The best version of Harley Quinn can now be seen on HBO Max, immediately became one of my all-time favorites

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 4 minutes

Since January 13, you can watch an animated series about Harley Quinn on HBO Max that not only showcases the best portrayal of the anti-heroine but also offers brutal comedy, action, and characters that instantly steal your heart.

What is this animated series about? The “Harley Quinn”-series originally premiered in 2019 on the DC Universe streaming service but has been available for streaming on HBO Max since January 13.

The series revolves around Harley Quinn, the famous henchwoman of the Joker, who realizes in the first season that she is much less important to her beloved villain than she had hoped.

She decides to break away from him and pursue her own path in Gotham. She is accompanied by Poison Ivy and a newly formed crew that includes well-known characters like King Shark and Clayface.

The series follows Harley as she faces various challenges. On one hand, she wants to be taken seriously in the world of villains, overcome her emotional dependence on the Joker, avoid annoying heroes, and find peace with her own development. And that is one of the greatest strengths of the animated series: its characters are not simple caricatures but have depth, develop continuously, and remain authentic and fun.

In short: Harley Quinn has a lot of heart despite brutal action and crude comedy. And that makes it one of my absolute favorite series.

Here you can watch the trailer for Harley Quinn on HBO Max:

Start video
The trailer for “Harley Quinn” on HBO Max shows the former henchwoman of the Joker as her own boss

Harley Quinn charms viewers right from the start

A show can hardly survive if the protagonists cannot convince. Luckily, the series has Kaley Cuoco (known as Penny from The Big Bang Theory) who provides a funny, over-the-top, but still completely authentic Harley Quinn. She is loud, impulsive, and simply an imperfect person whose inner conflicts make her relatable despite her exaggerated demeanor.

She reflects a lot, longs for respect and acceptance, and prefers to avoid her problems rather than resolve them – unless, of course, they can be solved with a gun or a baseball bat.

Her team, consisting of Ivy and other friends, are not just extras and means for jokes (don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of jokes, and they are actually really good). Their crew appreciates each other, grows together, and thereby ensures that conflicts carry more weight.

When Harley runs back to the Joker because she longs for love and attention, it is not funny but rather sad.

Joker Bane and Harley
Joker, Bane, and Harley (Source: HBO Max YouTube)

Characters you just can’t help but love

But Harley is not the only one who shines. There are other candidates who can easily steal your heart within seconds. Sure, due to the comedy genre, some personalities are exaggerated or rewritten, but it fits the setting perfectly. Clayface is a nerdy theater kid with a pronounced fondness for acting and performing arts, Bane is a muscular softie who just wants to belong and Batman seems like he’s too old for this whole circus.

However, my highlight besides Harley is clearly Poison Ivy. Instead of the “femme fatale,” as she is portrayed in many other DC media, she is a jaded, introverted plant lover with emotional attachment issues who does not hesitate whenever Harley needs her help. The duo makes for enjoyable viewing due to their deeply different traits but the love they have for each other not only brings many laughs, but also touching moments.

Harley and Ivy
Harley and Ivy are incredibly important to each other despite their huge differences (Source: HBO Max YouTube)

A series that turns many things in the DC universe upside down – and that’s exactly why it works

I had an incredible amount of fun with the series, and with its release on HBO Max in Germany, I am already looking forward to watching it again. This time without breaks between the individual seasons. But just because I like it, doesn’t mean it has to resonate equally well with the biggest DC fan.

Harley Quinn is primarily a comedy beyond being a superhero series. The series doesn’t take itself and even the most serious characters from Gotham and its surroundings as seriously as many superfans do. And you have to be able to tolerate that.

But exactly this approach opens the doors for the series to try new things that other films, series, and comics tend to avoid. Accordingly, they do not shy away from taking characters like the Joker or even Batman and picking them apart. No favorite character from the DC universe is safe with Harley Quinn, but that’s exactly what made it so much fun for me.

Fans of Harley and Joker as a couple will also have to swallow a bitter pill here. The series shows the problematic sides of their “relationship” and how Harley continues to suffer under his influence even after their official breakup. But rest assured, you definitely won’t miss out on romance. Harley Quinn develops one of the best, and surprisingly healthiest TV relationships that you might not expect from Harley at first.

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Perhaps I was able to give you a little taste of the “Harley Quinn”-series and one final push to check it out. Do you like the approach of the series? Or are you put off by the idea of popular characters from DC showing their entirely new sides? If you want to discover more series on HBO Max, we have even more for you here at MeinMMO: HBO Max has launched in Germany – All information on pricing, programming, and subscription of the Netflix competitor

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Amazon shows the new Lara Croft, but fans say: “I only care if she shoots a dino”

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

The first image of the new Lara Croft for the new series of Tomb Raider is sparking a big discussion in the community. Fans are less concerned about what the new Lara looks like, as long as they are finally surprised by a story that doesn’t have to be unconditionally dark.

What is worrying the community? In the gaming subreddit, an image of the new Lara Croft for Amazon Prime’s series adaptation of Tomb Raider was shown. Sophie Turner has been cast as the new live-action Lara, primarily known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones.

The image shows Sophie in the iconic outfit of the video game character, but the costume and visual representation of Lara Croft seem to be of less interest to the community based on the comments. 

Instead, they are concerned about the narrative implementation and hope that they will finally see an adaptation where Lara doesn’t have to find herself, but delivers fun action right away: “Please let her just be Lara Croft from the start. Please. We do not need another origin story” (Nerdy_Valkyrie on Reddit, about 3,300 upvotes).

Here you can see Lara Croft in video game action in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis:

Start video
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a reinterpretation of the game from 1996, coming in 2026

“Let’s have some fun with our media.”

What do fans want from the series adaptation of Tomb Raider? In the Reddit thread, it quickly becomes clear that almost nobody has any issues with the portrayal or Sophie Turner in the role. Fans simply want a series that doesn’t deal with Lara Croft’s backstory and development, but with the action they celebrate in the games.

“Just do silly adventures with a female Indiana Jones like in the video games, let her shoot a dinosaur in the first episode, and watch the ratings soar,” would raziel_beoulve like to explain to the showrunners personally.

Another user named cat_prophecy also comments: “Real life is already dark and hard enough. Let’s have some fun with our media.”

The community craves projects that do not focus on Lara Croft’s origin story, as there are already enough of those in a decade of “Tomb Raider” media. 

What direction does the community hope for? The comments with the most upvotes show that fans want to experience the same fun in the new series adaptation that they find in the games:

  • “I’m only interested if she shoots a dinosaur,” writes Less_Party.
  • “I need to see her fall down a cliff like a rag doll when she misses a ledge during a jump,” explains Loki-L.
  • And one fan really wishes for the complete nostalgia bomb: “There has to be at least one scene where she sidesteps, randomly turns around, does a backflip with a twist, all the polygons fall apart, and she dies.”

