Ubisoft is wrapping up major content support for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced with Title Update 1.0.8, which went live on October 27 across all platforms. The main draw is the New Game+ mode Ubisoft promised back in July and confirmed last week. It lets players restart Edward Kenway's campaign while keeping almost everything, including unlocked weapons, outfits, the Jackdaw's upgrades and pets, and the Kenway fleet. Quest items, recruited officers, and captured forts do reset, though. Difficulty climbs with each run, as Elite Soldiers appear more often and max rank ships start patrolling the seas, up to New Game+++++.

Players after a tougher fight get Nightmare Mode, where enemies deal 1.8x damage, parry timing is tighter, and the one-shot kill safety net is switched off. Stealth gets harsher too, with faster detection and enemies hearing anything quicker than a walk. A new currency called Escudos, earned from challenges and from chests that were already looted, unlocks outfits and items exclusive to the mode. The patch also restores hidden blade, unarmed, single sword, and gunblade takedown animations from the 2013 original, and Ubisoft has hidden new community chests without offering any hints.

GIGABYTE today introduced the B850M AORUS Stealth, a Socket AM5 motherboard based on the AMD B850 chipset that offers backside connectors for better cable management and aesthetics. This is among the first of the company's motherboards in the microATX form-factor to feature backside connectivity. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and a single 8-pin EPS connector. It uses an 8+2+2 phase CPU VRM design. The socket is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, the board's sole PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot, and two M.2 NVMe slots, one of which is Gen 5 x4, and the other interestingly is Gen 4 x4 even though it comes from the CPU. There is a third M.2 Gen 4 x4 slot that's wired to the B850 chipset. Other storage connectivity includes two SATA 6 Gbps ports.

USB connectivity of the GIGABYTE B850M AORUS Stealth includes four 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A on the rear panel; four USB 2.0 type-A, also on the rear panel; two 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2, one of which is type-A and the other type-C, on the rear panel; two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports from a header; and a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port from header. Network connectivity includes a Wi-Fi 7 160 MHz and Bluetooth 5.4 provided by a Realtek RTL8922AE WLAN module; and a 5 Gbps wired Ethernet interface driven by a Realtek RTL8126 series PHY. The onboard audio solution is driven by a Realtek ALC1220 HDA codec. The company didn't reveal pricing.

With a little over a month left before the launch of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, Ubisoft has given us a look at what to expect from the latest entry into the long-running game franchise, specifically the overhauled combat, parkour, and stealth. The game studio showed off a long list of features and updates to the game, but the gist of it is that Ubisoft has invested time making the combat more reactive and challenging, the parkour more responsive and fluid, and the stealth gameplay more engaging and intuitive.

Possibly the most important and exciting new mechanic coming to Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a combat rework that makes enemy NPCs more interesting to face off against. According to Ubisoft, the combat in Black Flag Resynced will be "more demanding," thanks to what it calls Adaptive Enemies, which will spot attack patterns and adapt to them over the course of a combat encounter. "For example, wait around too much for a Parry, and enemies will react by performing Unstoppable Attacks that cannot be parried. Abuse a Kick too much, and enemies will quickly dodge them. The trick is to alternate between offense and defense. Varying your combos helps. Rotate between Kicks, Sweeps, Rope Darts, Pistols and Heavy Strikes at the end of your attack combos to confuse enemies." Enemies will also come with different archetypes, each of which have their own strengths and weaknesses, like the soldiers, who prefer to work in pairs and coordinate attacks, or the Brute, Captain, and Demolitionist, which will require players to break their guard before going in for a takedown.

