In Pokémon GO, the raid bosses rotate. And a fan-favorite returns to the raids that you should catch.
Top attackers now in raids: In Pokémon GO, there are new raid bosses again, and the fighting-steel Pokémon Lucario has slipped into the current rotation. You can encounter it in stage 3 raids now.
Lucario has always been considered a popular monster among Pokémon fans, but besides its popularity, it also has really good stats. Among fighting-type Pokémon, it is one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO and is therefore a good option when you battle in gyms or raids.
The special thing: You can actually get Lucario very rarely in Pokémon GO. The best option is usually to hatch eggs from which the baby form Riolu can emerge. But you need luck for this monster to hatch from the eggs. Additionally, you also need candies to evolve it.
Now you can simply challenge it directly in stage 3 raids. So you don’t have to rely on luck if you want to catch it. It is a good candidate for the daily free raid pass, as Lucario can also be defeated solo.
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Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!
Lucario in stage 3 raids – Shiny, counters for the raid
Can Lucario be Shiny? Yes, there is a chance for a Shiny Lucario in raids. However, you need a lot of luck for this.
This is what Shiny Lucario looks like
How do I defeat Lucario? Lucario is of the fighting and steel types. Therefore, it has a particular weakness against fighting, ground, and fire attacks.
Particularly strong counters against Lucario are, for example, Groudon and its shadow and especially primal form. Otherwise, use the following:
Strong fire attackers like Mega Charizard, Skelabra, Flampivian
What else is there in raids? In the difficult raids, you now encounter monsters like Registeel and Mega Steelix. Registeel, in particular, is a great monster if you like to battle in the PvP league. This is worth it as well.
In addition, you now encounter monsters like Magneton, Alolan Marowak, Bronzel, or even Tanhel in the stage 1 raids. Tanhel is also a strong attacker if you evolve it into Metagross.
Before anime series flow to us in the West, they first air in the production country. Once a series is successful in Japan, it is also released worldwide. However, according to the head of the animation studio Pierrot, which is responsible for anime hits like Naruto and Bleach, the audience in the West is a major problem for the anime industry.
What is the West to blame for? As studio head Michiyuki Honma explains in an interview with Natalie magazine, it is difficult to produce an anime series that is popular abroad or planned as a long-term series. He claims that anime becomes increasingly boring due to its release in the West, that is, outside Japan.
Thus, animation studios must restrict themselves on certain points when creating anime series intended for release in the West:
Characters must not smoke to be shown abroad. A prominent example of this is the 4Kids censorship of Sanji, who sucks on a lollipop instead of smoking (via One Piece Pedia).
The violence in action-packed anime must be toned down. The studio was even affected by such censorship with its own anime. In Germany, Naruto was shown in a heavily edited version, where content was completely taken out of context.
According to Honma, “sexy expressions” should be avoided. There have already been instances where entire series and movies have been omitted in countries because scenes with nudity were not removed. A prominent example is the second Demon Slayer movie. The film was banned from theaters in Saudi Arabia due to a bath scene featuring Mitsuri Kanroji, also known as the Love Hashira (via X).
A similar phenomenon can be observed in video games. For example: In the West, IGN France criticized Stellar Blade for the protagonist “being sexualized by someone who had never seen a real woman.” The discussion found its way to South Korea: The Korean version of Maxim magazine asked how a body could be unrealistic if it was based on a real woman.
For Honma, too much is being cut back on violence. See for yourself the level of violence in the following trailer:
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Boruto: Naruto and Sasuke fight Momoshiki
Anime producers are caught between two paths
Honma does not believe that people in the West want to watch anime containing many such expressions. However, the problem is that anime series that are a hit in Japan also come to the West. And that is ultimately the target.
He adds that production studios should be careful not to choose the wrong approach with their anime. By this, he likely means that the series should not be restricted just to make them more popular in the rest of the world.
According to him, studios need to become more selfish so that anime do not become “boring.” Presumably, the golden mean is the perfect solution for anime to become a global hit.
Where is the Pierrot studio known from? Naruto and Bleach are not the only animes from the studio. The company has been producing anime series since 1979. Their first work may not look like anime at first glance, but in fact, “The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson with the Wild Geese” is a production from the Japanese studio Pierrot.
Yu Yu Hakusho, for which a Netflix live-action movie is currently available, also originates from Studio Pierrot. In addition, series such as Kickers, Tokyo Ghoul, Black Clover, and Great Teacher Onizuka have been created in this studio. Honma himself has been the company’s president since 2012, so he brings several years of experience.
By now, Naruto has handed the baton to his son Boruto. The anime for this is also animated by Pierrot. It seems that Boruto’s sister Himawari will soon play an equally important role:
Samsung is rolling out a major update to Android 14 with One UI 6.1 for its devices. MeinMMO lists which devices will receive the update starting May 2024 and which might follow later.
What is One UI 6.1? One UI 6.1 is Samsung’s second major update built on Android 14. Visually, there aren’t many changes, but there are some new features and improvements. The big story centers around Galaxy AI, Samsung’s suite of AI-enhanced features available throughout the software.
When will the update be rolled out? Starting March 28, 2024, the update will be distributed for Samsung devices. Older models (manufactured before 2023) are expected to receive the update after a few months, but more information is not yet available.
One UI 6.1: All devices receiving the Android update
All devices released in 2023 will definitely receive the update to One UI 6.1. We have listed the corresponding models here.
These Samsung models will receive One UI 6.1:
Galaxy S24
Galaxy S24+
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S23
Galaxy S23+
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S23 FE
Galaxy Z Fold 5
Galaxy Z Flip 5
Galaxy Tab S9
Galaxy Tab S9+
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Which devices might also receive One UI 6.1? Most likely, almost all models that already received Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6 will also get the update to One UI 6.1. However, we believe it is unlikely that older devices will receive the full range of AI features. This will likely be reserved for devices from 2023.
