“Elsewhere Entertainment” from Poland belongs to Activision Blizzard and is currently working on a new open-world RPG that suspiciously sounds like GTA.
What kind of game is it? So far, little is known about the secret project at Blizzard. What is known comes from the job postings of the Polish studio (via activision.com) and remains very vague. Nevertheless, the unannounced project is said to be an open-world role-playing game set in a modern urban environment with traffic, vehicles, and chases.
In addition, there will be firearms, melee weapons, and explosions, as well as a partially destructible game world. Of course, there will also be vehicles and a progression system that players can interact with. But not everything screams GTA.
The real GTA 6 is still highly anticipated:
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MeinMMO and GameStar discuss the future of GTA 6
GTA with magic and monsters
What is different from GTA? Although the open-world RPG clearly draws on elements found in GTA, there are also differences. Instead of just fighting with rival gangs, the police, and during heists, the new Blizzard title is also said to feature monsters and magic.
While this may not sound much like GTA as we know it, the title must clearly differentiate itself from the competition. For example, one could replace the zany alien weapons from GTA 5 with magic and still not completely overturn the game’s concept.
Will there be a multiplayer mode? Yes, according to the information available so far, there will also be a multiplayer mode for the new title. Therefore, the new game will not be a pure single-player title, but whether it adopts a sandbox style like GTA Online or a completely different multiplayer concept is still completely unclear.
Who is working on the game? The game is being developed by Elsewhere Entertainment. The developer studio was founded by Activision Blizzard in Warsaw in mid-2024 and is said to be working on “creating a new, story-driven AAA franchise that will redefine a genre,” according to a press release (via activision.com).
This description fits well if you really want to take on GTA 6, because by the time the new title is released, the open-world hit should have long been out.
Despite its short existence, experts who have worked on games such as The Last of Us, Uncharted, The Witcher, Cyberpunk, Destiny, Tom Clancy’s The Division, and Far Cry are said to work at the studio – the opposite of indie games.
With the studio’s founding in 2024 and the current job postings, Blizzard’s GTA will probably take several more years to arrive, but it will be exciting to see how the competition plans to offer a new facet to the genre without being too unusual. Another alternative to GTA is said to have just been completed: Ubisoft wanted to compete with GTA with a game series, now an insider says it is over
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If looting in Arc Raiders feels slower to you, it’s no coincidence. Players have discovered that they are picking up their loot more slowly. The developers have reacted and explained what is going on.
What is the problem? On Reddit and in the shooter’s Discord, some players are complaining that the looting speed has been slowed down. One user writes, for example, that he is using the same skills as always but is slower in reaching his loot. Other players have made the same observation as he did.
According to some users, the pickup speed is said to be even 30% longer, even with active skills that are supposed to increase the speed.
This raised the big question of whether it is a bug or a planned nerf. In the Reddit forum, one player writes that he hopes it is just a bug. He is annoyed when there are undisclosed nerfs. If something is changed about the skills, the users should be informed about it in the patch notes.
Fortunately, the developers have reacted and explained what exactly is behind the slower looting.
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ARC Raiders receives new matchmaking option and trophy display with Headwinds
Developers confirm that you are not just imagining the slow looting
What did the developers respond? On Discord, players have pointed out this and many other problems that have appeared after the patch. There are not only difficulties with the looting speed but also with the firing rate of different weapons.
Community admin Ossen confirmed that the firing rate is actively being investigated. Community manager Birdie took on the looting speed and explained to another user that the team is aware that this problem currently exists. However, it is not intended.
This means that it is not a nerf, but a bug that will eventually be fixed in the future. When this problem will be fixed is still unclear.
Which patch are we even talking about?The latest patch brought update 1.13.0 into the game and runs under the title Headwinds. The biggest new feature is a mode where players from level 40 compete against each other in matchmaking. Additionally, there is now a trophy display, a new map situation called Bird City, and some fresh items and quests.
Meanwhile, the developers have also revealed what players of the shooter can expect in 2026. However, keep in mind that it is still possible that some of the content may be pushed to later dates. The complete roadmap with all content is available on MeinMMO: ARC Raiders: Roadmap 2026 – All the information known
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On ARC Raiders, many players reported lags, issues while gaming, and instability during their rounds on January 28, 2026. What was going on and when players could game comfortably again will be revealed here.
Update, January 29, 2026, 08:00 AM: The servers are still stable this morning. Therefore, we will end our ticker and wish you a pleasant day!
Update, January 28, 2026, 04:35 PM: The servers seem to be stabilizing slowly. We are still monitoring the situation and are ready for further information should the issues return.
Update, January 28, 2026, 03:13 PM: The hotfix has now been rolled out and is 1.2 GB on Steam.
Update, January 28, 2026, 01:19 PM: Ossen, an employee of Embark, has now informed the fans of ARC Raiders that the studio is dealing with DDoS attacks. The team is currently working on solutions to fix the issue. Good progress has already been made.
Additionally, the team is working on a hotfix that should resolve the issues of Patch 1.13 – it is expected to be released later today. However, there is still no end in sight regarding the server issues. (Source: discord.com)
What is happening with the servers? On the official Discord server of ARC Raiders, many players reported server instabilities and lags. There is a chance that you will be kicked from the servers during your rounds. In the worst case, you could lose all your progress from the round, which can be really painful in some cases.
The developers are aware of the problem, and to keep the fans informed, there have already been some updates on the issues.
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ARC Raiders receives new matchmaking option and trophy display with Headwinds
Servers down? Here’s what the developers say
What do we know about the issues? The community manager Solomon reported the problem on Discord at 3:20 AM German time. At that time, it was stated that the team was working to get the lags and instabilities under control, so you wouldn’t lose your loot.
At 4:24 AM it was said that the servers were stabilizing again, only for them to cause problems again at 7:51 AM.
Recently, a message from the team arrived at 9:00 AM German time, stating that the servers are stabilizing again. However, caution is advised during login. Therefore, we will monitor the situation and update the article if problems arise again.
The problems are particularly annoying at the moment, as the new update Headwinds recently appeared, bringing new exciting features to the game that fans can engage with again. Some of them require grinding again, and being kicked from the servers can be frustrating. More about the update can be found here if you missed the patch notes: ARC Raiders: Patch Notes for Update 1.13.0 – Headwinds brings new mode, features, and map situation
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Games Workshop presents new content for all Warhammer worlds at the beginning of the year, including miniatures for the popular tabletop game. Recently, several new items were released for Warhammer 40,000, one of which is generating excitement: a war smith of the Iron Warriors, who is significantly younger than his powerful counterparts.
What kind of mini is this?
During the New Year Preview, Games Workshop showcased several new miniatures for the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop, including the female models for the Custodes.
While Morne may outwardly appear to be just another hero for the beefed-up superhumans, he is sparking discussions in the community – especially regarding his age.
What makes Kravek Morne so special: Even his stance makes Morne extraordinary. The war smiths are the elite of the Iron Warriors. The entire legion forgoes the gifts of the dark gods and instead swears by cybernetic and bionic augmentation.
Specifically, this means: Iron Warriors are – like the Iron Hands of the loyal Space Marines or the Adeptus Mechanicus – convinced that flesh is weak and replace their bodies piece by piece with metal, in the case of the Iron Warriors even partially with demonic machines.
War smiths are the absolute embodiment of this doctrine and are also brilliant tacticians and strategists as well as master craftsmen who can create brutal weapons for their brothers. They combine the powers of chaos with futuristic smithing.
Kravek Morne himself is one of these war smiths, but even more: according to his lore, which originated concurrently with him (on Warhammer Community), he is only 2,000 years old. In comparison: many Space Marines and traitors have been alive since the Horus Heresy in the 31st millennium.
