The next Spotlight Hour in Pokémon GO is approaching and offers a chance for a lot of Stardust with the monster of the hour and another bonus.
What kind of event is this? The weekly Spotlight Hour is a short event that lasts only 60 minutes. It takes place every Tuesday and features a spotlighted monster along with a bonus.
In the next Spotlight Hour on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the monster Shroomish will be in focus. In combination with the event bonus, this specific Pokémon can help you earn a lot of Stardust for one hour.
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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
Spotlight Hour on January 27, 2026 – Start and Bonuses
When does the Spotlight Hour start? The Spotlight Hour starts as usual at 6:00 PM and lasts for 60 minutes. Accordingly, it ends again at 7:00 PM.
What bonus is active? During the Spotlight Hour, you will receive double the amount of Stardust during the event, regardless of which monster you catch.
Can you catch Shiny Shroomish? Yes, with a little luck, you can also find and catch Shiny versions of Shroomish. However, the chance is not additionally increased.
Is this Spotlight Hour worth it? Definitely. Shroomish is one of the Pokémon that generally rewards you with more Stardust when you catch it. For each catch of a Shroomish, you will receive 500 Stardust as standard.
With the bonus from the Spotlight Hour, this is accordingly increased to 1,000 Stardust.
If you want to use the Spotlight Hour effectively to collect Stardust, you can also activate a Star Piece to increase the amount per catch to 1,500 Stardust.
To encounter as many Shroomish and other Pokémon as possible and make the most of the Spotlight Hour, you can use incense and lure modules to further increase the number of appearing monsters.
Shroomish itself and its evolution Breloom are not relevant as attackers in raids or the Battle League. However, Stardust is a resource in Pokémon GO that you always need, for example, for leveling up, evolving, or learning new moves. So, if you want to keep filling up your Stardust supply, you should definitely not miss the Spotlight Hour at 6:00 PM.
The MMO shooter Warframe will soon have a mobile version for Android. What you should know about it, you can find here.
When will Warframe Mobile be available for Android devices? On February 18, 2026, the Android version will finally be released, as the iOS version of Warframe has been available since February 20, 2024.
Can you pre-register already? Yes, you can pre-register in the Google Play Store and secure a reward in the form of the Cumulus collection.
Does the mobile version have different content than PC and console? No, the content, gameplay, and story are exactly the same as in the other versions. Upcoming updates will also be implemented across all platforms at the same time.
Is there a beta beforehand? Yes, starting from February 11, but only in Canada.
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Warframe zeigt neuen Trailer mit Werner Herzog in der Hauptrolle
All information about crossplay, cross-save, and system requirements in Warframe Mobile
Is there crossplay? Yes, you can play with players from all other platforms if you want to. This is optional, and you can decide in the settings whether you want that or if you prefer to play only with players on mobile devices.
Can you also play with one account on different platforms? Yes, if you link your accounts, you can seamlessly play on all available platforms and continue where you left off. You will carry over your progress. Instructions on how to link your desired platforms can be found on the official Warframe homepage.
What requirements does my Android device need to meet? Your smartphone or tablet should meet the following parameters:
64-bit system on ARM64 processor
Android OS 12.0 or higher
Min. 4 GB RAM
Can you also play mobile with a controller? Yes, you can play with most Bluetooth or USB controllers.
Are mouse and keyboard possible? Mouse and keyboard are currently not supported.
If you want to take the Android release as an opportunity to dive back into Warframe or experience it for the very first time, the game may initially seem overwhelming. Therefore, we have gathered some tips that will make your entry much easier and help you avoid mistakes: 13 tips for Warframe that beginners and returners should remember
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
AI is an omnipresent topic nowadays. Whether in movies and series, but also in everyday life. There is not only great potential but also some dangers. 162 years ago, a letter from a sheep breeder appeared, who foresaw much of this.
The issues and discussions surrounding AI have been a ubiquitous topic for a few years now. However, long before that, writers or filmmakers warned of possible dangers. In 1863, over 70 years before one of the first computers, the Z3 from 1941 (Source: swb.de), a British writer and sheep breeder apparently foresaw the dangers.
162 years ago, Samuel Butler published the letter Darwin among the Machines (in English: Darwin among the Machines), which was published in the newspaper The Press.
At that time, the concept of today’s AI did not exist, and Butler wrote about machines. In the letter, he explained that people are becoming more and more submissive to the machines every day, that they are becoming slaves that they must serve. Even more fitting to today’s AI is the following passage:
We are ourselves creating our own successors; we are daily adding to the beauty and delicacy of their physical organisation; we are daily giving them greater power and supplying by all sorts of ingenious contrivances that self-regulating, self-acting power which will be to them what intellect has been to the human race
Excerpt from Darwin among the Machines by Samuel Butler (Source: iflscience.com)
This idea and opinion about machines are a central theme in many science fiction stories. Almost 100 years later, in 1965, the first Dune book by Frank Herbert was published. Even though there is no official connection, the background of the book contains some elements from Butler’s letter.
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Trailer zum Science-Fiction-Blockbuster „Dune“
The War Against the Machines
What does all this have to do with Dune? Anyone who looks closely at Dune notices: There is no major technological progress, even though space travel and other sci-fi ideas are possible. This is due to the Butlerian Jihad. 201 years before the founding of the Spacing Guild, there was a major slave uprising of humans against the machines in Dune.
The associated technology was destroyed in the war, and it was decided not to build any more machines that could think like humans. At the end of his letter, Butler writes:
War to the death should be instantly proclaimed against them. Every machine of every sort should be destroyed by the well-wisher of his species. Let there be no exceptions made, no quarter shown… If it be urged that this is impossible under the present condition of human affairs, this at once proves that the mischief is already done.
Excerpt from Darwin among the Machines by Samuel Butler (Source: themarginalian.org)
Butler himself thus calls for a war against the machines before it is too late. Before the “Butlerian Jihad,” humans were subjected to the machines. Butler also had interesting visions regarding this, which he compared to domestic and farm animals:
Man will have become to the machine what the horse and the dog are to man. He will continue to exist, nay even to improve, and will be probably better off in his state of domestication under the beneficent rule of the machines than he is in his present wild state.
