LoL: The new champion ranks among the top 5 and dominates in two lanes

jacquelinek jacquelinek Reading time 2 minutes

Aurora is the latest champion in League of Legends and can be played both in the top lane and mid lane. With her impressive debut, she quickly established herself as one of the best champions in both lanes.

What kind of champion is she? Aurora is the latest champion in League of Legends and is playable in both the top and mid lanes. The Vastaya caused quite a stir even before her release, as pro players suspected that she would be too strong at release.

After other champions like Smolder had a disastrous start, Aurora’s release couldn’t have gone better. She is currently one of the most popular and best champions in both lanes and has made it into the top 5.

Start video
LoL: „GODS“ ft. NewJeans (Official Music Video) | World Cup Anthem 2023

Aurora’s ultimate ability sends shivers down players’ spines

What makes Aurora so strong? What makes the Vastaya particularly strong is her ultimate ability. Not only did the pros fear this even before her release, but players find her abilities to be too strong.

Many players seem to particularly fear her ultimate ability, but her other abilities also make her a must-pick in every game. She is especially effective against melee champions, those who excel in close combat.

Thanks to her abilities, Aurora is hard to pin down for opponents and proves to be an extremely slippery champion, making her an incredibly strong opponent in the right hands.

The new champion moves in the spirit realm

What abilities does Aurora have? Like any other champion, Aurora has three abilities, a passive ability, and an ultimate ability:

  • Passive ability: A classic 3-hit passive: When Aurora deals damage to an opponent three times, she unleashes magical damage and summons a spirit that follows her and increases her speed and healing for 3 seconds.
  • Q ability: Her Q ability allows Aurora to deal damage and mark enemies with spirit energy. Upon reactivating the Q, she pulls the marked enemies back to her and deals additional damage.
  • W ability: With her W ability, Aurora can become invisible and enter spirit mode. While in this mode, the cooldown of the ability is reset when she defeats opponents.
  • E ability: Her E ability enables her to fire a projectile that deals damage and slows enemies.
  • R ability: Her ultimate ability ‘Between Worlds’ sends out a wave of energy that deals damage and slows enemies. While moving in the spirit realm, opponents trying to escape take additional damage.
More on the topic
Trymacs doesn’t want to deal with Riot anymore after the win challenge because he can’t play LoL with anyone
von Caroline Fuller
“Let us at least choose”: League of Legends tests new Battlepass, players want the old one back
von Nico Scheibel
LoL changes a champ after 14 years, brings urgent rework – fans criticize: The greatest problem still persists
von Nico Scheibel

How does the champion perform? A Reddit post by user ‘williamis3’ shows that Aurora has a win rate of 53-54% both in the top and mid lanes, according to many statistics pages. For a freshly released champion, these numbers are extremely impressive. She is currently in the top 5 of the best champions.

However, her strong start also has a downside: Aurora’s ban rate currently stands at about 60%.

In League of Legends, only a few champions have had such an impressive start as Aurora. Besides Smolder, the release of the jungler Briar also didn’t go particularly well. You can read here why Briar left many players in despair: LoL brings in a new champion, but already many players are despairing over Briar

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

DrDisrespect is back and more evil than ever – Twitch streamer judges: ‘He has nothing left to lose’

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The streamer Herscel “DrDisrespect” Beahm is back online after 36 days, and he has dug up the hatchet. He responds aggressively and cynically to nasty comments online about his scandal. The Twitch streamer Asmongold is watching this and says DrDisrespect simply has nothing left to lose.

This is the situation:

  • DrDisrespect signed a major deal with Twitch in March 2020 but was permanently banned from the platform on June 26, 2020. The reasons remained unclear for 4 years.
  • In the 4 years since, DrDisrespect has been doing well, but not as outstandingly well as before. He still had some deals and earned good money, but he streamed on YouTube without an exclusive contract and repeatedly complained, about how many opportunities and earnings the ban cost him.
  • On June 21, 2024, it became known why DrDisrespect was banned. He had exchanged inappropriate messages with a 17-year-old girl via Twitch in 2017. Now DrDisrespect’s career collapsed: partners and friends distanced themselves from him. His own gaming studio halted collaboration. YouTube cut off his revenue.

This was the status regarding DrDisrespect’s ban up until the summer of 2024:

Start video
DrDisrespect was a celebrity on Twitch – His ban remains a big mystery to this day

After 36 days, DrDisrespect is back

This is his comeback now: 36 days after announcing a break, DrDisrespect is active online again. He posted a picture of himself on X playing chess against his opponent.

This refers to a well-known saying that means: “I am far ahead of all of you. My plans are much more thought-out and sophisticated than yours.”

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitter content

DrDisrespect is criticized, fires back sharply

What is the reaction? The reaction to this tweet is partially hostile – DrDisrespect’s reactions to this hostility is to fire back with all guns blazing.

One user posts an image suggesting that DrDisrespect is pedophilic.

He calls him a “woke boy whose brain has been washed”.

Another user sardonically asks him: “Are you playing with a minor right now?”

DrDisrespect replies, “Good line, they/them. But the internet will never help you with your real problem… depression.”

More on the topic
More on the topic
A shooter like Escape from Tarkov focused entirely on marketing with DrDisrespect – Explains how it continues after the scandal
von Lydia
More on the topic
Streamer is close to tears as he talks about what his friend DrDisrespect has done
von Schuhmann
More on the topic
One of the nicest people on Twitch is asked if DrDisrespect is coming back – the answer is brutal
von Schuhmann

Asmongold says: “He has nothing left to lose”

How is this commented on? The Twitch streamer Asmongold seems to watch this with enjoyment but also wide-eyed. According to him, DrDisrespect is now “completely unmasked.”

Asmongold says he doesn’t know where to go from here. DrDisrespect has no deals left with big brands and nothing left to lose.

The reactions to DrDisrespect’s tweet and his responses can be seen in the video by Asmongold:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Asmongold believes DrDisrespect has no other choice: He cannot ignore this criticism in hopes that it will fade away. So he fights back with jabs and insults. Asmongold says he has never seen this strategy before.

“He comes back as a damn villain.”

What happens next? No one knows. The “logical” option for DrDisrespect might be to switch to Kick. They like controversial streamers there. However, the huge sum he once demanded as a signing bonus for his switch will probably not be something DrDisrespect will collect anymore. Banned streamer from Twitch wants a bold $50 million to switch to Kick: This is what the CEO says to DrDisrespect

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

Twitch streamer Knossi apparently deletes videos – due to a terrible saying from his mother

Lydia Lydia Reading time 2 minutes

Jens “Knossi” Knossalla is a German entertainer and is successful as a streamer on Twitch. His mother Ida is often involved as well. In a recent stream, the 38-year-old was suddenly confronted with a racist remark – and acted quickly.

What was the situation? Jens “Knossi” Knossalla is one of the biggest entertainers on German Twitch. However, what remained memorable at the end of a recent stream was not the somewhat bizarre content, but a remark made by the streamer’s mother.

“Mama Knossalla” used the racist “N-word” in connection with a euphemism for a bodily function. For the same remark, a reality star has reportedly just been kicked off her new show, as Focus reported.

Ida Knossalla is usually a welcome guest in her son’s streams, but this remark caused outrage for the Twitch streamer himself, who reacted immediately.

Start video
From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi

Knossi reacts promptly

What was the immediate reaction? The visibly shocked Knossi interrupted his mother immediately and hurried to assure that this had nothing to do with him: He distanced himself from the remark and did not know where his mother could have picked up the “stupid comment”.

