At the Sauercrowd event in WoW Classic Hardcore, Azeroth newcomers meet professionals. This has resulted in a flood of entertaining Twitch clips that have gained international attention for weeks. The project has even expanded the vocabulary of some WoW professionals.
Why is Sauercrowd also a thing internationally? The Hardcore variant of WoW Classic entertains and moves people. One mistake is enough to lose the progress of hundreds of hours of gameplay. The Sauercrowd project of the German Twitch scene has a special spice to it, as not only some veterans but also many WoW newcomers are involved.
Therefore, it is not surprising that many international WoW enthusiasts are closely following the Sauercrowd event and regularly comment on the daily produced clips of the guild on YouTube or Twitch – including for example OnlyFangs founder Sodapoppin.
During the court trial of Chefstrobel in early January, they even brought in Xaryu, one of the experienced WoW players, as an expert to assess the behavior of the Twitch streamer during a wipe of his dungeon group. The American himself has played numerous hardcore characters and currently comments almost daily on his channels various hardcore clips.
Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
“I love it”
How does Sauercrowd influence? However, the current reaction video from Xaryu does not start with a Sauercrowd scene, but with his good friend and WoW arena pro Pickaboo, who also regularly comments on the clips of the German Twitch players.
The experienced WoW player was in Blackrock Spire with his current hardcore rogue Karenboo along with a group. There it led to a mispull due to running adds, which briefly caused quite a chaos. Pickaboo commented on the situation as follows: “Bro, oh my god, what … are you Sauercrowding us?”.
Xaryu, who follows Sauercrowd with great joy, can hardly contain his laughter: “Are you Sauercrowding us … oh my gosh, I love it.” You can watch the scene on YouTube and below:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Pickaboo’s group was able to defuse the potentially dangerous situation and continue playing without losses. Just how intense the hardcore experience can be is shown in a later clip in the video. Starting at minute 7:37, there is an experienced Naxxramas raid that gets wiped due to a small mistake at a boss.
Specifically, the raid is at the two servants of Thaddius, which must be defeated before one can fight the actual boss. In this phase, there is always a tank swap, where the two tanks are hurled across the room by their respective adversaries to the other servant.
This tank swap went wrong in this case. The reason: Apparently, one of the tanks accidentally pressed a snowball macro at the wrong moment and thus prevented his flight to the other side of the room. The result: One of the servants left its platform, causing chain lightning to tear the players apart in seconds.
Mean: In this fight, you cannot protect yourself with a petrification potion and disappear safely. The trapped characters had no escape. Since this is the last and hardest classic raid, every participant is likely to have invested many months of playtime in their heroes. The reaction of the stunned streamer reflects this.
Sony has introduced a new turntable after years. A technology that has been increasingly popular again for years. But why?
This is what Sony has introduced: Sony is bringing two new turntables to the market after 7 years: an entry-level model (PS-LX3BT, $399.99) and a higher-end model (PS-LX5BT, $499.99). Sony last introduced a new turntable in 2019 (Sony PS-LX310BT).
The PS-LX3BT can be pre-ordered now and will be released in February, while the PS-LX5BT will be available in April. The announcement is surprising, but it fits the comeback that the turntable has been experiencing for years.
Start video
Turtle Burst II Pro in Review: Find out in 3 minutes if the mouse is worth it for you
Turntables have been experiencing a renaissance in the music market for years
Why is the turntable making a comeback? In a time when almost the entire (music) world relies on streaming and music is digitally listened to and sold, it is quite surprising that turntables are making a comeback. But there are good reasons for this (via Netz-Blog.de):
Turntables are seen as a counterpoint to the fast, immaterial streaming world: They offer tactile collecting, ritualized listening, and a sound perceived as “warmer”, often associated with nostalgia and retro trends.
Additionally, vinyl records, as they are called, have become a collector’s hobby: Colored vinyl, special editions, signed releases, and reissues increase the appeal of owning something rare and lasting.
A new teaser has announced the release of Fable on Steam, PS5, and Xbox, sending players back into a dark fairy tale.
Hasn’t there been Fable before? For those who know little about Fable, it’s likely they’ve not played role-playing games for the past 20 years, as the Fable series is one of the major RPG franchises of the 2000s and comes from Peter Molyneux, the controversial developer of the god simulation Black & White.
Several entries in the Fable series have been released over the years, with Xbox drawing the line after the card game Fable Fortune in 2017. Now the game series is back, showcasing in the new teaser how the dark fairy tale plays:
Start video
Fable shows in the new gameplay trailer what the evil fairy tale looks like
A fairy tale without a happy ending
What will the new Fable be like? The basic idea of Fable is simple: Every decision you make as a hero affects the course of the story. What is usually found in narrative story games like Detroit: Become Human, Until Dawn, or The Quarry is implemented here as an open-world action RPG.
You can fight against various creatures as a hero and defeat them with melee, ranged combat, and magic. The more enemies you defeat, the stronger the hero becomes, and the stronger the hero, the better their reputation.
Reputation plays an important role in the world of Fable. Your decisions and heroic deeds affect relationships in the village and can even change the world around you. Will you rescue the fair maiden or the blacksmith? – The choice has consequences.
What happens outside of heroic deeds? When you are not busy saving the world (or making it a worse place), you can also live a normal life as a citizen of society. For example, you can pursue a profession like that of a blacksmith or become a popular landlord, renting out your land to poor citizens.
You may also enter into one or several romances with villagers, which can lead to some children who will tell everyone how brave and bold their parent is. As a hero, you’re something like a celebrity; however, instead of jungle challenges, there are giant, fire-breathing chickens as boss fights, and a happy ending is not guaranteed.
A new actor for the Batman movie will soon be needed. A Marvel star reached out to the DC head with a photoshopped image, but afterwards he was sure that he probably wouldn’t be considered.
Isn’t there already a new Batman? The latest Batman actor is Robert Pattinson, who portrayed the hero in The Batman in 2022. He will also return in The Batman 2.
With Superman, DC head James Gunn launched a new film universe starting in 2025, which exists apart from The Batman. A new Batman movie is also set to be released in this universe, titled: The Brave and the Bold.
Alongside many fan ideas (Alan Ritchson, Jensen Ackles), there are also actors who want to see themselves in the Batman mask. One of them seems to be Chris Pratt, who sent James Gunn a photoshopped image. The DC head was at least amused.
George Clooney was also once Batman:
Start video
Batman and Robin – Trailer for the superhero movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Pratt is sure: He will not be Batman
How did James Gunn react? In the course of his new thriller, Mercy, Chris Pratt, whom most probably know as Star-Lord from the Marvel universe, is on a press tour. He was also a guest recently on the Happy Sad Confused podcast by Josh Horowitz (Source: YouTube).
In the podcast, the two also discuss James Gunn, who significantly contributed to Pratt’s success as the director of the Guardians of The Galaxy trilogy. Horowitz asks Pratt in the podcast about what it looks like for him in the DC universe, whether there is already a role that Gunn and Pratt see him in Star-Lord. He explains that there is currently no fixed idea, but he could certainly play a few roles. However, there is no concrete character yet.