The war smith was forcibly recruited and compelled into the legion. Just 500 years later, he became one of the best leaders of the Iron Warriors and became known for his brutality.
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The trailer for the new edition of the Horus Heresy in Warhammer 40,000
“Not just a new war smith, a NAMED war smith!”
Since Morne’s introduction, there have been countless posts about the new model on Reddit in various subreddits – for example here and here. Fans are absolutely thrilled to not just get a new war smith, but a named hero.
Moreover, Morne’s youth serves as a reminder that not all Space Marines and traitors are veterans of the Horus Heresy, and that many things have evolved over the past 10,000 years. It is easy to forget that most Marines do not belong to this old guard:
I love the narrative of the veterans of the long war and the Heresy-era Marines, but it is so cool to see more modern Marines (like Huron) in the spotlight.
However, not only Morne’s lore is causing discussions, but also his model itself. It stands out with many details and a generally fitting aesthetic – so much so that some fans of Fantasy and Age of Sigmar are considering switching systems.
Highguard was already torn apart by potential players just hours after its release. A general sentiment that had been brewing even before the actual release of the shooter. The head of Larian Studios, Swen Vincke, cannot understand the words of this wave and expresses both criticism but also warning words to the player community.
What does Swen Vincke criticize about the criticism of Highguard? Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian Studios, commented on X about the current sentiment towards the new shooter “Highguard”, which was released only two days ago, on January 26, 2026.
Due to the developers’ decision to remain silent until shortly before the release after the announcement at the Game Awards 2025 many players became suspicious and distrustful instead of developing excitement. Even before the release, there was criticism directed at the shooter, before it could even go live, and this continues to some extent even now.
The way players criticize Highguard deeply troubles Vincke. That players may not find fun in Highguard is not the issue. However, according to his statements, it is no longer criticism but rather condescending words that are no longer constructive but hurtful. And this not only hurts the developers but could also ruin future projects for players:
“If [the creative people who care the most about their games] withdraw because they cannot handle the nastiness, we are all losers, because only those remain who do not care.”
Here you see the trailer for Highguard:
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Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet
Condescending criticism does not lead to improvement, but to games without passion
How do players harm themselves with this kind of criticism? Vincke explains his opinion by stating that under such condescending criticism from players, it is particularly the developers who suffer, who care a lot about their game. Those who remain are the ones who do not care about their community’s opinions. Players, as well as critics and the press, should therefore be careful about whom they truly scare off with their words.
Remember how nervous you were when you had to present something in front of the class. And how every negative remark hurt you.Be kind to each other, be kind to the people who create things to entertain you. Treat them as you would like to be treated when you have created something.
How does Vincke envision a good culture of argument and criticism? Vincke explains that he does not want to take away any player’s opinion about Highguard. However, there are other ways to convey criticism to developers and studios rather than publicly and personally attacking them. Good critics would understand that it is easy to destroy things and much harder to build them.
Critics can simply say: “I did not like it” or “I do not think it is well done” or “I think it is not worth the money”. That’s enough. You do not have to get personal just to get some likes.
Vincke also explains that he does not condone developers or publishers treating their players poorly. Vincke has publicly criticized this multiple times, for which he is highly regarded by the community, artists, and other industry professionals.
He simply advocates for a better culture of argument that is constructive rather than counterproductive: “You do not have to verbally attack the people behind the game to express your disdain. If enough people stop playing games that do not respect their players, the responsible parties will get the message and soon change their course. There are plenty of other games.”
Highguard has so far received a mixed reception among its player base, with opinions varying widely. While some find it overhyped and boring, others appreciate the decisions made during Highguard’s development. Some of our editorial staff at MeinMMO have also gathered their first experiences in the game, including MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus: You are all playing Highguard wrong, but you can’t even blame anyone for it
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Arknights: Endfield, players must build the entire map with power lines and distribution points to supply their factories and mining sites with electricity, but the reach of the cables presents challenges for players.
What are these cables? In Arknights: Endfield, machines and facilities need electricity. This must be brought from the base via power lines and distributors to the remote locations where ores can be mined.
While laying the power cables is not difficult, it can be somewhat tricky because the reach and size of the power poles require clever planning.
Here you can watch a trailer for Arknights: Endfield:
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Arknights: Endfield shows its story in the release trailer
The reach as a problem
Why is reach a problem? The large power poles not only need space above to be placed, but they must also be close enough to another pole to establish a connection.
This route must be walked by players in Arknights: Endfield, with the walked route counting, not the straight line. Thus, it often happens that players have to retrace their steps to find a better, tighter path so that the connection works after all.
The feeling of being at 81 meters of cable connection, but only having 80 meters available, has become ubiquitous among players. However, one mechanic only becomes noticeable to players late.
What do players overlook? Those who, as is common in many games, simply jump around all the time, lose many meters of cable. Because here, too, Arknights: Endfield remembers exactly the movement pattern of the route. This means that one of the oldest gaming tricks, bunny hopping in Arknights: Endfield, can even be detrimental and should be avoided.
This experience has also been shared by players on Reddit, discussing the limits of placing the power poles. As Reddit user felis__cactus explains: “Yesterday I walked a path five times because I knew I could make it long enough (I succeeded). I also found out that character jumps seemingly take away part of the length! Jumping is prohibited therefore.”
Yet Reddit user amissa_navis apparently did not know about this: “What do you mean by ‘I shouldn’t jump’? How dare you prevent me from bouncing over the fields for optimization!”
A tip, however, comes from Reddit user LivingASlothsLife: “Just lift the pole, move it back a bit, and then repeatedly press the connection button. That’s a surefire method to solve cable length issues.”
This trick only works, however, if there is enough space to place the large power pole a bit closer. Otherwise, one can also place a smaller power pole in the middle and lead the 80 meters of cable from both ends to the middle to enable a connection.
Gen Z is struggling with their job search, but the former CEO of Walmart agrees with them: It is important to find the right job so that work doesn’t feel like work. And he has two more recommendations for young graduates.
But the former CEO of Walmart, Doug McMillon, stated in a talk before graduates that this is not unusual and thus agrees with them. Overall, McMillon has three pieces of advice that he shared with young graduates for their future job search.
Select a MMO video…
Young people should look for a job that makes them happy
Doug McMillon became the CEO of the American chain Walmart in February 2014, a position he will hold until his departure on January 31, 2026. His successor will be John Furner.
What are his recommendations? McMillon has two tips for young people when they are searching for a job. Firstly, he recommends that one should be present in their job. This is important if one wants to have a chance on the career ladder. In his graduation speech to the graduates at the University of Arkansas in 2024, McMillon said on YouTube:
When it comes to careers, my advice to anyone who asks me for guidance is to first do your current job well, be present, drive change, deliver results, and do so the right way. Being present in your current position and building trust leads to the next professional opportunity.
A point that has already been discussed among young people for some time. Because for Generation Z, it is particularly important that a job offers a clear career path and opportunities for advancement. Many want to improve, establish themselves, and climb the career ladder. Job changes occur more frequently where there are no clear opportunities to develop.
His second recommendation: People should look for a job that they enjoy. Because if a job is fun, then work will no longer feel like work. Life is too short to waste time on a job that one does not enjoy. He said:
My second piece of advice is to pursue a profession that does not feel like work. Life is too short to invest so much time in something you do not enjoy. I hope you find your place quickly, as I did, but if not, I advise you not to give up until you find it… If you are in the right place, work will often not feel like work at all.
And he gives a third piece of advice: One should assume positive views of others, as there are enough problems in the world: “Be aware that you will have more joy in giving than in taking. In our world today, there are many conflicts, much concern, and too much suffering. We face many challenges that need to be addressed,” he explains.