Excerpt from Darwin among the Machines by Samuel Butler (Source: themarginalian.org)
Before the Butlerian Jihad, humans were enslaved by thinking machines and treated like animals. Among them, there were privileged humans who were to supervise the other slaves. Hrethgir was a derogatory term. The term describes the chaotic and irrational nature of humans (Source: Dune Wiki).
One could even suspect that the term “Butlerian Jihad” is a reference to Samuel Butler in relation to Dune, but there has never been confirmation of this from Frank Herbert.
Are there other films where one recognizes the concepts of Samuel Butler? In many sci-fi films about AI and intelligent machines, one can see the ideas from his letter.
An often requested improvement of Lord of the Rings Online is set to go live this week with Patch 46.1. Many players are already announcing that they want to return to the MMORPG after a long break just because of this.
What’s coming for Lord of the Rings Online? The developers of the noticeably dusty MMORPG have continued to work on modernizing the Middle-earth adventure. The new 64-bit servers for Europe were an important first step. The next one is expected to follow with the upcoming Patch 46.1 on January 28, 2026 (Source: forum.lotro.com)!
The update includes the first phase of UI scaling, which has been tested on the test server for some time. With the modernized interface, the UI is supposed to reasonably support higher resolutions for up to 4K, and additionally, text should be made readable on large monitors. You can also resize individual elements in your UI larger or smaller.
Furthermore, there are plans to optimize the character creation and selection windows, loading screens, and maps. More updates for the interface are expected to follow in February with Update 47 – more on that below.
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18 years after the release, The Lord of the Rings Online announces its new expansion “The Kingdoms of Harad” in the teaser trailer
How is the community reacting to the upcoming patch? As part of the community from Lord of the Rings Online has long desired a modernization of the user interface, anticipation for the update is high.
In response to the comment “For years I keep hearing: ‘I would definitely play if the UI scaling wasn’t so bad’ – so folks, now it’s time!” on Reddit, several players respond that they are indeed planning their comeback to Middle-earth with the upcoming update.
Other players announce in their own comments that they want to give Lord of the Rings Online another chance after a long break. orcvader writes on Reddit: “I will definitely take another look as soon as it is out and the usual chaos of patch day is over. It would also be great if that means support for ultra-wide monitors at the same time!”
Roadmap 2026
What is planned for 2026? In an initial roadmap on lotro.com, the developers gave an outlook on the most important features for the first two quarters of 2026. The plan is as follows:
For the 1st quarter of 2026:
Update 47 – The Foolishness of Kings
Raid Opening
Quality Improvements
Bug Fixes
Additional Missions and Quests in Mûr Ghala
Spring Festival Improvements (March)
… and much more
For the 2nd quarter of 2026:
Update 48 – A Glorious Hunt
Quest Pack
New Zone
New Six-Player Instances (End of May/Beginning of June)
Tesla currently has a market value of 1.2 trillion euros. However, a manager warns that this value is far too high. Because Tesla has been selling fewer cars for years, but vehicles make up the largest part of the revenue. And he is not the only person warning of an overvaluation.
The magazine BusinessInsider spoke with experienced fund manager George Noble about the company Tesla. Noble explained in the conversation that the shares of the electric car manufacturer represent an enormous stock market bubble that investors are not paying enough attention to.
Currently, Tesla has a market value of 1.4 trillion US dollars. Converted, that’s nearly 1.2 trillion euros. For comparison: Microsoft has a market value of 3.46 trillion US dollars and Nvidia of 4.56 trillion US dollars. But Noble explains that Tesla is completely overvalued.
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Slate Auto presents new truck with electric motor
Tesla is worth 1.4 trillion US dollars, but the automotive business has been weakening for years
What is the problem? According to the manager, the company is extremely well valued, but the economic successes clearly contradict the high valuation. The stock is therefore not realistically valued based on facts, but rather on promises and a hype that has caught the stock.
The problem according to Noble mainly lies with the cars: Because the majority of Tesla’s revenue comes from the sale of vehicles. But exactly in its core area, the company has been weakening for the second year in a row.
The automotive business accounts for 87% of the revenue, faces significant challenges and will record a decline in revenue for the third consecutive year in 2026. Based on comparable valuations, the automotive business is only worth 20 dollars per share.
He said the company is heavily exposed to competition in this area and pointed out that revenue has already been declining for the second year in a row:
I think this is possibly the biggest bubble in the history of the stock market. In my opinion, there is not a single stock that is as far from its fundamental valuation.
He even believes a decline in the third year is possible. Because the competition in the automotive business is fierce. In addition, Tesla relies on promises like robots and self-driving taxis, but this may harm the company more than help.
Are there other people who are warning? Yes, George Noble is not alone in his warning. The well-known investor Michael Burry recently warned of a massive overvaluation of Tesla (via finanzen100.de). Poter Collins, a trader known for “The Big Short,” also considers the Tesla stock to be significantly overvalued (via Businessinsider.com).
In GTA 5 Online, the roleplay scene is booming again, and especially one faction is currently more popular than ever: the police. But anyone who wants to join must work hard.
What is GTA RP? While GTA 5 in its official online mode and also in singleplayer is a real classic, a large part of the community migrated to their own private servers years ago. Among these, roleplay servers are particularly popular, where players take on the role of a character and often play this character for years.
They go to work, attend parties, meet friends, or commit various criminal acts. Accordingly, there are also special factions, including the LSPD, the police in the game, which are supposed to ensure law and order, but not everyone can just join in.
Here you can find out what our experts think about the future of GTA 6:
Start video
MeinMMO and GameStar discuss the future of GTA 6
6-step admission process
Why can’t everyone be a cop? The roleplay servers of GTA are long-lasting, and to join a faction, one must first go through an application process like on the server Eclipse-RP. According to their statements, this process consists of six stages:
A written application in your role via the so-called “Employment Office” of the LSPD, describing your character, motivation, and suitability
A review by superiors who reject many applications due to unrealistic characters or rule violations
A formal interview where your RP maturity, clarity, and communication skills are evaluated
A complete police training where you learn radio codes, de-escalation, arrests, traffic stops, and scene control
A probation period as a police officer where you patrol under the supervision of trainers
Finally, the full officer status, which allows you to conduct independent patrols and reports
Especially the second step, the review of the character and rule violations, as well as the realistic character build, poses a hurdle for many players that cannot be overcome.