Josh Horowitz then asks specifically about Batman again. Chris Pratt responds:
I sent James a picture of me wearing a Batman mask. […] I did it with Photoshop. And he just said: “Haha”. So I think it’s safe to say that I will not be Batman.
He continues on that he doesn’t know how he would portray the character. There are so many Batmans. It was never an option, and he believes himself that he wouldn’t be the right choice. In this context, he also mentions Christian Bale’s altered voice in the Dark Knight trilogy, which is now (according to Horowitz) a self-parody.
Pratt explains: One has to find a way to completely reinvent the character.
Here you can watch the podcast from the part about James Gunn:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What is known about The Brave and the Bold so far? The film is not only about Batman but also about his son Damian, who is often portrayed as his sidekick Robin in the comics. The character has not been used in any live-action film so far.
At which point in their relationship the film is supposed to take place is still unknown. Batman only met Damian when he was 10 years old. He was hidden from him by his on-off relationship Talia Al Ghul and trained to be an assassin.
On January 21, 2026, the Hollywood Reporter reported that the author is known. The screenplay is being written by Christina Hodson. She has already written the scripts for Bumblebee (2018), Birds of Prey (2020), and The Flash (2023).
Next week, a shooter will launch created by former developers behind Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends. No one really knows what to expect from the game. Therefore, we clarify what is already known.
On Monday, January 26, 2026, the release of Highguard will take place. This is a PvP shooter that was first presented at the Game Awards 2025 and will be released as a free-to-play title on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.
Since the Game Awards, however, it has been quiet about the game, and many shooter fans are not even aware of the upcoming release. Others are already writing the game off and derogatorily refer to it as “Concord 2,” even though hardly anything is known about the title.
Therefore, we take another look at Highguard and examine what is already known about the gameplay of the shooter, who is behind the game, and how we assess its chances of success.
Start video
Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet
The Fight for the Base – Who can defend their fortress better?
The developers have been very secretive about the gameplay of Highguard so far. On Steam, the game is described as a “PvP raid shooter.” However, the developers did not explain how such a raid works. Therefore, I analyzed the trailer to get a better impression of the gameplay.
This means, of course, that the classification of the gameplay is largely based on speculation that may not function 1:1 in the final game as I interpret it based on the trailer.!
The most important thing first: Apparently, each team has a base. The goal is to raid and destroy the opposing base. However, the bases are initially protected by a shield. This shield must be broken before the actual attack on the enemy base can begin.
The first scene of the trailer, however, suggests that players must level up or strengthen themselves in some way at the beginning of a round. They ride out of their base on various mounts and take out a few opponents who are apparently NPCs.
These NPCs drop red, round crystals upon death, which can be broken with a melee weapon. It seems that the essence stored in the crystal is consumed as a result. Since we later see in the trailer that all playable characters have different abilities, I suspect that consuming these red crystals charges something like skill energy. We also see that opposing players drop these crystals as well.
Subsequently, the teams push to a spot on the map where a sword is located. This sword is called the “Shieldbreaker” and seems to function like a key: In the trailer, we see a player inserting the sword into an opening in the shield of the base. Then, a kind of siege weapon, a gigantic tank, spawns that will break the shield.
The Shieldbreaker in HighguardThe Shieldbreaker in Highguard in the hands of a playerThe siege weapon in Highguard is a huge tankHighguard: The siege weapon destroys the shield of the red baseHighguard: The siege weapon en route to the red base
Next, the teams fight inside the attacked base. Both teams employ various abilities and weapons, and even destroy some of the buildings within the base. The trailer ends after one team places a kind of explosive device at a specific location, causing the enemy base to explode. This final step is reminiscent of tactical shooters like Counter-Strike or Valorant.
According to the video description on YouTube, the destruction of the enemy base is meant to secure new territory. There could be various factions fighting to take control of as many areas of an overarching map as possible.
Shooter Meets Fantasy: Mounts, Weapons, and Magical Abilities
To quickly reach the Shieldbreaker or the opposing base, you can summon various mounts, which then spawn beneath you. In the trailer, there were a puma, horses, and bears shown. Players were still able to attack opponents while on the back of the mount. However, for the actual battle against other players, they still dismounted. Dismounting from the mount was very fluid, without animation, thus maintaining the movement momentum.
The movement of the playable characters, however, is not limited to the mounts. We already got a glimpse of the available movement techniques: We saw a slide, as well as a powerful jump attack where a player jumped several meters forward. The latter could, however, be a skill of a specific character.
During the battle for territory, players, as seen in the trailer, employ not only firearms but various abilities as well.
One character could create a kind of forward-directed earthquake by hitting the ground with a hammer, before shortly afterward covering the ground in front of him with lava.
Another character created walls of ice that could be used for cover, for example. At a later point in the round, it appeared that the same character transformed into a sort of ice monster. He could then make ice spikes erupt from the ground by punching the ground with his fists.
A third character briefly floated in the air after activating an ability and hurled electric spears at opponents, who were utterly pulverized by the attack.
Despite these magical or supernatural abilities, Highguard is a shooter and therefore also gave us a glimpse of the firearms in the trailer. Various types of weapons were shown: fully automatic rifles, a shotgun, revolvers, throwing knives, a sniper rifle, and even rocket launchers that demolished entire walls. The gunplay itself felt very intuitive. In my opinion, you can tell from the weapon behavior in the game which games the studio staff have worked on in the past.
More on this in the next section: The past of the developers
Highguard: Character Ability with Lava AttackHighguard: Character Ability with Electric Spears
A Team Whose Past Inspires and Gives Hope
The team behind Highguard has many developers who have worked in the past on major, renowned shooters. Some even held leading positions (independent source on the career paths of the developers: mobygames.com).
Dusty Welch, one of the founders and CEO of Wildlight Entertainment, the studio behind Highguard, was involved in the creation of Call of Duty. At that time, he was Vice President of Global Brand Management for the shooter that every shooter fan knows today. Later, he was also responsible for the marketing of Titanfall and served as Vice President of “Strategy & Operations” at Apex Legends. Also, the second founder of the studio, Chad Greiner, was previously involved in Apex Legends. He was the lead scripter of the battle royale shooter. Previously, he was a senior game designer on Titanfall 2.
Jason Mccord, the creative designer of Highguard, was the lead game designer of Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends.
And the three leaders are not alone:
Many other members of the studio have previously worked on games like Titanfall and Apex Legends, but also on Destiny, Helldivers 2, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, Overwatch, and other well-known PvP games in various positions.
The Team of Wildlight Entertainment, Screenshot of the Developers’ Website
The Key to Success: Convincing the Target Audience with Unique Gameplay Just by Watching
The big question is now: What must Highguard do to be successful? At this point, I would usually give an assessment of whether I believe Highguard will be successful or not. But to be completely honest: I simply lack official information from the developers!