The pre-event for World of Warcraft: Midnight is running. There are many rewards and a series of tasks to be completed.
In World of Warcraft, we are strongly approaching the release of the expansion Midnight. Only about a month left until we return to Quel’Thalas and must withstand Xal’atath’s assault on the Sunwell. To kick this off, there is – as with every expansion – a pre-event this time with exclusive rewards and a great opportunity to prepare characters for the upcoming add-on. We will reveal what you need to do during the event “Twilight Ascendancy” and what rewards are available.
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
In the Shadowlands, the cultists are attacking
What do you need to do during the pre-event? The capitals of the Alliance and Horde seem to once again be infiltrated by cultists serving the mysterious “Twilight Blade” and trying to recruit more people for their goals. You will fight alongside Grand Magister Rommath and Magister Umbric to put a stop to the cult.
After a short questline, you will head into the Shadowlands. There, the cult activities are already in full swing, and they are trying to increase the influence of the Void on Azeroth – a situation that you certainly cannot let stand.
With various weekly missions, world quests, and rare foes, there will be plenty of loot waiting for you if you keep the respective threats at bay. As usual, most players will be bustling around here in the coming weeks. The currency will be the “Insignias of the Twilight Blade,” which you can then exchange for various rewards at the vendor.
The 3 new housing items that you can earn.
What rewards are available? The rewards can be found with the two NPCs Materialist Ophinell and Armor Smith Kalinovan, whom you can find in the large camp in the Shadowlands. You buy the rewards with the previously earned Insignias of the Twilight Blade. This includes:
Catch-up gear with item level 121 (Champion 1/8)
Tamed Skytear (mount)
Strolchi, Ryay’Dhar, and Emerald Sporebite (pets)
Wooden chair from Silvermoon, Enchanted candelabra of the Blood Elves, and Winged Chaise longue of the Sin’dorei (decorations)
Arsenal: Weathered gear of the Shadowhammer (weapon transmogifications)
Ensemble: Worn attire of the Shadowhammer cultist (transmog set)
Strictly confidential training manual of the Twilight Blade (toy)
How long does the event run? The event runs until the launch of Midnight, that is, until March 3, 2026. So you have about 5 weeks to earn all the rewards, which should be more than enough to prepare one or the other character for the new expansion. It is definitely worth stocking up on housing items, as you can also build fantastic homes, like the quirky house of Ticks.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With Fallout Season 2, a continuation of the Amazon series finally arrives in 2025. Unlike before, this time the release structure is changing. MeinMMO tells you when you can expect the next episode.
Update: The article was updated on January 28, 2026, with release times for episode 8.
When does Episode 8 of Fallout Season 2 come out? Episode 8 of Season 2 of Fallout will be released on February 4th, 2026.
Where can you watch the episode? The episode and the entire season will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. You can also watch the first season of the series there.
How many episodes of Fallout Season 2 are there? A total of 8 episodes are planned for Season 2.
When will the remaining episodes be released? The eighth episode is the grand finale of season 2. This means that no further episodes will be released after that.
Here is an overview of when the episodes have been released so far:
December 17, 2025: Episode 1
December 24, 2025: Episode 2
December 31, 2025: Episode 3
January 7, 2026: Episode 4
January 14, 2026: Episode 5
January 21, 2026: Episode 6
January 28, 2026: Episode 7
February 4, 2026: Episode 8 (Season Finale)
You can watch the trailer for Season 2 of Fallout here:
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Trailer for Season 2 of Fallout on Prime – from December 2025
The Plot of Fallout Season 1
Warning Spoilers: In the following section, we will discuss the plot and the finale of Fallout Season 1.
What happened in Season 1 of Fallout? Season 1 of Fallout introduced us to Lucy, Maximus, and Cooper Howard, three main characters whose paths crossed throughout the season. Lucy tried to find her father outside her safe bunker, confronting the dangers of the world for the first time.
In the finale of Season 1, Lucy discovers a shocking truth about her father, Hank MacLean, who existed hundreds of years ago but was frozen as an employee of Vault-Tec. As it turns out, the ghoul Cooper Howard also has a past with Hank.
By the end of the season, Hank MacLean escapes. Lucy and the ghoul go in search of him. Maximus survived a serious wound in the finale, and we see him being celebrated by the Brotherhood of Steel for the death of Moldaver, with whom he had nothing to do.
As we know, our protagonists are taken to New Vegas in the new season, the setting of the game of the same name.
The trailer for Season 2 shows that there will be flashbacks revealing the past behind the Great War and the companies behind it. The ominous Mr. House seems to play an important role.
You are looking for Zygarde cells and want to change its form? We will show you in the guide how this works in Pokémon GO.
The Pokémon Zygarde can change its form in Pokémon GO. For this, tools like the Zygarde Cube and Zygarde cells are necessary.
We will show you everything you need to know about the Pokémon and its forms. As soon as more information is gathered from trainers, we will update the article for you.
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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
Finding Zygarde Cells
Where can you find cells? With the new Route feature in Pokémon GO, you can create your own routes or follow routes created by other trainers. It is the only way you can currently find Zygarde cells.
You can find routes by clicking the “Nearby” symbol at the bottom right of the screen. Click on it and then select the “Routes” tab.
If you are lucky, routes will appear near you. Select one of them to follow the route. Then go to the starting point and follow the designated route that you see in the game.
On your way, you have the chance to find the brightly glowing green Zygarde cells on the ground.
It’s very important: you must tap the cells when you see them in the game. They are not automatically collected.
If you find a cell, it will be collected in your cube. Depending on the form, you will need different amounts of cells.
Tips for Finding Zygarde Cells
Players like Reddit user ufovictim share their tips and observations with the community:
According to current information, you can get a maximum of 3 cells per day
Per route, you can get a maximum of one cell per day. If you run the same route multiple times a day, it will not yield any additional cells
The exact spawn chances of cells are unknown
Routes do not guarantee you cells
It is said that there are “Super Cells” that give you 3 cells at once
Whether you complete a route quickly or slowly has no impact on finding cells – go at a pace that suits you
When a cell appears on the map, it can be found close to the route
It is best to set your smartphone brightness very high to see the cell, which shines brightly green, better
You must tap the cells to collect them. After collecting, you will receive a message. If you do not see the message, you can access your Zygarde collection to check the amount of your collected cells
What do the forms cost? The optimal form of Zygarde costs a total of 250 cells. Therefore, you need to follow many routes to achieve the final form of Zygarde.
For 50 cells, you can change the 10% form to the 50% form
It then costs 200 additional cells to change the 50% form to the optimal form
If you already have the optimal form, you can switch to the 10% form and 50% form for candies and stardust
How do you like the mechanics of changing Zygarde’s form and do you already have a favorite form that you definitely want to activate? Let us know your opinion here in the comments on MeinMMO.
The Witcher 4 is set to be released next year, but the wait can be eased with another game from the Witcher universe. In this game, you experience familiar characters, make decisions, fight, and … swipe?
What kind of game is this? The new Witcher game is Reigns: The Witcher by Nerial, published by Devolver Digital.
Reigns is essentially an interactive narrative where you make decisions using cards. In the main game, you rule a kingdom as a medieval monarch. There are several spin-offs, including one based on Game of Thrones. This February, the “The Witcher” variant of the series will be released.
In Reigns: The Witcher, you take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, hunt monsters, stir up trouble, or treat yourself to a bath. The story is told as part of the ballads of Dandelion. One of the central mechanics is that you must “swipe” left or right like on Tinder to make decisions.