Otherwise, the community is very happy with the casting and Sophie: “Sophie looks better than I thought – and has obviously worked out A LOT in the gym. Hats off to her, I think she looks great” (One-Man-Wolf-Pack on Reddit).

The only real “criticism” that fans have of the image of the new Lara Croft is that she needs more triangles, which is a reference to the old game graphics and the polygons used.

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Sophie Turner is one of the most important characters from Game of Thrones as Sansa Stark, whose story has been followed since Season 1. Besides the new series of Tomb Raider, the actress could also be found again in her already known universe, but only under one condition: “Show me the money”: An actress from Game of Thrones is considering returning to the series, stating 2 important conditions

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Sauercrowd streamer Metashi dies in WoW Classic, drags 2 players to their death

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

Just before the goal and then failed. The streamer Metashi ends his journey in WoW HC Classic just before reaching level 60 – and sacrifices 2 teammates.

Currently, the German streaming project “Sauercrowd” is exciting viewers on Twitch. Here, World of Warcraft Classic is played in “Hardcore” mode. Around 200 streamers, including both professionals and beginners, are attempting the classic WoW and must never die.

Just before the first major goal, reaching level 60, the warrior of streamer Metashi meets his demise – in a bitter way.

Start video
WoW Classic: The Hardcore Servers Are Here!

How did the death occur? Metashi was discussing apartments and their prices while traveling through the Swamps of Sorrows with his character. He was on his way to the Sunken Temple, a dungeon frequented by many characters just before level 60. However, he realizes only slowly that his PvP status is activated.

Only when he is already near the temple does he notice the activation of PvP: “Uh, guys, I need your help for a second – why am I PvP flagged?”

The group then decides to quickly run into the dungeon. Because there, the PvP status might expire without significant consequences – they would be safe.

However, the path from the entrance of the temple complex to the dungeon is quite long and filled with dozens of enemies. Too many to just “run through”. More and more enemies are appearing, and the dungeon entrance is still far away. One by one, the characters of Metashi, Wase, and DannyDan die.

The reason for the deaths: Panic.

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PvP means in WoW Classic HC for streamers: Come here and give it a try!

Why does Metashi fall into panic? An activated PvP status in WoW Classic HC is an extreme risk for streamers. After all, thousands of people can watch live as the character suddenly becomes “open season.” Horde characters would have had 5 minutes to attack and eliminate Metashi – a considerable risk for streamers.

Accordingly, the reaction is chaotic, and it is clear that Metashi is overwhelmed by this situation. While the mage suggests setting up a portal (to teleport Metashi to safety in Stormwind or Ironforge), the group decides simply to run into the dungeon – with fatal consequences.

The guild is beside itself, only one celebrates hard: The reactions of the guild to the death of Metashi’s group are highly entertaining. While most can hardly believe it and express their sympathy, there is also one person who clearly celebrates: NoWay. He first opens a bottle of champagne and is evidently having the time of his life. Many of the reactions can be seen here:

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How did the PvP flag even come about? An unanswered question is why Metashi was marked for PvP at all. The streamer Sieglinde later retraced Metashi’s path and tried to analyze the situation on YouTube. He finds the place where Metashi is marked for PvP, but recognizes no sensible reason for it. None of the nearby Horde civilians notice him, and no guard appears – although the PvP marking is activated.

Sieglinde suspects that there may be some creature “beneath the ground” that draws aggro but cannot attack. Because as soon as one is attacked (or even just targeted) by a PvP guard, the PvP status is automatically activated.

For Metashi and his companions, the death is extremely painful, as they now have to start all over again. The big goal of being part of the first raid in the Molten Core is now far out of reach for these three.
The amusing and often emotional deaths are what make Sauercrowd enjoyable to watch. This applies not only to PvP markings, but also to dreaded elevator bosses.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The head of a hit on Steam offers 25 million to save a dying MMORPG, does not want to let go of New World

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Instead of letting New World die, there is surprisingly a purchase offer for the MMORPG, and the man behind it is no stranger.

Which MMORPG is it about? On the evening of January 15, 2026, the developers of New World scheduled the end of their MMORPG. Previously, it had already been clear that the game would no longer receive updates and would be shut down at a later date, while the exact date was still unknown.

With the announcement from the developers, it is clear: New World will be shut down on January 31, 2027. What to consider until then has already been extensively covered in another article. However, the shutdown could still be stopped, as a new offer could change everything.

More about Amazon’s failure with New World:

Start video
Amazon wollte Big Player für Games sein – Das Ende von New World vervollständigt eine traurige Geschichte des Scheiterns

25 million for New World

What kind of offer is this? While the MMORPG world discusses the end of New World for the second time, a well-known head of another Steam hit intervenes. Alistair McFarlane is the COO and Company Director of the gaming studio Facepunch, known for the sandbox classic GarrysMod as well as the extremely popular survival game Rust.

According to SteamDB, nearly 250,000 players were playing the survival game simultaneously at peak times in January, which also owes its success to large servers. An employee of the studio reposted the announcement of New World’s shutdown on X.com and wrote: “I tried to get Ali to buy NW for me, but he told me to go to hell.”

However, Alistair “Ali” McFarlane himself actually responded with an offer. He wrote on X.com: “25m, final offer @amazongames”. He added to his post with the comment: “Games should never die.”

Has there been any reaction yet? Whether the purchase offer for the MMORPG is even serious remains unclear. Under the post of the Rust head, many fans hope that Amazon Games really accepts the offer. But they have not yet commented.

Another well-known face also speaks up. Simon “HyPixel”, the head of Hytale, who recently repurchased his sandbox game from Riot, offers his help to the Rust head. He writes on X.com: “If you need tips on buying discontinued games, let me know”.

Interestingly, Simon “HyPixel” also recently offered 25 million for the rescue of Hytale. Whether the offer is just a hint or reality remains unknown.

Can this work? Although the exchange and the offer may indeed exist, selling an MMORPG is unusual and complicated. Very few games have ever been sold, and even fewer MMOs. The chances of an actual sale are therefore slim, but not impossible.

An important factor is that the new owners have the necessary knowledge and financial resources to operate an MMORPG. Alistair McFarlane and his staff have already proven this with the long-term success of their games.

