AMD’s CEO explains in the Q4 report that the Steam Machine is still on track. She also adds that an AMD chip will also be used in the upcoming Xbox.
AMD’s CEO Lisa Su spoke in the Q4 2025 earnings report to analysts and financial experts about AMD’s sales figures and finances. Here she explained that Valve is still preparing for the release of the Steam Machine.
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Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer
Delivery of the Steam Machine is set to start in Spring 2026
The CEO of AMD stated that Valve is on schedule with the production of the new Steam Machine. Additionally, she noted that AMD hardware will also be used again in the next Xbox console (via videocardz.com):
For 2026, we expect a significant double-digit percentage decline in the annual revenue from semi-custom SoCs, as we are now entering the seventh year of a very strong console cycle.
From a product perspective, Valve is on track to start delivering its AMD-based Steam Machine early this year.
And the development of Microsoft’s next generation Xbox with an AMD semi-custom SoC is progressing well, with a market launch planned for 2027.
SoCs are specialized chips primarily used in consoles, mobile phones, and other finished devices.
What is the current situation? According to AMD’s CEO, the Steam Machine is still expected to launch in Spring 2026. So far, Valve remains silent about details and information surrounding the Steam Machine, and some fear that high RAM and SSD prices could delay the launch of the Steam Machine.
Even large companies like Zotac are currently warning that the end of high prices is not in sight and that they could continue to rise. The AI hype is not over yet. Even game consoles like the Switch, PS5, and Xbox, which were long considered price-stable, could be affected and become significantly more expensive.
With the Steam Machine, Valve will soon release a new device. Officially, the Steam PC is expected to appear in 2026, but many important details, including the price, are still unknown. MeinMMO presents all the important information about the Steam Machine in our official FAQ: Steam Machine: The most important questions and answers
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The situation for Ashes of Creation is not good. Many fans have lost their trust in the studio and the MMORPG, and now they want to request refunds on Steam. If you belong to this group but don’t know how to get your money back, we provide a guide here.
Update, February 11, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.
This is how to request a refund on Steam: To submit a refund for Ashes of Creation, simply click on your account name in the upper right corner of the Steam window and select “Account Details”. From there, proceed as follows:
Click on “View Purchase History”
Select “Ashes of Creation”
Now click on “I want to request a refund” and repeat the information
Now your window will expand, and you can choose which payment method your credit will be applied to
Note that the game will be removed from your collection after the refund
Now you can also indicate why you want to take back the purchase
Then submit your request
What you should know: The purchase must not be older than 14 days, and the game must have been played for no more than two hours. Anything beyond that may be rejected by Steam. Despite these strict rules, players are increasingly reporting accepted refunds, even though the parameters have been exceeded.
The first option, therefore, your request is usually checked by a robot. This means that if you feel betrayed by Ashes of Creation, you will find little understanding. In this case, we have a second option that allows you to reach a human support staff member. Proceed as follows:
Click on “Help” on the Steam homepage
Select “Steam Support”
Now go to “View My Requests to Steam Support”
Now click on “Ashes of Creation”
Now press “I have a question about this purchase”
Now describe your situation and explain why you want to have the purchase refunded. This request should ideally end up on the desk of a human support staff member. The Reddit user Echo_291 describes his success, as he got his money back. Keep in mind that you need some luck with the respective staff member, as you are dependent on Steam’s leniency.
What happened to Ashes of Creation? The MMORPG was seen as the next WoW killer, but recent reports of mass layoffs have cast a shadow over a rosy future.
Fans of Godzilla can look forward to some new adventures. Not only are 2 new movies being released, but a new monster is rising in February that Kong and Godzilla must face in a sci-fi series.
Which series is it about? The 2nd season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will premiere on February 27, 2026. The series revolves around the titular organization Monarch, which fans already know from the MonsterVerse franchise.
The organization deals with the monsters and titans that inhabit the Earth. They research them but also strive to ensure that not everything is destroyed by them. That is also the task in season 2. A new Kaijū appears and seems to be so threatening that Kong and Godzilla must work together again.
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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters shows in the trailer for Season 2 the dangerous Titan X
The new Titan X
What is the new monster? In the previous trailer, they hinted at the new Titan X, and now for the first time, there are large shots of the creature, which according to Lee Shaw, played by Kurt Russell, is supposed to be larger than Kong and Godzilla.
As the trailer reveals, the new monster seems to come from another dimension. It is a gigantic creature with multiple tentacles, and other water monsters seem to obey it. Visually and thematically, it reminds one of the Cthulhu mythos. In the trailer, it is said about the monster: This Titan is like a god.
What the monster’s goal is remains unclear. But Monarch wants to fight back, and if a new Kaiju tries to become the king of Earth, obviously Godzilla and Kong must be called. At the end of the trailer, it is already shown that Kong will engage in a fight with Titan X. Godzilla’s roar should of course not be missing.
Has the monster appeared before? No, the monster does not seem to be based on any known Kaijū from Godzilla’s history. While Godzilla has fought against water monsters like Ebirah in the past, that was just a giant lobster. As in the film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Legendary seems to have created a new monster.
The next months and years are a true dream for Godzilla fans. On February 27, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues with season 2 on Apple TV Plus, but that is just the beginning.