Ida Knossalla also apologized for her choice of words. The stream excerpt was heatedly discussed online. In the Subreddit Laesterschwestern, which mainly deals with the German influencer scene, a thread on the topic reached 250 comments. Opinions on this matter vary widely:

  • Overall, Knossi’s reaction is received positively; he responded quickly and well. He showed clear boundaries and did not contribute to the normalization of racist language.
  • Others find Knossi’s apology insincere. They accuse him of intervening only out of fear for his Twitch channel and reputation.
  • The apology from “Mama Knossalla” is also viewed with mixed feelings: Some believe the woman should be left alone, as she was on the verge of tears. Others believe they see her struggling to hold back laughter and only giving a pro forma apology.

What is the current development? As one user noticed shortly afterward, the video has now disappeared from Reddit. The moderation team of Laesterschwestern explains that they received a copyright complaint. They want to preemptively remove the post to avoid deletion by Reddit.

The moderators emphasize that they do not want to stifle discussions. Therefore, further posts on the topic should also be left standing

Also on TikTok and X, where the video was still available for a bit longer, it has now disappeared. It is not known whether there is a copyright complaint here as well, or if the videos were removed due to the uncensored use of the N-word.

More Twitch news on MeinMMO
Trymacs doesn’t want to deal with Riot anymore after the win challenge because he can’t play LoL with anyone
von Caroline Fuller
Twitch streamers discover a new game, trap their colleagues on an island and see what happens
von Johanna
Twitch streamers receive $4,000 for 6 words in a 6-second clip
von Johanna

The deletion of the video has triggered discussions again: Some find it okay, as Knossi is just protecting his mother, who is not as much a public figure as he is. Others see it as an attempt to stifle a discussion.

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

Diablo 4: Season 5 brings new dungeons into the game, where you farm reputation and XP, said to resemble ‘Dopamine Tunnels’

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 2 minutes

Season 5 in Diablo 4 is just around the corner and brings new content to the game. With the seasonal mechanics and the new “Hellbreaker Dungeons”, you will farm reputation and XP. They are also designed to remind players of the popular “Dopamine Tunnel”.

The new Season 5 has the season theme “Hell Hordes”. This theme is reflected in the new endgame activity “Infernal Hordes”, which is available starting from World Tier 3. You activate a “Hell Compass” and then fight against timed monster waves. In the process, you collect “Burning Ether”, which you can exchange for various rewards.

In World Tiers 1 and 2, you prepare for the Hell Hordes with the new seasonal mechanics. The new Hellbreaker Dungeons are essentially smaller versions of the Hell Hordes, which are said to be well-suited for farming reputation and XP.

Start video
Diablo 4: Developers offer insight into the Season of the Infernal Hordes

New Seasonal Mechanics Prepare You for the Endgame

What are the Hellbreaker Dungeons? In a YouTube livestream on August 1, the developers of Diablo 4 explained that the Hell Hordes are an endgame activity in World Tiers 3 and 4. With the Hellbreaker Dungeons, they want to provide content for players in World Tiers 1 and 2.

The Hell Hordes are permanent and available in both seasonal and eternal realms. The Hellbreaker Dungeons, on the other hand, are seasonal and include according to Blizzard “events that you can also expect in the Hell Hordes.”

The new dungeons are a good source for:

  • farming reputation for the new reputation system in Season 5
  • farming XP
  • strong equipment items

This way, players will find out what awaits them in the endgame in the Hell Hordes. The Hellbreaker Dungeons include elements from the Hell Hordes. Here too, you will collect Burning Ether, fight against bosses, and make a choice on how you want to fight. The riskier the choice, the more rewards you will receive:

In the Hellbreaker Dungeons, you choose between curse and blessing. Source: Livestream

Why do they remind players of the “Dopamine Tunnel”? The dungeon “Tunnel of Domhainne” received a lot of praise from players in the early seasons of Diablo 4. Due to the good enemy density, layout, and constant action, the community dubbed the dungeon the “Dopamine Tunnel.”

The developers also recall this name in the livestream. Lead Seasons Designer Daniel Tanguy explains the connection between the new Hellbreaker Dungeons and the “Dopamine Tunnel”:

Originally, we were inspired by the Tunnel of Domhainne, if you remember it. But with the introduction of the Hell Flood in Season 4, we had to change that a bit, because I don’t think that would have been enough on its own. So we took many elements from the Hell Hordes and used this as an opportunity to introduce those elements.

Community Director Adam Fletcher responds that everyone remembers the Dopamine Tunnel.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Diablo 4: Patch 1.5.0 adjusts all classes and uniques in Season 5 – Patch Notes in German
von Nicole Wakulczyk
More on the topic
Diablo 4 Endgame Tier List: Best Builds for Each Class in Season 5
von Benedict Grothaus

The Hellbreaker Dungeons could thus be a promising way to level up quickly in World Tiers 1 and 2 while also pushing reputation. The new reputation system in Season 5 resembles the Iron Wolves from Season 4. With this, you will again receive equipment items, important materials, and finally a “Majestic Spark.” You can find out more about the new season here: Diablo 4 Season 5: Start, Theme, and Changes

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

The first appearance of the legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett in Star Wars was so bad that Harrison Ford denied being involved

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Some Star Wars movies divide the community, but probably every fan agrees that the Holiday Special is terrible, at least all who have seen it. There are no official ways to watch it, although the Special introduced one of the coolest characters in the series.

What happens in The Star Wars Holiday Special? At its core, it’s about Chewbacca’s family on Kashyyyk, preparing for a celebration that is basically Christmas. Han Solo and Chewbacca fly there as well. While the family waits for the two, many confusing scenes are shown with people dancing or singing.

The movie is a true fever dream and can’t be compared to anything else from the franchise. It is so notorious for its poor quality that George Lucas allegedly wanted to destroy all copies. Fans are also not thrilled about the new Star Wars series: “Even Harry Potter is more Star Wars than this nonsense” – The latest Star Wars from Disney lands a negative record

Soon you can dive into a new adventure in the Star Wars universe:

Start video
Star Wars Outlaws introduces the underworld of the galaxy

The most curious case of a Star Wars film

The show aired in 1978, just a year after the first film and before the second one. The Holiday Special was made specifically for television, which is why the budget wasn’t particularly high. Interestingly, you can’t officially watch the Special, even though you have Star Wars Vintage on Disney Plus.

Under this banner, you can watch the first Clone Wars miniseries or the two Ewok movies, which were also produced for television. However, the Holiday Special is not included. You won’t find it on DVDs or Blu-ray either. The only options are on YouTube.

What’s curious about the film is also the many actors you know. Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher all appear in the Holiday Special. The myth around the film goes so far that George Lucas is said to have even said: If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would search for every copy of the show and destroy it. However, this quote is hard to prove, as there is no original source for it.

Despite its notorious quality, the film introduced one of the universe’s most popular characters, Boba Fett, two years before The Empire Strikes Back. In an animated sequence of the film (yes, there was also one), Boba Fett helps our heroes before it turns out that he works for Darth Vader. In the same year, the design of the character was already seen at a parade (via dorksiteoftheforce.com).

More on the topic
More on the topic
George Lucas never brought one of the best characters from Star Wars to the cinema
von Jasmin Beverungen
More on the topic
Natalie Portman talks about what it was like to receive the backlash from ‘Star Wars’ fans as an 18-year-old
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
Princess Leia in Star Wars thought her hairstyle was ridiculous: ‘As if I were wearing two bagels over my ears’
von Christoph Waldboth

Harrison Ford denies his participation. In 2005, Ford was asked by Conan O’Brien (via YouTube) about the Holiday Special. Ford initially reacts in panic until he responds to O’Brien that he can’t remember such a thing. Then he is shown a clip and afterwards, Ford simply says: Thank you.