However, those who manage to become a police officer also receive some privileges for their new job. Players are allowed to control others, issue tickets, and of course experience full action during major operations like a bank robbery – even if they then return to their desks to write a report.
Why is roleplay so popular? Roleplay servers existed long before GTA 5, but they have gained mainstream attention with the open-world title. Big influencers have made many servers popular in Germany and boosted a boom.
Currently, the servers are more popular than ever. Looking at the player numbers of the multiplayer mod “FiveM”, one can see that on January 16, a new peak of nearly 120,000 players was reached, distributed across various servers and game modes (via steam.db)
Influencers have also attracted a younger audience, who previously had little contact with role-playing, to the servers, which in turn explains the rules that exist on the “Eclipse” server.
The next event in Pokémon GO brings you another monster debut. We have compiled all the information for the event for you.
What kind of event is this? The event “Into the Depths” starts on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM. It runs until Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 8:00 PM.
How do I get Lumispross? The rock and poison-type monster Glimmet is making its debut in the event. You can obtain this monster from Generation 9 on routes, in field research, as well as in both free and paid limited-time research.
With Glimmora, Glimmet has an evolution. Whether and how you can obtain the evolution at the start of the event in Pokémon GO is currently unknown.
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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
All content from Into the Depths
What bonuses are there in the event? If you complete routes during “Into the Depths,” you will receive triple the amount of experience points. Additionally, there is halved hatch distance for eggs that you place in incubators during the event.
While you can encounter Diglett and Yungoos with an increased chance of being shiny (**), all monsters that we have marked with a * below have the regular shiny chance.
What monsters are there in the event? In the wild, you can also encounter the monsters Diglett**, Dunsparce*, Meditie*, and Yungoos**.
You can hatch the following monsters from eggs:
Diglett**
Larvitar*
Bagon*
Deino*
Yungoos**
What other content is there? Field research is also part of the event. Here you can receive event monsters as rewards for successful completions.
There is also a free limited-time research as part of the event. More precise information about the research is currently unknown.
For $1.99 (approximately €2), you can also purchase a ticket with limited-time research. Here you will receive double the amount of hatch candy until the end of the event. Additionally, you will get 2 incubators as well as encounters with Diglett**, Yungoos**, and the new monster Glimmet.
January is rapidly coming to an end. However, even in the last days of the current month, there are still various contents waiting for you in Pokémon GO. If you want to know what they are, feel free to take a look at our overview with all events in January 2026 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Papaplatte surprises the Twitch community and gives it another go after his unfortunate death at level 60 in WoW Classic Hardcore. He receives a lot of support from parts of the Sauercrowd guild.
He himself had also stated shortly after the incident that he actually saw no chance of surviving the leveling phase again: “Dude, I can’t do this again, guys. When am I supposed to do that? […] I would need to manage it in a week and a half, two weeks. There’s no other way.” The reason: a planned vacation from streaming in February.
The present Sauercrowd members explained to Papaplatte that he could get through the leveling phase significantly faster with the help of high-level characters. However, it was unclear at the time whether the well-known Twitch streamer could muster the motivation to go on a second hunt for experience points.
Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
“I have a master plan”
What has happened since then? Well, obviously the Sauercrowd members managed to convince Papaplatte to tackle the leveling phase in WoW once again. During the last livestream three days ago, he stated on Twitch: “Man or mouse? The redemption arc begins. […] I have a […] master plan. […] Welcome to the huge comeback.”
And indeed, Papaplatte followed through on his words with actions over the next nearly 7 hours. By the end of the stream, he had already reached level 26. How? Through something called mob tagging. High-level characters pull numerous enemies together, and Papaplatte then attacks them with his mage to secure the experience points.
The core support team around Kutcherlol and julijones was assisted by various other guild members. Aggression helped out with his druid as a tank. Terste created portals for short travel times, bladeshow farmed gear, and so on.
What’s next? Kutcherlol and julijones have devised a particularly grindy strategy for Papaplatte’s vacation time. They want to farm about 15,000 water sacks from a desert runner in Tanaris, which are needed for the repeatable quest “Water Sack Bounty.” You exchange 5 sacks for 380 experience points each.
The quest can be handed in starting at level 40. The plan is for Papaplatte to jump to level 50 in no time just by turning in the farmed sacks. Julijones explains while farming on Twitch: “We’re doing the ultimate sack farming here, me and Kutchi. We’re collecting sacks.”
How does the community react? In various Reddit discussions, fans of the project are currently talking about Papaplatte’s redemption arc. While some must admit they were wrong, many others celebrate the performance of Kutcherlol. The LoL pro had already reached level 60 by mid-January and has been giving his all for the guild since then (despite back pain).
halejy123 writes on Reddit: “I’m glad that I was wrong about Papaplatte. I had seen Kevin’s death clip and was sure he would use that as the reason for his exit. Now at the time of this post, he is level 26 and the way the people around Kutcher, Juli, and Co. are grinding is amazing.”
In a second post on Reddit, halejy123 adds: “Farming sacks is really fun right now. Kutcher is the GOAT.” – which stands for Greatest Of All Time.
Far-Barnacle-2144 adds: “I hope Kevin knows who he has to thank in the end. Because I’m not sure if Kevin would do something like that for others in the end.”
N4rrenturm celebrates Kutcherlol on Reddit: “I didn’t know Kutcher before the project (I have nothing to do with LoL), but I have to say he is a super funny and likable dude. I’ll be tuning in more often even after the project.”
dinev1 feels the same way in a comment below: “It’s insane how he’s going all out and is not ashamed of anything. From absolute gaming to meme content, and also grinding for gear or helping others, he’s just doing hardcore grind right now.”