On November 3, 2026, the next Japanese Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus Zero, will be released, and on March 25, 2027, the MonsterVerse is set to continue with Godzilla x Kong: Supernova. If you want to engage with Godzilla’s opponents until then, check out this list: The 10 most powerful opponents of Godzilla in the power ranking
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There are new details about the release of GTA 6 and the Take-Two CEO personally reveals when we can expect the release and trailer 3.
When is GTA 6 coming out? GTA publisher Take-Two released new information regarding the release of the open-world action game on the evening of February third. This took place during the earnings call, where Take-Two shareholders receive quarterly updates on the company’s status.
On this occasion, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed the release for November 19, 2026. There was no mention of another delay in the financial report. Instead, the developers revealed when we can expect trailer 3.
You can watch the first trailer for GTA 6 here:
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Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer
Marketing in warm summer
When will trailer 3 be released? In the financial report, the developers also talked about the upcoming marketing campaign for GTA 6. This will not start anytime soon, but rather in the summer. This could be because the sunny Miami can be sold better when it is not rainy and cold outside.
Accordingly, the next trailer, number 3, is also expected only in the summer. It could serve as the starting signal for the advertising campaign before they also promote gameplay and features.
Take-Two shares as much hope in the title as the fans do. 2027 is expected to be a record year for revenue through the sales of GTA 6. However, whether this is already an indication of the release of the PC version remains open.
What else did the CEO reveal? In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke about the use of AI in GTA 6. He explained that they have always used machine learning and AI in Take-Two’s products.
However, it is also clear that AI will never be involved in the creative processes of games, especially GTA 6. The company has long used AI to make processes more efficient, and not to create worlds.
„[…] We have actually always been leaders in this area and currently have hundreds of pilot projects and implementations throughout our company, including our studios. And we are already seeing examples of how generative AI tools lead to cost and time savings. […]
Nevertheless, I do not believe that tools alone can create great entertainment offerings. No, there is no indication that this is the case, and it will not be the case in the future. Specifically regarding GTA 6, generative AI plays no role in what Rockstar Games is developing. Their worlds are handcrafted. That is what sets them apart. They are built from the ground up, building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. They are not procedurally generated; they should not be. That is what makes great entertainment.”
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick in an interview with gamesindustry.biz
When exactly Take-Two will launch the marketing campaign and whether this will happen with trailer 3 as a trigger remains open. Before the summer, however, fans should first lower their expectations for the release of new material for GTA 6. Not only does Take-Two want a good open world: Blizzard is reportedly working on its own GTA and a job posting reveals the first details
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After all the developments surrounding Ashes of Creation, Margaret Krohn, the former Head of Communication at Ashes of Creation, is now speaking out. She confirms previous statements made by an insider and even reveals new details concerning the laid-off employees.
What is known so far? On February 1, there was news from Steven Sharif, the then CEO of Intrepid Studios and Creative Director of Ashes of Creation, that he and another executive would be leaving the studio and that there would be mass layoffs.
However, it remained unclear what the future holds for the MMORPG. Those searching for Ashes of Creation on Steam will currently find nothing. The game has been removed from the store, and so far there are no refunds for those who purchased the title.
Now, the former Head of Communication of Ashes of Creation is sharing her perspective on X, detailing how she experienced the layoffs.
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Ashes of Creation: Early Access Guide stimmt euch auf den Start auf Steam ein
Personal Layoff within 24 Hours
What does Krohn report? According to her, there was news on January 28, 2026, that 100 developers were to be laid off. At that time, she still hoped that there could be a way to satisfy everyone together.
In the morning, she shared this information with her team. By the end of the day, she received the information about which individuals would be laid off.
On January 30, she spoke with each individual on the team and informed them whether they were affected. Even those who were affected showed the professionalism that she loved about her team.
But the next day, there was a bombshell. A confusing email was in her inbox stating that the entire team would be laid off:
It is still shocking. The entire studio gathered to try to understand what had happened and what it meant for our future. Ultimately, none of us would receive our final paycheck, the 60-day notice period and compensation as stipulated in the WARN Act, PTO payouts, or any other owed compensations.
In the comments, she also reveals that there was no communication to the players because everyone from the communication team was laid off. The players deserved better, and the developers would have continued to develop Ashes of Creation. What happened was 100% illegal.
She then lists her thoughts on the different parties involved:
She apologizes to the players and reveals how much love is put into Ashes of Creation. She regrets how this journey ended and hopes that the players receive their well-deserved refunds.
She sees the development team as her family. They will support each other during this difficult time.
She appeals to recruiters that they could refer to a submitted form to possibly distribute the developers to other companies.
The major characters in World of Warcraft are not safe from death. The WoW heads say: Many will not make it through.
You really only have to worry about the major heroes of World of Warcraft rarely. Characters like Sylvanas, Anduin, or Thrall have a nearly comical “plot armor,” meaning: they cannot die because they are too important for the story. No matter what predicament they find themselves in, somehow they survive every problem.
But that will not remain the case in the Worldsoul saga. Because Maria Hamilton from the WoW team said: There will be death. A lot of it.