In the meantime, there is also a documentary about the Special called A Disturbance in the Force. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been released in Germany yet. Have you seen the Holiday Special? Let us know your opinion on it in the comments. If you have always wondered why Chewbacca tilts his head, you can find out here: That’s why Chewbacca tilts his head so often in the “Star Wars” films

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. The Guardian
  2. space.com
  3. chicago.suntimes.com

Alien: Romulus: Release date, stream and trailer – Everything about the new Alien movie

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

After 7 years, a new movie in the Alien universe is finally coming. You can find all information about the release date, trailers, and streaming at MeinMMO.

Alien: Romulus: Everything about the release date, streaming, and trailer

When is the release date of Alien: Romulus in Germany? Alien: Romulus will be in German theaters on August 15. In selected cinemas, the movie can be seen in a preview on August 14.

When can you stream Alien: Romulus? This is currently unknown. It may take a while before movies are available for streaming or as a rental. This often depends on the performance in theaters.

Where can you stream Alien: Romulus? Currently, you cannot stream Alien: Romulus yet. Since the Alien franchise belongs to Disney, you will eventually find the movie on Disney+

You can find a trailer for Alien: Romulus here:

Start video
Alien: Romulus brings back the horror

Alien: Romulus: Plot, genre, and length

What is the plot of Alien: Romulus? Alien: Romulus takes place between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). A group of young astronauts wants to loot an abandoned space station. However, it doesn’t seem completely abandoned. An indescribable horror awaits the group.

What genre is Alien: Romulus? Alien: Romulus is classic science fiction horror and is heavily influenced by the first Alien film. The director, Fede Alvarez, is also known for his horror work. He previously directed Don’t Breathe and the Evil Dead remake.

How long is Alien: Romulus? The theatrical version of Alien: Romulus runs for 1 hour and 59 minutes.

More on the topic
More on the topic
One of the best sci-fi movies of all time could have ended after 8 minutes if the main character spoke Norwegian
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
The 13 Best Science Fiction Movies According to IMDb
von Marie Friske
More on the topic
New science fiction horror game shows itself in the exciting trailer for the first time at Summer Game Fest
von Anna Alberg

Alien is one of the most iconic science fiction horror franchises of all time. With Alien: Romulus, there are a total of seven films in the series. Alongside Alien vs Predator, there are also two spin-offs. At one point, there was even going to be an anime based on Alien vs Predator. Unfortunately, the planning was at an unfavorable time: two of the greatest sci-fi monsters in film history would have clashed in an anime, but Disney was not interested

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

UFL: The first test of the EA FC competitor was well received by many fans and experts – this weekend you can play an improved version

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 3 minutes

On the weekend, you can once again test the new football simulation with the Open Beta of UFL. After mostly positive feedback from the community, the developer studio “Strikerz” announced that it would improve some criticisms from the first test run.

What kind of game is this? UFL is from the small developer studio “Strikerz”, which is tackling its first major project in the gaming industry. The game was announced at Gamescom 2021.

Since then, the developers have been working on their own football simulation. After the first version of the Open Beta was released over the weekend from June 7 to 9, you can test an improved version with numerous updates for free this weekend (August 2 to 4).

Which consoles is the Open Beta for? The Open Beta is only playable on the next-gen consoles, namely PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. All other consoles cannot try the test version for now.

Start video
UFL: New EA-FC competitor shows Cristiano Ronaldo tricking and scoring goals

Fans give a lot of positive feedback after the first test

What did fans appreciate? Fans are excited about a fresh approach to football simulations. This is particularly shown in a post on the subreddit “UFLTheGame”:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Reddit content

User Beautiful_Life_1788, the sender of the post, especially celebrates that the gameplay is something different than what he has been used to from FIFA or EA FC for the last decades. Many fans agree with him in the comments.

Especially the UI, meaning everything related to the user interface outside of gameplay, is very well received by the Reddit community (via reddit.com).

FIFA expert also sees UFL as a potential EA FC competitor

The FIFA expert and former coach of the German eNational team, Matthias “Stylo” Hietsch, has played more than 100 matches in the first version of UFL. After that, he gave an informed opinion about the new competitor.

We have summarized his analysis for you at MeinMMO: FIFA expert tests the Open Beta of a new competitor of EA FC – names 3 things that UFL does better

Stylo highlighted especially 3 positive aspects in his analysis.

What impressed the expert:

  • the various skins for players are a very good approach that still has a lot of potential for further improvements.
  • the communication between the developers and the community was very good during the first test.
  • the special movements are very realistic and reward players with better skill.

However, the game still needs a lot of time to become a serious competitor for EA FC.

Because besides the good approaches, Stylo, like the fans on Reddit, found many aspects that need improvement. Especially regarding the gameplay. With his analysis of the game’s weaknesses, he summarized many criticisms of the community.

Update should bring requested improvements for gameplay

These were Stylo’s biggest criticisms in the first test:

  • Sprinting is unbalanced: poor ball control, too slow in top speed.
  • Passes were still very inconsistent.
  • Ball handling from pass receivers was very sluggish.
  • Chipped shots with good players almost always resulted in a goal.
  • Defenders took too long to control regained balls.

A few days before the start of the second beta version, UFL announced on X that the “team has worked hard to ensure that UFL has a special place in the hearts” of the fans. Additionally, the new patch notes for the update were added to the post:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitter content

In the patch notes, you will find a whole series of new adaptations for the second Open Beta. We focused on the most important changes.

What should improve in the new version? Some of the biggest criticisms that Stylo addressed in his analysis are said to have been directly improved in the new version. These include:

  • the OP shots with R1 (curled shots), which were far too strong, have been nerfed.
  • Players generally no longer feel sluggish, allowing for better movement.
  • Passes are now supposed to be executed more accurately.
  • For ball receptions, the pass receiver positions himself better, and receptions are smoother.
  • The sprint speed has been increased.

Further important improvements for gameplay

  • Goalkeepers have been improved: new animations, better rushing out, fewer rebounds.
  • Defending has been strengthened: faster direction changes, new animations for tackling and sliding tackles.
  • AI for defense improved: players recognize dangerous situations in defense faster, position themselves accordingly to cover dangerous areas.
  • AI for offense expanded: smarter and more efficient runs to create and convert scoring opportunities.
More on the topic
More on the topic
FIFA expert tests open beta of a new competitor to EA FC – names 3 things that make UFL better
von Thomas Dummer
More on the topic
Fans have been waiting for years for FIFA 25: Release is said to come in 2024
von Benedict Grothaus

The new Open Beta offers the following changes:

  • the skins for players now partly include upgrades for certain stats.
  • the reputation system for buying players has been revised.
  • the players have fixed perks at the start, and further perks can be unlocked by leveling up.
  • new game faces from over 200 players have been added.

How the announced changes will affect the game remains to be seen. The servers for the second test run are set to start in Germany on August 2 at 2:00 PM. Then you can judge for yourself the promised improvements. Many things are also expected to improve in the new EA FC. You can find the most important information here on MeinMMO: EA FC 25: All information on release, price, and innovations

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

WoW: Xal’atath attacks Twitch streamers – Between ‘cringe’ and ‘genius’

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The Void draws closer in World of Warcraft. Xal’atath attacks Twitch streamers and this results in mixed reactions.

Currently, in World of Warcraft, the pre-event for the new expansion “The War Within” is taking place. But behind the scenes, Blizzard is apparently busy promoting and is engaging many streamers in a curious way. The various streams and videos are being visited by the antagonist of the new WoW addon. Xal’atath takes control and mocks the streamers and their viewers.

Start video
WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within

What is happening with streamers right now? In the videos of many well-known WoW streamers, there are currently small “incidents” where the screen suddenly darkens and a familiar voice “hijacks” the stream for a few seconds: Xal’atath, the new antagonist from World of Warcraft.