The desire to finally play Dungeons & Dragons is strong – but often the right players are simply missing. Here are 10 tips on how to convince your friends.
Playing a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons is usually a consequential decision because this hobby requires time, clear priorities, and favorable stars to find suitable dates with your friends. It is also extensive, rules-intensive, and can actually feel overwhelming and intimidating for beginners.
Others may not have a clear idea of what it entails. Therefore, it is important to convey the advantages of playing tabletop games together to your friends to reliably loop them in. Once they are hooked, most of them don’t really get away.
In this article, we provide you with 10 reasons and arguments to convince even the biggest skeptic.
Who writes this? MeinMMO editor Alexander Mehrwald has been involved in various pen-and-paper role-playing games for over 15 years. From Dungeons & Dragons to Pathfinder, Shadowrun, The Dark Eye and Call of Cthulhu to The Black Cat, hardly any system is safe from him. His greatest passion is Faerûn in Dungeons & Dragons, where he has been experiencing adventures for years.
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22-year-old classic of Dungeons & Dragons shows in the trailer what it still wants to excite you with after all this time
Argument 1: Be the main character of your own story
In Dungeons & Dragons, there is no fixed story you must follow. Everything arises from your decisions, successes, and failures. Your characters are in the spotlight, and the world reacts to what you do. This makes each campaign feel like a personal series where you all play the lead roles.
You can create the character you want to be and take on the protagonist’s position in the story. This allows you to experience adventures that you miss in “real life”. You step into the roles you want and become the focal point of your own epic journey.
Argument 2: Almost limitless creative freedom and collaborative problem-solving
Unlike in classic video games, you are not limited to predetermined dialogue options or solutions. If you want to persuade, outsmart, or completely ignore an opponent, that’s possible. Creative ideas and solutions are usually rewarded, not punished. That’s what makes each gaming session unpredictable. While you are bound to the rules, it doesn’t restrict you as much as it might seem at first.
During the game, you will encounter challenges that need to be solved together. Whether it’s a sophisticated dungeon with puzzles and traps, a murder that needs to be solved, a prison break (or break-in), or a ball where political intrigues are spun, you need to use your strengths and those of your characters cleverly – fostering a sense of group and you can discover sides of your friends you may not have known.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Dariusz finally caught up on a shooter he has had on his list for years – and suddenly he wants to buy a PlayStation 5.
The year 2026 starts off rather weak for shooter fans. After the end of last year was mainly in the hands of ARC Raiders, the extraction shooter continues to be the driving force in the shooter market at the beginning of 2026. Exciting new releases are taking their time.
In the evenings, I currently play 1-2 hours of Overwatch every day to satisfy my PvP cravings. However, before I torment myself with friends in Blizzard’s hero shooter, I like to spend an hour playing something more relaxed. In my case, that usually means shooters, but without PvP. In September 2025, I opted for Borderlands 4 in these situations, followed by a bit of Destiny 2, Warframe, Witchfire, and other games.
Since no PvE shooters were released at the beginning of January that interested me, I took a look at my pile of shame and found a game I’ve wanted to play for years but kept postponing:
Returnal by Housemarque
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The shooter Returnal shows new trailer for the PC release on Steam – Comes immediately with a co-op mode
Two of my favorite genres in one
Anyone who regularly visits MeinMMO knows that shooters are my great gaming love. In 2025, I also wrote an article about how much I enjoy playing games with my girlfriend where I really get beaten up.
I’m talking about so-called roguelites.
Roguelites are games that derive from the 1980s dungeon crawler “Rogue.” In this now 45-year-old game, you must explore a dungeon and find treasures. All roguelites have one thing in common: if you die, your run ends – death is an integral and intended part of these games. While a roguelike must meet certain criteria like permadeath and turn-based gameplay, roguelites only need to include some components of the original. Many roguelites like Hades, Cult of the Lamb, or Dead Cells, therefore, offer the possibility of achieving permanent progression in the form of leveling up, new weapons, or abilities.
Returnal combines these two genres. What looks like a classic third-person shooter actually conceals the typical gameplay of a roguelite – but unlike Hades, Windblown, or Cult of the Lamb, it is a shooter.
Returnal is a roguelite shooter that tells the tragic story of Selene, an astronaut who crashes her spaceship on an alien and mysterious planet and cannot escape her confusing fate even in death.
With each failed attempt, we crash back down with the spaceship – over and over again.
And every day greets… the crash with the spaceship
Warning, mini-spoiler: In the following paragraph, I will discuss the first minutes of the game. I assure you that I will not reveal any story-relevant developments or twists after the first run. But if you want to start completely without prior knowledge, it is best to skip to the next image.
Here I am, crashed in the dirt, on a planet about which I know nothing. I climb out of the spaceship wreck, grab a little pistol, and begin to explore the alien world. It quickly becomes clear that I am completely on my own and cut off from any communication to the outside world.
Just a few meters in, I encounter alien creatures that attack me. Although I emerge victorious from the fight, I soon stumble upon a corpse. My corpse. The lifeless body is clearly Selene. The name is even on the spacesuit of the corpse. Selene’s pistol is also there. But how can this be?
It remains unclear what is happening on this mysterious planet and what lies behind the corpse. That is now to be found out.
Throughout her journey, Selene will die multiple times, which means I lose my earned progress. Whether a random NPC kills me or a powerful boss – in the end, Selene wakes up back in the spaceship.
A failed attempt is not in vain, however. With each time, Selene becomes a little stronger, as we typically gain permanent progress in the form of new equipment, improved abilities, or knowledge.
A grand gameplay loop that suddenly becomes very intense at the right moment
I love everything about Returnal. The gameplay loop is fantastic. I don’t get upset at all when I die in a run. Instead, I rejoice in the progress I’m making and know that I’ll make it further in the next attempt and get one step closer to my goal.
I am happy about the progress I make and the new things I unlock.
The cycle of the game works excellently for this reason as well, because the fundamental gameplay is simply well done. The gunplay is fun, even if it is very simple and intuitive. There is a dash that allows me to dodge enemy attacks, and I must be careful to deftly avoid the partially overwhelming attacks that rush towards me in large numbers – because healing options are limited, which is typical of roguelites.