When the game launches on Monday, it could flop dramatically. The main reason would likely be that currently no one is talking about the shooter. It is quiet around Highguard, perhaps too quiet. As part of the potential target audience, I still know too little about the gameplay just days before release to have real interest. And if no one plays the shooter because it hasn’t managed to excite the target audience about the gameplay, then the game could still be good – then it fails.
In the world of Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok, it is too early to draw a conclusion. It doesn’t matter how little is currently known about the game and how little advertising the developers are doing: When Highguard comes out, and hundreds of thousands of gamers see it played by their favorite streamers on Twitch and YouTube, that will also be reflected in the player numbers. What matters is that it looks really good in those streams and that the streamers are having fun.
If viewers sit in front of their screens and think, “Hmm, actually looks really cool. I might download that,” that is enough for a successful release – especially since Highguard will be free-to-play, allowing everyone to try it out for free.
The past has shown that streamers have the power to help a game succeed! Whether it’s big titles like ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 or small games like R.E.P.O., Peak, and Schedule 1 – hype was crucial. That is what Highguard needs.
On January 13, 2026, Hytale launched in Early Access – but for now only on PC. Whether and when the game will also be available on console and what information there is about it can be found here.
When will Hytale be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S? Hytale will not be available for consoles during Early Access. You will have to be patient until Hytale celebrates its full release, as the developers want to focus their resources first on the PC version. However, there is still no exact date for the end of Early Access.
“We are planning a console version at a later date, but extensive work on the backend systems is required, so we do not want to invest resources in that at this time. For now, we want to focus on developing a good game first.“
Start video
Hytale feiert erfolgreichen Early-Access-Release mit 2,8 Millionen Spielern
How long is the Early Access expected to last? This is not yet known and is said to depend on player feedback according to the developers. Thanks to the pre-orders, the development of the game is already secured for 2 years.
It depends on how detailed the feedback is and how quickly the developers are satisfied with their results, so that more resources can be allocated to optimizing for consoles.
Can you play the PC version with a controller? Currently, there is no official way to play Hytale with a controller. However, the feature is planned for the future according to the homepage. Some players report, however, that they managed to play the game with a controller by manually adding it to Steam (see Reddit).
Hytale has been in Early Access since January 13, 2026, and is already very popular in the modding community. Players have managed to start the game itself in just under a week and even run some other classics – maybe there will soon be good mods for controller support: Hytale is only a week old, but mods have already integrated Windows 95 into the game
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When thinking of Path of Exile 2, one does not immediately think of indie production and a small team, but a new alternative on Steam is exactly that: indie and comes from a 2-man team.
What kind of game is this? With Netherwyn, a new co-op roguelite action RPG is set to be released in Q1 2026, sending you and your friends into battle against hordes of enemies.
The lands plagued by plague and shadows have turned against you and your friends, and you bravely confront them. The gameplay is strongly reminiscent of Path of Exile 2.
Here you can see some gameplay of the game:
Start video
Netherwyn shows action-packed gameplay in the short clip
Path of Exile 2 sends its regards
What is similar? The combat system of Netherwyn and Path of Exile 2 appears very similar at first glance. Hordes of enemies attack the player characters, and you can take them down with various abilities. The abilities have colorful effects and look very powerful.
At the same time, the developers have incorporated the dodge roll, which Path of Exile 2 didn’t invent but popularized in the ARPG genre, into their roguelite. This makes the switch between powerful abilities and dodging feel just like the big ARPG.
Each character has unique abilities that can be upgraded, ensuring that you survive longer in the world and can explore further. There are also quests in Netherwyn.
Roguelite, or not? Unlike Path of Exile 2, death in Netherwyn is a genre-typical companion that is part of the game. A run typically ends with death; then you wake up again in the tavern, where you can improve your character.
Each hero can choose two classes and mix and combine their abilities. From the warrior and the holy, a templar is formed.
Which successful Steam game does it remind you of? Also typical for a roguelite are the procedurally generated levels and permanent death. Carrying your loot for a long time is therefore not an option.
These mechanics are reminiscent of the Steam hit Hades, which is one of the few God-tier games. God-tier is the term used for titles that still achieve over 95% positive reviews with over 100,000 reviews.
Netherwyn resembles Path of Exile 2 in terms of gameplay, but fundamentally it is a roguelite like Hades, which sends you back to the beginning repeatedly, even though it clearly veers towards ARPG with quests, powerful abilities, and a dodge roll. You can find another alternative to Path of Exile 2 here: New competitor looks much prettier than Path of Exile 2, now available for free on Steam
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This week, the German Twitch streamer Papaplatte celebrated with his guild Sauercrowd: With his first hardcore character, he reached level 60 in WoW Classic. However, the joy was short-lived.
What has Papaplatte achieved in WoW Classic Hardcore? A few days ago, the German Twitch streamer Kevin “Papaplatte” Teller was still celebrating. During the Sauercrowd event, he reached the maximum level of 60 with his first hardcore character in WoW Classic.
The last experience points were given to him by an ogre from one of the Blackrock dungeons. The jubilation was great: “Let’s goooo! Let’s goooo! Let’s goooo! Let’s goooo, buddy!” – you can watch the moment on YouTube.
As Metashi had failed just before level 60 and had to start over, and since the rogue from HandOfBlood is still in the 50s, Papaplatte was the first guild leader of Sauercrowd to successfully complete the leveling phase.
Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!
What happened next? With reaching level 60, only part of the journey is complete. The goal of Sauercrowd is to stand in the Molten Core in a full 40-player raid in a few weeks. For this, you need not only the prerequisite quest but also equipment, buff materials, gear with fire resistance, and more.
Last night, Papaplatte and other members of Sauercrowd went to the dungeon Scholomance. At the boss Bloodlips, it happened: the servant of the boss, controlled with “Bind Undead”, broke free and ran straight at Papaplatte’s priest. One hit was enough to send the surprised healer crashing to the ground. You can watch the scene on Twitch and in the following:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The other dungeon companions presumably escaped from the dungeon. Papaplatte realizes shortly after his death that he made a mistake: “I probably should have re-controlled him quickly with ‘Bind Undead.'” In his defense: This was not specifically clarified in the pre-discussion.
“That’s probably it”
What happens now? Papaplatte was, of course, devastated after the death of his hardcore character. While the other guild members of Sauercrowd want to immediately support the guild leader’s new character, he admits: “Buddy, I can’t do this again, guys. When should I do that? […] I would have to manage this in a week and a half, two weeks. There’s no other way.”
Whether he will be motivated by the guild for another run is currently uncertain. On Reddit, many players are sure that Papaplatte will not return.
xAnuq believes: “That’s probably it for 1/3 of the guild leadership.”
breezy_y adds: “Yeah, that’s it, he’s now on vacation for 9 days and he already dropped ‘Don’t be mad if we don’t go back in.’ Totally embarrassing.”