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WoW Midnight – The opening cinematic of the new addon shows the attack on Silvermoon
What was said? In an interview with the magazine PC Gamer, Maria Hamilton spoke about the losses that will occur in the Worldsoul saga – during “Midnight” and “The Last Titan.” She said:
Important characters will not survive the trilogy. I fear there will be a lot of death. These are tough decisions. We have discussions about things like ‘Is now the right time? What do we do when the person is gone?’
Does dead mean really dead? Especially in World of Warcraft, the community often laughs off death a bit. Because in the past, it has been clear that death does not always truly mean the end – particularly the Shadowlands have drastically softened some concerns there. Also at the beginning of The War Within, it seemed as if Khadgar had died, only to return (more or less) lively afterward.
Who is at risk? Here, of course, we enter the realm of speculation, as reliable information is still lacking. The three Windrunner sisters are definitely at risk, especially Alleria – she plays a significant role in the first part of Midnight. Turalyon may also be in danger due to the increasing light madness.
In the end, who really gets hit and how permanent death is this time remains to be seen. Do you have a fan favorite that must not die? Or do you know of one or another character that could slowly step down? If you’re interested in more about the story of World of Warcraft, you can read that in our comprehensive story summary of WoW.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fans of The Lord of the Rings can secure two unique action games in the world of Middle-earth on Steam: For just under €7, you get entertainment for over 100 hours.
Which games are being referenced here? These are the action games Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Both games were developed by Monolith Productions and tell their own stories around the ranger Talion and the ringsmith Celebrimbor.
Until February 9, 2026, the so-called Shadow Package is available on Steam for €6.99 instead of €69.99. It includes both main games along with all DLCs.
Here you can see a trailer for Shadow of War, the newer of the two games:
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Offizieller Story-Trailer zu Mittelerde: Schatten des Krieges
What are the games about? On the timeline, the games bridge the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. You play as Talion, a ranger from Gondor and captain of the guard at the Black Gate. He was stationed there to prevent the return of Sauron. After his defeat at Dol Guldur, Sauron could reclaim his old fortress Barad-dûr at any moment.
One fateful day, it happens: Sauron and his chief lieutenants attack the Black Gate. Talion loses his family and his life in the assault, but is resurrected by the spirit of an elf. This elf is the smith Celebrimbor, who once forged the Rings of Power.
Talion and Celebrimbor then embark on a quest for revenge, quite literally. Later in the game, the two have an entire army of Uruks in tow, which are larger and more vicious than orcs, and you can subjugate them with the power of the ringsmith.
A unique gameplay mechanic that entertains for hundreds of hours
What makes the two games unique? The Shadow games share a special gameplay mechanic: the so-called Nemesis System. Throughout your journey, you encounter powerful Uruk captains and war chiefs, who are generated from a variety of backgrounds, personalities, and traits. This makes each Uruk unique.
Captains evolve over time and remember encounters with you. They even build rivalries (and friendships) among themselves. Here are some examples of how the Nemesis System works:
If you flee from a captain, he may mock you the next time you meet
If an Uruk manages to kill Talion in battle, he becomes stronger. Even ordinary foot soldiers can be promoted to captains
If you kill an Uruk who had a blood brother, that Uruk will follow you to the ends of the earth to avenge his death
In Shadow of War, the Nemesis System was further developed and provides even more unique interactions and personalities among the Uruks. This system is also the core of the games: No other game has it in this form.
In terms of gameplay, you can expect a mix of stealth and brutal close combat that plays as smoothly as in the “Batman: Arkham” series by Rocksteady. All of this ensures that you can beat your way through Uruks for hundreds of hours while rarely getting bored, as you constantly experience new personal stories.
Would you rather relive the story of the films? For just €6.62, you can also get the Lego games for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in the bundle. If you don’t mind the sometimes very silly humor, you get two strong games that you can also play in co-op.
In the Lego games, the DLCs are not included in the bundle. You can purchase the three small add-on packs with new characters and items for €0.99 each if you wish.
Do you want to learn more about the lore of Middle-earth? Then you’re in luck, because on MeinMMO, you will find loads of specials on the various characters and races from Tolkien’s books and the films. You can find an overview here: The Lord of the Rings: Everything about the lore and history of Middle-earth
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
While players in the West continue to wait for the release of Aion 2, the new MMORPG is already becoming a success in Asia, much to the delight of NCSoft.
What kind of MMORPG is this? With Aion 2, the developers at NCSoft are successfully implementing a new theme park MMORPG, which is also the successor to the well-known “Aion” from 2008.
Unlike the predecessor, the focus is more on PvE than on PvP. The developers have also adapted the MMORPG to the new way games are experienced. Instead of day-long raids, there are shorter, more engaging experiences.
The new business figures have shown that the concept works well. NCSoft has already generated over 58 million euros with Aion 2, and the trend is rising. Player numbers continue to increase three months after the release, despite the fact that the game can currently only be played in Korea and Taiwan.
You can watch the trailer for Aion 2 here:
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Aion 2: New trailer prepares for the Korean launch of the MMORPG
Joy at NCSoft
What are the consequences? The success and good numbers at NCSoft have resulted in rewards for the developers in the form of promotions. NCSoft explains to South Korean media:
“The success of the continuation of AION led to promotions throughout the development team. Baek Seung-wook, who led the production, has been appointed Vice President. Producer Kim Nam-joon and head of the business department So In-seob have also been promoted to Executives. Lee Yeon-soo, head of NC AI subsidiary, and Lee Joon-soo, head of the research department, have been promoted to Executives as well.”