For the following older devices, Samsung has already confirmed that they will also receive an update to One UI 6.1:
Samsung promises between 4 and 7 updates for many models
What reasons support or oppose updates? The Korean manufacturer now promises a fixed number of updates for many models that they will definitely receive:
Models from the Galaxy S series after the S20 series will receive four years of operating system updates.
The latest Galaxy S24 models will even receive 7 operating system updates.
Models from the Galaxy Z series that were released after the Fold 2/Flip 2 are entitled to four upgrades, according to Samsung.
For the Galaxy Tab S8 series models and all S-series tablets released after the Galaxy Tab S8, the manufacturer offers four years of Android updates.
If you buy a phone, you will quickly find many alleged tips to improve performance or battery life. But many of these “tips” are not true. MeinMMO explains what is behind it: 6 myths and tips about phones that you shouldn’t believe
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Swedish media company Embracer, which includes numerous game studios and publishers, will split into three different entities after a historic cost-cutting program. In an interview, CEO Lars Wingefors explains who is responsible for the extensive layoffs, studio closures, and project terminations.
What has happened with Embracer now? After a nearly finalized billion-dollar deal fell through almost a year ago, the decision-makers at the Swedish media company had to initiate a strict cost-cutting strategy.
The balance sheet of the extensive measures according to Embracer’s financial report from February 2024:
By the end of 2023, around 1,400 positions will be cut (about eight percent of the total workforce).
About 30 unannounced projects have been put on hold.
Several studios announced their closure, including Volition (Saints Row).
Gearbox Entertainment (Borderlands) is being sold to Take-Two for 460 million US dollars.
Saber Interactive (SnowRunner) is leaving the company, which is expected to raise about 200 million US dollars by the end of 2024.
Based on these cost-cutting measures, Embracer will now split into three independent, publicly traded entities:
Asmodee Group (board games, collectible cards, tabletop)
Coffe Stain & Friends (PC, mobile, and console games with small to medium (Double-A) budgets) – this entity will include THQ Nordic, Black Forest Games, HandyGames, and the remnants of Piranha Bytes among others
Middle-Earth Enterprises & Friends (here lie the key brands for blockbuster productions: Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider, Metro, Dead Island, or Kingdom Come: Deliverance) – this entity will include Plaion, Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Fishlabs among others
The franchise of Lord of the Rings is right in the middle of the Embracer storm:
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Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
Smaller and therefore more attractive for investors
Why is Embracer doing this? It continues to be about reducing operating costs and increasing profitability. By splitting into three units, it is possible to transfer a mountain of 900 million dollars in debt of the two gaming units to the very profitable Asmodee group.
With the split into three independent public companies, the name Embracer is also removed from the equation, which has suffered some image damage over the past months. CEO Lars Wingefors wants to establish a new holding company instead to remain the owner and majority shareholder of the three companies.
Furthermore, industry insiders speculate that this measure might entice investors from Saudi Arabia to invest more money into one or more of the three units. Even now, Saudi Arabia is considered the second-largest shareholder of Embracer. Furthermore, it is said that these investors are behind the collapsed billion-dollar deal.
What does CEO Lars Wingefors say about the whole situation? The co-founder of Embracer was ready for a lengthy interview with James Batchelor from Gamesindustry.biz, and below we summarize his key statements:
In 2019 and 2020, capital costs were very low. Investors were willing to invest large sums in mergers and acquisitions. Covid triggered a real boom in the industry. The geopolitical situation was much more stable than today.
By the end of 2022, the situation then deteriorated drastically. After the pandemic, a hangover mood followed the boom. This was exacerbated by the war of aggression initiated by Russia against Ukraine. Capital costs noticeably increased. Investors sat on their money instead of continuing to invest. According to Wingefors, all these external factors have caused Embracer’s growth plan not to materialize.
In this phase, Embracer had to take on debt for the first time in its corporate history (apparently primarily for the acquisition of Asmodee). By the end of 2023, the debt was at 1.5 billion US dollars. Many measures in recent months are aimed at reducing this debt burden.
Wingefors postulates that the AAA market is so volatile that as a game developer or publisher, one should never have debt. The risk is simply too great that it cannot be repaid. In board games, it looks different, since this business area is much more stable. Therefore, it makes sense to transfer the debt from the two game units to Asmodee.
The CEO explains that the new leaders of the three units should build their own brands and strategies over the coming months. However, there should also be collaborations and licensing agreements between the three companies – but on conditions that are typically agreed upon as competitors.
What does all this mean for players? Embracer holds the rights to about 900 franchises, including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, Legacy of Kain, Lord of the Rings, Gothic, Metro, Alone in the Dark, Outcast, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Dead Island.
For great games to be developed for these brands in the future, the right budgets and teams are needed, which can only exist long-term if Embracer gets back on its feet. Moreover, Embracer’s future is important for the gaming location in Germany.
About 1,300 employees are working here in Germany for studios and departments of the Swedish media company. Among the German developers are Black Forest Games, Fishlabs, Grimlore, KAIKO, and the remnants of Piranha Bytes.
MeinMMO editor Dariusz played the current playtest of Hades 2 and was convinced by the hype game on Steam thanks to a new skill already in the second run.
Hades 2 is one of the most desired games on Steam, and the predecessor from 2020 is still considered a fantastic game. On Steam, the mythological roguelike has a strong 98% positive reviews from over 230,000 ratings.
Currently, a test for Hades 2 is ongoing, for which anyone can register on Steam. With a bit of luck, you have the chance to be selected for the test and check out the first area of the highly anticipated game before the early access release.
I also registered for the test and spent a few hours in Hades 2. Already in my second run, I realized that the roguelike could meet my quite high expectations and that we might be in for a very successful continuation.
Attention, Spoilers: In the following article, I will discuss some new features of Hades 2. If you want to discover new skills and similar features for yourself and experience the game without knowing new content in advance, you should not continue reading.
New skills that enhance the “cool” experience
In Hades 2, there are already new skills in the playtest that were not present in the predecessor. For example, during our runs, we encounter the goddess Demeter, who is introduced to us as the “goddess of the seasons.”