Overall, the battles are simply enjoyable, and while I play a run, I wonder where the time has gone again. Suddenly, it’s 1:00 AM. Rooms filled with many enemies or boss battles are, of course, the highlights because the intensity and tension increase significantly. If you’re not careful, you’ll quickly bite the intergalactic dust.
An optical masterpiece with enemies inspired by some of the most interesting creatures on our planet
Long before I developed a liking for roguelites, one thing fascinated me particularly about Returnal: the design of the game world and the creatures.
A mysterious planet, with huge mechanical gates of an alien civilization, overgrown nature, fog clouds, bewildering apparitions, and very importantly: bioluminescent enemies.
Returnal has drawn from the characteristics of deep-sea life forms like jellyfish in the design of its alien creatures.
And it simply looks fantastic.
When glowing projectiles in blue, red, yellow, or whatever fly at me from the side, I just want to stop every time and open the photo mode.
The modern graphics are one thing, but this eerily atmospheric and simultaneously darkly mysterious planet combined with the glowing life forms is just a design concept that I really like. Returnal will still stand out visually in 10 years and still look great – no matter how advanced video game graphics will be then.
I haven’t played much of Returnal yet and still have most of my journey ahead of me. However, I wanted to write this article already because I am completely captivated. I’ve had the game in my library for years, and I regret starting it only now. I already knew that I would love the design, but the gameplay has exceeded my expectations.
The main reason I finally started Returnal was the Game Awards 2025. There, Housemarque, the developer studio behind Returnal, presented their new game “Saros” (more about it on housemarque.com), and I really liked it from the trailer already. It was the perfect time to finally catch up on Returnal.
Now I am completely hooked and upset: Saros will be released exclusively for PlayStation 5 on April 30, 2026 – and I don’t have a PS5. While Returnal also started as an exclusive title and came to PC about 2 years later, I want to be part of it when the gaming world dives into Saros in April.
Unfortunately, I am extremely stingy and had no intention of getting a console that I will hardly use, but Returnal is really making me want to buy a PS5 for Saros.
Returnal was only an “Honorable Mention” on my list of the best shooters so far. I will probably rethink that and change it during the next revision of the list. But which game will be removed from the PvP section for that? If you would like to discuss this, you can read the full list again here: The 25 best shooters of 2026 – These PvP and PvE games impress with their gameplay
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Housing is the new big feature in World of Warcraft. But is it really brand new? No, because it was already considered back in Vanilla times…
The biggest innovation of World of Warcraft Midnight is Housing. It is one of the major “selling points” of the expansion, after players have been pleading for it for almost 20 years. But is Housing in WoW really entirely “new”? No, it is not – because even one of the very first WoW versions had Housing.
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
Where was this shown? The player Grayvves posted an old video on the WoW subreddit. It comes from the pre-alpha of the game and is therefore already over 21 years old. The short clip gives a first glimpse of how Housing could have looked if it had become a feature at the launch of World of Warcraft.
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What was Housing like back then? The video comes from the pre-alpha of World of Warcraft. Back then, Housing was apparently just a small experiment by a few developers and the feature was ultimately discarded.
More than a rough idea was probably not the case back then, even if some parallels can still be recognized. The character can actually take a skill from their spellbook to “summon” a house, which then appears as a permanent object in the game world. This works – but nothing more. The house lacks numerous textures and is nothing more than a “standard human hut” from the forest of Elwynn.
The place where the “feature” could be tested doesn’t even exist in the game. It is simply an experimental environment where the developers even wrote messages on the ground with the textures. They did this more often back then to mark where certain content was being tested or simply to write “developer notes”.
That Housing was once considered in the first version of World of Warcraft could long be substantiated with the game data. Because in the game’s assets, there were some wooden beams that had the addition “Player Housing” – even if they were ultimately never used.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how much the feature has changed over the years. The original idea is certainly no comparison to the result we now have in Midnight, which gives us nearly complete freedom and a lot of customization options. But if it hadn’t gone that way, we probably couldn’t build any large, dark caves and many other projects today.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new shooter from the creators of Apex Legends, Highguard, will be released in January 2026. Everything you need to know about it can be found here.
When will Highguard be released? Highguard is expected to be released on January 26, 2026.
What time can I start? According to the Steam page, you can start around 7:00 PM CET.
What kind of game is Highguard? Highguard is a free-to-play PvP raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment. In the game, players take on the role of Wardens, who fight as arcane gunslingers, blending futuristic firearms and magic.
The central goal of matches is to capture the Shieldbreaker to destroy the opposing team’s base and secure loot. The gameplay focuses heavily on tactical teamwork and high mobility through the use of mounts in an open world.
Update from January 26, 2026: We have revised the article for today’s release and added fresh information about a release stream, start time, and our trailer analysis.
You can see the trailer here:
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Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet
All about platforms, price, and crossplay
How much does Highguard cost? Highguard is free-to-play, so you can dive into the new shooter without any cost.
On which platforms can you play Highguard? At release, Highguard will be available on PC via Steam, on PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Is crossplay supported? Yes, you can play with players from all platforms right at launch.
Is there cross-progression? Yes, you can seamlessly switch from PC to console and use the same account. Your progress will sync if you have linked your accounts.
What are the system requirements for PC? Your PC should meet the following requirements if you want to play Highguard:
Storage: 25 GB available storage (NVMe SSD recommended)
All about the gameplay
How many players fight against each other in the matches? This is currently unclear. Observations from the trailer and comparisons to Apex Legends suggest squads of 3-4 players. The number of teams present on the map at the same time is also unknown.
How do the rounds proceed? There are no detailed official statements on this yet. According to current information, the rounds are expected to proceed as follows:
Teams start in squads and use their mounts to position themselves tactically on the map and gather equipment.
The combat centers around capturing the Shieldbreaker, a massive, mobile siege machine.
The team that controls the machine must escort it to the opposing fortress, while the others try to stop it.
Once at the target, the Shieldbreaker destroys the base defenses, allowing the attackers to breach and steal the loot for victory.