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The popularity of New World is evident at the latest with the announcement of the shutdown. Many fans have waited a long time and hoped for improvements. The update that pushed the MMORPG in the right direction was also its last. More about the end of New World is revealed by MeinMMO expert Karsten Scholz: Amazon wanted to be a big player in games – The end of New World completes a sad story of failure

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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Billionaire must rename giant yacht upon realizing that its name backwards means something terrible

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A billionaire renames his yacht because the name backwards means something unpleasant for the owner of the ship. Unfortunate naming choices are not uncommon.

Who is it about exactly? Larry Ellison is known as the co-founder of Oracle, one of the largest software companies in the world. He is also listed according to Forbes as one of the richest people in the world and is currently ranked 5th with nearly 240 billion USD (as of January 16, 2026).

However, he had little luck with a yacht that he acquired with his money. At least regarding the naming. This is reported by the English-language magazine Futurism.com.

Start video
Valve presents the Steam Machine in the new trailer

Billionaire buys a yacht, renames it shortly thereafter

What kind of yacht is it? Ellison bought a huge yacht measuring 191 feet (about 58 meters), which he named “Izanami”.

The name was allegedly inspired by a deity of the same name from Shinto mythology, the female creator of creation itself and of death. She is usually depicted with her brother Izanagi. The two are considered central deities in the Japanese creation myth.

However, billionaire Ellison had the name of the yacht changed shortly thereafter when he was pointed out a detail. Because when the name is read backwards, it usually means something quite unpleasant for the owner in English: “I’m a Nazi”.

Are there similar examples? Yes, other examples also show that one does not always have to have a good sense for naming. The most famous example in Germany is probably the luxury car Phaeton from VW.

VW explained at the time that they named their car after Greek mythology. However, this led to much ridicule and mockery, as Phaeton crashed his father’s sun chariot and was punished by Zeus with a lightning bolt so that he would not set the world on fire.

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Significantly smaller, at 30 meters, is the yacht “History Supreme”, which, however, is said to be the most expensive yacht in the world. But the special thing is not the price, but the material it is said to be made of. However, no one knows if the yacht really exists, as no one has seen it in public: The most expensive yacht in the world does not belong to Bezos or Zuckerberg: It costs 4.8 billion and is made of gold and dinosaur bones

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Dead by Daylight loses its most famous killer because he is getting his own game

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

It is rare for Dead by Daylight to lose a license. But now it affects Michael Myers, who will be disappearing for a while.

Dead by Daylight is somewhat considered the “Super Smash Bros.” of mass murderers and monsters. There are now over 40 killers from various franchises in the horror game – including the Alien, Freddy Krueger, several killers from Resident Evil, and even Dungeons&Dragons. The first licensed killer was Michael Myers from “Halloween,” who is referred to in the game as “The Shape.” But he is now being removed from the shop.

The latest killer in Dead by Daylight:

Start video
The Krasue in Dead by Daylight brings true body horror

What will happen to The Shape? The Shape, that is Michael Myers, will no longer be available in Dead by Daylight starting January 19. Neither he nor Laurie Strode can be purchased in the shop after that. Additionally, the corresponding map “Haddonfield” will be removed from the game and will no longer be in the map rotation.

Those who already own Michael Myers or Laurie Strode can still play both characters. They will just not be available for new players.

Why has Dead by Daylight lost the license? Although there are no concrete statements from the developers regarding this, the answer seems to be obvious: The Halloween franchise is getting its own game in September, which also features Michael Myers. Apparently, the licensor does not want Michael Myers to appear in two different games with similar premises at the same time.

Just like Dead by Daylight, Halloween will also be an asymmetrical horror game where Michael Myers must observe and then kill the residents of Haddonfield, while the young people of the town try to prevent exactly that.

The game fundamentally looks like the already deceased “Friday the 13th The Game” – and comes from the same developers.

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Will Michael Myers ever return to Dead by Daylight? This is uncertain. In the past, there have been cases where licenses were lost only temporarily. This was the case with Stranger Things and the Demogorgon. So, it is not out of the question that Behaviour might strike a deal with the licensors again and that Michael Myers could return to Dead by Daylight at some point. However, whether that will happen remains to be seen – or rather, it’s still shrouded in fog.

What happens to the perks? Since all killers and survivors have their own unique perks and these can provide gameplay-related advantages, the perks of Laurie Strode and The Shape will become general perks that can be learned by anyone. They will also receive new names to ensure they are no longer directly associated with “Halloween.”

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However, there is no need to worry too much about the future of Dead by Daylight. The game is doing exceptionally well, and new killers and survivors are added every few months. The departure of individual killers is making less and less of a significant impact. If you still do not know which of the crazy killers you should play, take a look at our list of all killers – where we also explain which one is suitable for you.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Pokémon GO announces an event that has something for collectors and fighters

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

The next event has been announced in Pokémon GO. And there’s something for every type of player.

What kind of event is this? The “Into the Depths” event has been announced for Pokémon GO. It will start on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM and will run until Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM.

While many events cater more to collectors or battlers in Pokémon GO, this event is a bit more mixed. Whether you’re collecting rare monsters or strong attackers, you could find something for yourself in this event.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

Monster Debut, Shinies, and Strong Attackers

Which monster debut is there? In “Into the Depths,” Glimmet will make its debut in Pokémon GO. The Pokémon comes from the 9th generation and has the types Rock and Poison.

While it can evolve into Glimmora in the main games and even has a Mega Evolution, there is currently no information about these two forms in Pokémon GO.

You can find Glimmet on routes, in field research and during the limited research of the event.

What monsters are waiting in the wild? There are also some monsters in the wild during the event. These include the following specimens:

  • Diglett**
  • Dunsparce*
  • Meditie*
  • Yungoos**

While the Shiny chance for Dunsparce and Meditie is as usual, you have an increased chance of encountering Diglett and Yungoos as Shinies.

Which monsters are in eggs? If you receive 7-km eggs during the event, you can hatch the following monsters:

  • Diglett**
  • Larvitar*
  • Bagon*
  • Deino*
  • Yungoos**

Diglett and Yungoos also have an increased chance of appearing as Shinies in eggs.

With Larvitar, Bagon, and Deino, you can also hatch 3 monsters whose evolutions are all among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.

What bonuses are available in the event? Corresponding to the eggs, the hatching distance for eggs that you put in incubators during the event is halved. Additionally, you will earn triple experience points when you complete routes.

Additional content: There will also be event field research during the event, where you can receive monsters as rewards that are part of the event. Additionally, the event announcement mentions a free, limited-time research, but no further information is available about it.

For $1.99 (approximately €2.50), you can also purchase a paid, limited-time research. This will earn you double the hatching candy during the event by hatching eggs. Additionally, you will receive 2 incubators as well as encounters with Diglett, Yungoos, and Glimmet.

