each rank-up and stronger opponents.

After 2 months and 300 hours in the game, Eskay finally managed to earn this prestigious title for herself. However, the victorious mood was not present for the streamer; quite the opposite, as she reveals in her documenting video on YouTube: “To be honest, I find it really hard to present this experience positively.”

Start video
Spieler in Arc Raiders schreit so laut um Hilfe, dass der Nachbar die Tür aufbricht

“Was it worth it? Not really.”

Why was it not a positive experience for the streamer? Eskay explains at the end of her video why this challenge she set for herself will not be a pleasant memory. Although she spent a lot of time in the game and achieved something that only 14 other players worldwide can claim. 

Nevertheless, the streamer is sure:

The fact is that I temporarily ruined my life to play Arc Raiders Trials. I postponed so many commitments. I skipped meetings with friends who only visit once a year. I missed dinners. I skipped the gym. I put my career on hold. I almost missed a trip to Paris. And for what? For a skin?

Eskay on YouTube

What insight does Eskay take from the experience? The streamer emphasizes that she is proud of this achievement and that the people who have achieved the “Cantina Legend” rank have truly worked hard. 

She wanted to prove to herself that she could deliver a strong performance regardless of the game and felt after several weeks that she had invested too much to give up. She also did not want to disappoint her two friends and teammates.

However, it seems Eskay has learned something for herself through her concluding words, something she wants to hold on to:

Don’t get me wrong, I am no stranger to grinding, but the older I get and the more experiences I gather, the more my priorities shift. I can’t just play 12 hours a day, even if it’s somehow my job.

There are so many things in real life that I want to do and haven’t done yet. There are so many memories and experiences that I have missed because I played video games.

Eskay on YouTube
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With Eskay’s achievement, the streamer proved that she can indeed be proud of her performance in the shooter, even if it cost her a lot and ultimately was not worth it. Her community is understanding and still celebrates her for this extraordinarily rare achievement. 

Other streamers cannot boast such feedback from their viewers. Thousands publicly argue about whether a Twitch streamer cheats or plays like a god: Thousands are sure that a streamer in ARC Raiders cheats, while others say: Whoever really thinks that isn’t watching carefully

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

Which Warhammer setting is the best? The Emperor would be proud of your opinion, but angry about rank 2

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

MeinMMO asked you which world of Warhammer you like the most: Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, Fantasy – or one of the “spin-offs”? The winner is quite clear, but what comes next surprised us quite a bit.

Warhammer consists of several large worlds, each with its own lore, characters, and independent storyline. Each of these settings has its own tabletop, books, and video games to fully immerse in the respective world.

We wanted to know from you in a survey which of these worlds you like the most – actually just as a barometer for us to gauge which areas we still need to expand.

However, you participated diligently: 3,966 votes came in, with multiple selections allowed – after all, one can like more than one thing. In first place, Warhammer 40,000 is far ahead with 1,710 votes (43 %).

Do you have a different opinion? The survey is still open. Just keep in mind that all data will be forwarded directly to the Inquisition. We are not responsible for surprise visits:

That is hardly surprising, considering how much lore this world includes and the fascination stemming from the grim darkness that is inherent to the setting. If you are still not convinced: 2026 is the optimal year to become a Warhammer fan.

The following ranks were… surprising, especially since Fantasy held the second place for a long time and was only overtaken in recent days. And that precisely by the greatest catastrophe that the Imperium of Man has ever seen.

Start video
The trailer for the new edition of the Horus Heresy in Warhammer 40,000

The greatest betrayal of humanity is your second favorite topic

In second place with currently 708 votes (18 %) stands the “Horus Heresy”, or the Great Brother War. Originally part of Warhammer 40,000, it has now become almost its own setting because it takes place 10,000 years earlier. The community often refers to it as “Warhammer 30k.”

The Horus Heresy is the great betrayal of the Warmaster Horus Lupercal against the Emperor: He conspired with the dark gods to overthrow his father, which would have led to the downfall of the Imperium and possibly the galaxy.

The devastating aspect of this war was that not only Horus and his legion rebelled, but half of all primarchs along with their Space Marine legions became traitors, many of them in the name of a specific god, others in the name of undivided chaos.