How many heroes (Wardens) are there to choose from? There is currently no official statement on this. However, the gameplay trailer suggests at least 8 different archetypes (the names are not official and are for categorization and illustration):
The Shooter uses revolvers and arcane magic as a classic mobile damage dealer.
The Ice Warden can create walls and transform into a powerful Minotaur for melee combat in their ultimate.
The Pathfinder can make walls permeable or dissolve them to create new attack paths.
The Spear Fighter hovers over the battlefield and attacks with magical projectiles from the air.
The Hammer Carrier specializes in area damage and can create cracks in the ground.
The Dark Mage uses dark energy or tentacles, presumably for crowd control.
The Scout has a bird-like ability that likely serves for reconnaissance.
The Supporter acts as a healer, capable of supporting or reviving allies with spheres.
It remains to be seen whether the characters shown in the trailer are representative and if they will remain in the game.
Are there mounts? Yes, the trailer also showed mounts like horses and bears.
Furfrou can change its form in Pokémon GO and in this guide, we from MeinMMO will show you how to do that, what requirements there are, which cuts are blocked for you, and where you can catch Furfrou.
What kind of Pokémon is Furfrou? Furfrou arrived with the Fashion Week event in 2021 in Pokémon GO. Since then, it has been appearing again and again.
The special thing about this poodle Pokémon is that it can change its appearance using the “Change Form” function. In the game, it looks like the Pokémon has had its fur styled – with color and a different cut.
In this overview, we will show you everything you need to know about the form changes of Furfrou.
Where can you catch Furfrou?
How does changing the form work?
Which forms are regionally exclusive?
Update from September 25, 2025: We have structurally adjusted the article for you.
Start video
Pokémon GO reveals the new season Dual Destiny in the trailer
Regional forms of Furfrou
What should be noted? In Pokémon GO, there are many regional Pokémon that you can only find in certain spots around the world. It works similarly with Furfrou, but with its forms. A few forms are available worldwide, while others are regional.
Worldwide forms of Furfrou
Natural form (standard), Debutante cut, and Dandy cut
Regional forms and where to use them
Diamond cut (Europe, Africa, Middle East)
Matron cut (America)
Star cut (Asia-Pacific)
La Reine cut (France)
Kabuki cut (Japan)
Pharaoh cut (Egypt)
Heart cut (Valentine’s Day event worldwide)
Heart cut: During the Valentine’s Day event in February 2024, you could catch Furfrou in the Natural form in the wild. During the event, it was possible to give the Pokémon the heart cut.
Select Furfrou in the Natural form in your Pokémon box
Tap on “Change Form” in the overview page of the Pokémon
Select your desired cut here
The form change of Furfrou costs 25 Furfrou candies and 10,000 Stardust
Finding and Catching Furfrou in Pokémon GO
How to find Furfrou? During the Fashion Week 2021, it was particularly easy to find the Pokémon.
For the Valentine’s Day event 2024, Furfrou appeared again in the game. It was available in the wild from February 13 at 10:00 AM until February 15 at 8:00 PM.
The easiest way to find it is by completing Chapter 7 of the Misunderstood Mischief research. Everyone could complete this task and get Furfrou as a reward.
However, you can also find Furfrou occasionally in the wild. There you will encounter the Natural form.
How to Change Furfrou’s Form
This is the requirement: To be able to change Furfrou’s form, you need 25 Furfrou candies and 10,000 Stardust.
If you meet this requirement, select the Furfrou from your collection whose form you want to change. You will find the button to Change Form under the Power-Up button. Once there, you can choose between the forms that are available in your current region.
Every Furfrou you catch will initially come into your collection in the normal Natural Form. You can then change the form whenever you want.
Now you know the most important information about Furfrou and its various forms.
Can you catch shiny Furfrou? Yes, since September 2022, you can catch Furfrou in its shiny form. Which is your favorite form of Furfrou and do you like the form-changing function? Share your opinion here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other players about the content. If you want to obtain all forms of Eevee, there are names and tricks to evolve Eevee.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Additionally, Gimmighoul is available in the Pokémon games Scarlet and Violet, but in the “Chest Form”. There, it could also previously be caught and the evolution Gholdengo obtained.
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Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer
Update from July 7, 2025: There are always special events that provide you with more golden PokéStops or make Gimmighoul more available. Currently, this is not the case. As soon as another Gimmighoul event is running, we will keep you updated. You can find out how it currently is here.
Catch Gimmighoul in Pokémon GO – With the Nintendo Switch and Coin Bag
How can you catch Gimmighoul? To catch Gimmighoul, you need the Coin Bag. For this, you must send postcards to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet.
Sending a postcard to Pokémon GO is possible once per day. The first time you do this, you receive the Coin Bag. This item then works similarly to the Wonder Box, with which you get Meltan. The Coin Bag attracts Gimmighoul to you.
Here’s how to connect Pokémon GO with Scarlet & Violet on Nintendo Switch
Follow these steps to connect Pokémon GO and Nintendo Switch:
Update Scarlet & Violet on Nintendo Switch and Pokémon GO on your phone
Enable Bluetooth on your phone
Go to the “Mystery Gift” menu in Scarlet on Violet
Press “X” to access settings
Select “PokéPortal”
Select “Mystery Gift”
Select “Link with Pokémon GO”
Then select “Link a Pokémon GO account”
Go to settings in Pokémon GO
Select “Connected Devices and Services”
There, select “Connect to Nintendo Switch”
Link the two accounts by pressing the button on the Switch
Now go to “GO” in the postcard book and select a postcard
Under the three lines in the bottom right corner, you can select “Send to Nintendo Switch”
Press “Connect with Pokémon GO” again on the Switch
Now you should have received the Coin Bag and see this screen:
How do I get postcards? You receive them through gifts from your friends. When they send you gifts, you can pin the postcard to add it to your postcard book. You can also pin your own postcards when sending gifts.
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Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
What do golden PokéStops provide in Pokémon GO?