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Shinies are one of the most interesting aspects of the game for many Pokémon GO players. While regular Shinies can already be quite rare, specimens with perfect IV values are even rarer. So rare that some trainers may interpret them as a significant sign: Trainer doubts an important decision in his life, receives a sign in Pokémon GO.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

George R.R. Martin reveals what will happen to the unfinished books of Game of Thrones after his death

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The creator of Game of Thrones has commented on the possibility of not finishing his books.

Who is it about? Even when the hyped “Game of Thrones” series was still ongoing, many viewers were concerned that the author George R.R. Martin might not finish the books and consequently the series before his death.

The now 77-year-old American is currently working on the next book in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga. It is the sixth book and is supposed to be titled “Winds of Winter”. He has now stated what will happen if he cannot finish the book.

Start video
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows in the final trailer that one can expect more humor than in Game of Thrones

End of Game of Thrones

What happens if he dies before it’s finished? In an interview with HollywoodReporter, the author reveals his plans for such a scenario. If he does not finish the new book before he dies and the saga ends incomplete, it would be “a total failure” for him.

“I want to finish it,” he emphasizes in the conversation, almost immediately admitting that “Winds of Winter” still requires a lot of work. If he cannot complete the book because death overtakes him, he says the book “will never be finished”.

But how does it end then? In that case, the book would end where he currently is, and it would remain open how the story concludes. The author states: “It will be like ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’.” The mentioned story is the last work of the English author Charles Dickens and was never completed by him.

Instead, many different authors contributed a possible ending to the story. Whether this aligns with the intentions of the author of Game of Thrones, he does not clarify. However, it might be a feasible idea for the fans.

How much does he still have to write? To this question, the GoT author was evasive. His answer: “If I did everything that comes to my mind, this could become the longest book in the series,” does not clarify how much work remains.

The currently longest book is “Dance with Dragons”, which has 1,056 pages in the original edition. Regarding “Winds of Winter”, he claims to already have 1,100 pages of manuscript, a number he has mentioned since 2022. He describes the current status as follows:

I open the last chapter I worked on and say: “Oh damn, this isn’t very good.” And then I will revise it […] Or I decide: “This Tyrion chapter is not progressing, I would rather write a Jon Snow chapter.” But if I’m not interrupted, what happens – at least in the past – sooner or later is: I get back into the flow.

George R.R. Martin in conversation with hollywoodreporter.com

“I wrote a Tyrion chapter that I really liked,” he added. “Then I looked at it and said: ‘I can’t do this, it would change the entire book. I’ll make it a series of dreams. No! That won’t work either…”

The statements reveal that fans will have to be patient, and it may take some time before George R.R. Martin completes the next work. Because that’s the only way there will be an official ending.

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The books of Game of Thrones advance the story of the beloved characters of the series and tell much more from the world. Two scientists have taken on the task of figuring out how to best survive in the author’s world: A study shows how to best survive in Game of Thrones

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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In the world of Warhammer 40,000, artificial intelligence is forbidden – now its creators are also banning it in real life

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

The creators of Warhammer prohibit their employees from using AI. Fans say that this is only consistent. For the humanity of Warhammer 40,000, artificial intelligence is considered heresy, which is punished.

What exactly do the creators say about AI? A current financial report from Games Workshop (GW), the creators of Warhammer, reveals the company’s current position regarding AI. This includes all worlds – that is, Fantasy, Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000, and The Horus Heresy.

On page 4 of the report (which you can read here), there are also two paragraphs about AI. It states regarding this: “So far, no one is really excited about it.” For this reason, they have agreed on an internal policy that prohibits the use of AI.

We do not allow AI-generated content or the use of AI in our design processes or unauthorized use outside of GW, including in our competitions.

Games Workshop in the half-year report dated January 13, 2026

The few senior managers at Games Workshop who are familiar with AI are still allowed to engage with this technology “curiously”. At the same time, they want to protect their own intellectual property and respect human creatives.

They have even gone the other way and hired even more creatives from various disciplines – “from concept and illustration to writing and modeling to sculpting”.

Start video
Warhammer shows in trailer 3 of their latest animation projects for 2026

Games Workshop is doing something that has long happened in Warhammer 40,000

How do fans react to this? They are relieved and happy, but some are surprised. Fans do not always agree with Games Workshop, and that they are doing something right here is almost remarkable, as stated on Reddit.

  • “Wow, I can’t believe GW messed this up so badly—”, starts user razazaz126 to comment under a Reddit post, but turns around just in time: “Wait, what? It’s good? Well, damn, should I be amazed.”
  • “I almost spat my drink out when I saw that GW unusually did not consciously choose the worst option possible,” says user Mordador on Reddit

Others point out that this decision by Games Workshop makes sense. For even though the Imperium of Man from Warhammer 40,000 is technologically very advanced, artificial intelligence is strictly prohibited there.

  • “It is literally canon to ban AI. Next Level Marketing,” writes user Sjeg84 on Reddit.

AI is referred to by the Imperium as “Abominable Intelligence”. The prohibition of this is well-founded: this is to prevent a machine uprising like in Terminator. There was also such an uprising in the world of Warhammer 40,000, so the concern is not unfounded.

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Meanwhile, many other companies are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence. For example, AI has now become much more important for the graphics card manufacturer Nvidia, as a brief conversation with CEO Jensen Huang has shown. You can read more about it here: Jensen Huang says the word AI 121 times in a brief conversation, showing how little gamers matter to Nvidia

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. IGN

I have spent 630 hours in a game on Steam and the new update sounds like it would keep me hooked for another 100 hours

Nico Scheibel Nico Scheibel Reading time 3 minutes

Terraria is one of the best games ever for MeinMMO author Nico. Soon, the new update will finally be released on Steam and could take up another 100 hours of his time.

What is Terraria? Terraria is a 2D action-adventure that throws you into a world full of dangers and loot. It’s a large sandbox where you can move freely and do whatever you feel like. In addition to the many monsters and boss enemies, there are a lot of secrets to discover, and you can let your creativity run wild when building your own world.

When is the next update coming? The developers have announced the release date through the official blog post on Steam. Version 1.4.5 of Terraria will be released on January 27, 2026.

Every new feature would exceed the scope of an article, so here is a brief summary of the highlights:

  • There is a small crossover with the indie hit Dead Cells, bringing new items from the game to Terraria.
  • The Pal Digtoise from Palworld will be a companion that can mine blocks.
  • There are a lot of new whips, the weapon of choice if you want to play a summoner.
  • Some improvements to crafting. Among other things, with the update, items from all nearby chests can be used.
  • With the update, a series of new furniture sets will be added to the game.
  • New events, like the meteor rain, where large boulders rain from the sky.

On the site terraria.wiki.gg, you will find a detailed list of all the upcoming features of the new update 1.4.5 of Terraria that are already known.

Start video
Terraria: Journey’s End

New update, so plan for another 100 hours

Who is writing this? MeinMMO author Nico discovered Terraria over ten years ago. Since then, he has accumulated several hundred hours and gets lost in his own world every time.

Every few years, sometimes even every year, I start a new world in Terraria and play for several hours at a stretch, often up to 100 or more. Although I know a lot about Terraria already and have currently over 600 hours logged, I find something new with every playthrough.

Whether it’s weapons, many of which are just really fun and quite creative, or a new accessory that makes my character stronger.

Besides discovering, looting, and fighting, Terraria is full of surprises. Various events bring the world to life, and there’s a large number of NPCs that need a house built for them to move into your little village. Most NPCs even have a function, like the Goblin Tinkerer, where you can combine items to become even stronger.

Finally, I can play the summoner properly

What do I expect from the new update? The new update brings a huge number of new items, and since I have played very little as a summoner so far, this update is perfect for me. With a variety of new whips, I can finally unleash my spiders and other companions on the bosses properly.

Also, the many little new details, like events, the revamped crafting, or the new furniture sets, make me excited for the new update. I love spending time making my Terraria world really beautiful while taking a break from looting and bosses, or getting lost for three hours underground because I discover something interesting out of the corner of my eye.

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Terraria is the best game on Steam: Not only am I thrilled with Terraria, but other players love the indie game, which only costs 9.75 euros on Steam. According to the website steam250.com, Terraria is even in first place among the best Steam games.

If you have never played Terraria and want to dive into your own world for many hours, the 1.4.5 update is the perfect time to catch up.

Terraria is one of the “God-tier games” on Steam. These are games that have over 100,000 reviews and over 95% positive. Alongside Terraria, there are also classics like Stardew Valley or Hades, which just received a sequel last year: Here are 10 games that have reached the “God-tier” in reviews on Steam

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. store.steampowered.com
  2. terraria.wiki.gg

New World announces its death day, still wants to provide you with a nice time until then

Caroline Fuller Caroline Fuller Reading time 2 minutes

After it was announced last year that New World would soon come to an end, the developers are now revealing the official death date of their MMO. What players can expect until then is explained in a community post where they clarify existing questions.

When will New World officially die? On the official website of the MMO, the developers announced in a new community post that New World: Aeternum will go offline on January 31, 2027. At the time of the post’s release on January 15, 2026, the title will no longer be available for purchase in any stores; however, those who have already purchased New World can still spend approximately a year in the MMO.

However, they mention another relevant date that active players should keep in mind. If you want to purchase luck tokens for the remaining time of the game, you can only do so until July 26, 2026. After that, the store will be closed.

Start video
Amazon wollte Big Player für Games sein – Das Ende von New World vervollständigt eine traurige Geschichte des Scheiterns

Developers promise players support until the last breath

What additional information do the developers provide regarding the next and last year in New World? In an attached FAQ, the creators of New World address further questions that players might have about the initiated end. What conclusions can be drawn from their answers:

  • After January 31, 2027, New World will no longer be playable on any platform.
  • From July 27, 2026, you will no longer be able to purchase luck tokens or anything else in the store.
  • There will be no refunds for luck tokens.
  • You will no longer be able to purchase the game; it will be unavailable anywhere.
  • If you previously purchased New World but have uninstalled it, you can download and install it again.
  • There will continue to be bug fixes to provide players with a smooth gaming experience until the end.
  • World bosses and bonus weeks will continue until the server shuts down.
  • The last Nighthaven season will be extended until the end on January 31, 2027.

What else do they want to convey to their player base? In addition to clarifying potential questions, the team wants to thank their community once again for their dedication and passion.

We are thankful for the time we spent together with you creating the world of Aeternum. Together we built something special. Even though we find farewell difficult, we feel honored to have shared so much with the community.

It has been a pleasure to work on New World: Aeternum and to develop this unforgettable adventure together with you. We look forward to another year together and to giving this fantastic adventure a farewell worthy of a legendary hero. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for sharing this world with us.

Source: newworld.com

If you haven’t quite turned away from the MMO yet and prefer a slower, gentler farewell, you now have almost exactly one year to experience your last moments in New World. With the mentioned deadlines, you can plan better how you want to spend this time.

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We asked our readers who play New World whether they still have motivation to play after the announcement of the end. The bitter result showed that many of you have already given up on the MMO, but some of you are determined to stay loyal until the bitter end: Most players have already given up on New World – But 29% of you have vowed to stay

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. newworld.com

WoW takes away the fear from tanks with a brilliant change

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

World of Warcraft has the perfect solution for everyone to become a tank. A new affix specifically helps tanks at the beginning.

The least popular role in World of Warcraft is the tank. Blizzard knows this too. It is not because tanking is not fun, but because you often have to put a lot of work into preparation. While DPS characters and healers “simply follow the tank,” it is actually the tank who has to know where to go and which enemies to defeat. A problem for which Blizzard has now found an ideal solution.

Start video
WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features

What is the problem for tanks? The biggest problem for new tanks in World of Warcraft is that they have to deal with external sources before entering dungeons in the “Mythic+” range. Other group members generally expect that the tank already has a fixed route in mind and knows exactly which groups of enemies need to be defeated in order to quickly and efficiently get through the dungeon – after all, there is a timer to beat.

For this, it is usually necessary to read guides beforehand, watch tutorial videos, or plan on your own before even entering the dungeon. A major hindrance – after all, some just want to play and not study the instances in advance.

Tanks get a clear route that is immediately visible

How does Blizzard fix this? In Season 1 of Midnight, there will be a new affix active from “Mythic+2” to “Mythic+5”. The affix is called “Lindormis Guidance” and has the following effects:

  • Some enemies will be visually highlighted and have 5% reduced health points and deal 5% less damage.
  • Defeating all marked enemies provides exactly 100% of the necessary “enemy forces” you need to defeat to complete the dungeon.
  • The affix additionally prevents deaths from reducing the timer.

This allows Blizzard to achieve something quite genius: tanks (and everyone else) can see a successful route through the dungeon at first glance. You just have to move from group to group that is influenced by the “Lindormis Guidance” affix.

Why is Blizzard doing this? The developers want to provide tanks with an easier entry into the “Mythic+” system, and this is achieved through the affix. The lower tiers, where Lindormis Guidance is active – that is, Mythic +2 to Mythic +5 – are particularly suitable for learning and preparing for the harder difficulties.