From Demeter, we receive, among other things, a skill called “Icy Strike,” which increases attack damage and creates a frost effect. Enemies affected by frost can no longer move. They are – as the name suggests – frozen.
However, even though I love skills that allow me to freeze enemies, there was another new skill that I liked even better – because it fit perfectly with my imperfect playstyle.
Screenshot from Hades 2 with battle against simple enemiesScreenshot from Hades 2 with battle against simple enemies and frost effectScreenshot from Hades 2 showing some skills you can receive from Demeter
A skill that perfectly matches my lack of skill
During my second run, I received a skill that refills my life to 100% upon entering a new room, as long as I have at least 80% of my total health bar remaining.
My problem in games like Hades is often that I am occasionally inattentive. Sometimes I also get greedy and want to take down the enemy with my current attack spam before he can attack again – and just then he attacks. And sometimes I simply dodge poorly and jump right into the next attack.
I never take much damage, but I keep taking small hits. One could say I am just not very good. Nevertheless, I still enjoy Hades (1) – I just wish I could enter a boss fight with full health more often.
This was made possible by the new skill of Hades 2. It perfectly masked my imperfection and allowed me to reach the first boss fight in my second run despite my lack of skill. And achievements are known to be worth their weight in gold for keeping players engaged.
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Hades 2 – Game Awards Trailer
Doesn’t this make the game too easy with such skills?
Now the talented players among you are surely wondering if Hades 2 doesn’t become too easy and casual-friendly with such skills. My assessment: No, not necessarily.
I ruthlessly lost the boss fight and could only take away just under a third of the health bar. It is still necessary to first understand the attack patterns of the bosses before there’s a chance of victory. You still need to dodge skillfully.
Moreover, the skill has no impact on the boss fight itself and may be inactive after the fight – should you win but have less than 80% health. Good players who approach the boss with full health without this skill will probably prefer to choose a skill that enhances their attack and sprint.
The skill only helped me to take a look at the attacks of the first boss for the first time with less playtime. And after that, I didn’t have the luck to get this skill again and had to make it to the boss fight on my own – and with less health.
Hades 2 seems to me like a worthy successor to the popular first part in the first playtest. It brings fun new skills, a really beautiful graphic style, and also other gameplay innovations that I consciously want to let you discover for yourselves – I don’t want to spoil too much.
In the few hours I played, I also didn’t encounter any bugs, crashes, or performance issues. Hades 2 has run really well so far. However, I certainly haven’t played enough to provide a truly informed assessment.
In any case, I am very excited about the release of Hades 2 and believe that fans of the first part will also enjoy the second part.
As of today, April 24, 2024, a new game called Rotwood is launching on Steam, which resembles Hades in its gameplay and even offers coop. MeinMMO editor Lydia has already played it and summarized her experiences for you:
There are hardly any new players in World of Warcraft. There are many reasons for this, but primarily the rather poor entry experience.
If you listen to the community of World of Warcraft, Blizzard is on the right track with “Dragonflight”. Many of the overhauls of old systems and the introduction of new “evergreen” content are well received by the players. The latest information about subscription numbers also clearly shows that WoW is good at keeping its players engaged.
But there is one group that hardly exists in WoW: new players.
That is where a lot of work lies for the developers.
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WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion
The Problems for Newcomers: Lore, Logic, RPG Feel
World of Warcraft has a whole range of issues when it comes to the experience of new heroes. On the one hand, there is the lore from nearly 20 years of World of Warcraft – with different timelines, plenty of villains, and political changes. Here, they tried to remedy the situation with the “Chromie time”, allowing players to choose a timeline and play through that adventure in one go. However, this only works to a limited extent and does not help in presenting the 20 years of story in any digestible way.
Anyone who wants to understand the story has to spend many hours flipping through the wiki (or reading our lore summary for WoW).
The Exile’s Reach is a solid player experience – but teaches nothing about the character you created.
The second problem is the “Exile’s Reach”. This was introduced with Shadowlands to create a new, cohesive starting area for newcomers. The area has a few advantages:
Various entertaining quests
A cohesive story
Modern quest design
Many characters that you get to know
The problem is: the island doesn’t tell you who you are. If you play a Night Elf, you learn nothing about the Kaldorei culture or their place in the world. If you choose a Blood Elf, you learn nothing about the Sunwell, the addiction to magic, or the problems with the Scourge.
World of Warcraft throws all new players into a uniform tutorial that is the same for everyone – even though you can create so many different characters. No one is told what an undead is in World of Warcraft. A problem that Holly Longdale also admits in an interview with Windows Central:
There are some challenges. How do we tell 20 years of story? In a way that players get a really healthy introduction. I think this idea of player fantasy with the race you choose… I loved logging in and still do now, as a Night Elf, running through Teldrassil and doing all those things. Without that, it feels to me like I’m not as connected to the world and don’t have a place. I think we will explore that more. There’s work ahead of us. And that is one of our goals for the future.
Worse still is that the normal story progression is missing. After the Exile’s Reach, it seamlessly transitions into “Battle for Azeroth”. Suddenly, you are already the great hero that all NPCs somehow know and who has saved the world multiple times.
BfA is confusing for newcomers. So many characters, and suddenly you’re a “hero”.
This makes sense for players who have been playing for 15 or 20 years – for newcomers, it just feels wrong.
Blizzard is openly addressing the fact that there is a big problem here. Holly Longdale said:
We have looked at data that shows us how well we serve different player groups. We looked at the new players who came to WoW. And then they left again. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us in terms of attracting new players, but we didn’t focus on that, we were focused on retaining [existing players].
Or in other words: Newcomers may occasionally check out World of Warcraft, but they feel unloved by the intro experience and soon after are overwhelmed by the world and the game.
Because World of Warcraft is also an extremely complex game with its countless systems, even if veterans often overlook that. Anyone who has ever tried to understand the mechanics and subtleties of a “Mythic+” dungeon as a fresh player and found a group without knowledge will know what is meant.
WoW needs fresh players, now that the existing ones are mostly satisfied. This is likely to be the next major project, which hopefully will not only be tackled after the end of the Worldsoul saga.