Here, for example, at Taliesin & Eviltel, starting at minute 12:00:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

The quality of these “invasions” varies quite a bit. While in many cases, “only” a video overlays the stream and Xal’atath says a few words about the respective stream, there are also some more elaborate animations.

Another example with MrGM starting at 0:30:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Especially the one from Preach stands out here. But see for yourself, starting at minute 2:13:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

This is how the community reacts: Reactions to this type of promotion are quite varied. While some find it very “cringe” and apparently feel embarrassed for the participating streamers, many also find this method of promotion quite successful and entertaining – it’s something creative and different from the typical advertising style of game presentations.

More about WoW:
The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
von Karsten Scholz
Blizzard promised quick updates with WoW Midnight without loss of quality – The endeavor has failed
von Karsten Scholz
WoW: Midnight Tier List – Ranking of the Best Classes for DPS, Tanks and Healers
von Christos Tsogos

Some of the comments (via wowhead) on this:

  • “This is a great idea from Blizzard, the work that went into it is just amazing.” – Hyphie
  • “Wait, aren’t these just [the streamers] trying to be cringe? I thought they were just trying to be funny and emulate Xal’atath.” – Chaxton
  • “I know I’m probably in the minority, but … I love these videos.” – FczkDA

If you are now just confused with question marks over your head and don’t know at all what Xal’atath, the Void, or even the setting of the new expansion is about, we highly recommend this story article: The story of Xal’atath, the new antagonist from WoW.

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

No Man’s Sky messed up the launch on Steam – 8 years later the survival game is facing a big milestone

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The space game No Man’s Sky carried many hopes, but the launch of the game on Steam went significantly wrong. Instead of giving up and moving on, the developers continuously provided the game with updates and are now facing a major milestone.

What kind of game is this? No Man’s Sky is an open-world game set in a science fiction universe consisting of many procedurally generated planets.

After a catastrophic start on Steam, the game is now facing a new milestone, after a recent success was celebrated.

Here you can see what to expect in the new update:

Start video
New update from No Man’s Sky reminds of Helldivers 2

New update creates a boom and good ratings

Why is the game facing a new milestone? No Man’s Sky is experiencing a real boom on Steam since its major update 5.0. With the update, a yearly peak in players was reached, and the game reached first place in the Steam charts (via SteamDB).

However, new players seem to enjoy the game more than old ones. For years, the ratings of the game have continued to rise. Meanwhile, No Man’s Sky stands at 79 % positive ratings on Steam.

A few more positive reviews and the rating label will change from “Mostly Positive” to “Very Positive.” This milestone was similarly achieved when the game received the “Mostly Positive” label in 2021.

More about No Man’s Sky
10 years ago, No Man’s Sky was a joke with many flaws – This was its path to becoming a hit and a model for sci-fi games
von Johanna
No Man’s Sky leaves Pokémon and Palworld behind with a feature, makes the new update much better
von Cedric Holmeier
No Man’s Sky: Xeno Arena – Everything about the innovations, release, and patch notes
von Christos Tsogos

How do players like the game today? Today, players enjoy the game more than ever. Of the recent reviews on Steam, a full 92 % are positive. A figure that also pleases the head of No Man’s Sky. He writes about the success on Steam (via X.com): “Rank 1 in the Steam charts. It’s wonderful to see that the No Man’s Sky community has welcomed so many new players with open arms this weekend.”

No Man’s Sky is one of the few games that has fought its way back up from rock bottom. The game was accused of the developers hyping it excessively, only to fail to deliver on the promises. We created a look at the tough history of the MMO for the last milestone: No Man’s Sky reviews after 5 years “Mostly Positive”: Others developers should (not) take this as an example

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

First you should be able to play ARK 2 at gamescom, now XBOX is backtracking

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Some fans may have been excited that they could finally try out ARK 2 at gamescom (spelling as such). But XBOX has apparently called off the whole thing.

What was announced? In a blog post (via xbox.com), XBOX announced what their program looks like during gamescom. They also published which games attendees can try out as demos at their booth.

Included were titles from other providers like Star Wars Outlaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Space Marine 2, but ARK 2 was also on the list. Surely a reason for fans to cheer, as the game was announced in 2020 and is set to be released at the end of this year.

You can see the trailer for ARK 2 here:

Start video
ARK 2 Trailer Release 2023

All just a mistake

What kind of retreat has XBOX made now? After the announcement of the program including the list of games was already published, there was a subsequent change. The list of playable titles was altered, and the demo for ARK 2 disappeared.

A footnote at the bottom of the page explains: “ARK 2 was originally listed as playable at the Xbox booth – this mention was a mistake and has been removed.”

The fact that a playable demo was to be shown at gamescom came as a surprise. For some time now, there has been a lack of signs of life from the game, especially since the release is still planned for this year. The last video on ARK 2, for instance, was posted on YouTube in 2022.

More on the topic
Monopoly GO: All Free Dice in April 2026 – Today’s New Codes
von Cedric Holmeier
Battlefield will also compete with Call of Duty in cinema, hiring an action expert for that
von Christoph Waldboth
Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 will soon conquer BookTok, receives own novel by a strong fantasy author
von Caroline Fuller

Do players still believe in ARK 2? Players’ hopes for ARK 2 have diminished over the years. In the Steam forum for the game, there are dozens of posts and comments criticizing not only the development but also the direction that the gameplay should take.

However, the incorrect announcement might be a small sign of life from the game, even if a demo will not be playable at gamescom. You can find all information about ARK 2 and what Vin Diesel has to do with it in our overview: ARK 2: Release, Trailer, Gameplay – What we know so far

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

An MMO considers making the game’s most terrible sounds quieter, but the players want them even louder

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Old School Runescape, the developers listen to their community. However, there is one decision made by the players that they cannot understand.

What sparked the debate? In Old School Runescape, players get to decide on changes in the game. The developers always present the changes, and then the players can vote for or against them. If 70% are in favor of a change, it will be implemented; otherwise, it will not.

However, the latest survey was rejected, and the developers do not quite understand why.

Here you can watch a video about the “Group Ironman” mode in Old School RuneScape:

Start video
Old School RuneScape shows the “Group Ironman” mode in the trailer

Louder instead of Quieter

What was the survey about? This time, the developers’ survey concerned various mini-games, including the mini-game “Temple Trekking”, a swampy obstacle course with various combat and puzzle challenges.

There, you encounter the “Nail Beasts”, which are said to make the most horrifying sounds ever. Even fingernails on a chalkboard and screaming babies are probably not as bad as these cat-like creatures.

For those who want to hear the sound for themselves, you can do so here:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

As terrible as the sound of the creatures may seem, the result to the question of whether the volume should be lowered is equally unusual. Only just under 60% of the players voted in favor, meaning the required 70% for a change was not reached.

On X.com, the developers write that the change will not be implemented, but they are also interested in understanding the reason for this.

They ask on X.com: “Help us understand. Do you want the Nail Beasts to be louder? Perhaps a small chance to play the sound at full volume when you receive an xp drop?”

More on the topic
Monopoly GO: All Free Dice in April 2026 – Today’s New Codes
von Cedric Holmeier
Battlefield will also compete with Call of Duty in cinema, hiring an action expert for that
von Christoph Waldboth
Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 will soon conquer BookTok, receives own novel by a strong fantasy author
von Caroline Fuller

How have the players reacted? The players want the sounds of the creatures to be louder, not quieter. In response to the developers’ post, several comments are gathering on the topic.

@KanateKun writes on X.com: “Please make them louder (:” Also, @TheGentleSenpai agrees with this. He writes on X.com: “AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE”.