However, Blizzard emphasizes that the routes from Lindormis Guidance are not “optimized” for higher-level dungeons. They are only meant to provide a foundation upon which players can navigate through the dungeon and later develop their own routes.

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WoW: A NPC in Midnight remembers you and you surely hate him
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The community finds this step genius: The announcement is received quite well by the WoW community. In the WoW subreddit, many perceive it as an almost perfect solution to reduce the fear of tanks about getting started:

  • “This sounds like a great idea. It should make starting tanking in Mythic+ significantly less exhausting.” – PreviousMidnight
  • “Yes! Learning an ‘easy’ route with 100% is the biggest barrier to entry. That’s great!” – Ocronus
  • “This is actually SUCH a good idea. It will MASSIVELY reduce the entry barriers for tanks and allow them to focus on actually playing their class instead of checking external sources to learn a dungeon.” – zani1903

With this change, World of Warcraft seems to become much more accessible for tanks. While it remains to be seen how “good” the standard routes will actually be – for beginners, however, they should be more than sufficient to venture into Mythic+ significantly more relaxed. That’s good, because tanks have had it particularly hard for a long time.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Trainers have long wanted 2 special monsters in Pokémon GO, now they could really come

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

There are new hints about 2 Mega Evolutions in Pokémon GO that many trainers are eagerly awaiting.

Again and again, there are hints from so-called data miners in the game. The game files are being searched to discover changes, such as new images of monsters, also called assets, or texts. The most well-known group of data miners for Pokémon GO is probably the Pokeminer.

On their Discord, they have now published new changes in the game related to 2 Mega Evolutions, which should interest many trainers.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows its new season in the trailer

New Assets, New Hope

What kind of Mega Evolutions are these? The new hints relate to the two Mega Evolutions of one of the most powerful Pokémon ever: Mewtwo. The monster has 2 different Mega Forms: Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y.

In the past, assets for the two forms have been added to the game, but the two forms have not been released yet. The Pokeminer believe that the assets were not intentionally included in the game at that time.

Now the data miners have noticed that enlarged variants of the two Mega Evolutions have made it into the game. Additionally, the cries of the two monsters have been adjusted. These were previously swapped.

What else was discovered? Also, assets for the monsters Flaminkno and the mysterious monster Zeraora have been discovered in the game.

You can see how the new assets look in this post on Reddit:

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Link to the Reddit content

When will the Mega Evolutions be released? When exactly the two Mewtwo forms will be released in the game is still not known.

Even though adding assets is an important step before the release of new monsters, it does not mean that the monsters have to debut in the next few weeks. There is still no official information from Pokémon GO regarding the two evolutions.

At least theoretically, a release of the two Mega Forms this year would fit well. Pokémon GO is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer.

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While you have to practice patience regarding the Mega Evolutions of Mewtwo, there are some events, raids, and other content taking place in the coming weeks. You can find out what exactly those are in our overview with all events in January 2026 in Pokémon GO.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Over 1,000 games have been removed from the PlayStation Store, primarily targeting a certain type of player

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

In the store of PlayStation, there is a whole bunch of games. With over 1,000, a quick process has now been made. The striking fact is: They all belong to one publisher and one type of game.

What games have been banned from the store? As user RobThanatos shares on x.com, all 1,194 games of the publisher ThiGames have been deleted from the PlayStation Store. Thus, the publisher was not only in 4th place among those with the most games in the store, but primarily distributed a very specific type of games: so-called shovelware.

These are games that are particularly exciting for trophy hunters and require little effort. Whether Sony or the publisher themselves removed the games is currently unclear. However, it seems likely that this could be a clearance operation on Sony’s part.

Start video
The creators of PlayStation visited hundreds of developers, but everyone found the idea terrible

A lot of the same with little effort for developers and trophy hunters

What is the problem with shovelware? Shovelware refers to software or video games that are mass-produced with minimal effort and budget in order to achieve quick profits. Often, the games are merely slightly altered duplicates of the same game system. Shovelware primarily does one thing: fills the store with numerous very similar games.

Many of these games utilize misleading advertising or entice players with extremely easily unlockable trophies, which devalues the success system of the platforms. For instance, in the case of the games from ThiGames, you could achieve the Platinum trophy in the game “The Jumping Spaghetti” in under 10 minutes and had to pay around €1.74 for it.

An example of how simple this is in these games and what type of games they usually are can be seen here:

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One of the biggest problems that these games cause is the displacement of legitimate indie games, which sink in the sheer mass of cheap products and are hardly found by players anymore.

Providers like Nintendo or Sony have been rigorously taking action against such titles for a while now, which makes it likely that Sony also intervened in this case and removed the games (see Notebookcheck.com). However, this has not been confirmed yet.

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The PlayStation is also fighting on another front, an expert claims. Because the cooling is said to be problematic, and in his opinion, it could affect almost every player. His accusation: Sony secretly upgraded to circumvent the problem: An expert claims: The PS5 has a major problem with its cooling and it could affect almost every player.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Notebook Check

Player sells domain related to GTA 6 for $2,000, believes Rockstar is behind it

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

A Reddit user claims to have sold a domain for $2,000 and allegedly to Rockstar Games. He suspects it has something to do with GTA 6.

How did the Reddit user make money? In a Reddit post, the user rainyaltaccount claims he made money with a domain. In May 2025, rainyaltaccount allegedly purchased the domain visitgloriana.com. He came up with the idea because he read “State of Gloriana” on the license plates in the trailer for GTA 6. rainyaltaccount supposedly acquired the domain and redirected it to rockstargames.com, claiming to have done it “for fun” and “because he wanted to troll people”.

rainyaltaccount further states that he observed how some people panicked due to the redirection and suspected something bigger regarding GTA 6. Even though it should have been obvious that the domain was registered by someone else rather than Rockstar.

Start video
Rockstar Games presents GTA 6 in the second trailer

By the end of 2025, a person reportedly contacted rainyaltaccount, claiming they wanted to buy the domain. The price was said to be around $600, which rainyaltaccount allegedly negotiated up to $2,000 (approx. €1,700).

“Congratulations, you made money out of nowhere”

Important: The following assumptions come from a Reddit user. We have asked Rockstar Games for a statement and will update this article as soon as we receive it.

What could be behind this? rainyaltaccount suspects that Rockstar Games is behind the purchase, all because of GTA 6. For a long time, not much happened with the domain, but recently it was allegedly transferred to the registrar MarkMonitor.

MarkMonitor is also said to be a company used by Rockstar Games or Take Two. Thus, rainyaltaccount suspects that the buyer is indeed Rockstar themselves. However, rainyaltaccount has no solid evidence, only a strong suspicion.

How does the community react? The comments under the Reddit post react amused to rainyaltaccount’s story. For instance, Gaghet comments: “Congratulations, you made money out of nowhere” and GrujoLegend finds: “It’s hilarious that this $2,000 comes from the development budget for GTA 6. That’s a well-earned bragging right because it’s just too funny.”

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Whether the Reddit user’s assumption is true or not remains uncertain for now. Not only in game development does Rockstar face some hurdles, but also with their employees. A court case has now arisen. You can read more about it here on MeinMMO: “Strictly confidential” feature of GTA 6 leaked: court trial forces Rockstar to do something they hate like the plague

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Twitch streamer Gronkh plays the new Hytale on YouTube, community says: “If it is under 500 episodes, I don’t know either”

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

The YouTuber and Twitch streamer Erik “Gronkh” Range is primarily known for his Minecraft Let’s Plays. They are still very popular with his viewers today. Now Gronkh is playing Hytale, and his community is being reminded of old times.

What kind of new game is this? Since January 13, 2026, the game Hytale has finally been launched after a long period of development. The launch was a complete success, as the game was able to register over 2.8 million players right away.

MeinMMO author Johanna is also excited about the game.

Gronkh’s interest was also piqued by the “Minecraft killer.” He has now released the first episode of a Let’s Play of Hytale on his YouTube channel.

Start video
Gronkh, the man with the voice – Career and life of Germany’s most famous Let’s Player

“THIS MAKES ME SOOOOO HAPPY THANK YOU”

Why is the community feeling nostalgic? Many voices from the community are feeling nostalgic during the Let’s Play, even though Hytale is an entirely new game. This is because Hytale closely resembles Minecraft, a game for which Gronkh has also uploaded several Let’s Plays on YouTube.

One of his first videos on YouTube, about 15 years ago, was his “Let’s Shows” in Minecraft, where Gronkh showcased his massive builds in Minecraft. Then, about 15 years ago, the YouTuber started a run of Minecraft, calling the episode “#001 – Everything From the Beginning” and made German YouTube history with it.

Many from his community are reminded of that time. Gronkh himself is also playing with the similarity between Hytale and Minecraft, as he named the first Hytale episode “#001 – Everything From the Beginning”. He even brought back his special greeting “Hallöchen Popöchen” for the first episode of Hytale.

The community is excited in various ways about the new Let’s Play. Some are just happy, like shinpie on Threads: “THIS MAKES ME SOOOOO HAPPY THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU GRONKH AHHHH” or others cannot believe that the Minecraft Let’s Play was so long ago. Like KonK23 on Reddit: “15 years ago 💀”

User Wombel aptly states on Reddit: “(…) If this gets under 500 episodes, then I don’t know either.” He is referring to the high number of episodes of the Minecraft Let’s Play.

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What connects you with Gronkh and his Let’s Plays? Let us know in the comments!
Before Gronkh started his successful career as a content creator, he worked in a “very normal” job: Gronkh worked as a “dumb stone troll” in a company before his career on Twitch, explaining where the name comes from

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Ashes of Creation bans nearly 1,000 players for cheating and immortalizes them on shame lists

Alexander Mehrwald Alexander Mehrwald Reading time 2 minutes

In many online games, cheaters are often not far behind when it comes to gaining unfair advantages. The MMORPG Ashes of Creation is no exception, and the developers are now taking radical action against these killjoys.

How have the developers dealt with cheaters? As shown by two lists published by developer Intrepid, the developers have taken action against about 1,000 instances of cheating with extensive bans. The lists show the names, guilds, and servers of the cheaters, as well as the month in which the ban was enforced.

The two content-separated lists relate to bans due to player actions and those that were enacted due to spamming of RMT (Real-Money-Trades) in the last 30 days. All recorded bans are reported to be permanent according to a post on the official Discord server. These lists were also shared in a thread on Reddit.

But that is far from the end, as Game Director Steven Sharif himself confirms.

Start video
Ashes of Creation: Early Access Guide stimmt euch auf den Start auf Steam ein

Nearly 1,000 bans are just the beginning

What’s next? As Game Director Steven Sharif noted in this Reddit thread, the bans on these two “lists of shame” are just the beginning. Four developers are currently busy this week investigating the situation more deeply and continuing to update the list with players who are not adhering to the rules and spoiling the fun for others.

In the official Discord post, it is also mentioned that they are working to explore better solutions and additional tools primarily to tackle bots and those engaging in RMT, but also to address any other violations more efficiently. An in-game reporting system is also in the works, which is expected to find its way into the game later this quarter, allowing you to more easily report irregularities.

Additionally, they are considering whether the lists of shame are the best way to disclose these processes to the player base or if other methods should be found to make this information accessible.

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Since Ashes of Creation is still in Early Access and therefore still in development, bots and cheaters currently have a relatively easy time, but the developers show that they are taking the issue seriously and are committed to addressing it. Previously, there had been initial bans against players trying to profit from RMT: Ashes of Creation crushes 80 accounts trying to convert gold into real money using exploits

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Hytale: The best weapons in the tier list 

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

The world of Hytale is full of dangers despite its idyllic landscapes that can quickly cost you your life. Therefore, it’s important to equip the best weapons so that you can survive a battle. You can find out which ones they are in our Tier List.

Which are the best weapons? Currently, there are 6 types of weapons in the Early Access of Hytale, but not all of them are worth using against your enemies. We have therefore compared all weapons, gathered opinions from the community, and ranked them in our Tier List. Here are the results we have come up with:

TierWeapon Type
SSword, Bow
ADagger, Crossbow, Hammer
BGreat Axe,

Currently, swords and bows are the most reliable choices, as they are easy to use and offer advantages that their competitors do not have. Below, we will discuss the best weapons in the S-Tier and explain why they have earned their ranking.

Please note that this is only a provisional neutral ranking. If, for example, you love daggers and can quickly slice through enemy crowds with them, there’s nothing wrong with placing them at tier S in your personal ranking. If you have feedback, feel free to share it in the comments.

Start video
Hytale feiert erfolgreichen Early-Access-Release mit 2,8 Millionen Spielern

The best weapons – These are the ones you should take

Sword – The best melee weapon

Hytale Sword
The Sword

Why is the weapon so good? The sword impresses above all with its fast attack pattern and high range. The biggest advantage, however, is that it is a one-handed weapon. You can carry a sword and simultaneously protect yourself with a shield or illuminate dark areas with a torch.

This makes traveling much easier and fighting safer. The disadvantage of the sword is its low damage compared to the available two-handed weapons. Fights tend to drag on as a result.