Immediate-Bad-4665 sees it this way too: “He will never go in again; his focus is too much on numbers and money, and he knows that putting another 200 hours into it will not bring him enough viewers. Although it’s a bit whack to start a hardcore project and then drop out at the first death.”
Anyone who has seen the films of The Lord of the Rings knows the love story of Aragorn and Arwen. However, thousands of years before them, there were romances between Elves and Men. We have compiled the well-known romances for you.
In the films and books, his love for Arwen is a major motivation for Aragorn to join the Fellowship and later become King of Gondor. She, an Elf and the only daughter of Elrond, and he, a Man and chief of the Dúnedain, are not the only couple of two different races. They are just the most famous.
In fact, thousands of years before these two, there were romances between Elves and Men, some of which even descended into some of the most important characters from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. We have ventured into Tolkien’s world and present to you in this article all the known loves – regardless of whether they had a happy ending or not.
We have sorted them from the earliest to the latest couple according to Tolkien’s chronology.
[toc]
Start video
Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
Why are these pairs special?
Romantic feelings or even marriages between Elves and Men are particularly special, as both races have completely different life spans. Additionally, they approach relationships somewhat differently.
Elves are bound to this until the end of the world. Even if they die, their souls do not perish but wander into the halls of Mandos. There they wait for the mentioned end of the world or until their souls receive a new body. However, an Elven soul can also choose against the halls of Mandos and remain as a kind of spirit in Middle-earth.
Tolkien’s Men, on the other hand, age, can become sick, and one day die. Aragorn and the descendants of the inhabitants of Númenor can become over 150 years old. The other Men, however, have a lifespan like we do in reality.
Thus, even the longest-lived members of their race do not reach the years of the Elves. Human souls probably also go to the halls of Mandos but leave them again after a short time.
Moreover, a Man can have different romantic partners. Elves, on the other hand, bind themselves exactly once in their entire long life. An Elf who is married to a Man will eventually lose their beloved. Such pain is something not every Elf wants to endure, and Arwen’s choice to become mortal is a complete exception.
Consequently, romantic connections between the two races are quite rare. But: They exist.
Aegnor & Andreth
The first couple on the list meets in the year 409 of the First Age on the now sunken continent of Beleriand, at the time of The Lord of the Rings. The High Elves (Noldor) are besieging Angband, the fortress of Sauron’s predecessor and commander Morgoth, the first Dark Lord of Middle-earth. At this time, Galadriel’s brothers Finrod, Anrod, and Aegnor are also involved.
Aegnor falls in love with Andreth, a Woman. The two fall in love with each other, but Aegnor himself, with a heavy heart, distances himself from her: Elves avoid marrying and having children during wartime. To flee with Andreth and leave the fighting behind would also be a betrayal of his comrades.
Finrod Felagund, Galadriel’s older brother, as seen in The Rings of Power.
Thus, the two remain unmarried and childless. They die in the year 455 of the First Age. Aegnor is slain in the Fourth Great Battle of the High Elves against Morgoth, called the Dagor Bragollach, the Battle of Sudden Flame.
By the way, in the tenth book of the History of Middle-earth (History of Middle-Earth), there is a whole chapter where Andreth and Galadriel’s oldest brother Finrod discuss Aegnor’s decision.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Battle Pass was already criticized before the release of Diablo 4. A few seasons ago, Blizzard revised the system and now players remember that there were quite a few things better about the old system.
Instead of unlocking all rewards linearly, you now unlock categories to get targeted content. There is still a free path, but in a significantly stripped-down form.
As early as May 2025, many players expressed dissatisfaction and demanded, for example, on Reddit that the old system be returned. The new Reliquary was said to be little aesthetically pleasing, removes the classic feeling of progress, and overall feels bad. Additionally, it is still criticized today that a large portion of the platinum that one could previously earn back through the Battle Pass has been removed.
Season 7 was thus the last season with the old Battle Pass system. The free path included cosmetics, among other things – and this is exactly what a player is now reminding on Reddit.
Start video
Diablo 4 showcases its new features from Season 11 in the gameplay trailer
Now, SheWhoHates writes on Reddit that it would have been better to get a new armor set each season than none at all – regardless of whether one liked them or not. Prestigious_Bus1573 agrees and states: “These sets were not perfect. But over time, one built up a beautiful collection of transmogs.”
In Season 7, one last received a free, complete set. The user shows this in a post:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
But it’s not just the free armor sets that the community misses. In the comments, players also wish for other rewards and features from the old Battle Pass to return, including:
Emotes that can be equipped on the emote wheel
Tombstones displayed upon the death of a character
Cosmetics without much “fuss”
Cosmetics that can be unlocked without payment
the linear scrolling of the Battle Pass
As the only clear advantage of the new Reliquary system, a few fans mention that tokens can be carried over to the next season. However, there is also criticism here: The user steelsmiter points out in a Reddit comment that the maximum is 99 tokens.
The paid skins in the Diablo 4 shop continue to face regular criticism. With Season 11, the Paladin was surprisingly introduced as a new class – complete with its own skins. Although Blizzard also sells expensive cosmetics for him, many fans agree: Especially for the Paladin, the free stuff looks significantly nicer.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
According to a former employee of Intrepid, there has been layoffs at the studio behind Ashes of Creation.
Update from January 23, 2026: Studio head Steven Sharif has since commented on the layoffs on Reddit. As was the case last year, this is not a large-scale wave of layoffs.
I want to add some clarity here because I know how concerning headlines like this can be. Recently, 9 people out of a team of about 250 were impacted as part of some targeted team adjustments. This was not a large-scale layoff and not a reflection of the health or future of Ashes of Creation.
These are real people and friends, and this was not an easy decision. We’re doing what we can to support those affected. At the same time, development on Ashes is continuing forward and the team remains strong and fully engaged on the project.
I appreciate how much this community cares — it means a lot to me and to the team. I just ask that we keep the conversation respectful and grounded in facts.
Original report from January 22, 2026: Stacey M. has been working in HR for over 25 years, having worked for companies such as Sony Online Entertainment, Razer, and Intrepid Studios (2021 to 2024). On Linkedin, the industry veteran reported a few hours ago that there have been layoffs at the studio behind Ashes of Creation.
I am very saddened to hear about the layoffs today at Intrepid Studios, Inc. To all my friends affected by this: Please feel free to reach out to me! I will see how I can help you or at least offer moral support. Times are tough, but remember that you are not alone!
So far, there has been no official confirmation from the studio officials or details regarding the scope of the layoffs. We reached out to Intrepid directly for clarification. As soon as we have more information, we will update this report.
Start video
Ashes of Creation: Early Access Guide stimmt euch auf den Start auf Steam ein
Normal fluctuations or the first sign of austerity?
How is the community reacting to the report? In several discussions on Reddit, players are already voicing their concerns about possible layoffs at Intrepid. Various comments show how damaged the reputation of the project is in parts of the MMORPG community.