Horus was even almost successful in this betrayal and weakened the Emperor so much that he has been bound to his Golden Throne ever since and is only kept alive by this. The reason why heretics often refer to him as the “Corpse Emperor”.

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From the Heresy, Games Workshop has now created a standalone system with new (and even larger) miniatures. Many models from the Horus Heresy can also be used for Warhammer 40,000, but not all.

In the community, there are divided opinions about the system. While the lore is generally met with much interest, especially fans of the other systems wish for more focus on their favorites. They are also represented in your survey:

If the Emperor could still rise, he would probably applaud with one hand for your choice of Warhammer 40,000, only to clench the other into a fist for reminding him of his greatest defeat.

While it is hard to say how happy Big E really is with the current state of the 41st or 42nd millennium. After all, he never wanted to be worshipped as a god, quite the contrary. But even one of his still loyal sons is no longer sure how sustainable that is: The new chief of the Imperium in Warhammer 40,000 asks if the Emperor is a god, while he should know better

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

13 participants give feedback on Sauercrowd – From WoW veteran to complete Twitch novice

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

The Streamer Guild Sauercrowd has been making waves in WoW Classic since December 27, 2025, and took over the German Twitch scene. Many participants have little to no experience with the MMORPG. 13 of them provided feedback after the first weeks.

Metashi12 is one of the organizers of Sauercrowd, the big WoW event on German Twitch. He asked 13 participants for honest feedback – from the WoW veteran to the MMORPG noob to the Twitch newcomer. We summarized the responses for you here, but you can also check out the video here.

Note: The interim report was recorded about 2 weeks after the event started. Levels and deaths may not be completely up to date. We have supplemented the updated information where necessary.

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What the participants say

  • Mowky: The streamer reports starting the event with low expectations. After all, WoW would usually “flop” on Twitch, and after 2 weeks, no one would want to play anymore. Instead, she was not only pleasantly surprised but is already dreaming of a season 2.
  • Broeki: The LoL streamer is so deep into the WoW grind that he records his contribution during his character’s flight time. He admits to having underestimated WoW Classic entirely: one just has to immerse oneself in it, and then it becomes a great game. However, the event is also upheld by social interaction and the overarching goal of the guild.
  • Mahluna: For the streamer, the first two weeks of the event felt almost like a whole year – mainly due to her playtime of about 10 hours a day. Mahluna is not only surprised by WoW but also by herself – level 45 without dying, and that as an MMO newbie is quite impressive. In the meantime, she did die once, but her hunter is already back at level 46 (as of January 31, 2026, 14:15).
  • Tolkin: For the LoL streamer, what stands out is how many new people he has met through the event. He experiences less of that with League. His interim report is short and sweet: “Great event, would love to do it again.”
  • Bladeshow: The LoL pro particularly praises the people working behind the scenes at the event, such as on the Discord server or the website. For him, the project is especially notable for bringing many new people to WoW who not only “grind hard” but also have fun with the game.
  • Naguura: The streamer is not new to WoW, but she is in the German community, as the Tyrolean typically streams in English. She feels well received and is happy to see the passion with which the “first-timers” are starting in WoW. It feels almost like it did back in 2005.
Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
  • Sieglinde: The experienced WoW player says: In the last 20 years of MMORPG, he has rarely had such a good time as through this event. He particularly likes discovering WoW with new players, as it allows him to experience it anew himself.
  • Cezzy: The streamer reports after 3 weeks in the event, where he has hardly seen the sun. Even as a night owl, he always finds players to team up with, thanks to the well-populated Discord. Cezzy has already died 6 times in the event but keeps starting fresh – after all, the event needs tanks.
  • JenNyan: The streamer started WoW 20 years too late but already understands after two weeks why players would have “neglected their lives” back then. Luckily, she didn’t play WoW as a teenager, says JenNyan. She especially praises the mutual support, such as after the tragic loss of her character at level 20.
  • Hahn: The streamer was the first to reach level 60 in Sauercrowd. What makes the project special for him is that it brings together so many different “bubbles.” The German Twitch scene is otherwise known for forming cliques.
  • HughWinters: For the streamer, WoW is almost secondary at this event. The vibe at the event, the camaraderie, the solidarity are simply indescribable. He has never experienced anything like this in 9 years on Twitch. The streamer believes Twitch Germany needs more projects like this.
  • Justin Tinderdate: The DJ knows WoW but is completely new to Twitch. He met guild leader HandOfBlood at a DJ set and decided to join the project. Even after Sauercrowd ends, he plans to continue streaming.
  • Felikah: The streamer, who mainly shows Minecraft, has been completely captivated by WoW. She didn’t even know she could be so into anything. In the past weeks, she has only played WoW, slept, and played WoW again. No wonder she has put over 200 hours into the game in less than a month. Felikah is also excited about the camaraderie in the guild and looks forward to raiding Molten Core with the group.

Despite the diverse backgrounds of the participants surveyed, almost all share how beautiful the camaraderie and solidarity at the event are. Many who had no prior experience with WoW are pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoy the game. These two points alone would likely be enough to explain the event’s success – but for some participants, it is particularly worthwhile:
10 major winners of Sauercrowd – for these Twitch streamers, the adventure in WoW Classic Hardcore has already paid off

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

A new Samurai Soulslike for Steam attracts 40,000 players to the demo, and even the tutorial seems deadly

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

Nioh 3 is just around the corner for its release on Steam. The demo is already receiving positive feedback from players, but it also brings an issue.

What kind of game is it? It is the third installment in the Nioh series: Nioh 3. The release of the game is scheduled for February 6, 2026 on Steam, so fans don’t have to wait much longer.

Nioh 3 is a Soulslike game where you play as a samurai. The unique aspect: Nioh 3 is the first installment in the series that offers you an open world.

Additionally, players no longer have to commit to a single playstyle, but can switch between ninja and samurai styles even during combat. As a samurai, you approach fiercely and directly, while as a ninja, you rely on agility and skill.

You can get a first impression of the game with the trailer:

Start video
In Nioh 3 könnt ihr ein weiteres Samurai-Action-RPG erleben

Tutorial is Already Causing Issues for Players in the Demo

How is the tutorial deadly? To sweeten the waiting time for players, a demo for the game was released on January 29. It is already receiving positive feedback from players. According to SteamDB, the demo had a peak of 39,227 simultaneous players.

In the subreddit r/Nioh, players share their excitement for the demo, but also the problems they encounter. One of them seems to be the tutorial itself.

Player GameGuidesGN_Mod shared a clip on Reddit showing how the tutorial message appears just as he is about to leap over a chasm. When he clicks it away, he falls into the abyss and cannot save himself.

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Other players also share their experiences with the tutorial messages. For instance, dotinous writes: “I was in a fight when I got one of those, they really are sometimes a meme.” Also, ghouIzz seems to have had similar situations: “The number of times that killed me just before a burst attack was really funny.”

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Have you tried the demo for Nioh 3? If so, what do you think of it? Let us know in the comments! If you need more games to shorten the wait for Nioh 3, feel free to check here: Here are the currently 15 best alternatives to Dark Souls that are not from FromSoftware

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

Despite the crash landing on Steam, the developers of Highguard do not give up – doing something even large studios can learn from

Lydia Lydia Reading time 4 minutes

Highguard has already been compared to the disastrous shooter Concord before its release. In fact, the launch on Steam and PS5 went anything but promising. A patch is supposed to change that, as it introduces a new mode to the game.

This is the current situation surrounding Highguard:

  • The Free2Play shooter was released on January 26, 2026, for Steam and PS5. Previously, the developers had been silent for weeks after the surprising announcement at the Game Awards 2025 .
  • However, at launch, Highguard was bombarded with negative reviews on Steam. In addition to legitimate criticism, the frustration of players dissatisfied with the gaming industry had been unleashed over the shooter, who had already labeled the game as “the next Concord”.
  • But instead of pulling the plug, the developers of Highguard are staying on track and rolled out a patch along with a new mode in the first week.
Start video
Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet

Highguard brings new mode and performance fixes

This is new: With a patch, the developers addressed some of the criticisms of the shooter on January 29 – and surprisingly delivered a completely new game mode. There is now an experimental 5v5 mode, which is only playable for this weekend.

So those who only checked out Highguard at launch and were overwhelmed by the large maps might give the shooter another chance. However, the developers also warn: Adding 4 more players does not exactly help the other major criticism – the performance.

Additionally, the patch is said to deliver improvements in animation performance, projectiles, and other gameplay systems (Source: Steam).

1.0.4 Patch Notes in English (machine translated with Gemini)

Game Input Settings

  • Crouch: On all platforms, “Crouch” can now be set to Hold or Toggle.
  • Aim Down Sights (ADS): The ability to set aiming (ADS) to Hold or Toggle has been added (initially only for PC).
    Note: Switching the aim is done by pressing the sprint button (Shift on PC, left stick on controller), while in ADS mode. This may feel disorienting on the controller. PC players are advised to remap the aim switch key if they use “ADS Toggle.” A solution for console players (who cannot yet freely assign buttons) is being worked on, but this will take time.

Video Settings

  • Field of View (FoV): Console users can now adjust the field of view up to 110.
  • Performance: The low scaling settings for shadows and reflections have been optimized for even more performance (at the expense of image quality).
  • Shadows: The “Low” setting now also disables volumetric fog.
  • Viewing Distance: A new setting for the “Quality of Viewing Distance” has been added. This controls the detail levels (LODs) of skeletal meshes and helps optimize GPU and CPU usage.
  • Additional Options: Players can now toggle the following features on or off independently of other quality settings:
    • Anisotropic Materials
    • Chromatic Aberration
    • Bloom
      Note: Motion Blur and Depth of Field need further testing before they can be safely disabled. These options will follow shortly.
  • DLSS: Users can now select DLSS presets. More presets and better descriptions will follow in the next patch.
  • Global Illumination: Can now be completely set to “Off”.
  • Laptop Fix: An engine bug was fixed that erroneously capped laptop users at 60 FPS, regardless of frame rate settings.

Crashes and Bug Fixes

This patch fixes crashes that could occur in the following situations:

Stability: The main causes of crashes have been eliminated, which has reduced the crash rate overall by 90% and greatly improved stability.

  • Leaving a match on the PS5 under an unexpected input status.
  • Loading matches on devices with slower storage media (HDDs).
  • Various bugs related to online status and matchmaking have been fixed.

Friends: Will now be correctly displayed as online after accepting requests. The Xbox Presence status now updates correctly.

Players say: Great, but why not like this from the start?

This is how the changes are perceived: Actually surprisingly good. On the night of January 31, SteamDB recorded more players for the first time since release than at its peak the day before. Up to 15,147 players were simultaneously active in Highguard. Meanwhile, positive reviews now clearly outnumber the negative ones among the newly added reviews.

Also on social media platforms like X and Reddit, the first impressions are positive. For many players, the 5v5 mode feels like the “right” way to experience the game: The size of the maps suddenly makes sense, during the loot phase one now encounters other players and must engage in firefights.

All this makes the game more frantic but also more entertaining for many. Others realize that the developers did have some thought in mind with 3v3.

Yet even users who cannot get into Highguard express their respect for the developers. Because after such a disastrous release, continuing on, listening to the community, and suddenly pulling a new mode out of thin air shows real passion.

This has also convinced YouTuber Mightykeef. He wrote on X: “Okay, whoah, whoah, whoah. THIS is something other gaming companies should learn from. Highguard had a terrible start and immediately began implementing the things people want to see. I like that.”

Just the fact that the new mode is so good leads others to shake their heads. Gaming journalist Paul Tassi wrote: “Are you kidding, 5v5 is so much better. It doesn’t even feel balanced. Why didn’t you make this the main mode at launch?” (Source: X)

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Whether Highguard will still manage a comeback remains to be seen. The current changes definitely raise hopes that the shooter can still find its player base and is at least not on the verge of being shut down. This should also please MeinMMO editor Benedict, who said: You are all playing Highguard wrong, but you can’t even do anything about it

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Players steal millions in ARC Raiders with rubber ducks, but their greed is promptly punished

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

Since the beginning of the shooter, many players have quickly fallen in love with collecting the rubber ducks in ARC Raiders. This preference seems to be escalating at the moment, especially for the more valuable specimens of the cute items that are significantly more valuable. And for this, these “collectors” are even willing to resort to cheekier methods.

What method is being referred to? Players have found a glitch in ARC Raiders to duplicate items and thus multiply valuable things from their inventory many times over. 

One of the new rubber duck variants that were introduced with update 1.13.0 is one of the potential items that is often misused for this glitch. The colorful “Familiar Duck” grants players 7,000 coins when sold.

The extent to which this can lead is evidenced by the player endgame2937 with a post on Reddit. With a proof image, he reports how he came across a downed Raider carrying a mountain of the mentioned rubber ducks. The player looted as many as he could carry, and with a total of 405 rubber ducks in his inventory, he made over 2.8 million coins.

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Endgame2937 remains confused after this find. Especially the sudden death of the duck “collector” he could not understand until he was made aware of the glitch by the community: “There is a known dupe exploit that works with rubber ducks, so he definitely used it to fill his inventory.”

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Duplication glitch is not as safe a method as users suspect

What else surprises the finder? The player explains in his post that he saw the duck collector suddenly go up in flames and fall to the ground, without saying a word, before dropping his colorful treasure. Endgame2937 explains in a later comment in the Reddit thread that he is not sure whether the player accidentally caused it himself or if it was an ARC. 

He did not see the player using the glitch, just the extent that ultimately brought him a hefty haul.

Other players from the community have, however, an idea of what – or rather: who – might be responsible for the punishment by fire.

What does the community suspect? The most upvoted comment by call_me_fig includes the suspicion that a large part of the player base shares: “I wonder if they set Raiders on fire who [exploit the glitch], just like they used to do with wall-cheaters?” However, he later adds that it could also just be a visual bug.

Thiefsie, on the other hand, supports the assumption: “The developers often go after those who misbehave with fire. I wonder if there is fraud detection there…”

Whether this is ultimately the true reason has not yet been confirmed or denied by the developers. However, the community considers this approach a suitable and, above all, entertaining idea, just like KobraKittyKat: “That’s absolutely biblical, pretty cool on their part.”

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ARC Raiders: Find Tester Matrix – Here’s how to collect them for the project
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von Christos Tsogos

The rubber ducks in ARC Raiders were already popular before they became valuable and promised big money. A player set things in motion at that time when he tragically found out that he did not have enough space in the game to display his beloved ducks. But here too, the developers had a helping answer: The developers of ARC Raiders fulfill an unusual fan wish, clutter your home with hundreds of rubber ducks

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Source(s):
  1. Reddit

Elden Ring belongs to female players – and anyone can see this if they just look

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 5 minutes

Elden Ring and other FromSoftware titles have a large community of fans who battle through the dangerous worlds and monstrous creatures in the games. In particular, one group can find that the games offer more than just the typical “get good”. They contain many themes that can appeal to female fans. Even MeinMMO editor Caro can agree with this.

The titles from FromSoftware like Dark Souls or Bloodborne and Elden Ring are mainly known for their dark worlds and the tough yet rewarding combat that players must face in the games. The games are often accompanied by a dark, almost melancholic atmosphere, marked by decay and corruption, but also by the unexpected beauty that they harbor.

Due to the challenging gameplay that allows players to continually test their skills, much of the community has focused on becoming particularly skilled, understanding opponents, and overcoming the toughest battles purely through skill.

This may be intimidating for curious players (who have not yet dared to try FromSoftware due to the prevalent notion that this type of gameplay does not fall within the realm of the stereotypically “more feminine” games). It is common for female players to be devalued if they prefer more relaxing games, or to be labeled as “fake” if they do enjoy these “atypical” games. Terms like “women’s games” and “men’s games” are thrown around, which only serves to make new experiences less appealing to people.

FromSoftware games are neither one nor the other but rather magnificent RPG experiences that female players should definitely give a chance.

The atmosphere and themes from FromSoftware titles are omnipresent if you look closely. And these prove: FromSoftware games should definitely be discovered by more female players.

Who is writing here? MeinMMO editor Caro loves various genres of games, whether fantasy, cozy, RPG, or tabletop. She has spent many hours in FromSoftware games, primarily Elden Ring and currently also a lot of Nightreign. In games, she appreciates not only the fun and gameplay but also the subtext, storytelling, and has a preference for creative game design and the artistic aspects of game development. This love and knowledge was solidified during her studies in Game Art & Animation.
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FromSoftware is not only brutal but also has a lot of depth

In addition to the gameplay, which players quickly understand at the beginning, FromSoftware titles offer subtle yet omnipresent storytelling that transformed them from a monster-fighting simulator into the masterpieces they are known as today. 

This storytelling surprisingly includes many themes that can be understood universally regardless of gender, but especially resonate with female players as they are often confronted with these themes simply due to their existence: oppressive power structures, the significance of femininity and gender, and the escape from a predetermined fate. All this serves not as a means to an end but is treated with importance and provides a basis that determines the entire worlds of the games.

This is evident not only through the world-building but also through the characters that inhabit these worlds.

Femininity in FromSoftware games is unvarnished and at the same time empowering

Bloodborne can be interpreted in many ways regarding the theme of (lacking) female autonomy, whether concerning their will or their own body. The game, as well as the femininity of many women, is not always beautiful, but brutal, dirty, angry, and tragic.

Maternity and the emotional and physical component play a significant role in Bloodborne. It deals with unwanted pregnancies featuring divine offspring, the loss of one’s child, and the horrors that arise from these intense feelings.

It is an unpleasant but honest engagement with the darker sides of femininity that prompts reflection.

Bloodborne Pthumerian Queen
Just the design of this boss from Bloodborne, the Pthumerian Queen, illustrates the themes of the game.

But there are also themes in Elden Ring that particularly occupy female players. Ranni the Witch is a central character in Elden Ring, whose story is not only crucial to the events of the game but also a sign of rebellion against a power structure that controlled her and her fate.

Ranni despised the idea of becoming part of the ruling Golden Order, as it was meant for her. And thus, she decided to take her fate into her own hands. To escape her role as the greater will, she was willing to tragically sacrifice herself but simultaneously drag another demigod to death, thus nullifying the will of the Golden Order.

Her still-living soul found a home in her famous blue doll body, with which she wanders through the Lands Between as a simple witch and made a magic tower her stronghold.

Ranni die Hexe
Ranni the Witch no longer submits to the greater will and initiates her own time at her end.

The female characters from FromSoftware titles are never sexualized, even though they encompass deeply physical themes. One example is Malenia, known as one of the most famous and challenging bosses in gaming.

Her body is completely naked in the second phase of her boss fight, except for the golden prosthetics. And yet, it is not a provocative image but rather a nearly painterly beauty that is particularly intimidating due to her combat skills. Elden Ring manages to make even a completely naked woman appear less sexualized than many dressed characters in other games.

Elden Ring Malenia
Malenia in her second phase – an image that fans of Elden Ring still vividly remember.

Melancholy instead of hardness

Another argument is simple yet effective – the games are incredibly aesthetic. Yes, they are dark, but they contain many passages that invite players to stop and linger due to their environments, architecture, and vistas.

These moments encourage players to take the games slowly and truly absorb them, rather than just rushing from boss to boss. Moreover, in these moments of calm, it becomes clear how the brutality in FromSoftware games is expressed not only through violence and combat but also through decay and loss. 

Cutscenes often start very quietly, slowly, and are almost poetic. And when some bosses are finally defeated – of course, it’s euphoric when you finally succeed after the 40th attempt – it is still almost a release. 

The darkness and gloom in FromSoftware games are multi-faceted and fans of gothic and fantasy stories, quiet heroines, and the struggle against the rest of the world will resonate with this greatly.

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If you are female gamers yourselves but have not yet dared to try FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Elden Ring, we would like to sincerely recommend giving these games a chance. They are considered absolute masterpieces and will surely surprise you. If you want to learn more about getting started in Elden Ring, we have summarized all our guides for you here on MeinMMO that will help you: Elden Ring: All guides, builds, and beginner tips in overview

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Combat experts shoot each other with arrows to test a rule from Dungeons & Dragons

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 3 minutes

A group of combat experts from the D&D team “Min-Maxed” aims to find the truly best method of redirecting an arrow through their own expertise. They present the result in a video that proves that the rules of the TTRPG are not chosen arbitrarily.

How does the group plan to test the rule? Some members of the D&D group “Min-Maxed” want to find out which class of the role-playing game would really be capable of redirecting an arrow to avoid damage. For this, archer Blumineck, the two weapon experts from Sellsword Arts, martial artist Instructor Bensei, and D&D content creator Tater the Bard put their own skills to the test.

According to the rules from 2024, the ability “redirect attacks” is a pure class feature of the monk, which he receives at level 3. Whether this should solely be possible for monks is what the motivated group tests in a practical trial.

They attempt to stop an arrow fired at the martial artists with short and long swords, a rope dart (also known as Shéng Biāo), another bow, or with bare hands. Blumineck emphasizes that these are safe arrows shot with a light bow so that no one gets hurt… or at least not more than necessary.

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Stopping a fired arrow is hard – but not impossible

What was the result of their test? The test turned out to be more about constantly taking hits than a professional defense. Neither the short sword nor the long sword, the rope dart, nor the bow could effectively fend off an arrow. Although points were given for quick dodging, the experts did not want to count that as a defense.

No matter how professionally the content creators handled their weapons, no one could stop the projectile, let alone redirect it… except for one.

Ironically, the dungeon master of the group, Tater the Bard, who has no weapon expertise to show for, managed to catch an arrow with his hand. Although it is questionable whether he would have survived this in a fight, he only managed to catch the arrow on his third attempt and rather awkwardly: “I’m dead, but I’m holding an arrow!”

Blumineck was also able to fend off an arrow with his bow, but that was more due to the fact that it wouldn’t have hit its target anyway.

Here you can see the video evidence of the group on TikTok:

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So, is the rulebook correct? The test impressively shows that it is not so easy to fend off an arrow in real life. The creators probably thought that only monks should be able to redirect such an attack as described by the class feature.

With a reaction, they can not only redirect arrows but also other attacks that would deal slashing, piercing, or bludgeoning damage, thus reducing the damage.

However, the community of Dungeons & Dragons has a much simpler method to provide this advantage to other classes as well:

“One should create a large, round or square piece of wood or iron to hold in front of oneself to create a kind of wall,” explains henryted98 in the comments of the video on Instagram, and also dtsavage101 writes, but with slightly less sarcasm: “The correct answer is, and always has been, the good old shield.”

As preparation for their campaign, in which the members of Mix-Max want to play themselves regarding their expertise, the individual players tested further questions that remain open. The two sword fighting experts from Sellsword Arts first wanted to know if they would even be good enough in real life to pass as a level 1 fighter: Sword fighting experts on YouTube test if they could reach level 1 of a fighter in D&D

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

Night City is never safe, but you definitely don’t want to live in these places from Cyberpunk 2077

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 6 minutes

Night City from Cyberpunk 2077 is not considered an optimal place to live if you want to lead a peaceful and, above all, safe life. V has already written off that kind of life anyway. But which places in the city are the most dangerous if you are just an ordinary resident?

The various places in Night City differ not only by their inhabitants and their layout. Depending on where you are in the so-called “City of Dreams”, regular life can look very different. 

You can never really talk about safety in Cyberpunk 2077 anyway. Nevertheless, there are districts that are even more dangerous than others – and even the “most comfortable” place is no guarantee for a long, fulfilling life.

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In this list, we will address all the places in Night City and present them in a ranking. This way, we work our way from the (if you can really call it that) “safest” place to the depths of the city where you really don’t want to end up.

Let’s start with the place in Night City where you can count yourself lucky to live:

Corpo Plaza City Center

Rank 6 – City Center

  • Lower districts: Corporate Center, Downtown

City Center in Night City is regarded by pretty much everyone who doesn’t challenge megacorporations and has enough money as the safest place in Night City. Here live the rich and powerful, who can feel safe thanks to all the nearby services.

Especially at Corpo Plaza, the streets look so shiny and chrome that it seems you could dine from the ground. Militech drones and the NCPD are heavily present here, which might simulate safety for the regular citizen, but is more of a thorn in the side for someone like V and other Edgerunners.

It can be said that this place may be the safest, but for a large part of the population, it is never accessible. It is a luxury that not everyone can or wants to avail themselves of. Therefore, they turn to other places in the city, which will follow in the next pages of this list.

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