How would you approach this problem?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the cult film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” Johnny Depp drives an iconic red car through the outskirts of the famous metropolis. However, the car was not just any car; it belonged to the eccentric writer of the novel it was based on.
Which film is it about? Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is considered a cult film today. It was released in 1998 and was an adaptation of the novel of the same name. The author behind the book was Hunter S. Thompson, a legendary figure who became known for his extraordinary reports during the hippie era.
He also wrote novels, including the autobiographical book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It tells the story of sports journalist Raoul Duke, who travels to Las Vegas with his lawyer to report on a race.
The problem is: The two men have a suitcase full of drugs with them. And they are not only carrying it around but also consuming it in large quantities.
The story was filmed by Terry Gilliam, who has created some cult films like Brazil, 12 Monkeys, or Time Bandits. With Johnny Depp in the lead role, it seemed that all elements for a cult movie experience were in place. His appearances in other films sometimes cost a lot of money.
The story, the director, and the main actor were thus set. Only the right car was missing, which you can see in this excerpt:
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The crazy ride in the car from “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
Driving through the desert in a convertible
What was wrong with the car? Johnny Depp and his co-star Benicio del Toro spend a significant portion of the film in a stylish red convertible. They speed over the straight highway in the desert surrounding Las Vegas.
However, the film production first had to find such a car. Surprisingly, the writer of the source material, Hunter S. Thompson, offered his own car. After all, the story of the film was based on his own experiences. So why not drive the real car?
The red Chevrolet was nicknamed “Red Shark” and significantly contributed to the now-iconic images from the film. After filming, Johnny Depp personally drove the car back to its owner’s house. The actor and the writer were good friends, after all.
Does the author himself appear in the film? His own experiences, his own car – all that was left was an actual appearance of the writer. This is also present in the film.
In a party scene, Johnny Depp, as Duke, stumbles across the dance floor when he notices a gentleman who is dressed almost identically. This man is Hunter S. Thompson himself. Because Depp’s character is highly intoxicated at this moment, he thinks of him as a hallucination. You can see the scene on YouTube here.
In general, clear parallels can be seen between Depp’s costume and the appearance of the real Hunter S. Thompson.
Sonic 3 will hit theaters this year. Idris Elba will once again reprise his role as Knuckles. Keanu Reeves will also be joining this time. This makes Elba especially happy.
Which Sonic movie is it about? The new Sonic movie will be released in German cinemas on December 25, 2024, just in time for Christmas. The first part came out in 2020, the second in 2022.
The voices of Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, and Idris Elba as Knuckles will be back. A new addition in the third film is Shadow.
This character only appeared in a brief sequence after the credits in the last film. It was already a teaser that Shadow will have a bigger role in Sonic 3. And so it will be.
Shadow will be voiced by none other than Keanu Reeves. Fans of the actor will be very pleased — one of them is even part of the Sonic cast: Idris Elba.
Here you can see the trailer for part 2 of the animated film series:
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A lightning-fast hedgehog in the trailer for “Sonic 2”
Idris Elba reacted enthusiastically to the announcement
How did Idris Elba react to Keanu Reeves? In a brief interview with IGN, Idris Elba talked about the upcoming Sonic movie and how much he is looking forward to the casting of Keanu Reeves.
I am a big fan of him. I heard he is a fan of mine, and we are destined to do something together. So, here we go.
Idris Elba via IGN
The actor seems to be genuinely looking forward to the collaboration. Keanu Reeves thinks similarly according to Elba in this regard. However, it wouldn’t be the first joint project. Both Hollywood stars have already been part of another very popular franchise.
Which brand is being referred to? In the game Cyberpunk 2077 from the Polish developer CD Projekt RED, both Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves are involved.
Keanu Reeves plays the quirky Johnny Silverhand, who accompanies the player throughout most of the story. Idris Elba, on the other hand, only joined with the extensive expansion “Phantom Liberty”. In it, he portrays Solomon Reed, a secret agent.
In the game, both lend their characters not only their voice but also their face and body. This is, of course, different in Sonic 3 due to the source material. Knuckles and Shadow are animated characters from the computer.
It shouldn’t be long until a first trailer is released. After all, the film’s release is already planned for December.
In our tier list for Season 3 in Diablo 4, we show you which classes and builds are the strongest in endgame. There is also a brief description of what the builds can do and what makes them good.
What are the best classes in Season 3? By now, all classes have at least one build in the S-Tier when it comes to endgame content. Currently, Sorceresses are leading in the leaderboards.
Update from April 22: Blizzard is currently working on preparing the upcoming Season 4. It starts on May 14. The currently best builds in Season 3 probably won’t change before then.
Who creates the tier list? We obtain our data from maxroll.gg, where the list is compiled with tests and mathematics. The data is handled by the experts Rob, Wudijo, Northwar, Facefoot, Raxxanterax, and Chewignom.
The tier list covers all endgame activities in Diablo 4. For PvP, speed grinds, and the fastest way to level up to 100, the builds are not always the best suited.
[toc]
Here you see a current tier list for the endgame in Diablo 4. Source: maxroll.gg
What does “S” to “D” mean? In the tier list, the builds are categorized by letters. In this case, “S” stands for the best build, while “D” marks the worst.
The best Barbarian builds in the endgame of Season 3
With Hammer of the Ancients (short: HotA), you deal damage both to groups in small areas and to single targets. You focus everything on this one skill, which you enhance with buffs and shouts until it deals damage in the billions.
The Double Swing Barbarian has replaced the Running Arsenal build in the top tier. This build focuses on the eponymous skill and is excellent for all content, even better than many other builds. You attack with particularly high speed, albeit mostly in small areas, but you take down any opponent that comes in your path. The only downside: The defense is a bit lower than that of comparable builds, but still strong.
Instead of focusing on weapons, the Upheaval Barbarian relies purely on strength. You attack the ground beneath you and make opponents taste the churned stones. An ideal build for AoE damage.