This is what golden PokéStops are good for: At the golden stops, you can collect Gimmighoul coins. However, they are not always available. Generally, you need the Gold Lure Module to turn PokéStops into golden PokéStops.
What are Gold Lure Modules? You obtain them by sending multiple postcards to Scarlet and Violet. The Gold Lure Module can then be used at a stop to transform it.
These stops then provide:
More items than normal stops
Gimmighoul coins
And with a lot of luck, Gimmighoul spawns (this applies only to gold stops where the Gold Lure Module was also used.)
These are Gimmighoulcoins: You need Gimmighoul coins to evolve Wandering Form Gimmighoul into Gholdengo. However, you need a whole 999 of them.
How do I get Gimmighoulcoins? You get them:
When catching Gimmighoul
When walking with Gimmighoulas a buddy
From golden PokéStops
Basically, Gimmighoul is among the more unusual Pokémon in Pokémon GO that you cannot catch quite as easily. Its evolution, Gholdengo, is even rarer. Because getting the amount of coins required for the evolution is not easy at all. A comparable Pokémon in this regard is Zygarde. To change its form, you need to complete many routes and find Zygarde Cells. You can read everything about Zygarde and the Zygarde Cells here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
ARC Raiders received a detailed roadmap with some information about new content after its release. This is now outdated and many are wondering what Embark has planned for 2026.
Update, March 23, 2026: The article has been reviewed and structurally adjusted.
Is there a roadmap for 2026? Yes, there is. The developers want to continue working on ARC Raiders in 2026. With a roadmap after its release, the shooter and its studio showed what content you can look forward to. However, this should not be a one-time thing, as a new roadmap was released at the beginning of 2026, called “Escalation.” This brings new content for the Raiders in Speranza over the course of several months.
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Wichtige Tipps für ARC Raiders, um die ersten Runden zu überleben
Escalation brings many new contents from January to April 2026
New map, opponents, and events – fans can look forward to exactly this in Escalation. This content is intended to be distributed over the months from January to April 2026. Here you can find the roadmap and a list of all content for each month:
The first roadmap for the year 2026 until April.
January (over)
New matchmaking option from Level 40+
New, lower map condition
Player project
February (over)
New map condition
New ARC threat
Player project
Raider deck
Map update
Expedition window
March (starting soon)
New map condition
New ARC threat
Player project
Scrappy update
April
New map
New large ARC
New map condition
Expedition window
No further information about the individual contents is available yet. This will usually be announced closer to the respective implementations.
ARC Raiders has enjoyed great and particularly increasing popularity since its release. The player numbers are growing and show a clear upward trend, proving that extraction shooters do not have to be a niche. Unfortunately, the shooter could quickly lose its shine if the studio implements a feature that many fans want – at least that’s what our shooter expert Dariusz thinks: ARC Raiders will die if it listens to the whiny gamers demanding PvE servers
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The comedy sitcom The Big Bang Theory once raised the question of whether the theft of in-game content is really theft. A British court has now provided an answer based on Old School RuneScape.
What is this case about? A former employee of Jagex, who worked as a content developer on the MMORPG Old School RuneScape, is accused of having unauthorized access to the accounts of 68 players who owned large amounts of the in-game currency “Gold”.
The accused allegedly stole over 705 billion Gold, with a real trading value of around 626,000 Euros, from the players and then sold it through third parties, including for Bitcoin. He now faces five charges, including:
Gaining unauthorized access to computer material with the intent to commit an offense.
Theft, arguing that “between March 17, 2018, and July 29, 2028, he stole a large amount of gold nuggets from the online game Old School RuneScape […] that belongs to Jagex.”
Three charges related to money laundering offenses because the accused allegedly converted the gold to Bitcoin, among other things.
A lower court in the UK initially dismissed the charges on the grounds that gold does not constitute property, as it is “infinitely reproducible” and mere information. The prosecution subsequently appealed. The new ruling is the result of this appeal.
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Old School RuneScape – Trailer for the Steam Release
Theft of in-game currency is also theft
The court ruled: The court decided that the theft of gold can indeed be considered theft (via nationalarchives.gov). This ruling was made by three judges. The presiding judge justified the ruling as follows:
“Gold nuggets in RuneScape can, in the sense of normal language use, be described as something that can be stolen. They fall under none of the established exceptions. They are not ‘pure knowledge’: Functionally, they exist as identifiable assets that are distinct from the code from which they arise and lie outside of human understanding.“
The court states that the gold nuggets are assets “that have a discernible monetary value and can be exchanged for that value both within and outside the game.”
“Within the game rules, they represent a monetary value resulting from the purchase of a bond.”
“Outside the game, they are regularly exchanged for money.”
“They can be the subject of dishonest transactions that deprive their owner of their use and value.”
Furthermore, the judgment reads that the court would find it “surprising and unsatisfactory” if such dishonest transactions did not meet the criteria for theft.
What happens now for the accused: The court’s ruling has paved the way for a criminal trial. How the situation will proceed for the accused after the ruling is still unclear. The trial, which will decide on a possible sentence, is still pending.
It is clear that the accused can no longer claim that the theft of gold is not real theft. He continues to face the possibility of a sentence for theft and potentially even for money laundering.
RuneScape will turn 25 years old in 2026. To celebrate the anniversary, the developers have planned a lot. Just a few days ago, they presented the roadmap for the current year. You can find out more about it on MeinMMO: RuneScape presents new roadmap for 2026, immediately eliminates Pay2Win
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Nintendo surprisingly scheduled its Direct for a Sunday. In this, there was a new trailer for the movie about Super Mario Galaxy. Finally, the character that fans have been waiting for appeared.
Which character is being referred to? In the new trailer, Yoshi is seen for the first time. He is the small, green companion of Mario. He has been around since Super Mario World in 1990 and is a popular mascot of the universe.
In the games, Yoshi cannot speak. He only says his name in a cute voice and can make some noises – and the new movie about Super Mario Galaxy adheres to this, as the new trailer shows:
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Super Mario Galaxy introduces Yoshi in the new trailer
Yoshi is the star of the trailer
How does Yoshi appear? Mario and Luigi are called to an inverted pyramid, which you might know from Super Mario Odyssey. Here, they are supposed to look at a threat that ultimately turns out to be the adorable Yoshi.