Thick as Thieves, an upcoming stealth co-op game from Deus Ex creator, Warren Spector, has been out in the open for a while now, with a release date set for May 20, and it was revealed long ago that it would be a stealth PvE co-op experience, but OtherSide Entertainment and Megabit Publishing, the studios behind the game, have just divulged more information about the game. First off, the price has been set at a very inoffensive $4.99/£4.99/€4.99, although it's likely that there will be regional pricing at play in other markets. Secondly, a gameplay walkthrough has been published to Megabit Publishing's YouTube channel, giving players a fairly in-depth look at the stealth, traversal, and progression mechanics, among others. Thick as Thieves is designed to be played as a single-player game or in a team of two players, and the game is set in an alternate history version of the early 20th century that features everything from magic and early technological innovation to eldritch horrors. The game will launch on Steam on May 20, 2026.

Thick as Thieves will drop players into Kilcairn as a stranger just joining the thieves' guild and looking to make a name for themselves. There are two playable characters, each with their own specific abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, although only one will be available to players with the other hidden behind an in-game unlock. The core gameplay, as you may have already guessed, revolves around players taking on and completing heists in the town of Kilcairn. In order to complete these heists, players will need to sneak through highly patrolled areas, solve environmental puzzles, and pick locks to gain access to forbidden areas. The gameplay walkthrough showed off a number of interesting mechanics, like the dynamic stealth and detection systems that force players to think on their feet and avoid making too much noise, and the various ways players can manipulate their surroundings and enemy NPCs to misdirect and trick them in order to get past—including distracting guards and shrouding the room in darkness by turning off lights, or using gear to lure the guards away entirely. The gameplay is designed to be highly replayable, with each heist offering players different choices and routes to explore. The Thick as Thieves gameplay walkthrough follows.

MSI, a global leader in gaming, content creation, and business & productivity laptops, proudly introduced the redesigned Raider and Crosshair gaming laptop series, built for gamers seeking high-performance 16-inch laptops with the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs. The new lineup delivers up to 300 W combined CPU and GPU power on select Raider models and up to 200 W on select Crosshair models, alongside upgraded cooling, OLED display options, and rear I/O for cleaner cable management. These models set a new benchmark as the most powerful gaming laptops in the industry.

MSI has also upgraded its existing 18-inch gaming lineup, including the Titan 18, Raider 18 Max, and Stealth 18. In addition to featuring the Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus processors, users can experience ultra-smooth visuals through top-tier specifications such as a 4K 240 Hz Mini LED display.

Not every hero fights for glory or is destined to save kingdoms. Not every legend is born from noble sacrifice. Some are forged in shadows, driven by selfish ambition, bad decisions, and an impressive lack of moral standards. In Styx: Blades of Greed, our favorite goblin anti-hero returns with a sharper blade, a sharper tongue, and a brand-new obsession: Quartz… no matter whom he has to kill along the way. Whether you've followed Styx since his early days or you're about to meet him for the first time, here's why he's the kind of character you'll absolutely love to hate.

Embodying the perfect anti-hero
As a goblin, Styx isn't your typical fantasy protagonist and that's exactly the point. He isn't the chosen one here to save the world. He's not a hero. He's a sharp-tongued protagonist, here to survive, preferably with a full purse and someone else taking the blame. Armed with razor-sharp sarcasm and a constant stream of cynical observations, Styx comments on nearly everything he encounters, mocking pompous rulers, scoffing at heroic ideals, and questioning the intelligence of just about everyone around him.

On this day, exactly 5 years ago, HITMAN 3 launched worldwide for our players to experience, as the final chapter of the World of Assassination trilogy. As part of that special milestone, it was also important for HITMAN to equip its players with a sense of continuity by allowing everyone to bring forward their established progression from previous parts. Cross-Progression is coming to HITMAN World of Assassination, set to go live on February 3rd. Since the release of HITMAN World of Assassination, it has been our wish to enable this feature for players to be able to carry on their in-game progression, whatever the device you play on, and even more so since HITMAN WOA is now playable on more than 10 different platforms. Whether you're switching from console to PC, playing on multiple devices, or changing to a new platform, your progression will now follow you, from the 3rd of February onwards, no matter where you choose to play. In addition, a 3.250.1 Steam patch will be going live next week to ensure proper Cross-Progression functioning ahead of its launch on February 3rd.

Introduction
Starting February 3rd 2026 at 10:00 UTC / 11:00 CET, HITMAN World of Assassination will feature a Cross-Progression system via the IOI Account. With Cross-Progression, players can carry their HITMAN WOA progress across multiple devices, ensuring a seamless Agent 47 experience no matter the platform. Please refer to our detailed Cross-Progression FAQ for all details on this brand-new solution.

We are providing today an update to the PC system requirements for 007 First Light after the community flagged some inconsistencies in an earlier version of the listing. The earlier mistake was due to an internal miscommunication leading to an older version of the specs to be shared. After a thorough re-examination and additional testing, the recommended RAM has been corrected from 32 GB to 16 GB, VRAM values have been updated, and the minimum CPU line has been fixed. Additional performance targets will be shared closer to launch.

We're sorry for the confusion this caused and appreciate everyone who brought it to our attention. The updated specs are now live on our store pages, and we're looking forward to sharing more of 007 First Light with you ahead of launch.

Hey folks, Cyanide here, we're thrilled to finally let you sneak your way into Styx: Blades of Greed with a brand-new playable demo on Steam! This is a limited-time demo (yep, it won't be around forever), so if you're itching to sharpen your knives and your wits, now is the perfect moment to jump in. Oh, and one more thing before we get into the details: the demo is available… right now!

What's in the demo?
This demo gives you access to the very beginning of the game! From there, Styx goes back to doing what he does best: slipping through shadows, breaking into places he shouldn't, and stealing things that definitely don't belong to him. It's a focused taste of the tone, systems, and level of freedom we're building into the full experience, just enough to get you into trouble, and hopefully out of it.

The PC Specs for 007 First Light are here (refer to the first slide below). Dive into the PC hardware you need to Earn The Number in this re-imagined James Bond origin story. Pre-order now and get a free Deluxe Edition Upgrade. 007 First Light comes to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on May 27th, 2026.

IO Interactive, the award-winning developer and publisher behind the globally-acclaimed HITMAN franchise, and Amazon MGM Studios are proud to announce a collaboration with NVIDIA GeForce to deliver an enhanced PC experience for 007 First Light, launching May 27, 2026. 007 First Light harnesses the power of NVIDIA GeForce's latest RTX technologies, bringing cinematic visuals and breakthrough performance to PC gamers worldwide. Developed in close collaboration with NVIDIA, the game features DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, for an even deeper sense of immersion and improved performance.

Oi, oi, oi! Happy New Year…or whatever disaster you've stumbled into so far. Don't panic, I'm here to make it worse and better at the same time! To mark the occasion, a brand-new 9-minute gameplay trailer of Styx: Blades of Greed is out! Yes, just over NINE minutes of me being amazing. As usual. Come watch how a real professional works in the shadows. Take notes, not that it'll help. You'll still be loud, clumsy, and bad at it… but hey, at least you'll fail with style.

The master of stealth is back! Explore the dizzying heights of the Iserian Continent and cunningly eliminate your enemies. Thanks to your Quartz powers, you are freer than ever. Be creative: Never has it felt so good to be greedy. Oh, and before you scurry off: add Styx: Blades of Greed to your wishlist. It makes numbers go up and humans happy. For some reason that helps me too.

A team at Ubisoft's Toronto office have been working on a "from the ground up" remake of the original Splinter Cell game since 2021, (at the time) lead by David Grivel. Very little official information has emerged since then, bar publication of early concept art and details revealed in a short interview—most notably an adoption of the in-house Snowdrop engine. The following year, Grivel left his position as the Remake's director—a worrying portent for the project. Yesterday, video game news outlets picked up on the Far Cry and Assassin's Creed veteran's repeat return to Canada's capital city. A complicated career journey highlights the current landscape of AAA development.

In 2022, a "new adventure" had him join Ridgeline Games, as Battlefield 6's single player campaign's senior design director. Unfortunately, Electronic Arts "wound down Ridgeline as a standalone studio" at the start of 2024. Oddly, Grivel rejoined Ubisoft Toronto last May—allegedly working on a fresh concept, unrelated to the Tom Clancy Splinter Cell IP. This tenure was short-lived, as he moved onto a lead role at Worlds Untold later in the year. Unfortunately, this BioWare alumni-founded outfit faced closure by the end of 2024. Grivel announced his freshest role in a recent LinkedIn post: "I am very, VERY happy to announce that I'm rejoining Ubisoft Toronto as Game Director on the Splinter Cell Remake! A very special team and project to me." Insider Gaming claims that the game—allegedly codenamed "North"—has a tentative 2026 launch window. A "superb cinematic" was sent to the notorious leak outlet earlier this year, supposedly depicting an interaction between Sam Fisher and Irving Lambert. Currently, Ubisoft seems to be in a rocky position—two months ago, a "new" Tencent-backed creative company was unveiled.

The Alphacool International GmbH, based in Braunschweig, Germany, is a pioneer in PC water cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is now expanding its lineup. The Apex Stealth Metal Aurora fans are finally here - the long-awaited upgrade to the popular Stealth series. In addition to their patent-pending decoupling technology and robust metal frame, they now feature brilliant aRGB lighting, combining top performance with a truly unique visual highlight.

The innovative decoupling system isolates all vibrations, ensuring near-silent operation across the entire speed range. With their high static pressure, the fans are perfectly suited for both radiators and case airflow. The distinctive Apex design is now elevated by the Aurora lighting, setting new standards for elegance and individuality. Convenient features such as daisy-chain connectivity, hidden cable routing, and a durable HDB bearing make the Apex Stealth Metal Aurora a true premium product. With the Apex Stealth Metal Aurora fans, Alphacool delivers uncompromising performance paired with stunning lighting effects.

IO Interactive, the independent video game developer and publisher behind, among others, the internationally acclaimed HITMAN franchise, has announced its first IOI SHOWCASE, a live-streamed and in-person event revealing details from the celebrated game creator's properties and its publishing branch IOI Partners, including HITMAN, MindsEye, and 007 First Light.

The event will be live-streamed from Los Angeles on IOI's Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok channels starting Friday, June 6th, at 6:00 pm PDT. The broadcast will feature trailers, announcements, gameplay demos, and a live Q&A with key figures from IO Interactive, Build A Rocket Boy, and more. Alongside announcements pertaining to IO Interactive's game lineup, the studio will also share a look at its proprietary game engine, Glacier.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of premium gaming hardware, today launched the AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 STEALTH ICE 32G graphics card, designed exclusively for the GIGABYTE Project STEALTH series. This new graphics card inherits the minimalist philosophy of Project STEALTH by adopting a hidden power connector design, allowing seamless cable routing and a cleaner build layout. Tailored for enthusiasts who prioritize aesthetic refinement and efficient assembly, the card offers both cutting-edge performance and a streamlined look that elevates any gaming setup.

Hide the Cables, Power in Stealth
Project STEALTH redefines the PC building experience by relocating all connectors to the rear of the components. This thoughtful design streamlines cable management, enabling quicker installation and a cleaner, more organized build.

Late last week, Gigabyte introduced brand-new AORUS Stealth ICE X870 and B850 motherboards—utilizing reverse-connector layouts. The manufacturer's "Project STEALTH" seems to be gaining a larger presence; extending to a proprietary enclosure design. Industry observers noticed the inclusion of a semi-mysterious GeForce RTX 5090 custom card (briefly mentioned in official PR material); a promo render showcased an AORUS RTX 5090 MASTER ICE-esque unit. By reading in-between the lines and analyzing marketing imagery, VideoCardz reckons that this special card will sport a hidden power connector system—likely existing under the "Project STEALTH" banner.

Going back to 2023, a second iteration of the GeForce RTX 4090 WINDFORCE model was configured with a curious non-traditional power input placement (see example below). In recent times, Sapphire's Radeon RX 9070 XT and non-XT Nitro+ flagship cards have attracted plenty of praise—courtesy of a well-regarded hidden compartment. Gigabyte could be teasing an upcoming full reveal of its "AORUS RTX 5090 MASTER STEALTH ICE" graphics card; perhaps lined up for next week's Computex showcase. Hopefully, a forthcoming unveiling will demonstrate an innovative solution.

Today ESDigital Games and developer Storm in a Teacup are excited to release Steel Seed, the new stealth-action game set in a dark sci-fi world where humanity stands on the brink of extinction. Available today on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for $39.99 (with an additional 15% launch discount available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation for PlayStation Plus subscribers), Steel Seed is a gripping action-adventure experience from the visionary team behind the critically acclaimed Close to the Sun.

Steam and Epic Games Store players can also grab the Deluxe Edition of Steel Seed today for $44.99 (with an additional 15% launch discount available), which includes the game's 15-track digital OST composed by Andrea Remini, a digital artbook, two unique in-game costumes, and 23 HD wallpapers. The Deluxe Edition will be available digitally on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, alongside a physical edition of Steel Seed on PlayStation 5, starting May 23.

Today, publisher ESDigital Games and Italian studio Storm in a Teacup announced that the release date of the highly anticipated stealth-action adventure Steel Seed has been pushed back to April 22 on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, rather than launching on April 10 as previously announced. These extra few weeks will give the talented team behind the game more time to fine-tune both platform adaptation on consoles and game optimization.

"Since the game's announcement, your excitement has been truly inspiring, and we know how much you've been looking forward to a deep dive into a dark sci-fi future on all platforms. That's why we want to be completely open with you: We encountered some technical hurdles related to platform adaptation when running our platform certification tests. Rather than rushing the console release and risking a potentially substandard console user experience that requires swift patching, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to delay the launch," said Ilia Svanidze, Head of Marketing of ESDigital Games.

Marching orders from the Green Beret: Pre-order now! We offer fans the opportunity to secure their digital Commandos: Origins copy ahead of the game's release to get an exclusive discount of 10% on Steam, the Kalypso Store, Epic Games Store, and GOG. Microsoft Store offers a discount of 10% on the Standard Edition and 15% on the Deluxe Edition on Xbox Series X|S, and 10% on both editions on Windows PC.

With the Deluxe Edition, aspiring recruits gear up for the battlefield with six iconic Commando skins from Commandos 2 adapted for Commandos: Origins, a 3D printing template for the Green Beret, a digital Commandos: Origins calendar, and the Commandos: Origins Original Soundtrack with 15 symphonic tracks.

MSI's latest high-end gaming laptops, including the Titan 18 HX AI, Raider 18 HX AI, and Vector 16 HX AI, feature Intel Core Ultra 200 HX series CPUs and NVIDIA RTX 50 series GPUs, while Raider A18 HX and Vector A18 HX run on AMD Ryzen 9000 series. With NVIDIA's last major GPU upgrade in over two years, these laptops deliver top-tier performance for ultra-high-resolution gaming. Beyond gaming, MSI's Titan, Raider, Vector, and Stealth series excel in AI applications, particularly Small Language Models (SLM), making them ideal for both gaming and AI-driven tasks.

Next-Gen GPUs: A Breakthrough for AI Applications
NVIDIA's latest RTX 50 series GPUs, built on the cutting-edge Blackwell architecture, introduce 5th-generation Tensor Cores, 4th-generation RT Cores, and Neural Rendering technology for the first time. With expanded memory capacity and GDDR7, these GPUs optimize AI-enhanced neural computations, reducing memory usage while boosting graphics rendering and AI processing efficiency. This results in unmatched performance for both gaming and creative workloads, enabling smoother, more efficient execution of complex tasks.

Today ESDigital Games and developer Storm in a Teacup are proud to announce the official release date for Steel Seed, out April 10, 2025, on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Check out the game's new trailer for a glimpse of the sci-fi stealth-action gameplay, parkour and storytelling that await!

Can't hold on till then? Play Steel Seed's new Steam demo, available now until the game's official launch. Explore the game's introduction, experiencing key mechanics like stealth action, epic battles and more.

What do you want? You need a tutorial? A map? Someone to hold your hand? Pathetic. But it's your lucky day. Today I'm in a good mood. Alright, listen up: Styx: Blades of Greed is coming and that means I've got work to do. A brand-new adventure, bigger heists, deadlier tricks, and an even sharper tongue. Get ready to sneak, steal, and stab your way through a world on the brink of war. Got my own crew (Yes I have my own crew now), my own zeppelin (Pretty cool, huh?), and my own mission: stealing every last piece of Quartz, the most powerful resource out there in this rotten world. Problem is, like in a classic Fantasy universe, there are some self-righteous lunatics (*cough* the Inquisition *cough*) and think they can stop me. Adorable.

Everyone's favorite Green Goblin is back! No, not that one! This one doesn't need a fancy metal suit to cause mayhem, a couple of Quartz crystals and a trap or two will do more than enough damage. Fans of stealth games can rejoice as Styx is making a triumphant comeback with new powers and tools. But this time he's unshackled, pursuing his own goals, building his crew aboard a zeppelin while navigating a world on the brink of war. Though that is the perfect time to cause a l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ lot of chaos in this dark fantasy universe.

MSI, the world-leading gaming & creator laptop brand, today announced its groundbreaking RTX 50 Series laptops at MSIology: Dragonforged Dominance Launch Event - a new lineup inspired by the ancient Norse myth of Yggdrasil. Embracing the themes of renewal and resilience, MSI's innovative devices integrate three core principles: innovative technology, luxurious aesthetics, and extreme performance.

Dragonforged Dominance Launch Event
"Much like the mythic World Tree that connects the nine realms, our new laptops are designed to meet diverse user expectations—from immersive gaming to high-end professional work" said Steven Yang, MSI Notebook Regional Sales & Marketing Manager.

Cooler Master, a leading provider of PC components, gaming peripherals, and tech lifestyle solutions, today announced the MasterLiquid 360 Atmos Stealth, a brand-new, all-black, non-LED version of the high power MasterLiquid 360 Atmos AIO cooler. The Atmos series is known for its signature engineering seen in features such as the dual chamber design and customizable pump top cover. Now all those features come packaged in a sleek and stealthy aesthetic.

Features

• Refined dual chamber design: Our signature dual chamber pump has been refined for enhanced cooling synergy.
• Customizable pump top cover: Removable pump top cover, customizable with your own 3D-printed designs.
• Eco-friendly pump cover: The entire pump cover is manufactured with eco-friendly recycled plastics, putting our environment first.
• Mobius 120 black fans: Pre-installed Mobius 120 mm, 2400 rpm fans further improve cooling performance and simplify user installation.
• Daisy-chaining fan connections: Reduces the number of cables needed, leading to a cleaner and more organized system.
• Updated CPU compatibility: The Atmos Stealth is compatible with all of the latest AMD and Intel CPUs.

At CES 2025, we stopped at the booth of cooling specialist Alphacool, which showcases several products aimed at both PC enthusiasts and data center operators. The company's portfolio included fans, reservoirs, distribution plates, and enterprise cooling solutions. The Core Stealth Aurora Fan features a metal frame construction and operates between 400 and 2,600 RPM. While the fan includes ARGB lighting effects, its primary focus is on airflow performance for high-powered systems.

For liquid cooling systems, Alphacool introduced the Core Reservoir, which uses an acrylic body with G1/4" brass connectors. The reservoir comes with an integrated VPP Apex or D5 pump and is designed for space-efficient installations. ARGB lighting is built into the unit, allowing for system illumination.