The trailer already gives a first impression of Reigns: The Witcher:
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In Reigns: The Witcher on Steam, you must swipe as Geralt of Rivia to win
At its core, Reigns: The Witcher is a “Witcher fanfiction simulator”
These are the game mechanics: You take on the role of the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia and make your decisions by swiping cards left or right. Each of these decisions has direct consequences for the further course of the game. Dandelion’s ballads send you on dangerous, but also degrading quests from the residents, which can lead to dramatic turns.
On your adventures, you will encounter familiar figures like Yennefer, Triss, and Vesemir – and everything is based on Dandelion’s own version of the ballads. Each playthrough is unique, as you draw different cards and your decisions lead to different consequences. If you fail, you still learn something for the next run.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, Narrative Designers Oscar Harrington-Shaw and Design Director Francois Alliot explain that the battles in Reigns: The Witcher aim to capture the feeling of how Geralt “dances” around his opponents with a drawn sword. This all takes place in the simple format of the game: You swipe left and right in rhythm to avoid attacks.
At its core, Reigns: The Witcher is a “Witcher fanfiction simulator,” say the developers. You play as Geralt, who tries to survive within Dandelion’s songs, with quests that Geralt could plausibly have experienced, but also with stories that Dandelion has probably embellished a bit to entertain his audience.
When will the game be released? Reigns: The Witcher will be released on February 25, 2026, for PC on Steam and GOG, as well as for mobile devices. You can already add the game to your wishlist on Steam to not miss the release and further updates. The price is not yet known, but the main game and other spin-offs all range between 3 and 5 Euros.
Some of the characters you encounter in Reigns: The Witcher are already seen in the trailer for the new game. Who else will join Geralt will be revealed by the time of the release. By the way, in our ranking, we have sorted the most powerful figures around Geralt of Rivia according to their strength: The 10 most powerful characters from The Witcher in the Power Ranking
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What kind of new class is this? Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has introduced the new class of the coop shooter, the Techmarine, in detail. It will be released with Patch 12, expected in February 2026.
Techmarines are like engineers and mechanics, ensuring that the machines of the Space Marines function – accordingly, the abilities and arsenal of the class in Space Marine 2 reflect this.
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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 presents its roadmap for the second year of the popular third-person shooter
Engineer with automatic cannons and axe
What exactly can the Techmarine do? The special ability of the Techmarine is the so-called Servo-Gun. This is a cannon mounted on the shoulder of the fighter that can automatically annihilate a group of opponents with a powerful salvo.
Furthermore, the Techmarine can scout and activate stationary Tarantula turrets that fire at enemies until they are out of ammunition or destroyed.
In combat, it has the following arsenal available:
Primary Weapons:
Storm Bolter
Bolt Rifle
Heavy Bolt Rifle
Occulus Bolt Carbine
Plasma Gun
Secondary Weapons:
Bolt Pistol
Heavy Bolt Pistol
Plasma Pistol
Inferno Pistol
Neo-Volkite Pistol
Melee Weapons:
Combat Knife
Energy Sword
Power Axe
Omnissian Axe
Notably, the iconic gear axe, called the Omnissian Axe, has its own trailer:
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The Omnissian Axe is a new melee weapon exclusive to the Techmarine with a wide attack radius. Additionally, it has a special attack called “Omnissian Rush,” where the Techmarine charges forward and impales his enemies.
The Techmarine is primarily designed for crowd control and is meant to keep enemy hordes at bay while his allies deal damage. The developers describe him as a hybrid class with a slight tendency towards melee combat.
If you have enjoyed Space Marine 2 so far, but have not yet fully immersed yourself in the world of Warhammer, you could change that in 2026. MeinMMO editor and Warhammer fan Benedict Grothaus thinks that now is the perfect time to enter the world of Warhammer.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The disgraced former Twitch streamer DrDisrespect allegedly participated in the launch event of the new shooter Highguard (Steam, PS5). However, the devs know nothing about it.
What was the situation? On January 26, 2026, the raid shooter Highguard was released on Steam, PS5, and Xbox. The game had been kept a great secret following its surprising reveal at the 2025 Game Awards, but some media representatives and content creators were given the opportunity to try the shooter at an event.
Among the streamers who shared their participation on social media was DrDisrespect. The streamer posted a picture on X on January 24 showing some gaming accessories, along with an event badge for media representatives. He wrote: “Last week we took the Lambo to LA to check out Highguard.”
DrDisrespect posted a photo of the alleged Highguard event on X
Strangely, other participants at the event claimed they had not seen the streamer there.
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Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet
DrDisrespect allegedly faked participation
What came out now? As Chin Pua, the creator manager of Highguard, confirmed on X, DrDisrespect was not only not invited to the launch event but also to any Highguard event in the past or present. The badge shown was not official.
Users on Reddit also noted that the layout on DrDisrespect’s alleged badge did not match that of other creators who attended the event. It seems the streamer manipulated the image using AI to feign his participation.
It is unclear why the streamer might have lied about his participation. Some users on social media consider the post to be “bait”, a way for DrDisrespect to stay in the conversation and perhaps attract viewers to his stream. Others find the stunt simply embarrassing and label the streamer as a “loser”.
Regardless of his participation, DrDisrespect showcased the shooter on launch day for about 8 hours, reaching 400,000 views alone on YouTube, roughly double what he received on most of his streams in recent weeks.
When Baldur’s Gate 3 was finally released, the role-playing game brought some changes compared to the Early Access, but many scenes were also removed. Now, thanks to a fan, you can experience them again.
On August 3, 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 celebrated its full release after being playable in Early Access since October 2020. With the final release, a lot changed in the version of the role-playing game. A few months before the release, the developers even advised against buying the “Early Access” version – as it risks ruining the fun of the game.
What was removed for the final release? Despite the enormous size of Baldur’s Gate 3, many contents did not make it into the final version. Data miners found, for example, many hours of unused voice lines in the game data. Other scenes were only included in the “Early Access” version. We reveal to you which contents are not in the game and why they are missing at release.
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Baladur’s Gate rettete Larian Studios und ist jetzt noch beliebter
Why are the contents now playable? A fan’s mod allows old scenes, cutscenes, and dialogues to be experienced again in the role-playing game. Most of these were taken almost unchanged from the “Early Access” version. Other contents were completely reconstructed by the modder – based on “remnants” he could find in the game data. Especially fans who have never played the Early Access can now catch up on missed content.
Mod brings back over 1,000 voiced dialogue lines to the game
What kind of mod is this? The mod for Baldur’s Gate 3 is called “Early Access Scenes Restored” and brings back a large amount of removed, but also newly compiled, content to the game. The modder HyperspaceTowel explains that he has integrated over 100 conversations and more than 1,000 voiced dialogue lines that still fit into the game. Additionally, characters react to various events from Act 1.
Mod features include:
more NPC encounters and camp events
restored NPCs, encounters, and camp scenes
more reactivity from companions
additional approval or disapproval from companions
revised cutscenes with improved camera work and timing
removed Early Access dialogue lines integrated into the full version dialogues
HyperspaceTowel has also announced that he wants to bring more content back into the role-playing game in the future. Planned are, among other things, more reactivity for Wyll and Karlach, Thralls on the Nautiloid, and additional dialogues for the player character.
A teaser for the mod can be seen here:
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This is what fans say about it: Under the YouTube video, many fans immediately announce another playthrough. Cassandra_Solidor writes: “I just took a little break from BG3 – and then you come up with THIS?! Well, break’s over!” And optimaltime writes: “Looks like the 100th playthrough is back on the menu, folks.”
Fans are also talking about the new mod on Reddit. For example, Medium-Theme-4611 notes in a Reddit post that this is the perfect time if you just failed in Honour mode. And Lord_Snaps jokes: “Great. Then I probably won’t see my wife for a week now.”
Even without mods, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers an enormous amount of dialogues thanks to the sophisticated characters and many possible decisions. A player even gathered all the spoken dialogues in the game and calculated how many days one would have to listen continuously to experience them all once. She also revealed who the biggest chatterbox among the companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 is.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Just in time for March, Final Fantasy XIV brings the Easter event: the Wonder Egg Hunt. 2026 features glasses designed like eggs and Easter decorations.
[toc]
Wonder Egg Hunt 2026
Where do I start the Wonder Egg Hunt event? The Wonder Egg Hunt starts in the forest city of Gridania. Specifically, it begins in Old Gridania:
Period: 23.03.2026 – 06.04.2026
Location: Old Gridania; X: 10.2, Y: 9.4
NPC: Fashionable Dreamer
Minimum level: 15
Not much is known about the event’s story. Specifically, it says on the event page: A fashionable dreamer smiles at you. In English, it further mentions that the character’s day would have improved because of it.
The following rewards can be claimed:
Equipment
Party Egg Glasses
Wonder Egg Glasses
Thin-Rimmed Egg Glasses
Spriggan Glasses
Chicken Glasses
Flower Glasses
Items
Magazine The Insight – Party Egg Glasses
Magazine The Insight – Wonder Egg Glasses
Magazine The Insight – Spriggan Glasses
Magazine The Insight – Chicken Glasses
Magazine The Insight – Flower Glasses
Scattered Saliah Eggs
Filled Saliah Egg Basket
Saliah Egg Basket
Wonder Egg Hunt Poster 2025
Wonder Egg Hunt Poster 2016
Wonder Egg Hunt Table Decoration 2025
Moreover, items from previous Wonder Egg Hunts will also be available from the Dreamer.
What are the next in-game events? Final Fantasy XIV has various events throughout the year. These are the upcoming ones for the year 1016:
Firemoon Festival (Midsummer)
Festival of Rebirth (Midsummer)
All Saints’ Wake (Halloween)
Star Light Festival (End of Year)
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Rocking trailer for “Into the Mist” sets the stage for patch 7.4
The Past Events 2026
The Princess Festival 2026
Where do I start the Princess Festival? The grand Princess Festival 2026 is the first in-game event that begins this year in Ul’dah. Players are expected at the Nald Crossroads.
A royal servant from under the Sultana is unsure if he needs support for a research project. If you assist him, the following rewards can be yours:
Equipment
Oversized Ulala Tunic
Oversized Masha Tunic
Oversized Narumi Tunic
Oversized Picot Tunic
Emotes
Cheer (Groove/Red)
Cheer (Groove/Purple)
Cheer (Groove/White)
Cheer (Groove/Yellow)
Cheer (Groove/Blue)
Cheer (Groove/Green)
Items
Sheet music of “Sweet Dreamer’s Melody”
Princess Festival Poster 2018
Princess Festival Poster 2025
Princess Festival Table Decoration 2025
Weeping Cherry
Additionally, there should also be items from previous Princess Festivals available from the NPC Royal Servant.
Valention Day 2026
Where do I start the Valention Day event? The Valention Day festival is celebrated in the in-game city of Gridania. It is Eorzea’s equivalent of Valentine’s Day.
Period: 02.02.2026 to 16.02.2026
Location: Old Gridania, X: 10.2, Y: 9.4
NPC: Astrid
Minimum level: 15
Requirement: Complete Quest The Secret of the Sastasha Cave
This year, NPC Astrid seems to urgently need adventurer help. Her plans for Valention Day went wrong. As a reward, there is quite a lot to grab in 2026:
Equipment
Comfortable Valention Beret
Comfortable Valention Cardigan
Comfortable Valention Pants
Cozy Valention Beret
Cozy Valention Cardigan
Cozy Valention Skirt
Comfortable Valention Shoes
Items
Sheet music of “Affection Confection”
Sheet music of “Flavors of the Heart”
Sheet music of “A Heartfelt Finish”
Valention Chair
Valention Round Table
Valention Carpet
Rolanberries Valention Cake
Valention Poster 2025
Additionally, items from previous Valention festivals will also be available. These will be sold by the NPC Maid of the House Valention.
Heavensward 2026
Where do I start the Heavensward event? The Heavensward festival is celebrated in the in-game city of Limsa Lominsa.
To celebrate the Year of the Horse, there are two new rewards to be earned. One is a golden wall screen for housing, and the other is the companion Little Unicorn – a small unicorn.
Additionally, rewards from previous years will also be available for purchase in-game. Furthermore, it is possible that the major rewards from last year may appear in the real money shop. On page 2, you can find the already past events. If you want to know what tasks are available in the current Patch 7.4, you will find all information here.
Star Light Festival 2025
Where do I start the Star Light Festival? The Star Light Festival 2025 takes place again in Old Gridania. Here are the key details:
Period: 17.12.2025 to 31.12.2025
Location: Old Gridania; X: 10.2, Y: 9.4
NPC: Amh Garanjy
Minimum level: 15
As a reward, new housing items can be claimed: tea cups. On top of that, six different emotes allow the character to sip hot drinks from variously designed drinking vessels.
Additionally, rewards from previous years will also be available for purchase in-game. Furthermore, it is likely that the major rewards from last year may appear in the real money shop.
What is the Star Light Festival? The Star Light Festival in Final Fantasy XIV is a winter or Christmas event. The starting cities of the MMORPG are decorated for Christmas, and there is a short quest with corresponding rewards upon completion.
Additionally, special events and crossovers also start, like recently with Monster Hunter Wilds. Over the past years, there has been ongoing discussion in the Final Fantasy XIV community about whether event rewards have generally gotten worse over time. MeinMMO looked into it: Events in Final Fantasy XIV are actually fun, but fans are dissatisfied – Here’s why
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Behind Cryptic Studios lie turbulent years and the downgrade from a developer of genre-defining MMORPGs to a mere administrator. A new owner and the return of studio co-founder Jack Emmert are set to bring about change. MeinMMO spoke with the industry veteran.
What is the status of Cryptic? In recent years, it looked quite bleak for the 26-year-old Cryptic Studios at times.
At this point, one of the largest and most experienced MMORPG studios from the West has developed into a mere administrator of existing services. A studio, mind you, of which almost all final published games are still live today and each has a small but dedicated community.
Only the servers of City of Heroes or City of Villains were shut down inbetween (specifically: 2012), but the rights had already been with NCSoft. But: Thanks to the privately developed Homecoming project, this superhero MMORPG still lives on today, and even with official permission from the publisher.
This underlines how important the legacy of Cryptic is for many MMORPG fans.
Neverwinter is one of the MMORPGs that continues to be supplied with new content by Cryptic to this day.
Reason number 2, announced very recently: With Jack Emmert, one of the original studio founders returns to Cryptic to assume the role of CEO and guide the direction in the future. The industry veteran has worked on all the Cryptic MMORPGs released so far and has also been responsible for continuing DC Universe Online while serving as CEO of Daybreak.
At Cryptic, the developer can leave this unpleasant chapter behind and look forward. But what is on the horizon? This is exactly what MeinMMO discussed with Jack Emmert.
Jack Emmert and his new role at Cryptic
MeinMMO: Jack, you have had turbulent months behind you. It must have been incredibly bitter for the team to have to shelve the Warhammer MMORPG after all that work and search for a new job … Can you take me a bit from there? How do you look back on that time, your own studio, and the project? And how did your return to your old workplace come about? Does that have something to do with the fact that Cryptic no longer belongs to Embracer and has a new owner?