In January 2010, Steve Jobs introduced the iPad. He explained that this was the future and that this was the post-PC era. However, he was wrong, as computers are still highly in trend.Furthermore, the iPad now also looks like a notebook.
Fourteen years ago, Steve Jobs, together with Apple, presented the new iPad. During his appearance, he told the attending audience that he had a vision for a world after the PC. That’s why he said there needed to be a device that could connect the world of netbooks and the iPhone.
To support his words, he presented the iPad at that moment. Because for Steve Jobs, this was the revolution that would ultimately replace the PC. And he was confident at the press conference: “Our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary product at an incredible price.”
After all, the iPad started back then at “only” 499 US dollars. With inflation, that would be about 670 euros in 2024.
During a later discussion panel, Jobs said that the time for computers would come to an end:
PCs will be like trucks. They will still exist, but one in X people will need them. (…) We love to talk about the post-PC era, but when it actually begins, it’s awkward.
iPad with declining sales and a changing market
What does it look like now? Steve Jobs was mistaken. Because the iPad did not replace computers in the following years, even though some surely bought an iPad for work or personal use.
In fact, the iPad saw significantly declining sales in the following years, which Apple did not expect. Because instead of 70 million devices, only “just” 14 million were sold in the end.
However, the iPad also changed from generation to generation. When Jobs flamboyantly introduced the iPad in 2010, the device was a closed system that could do everything. And without accessories like a mouse or keyboard. That was not needed in Jobs’ vision back then.
In recent years, Apple has increasingly diluted this unique selling point: In the following years, accessories like keyboard add-ons and mice were introduced, and the tablet kept appearing like a multifunctional PC replacement, without really wanting to replace the PC. Nowadays, for many fans and viewers, the iPad with the Magic Keyboard and a mouse looks more like a modern laptop.
Instead of replacing the computer, one has more or less created their own “mobile” PC.
By the way, Steve Jobs saved Apple just before bankruptcy. His saving idea was a new distribution channel, which brought the company several million dollars in revenue in no time. You can read the entire story directly on MeinMMO:
Recently, there have been several updates in Pokémon GO. While one of them is mostly well-received by the community, there is almost only negative feedback for the second one. The community is asking: How is it possible to have two updates of such differing quality?
What updates are we talking about? Recently, it was announced that Pokémon GO will receive a new update with 4 features. This update is divided into 3 sections.
While the first update, which focused on the avatars, was labeled by the community as the worst update in the history of updates, the second update has been much better received.
This update introduced new graphics for these biomes and catching screens alongside a change to the biomes. The community is now questioning whether this graphic update compensates for the avatar renewal.
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Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!
While it doesn’t make up for it, it makes it more manageable
What does the community say about the graphic update? On Reddit, the reaction to the new graphic update is mostly positive. However, some voices are raising concerns that the new graphics are causing issues on older mobile devices, as the game no longer runs smoothly.
Some comments, which also relate to the original question of the post on Reddit, include:
I don’t understand how they can incorporate such nice graphics but simultaneously create these terrible avatars, is a comment on Reddit.
Seriously. How can the same game release such drastically different updates? Maybe it was intentional for the free publicity, speculates another trainer on Reddit.
While it doesn’t make up for it, it makes it more manageable. After all, I spend more time looking at the map and catching screens than at my character, says another commentator on Reddit.
Not at all, but it is still very cool, writes another trainer on Reddit.
Further comments concerning the negative performance due to the graphic update include:
Yes, this update has taken its toll on the frame rate, writes a trainer on Reddit.
No, because it has caused SO much lag that the game has become almost completely unplayable for me, notes another trainer on Reddit.
In summary, while the update unfortunately causes issues for some players due to performance, it is very positively received by a significant portion of trainers.
Even if this does not compensate for the avatar update for many players, there should at least be no calls for compensation from trainers this time.
What do you think of the new graphic update? Do you like the new biomes on the map and the catching screens? Or have you unfortunately also been struggling with performance issues? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
The Twitch streamer Trymacs participated in an event and got injured. Originally planned as a Bundeswehr training course, the numerous challenges posed a risk to Trymacs’ health.
In his reaction to YouTube regarding the first episode, he makes it clear that he wasn’t aware of what he was getting into. Additionally, he injured himself during the event.
What kind of event was it? The event condensed a Bundeswehr training course, which typically lasts for months according to the streamer, into a 3-day event. Participants had to take part in several challenges. Many tasks, according to the streamer, involved pulling themselves up on objects using their own body weight.
This, according to Trymacs, is also the reason for his injury, which actually originated from soccer.
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Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?
The ball sport is to blame for the renewed injury
How Trymacs got injured: In his reaction, Trymacs mentions that he got injured during the event. The reason was the constant jumping down from elevated platforms.
He further states that he is too fat for soccer and that he has shin splints because of this. Due to this incident, he had already taken a sports break of 4 months on his doctor’s advice.
However, during the event, he was not aware of what he was getting himself into, and his doctor had told him that the worst thing he could do was jump from elevated surfaces. The streamer was not aware that exactly that awaited him during the event.
The consequence of his injury: another 4-month hiatus from sports.
Reactions from the community: A few express understanding for the streamer under the TikTok clip by Trymacs. However, the majority seems to be more puzzled as to why Trymacs participated in the competition. In the clip he posted, it appears that he did not inform Otto about his health risk.
Some users write:
The official account of Joyn notes: Just break through the walls with wall breakers.
Jordan R. writes under the clip: Then don’t jump, huh?
User Niels E. comments: I’m sure if you had told Otto that, he would have advised against participating.
This is not the first time Trymacs has only half-heartedly taken his doctors’ advice to heart. Even during “7 vs. Wild,” he consciously ignored his doctors’ advice. You can read more about it here:
The best counters against Registeel in Pokémon GO in the guide. We show you the best attackers and movesets. With these, you can defeat Registeel in 5-star raids.
What kind of Pokémon is Registeel? Registeel is a legendary Pokémon from the third generation of Pokémon games. It belongs to the Steel type and, together with Regice, Regirock, Regieleki, and Regidrago, forms the Legendary Giants.