For the employees, Aion 2 has definitely been beneficial for their careers, but players also seem to enjoy the MMORPG. Aside from critiques of pay-to-win mechanics and the abundance of content, many players are satisfied with the new MMORPG.
What about the release in the West? According to the latest information, Aion 2 is still set to launch in the second half of 2026. NCSoft’s revenue forecasts, according to mmorpg.org.pl, have been revised upwards and are expected to generate one million more.
No monster in Dungeons & Dragons causes as much stress as a mimic. They are not only sneaky opponents, but they can also make even mundane objects seem suspicious. MeinMMO editor Caro has fallen victim to the self-proclaimed “mimic paranoia” and presents you in this list the nastiest ideas to further fuel this distrust.
Mimics are among the most famous creatures in Dungeons & Dragons alongside dragons and beholders, and they can be seen in various media such as Baldur’s Gate 3 or the film “Honor Among Thieves” from 2023. But much more importantly: they are absolutely nasty and cunning beings that I fall victim to far too often myself.
I could blame it on naivete, bad luck, carelessly touching all kinds of loot, or too much trust in my DM (shoutout to them). But ultimately, it is the nature of the mimic, as described in the official Monster Manual (2014):
Mimics are shape-shifting predators that can take on the form of inanimate objects to lure creatures to their doom. In dungeons, these cunning creatures usually assume the shape of doors and chests, as they have learned that this form consistently attracts prey.
Mimics can alter their outer texture to resemble wood, stone, and other simple materials, and they have learned to adopt the appearance of objects that other creatures are likely to interact with. A mimic in its altered form is nearly indistinguishable until potential prey stumbles into its reach. Then the monster grows fake limbs with which it attacks.
Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons (2014), p. 220
And I “stumble into its reach” quite often and willingly. It has become a running joke that I cannot escape. For this reason, I have developed a sort of “mimic paranoia” that I cannot shake off, making even mundane objects look like potential enemies.
In the trailer for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a mimic can also be seen:
Select a MMO video…
In this list, I will name possible mimic ideas from the community that definitely do not help me combat this paranoia. However, I do not want to be alone in this fear and want to raise the awareness of MeinMMO’s readership about potential threats in your campaigns. You’re welcome.
The Classic: A Chest
The chest is the most well-known version of a mimic, and as described in the Monster Manual, for good reason. Mimics are predators that lie in wait, silently anticipating their prey to approach. And what attracts brave adventurers more than their greed for gold and powerful equipment?
Chests have always proven to be reliable disguises. However, due to their notoriety as mimic disguises, they are no longer a significant threat. Even a somewhat experienced adventurer knows that chests should be checked carefully multiple times to ensure that it is a creature.
Which mimics you should be even more wary of, I will present to you on the next pages.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some events in Pokémon GO may require you to wait a bit longer. A trainer demonstrates how long some things can take.
Time is undoubtedly an important factor in Pokémon GO. Whether it’s about time-limited events or raid bosses, or whether you finally have enough candies for an evolution or leveling up a monster.
A trainer demonstrates on Reddit that you may need to plan a bit more time for the return of your beloved little monsters. In this specific case, even several years.
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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
“Like all good things, this too has come to an end”
What did the trainer do? As the trainer reports in his post on Reddit, he was out on a rainy day in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, USA. Here, he played Ingress, another game by Niantic, which is also considered a predecessor to Pokémon GO.
In Ingress, the trainer had to wait before he could continue with his current plan in the game. Since both games use the same data to generate interesting points in the game, he took advantage of the waiting time to open Pokémon GO. There, he discovered an empty gym.
He made his way to the gym and was able to place a shiny Turtwig in the gym despite some issues with his mobile data. And thus began a years-long mission for the little monster.
How long did he wait for his monster? As the trainer himself states, he is not very active in Pokémon GO, so he checked the game for the first time after several months. He discovered that his Turtwig was still bravely defending the gym.
He then checked back in the game several months later. And still, he saw the brave Turtwig staying in the gym. And that became a tradition. Every few months, he checked the game, found his monster in the gym, and closed the game again. As he reports, he only shared screenshots of the defender in his group chat and posted on Reddit.
On February 1, 2026, it finally happened: the Turtwig was defeated and returned to the trainer. This earned the trainer 50 coins, and the little brave turtle a record-breaking defender time of a whopping 2329 days. That corresponds to more than 6 years and 4 months.
The trainer himself comments on this with the following words: “Until yesterday. Like all good things, this too has come to an end. And so, after 2,329 days and 22 hours (just under six and a half years), his watch has ended. And I am 50 coins richer. So that’s the result, I think.”
What are your records for the longest defense of a gym? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you want to know what events await you in the game this month, then feel free to check out our overview with all events in February 2026 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We will show you how this new feature works and tell you what it brings when you have lucky friends.
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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
This is how the “lucky friends” feature works
How do you become a lucky friend? The most important requirement for a lucky friend is the friendship level. Only players who are “Best Friends” can become lucky friends.
This is what the lucky trade looks like.