Sea_Advantage_2577 writes on Reddit: “The scam is probably nearing its end. I bet they have one last trick up their sleeve before they shut down. “
TheIronMark makes a pun on Reddit: “Now they only have the ashes of their creation left.”
Own-Virus3288 cannot believe it on Reddit: “Layoffs before it even goes into beta, I’m laughing my head off.”
Why is Ashes of Creation facing so much trouble? There are several reasons that feed into each other:
Ashes of Creation has been in development for almost 10 years, and a release is not in sight.
That Ashes of Creation is still in alpha is evident in the early access version. Nevertheless, many players criticize the current quality of the MMORPG, which only receives 56 percent positive reviews on Steam.
Why is it too early for panic or mockery? Layoffs are never nice. Without more specific details regarding the scope and reasons, the mere report “There are layoffs” does not allow for any conclusions. On the contrary, it is unfortunately quite normal for the team size to vary during a game development that lasts many years.
This is further illustrated by the fact that there were also layoffs at Intrepid back in March 2025. 13 employees were reportedly affected at that time (source: 80.lv). At that time, the officials emphasized that these were not comprehensive layoffs. Rather, the paths of the studio and certain developers separated because they did not fit into the project.
Letting go of 13 developers out of over 200 employees is certainly not a sign of a rigid austerity or existential problems. Something similar may have happened now as well. However, that does not mean we should not worry about the project. On the contrary (but for different reasons): Is Ashes of Creation too expensive for its niche? Our MMORPG expert is concerned
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new specialization for the Demon Hunter is not well received in World of Warcraft. You have hardly any buttons – and they do nothing at all.
Patch 12.0 of World of Warcraft is live and brought a lot of new content, including a new specialization for the Demon Hunter: the Devourer. This harnesses the power of the Void to execute powerful explosions and slice fragments from the enemy. In theory, a cool concept. However, many players have now been able to test this new specialization and believe: It’s nothing, it’s not fun, and it makes no sense.
Start video
WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
What is being complained about? If you look in the official WoW forums or social media like the WoW subreddit, you will find a whole bunch of posts discussing the Devourer Demon Hunter.
The general sentiment seems to be that the specialization feels boring and gives the impression that “the specialization fights the player, not the enemies”. Because to be truly effective, there is currently still no way. Therefore, many quickly lose interest in the Devourer and prefer to wait until Blizzard corrects things.
2 buttons and the finisher cannot be reached
What is the problem with the Devourer? The gameplay at this point in time is extremely boring and unsatisfying. In most fights, the rotation consists merely of the abilities “Devour” and “Eye Beam”. Other abilities hardly come into play during normal fights, only during boss or elite encounters. The player Blubbpaule sums it up on Reddit:
That Devour is already 90% – 95% of the rotation is boring enough, but the real problem is how it was implemented.
You are expected to hold down a button (or press it repeatedly if you are a masochist and do not use the “Hold to cast” function) while playing a specialization that was advertised as mobile and moves during combat.
One difficulty here is that the big finisher, which is supposed to define the specialization, namely “Collapsing Star”, is used so rarely and can still be interrupted that it brings no joy.
It is stated more drastically by stud_ent on Reddit:
The Devourer Demon Hunter kind of sucks. I am quite underwhelmed by the new specialization. It looks cool and has nice animations, but you are almost exclusively spamming Devour. It is way too difficult to ever have enough Soul Fragments for the Collapsing Star.
The biggest problem is that the Devourer has been created in such a way that the “Apex Talents” for its core rotation are almost mandatory. While the Apex Talents for other classes are nice enhancements, they are more of a necessity for the Devourer.
However, since the Apex Talents are unlocked only with Midnight when reaching level 90, the Devourer Demon Hunter feels simply unfinished.
Additionally, many are not satisfied with the appearance customizations of the Void Elf Demon Hunters. The options are exactly the same as those for Blood Elves. There are no exclusive customizations just for their race – like special tattoos – so that also falls short of expectations. For the future, Blizzard, by the way, has planned even more new specializations.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Sauercrowd is a massive WoW hardcore event on Twitch. MeinMMO summarizes the most important information about participants, start time, and rules for you.
What kind of WoW event is this on Twitch? The Twitch streamers Metashi, Papaplatte, and HandOfBlood have come together to organize an event around World of Warcraft on German Twitch. They form a guild with other German-speaking streamers and play WoW on hardcore.
This means that each streamer has only one attempt with a character. Death is permanent and results in the loss of all progress. If they want to continue, they must start with a new character. The event is based on the American model OnlyFangs.
The goal is to collectively reach the endgame, including raids like Molten Core.
[toc]
Update from January 23, 2026: We have structurally adjusted the article.
Start video
These are the 5 most relevant German streamers on Twitch in 2024, according to Google
All about the start, server, and streams from Sauercrowd
When did it start? It started on December 27, 2025. The participants officially began the hardcore event.
How long is the event supposed to last? The three creators of the event estimate that it will take around 30 to 50 days.
Where can the event be followed? The event consists of over 200 Twitch streamers, each streaming their journey in hardcore WoW on their own Twitch channel. So, viewers just need to choose a person they want to watch. Additionally, you’ll find all important information on the official website.
On which server will it be played? The Twitch streamers will play on the anniversary server Soulseeker.
All about the participants of Sauercrowd
Who is participating? The WoW hardcore event has sent out many invitations and received many confirmations, both from veterans of the game and complete newcomers. Most have never played WoW before.
There are over 200 participants distributed throughout Twitch Germany:
areslps
craft12354
ailenax
bananabill
haci
aciixx
metashi12
carnifexed
bonjwa
cezzy
anaaja
cmdkrieger
Chefstrobel
Papaplatte
asleyia
daefoxi
danergy
wase931
autophil
captainmyko
acid_fired
broeki
collieesi
CastCrafter
chromiede
chromiede
Clym
Matteo
MauriceWeber
faister
fanasia
divi
dianaxanton
doktorfroid
julimi
fixx
edopeh
exsl95
earliboy
formulalena
Dimeax
donnie_oh
dinossindgeil
dennsen86
dominik_kaeppeler
bonjwamaurice
fuxelbau
derhauge
alltimeleah
felikah
femba
pummelfee86
chiko
entenburg
gucciwarrior_eu
Elquaria
Farbenfuchs
Filow
Hasi
GTimeTV
HarmiiFentsy
jennyan
xzudemx
hughwinters
kalle
kubafps
joshiiks
kico
pacing_pingvin
heystan
juliancom
karni
hornisse86
kerrag
iNoiizY
jinterella
kiba
jarzuul
kaaaay
jessirocks
Honeypuu
holladiewaldfee
junicats
huebi
kitty2001
kimuh
Katazuri
followvadda
knirpz
Willib0
kamikatze
touristhistories
meyer
LetsHugoTV
KDRkitten
maihopawango
mienah
obsess3
kutcherlol
niekbeats
MrMoregame
mahluna
kunshikitty
powerofevil
moondye7
LaraLoft
LEAH
Lilipp
lordpappnase
lowepe
bladeshow_
MaeloRomani
lostkittn
MasterTay
Maty
PhunkRoyal
odinakajesus
Mehdi
merleperle
maxim
noway4u_sir
MinusElf
MontanaBlack88
goicke
PietSmiet
MythosOfGaming
radlerauge
nooreax
Paluten
Rumathra
saltydayn
sebo
sieglinde
DerOlliTV
edelive
sunglitters
q_gee
primalavera
ronnyberger
slayjka
sterzik
STYLERZ
sola
sirraydus
Sologesang
snkarma
riirex
xhankyy
shlorox
rikku
SmashLunatic
Scrapie
sawlties
Ryole
Readyx
rAx1337
znowl
terste
wakayashi
swabine
vahnilly
zeusspezial
urutox
twobiers
trilluxe
tigerclown
Zarbex
Yxnca
rangerarea
segalson
VITABLO
verena
Janeli301
paco
xshowtime
nils
thunny
Zombey
tolkin
tizian_cs
tobifas_
vassilly
timhorus
powlster_
AzpectCustomz
Zander
tinkerleo
vlesk
Vadeal
rayothunderr
2twistedtv
DieDoni
TheRealLiont
kekluck
Gnu_Live
geilevideossos
Lost
krokoboss
baluilp
meloonie
feli
bleeshh
itzz_chrizz
sukidingels
derpazzel
xiohlol
starletnova
Fibii
Reeze
HerrBergmann
dannydan_tv
reynexts
mmpascal
daniel_mowo
kiddkizzo
lezan
MoAuba
suun
Debitorlp
dhalucard
Henke
treelover462
sparkofphoenixtv
hahn
brudivoeller_tv
kapuzenwurm
torro
tehkex
therealjanhegenberg
goldgoblinnet
HandOfBlood
zornkoenigin
maxfentsy
tabsy
akiaaa
Akkcess
d1rtyd3vil
xTheSolutionTV
KaddiTV
Shimtex
naguura
AsterPewPew
hijugalive
papfi
juliversal
leeonbeeon
thiseguy
yvraldis
sirlamee
Mowky
zerbersterrr
PietSmiettv
lillimon
reismitmais
emperor13tv
klupatwins
jonsman
brostudios_wow
kev1ntv
mayodee
mulfbot
reval
copeylius
sarahtoninx9
julijones
chrizzle
Marc-Oliver Matthiessen
bonjwachill
niklas_honor
byjasmiiiin
dawn_richard
derkegy
xicanmeow
justin_tinderdate_tv
noserino
slyflytv
seyyn
All about the rules of Sauercrowd
What are the rules? To create a balance between professionals and newcomers, a mentoring program has been established. Each pro is paired with a newbie, and the pro teaches the newbie.
Additionally, each race will have a chief who speaks for the others. Every Saturday, they gather to discuss important matters and watch clips of each other’s failures in the form of death clips.
Other rules are as follows:
Basically, there is only one attempt with a character. If Twitch streamers die in the game, a clip of the death scene must be provided. The event website features the latest deaths of the participants.
Only items that the participants find themselves or that exist within the guild may be used.
There is a streaming requirement. Anyone wishing to play their character in WoW must be live on Twitch.
Only the Sauercrowd add-on may be used, not others.
If a participant violates this or any other rule (additional specific rules can be found on sauercrowd.gg), they risk being excluded from the project.
The new action RPG from the studio behind the Pokémon games is set to release this summer. They showcased the gameplay of their latest project during this year’s Xbox Developer Direct.
What kind of game is this? Beast of Reincarnation is a new action RPG that was announced at the last Xbox Games Showcase in 2025. What many gamers found particularly interesting at that time: Beast of Reincarnation is developed by Game Freak, known primarily for developing the Pokémon games, most recently Pokémon Legends Z-A.
In the new Xbox Developer Direct, Game Freak explicitly states that they can do more than just “only” Pokémon games. Their latest project is set 2,000 years in the future, in 4026. Protagonist Emma and her wolf Koo fight against monsters and mechanical foes in a post-apocalyptic Japan to save humanity from extinction. Along the way, she is supported by growing, strange powers to survive her journey through the dilapidated and ever-changing world.
Emma and Koo are a well-coordinated team living outside the safe colonies, where the rest of humanity has settled, protected from external dangers. The two venture into the dystopian wasteland, where they battle corrupt creatures and even humans – or at least what remains of their humanity.
One year after the initial announcement, the developers now show how the game aims to impress not only with its look but also with its gameplay.
You can watch the trailer for Beast of Reincarnation here:
Start video
The trailer for Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation shows a post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026
A beautiful world marked by corruption
What did Game Freak reveal at this year’s Xbox Games Showcase? The appearance of Game Freak and Beast of Reincarnation focused mainly on the themes of inspiration and gameplay. Along with more detailed concept art showing the creatures and the world, the developers spoke primarily about mechanics and combat.
Concept art for a creature.Emma lives outside the safe colonies.
The developers showcase a shared skill tree for Emma and Koo, options for melee and ranged combat, stealth, and a power that connects protagonist Emma even more with her surroundings:
She has vine-like hair that she can use for better mobility, but also as a connection to nature and her surroundings. It almost resembles Avatar, as viewers noted in the live chat.
What attracted attention around the game a year ago? Game Freak and their Pokémon games have long been criticized by fans for their look. Flat textures and low-detail environments are two of the biggest criticisms of the latest games.
With the announcement trailer of Beast of Reincarnation, Pokémon fans could hardly believe that Game Freak was obviously capable of creating truly attractive games.
“They made this game to prove to everyone that they can make good-looking games,” it was said in a Reddit thread to summarize the overall positive sentiment around the look of Beast of Reincarnation. With such a project from Game Freak, hardly anyone expected it.
Beast of Reincarnation resembles, due to its theme and the visuals shown so far, a popular anime film from Studio Ghibli, namely Princess Mononoke. The film is considered one of the studio’s strongest works, and few have fared better than the visually stunning animated film: All Ghibli films ranked by IMDb
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today, the Gacha game “Arknights: Endfield” was released. However, just a few hours after, the developers encountered a major issue: the game was making incorrect charges for some players.
Which game is it? Today, on January 22, the game Arknights: Endfield had its release. It is an open-world action RPG that also features Gacha elements. You play with 4 characters simultaneously, each with different abilities and attacks.
Similar to Genshin Impact, you undergo various main and side quests and can unlock new characters. You can do this by spending real money and hoping for good luck.
Start video
Arknights: Endfield shows its story in the release trailer
Developers respond immediately to the error
What was the error? Exactly at this mechanism, there was a problem a few hours after release for some players. After players paid for the game via PayPal, amounts in various currencies were repeatedly deducted from the accounts of some of them.
In the subreddit r/Endfield, a user posted an alleged screenshot of one of the players who was a victim of incorrect charges:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How did the developers respond? The developers reacted exemplary by quickly and transparently pointing out the error on X. They clearly explained how they became aware of the error with PayPal and the steps they immediately took to prevent further players from this issue.
Furthermore, they announced that the lost money should be returned to the victims’ accounts within a few hours. Other affected players should reach out to them so they can also receive help.
During a tournament for the game Marvel Rivals, there was a dispute within a participating group. One of the participants has now become a successful Twitch streamer, all because he was banned by his teammates.
What kind of tournament was it? On January 18, 2026, a tournament for Marvel Rivals took place, which was also live-streamed on Twitch. It was hosted by the Twitch streamer BasimZB. Participants competed for a prize pool of $40,000, which is approximately €34,000.
One participant, the Twitch streamer Kingsman265, was eager to win, as he claimed that he really needed the money. He was broke, and the $3,000 he would receive in case of victory would be a lot of money for him. With that money, he would be able to pay part of his tuition fees.
But before Kingsman265 had another chance to compete for the prize money, he was abruptly thrown out of his Marvel Rivals team. And this happened right in the middle of the ongoing tournament.
Start video
Ihr könnt jetzt als Deadpool in Marvel Rivals für Chaos sorgen
Teammates allegedly have Twitch streamer kicked out of team
Why was Kingsman265 kicked out of the team? During a round, things were not looking good for Kingsman265’s group. They were getting hardly any kills and seemed to be losing. Kingsman265 asked his teammates to switch to a different character and therefore a different strategy, as the current strategy did not seem to be working.
He seemed to become increasingly agitated in his explanations – though he was not being insulting – while his teammates did not take him seriously. The situation escalated to the point where the teammates allegedly informed the tournament organizers and ensured that Kingsman265 was removed from their team.
In a YouTube video, Kingsman265 talks about the situation for an hour:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How did the story end? Eventually, the team, without Kingsman265, was eliminated in seventh place. Later, one of the teammates, Cece, apologized in a post on X. She had referred to Kingsman265 as a “loser,” among other things.
After the tournament, Kingsman265 began to resume his regular streaming activities. On Twitch, the Marvel Rivals player was overwhelmed with donations and gifted subscriptions, leading him to eventually ask his viewers to stop: “This is ridiculous. You need to stop. […] I have already received more than the $3,000 I would have won for first place in the tournament.” (Source: Twitch starting at 01:20).
A large part of the community seemed to be on Kingsman265’s side and wanted to give him his “lost” money from the tournament in other ways. Through his success on Twitch, Kingsman265 has also achieved partner status on the platform, which means he can now earn money through streaming on Twitch.
Since the announcement of Highguard at the Game Awards 2025 and the release on January 26, 2026, many gamers are wondering about the rather sober marketing surrounding the game. Now, all trophies for the PvP shooter for the PS5 have been released, which finally feed the community with new information but also bring a smile.
What do the trophies reveal about Highguard? All trophies for Highguard on the PS5 have now been released 4 days before the launch. You can see them here on exophase.com. In total, there are 33 trophies that can be earned in the free-to-play shooter from the creators of Apex Legends.
They offer a closer look at gameplay features that have not been revealed yet. These include, for example, merchants, lootable chests, and confirmed “Wardens,” which can be classified as archetypes or classes: Assault, Defense, Recon, Support, and Destruction.
Players continue to speculate about what other gameplay elements the trophies may hide, but they can’t help but comment on how this list feels in the otherwise “sober” marketing: “I think it’s great that the Highguard trophies provide more information about the game than anything they’ve done since the Game Awards” (@Burnsthebest on X).
Here you can see the trailer for Highguard:
Start video
Highguard zeigt im Trailer, was euch im neuen PvP-Raid-Shooter erwartet
Players crave more information
Why is the community amused by the trophy list? Based on the reactions on X, many players did not expect to receive more information about the shooter before the release of Highguard. Some even feared that due to the lack of information, the game might be postponed at the last minute or whether it was a specific marketing strategy.
Due to the little marketing, many gamers already declare the game dead. And that, even before it has even been released and this assumption could neither be disproven nor proven.
Others, however, find more hope and motivation through the trophies to give the game another chance.
What are the reactions to the trophies? On Reddit, the community speculates about what insights they can draw from the trophy list. Whether these speculations are one hundred percent accurate or not can only be said once the first official gameplay is available.
Still, the community seems to be able to develop more anticipation for the shooter based on the reactions, now that they know more about what they might expect. Nevertheless, they would have preferred not to have received this info through their own research:
“Great find. This should be enough information to get us through, in case we still face no marketing before the launch,” writes MoneyoffUbereats2017.
“Sounds like there are also chests on the map that you can loot and a merchant where you can buy things. Sounds interesting,” finds DJ_B0B.
“In general, I want games to succeed. I have no idea why some people hope that something fails,” says Etikoza.
Highguard is set to launch in just a few days on Steam, for the PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. If you would also like to learn more about the shooter and now need more information, we have summarized what is known about Highguard here on MeinMMO: Highguard – All Important Information on Release, Platforms, and Gameplay
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Hold on, Adventurer! English localization still loading...
This article is currently in its original German "vanilla" version. We're channeling our inner Mein-MMO and grinding hard on the English localization quest line!
The full English version will be unlocked soon. Thanks for your patience.
There is a vast selection of great MMOs and MMORPGs out there, each offering something unique compared to its rivals. That’s why we’ve handpicked the top 10 online multiplayer games we recommend playing. While the majority are available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, we’ve also included mobile titles for iOS and Android.
What kind of games are these? The selected games vary significantly from one another. Some are classic MMORPGs, while others are MMO shooters or Battle Royales. The order of the best MMOs and MMORPGs has been chosen at random.
What were the selection criteria? We have selected games that:
Focus primarily on multiplayer and online gameplay.
Are still actively being developed.
Remain relevant, as shown by the interest from our MeinMMO readers.
Are played by members of our editorial team.
For every MMO and MMORPG, you will find not only a description but also an assessment of why the game is still worth playing in 2026 and where its weaknesses lie.
Update from January 21, 2026: Several months have passed since the last update, and a lot has changed within the games. Additionally, due to its current popularity, we have added Warframe to the top 10, replacing Fallout 76.
[toc]
World of Warcraft – MMORPG
Genre: MMORPG | Entwickler: Blizzard Entertainment | Plattform: PC | Release-Datum: November 23, 2004 | Modell: Pay2Play
Pro
One of the most beginner-friendly MMORPGs on the market
Features an epic, deep storyline
Wide range of content for both PvE and PvP fans
Receives major updates on a regular basis
Boasts some of the highest player counts in the genre and a vast community
“The War Within” is a solid expansion, with “Midnight” set to release in 2026
Alongside modern WoW, there are several Classic and Hardcore versions available
Contra
The graphics and gameplay show their age a little
During the leveling process, you only play through one expansion, which means you might miss out on great stories and villains
Not for fans of action-oriented combat systems
What to expect in WoW
What is WoW? World of Warcraft is the most well-known MMORPG in Europe and North America. To date, Blizzard has released 10 expansions for WoW. The game caters to solo players who want to experience the story, as well as fans of dungeons and raids, which are the focus of regular content updates.
WoW features a stylized “comic” art style that has been polished and updated throughout the various expansions. Nevertheless, its age shows in certain areas—after all, WoW is now 21 years old. When it comes to the combat system, the game relies on classic tab-targeting.
WoW currently offers two main versions:
The War Within: This is the current expansion, released in August 2024. This is the “standard” WoW experience, also commonly known as “WoW Retail.”
WoW Classic: A relaunch of the original game that debuted in August 2019. Since then, Classic players have been able to choose from four different versions: the 2004 Vanilla version, the version featuring the Mists of Pandaria Classic expansion, the Season of Discovery (essentially a “Classic+”), and the anniversary variant “WoW Classic Fresh.”
Start video
WoW: Patch 11.2.7 – The warning shows what threatens Quel’thalas
What content does WoW offer? World of Warcraft allows you to explore a massive world with your character and – since The War Within – level them up to level 80. A vast amount of content awaits you:
Countless quests and storylines
A wide variety of zones
Dozens of dungeons and raids
Various PvP activities
With Shadowlands, the second-to-last expansion, the leveling process underwent several major adjustments. As a new player, you start in a completely revamped starting zone and can then choose which expansion you want to play through to level up.
Once you reach level 70, you head to Khaz Algar to experience the latest content. A major highlight is Delves, which can be tackled solo or with friends. Additionally, the Earthen allied race has been introduced, along with Warbands, which offer a lot of account-wide convenience. Alongside these highlights, the current expansion provides new zones, dungeons, raids, and, of course, entirely new story content.
How much does WoW cost? You can play World of Warcraft for free up to level 20. After that, a monthly subscription of approximately $15 / £11 / €13 is required.
Furthermore, for the Retail version, you need to purchase the current base version of the game, which already includes all previous expansions (and Midnight). This costs roughly $50 / €50 in the official shop.
All versions of WoW Classic are automatically included in the standard subscription.
MeinMMO Verdict: A highlight among MMORPGs even after 20 years
Who is the author? Cortyn has been playing World of Warcraft almost since its release, starting back with the Ahn’Qiraj patch. Cortyn has been covering the MMORPG for MeinMMO since 2013.
Why is it worth playing in 2026? Even after many years on the market, World of Warcraft remains a rock-solid MMORPG that excels primarily in one area: the sheer volume of things to do.
It has been a while since the release of The War Within, and numerous patches have been deployed. The expansion received praise from all sides, and Blizzard’s MMORPG seems to be back on the right track. The days of “mandatory chores” are over, and players can finally choose freely what they want to do. The Mythic+ system has been revamped and now features more enjoyable affixes and better balancing.
The War Within is now nearly complete. In Delves, you can hunt for powerful gear alongside NPCs while experiencing the beginning of the Worldsoul Saga and uncovering the mystery of the enigmatic Xal’atath.
Combined with the profession overhaul and the “new” old talent system, WoW is worth a look for both veterans and newcomers alike. WoW delivered on its 2023 promise to release six content patches—and many updates were, or are, on the schedule for 2025 and 2026, leading up to the launch of the next expansion, Midnight.
What are the issues with World of Warcraft? World of Warcraft lost a lot of trust with the Shadowlands expansion. Many players walked away during that time and moved on to other MMORPGs. Blizzard now faces the challenge of winning these veteran fans back. Although Dragonflight and The War Within have made great strides in doing so, many remain skeptical.
Blizzard has hired 100 new developers to provide WoW with content much faster in the future and to respond more effectively to player feedback. These additional staff members are now helping to implement the Worldsoul Saga, which consists of The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan.
Things went wrong with Patch 12.0 in World of Warcraft. Some potions no longer have any effect – they have been drastically scaled down.
Recently, Patch 12.0 went live in World of Warcraft, which is the pre-patch for the upcoming expansion Midnight. Along with it came a so-called “Stat-Squish,” where the values and attributes of characters, items, and enemies were reduced.
A side effect of this: Many items in WoW are now completely useless. You can use them, but nothing happens.
Start video
WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
Potions that heal exactly 0 health points – sometimes even negative
Which items are affected? This mainly concerns healing potions from the early levels of World of Warcraft. Affected healing potions include:
Weak Healing Potion
Minor Healing Potion
Refreshing Healing Potion
The same applies to some mana potions.
When you look at the tooltips of these items, you can’t help but smile slightly: Because they restore 0 health points when used. Sometimes even -0, which is a bit more curious.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The potions trigger the cooldown for using potions upon usage, but have no noticeable effect anymore. They are simply useless.
Why don’t the potions heal anymore? This is because there have been several instances of this Stat Squish already. Each time, the healing amount of potions was further reduced, but not in a linear way. Since item levels of items increase exponentially with their effect in WoW, this was also taken into account during the reduction.
This now leads to the absurd situation where there is a whole range of potions that no longer have any effect and therefore serve no purpose at all.
For the sake of fairness, it must be said that these low-level potions have hardly found use in modern WoW anyway, not even during leveling, as they are generally not necessary there. It is still a bit unsettling to have more and more items in the game that can no longer fulfill their actual purpose. Healing potions are not the only thing that players have to say goodbye to. A whole game mode of WoW will likely never return.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
“Water Troubles” is a quest in ARC Raiders that you receive from Celeste. To complete it, you need to take a water sample. We will explain how and where you can do this in the guide.
What do you need to do for the quest? When you receive the quest from Celeste, you must go to the dam battlefields. There, you need to find access to a tunnel and take a sample of the contaminated water.
Where you need to go and how to find the locations as well as complete the quest will be explained here.
Start video
Matchmaking in ARC Raiders: „Ratten“ könnten euch in PvP-Lobbys befördern
Flood Tunnel Location – Here you find the entrance
Once you are at the dam battlefields, you should travel to the “Red Lakes” balcony in the southeast of the map. From there, you can follow the wall and should find the entrance northwest near the control tower.
Here you can see the location in green and what the entrance to the tunnels looks like:
Here is the location of the entrance marked.This is the tunnel you should look out for.
Take Water Sample and Complete the Quest
Go through the entrance and follow the corridor as far as you can straight ahead. Keep left and continue until you arrive in a room. To the left, in front of another tunnel with a hose, you will reach the spot where you can take the water sample:
On the left side, you will find the sample.You should see a yellow indication here that you can take the water sample.
Pocket the sample, and the quest is automatically completed. You do not need to extract safely for success, as a proper item lands in your inventory here. So do not worry if you do not survive the match afterwards.
Besides this quest, there are of course many other tasks in ARC Raiders and a lot of resources and items to obtain. If you get stuck at any point, we have some guides, tips, and overviews ready to help you solve your problem: ARC Raiders: All Guides, Tips, and Lists Overview
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