When is Registeel available in the game? You can find the boss since April 25, 2024, at 10:00 AM local time in Pokémon GO. It will remain in the game for you until May 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM local time. Here we show you the best counters against Registeel and which types it is weak against (type effectiveness).
Defeating Registeel in Raid – With these counters
Primal Groudon with Mud Shot and Doom Desire
Mega Blaziken with Counter and Blast Burn
Mega Charizard Y with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
Shadow Inteleon with Fire Spin and Overheat
Mega Scizor with Counter and Close Combat
Shadow Groudon with Mud Shot and Doom Desire
Mega Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power
Reshiram with Fire Fang and Fusion Flare
Shadow Entei with Fire Spin and Overheat
Shadow Excadrill with Mud Slap and Fire Spin
Shadow Flareon with Fire Fang and Overheat
Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
Shadow Ho-Oh with Incinerate and Sacred Fire+
Shadow Entei with Fire Fang and Overheat
Shadow Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch
Shadow Blaziken with Counter and Blast Burn
Mega Charizard X with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
Mega Alakazam with Counter and Focus Blast
Keldeo with Low Kick and Sacred Sword
Shadow Charizard with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
Weaknesses of Registeel: The Pokémon is of the Steel type and has weaknesses against Fighting, Ground, and Fire. So focus on attacks and Pokémon of these types in raids to defeat Registeel.
Is there a Shiny Registeel? Yes, you can catch Registeel in Pokémon GO as Shiny. In the following graphic, you can see the difference between the normal version and the Shiny version:
Shiny Registeel in Pokémon GO
How many trainers are needed? If you have the top counter Pokémon and have already reached a fairly high level (40+) in Pokémon GO, you can defeat Registeel with two or three players. At lower levels, but with strong counters, you should rely on more trainers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The 20 best counters against Mega Stoutland in Pokémon GO in the guide. We show you the best attackers and movesets. With these, you can defeat Mega Stoutland in Mega Raids.
What kind of Pokémon is Mega Stoutland? The Mega evolution of Stoutland has, unlike the normal variant of Stoutland, only the Steel type.
When is Mega Stoutland in Pokémon GO? You can find Mega Stoutland from April 25, 2024, at 10:00 AM until May 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM in Mega Raids in Pokémon GO.
Here in the guide, we show you the best counters against Mega Stoutland.
Defeating Mega Stoutland in Raids – With these counters
Proto-Groudon with Mud Shot and Abyss Blade
Mega Blaziken with Counter and Blaze Kick
Crypto-Groudon with Mud Shot and Abyss Blade
Crypto-Stalobor with Mud Slap and Fire Sand
Mega Knackrack with Mud Shot and Earth Power
Mega Escavalier with Counter and Close Combat
Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
Crypto-Machoke with Counter and Dynamic Punch
Crypto-Knackrack with Mud Shot and Earth Power
Reshiram with Fire Fang and Fusion Flare
Keldeo with Low Kick and Sacred Sword
Crypto-Blaziken with Counter and Fire Sweep
Lucario with Counter and Aura Sphere
Demeteros (Incarnate Form) with Mud Shot and Desert Hurricane
Crypto-Rhydon with Mud Slap and Earthquake
Crypto-Hariyama with Counter and Dynamic Punch
Crypto-Mamoswine with Mud Slap and Horsepower
Heatran with Fire Spin and Lava Plume
Mega Charizard X with Fire Spin and Blaze Kick
Mega Alakazam with Counter and Focus Blast
Weaknesses of Mega Stoutland: The Pokémon is of the Steel type and has weaknesses to Fire, Ground, and Fighting. Therefore, focus on attacks and Pokémon of these types in raids to defeat Mega Stoutland.
Is there a Shiny Mega Stoutland? Yes, with a bit of luck, you can encounter a shiny Stoutland after the battle.
Stoutland in its normal form and as Shiny in comparison
How many trainers are needed? If you have the top counter Pokémon and have reached a fairly high level (40+) in Pokémon GO, you can defeat Mega Stoutland with three players. With lower levels, but strong counters, you should rely on more trainers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Every month, many new games are released on Steam. These three titles are among the top new releases from April 2024 and have already received very positive ratings from players.
What kind of games are these? Steam regularly presents the bestsellers of a month.
We have looked at the reviews and here introduce you to three games from April 2024 with very positive ratings.
Content Warning
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Content Warning turns you into hunters of late monsters
At the beginning of April, a new game called Content Warning was released in the style of Lethal Company and is celebrating great success. Probably mainly because the game was available as a free download in the first 24 hours, it quickly built up a high number of players.
But the positive ratings have not been lacking either. To date, the game has received 92% positive ratings. Many YouTubers and streamers also recognized the potential of Content Warning, which is why the game was to be found on many platforms in the first weeks of April.
What kind of game is this? In Content Warning, you control your character in first-person perspective through an abandoned, old world full of strange monsters. Together with up to four players, you want to find these, film them, and upload your small videos to Spooktube to become successful content creators.
No Rest For The Wicked
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No Rest for the Wicked – the new ARPG from the makers of Ori in the trailer
No Rest For The Wicked is the new action role-playing game from the creators of the popular title Ori. The role-playing game was released on April 18, 2024, and has received 72% positive ratings so far. Even before its release, the game was praised for its beautiful and interesting graphics.
The hand-painted graphics give the game not only a unique style but also make the gameplay an interesting experience. It almost feels like you are guiding the character over real paintings.
What can you expect? While many at first glance thought of a new competitor for Diablo, No Rest For The Wicked, with tactical and challenging battles, actually reminds more of Dark Souls. As a relentless and precise action role-playing game, the developers want to reinvent the genre, as stated on the official Steam page.
Sker Ritual expands the universe of an award-winning game from 2020
Sker Ritual is a new game from Wales Interactive, released on April 18, 2024. Since then, the game has received 81% positive ratings on Steam. It is a spin-off of the award-winning game Maid of Sker from 2020.