You trigger a lucky friend when you interact with your best friend. This can be done by:
Raiding together
Opening gifts
Fighting together at gyms
Trading Pokémon
A PvP battle
How does triggering work? It is likely that this principle happens randomly. So if you send a gift to a best friend, you could become lucky friends, but this is not guaranteed.
However, it is already known that this can only be done with the first action of the day. So if you have already taken an action with your best friend and are not yet lucky friends, you will have to try it the next day.
This is how you get guaranteed lucky Pokémon: If you are lucky friends together, the trade of your next Pokémon is guaranteed to be lucky. So you will get guaranteed lucky Pokémon.
How do I recognize a lucky friend? When you become lucky friends, you can see this directly in your friend’s overview. There will be golden circles around the name and the friend will be generally highlighted in gold.
How often does it work? You can become a lucky friend with each best friend once per day. It is possible to have several lucky friends in a day.
With lucky friends, you can now determine which Pokémon will become a lucky Pokémon. This way, you can trade particularly strong Pokémon as Luckys and thus gain a tremendous advantage.
Initially, there were only up to level 40 in Pokémon GO, but now there are a total of 80 levels that you can climb. For the last 10 levels, it is not enough just to collect experience points. In addition, you also have to complete tasks. What these are, you can find out in our overview of levels 71 to 80 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The head of the Epic Games Store, Steve Allison, spoke about the current state and future plans of the launcher. He also talked about how they plan to deal with Steam as a competitor.
What is Steve Allison planning for a relationship with Valve? In an interview with IGN, the head of the Epic Games Store, Steve Allison, discussed the platform and the upcoming goals. Currently, around 68 million people use the store monthly, a significant portion of whom are also on Steam.
Steve Allison explains that while they would be happy to see larger numbers than Steam, that is not the plan: “Our goal is not to dance on the grave of Steam or anything like that. We want to create a sustainable place where developers can expect to sell 25 to 30% of their games.”
One of Epic Games’ biggest games is Fortnite:
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Fortnite: Shows Chapter 7 “Pacific Break” in its new cinematic trailer
Epic Games focuses on mobile and Fortnite
What are the goals of the Epic Games Store? The Epic Games Store aims to achieve a market share of 25 to 30% on PC. The platform should become so relevant that developers cannot overlook it and it is regarded as a “must”.
Furthermore, Steve Allison states that the Epic Games Store should not only operate on PC. It should be cross-platform, serving as a hub on both PC and Android and iOS. Naturally, mobile titles such as Genshin Impact are also in focus.
In the future, customers will be drawn to the Epic Games Store by offering exclusive cosmetic items in Fortnite. If one purchases a specific game in the Epic Games Store, a specific corresponding item will be unlocked in Fortnite. For example, those who purchased Hogwarts Legacy in the Epic Games Store were able to enjoy a chocolate frog backpack for their character in Fortnite.
The store itself is also set to be revamped and receive community features.
In shooters, many players resort to illegal means on consoles. Call of Duty is now intensifying the fight against pesky cheaters.
What kind of players are they? Players who want an unfair advantage on consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S often resort to so-called spoofers. These are devices like the Cronus Zen or the XIM Matrix that manipulate the input signal from controllers, thereby providing players unauthorized assistance in various games.
With these “tools,” it is for example possible:
to reduce the recoil of a weapon,
to set up macros,
to enhance the aim assist of a game
to automatically fire semi-automatic weapons at maximum fire rate at the press of a button
Furthermore, these devices allow for universal controller usage on different consoles. For instance, players can use an Xbox controller on the PlayStation – or use mouse and keyboard in games that do not even support mouse and keyboard. Alternatively, players can get aim assist from controllers while using mouse and keyboard on the console because the device trick the console into believing a controller is being used.
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CoD: Black Ops 7 zeigt seine kommende Season 2 im neuen explosiven Trailer
This is the new measure from Call of Duty: In a new blog post, the developers explained that they are introducing new detection features to identify prohibited devices as well as accounts using them.
These detection measures target input devices that “simulate mechanically perfect accuracy and recoil control and thus provide advantages that no human player can achieve naturally.”
The team analyzes the timing, consistency, and reaction patterns of inputs “to distinguish natural human gameplay from mechanically modified inputs.” They want to identify recoil control, aim behavior, and input accuracy that goes beyond what is physically possible with a standard controller or mouse.
Often, users of these tools remain undetected because they are designed to be as difficult to spot as possible. Call of Duty is now focusing on changing that and being able to better identify certain input patterns. However, the developers emphasize that this remains an ongoing process.
Those caught using such a tool can expect to face penalties.
Is this really cheating? Yes. The use of so-called spoofers is prohibited in many competitive games, including Rainbow Six: Siege, Valorant, and also Call of Duty. The CoD developers made this clear again in the latest blog post:
“To be clear: These devices are not allowed in Call of Duty. They are cheating tools, even if they disguise themselves as accessibility aids.”
Nevertheless, many players on consoles resort to these devices to gain an unfair advantage and increase their chances of victory. However, this reflects in their wallets. A Cronus Zen or XIM Matrix costs around €130 from the respective manufacturer, not including special controllers with shoulder buttons, or attachments like the controversial Strike-Pack by Cronus.
The American Twitch streamer Maya Higa noticed that her face is used for a widely used emote. This visibly confuses her, as she does not think it is very good.