Bow – The best ranged weapon

Hytale Bow
The Bow

Why is the weapon so good? The bow has the highest range of all weapons when fully drawn. The damage is solid, and maintaining your ammunition is easy since arrows are not costly to produce. The problem with the bow is the long draw time, which can leave you vulnerable in close combat. Enemies can then easily take advantage of you.

So, if you use the bow, it’s best to fight at long distances, with the option to switch to your melee weapons in critical situations.

What about the weapons at tiers A and B? They are not bad in themselves and can also carry you through to the endgame. However, they have greater disadvantages compared to S-tier weapons. In the hands of inexperienced adventurers, using them can cost you your life more quickly. But if you’re already skilled, there’s nothing wrong with using them.

You also have the option to upgrade your weapons in Hytale to deal even more damage. For this, you need various materials, including cobalt. We will show you how to find it here in our guide: Hytale: Find and use cobalt – For this, you need the blue ore

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. game8.co
  2. progameguides.com
  3. reddit.com

New CEO of RuneScape gives the MMORPG a new life for its birthday, plans massive changes in 2026

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 3 minutes

On the 25th anniversary of RuneScape, the developers announced their plans for the anniversary year, promising content, events, and investments.

What kind of anniversary is it? In 2026, the RuneScape franchise will turn 25 years old and wants to celebrate this anniversary in style. That’s why the developers, under the new leadership of Jon Bellamy, announced a year full of content, events, and changes that will affect all RuneScape games.

Bellamy has been the head of Jagex since March 2025 and is thus also the head of the RuneScape franchise. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to push the genre forward and to bring long-awaited changes. This includes the largest update in years.

To this end, the developers have declared the event “RS25,” under which many important and significant events are set to occur in the world of RuneScape this year. It’s not just about the games, but the entire franchise is expected to receive a boost this year.

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Old School RuneScape shows the “Group Ironman” mode in the trailer

Game Updates

What’s new in RuneScape? The regular RuneScape is set to enter a new chapter this year. The developers are focusing on a “comprehensive renewal based on integrity, visual refreshment, and a new focus on the uniqueness of the game”.

While the exact details of the update are set to be revealed on January 19 during the “RS Ahead” livestream, the developers have already revealed that there will be several long-awaited changes.

There are expected to be updates to player avatars, a graphic update, and substantial improvements to player support. In this context, the developers will also, as previously announced, remove the microtransaction system “Treasure Hunter” from the game. This change was achieved by the players through a survey.

What’s happening with Old School RuneScape? The developers plan to soon present a packed roadmap for Old School RuneScape that will bring a lot of new content into the game in 2026. It will include a new raid, a new Grandmaster quest, and a new league with many quality-of-life improvements.

The developers will reveal the exact roadmap at the “The Old School RuneScape Winter Summit” on January 25.

What about RuneScape: Dragonwilds? The latest member of the RuneScape family impressed with its co-op survival mode in 2025. According to the developers, 1 million units were sold in the 8 months since its launch.

In 2026, Dragonwilds is set to receive 3 significant expansions that will push early access in the game further and expand the game world with new quests, dungeons, and fearsome dragons. More information will be provided at the “The RuneScape: Dragonwilds Summit” on January 29.

Events and Merchandise

How else will the year be celebrated? 25 years of RuneScape must be celebrated. Therefore, the developers are hosting 2 major events for fans. RuneFest 2026 will take place on October 3 and 4 in Birmingham, offering space for up to 6,000 fans.

Fans can meet the developers, listen to talks, and meet RuneScape creators. A similar event is also planned for the USA. A “Deadman All-Stars” event is set to take place at the “Rosemont Theatre” in Chicago on June 20, 2026. This is the first Jagex event in the USA and promises an exciting competition as its main attraction.

Is there any merchandise? Yes, the developers want to release new merchandise to celebrate the anniversary. Instead of t-shirts and hoodies, there will this time be a building block set that allows fans to build their own “Lumbridge Castle.”

Additionally, the developers are offering the music from RuneScape and Old School RuneScape in a set for sale.

Lumbridge Castle as a building block set

New Investments

What is the company behind RuneScape planning? Jagex announced in a press release, which MeinMMO has, that it intends to make the largest investments ever in the RuneScape brand in 2026 to lead the MMORPG to greater glory and a better experience.

Thus, the developers are reorganizing and improving player support. They also want to take new approaches to nurturing new talent. A partnership was established to support talent from low-income households by Jagex in their careers in the gaming sector.

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With RS25, the developers of RuneScape have great plans for 2026. Even though they will only announce the details of the updates for their games in the livestreams, the direction seems clear: forward. The ideas are likely also backed by the new head of the company, Jon Bellamy, who announced last year that he wanted to lead RuneScape to be the second-largest MMORPG franchise: The new head of a popular MMORPG wants to give up money, stating: This can save the future

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The first mods are making Hytale uglier and are well received right away

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

With the first version of Hytale, the developers provided players with all sorts of modding tools. However, one player uses these in a strange way.

What kind of mod is this? Hytale aims to offer modders all sorts of possibilities to expand the game and make changes as simply as possible. Just 2 days after release, a modification is receiving a lot of attention.

The player LucyLavend posted a screenshot on Reddit that makes Hytale uglier through a mod. More specifically, it replaces the block textures in the game with those from Minecraft. This way, you can play Hytale but visually be in Minecraft.

At first glance, the mod seems to work well. The shown screenshot from Hytale really looks like you are playing Minecraft. Here you can see the screenshot yourself:

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Cheers for the Mods

How are players reacting to the modification? On Reddit, players are celebrating the mod. They find the idea of turning Hytale back into Minecraft brilliant and are excited about the modder’s project. At the same time, fans have more ideas for the project.

Reddit user SupCass suggests adding a portal to a Minecraft world instead of just changing the textures. Players could then simply go through the portal to the Old World and play Minecraft in Hytale there.

Where can you get the mod? Even though the mod looks great in the screenshot, it is currently unavailable. The creator has announced that he will upload the modification to the mod website Curseforge.com as soon as he has a version that will function safely for players. When that will be is not yet known.

While the Minecraft mod is still in progress, there are already countless other modifications on the website that can be added to Hytale right now. Currently, there are mainly new blocks, tools, and plugins for servers to manage better with many players.

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Hytale feiert erfolgreichen Early-Access-Release mit 2,8 Millionen Spielern

That people prefer to swap the beautiful graphics of Hytale for the familiar Minecraft look causes the community to laugh. But it was probably only a matter of time until this happened. The success of Hytale continues unabated, even the developers at Riot have now congratulated the game: Riot congratulated Hytale on the launch of the Minecraft competitor after 5 years of development without results, gets a response

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.