What can you expect? You can play Sker Ritual alone or in co-op mode with up to four players. In the universe of Maid of Sker, you face hordes of terrifying enemies to survive the onslaught of the so-called Quiet Ones on Sker Island. You confront the battles in a turn-based combat system, using Celtic god powers and a variety of steampunk weapons.
The new SF film “Rebel Moon 2 – The Scar-Maker” was apparently clearly intended and promoted by Netflix as a blockbuster, after all, they had enlisted Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Justice League), a renowned action director. But the film is failing with critics – one scene is particularly harshly criticized. The idea for this scene is said to have been reused by Snyder from a DC film he had in mind.
What kind of film is Rebel Moon 2?
Rebel Moon tells the story of “The Magnificent Seven” in a science fiction version. Although the “magnificent seven” is also just the western version of a samurai film.
A gang of extraordinary fighters must protect a small village from an overwhelming enemy, from the “Motherworld”, a faceless fascist space regime that equips its assassins with burning lightsabers because … because … it looks visually impressive and since they already look like the Empire from Star Wars, they might as well go all in.
In part 1 of Rebel Moon, the underlying conflict was introduced and the heroes were gradually gathered; in part 2, the big battle for the village, which was missing in part 1, takes place.
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Rebel Moon – Part 2: The Scar Maker | Official Trailer
Director has incorporated idea for “Justice League 2” into Rebel Moon 2
And the critics don’t like that? No, they really don’t. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has only 52% positive reviews, on IMDB it is rated 5.2 out of 10. On Metacritic, it stands at a disastrous 36%. It definitely falls far short of expectations.
Director Zack Snyder is now giving critics new fodder as he spoke about the references in the film to “Justice League 2”. This is a planned film in the superhero universe DC, which never materialized:
There is definitely a last supper in Justice League 2, with a scene in which the heroes have to tell the story of how they ended up there […] and, yes, the scene in Rebel Moon has a similar structure to the one we were considering for Justice League 2. There are a few other ideas that we included in Rebel Moon, but not enough to make a realization of Justice League 2 impossible.
Clunky scene delivers heroes’ origin story
What is the problem? The scene Snyder is referring to provides the origin story of each hero in Rebel Moon 2: In just a few sentences and in clunky flashbacks, each character introduces what traumatized them. One lost all his troops, another had his kingdom stolen, a heroine was betrayed by the evil empire.
It is criticized that in the scene the stories of the heroes are only briefly summarized, and there is no opportunity to build a connection with them. The fact that all the traumatic events are recounted one after the other undermines the impact of each individual fate.
Promised “Snyder Cut” doesn’t make the film better
Is there more criticism? German YouTuber David Hain also criticizes Snyder for his promise to deliver a “Director’s Cut” that is supposed to be much more extensive and brutal than the film and allegedly will revolutionize “SF cinema” (via youtube).
When such monster cuts are promised, who still wants to watch the normal film, asks Hain.
The “Magnificent Seven” formula is messed up
What does MeinMMO think? I have already seen Rebel Moon 2, and the film indeed has not a single twist or original idea. Part 1 at least still had the classic traitor scene, but part 2 runs through like it’s on a string.
The “Magnificent Seven” formula only works if the viewer finds the characters interesting or at least understands them, and there is a charismatic villain with evil henchmen who spectacularly go down one after the other. In “Rebel Moon”, the energy was rather put into the fight scenes and the world-building, which is hardly used efficiently, instead of into the urgently needed characterization of the characters.
The characters come across more like superheroes that only define themselves by a gimmick rather than as characters in a feature film.
Especially in the case of Justice League, Zack Snyder probably shouldn’t have drawn from it: Justice League is considered a failed film and lost quite a bit of money. A second part has not yet been made.
Also Rebel Moon, which is supposed to have many more parts coming, could now find a quick end.
The new PS5 game Stellar Blade has already sparked a lot of discussion before its release, mostly about superficial aspects. Now, 98 reviews for the game have been published, and it can be said: The game has more to offer than just the heroine Eve. With a score of 82%, Stellar Blade is doing well. For some testers, it is even the perfect action game. We take a look at the test ratings before the release on April 26.
Why has there been so much talk about Stellar Blade?
This sparked a debate months before the release: Players said this was a counterpoint to heroines in Western games, which have been deliberately designed in recent years to not conform to unrealistic beauty ideals.
With further comments and features like the “Skin Suit”, which allows you to play the heroine Eve practically nude, the debate’s flame was continuously stoked. There was little criticism of Stellar Blade itself – the criticism was directed at the Western developers and the Western gaming press for supposedly developing and writing against the wishes of the players.
But let’s see if there really is outrage against Stellar Blade.
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The action-adventure Stellar Blade shows the story trailer for PS5
“The perfect action game” shines with graphics, sound, and a fantastic world
Now here are the positive reviews:
Eurogamer Germany gives the full score of 5 out of 5 stars, praising the game in the highest terms as the “perfect action game.” The combat system is versatile, the bosses are creative, and the soundtrack is wonderful.
Dotesports gives it 90%, also praising the sound and graphics. The design of the world earns a bonus star.
In the game’s home country, South Korea, the magazine Inven is also satisfied with Stellar Blade, calling it a “beautiful action game” that combines fast combat with the tension of a Souls-like.
Boring characters and mediocre story are criticized
What do the more critical reviews say? The international edition of IGN gives it 70% and says the game suffers from boring characters, a mediocre story, and frustrating RPG mechanics. However, it is strong in the key elements of an action game.
GamesRadar describes the game as more ambitious than expected, but also unwieldy. One has to take it as it is, or enjoy the quirky sexual facade, the site concludes.
PC Games gives it 70% and says: The game loses out compared to masterpieces but is not a bad choice.
Is the game controversial at launch? No, not really. The assumed “outrage” from the Western gaming press over the highly sexualized protagonist is absent. In any case, one had to search very carefully to find criticism that could be considered upsetting.
Stellar Blade has rather been used to criticize a development in the Western gaming industry through the backdoor of “South Korea.”