Who is it about? Maya Higa is an American Twitch streamer who primarily uses her content creator status for animals. She founded Alveus Sanctuary, an organization that takes in and cares for animals that can no longer survive in the wild.
On Twitch, she entertains her nearly 1 million followers mainly in the Just Chatting category. In the past 365 days, according to SullyGnome, she has spent over 454 hours engaging with her viewers. The rest of the time, the streamer plays games like Elden Ring.
But the Twitch streamer seems to have another career: She is a famous emote and therefore known to even more people.
Start video
3 German Twitch streamers you should know
“It’s not even a good emote”
What kind of emote is it? In one of her recent streams, Maya discovered that her face is used for an emote: the “lmao” emote on 7TV.
You can see a screenshot of it here. You can view the whole emote in motion here on 7TV.
Previously, she probably thought that only she would see her face on her own Twitch channel, not other people.
When a viewer points out to her that the emote is even used by many, Maya replies: “Why? It’s not even a good emote.” (Source: Twitch). She then joked whether this was now her chance at success, considering 4,000 channels use this emote.
Where Winds Meet has shared new information about the upcoming DLC and the second season – and it goes back in time.
What is behind the time travel? The developers of Where Winds Meet have addressed players in a letter and shared some new information about upcoming content (via Instagram).
In the letter, the team behind the action RPG reveals that the first DLC named “Hexi” will be released on March 6. With the DLC, players are set to embark on a “dreamlike journey” that lets them travel back in time.
What exactly lies behind the time travel is currently unknown.
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MyMMO in the GameStar Talk: Our MMORPG expert sums up the Chinese RPG Where Winds Meet
What else is included in the DLC: The DLC will be released in stages, bringing a new region to ancient China every 28 days. There will be a total of three new regions: the “Jade Gate Pass”, “Liangzhou”, and “Quinchuan”.
Furthermore, a new combat style called “Bamboocut – Dust” will be introduced in March. In April, a new weapon called the “Heng Blade” will follow. This is a historical sword based on the design of the Chinese Jiannan region.
What to expect before the DLC: On February 6, the second season of Where Winds Meet will already begin, launching a new chapter. Among other things, there will be a new spotlight mode and the new sect “The Masked Group”.
Moreover, the developers emphasized again that they continue to work on optimization for PC, PS5 and Mobile as well as on improving multilingual localization. They have therefore invested more time and effort in the DLC so that players can properly enjoy the new content.
Apex Legends rewards you in Season 28 for the 7th anniversary of the shooter with new legends. Here’s how to secure the rewards.
How do you get the newest legend? On February 10, the 28th Season of Apex Legends, the battle royale shooter, kicks off, celebrating its 7th birthday a few days prior. To celebrate the occasion, the season update introduces an anniversary event that gives you some gifts.
During the event, you can unlock a legend permanently each week by successfully completing three challenges. Among the legends you can unlock during the event is the newest legend: Sparrow, who was released in May 2025 with Season 25.
In week 1, there is Valkyrie
In week 2, there is Revenant
In week 3, there is Conduit
In week 4, there is Sparrow
If you want to unlock Sparrow or other legends through the event, you must complete the three imposed challenges within the respective week.
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Apex Legends – Trailer for the new character Sparrow
What is the highlight of the season? The major innovation of Season 28 is the so-called Hardlight Meshes. These are windows that are meant to bring a new gameplay dynamic.
Players can see through these windows, but cannot shoot through them. However, you can completely destroy them if you deal enough damage – this works with any firearms, but explosives, sniper rifles, shotguns, and melee attacks dismantle the windows faster.
Additionally, controllers can repair or even reinforce them, making them more durable than in their standard state.
What else does the season bring? With Season 28, there will also be a new weapon meta that strengthens shotguns in focus. Additionally, there are balancing updates for Bloodhound, Fuse, and Catalyst.
Moreover, in Bot Royale the XP limits will be lifted, allowing you to level up even more. However, the bot difficulty will be slightly increased, posing a greater challenge for players with low to medium skill.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gives fans a new insight into the world of Westeros. In episode 2, there is a clumsy-looking gag, but as Marco from Nerdkultur analyzes, there is more behind it.
Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been publishing videos on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur that cover various films and series through reviews, analyses, news, or interviews.
Additionally, he talks with his colleague Yves Arievich once a week on the Nerd und Kultur Podcast about various topics from popular culture.
Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.
What is so special about Ser Arlan? When looking at various platforms for some memes about episode 2, the major topic is not the new information about the Targaryens, but the genitals of Ser Arlan of Pennytree, played by Danny Webb. In the episode, there is a scene in which the actor is completely naked.
This also leads to some gags:
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Marco also addresses the question of whether his large sword is real in his video. Ira Parker, the showrunner of the series, couldn’t remember in an interview with Entertainment Weekly whether Arlan’s penis was a prosthetic or real. Marco compares it to Boogie Nights. In the film by Paul Thomas Anderson, it was also long unclear whether we saw Mark Wahlberg’s real genital or just a stand-in.
As Marco explains in the video: In A Knights of the Seven Kingdoms, it is a prosthetic made by the special effects department.
The whole scene was made according to Parker because previously only jokes were made about Ser Arlan. One should see the other side of the hedge knight.
No matter how silly or mean Arlan is portrayed, he took care of Duncan. This reflects his loyalty, as he even dedicates his coat of arms to their journey. Duncan wants people to remember Arlan. Marco puts it this way:
Duncan will prove to them who Ser Arlan really was! We see a redemption arc. And so he eats their shared meal at the end of the episode, determined.
What about the other aspects of the analysis? In Marco’s video, it is not only about Ser Arlan. Two important motives for him are the Targaryens and Dunk’s foolishness. Unlike the previous two series, we do not see the perspective of the Targaryens, but rather the people’s view of them. The focus is on Dunk’s perspective.
The Targaryens have lost much of their power. 56 years before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the last dragon died, but within the family, there are still various viewpoints. Baelor is a noble knight, the only one who does not have silver-blonde hair, but rather the hair color of his Dornish mother. He is the heir to the throne.
On the other hand, there is his brother Maekar, the last son in line for the throne (the others are only briefly mentioned). Maekar is disinterested and cruel. Two of his sons are missing: Daeron and Aegon. His other two sons are Aerion and Aemon. The former shows his arrogance in the series, while the latter is known by fans of Game of Thrones as Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch. He resembles his uncle Baelor more.
Regarding the Targaryens in the series, the Kingsguard is also important. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, their armors are completely white. According to Marco, this also matches the official illustrations of the novellas by George R. R. Martin. However, the other armors show bright colors, whether they belong to the Baratheons or the Targaryens.
What about Dunk? At the end of his video, Marco also talks about Duncan. When you watch the series, it often seems like Duncan is foolish. In many situations, he simply says the wrong things. Marco says: Dunk, on the other hand, continuously says the wrong thing at the wrong time. A running gag of this second episode. But that does not really portray him as “foolish.” Rather, it is naive. Uneducated, but honorable.
Funcom has just released Chapter 3 for Dune: Awakening, bringing a ton of “Quality of Life” improvements and new content to the game. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus got to preview the changes and wonders why all of this wasn’t already in the game at launch.
more locations on the overworld map, including new dungeons
new weapons, quests, and story
tons of quality improvements, such as the removal of taxes or packages for returning players
In advance, Funcom invited MeinMMO to view the changes in a live presentation with the developers. I saw how the specializations work and some of the dungeons along with their new boss mechanics.
Dune: Awakening shows Chapter 3 and the free content update in the trailer
Dune: Awakening is becoming more of an MMORPG, but remains true to its survival roots
Specializations are pretty much the highlight of the chapter, along with the new missions. Through exploring, crafting, or gathering, players can now earn special experience points in Chapter 3 to level new skills up to level 100. This results in new abilities that expand the player’s playstyle.
Together with the already available skill trees in the game, this creates something akin to “roles” you know from MMORPGs: damage, support, survival. Additionally, it is possible to adjust gear accordingly through augments. The devs make it clear that there is no “holy trinity” and no tanks. But those who want to can develop more towards one of these orientations.
In line with this, there are new dungeons with various “themes”, such as an electric dungeon and a fire dungeon, each providing unique loot, but also bringing completely new enemies and especially bosses.
Dungeon bosses with real mechanics
The bosses are what made me think the most about fights in dungeons from other MMOs. Because now there are real mechanics! As an example, the devs show me the electric boss:
The fight is divided into several phases, which are triggered depending on the boss’s health.
Moving lightning appears all around the room, which you must avoid.
Depending on your gear, you have to approach the mechanics differently to survive.
Additionally, there are up to 20 difficulty levels and puzzles in the dungeon itself that you must solve to even reach the boss. Difficulties scale with the group size, so everything is possible solo – but it sounds like more of a party activity.
Furthermore, there are new PvE tasks in the open world that you can accept, for example through the Landsraad. This ranges from assassinations in the new locations on the overworld map to time trials with your sand speeder.
When Dune: Awakening was announced and I had the chance to play the first rounds, I was completely hooked by the game and sounded like the next big player in the survival area – alone with Funcom behind it, whose games I have always enjoyed playing.
However, after the release, there came a quick disappointment, especially with the endgame, which has since improved, but couldn’t hold my interest. Like many others, I drifted away.
Now, with Chapter 3, the game looks completely different than it did at release. Whether it will win me back, I don’t know yet, as there are currently just too many new games and content elsewhere that keep me occupied. But the chances are at least good for a second look at the game.
The direct competition for Dune: Awakening is also on the move. In the last few months, there have not only been new survival titles but also many updates for existing games in the genre, some of which are still in Early Access: The 31 best survival games for PS5, Steam, and Xbox
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Dariusz has been playing Overwatch every day for months and must admit: He is having a lot of fun, and it comes down to three points.
In 2025, I started playing Overwatch again after a long break and tested some new features that were introduced in the previous seasons. Since then, I’ve been playing Overwatch 2 almost every day. The hero shooter even managed to become my most played game of the year on Steam in just 4-5 months, just ahead of Rainbow Six: Siege, Battlefield 6, and Borderlands.
According to Steam, I have around 350 hours in Overwatch 2, almost all of which are from last year, because the last time I actively played OW2, it wasn’t on Steam yet. Before that, I only accumulated a few hours out of professional curiosity.
Over the past few months, there have certainly been moments when I was frustrated with the game or my teammates, but I still have to admit: I have never had as much fun in Overwatch as I do now. And that is mainly due to 3 changes.
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Overwatch 2: The Most Important Things About the Hero Shooter in 43 Seconds
1. The Comeback of the Year
The main reason I’m enjoying Overwatch so much right now is the return of 6v6. The mode initially made a temporary comeback, but due to its popularity, it stayed in the game and may receive more attention from Blizzard in the future.
Currently, there is 6v6 competitive and open queue, in case you don’t want to play ranked. The only thing I’m missing is a closed role queue, because it’s frustrating when our 4 random players all play DPS.
Overall, 6v6 is what I’ve been missing in Overwatch 2. In 5v5, it always felt like the tank role was too crucial for the outcome of the game. If you get a bad tank, the match is often as good as lost. If the tank is really strong, you can sometimes crush the opponents. In 6v6, with two tanks, you won’t get run over immediately when one tank makes a mistake.
There’s just a different game dynamic in 6v6.
Regardless of me, it’s a truly strong comeback because there’s still the option to play 5v5 if that’s preferred. Players have not lost anything; they simply have more options.
2. A Strong Innovation
With Season 15 in 2025, the so-called hero perks were introduced into the game. Every hero can choose one of two minor perks and later one of two major perks during a match. These perks enhance the various abilities of the heroes.
For example, I usually play Ana. She has the following 4 perks to choose from:
Minor:
Dazed: Opponents hit by the sleep dart are slowed for 2 seconds upon waking and take 50 damage during this time.
Tempo Serum: Nanoboost increases the movement speed of Ana and her target by 40 %.
Major:
Biotic Bounce: Biotic Grenade bounces after exploding and explodes again for 60 damage and healing.
Bounty Hunter: Biotic Rifle can deal critical hits to opponents.
These perks not only bring variety to the game. They are also truly powerful. I eventually stopped playing Overwatch 2 when Ana was nerfed over and over again, which bothered me. However, the perks have made her so much fun to play again that I don’t care about the nerfs of the past.
Other heroes also have strong perks. Baptiste has a shoulder shield that automatically heals allies when using abilities. Sojourn’s disruption shot slows down affected opponents. Sigma can charge his shield by throwing hyperspheres at enemies. And Kiriko can heal teammates by dealing damage with kunais.
3. A Whole New Gaming Experience
In April 2025, Overwatch then received a brand new game mode called Stadium as part of Season 16, which has almost a MOBA-like principle that combines it with typical Overwatch gameplay and modes.
The individual rounds in Stadium are generally shorter than a normal Overwatch match, but since you play multiple rounds with individual buying phases, the entire match is a bit longer.
Speaking of buying phases:
In Stadium, you have a wide selection of upgrades that you can buy between rounds. There are items that improve your damage, abilities, or defense, and there are powers that give your abilities a new, powerful effect. For example, Ana can fire sleep darts with her rifle or give allies a weakened nanoboost with her grenade.
I admit, I’m not a big fan of Stadium and prefer classic 6v6, but the mode has been really well received by a large part of the community and is very popular among my friends. Blizzard has created something here that meaningfully expands the gameplay and also offers long-time players something new to invest a lot of time in.
Overall, Overwatch 2 has taken a very good path in 2025 and has managed to win me back as a player. If I want to jump into a competitive shooter for a few rounds after work now, it’s usually Overwatch – which would have been hardly imaginable two years ago.
I am currently really enjoying the hero shooter and am curious about what 2026 will bring. Hopefully, Blizzard can maintain the course and make good decisions in the new year.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Erenshor now receives a major new update that brings not only a new class but also guilds to the MMORPG on Steam.
What kind of MMORPG is this? Erenshor is a very special MMORPG; you are the only real player in it. All other players who chat with you, invite you to groups, and trade with you are simulated by the game.
No matter how fast or slow you play, the NPCs always match your level from the leveling phase to the endgame dungeons. Like in a real MMORPG, you have different classes to choose from, and everything else you usually do in the best genre in the world is simulated by Erenshor.
Here you can see the trailer for the game:
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Erenshor: Trailer for the Singleplayer MMORPG on Steam
Major Update for the MMORPG
What’s included in the new update? The new update features 3 important new features. The first important feature is the new class. The “Reaver” is a Void Knight who becomes stronger the more damage he takes.
The new class comes with a stance system, as well as fear spells that can frighten enemies or yourself. The Void Knight can be played as a DPS, tank, or support class, but usually exchanges health points for mana.
What else is new? The update “Rising Shadows” also introduces guilds. Players can create their own guild or join a simulated guild and interact with other players as usual.
In line with the new guild system is also the new player hub “Reliquary”. It features portals to various locations in the game world and also a personal area where players can run their own shop, an auction house, or a bank.
The players’ own guild can visit and interact with the player’s business.
What else is simulated? Also new are simulated announcements from the Game Master, which point out the rules of the MMORPG and can also impose penalties. As a player, you can break the rules and then experience the consequences firsthand.
You can find the complete patch notes for the update on Steam.
Erenshor may not be a real MMORPG, but it offers players exactly what they always hope for: companionship, challenge, and adventure. It is these cravings that lead players to constantly seek new Kickstarter MMORPGs. One of them has now failed: YouTuber claims the head of Ashes of Creation sold his MMORPG, blaming others
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