@Gearomatic has an idea on X.com: “Please add a 4th slider to the options for the volume of Nailbeast roars”

@SwateOpal makes a suggestion on X.com: “Please vote for them to get louder soon. If you vote for them to get quieter, it’s only fair to balance that out.” Also loud was a streamer who sang along while gaming and immediately regretted it: Twitch streamer plays Path of Exile, hears a song by 50 Cent and sings along loudly – immediately regrets it

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

5 Reasons Why Dr. Doom is More Fearsome in Marvel than Thanos

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

As everyone has probably noticed, Robert Downey Jr. returns for the next Avengers film. This time, however, he is not Iron Man but the iconic villain Dr. Doom. Why Dr. Doom could be more intense than Thanos is explained by MeinMMO with five examples.

Who is Dr. Doom, anyway? Victor von Doom is an iconic villain on Earth-616, often clashing with the Fantastic Four, but he has also faced off against other heroes in larger Marvel stories. His most distinctive feature is his green cloak and metal mask.

In the upcoming Avengers film, he will make his next cinema appearance in 2026. If you can’t wait until then, you can prepare by watching the Fantastic Four films from 2005, 2007, or 2015. Dr. Doom has the potential to become an even more intimidating villain than Thanos. Here are 5 reasons for that.

If you’re hungry for more before the next MCU movie, then maybe the X-Men are for you: All 14 X-Men and Deadpool films ranked

Start video
German trailer for Fantastic Four (2005)

1. He is incredibly intelligent

While Thanos isn’t dumb, Dr. Doom is considered one of the smartest people on the planet. Like Reed Richards or Dr. Banner, he is also a gifted scientist. He is knowledgeable in many areas of science. For example, he has an army of AI robots and medical knowledge.

In addition to worldly knowledge, he is also a great wizard in some comics and could hold his own against Dr. Strange. Thus, he is familiar with many facets of the Avengers. Whether he has all of this in the MCU is still unclear. (via Marvel Database)

2. He has a personal problem with Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)

Cool and calculating villains are loved by many, but it’s truly terrifying when someone is unpredictable. Dr. Doom is both of these. He hates Reed Richards so much that despite his intellect, he does things that are completely illogical.

In his solo comic series that ran from 2019 to 2020, Dr. Doom encounters a new universe where he is completely different. There, he is even friends with Reed Richards. This alternate reality cannot stand his current self, which is why he destroys the universe (via reddit). At another time, he sent Richards’ son to hell.

3. Dr. Doom bows to no one, not even Thanos

When comparing Dr. Doom to Thanos, one might initially think that he stands no chance. As Screen Rant shows, the two meet in the comic version of Secret Wars from 2015. In that encounter, Dr. Doom is insulted by Thanos. Doom asks him if he has the Infinity Gauntlet, to which he replies no, but he doesn’t need it.

Doom then tears Thanos’s skeleton out, causing him to turn to dust. Doom simply states: That seems wrong. While Thanos in the MCU has his own moral code, Doom is mostly driven by his pride and desire for power. Although Dr. Doom is incredibly powerful here, the scene shows that he can achieve almost anything.

4. The political influence of Dr. Doom

Most villains in the MCU often operate away from Earth. Doom, on the other hand, is the head of the fictional state of Latveria. This gives Doom some political advantages, as you can read in the Marvel Database.

If Latveria is considered a sovereign state, then Doom has diplomatic immunity. The heroes, who mostly act within the laws, cannot touch him. He can also travel to the USA for political matters without being arrested. With Civil War and Winter Soldier, we have already had films with political themes; with Dr. Doom, it could be taken to an even higher level. In one comic story, he even attacked Wakanda for vibranium. A theme that was hinted at in the second Black Panther film.

5. He is at his core the evil Tony Stark

The casting of Robert Downey Jr. seems a bit confusing at first, but looking at the previous reasons, it fits very well. Dr. Doom has technology and armor comparable to Iron Man, he is arrogant, proud, and kneels to no one, and most importantly, due to his appearance, he has a personal history with well-known characters.

With the Hulk or Spider-Man, one could create a personal connection to the villain. Additionally, he combines most aspects of the MCU: he has technology, magic, and political power all in one. The beloved charm of Tony could be flipped in this case.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Actor of Deadpool had a condition to return for Marvel: An old colleague
von Niko Hernes
More on the topic
Marvel star Robert Downey Jr. is grateful for his biggest flop, which brought him back to earth
von Christoph Waldboth
More on the topic
Marvel chief explains why Robert Downey Jr. will never return as Iron Man
von Marie Friske

Even though we have to wait a while for the new Avengers film, Dr. Doom promises exciting stories. Are you looking forward to Dr. Doom or are you fed up with the MCU? Let us know in the comments. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans also have a history together outside of the films: Chris Evans turned down the role of Captain America several times – Until Robert Downey Jr. convinced him

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Marvel Database
  2. CBR
  3. Screen Rant
  4. reddit

New horror anime is a must for fans of the genre, coming in just a few weeks

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Fans of horror animes and mangas are likely already familiar with Junji Ito. The manga artist has become known for his eerie horror stories. The Uzumaki series is among his most famous works and is getting its own anime series. The new trailer reveals when we can look forward to the anime.

What kind of anime is it? Uzumaki has nothing to do with the ninja from Konohagakure, who is getting his own crossover with the Ninja Turtles. It is a creepy story revolving around spirals.

  • In the small town of Kurouzu, supernatural phenomena suddenly occur. The spirals that give the title are involved in this. 
  • The residents of the small town suddenly go crazy. For example, a man becomes possessed by spirals. He has to find them in his food and bathwater. 
  • There are even fatalities and natural disasters associated with the spirals .

The new anime is said to consist of four episodes in total. It is not known whether it will adapt the complete three-part manga series from 1998.

However, the new trailer already shows that the scale of the supernatural phenomena will play an important role:

Start video
Uzumaki: The horror anime shows its 2nd trailer

Uzumaki is a true feast for horror fans

What makes it so special? The residents of the small town fall into a madness that revolves around the spirals. The trailer clearly shows how creatively this madness has been implemented:

  • The pupils of a character suddenly start to spin.
  • The tongue of a character also turns into a spiral.
  • There are even people whose bodies spin around their own axis. The probably most horrifying scene is at minute 0:35, where a person is completely wrapped up in a container.

Just the soundtrack of the trailer makes it clear how creepy the anime will become. But the visuals also give us such a shiver while watching that we can’t wait to see Junji Ito’s grotesque ideas in an animated series.

More about the topic Anime
Fan of Dragon Ball has been playing the same character non-stop for 1,036 days until he reaches his goal
von Jasmin Beverungen
Two animes fought for the crown of the best film of 2025, one of which you can soon enjoy in streaming
von Jasmin Beverungen
The actors of the Straw Hat crew from One Piece want a Marvel star for the series, would like to cuddle him
von Jasmin Beverungen

When will it be released? The trailer reveals when we can watch the series. Accordingly, it will be available on September 28, 2024. The anime will air on Adult Swim, and the next day it will be available on Max (HBO Max).

Before Junji Ito, another anime will start in a few days. The series revolves around Rick and Morty and could fulfill a big dream of Morty: Morty has longed for love for 7 seasons – in the new anime, his wish could finally be realized

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

A player tries to complete Baldur’s Gate 3 without being seen and accidentally discovers one of the most powerful builds

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 3 minutes

In Baldur’s Gate 3 there is a suitable playstyle for everyone. One player has now taken on the challenge of completing the game completely unseen. His build makes him ultra powerful – Here’s how to recreate it.

Who developed the build? The build comes from Bouch, a YouTuber with currently 58,500 subscribers. He plays almost exclusively Baldur’s Gate 3 and is behind challenges like Can you play Baldur’s Gate 3 completely as cheese or Can you succeed in Honour Mode while only wearing underwear.

What was the challenge? The player wanted to find out if he could complete the game completely without being seen. For this, he uses the stealth mechanic and completely focuses on being as unobtrusive and hidden as possible. These were the rules:

  • The player is considered discovered if a dialogue or cutscene is triggered in which the player character is directly addressed
  • If the status hidden is lost – regardless of whether due to being seen or the start of a fight
    • Exceptions are when a fight starts while the character is still hidden or invisible

This build can also immensely help you if you want to acquire the spear Nyrulna in Act 3 – as you have to steal it from a Djinn:

Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Entering Dinoland and Obtaining Nyrulna

Unseen through Baldur’s Gate 3 – Here’s how the powerful build works

What are the basic prerequisites? You need to choose the right race during character creation. These are your options:

  • Deep Gnome – Because of the advantage on stealth checks
  • Duergar – for the ability to become invisible starting from level 5
  • Halfling (Lightfoot) – Because of the advantage on stealth checks and the Lucky feature

Bouch chose the Halfling and gave him the background of street urchin, as this provides +5 to Stealth and Theft. As a class he chose Wizard. This class has direct access to the spells Minor Illusion and Enhance Leap. Starting from level 2, you will switch to Rogue.

In terms of point allocation, it’s important to note that for Enhance Leap to function fully, Strength must be raised to at least 15.

In summary: Take the Wizard at level 1 for the two spells. After that, acquire all skills, classes, and specializations that boost your stealth value and help you remain invisible for as long as possible.

How do you level up? Since you are not supposed to be seen, you miss out on a lot of experience points from conversations, direct fights, and the like. So the only option is to hide and attack enemies from the shadows. Ideally, you take them out with just one hit.

You can gather initial experience points, for example, by killing Shadowheart, Astarion, and the Mind Flayer near Astarion. More experience points are also available if you drop a rock on the mercenaries at the tomb.

Essentially, you have to rely on sneaky tactics throughout your entire run. Honor is not required here.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Baldur’s Gate 3: 7 NPCs that would be a perfect choice for romances
von Fabienne Kissel
More on the topic
Baldur’s Gate 3: Many of you missed this final scene with Raphael
von Cortyn
More on the topic
Baldur’s Gate 3 is so good that it ruins all other games – There is only one solution for this
von Cortyn

What are other challenges? In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are some scenes that are automatically triggered as soon as you reach certain points in the game. For example, Lae’zel holds a blade to your throat right at the beginning.

Bouch has described many workarounds for this in his video. You can bypass Lae’zel, for example, by simply jumping through a wall with Enhance Leap, which normally cannot be jumped through. You can see how exactly to do this in his YouTube video at 1:25.

Are there NPCs that need to see you? Unfortunately, yes. Throughout his run, Bouch could not avoid six different conversation partners. One of them is Lazarus, who can accompany an NPC. You also cannot avoid the Dream Guardian.

What is your favorite build in Baldur’s Gate 3? Do you also support stealth builds like this one, or do you prefer pure Wizards, Clerics, or Barbarians, for example? For this run, a few truly game-breaking moves are necessary. The game even rewards you for this.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3djuegos
  2. Youtube

Pokémon GO brings strong World Championship event with 3 really good bonuses

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

The Pokémon World Championships are coming soon. In line with this, there is an event in Pokémon GO with exciting bonuses.

When is the event? The Pokémon GO event for the World Cup starts on Friday, August 16 at 10:00 AM. It will run until Tuesday, August 20 at 8:00 PM.

This means the event will actually last two days longer than the actual World Cup, which ends on August 18.

While the best players in the world compete for the title in Honolulu, all other players can look forward to interesting bonuses in the event.

Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins

What’s in the Pokémon GO World Cup Event?

There are some bonuses you can secure during the event. Three of these bonuses are particularly noteworthy.

1. World Cup Pikachu and Shiny Lin-Fu appear: This year’s costume Pikachu is in a diving suit and can be found in field research or in level 1 raids. You can see what the monster looks like in the title image.

Additionally, Lin-Fu will obtain its shiny form, which you can also catch during the event. It will also be in level 1 raids and field research.

2. Special moves and Frustration: A special bonus is that you can unlearn the move “Frustration” during the event. This is usually only possible during Rocket events. It’s worth it, as you can teach useful moves to your strong Shadow Pokémon.

Additionally, there are the following event moves:

When catching:

  • Slurpuff knows Body Slam
  • Lin-Fu knows Tower Kick

If you develop the following Pokémon:

  • Morlord: Wet Tail
  • Altaria: Moonforce
  • Akkup: Volt Switch
  • Fiaro: Incinerate

They are all interesting monsters with good moves for the battle league. You can find tips for the battle league here.

3. Battle Week: Under the motto “Heavenly Teamwork,” a so-called “Battle Week” will take place during the same period – but it will only last 5 days.

However, it is still worth it because:

  • You will receive quadruple Stardust for wins in the battle league (only for single matches, not for finishing the battle sets)
  • You can complete 20 battle sets per day, so 100 battles
  • There will be a limited-time PvP research with rewards
More on the topic
Pokémon GO: How to use “Replay: GOgantischer” correctly tomorrow – Tips for the event
von Max Handwerk
Pokémon GO: One of the best attackers gets its own event that you definitely should not miss
von Max Handwerk
Trainer in Pokémon GO prepares for a strong monster that may never appear
von Paul Kutzner

What else is in the event?

You will encounter the following Pokémon. Possible Shinies are marked with an asterisk.

Wild:

  • Menki*
  • Slurpuff*
  • Marill*
  • Paldea Felino*
  • Wablu*
  • Dartiri*
  • Rocara
  • Mabula*
  • Garstella*
  • Panzaeron*

Field Research:

  • Wablu*
  • Lin-Fu*
  • Garstella*
  • World Cup Pikachu*

Raids:

  • Level 1: World Cup Pikachu*, Lin-Fu*
  • Level 3: Slurpuff*, Galar Flunschlik*, Grebbit
  • Crypto 1: Crypto Magnetilo*, Crypto Dratini*, Crypto Felino, Crypto Skorgla*
  • Crypto 3: Crypto Woingenau, Crypto Kirlia, Crypto Zobiris*

There will also be a paid research available in the shop. And if you follow the World Cup streams on Twitch, you can receive a World Cup shirt for your avatars. This will then be available through a promo code. However, there is still some time until then, and more dates are coming up. You can find all dates in the overview of all Pokémon GO Events in August 2024.

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

Bungie is said to have cheated during the acquisition by Sony – was on the verge of insolvency

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

At Bungie, the developers of Destiny 2, things are currently heating up and the further the discussion about the recently conducted layoffs goes, the more information comes to light about the company’s internal problems. Now, more former employees of Bungie have spoken up. And they have nothing good to announce.

What’s currently happening at Bungie?

And if that weren’t enough, there are now further opinions from former employees that paint an even worse picture of Bungie.

Will this future from the trailer still hold for Bungie?

Start video
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer

Bungie has gambled high, must now pay the price

What information has come to light? The US news sites Game File and IGN have spoken with various former employees of Bungie. They now provide insights into the disastrous conditions at Bungie, even before the Sony acquisition took place.

According to a well-connected developer, Bungie was on the verge of insolvency had Sony not purchased the studio. When the studio was close to being sold, the management exaggerated the actual success and value of the company. Bungie sold itself for more than it was worth and promised profits that the studio could not deliver.

The harsh consequences are now the layoffs, as well as the spin-off and realignment of the studio. An anonymous insider, who wants to protect their career, says: “I think Sony paid too much for Bungie. I believe Bungie sold things they just couldn’t deliver.”

More on the topic
Final Fantasy XIV 8.0 – Everything concerning the announcement and the release of the new expansion
von Sophia Weiss
“I shouldn’t have opened my mouth” – Twitch streamer dared to criticize her colleagues, now says what consequences it has for her
von Johanna
ARC Raiders: Hurricane Caches – Every Location on All Maps
von Christos Tsogos

The Final Shape was a success, wasn’t it?

Although the hype around Destiny 2 was huge at the release of “The Final Shape”, Bungie could not surpass the sales of Lightfall, which represents one of the worst expansions in Destiny 2.

According to insiders who spoke with Game File, the recent wave of layoffs had already been planned by management. No matter how successful “The Final Shape” might have been, Bungie would have had to part ways with many employees to survive.

This comes as a shock to many, as Destiny 2 recently presented its future plans – including Project: Frontiers. Many players suspected a reboot of the loot shooter or something very big, but as things have gone now, no one knows what the future of Destiny 2 looks like.

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

Helldivers 2 shows the all-powerful Joel in a video for the first time, and he really has superhuman powers

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

A bold team member from Helldivers 2 secretly films Joel as he fights against Over-Earth with a robot. Then the Game Master shows that he is really evil.

Who is Joel?

  • Joel’s full name is Joel Hakalax and he is a Swedish employee of the developer studio Arrowhead Game Studios.
  • In Helldivers 2, Joel works as a so-called Game Master (GM). These are employees who either create in-game events, help with problems, punish misconduct, or resolve disputes.
  • In Helldivers 2, Joel’s tasks primarily involve deciding which daily orders are active and where the enemies attack.

In the Helldivers 2 community, the name “Joel” is well known. Myths say he has superhuman powers. A newly posted video from Arrowhead shows: they are right.

In August, Helldivers will receive the largest update for the game so far. Here you can see the trailer for “Escalation of Freedom”:

Start video
Announcement for Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom shows extreme battles

Joel is evil and has a special power

What kind of video is this? Arrowhead posted a video on X.com that is supposed to show the Game Master Joel. They wrote about the video: “Did a brave member of our video team just manage to capture some rare footage of the elusive J.O.E.L?”

In the video, there is a person in a black hoodie sitting in front of several monitors. This person is supposed to be Joel. On the monitors, Helldivers 2 is running and we see that Joel is actually taking control of an enemy robot (a Hulk) and fights against a Helldiver. Additionally, there appears an option allowing Joel to fire a blue laser (Blue Beam) when he presses “Yes.”

Soon after, the cameraman had to cough, which made Joel discover him. Then the Game Master lets out an inhuman scream that sends the cameraman flying through the studio’s office. The video ends.

Here you can see the post on x.com including the video:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the Twitter content
Arrowhead shows Joel in a video on x.com

The video is clearly not meant to be serious, but definitely a funny way for the developer studio to engage with the community and utilize the saga of Joel. The players think so too.

More on the topic
More on the topic
In Helldivers 2, everyone is waiting for the Illuminated – Here is what we know about the nasty aliens
von Dariusz Müller

What does the community say about the video? Some players celebrate the video for being a fun way to interact with the community. Others react in typical Helldivers fashion:

  • “Little things like this make you appreciate the team behind this game. Stay strong, remain as you are, some of the other AAA studios can’t hold a candle to you. Thank you for your dedication.” (via X.com).
  • “Holy shit, that was funny! If I were the CEO of Arrowhead, I would definitely allocate development time for a tool that lets me take control of random enemies on the battlefield to troll players.” (via Reddit)
  • “I think it’s clear that Joel is not a person, but an entity.” (via Reddit)

However, some players also believe that the option to fire a blue laser shown in the video could be a reference to the Illuminated. This is an enemy faction from Helldivers 1. As early as March, part of the community thought the blue lasers in the sky were evidence of the new enemies’ appearance.

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

A law could prevent publishers from taking away your favorite games and progress – here’s how you can help

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

That publishers shut down the servers of multiplayer games after a certain period is no longer uncommon. A petition across the EU now aims to combat this practice. It hopes to initiate a law that secures games from being permanently discontinued.

What is this petition? On the YouTube channel of Accursed Farms, Ross calls for mobilizing one million EU citizens. He has reportedly been working on a campaign for months to prevent the destruction of video games:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Many games would stop support after some time, which would signify the end for the respective video game. Although the video game would have already been sold and the money taken, the customer would no longer have access to the product.

The petition he started therefore demands the following from the publisher:

  • The video game should be in a playable state once work on the game is stopped.
  • The video games should be designed in such a way that they can function independently of the publisher even after the end of support, without the need for a connection to the publisher or other parties.
  • The same should apply to games that include microtransactions.

This way, the publisher could comfortably stop support without annoying customers. He would still retain his intellectual property and would not even have to provide servers. Instead, he would need to find another way to make the game accessible or allow the creation of private servers.

Battlefield 2042 could potentially be affected at some point:

Start video
Battlefield 2042 reveals Season 7 in action-packed gameplay trailer

Petition could actually become law

Why could this become a law? The creator of the petition is confident that his proposal could become a law. Because as soon as 1 million signatures from EU citizens are collected, the EU must discuss the proposal as a potential draft law.

The following points would suggest that the proposal could indeed become law:

  • Politicians would not be interested in video games and would love easy gains.
  • The legal situation regarding this is currently unclear.
  • The initiative would correspond to consumer policy.
  • It would stand out from more serious topics.

However: For each EU country, a specific number of signatures must be reached; otherwise, the entire country will not count. Additionally, the petition has a time limit of one year.

If you are a citizen in the EU and have reached voting age, you can support the petition at the following link.

Overview of Video Games
The creators of Vampire Survivors prove that they are not one-hit wonders, releasing the next Steam hit
von Lydia
Steam rejected his first game 5 times – 7 years later a German dev sold 2 million copies
von Cedric Holmeier
Conan Exiles receives a huge update on Steam, reducing the game’s size by 80 GB
von Benedict Grothaus

Why does the petition exist at all? It often happens that publishers shut down the servers for certain games, rendering them unable to connect to the internet. This happened with Dragon Quest 7, for example, resulting in some DLC content becoming inaccessible.

Such a practice is also not uncommon with EA, as reported by our colleagues at GameStar. Last year, many multiplayer titles, such as FIFA, Battlefield, or Crysis 3, had their servers shut down.

Some players have managed to temporarily save an MMORPG. The community tried to donate money and subscribe to ensure the development team has enough resources to continue developing the title. However, the money donation unfortunately cannot prevent an ultimate end, which is why the petition would be a ray of hope: Steam: Players temporarily save an MMORPG that was about to be shut down: “Can retrieve team members”

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

Baldur’s Gate 3: 7 NPCs that would be a perfect choice for romances

Fabienne Kissel Fabienne Kissel Reading time 4 minutes

In Baldur’s Gate 3 there are already many romance options, but there are still many interesting NPCs with whom romance is not possible. We have listed 7 that we wish could be additional options for you. At the very bottom, you can vote for your favorites.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has captured the hearts of many players, and the romances have undoubtedly contributed to that. The game offers a variety of fascinating characters, many of whom we can also romance.

However, there are also some NPCs we secretly wish we could date, even though that is unfortunately not possible – but one can dream! We have listed 7 of them, based on our subjective opinion and their popularity with fans.

Spoiler: Here are spoilers about many different characters from Baldur’s Gate 3.

Start video
Creators of Baldur’s Gate 3 show intimate love scene with a bear and get banned instantly

Dammon

BG3 Dammon

The tiefling blacksmith Dammon can bring a smile to almost anyone with his charming and helpful nature. We meet Dammon already in Act 1 in the Emerald Grove. He can appear in all three acts if you choose the good path and he survives until then. Dammon also plays an important role in the story of the tiefling companion Karlach.

His time as a blacksmith in the Hells has made him an outstanding craftsman. With his likable personality, he would certainly make a great partner.

Alfira

The purple-haired tiefling bard Alfira is one of the most lovable and popular NPCs in all of Baldur’s Gate 3, and she captivates almost everyone. She is one of the characters with whom you have some interactions if you play on the good side. She impresses with her warm-hearted personality and musical talent. Alfira even teaches you to play instruments if you help her with her song.

The idea of her writing songs about her relationship with someone is tempting. Perhaps one would even compose additional songs together with her? Although in reality, her heart belongs to Lakrissa and she ends up happily with her.

Lady Aylin and Isobel

BG3: Aylin and Isobel

Aylin is the daughter of the goddess Selûne and a central figure in Baldur’s Gate 3 who can be freed by players after a century of captivity. Isobel is her beloved, and the two are inseparable – a true dream couple. Probably no one would ever want to separate them, let alone be able to. Nevertheless, one might hope that they might leave room for a third person. A little dreaming is, after all, allowed.

Gortash

BG3 Gortash

Gortash could probably ensnare anyone with his charming and manipulative nature into a web of intrigues and power plays. A romantic dinner with him would likely end in a political conspiracy. Our sister site GamePro has reported that many fans wish to be intimate with Enver Gortash. He would certainly be an exciting romance option for a run as the Dark Desire.

One main reason why many find him so appealing is the voice actor Jason Isaacs. He is known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Rolan

Baldur's Gate 3 Rolan says no to Lorroakan

At first, Rolan wants to take his siblings away from the Emerald Grove to Baldur’s Gate, where he wants to become a magic apprentice. Despite his arrogant demeanor, his deep concern for his family later becomes apparent. If you delve into his story, a very different side of him comes to light that is truly likable.

In the end, he turns against his master and takes your side. In reality, he is a good soul, even if it doesn’t come across that way at first. No wonder some players on reddit wish to romance him.

More on the topic
More on the topic
I would have liked to throw a character in Baldur’s Gate 3 to the goblins, but then he grew dear to me
von Sophia Weiss

Orin

Orin Baldur's Gate 3

If you take the evil path, alongside Minthara, some might certainly envision a romance with Orin. Her entire character design is truly impressive: it successfully combines coolness and grotesqueness. You would likely have to resort to murder and bloodshed, which would be okay for some anyway.

Now it’s your turn: Who would you like to date?

Here’s how to participate: You can vote in the following survey. We have compiled 29 of the most popular NPCs from Baldur’s Gate 3 for you.

Since the selection is so large, you have a total of three votes. If your favorite NPC is not included, you can indicate that with the “Other” field. Let us know in the comments which NPC you missed in the survey.

Which characters have captivated you so much that you would love to romance them? We are curious to see which NPCs are your personal favorites. Did you already know? There are many hidden secrets in Baldur’s Gate 3. Do you already know these ten Easter eggs?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Screen Rant
  2. The Gamer
  3. Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki

Destiny 2: The best people have been working on new Destiny for years – project is canceled, they will be fired

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

As announced by well-connected insiders, Bungie has fired the leadership duo responsible for the best moments in the original Destiny: Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy. The two had not worked on Destiny 2 in recent years, but on Destiny Payback, a spin-off to Destiny. However, the project has been canceled.

Why are the two so important? Designer Luke Smith was primarily responsible for the best moments in Destiny 1, and his producer Mark Noseworthy had been his work partner since 2015:

  • Smith managed to save the story of Destiny 1 to some extent, after the original author had left. Above all, he designed the great raid “The Vault of Glass” and contributed his experience as an avid WoW player.
  • Smith delivered his masterpiece in 2015 with the expansion “The Taken King” – this is generally seen as the best time in Destiny overall. He worked on the expansion while players were just getting into Vanilla Destiny 1.
  • In 2017, he had to step in again and save Destiny 2 after a 2nd reboot shortly before release was necessary. This time he did not succeed in the rescue. However, Smith was a key figure in the years that followed, until the reorientation of Destiny 2 in 2019 without Activision.
Start video
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer

The A-Team disappeared since 2019, working on a new game in the Destiny universe

What have they been doing for the past years? As revealed by insider Jeff Grubb, the two have been working on Destiny: Payback for several years. It was supposed to be the next big thing in the Destiny universe, but not Destiny 3. Destiny 3 was never in development.

As insider Jason Schreier knows, Payback was a spin-off to Destiny, on which only “very light work” had been done so far.

Smith and Noseworthy have hardly been seen since mid-2019, and it’s suspected that they have been working on a new game since around that time – perhaps even since 2017. Parsons had once confirmed that Bungie has been working on new games since 2017.

d2-smith-noseworthy-
Designer Luke Smith and producer Mark Noseworthy have been a team since The Taken King.

No more room in the leadership team without their game

Why did they have to go? As Payback was canceled and the management was restructured, there was no more room for Smith and Noseworthy, it is said (via GameSpot).

Noseworthy and Smith were allegedly fired as part of the layoffs announced by Pete Parsons. They were apparently included when it came to the point that many in Bungie’s leadership had to leave.

When exactly Payback was canceled – whether only now with the official announcement or even “some time ago” is still unclear at this point.

More on the topic
More on the topic
What is Luke Smith actually doing all the time – Shouldn’t he be saving Destiny 2?
von Schuhmann
More on the topic
Luke Smith: We slipped twice in Destiny 2 – But not because of the money
von Schuhmann
More on the topic
Luke Smith – How the Savior of Destiny Became the Villain in Destiny 2
von Schuhmann

Destiny has been directionless without Smith for years

What makes it all so strange? Luke Smith was for years, from 2014 to 2019, “the face” of Destiny. In 2019, he, along with Noseworthy, announced a major departure into a time without Activision and painted a rosy future.

However, he did not actively participate in that future anymore, but disappeared.

What he did after the big show in 2019 remained largely in the dark. A “new leadership” was supposed to take over, but Joe Blackburn, who had been brought back from The Elder Scrolls Online for this, left the studio in 2024.

Since then, Destiny has appeared directionless.

One of the reasons for the decline of Destiny in the last 5 years

What lies behind this:  Bungie is pulling the best team they have from Destiny 2 to work on a new game. Just that is already a decision that can be sharply criticized.

But what comes of it?

  • After 5 years, they then fire the leadership duo because Destiny 2 has been performing poorly – without them.
  • And the work on the new project was also in vain.

In the 5 to 7 years that Smith and Noseworthy have been working on this ominous “Destiny Payback”, they could have led two expansions for Destiny 2, perhaps saving us from something like Lightfall and Shadowkeep, and Destiny 2 would now be in a better state.

Based on the information we currently have, it was in any case a fatal misjudgment of the situation that Destiny is so stable that Bungie can afford to pull the best people off and focus on new projects. Ultimately, Parsons himself admits this in his statement:

For over five years, our goal has been to develop games in three enduring global franchises. To achieve this goal, we have initiated several incubation projects, each staffed with senior developers from our existing teams. We ultimately realized that this model thinned our talent pool too much. It also forced us to scale our studio support structures to a larger level than we could realistically support, given our two main products in development – Destiny and Marathon.

The “senior developers from existing teams” were apparently Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy.

The “thinned-out talents” were apparently the Destiny 2 team without them.

Even if Luke Smith is a red flag for many fans because he is associated with unpopular decisions like sunsetting and controversial statements, he was actually the jewel of Destiny and the developer team with his MMO expertise and clear statements, at least as it was communicated outwardly. One of his “worst moments” actually occurred during his best work: Destiny: Game Director defends price for expansion, makes everything even worse

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