To enter the Academy of Raya Lucaria in Elden Ring, you need a Glintstone Key. Where you can find these and why you should hand one over is explained here.
What do I need the Glintstone Keys for? In Elden Ring, there are two Glintstone Keys. The first is reserved for your hero to be able to enter the Academy of Raya Lucaria. The second key is intended for a quest line that you can start in Liurnia.
Since Glintstone Keys are bound to their previous user, you need two copies. Where you can now find both and hand in your second copy is explained in our guide.
How to find both Glintstone Keys
Where do I find the first Glintstone Key? The first key, which is meant for you, can be found west of the “Academy of Raya Lucaria.” Near the “Crystal Cave of the Academy,” you will discover a stone formation. There lies the Glintstone Dragon “Smarag,” guarding the key you want to take.
The red circle marks the location of the Glintstone KeyGlintstone Dragon Smarag guards the Glintstone KeySneak past and the key is yours!
If you are strong enough, you can face Smarag immediately and defeat him. However, if your attack power leaves something to be desired, you can also ignore Smarag and quickly run to grab the key. If you die in the attempt, you will still keep the key. Now head to the grace “Southern Gate of Raya Lucaria” and enter the Academy.
Where do I find the second Glintstone Key? The second Glintstone Key is required for the quest from the wizard Thops. You can find Thops southwest of the first grace “Seacliffs” in Liurnia. He is sitting on a bench in the Church of Irith.
Speak with Thops and you will learn that he has locked himself out of the Academy during the destruction and now cannot find a way back in. He will ask you to hand him a key if you happen to find one.
However, you will find his key inside the Academy itself. So gain access to the Academy and follow the path until you reach the boss “Red Wolf of Radagon.” Defeat him and continue along the path north until you go outside.
Here are the paths marked on the map again
Now head northwest and go up the shattered and normal stairs past the wizards. Turn west now and jump over the railing. Follow the same direction until you have to turn left to cross another railing.
Now follow the rooftops and climb the ladders until you eventually reach roofs that step downwards and lower you. You will discover a large rounded cathedral roof to the northwest and you need to jump onto this.
Jump onto the round roof and look for the window
Once you are on the roof, keep to the right until you see an open window. Jump through the window onto a roof beam and balance on it. You will spot a chandelier below you with loot on it – this corpse holds the new Glintstone Key for Thops.
The sought-after key is located on the chandelier
Jump onto the chandelier and grab the key. Once you have taken the key, you just need to return to Thops and hand it over to him. He will soon leave his location to return to the Academy.
Day-one titles are not often added to the PS Plus catalog. Currently, however, users can enjoy a fresh Metroidvania in their game catalog. And the new game for the PS5 looks quite promising.
Which game is it? Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a new Metroidvania and the first game from the developer studio Surgent Studios. It was published under Electronic Arts and was released yesterday, on April 23, 2024, on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Metroidvanias are video games in the tradition of Metroid and Castlevania; they are platformers with elements of action-adventures. At the beginning of the game, you will repeatedly encounter insurmountable obstacles. Throughout the game, however, you will obtain equipment and skills to overcome these hurdles.
The action platformer has already gained attention in advance with an emotional story. This story is supposed to intensely address the theme of grief and is inspired by the personal experiences of the studio founder. And even though the reviews of the game vary, the story seems to be a strong aspect.
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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU aims to impress with an emotional story
You play as the young shaman Zau, who struggles with his grief after a tragic loss. Under the guidance of the God of Death, Kalunga, he embarks on a journey through the mysterious 2.5D worlds. His goal is to harness the cosmic powers of the sun and moon masks.
The platformer aims not only to impress with an emotional story but also visually with picturesque areas and beautiful scenes.
Who can play the new title? All users who have chosen the Extra or Premium membership have access to the PS Plus game catalog.
While all other new games for PS Plus Extra were already available on April 16, 2024, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU was actually only added yesterday, on the day of its release. It is rare for a game to be added on its own day, and even more so on its actual release day.
Streamer Félix “xQc” Lengyel was, according to a leak, the absolute top earner on Twitch and is considered the highest-paid gaming streamer. But that came at a price. As he now says, Twitch forced him to participate in a therapy session in 2020 to be able to remain on the platform.
How do we know that xQc was the top earner on Twitch?
The hacker released the data, revealing that streamer xQc earned $648,000 in September 2021. This was by far the highest amount anyone received directly from Twitch at the time – other top earners like summit1g didn’t even reach half of that.
xQc solidified his reputation as the top earner in the industry when he signed a non-exclusive contract with Kick in June 2023, reportedly guaranteeing him $100 million. No contract before or after has ever been this high. A few months later, Twitch announced: The era of “big deals” is over.
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From Overwatch professional to number 1 on Twitch to 100 million $ – Who is xQc?
Here’s what he says now: xQc was in a conversation with the banned Twitch streamer Adin Ross. He asked what he needed to do to be allowed to stream on Twitch again – maybe a therapy session?
But even though Ross meant it as a joke, xQc confirmed: Twitch actually forced him to complete a therapy session.
xQc had to attend “Streamer Therapy”
What does he say about the therapy? He says, it was due to the “Gorilla Incident” at the time. xQc had clicked on a link in 2020, leading to a moment in his stream where two monkeys were seen mating. The ban lasted 24 hours at that time.
Previously, xQc had been banned several times for clicking on links with sexual connotations without thinking.
The therapy consisted of a conversation with a Twitch employee.
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“Why is it bad to do Thing X, which is why you were banned?”
Are there similar incidents known? In 2020, 16-year-old Fortnite pro Dubs was banned, because he made a racist outburst. Sensitivity training was mandated by his organization.
The German streamer MontanaBlack once stated that he received a harsh warning from Twitch after he dramatically reenacted a sexual act on the platform. He was threatened, as the biggest German streamer, with being banned from Twitch if it happened again.
This is something that MontanaBlack has never fully forgiven Twitch for. Since that ban, he views Twitch differently, as he mentioned in 2023:
