I can’t believe we’re already halfway through 2026. So how are things here at NERDSHOCK HQ and what is this “change of plans” talk all about? No worries, let me give you the update!
The Journey Continues
We wrapped up the Janthir Wilds expansion in Guild Wars 2 just before the start of summer. Basil The Wanderer will continue his journey through Tyria after summer break with a playthrough of Visions of Eternity. Fresh episodes drop every other week starting September 15th, 2026.
During Summer Game Fest 2026 Arenanet announced there will be no Guild Wars 2 expansion this year. Instead they will kick off a Quality of Life Initiative to polish the game, as we slowly ramp up to the release of Guild Wars 3. My plan is to wrap up the Visions of Eternity playthrough in Fall and keep my calendar open for more Guild Wars related stuff and maybe even some other games.
IBD Warrior
In my Happy New Year post I mentioned that I was greenlit for my stoma takedown surgery. I thought it would happen somewhere in Q1 2026. Unfortunately I got hit with a delay without a clear path forward. As Q1 drew to a close, I checked in with the hospital. They could only tell me I was still on the waiting list, but had no idea when they would schedule my surgery. Going into Q2 with lots of uncertainty really messed with my head.
I spend winter time in maintenance mode, after a very successful weight loss journey. I didn’t want to start with body recomp before the big surgery. When the Q1 window closed without a clear path forward, I tumbled into a black hole. I felt incredibly stuck in my body, while my mind was frantically trying to escape my situation. I was in desperate need of a distraction. I had to shutdown my brain from overthinking and just power through the waiting period while slightly subdued. I had already waited 4 months, could I do that again for an unknown amount of months?
Fortunately Crimson Desert released in March and it was just what I needed. Playing the game felt like stepping into a nice hot bath. With its warmth wrapping around me, relaxing my body & mind.. I completely gave myself over to getting lost in Pywel. The fight with Goyen came at a time when I decided to move forward with body recomp. His words after the fight were just that little nudge I needed. The whole game gave me a huuuuge dopamine hit. I felt I regained my focus to start building muscle and simply get fit as f*ck!
“You were never wrong. Every path you chose, was the right one. So no matter what comes, never lose yourself.” — Goyen
I still plan on sharing my full thoughts on Crimson Desert, but the developers have continued to add more and more to the game. With all sorts of festivities, heath wave, and FIFA World Cup going on, I simply haven’t had time to fully check out all the additions to the game. I have completed the Main Quest and solved all the Abyss puzzles, so I do think I have decent understanding of the story and the game overall. Expect a full review later this summer!
A Birthday Surprise
After kicking off my birthday month and believing I would just have to enjoy another awesome summer with a bag, I received a notification the day after my birthday. The hospital has scheduled my surgery at the start of Q3. At the time of sharing this update, I still have some pre-surgery stuff to go through before I can actually head into surgery. But it’s suddenly happening pretty fast. There are many factors that can still mess up the surgery, but I’m super happy I’m no longer stuck in limbo.
Needless to say I will update this post after going through pre-surgery prep and do another short update after surgery!
Love,
Aleida