If you are one of those who regularly watch reels on Instagram or memes on other social networks like X, you have surely heard about the viralization of the little dwarf hippopotamus Moo Deng in Thailand. Adorable animal that, surprisingly, has had an unexpected impact in the world of video games, generating an increase in demand for a very similar pet, within the popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.
And in case you hadn’t seen anything about him, we tell you that originally from the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng became a sensation on social networks thanks to his cute appearance and a series of memes and witty phrases that accompanied him. Its popularity transcended borders, captivating millions of people around the world.
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A fever for Moo Deng that did not take long to reach the world of video games, since as we anticipated, Final Fantasy XIV players, attracted by the cuteness of the dwarf hippopotamus, began to look for a similar pet within the game. In this game, fans can acquire “minions”, small pets that accompany them on their adventures. Among them is the “Hippo Calf Minion”, a small hippopotamus that, due to its resemblance to Moo Deng, has become the object of desire of many players.
The sudden demand for the “Hippo Calf Minion” caused its in-game price to skyrocket. In a matter of weeks, the value of this virtual pet increased more than 16-fold, going from 17,400 gil to over 300,000 gil on some servers. The gaming community has shared screenshots on social media that show this inflation, showing how many are willing to pay large amounts of gil for this coveted minion.
And finally, the game developer, Square Enix, joined this trend and fever for the pet. Through its social networks, the company shared a video of Moo Deng accompanied by the characteristic phrases of the meme, demonstrating that the popularity of the little hippopotamus has reached every corner.
Throne and Liberty reaches almost 60,000 simultaneous users on STEAM before its free launch, but receives “mixed” reviews for “pay to win” elements
Although its official launch is scheduled for October 1 in its global version, hundreds of thousands of players who purchased paid content packs are already enjoying Throne and Liberty, the new MMORPG from NCSoft. This title has had a promising start on Steam, reaching almost 60,000 simultaneous players before its release. However, the enthusiasm has been tempered by criticism that questions some of its mechanics.
For those not yet familiar, Throne and Liberty is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game available for multiple platforms, including PC through Steam. According to its description on this platform, the game invites players to climb mountains, explore vast plains and discover a world full of depth and opportunity. “Adapt your fight to survive and thrive by making strategic decisions in PvP, PvE or both, while facing battlefields that evolve depending on the weather, time of day and the actions of other players,” its developers point out.