From then on, Yoshi is part of the group, and we see him experiencing more scenes with Mario and Luigi. One of them is a encounter with a large T-Rex, which Yoshi, who is also inspired by a dinosaur, has to face.
There are also more characters like Princess Peach and the baby versions of Mario and Luigi. However, the viewers are missing a certain thing.
What is missing in the trailer? During the live reveal, there were some comments in the chat that nothing about Super Mario Galaxy is shown. Most of the scenes are in reference to Super Mario Odyssey. Unfortunately, there was nothing to see in space, such as the iconic scenes where Mario flies through space on Yoshi from planet to planet.
When does the movie come out? In Germany, the movie is set to hit theaters on April 2, 2026.
What do fans say about it? In the comments of the now-released YouTube video, viewers are happy that Yoshi does not speak. No voice actor was introduced in the Direct itself either. The dino will not speak complete sentences but will only say his name and make cute noises.
A player impresses the community of ARC Raiders with his skill. They compare him to action heroes like Batman and Jason Bourne.
What is behind the “Arc Knight”? On Reddit, a player shared a clip he found in the depths of the internet – unfortunately, he does not mention any channel as a source. This clip shows a Raider, who the community later crowns “ARC Knight”, a nod to Batman’s nickname “Dark Knight”.
In the clip, the player destroys a rocket gunner. These are powerful and heavily armored ARCs that fly and shoot rockets. For the impressive way he takes out this rocket gunner, the post receives over 21,000 upvotes within a day.
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Spieler in Arc Raiders schreit so laut um Hilfe, dass der Nachbar die Tür aufbricht
Raider becomes a celebrated action hero
What is so impressive about the clip? At the beginning of the clip, the Raider dives from a tall building. On his way down, he passes by a rocket gunner, on which he then shoots with a grappling hook during the fall.
Shortly after, the player hangs with a rope on the flying Arc and casually lets himself down – but his target is not the ground. He pulls himself back up with the zipline, cuts the connection just below the rocket gunner, and uses the momentum of the movement to swing onto the robot. There, he places an explosive Deadline mine, which automatically explodes after 6 seconds and deals damage to everything within a 10-meter radius.
Just before the explosion, the ARC Knight walks backwards into the abyss, shoots again with the grappling hook at the rocket gunner while falling, and pulls himself up again a few meters as the robot perishes in the detonation.
The final use of the grappling hook significantly changed the “trajectory” of the Raider, causing him to swoop closer to the building towards the ground and grab a rope that he then slides down slowly and safely without taking damage.
Here you can watch the clip on Reddit:
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This is how the community reacts: In the subreddit of ARC Raiders, many players are impressed by the Raider’s gameplay. They compare him to action heroes Jason Bourne and Batman. One comment with over 800 upvotes states: “Did a rocket gunner kill this guy’s parents in a dark alley or something? We have the ARC Knight here.”
Other Raiders admit through the clip that there are significantly better players in ARC Raiders than themselves. One user harshly judges: “I am so damn bad at the game.” Another jokes that some players seem to be playing a different game than he is.
Many are sure: This was an amazing clip and they cannot imagine seeing better gameplay so quickly.
Is this gameplay really rare? Yes, the actions of the ARC Knights require a good amount of practice and skill. If you miss with the grappling hook because you shoot at the wrong moment, you simply fall to your death.
Nevertheless, several videos of this kind are already circulating on various platforms. On TikTok, there was a trend for a few weeks to ride the Rocketeers. Clips where everything runs so smoothly and looks so casual are still fairly rare.
After the last few days of bad vibes in the Sauercrowd community, Twitch streamer Metashi12 speaks his mind again. The death of his hardcore character has hit him hard.
This statement not only caused bad vibes within the community, but also with another founding member, HandOfBlood: According to him, Metashi should set a good example as one of the event leaders. Now Metashi12 speaks again about the situation.
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WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
“I had such mental pressure”
What does Metashi12 say now? Metashi12 commented on what he said during his stream. He made it clear that he meant his statement about not wanting to play anymore after the death of his second character.
He further explains that he is emotionally very involved in the event, which led to such a statement. Although the death of his warrior was already 4 days ago, he was still shaken by it.
[…] because I thought I could show the people out there how it’s done right. I can show the people of the event that I’m the first one of the guild leaders to pull it through. I had such mental pressure that I put on myself, that when I died… Dude, I was sadder when my character died than when my grandmother died.
Metashi12 wants to revise his statement and promises: Should his current character also die, even at level 60, he would start again in hardcore WoW. However, he also does not rule out playing TBC on the side.
To get a job at the developer of Palworld, one must meet a curious condition. Applicants are required to submit a screenshot showing their library on Steam and the respective playtimes.
What kind of evidence is this?On X, the CEO of Pocketpair, Takuro Mizobe, reveals an important detail that applicants for a new job at the developer must submit. Those interested in a position as a Game Designer must submit a specific screenshot showing the playtime listings on Steam for the respective candidate.
All the candidates who cannot demonstrate any experience with Steam and have not played any games there will be filtered out in the very first application phase.
We also ask individuals who play a large number of games on PS5, Xbox, etc., to submit those as well! However, if the number of played Steam games is 0, we will reject them outright (we want our colleagues in the company to play indie games that are only available on Steam).
Moreover: Should the candidates be invited to the next round, they must explain the gameplay mechanics of their favorite games that rank highest in playtime.
They would also need to answer why they believe these specific mechanics were implemented and what makes the titles so unique when compared to other games in the same genre.
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Palworlds Update 0.7 brings many changes for the Quality of Life and a collaboration with a shooter
Developers at Palworld must have engaged with Steam
Why is the screenshot needed? According to Mizobe, only game creators who are true Steam gamers should work at Pocketpair. Since Palworld is only available on PC through Steam, the development team likely wants only employees who are familiar with the platform.
The further questions likely serve to test the candidates’ understanding of different genres and gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, Pocketpair’s CEO did not provide any further explanations on this matter,