Jack Emmert: It actually has a lot to do with my return. And you are right, it was a devastating experience. I ended up in a very dark place when I had to close down the studio. As a big Warhammer fan, not being able to make the game and implement my vision was hard.
I was in contact with Yoon, the CEO of Arc Games, and he asked me if I wanted to come back. They had just initiated the separation from Embracer, and suddenly the future of Arc Games and Cryptic was back in their own hands. It was an exciting development.
Equally exciting was returning to a studio that has been around for 26 years. That’s not something you achieve easily in any industry. And I liked the idea of returning to help lay the groundwork for the next 26 years. I want to ensure that Cryptic continues to mean something to players in the future and that the studio’s legacy remains alive.
Jack Emmert has worked on several MMORPGs at Cryptic, including Neverwinter.
MeinMMO: So we now have publisher Arc Games, Cryptic Studios, the new owner Project Golden Arc, and the financing from XD Inc. How do all these puzzle pieces fit together? Who has the final say when it comes to the future of Cryptic?
Jack Emmert: My boss, the CEO of Arc Games, told me: Jack, do what you’ve always done, whatever you want to do. And there is so much that I still want to do. However, for the time being, my number one focus is on our current games. I want to know where they stand in detail. I want to get to know the teams. I want to get to know their communities today. We’ll come back to all other ideas when time allows.
MeinMMO: From the outside, it has been difficult to assess what remains of the old Cryptic in recent years. Therefore, I wonder: How much is still left in one of the most experienced MMORPG studios in the West?
Jack Emmert: In fact, many of the people I hired 20 years ago still work at Cryptic. But there are of course also new faces. That’s quite normal in a company of this size.
MeinMMO: What size are we talking about? How many employees does Cryptic currently consist of?
Jack Emmert: Oh, we can’t … you know, that’s internal. Let me put it this way: Our development teams are larger today than they were when I left Cryptic back then.
MeinMMO: Were you able to bring some employees from Jackalyptic into your new adventure?
Jack Emmert: I have not done that yet. I think it wouldn’t be fair to the great people already on Cryptic’s teams. I don’t want to turn everything upside down in the first weeks.
What is clear is that there were some major upheavals under Embracer. That was about a year ago. Everyone who’s here now is part of Cryptic for me. And we all have a goal: How can we make our games better in the future?
MeinMMO: New owner, your return … how does this affect existing services like Neverwinter, Star Trek Online, and Champions Online? In the preliminary announcement, it mentioned that you would like to rebuild the existing game portfolio for a new generation of players …what does that mean precisely?
Jack Emmert: This brings a reassessment of the three current games. You can’t just modernize them. They were made ten, fifteen years ago. However, you can facilitate the entry and improve the player guidance at the start.
One problem all MMORPGs face over time is that they become increasingly extensive and complex. Players who played years ago and then took a long break often hesitate to return. Addressing this is my main goal this year.
Anyone starting with Neverwinter today should have a good time from the start and have fun. The changes that have occurred over the years should not matter. Just jump in and have fun, with access to all the new content as well.
So we are sitting down with all three games to consider how we can achieve this. The people who loved one of the games back then should feel comfortable coming back.
The focus is first on the still ongoing MMORPGs Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and Neverwinter.
MeinMMO: So the focus is on the current services. Is it too early to already engage with ideas for new projects or even concrete plans?
Jack Emmert: Yes, it is still too early to talk about these. Do I have plans for the future? Sure! But none of them are concrete enough. I have only been at Cryptic for two weeks.
MeinMMO: Where do you see Cryptic in 10 years? What is your long-term vision for the studio?
Jack Emmert: I want to release at least one more MMO. I want to ensure that Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and Neverwinter grow healthily on PC and consoles. There are other IPs I would love to bring to life.
MeinMMO: Can you give examples?
Jack Emmert: Warhammer, of course. I have never released a game for Marvel. Ancient mythology also fascinates me as a setting; I am a big fan of that. And then I would really like to make a fantasy pirate game. That would be something really cool.
There are many pirate-themed games out there, but I would create one where you steer an undead ship and fight against fishmen riding sea monsters or something. These are all things that are swirling around in my head. Oh, a new Star Trek game would be fantastic. Similarly, a new game for Dungeons & Dragons.
MeinMMO: Can you reveal which Warhammer universe the MMORPG would have been set in? And how likely is it that Cryptic takes on this franchise for a new game?
Jack Emmert: Unfortunately, I cannot reveal that; I would need permission from Games Workshop.
MeinMMO: The legal situation probably didn’t allow you to carry the project to Cryptic, right?
Jack Emmert: Exactly. There are a lot of factors at play, making it difficult to speculate on what could happen in terms of the IP and the specific project.
The Warhammer MMORPG may have failed, but it remains a dream of Jack Emmert to develop a game for the Warhammer universe.
The Future of MMORPGs
MeinMMO: You have been making MMOs for so many years, worked on great games, but you have also seen some projects fail. How has the development of MMORPGs changed in your view over the past decades? Are there things today that must be considered that barely played a role back then?
Jack Emmert: The moment-to-moment gameplay is much more important today. Click A and then automatic attacks trigger just doesn’t work in the current market anymore. Therefore, much more time and craftsmanship must be invested to keep the fundamentals entertaining.
It’s no longer enough to reward players with materials for a rare recipe; they want more. Even that makes a huge difference compared to before.
MeinMMO: What does an MMORPG need today, in your view, to be successful in its niche or in the mainstream?
Jack Emmert: When a large group of players must cooperatively work together in a closed environment, you’re on the right track. We don’t have games today where 100 players fight a dragon together. Modern games don’t do that anymore. However, MMORPGs did do this before, and that is something that MMOs can do better than any other genre.
MeinMMO: Throne and Liberty tried exactly that, but it’s very guild-focused, and hardcore guilds dominate many servers.
Jack Emmert: That’s okay for me. As developers, we just need to ensure that accessibility is sufficiently high, and there are ways to achieve that. It is simply important to me that players feel that massively part of MMORPGs again, because that sets them apart from other games. Equally essential is deep character progression, but that has always been important.
MeinMMO: It’s interesting to observe that many Asian developers are currently taking the opposite approach and focusing on contents for solo players and small groups in their MMO worlds.
Jack Emmert: Yes, that is something we can already observe in the West for some time now. Games like Destiny have emerged from this. I’m not surprised that this is now happening more in Asia, especially since the focus there is much larger on mobile and hence, they have to deal with certain technical limitations.
The developers of ArcheAge Chronicles avoid the MMORPG term and instead refer to it as an online action RPG.
MeinMMO: Something I’ve noticed repeatedly over the last year or two: Developers seem to avoid the term “MMORPG” whenever possible—especially when positioning a game for consoles. In 2024, New World: Aeternum was suddenly re-marketed as an “Online Action RPG.” The developers of ArcheAge Chronicles mostly use the same designation. Do you see the term “MMORPG” becoming toxic in your view, laden with negative associations? Or do you see another reason why that term is being avoided?
Jack Emmert: Personally, I embrace the term. I wouldn’t avoid it. However, I can understand that some might mistakenly believe that the MMORPG term carries a negative connotation due to things like grind or the need to commit to an MMO for an extended period.
However, the enormously successful launch of New World proved that many players still love the MMO genre today. The game quickly sold over 10 million units. And it was an MMO and was marketed as such. So why should one distance yourself from it?
MeinMMO: Last year, not only was the Warhammer MMORPG canceled, but also the Ghost project by Greg Street and the new MMO project by Zenimax. Additionally, there is a huge question mark behind Embracer’s Lord of the Rings MMO. Do you believe we will ever see another ambitious MMORPG from the West that can captivate beyond the launch honeymoon? And which already announced game do you have the highest hopes for?
Jack Emmert: I don’t want to make predictions about others’ projects. That would be disrespectful to my colleagues. I hope all the currently announced MMOs release and are successful.
The costly failures of the past are causing nobody to be willing to fork out a check for a large MMO today. I think the initial strategy was wrong in these cases, but I also understand that today, people are more cautious.
Recently, much of the financing has come from China, but that is now coming to an end as well. Nevertheless, I think that MMOs can be successful today. What players must understand is: There are no longer those large budgets from back in the day for development. You can no longer just throw 100 or 200 million US dollars into a new MMO.
What can be done instead: Develop a more focused, manageable project and grow it into something larger over time. There are many games out there whose current foundation could easily be built upon with an update or expansion.
A Helldivers 2 could easily be turned into an MMO with expansions over the years. That doesn’t mean they will do it. But that’s the model that could work today: Start with a focused project. Maybe it’s just a 10-hour RPG with coop mechanics.
The first expansion could then add an open-world experience, and later come raids, and so on. And step by step you might suddenly end up with a 100 million dollar MMO that actually consists of several interconnected parts, each of which only cost 25 million dollars to make.
MeinMMO: Ghostcrawler described exactly this path when the funding for his MMO Ghost was halted. Plan B was to first create a focused experience from the current prototype and then develop it into the original MMO idea over time.Unfortunately, he also found no investors for that.
Superhero MMORPGs play a significant role in Jack Emmert’s career.
Jack Emmert and Superhero MMORPGs
You worked on City of Heroes / City of Villains, Champions Online, and Marvel Universe Online … as CEO of Daybreak’s studio in Austin, DC Universe Online was also under your responsibility … so one could say that superhero MMOs have followed you through your career. Have you followed the Steam launch of Ship of Heroes, which wants to be a kind of spiritual successor to your works?
Jack Emmert: I have heard of it, but I probably know more about the revival project City of Heroes Homecoming.
MeinMMO: Were you surprised that NCSoft granted the operators of the Homecoming servers of City of Heroes the official permission to operate the servers? And what does it mean to you that a game you worked on so many years ago still has such a loyal community?
Jack Emmert: I think that’s a great thing. I find that wonderful. And it makes me happy that all my games I’ve ever published are still playable today. That’s really something.
MeinMMO: With all the experiences you’ve gathered … what would a superhero MMO from Jack Emmert look like today?
Jack Emmert: I would restrict the open world and choose a focused, urban setting for the game. The missions would take you inside buildings with your self-created superheroes. I would probably opt for character classes. Definitely, individual customization options for things like costumes would play a big role.
But here’s the exciting point, because I’ve always wanted to do this: To make the city feel alive, the players’ actions would affect the missions and enemies that appear in the city.
An example: The more you fight against the criminal gang number 1, the more their negative influence disappears from the streets. There is less graffiti on the walls, more expensive cars drive through the streets. What nobody knew? The gang had kept a secret cult in check. This can now spread in the city and abduct people for its rituals.
Imagine an entire city with many such relationships, and when something happens, something else always results from it. With each login, one never knows what is happening in the city.
MeinMMO: That reminds me a bit of Everquest Next, just without the terraforming.
Jack Emmert: Yes, just a bit more scripted. Everquest Next was supposed to be a bit freer in its sandbox, while mine would have more dependencies.
MeinMMO: As a conclusion to our conversation, do you perhaps have a word of hope for the many frustrated MMORPG fans out there? The last 10 years have been very mixed in terms of releases…
Jack Emmert: If you have ever played one of our games—like Neverwinter, Champions Online, or Star Trek Online—come back. Give the games a chance. I am personally playing these games again after a 10-year break, and the coming year will be all about getting to know these games and reconnecting the communities.
And while you are diving back in like I am, give me some time. Because it is as sure as the Amen in church that one day a new MMO from me will come. Stay tuned!
MeinMMO: Jack, thank you very much for the exciting insights and your time. I wish you and the team at Cryptic all the best!
World of Warcraft: Midnight is about to launch, but Blizzard is already preparing for the new expansion with the pre-patch. This affects all classes, as overall damage has been significantly reduced.
The adjustments apply equally to players and bosses, which has led to the current content becoming ridiculously easy. Accordingly, the current DPS numbers are quite absurd, but give you a good picture of who with raid gear will be ahead at the Midnight release.
Our DPS list shows actual numbers achieved by tens of thousands of players, not simulated values. So here you will find real performances (on average) and usually get a sense of what your class can do in the raid.
Note that characters with similar gear can achieve different DPS values. This is due to numerous factors such as player skill and experience, knowledge of the fight, type of encounter, raid composition, number of critical hits or procs, special tasks, and so on.
Start video
WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
Midnight DPS Ranking: The Best Classes to Start
For our list, we reference data from warcraftlogs. We are looking at the heroic mode with a percentile value of 75 across all bosses and considering only the time since the release of the pre-patch (as of January 27, 2026, via warcraftlogs).
We continuously update the list. The current ranking in heroic mode is as follows:
Rank
Class
DPS
1
Survival Hunter
43,262
2
Unholy Death Knight
42,573
3
Affliction Warlock
40,647
4
Destruction Warlock
40,531
5
Subtlety Rogue
37,299
6
Fury Warrior
36,199
7
Arcane Mage
35,703
8
Windwalker Monk
34,946
9
Havoc Demon Hunter
33,708
10
Enhancement Shaman
33,529
11
Shadow Priest
33,448
12
Beast Mastery Hunter
32,603
13
Frost Mage
29,412
14
Arms Warrior
26,360
15
Elemental Shaman
29,102
16
Retribution Paladin
28,502
17
Devourer Demon Hunter
28,352
18
Feral Druid
27,795
19
Outlaw Rogue
27,450
20
Balance Druid
27,268
21
Frost Death Knight
26,482
22
Marksmanship Hunter
25,852
23
assassination Rogue
24,089
24
Fire Mage
23,847
25
Enhancement Caller
23,508
26
Demonology Warlock
22,735
27
Destruction Warlock
21,632
The overall damage is now only about a hundredth of the values before the squish, and almost all classes that were in the lower half of the list before the pre-patch are now found somewhere in the top or even at the top. In contrast, the previous leaders are now significantly lower – especially hard hit are the warlocks.
However, due to the adjustments, many boss fights now run significantly different, creating a slightly distorted image. Notably, survival hunters, who are usually very underrepresented, now participate in the middle of the most popular classes with over 9,300 records. In contrast, the bottom spot is occupied by outlaw rogues (2,759 parses).
The current scaling not only results in strange numbers for damage but also leads to unusual behavior of healing potions. However, one could expect some absurd situations during the squish – historically, this has happened every time.
However, Blizzard has not only tinkered with the scaling, but is also delving deeper into the game: many addons no longer work, some of which were particularly relevant for raiders. This also affects the DPS list (currently). However, it is not as bad as initially feared: Addons in WoW remain powerful – Blizzard breaks the biggest promise for Midnight
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With Highguard, a new free-to-play shooter launched on Steam on January 26, 2026 – and has received terrible reviews right away. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus played it himself and believes that the criticism from many negative reviews stems from a wrong approach to the game.
Yes, Highguard had a pretty strange release: no marketing except for a brief shoutout at the Game Awards, no pre-release testing, and hardly any information before launch. Nobody really knew what Highguard was supposed to be.
It seemed somewhat like the developers were trying to copy the surprise success of Apex Legends, which also just appeared back then. No wonder: Highguard is developed by Wildlight Entertainment, a studio of veterans who have worked on Apex Legends and Titanfall.
That didn’t work out. Unlike Apex Legends, the launch of Highguard is a disaster. With less than 100,000 players on release night (according to SteamDB) and a rating of 30% positive reviews out of over 18,800 reviews on Steam, the signs are not good.
I found the first two rounds entertaining but then became annoyed with the balancing. It seemed like I never had a chance after respawning. It took several more rounds for me to understand how the game works. I have now invested nearly 6 hours on the first evening and think Highguard is really good.
Start video
Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet
Same developers, similar controls, but Highguard is NOT Apex Legends
My mistake was the same as many others make when looking at the reviews on Steam and elsewhere. Players compare Highguard to Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Valorant. And yes, I understand why:
There are heroes with abilities.
The map visually resembles Apex Legends in mechanics.
The objective is to plant bombs – or defend the base.
That certain parallels exist cannot be denied, but that is exactly the fallacy that leads to the wrong approach. Because Highguard is definitely not Overwatch or Valorant and especially not Apex Legends.
A particularly important difference, which later determined victory and defeat for us: you need several armors. Upon respawn, you consume one entire armor. If you spawn without one, you die again immediately, especially later in the game. Apex Legends does not have such a rule, as you can only carry one armor. Means: Don’t ping and leave armor behind, but take it. Always.
While playing, I repeatedly noticed that my teammates were looting the map in complete peace while something important was happening. Of course: when I play Apex Legends or another battle royale, I’m constantly on the hunt for loot for an advantage.
But in Highguard, I must not do that, as the loot is already limited in quality. Each section of a round offers only a certain rarity:
Blue in the first section,
Purple in the second
and orange (Legendary) from the third and upwards.
Each section is concluded by a siege. One team must attack the enemy base, and sooner or later, this situation will be enforced by the game. After the siege, it goes into the next loot phase unless one side has already won.
Maybe it’s possible to find better loot early on, but even if: it’s not worth leaving your team behind for that. The individual parts of a round of Highguard are exactly what matters, and here something comes into play that many overlook.
The shooter is much more tactical than you might think
Just as a round is divided into different sections, each of these sections has individual phases:
Preparation: Here you run across the map and gather loot, especially currency. This phase lasts about two minutes.
Objective: The shield breaker (or in later rounds the airdrop) appears and brings the teams to a point on the map. This is where the battle begins. Whoever arrives earlier can prepare traps.
Attack and Defense: Once the shield breaker is taken, both teams continue to fight for dominance. Based on experience, this leads to a deathmatch after a certain time. The surviving team initiates the siege.
Siege: The attackers try to place bombs and have limited lives. The defenders want to prevent this (and even have a chance to deal damage to the enemy base).
Each of these phases requires much more team coordination than one might think because there are only two teams. There can’t suddenly be a third party coming in to distract enemies while you revive your fallen mate. You must play as a team for victory.
With the right approach, you can easily overcome opponents and score victories. I had to lose several times to learn this – but that’s exactly what the developers have planned. Once you understand what approach is right for which situation, Highguard suddenly has much more depth.
With the right tactics, even quick victories are possible.Really long, close rounds with dramatic turns happen sometimes too.
Highguard is better than its reputation, but certainly not perfect
Nevertheless, I can’t simply dismiss a part of the criticism. Highguard has some problems that playtests would have definitely resolved, primarily the size of the map. The maps feel way too large for just two teams.
There’s hardly any friction outside of the planned confrontations at the map events. This became somewhat more pleasant with later understanding of the game, but more action would still be nice. A mode with four teams and perhaps more “Capture the Flag” instead of siege – inspired by Halo, which plays similarly – might have worked better.
Also, the obvious AI translation that was never checked seems questionable to me. The game refers to itself in German as Hohe Haltung (the direct translation, but a term from sword fighting), and even weapon names like Langhorn and Dynastie are translated. But oh well… A for effort, I suppose.
On top of that, there are performance issues and bad servers that are apparently already being worked on, and the terrible battle pass, which was copied from Helldivers 2. That’s a personal issue, but I find the system of having to buy cosmetics first to earn the next tier for cosmetics unappealing.
The biggest problem: No one knows how to play Highguard
What’s even worse is that Highguard does a poor job of explaining everything adequately. The tutorial takes forever, but the features that are truly relevant to the game are not addressed. So if you play Highguard wrong, it’s not really your fault.
Although Highguard looks like a casual game, in my experience, it is only enjoyable if you really dive in and are willing to take a hard hit first to learn. That’s not for everyone.
You can select the new mode as a solo player when starting a round, as long as you are at least level 40. However, trio squads cannot disable the option of having solo players in their lobbies.
Solo players taking on rounds with full squads are rewarded with a small incentive: bonus XP.
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ARC Raiders receives new matchmaking option and trophy display with Headwinds
Poor reward for hard fight
Why is the mode considered a waste of time? Part of the community believes that the mode or the reward is a waste of time and unnecessary, as anyone capable of defeating a trio team alone does not need XP anymore and is likely at max level.
A player directly asks on Reddit: “What should I do with XP?” Another adds: “Yes, there needs to be an incentive. I’m level 75, XP is the last thing I need.” Many players agree that XP is the worst possible reward for the mode.
Many also question who the mode is generally aimed at. They don’t see themselves playing the mode and ask who would voluntarily participate – after all, you are always outnumbered there. Some players believe that the mode is mainly for streamers and are disappointed because they expected something that appeals to the entire community for the “level 40 mode” (via Reddit).
Upon release, there was already criticism that duos were matched with trios in one lobby. Embark then altered the matchmaking so that duos would now primarily play with other duos.
If it were up to the community of Dungeons & Dragonsthey would immediately know which races they would prefer to belong to in real life. They explain themselves why there are so many more interesting alternatives than humans.
What question was raised? In a discussion on Reddit, players asked each other which race they would prefer to embody in real life if given a choice. The requirements are that it must be a playable race from the fifth edition (2014 or 2024) and official, meaning not homebrew. Furthermore, it is a scenario where fantasy races would be normal, and no one would have to wonder why the neighbor is a half-orc and the new coworker is a dwarf.
Over 800 comments shared their opinions on this question, with some favorites distinguishing themselves. However, what might be a clear advantage of the race compared to a ‘mundane’ human for one person could be a complete counterargument for another.
The group from “The Mighty Nein” also consists of representatives from various races. Here you can see the trailer for the animated series on Amazon Prime with the original voices from Critical Role:
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The trailer for Critical Role’s The Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime shows the first conflicts that the “heroes” have to struggle with
The community has a clear favorite, but there are also other strong candidates
Which race is particularly attractive to the Dungeons & Dragons community? Based on the number of upvotes, one can see from the reactions of the Reddit thread that the elf race is especially attractive for real life. Players justify this with various arguments.
Escaping the feeling of fatigue and no longer begging for the grace of morning coffee sounds simply dreamy for many in the community. Also, the long lifespan of elves, around 750 years, makes their abilities advantages that players would like to benefit from in real life.
However, many of them are also aware that there is a significant catch, which is why many other players would never want to embody an elf. The original author of the post explains: “It’s a shame that all the loved ones we have would probably die before us.”
What other races would the community choose? Another race has nearly as many upvotes as the popular elves. And that for a very simple but effective reason. It is the changeling, who players prefer because it completely removes the decision of a race. They can take on any form they want and embody the race they prefer at will.
Other popular races that players would rather choose than humans would be
Hobbits, to avoid as much bad luck as possible,
Plasmoids, to never wake up with a stiff neck again,
Kobolds, to simply be a small lizard type,
Faeries, to be able to fly,
and Tieflings – simply because of the style.
Which race from Dungeons & Dragons would you choose if you could embody it in real life? Would you choose something other than humans? Or are you satisfied with your humanity? Feel free to let us know in the comments if your favorite race is not represented in the survey.
