Assassin's Creed Archives

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

I’ve already played the demo of this co-op pirate survival game for 7 hours, but the boisterous sea shanties my crew sings keep me coming back for more

The pandemic led to a collective fatigue regarding sea shanties, but the author has re-embraced them with the release of the Next Fest demo for the pirate survival game, Windrose, available on Steam. In Windrose, players embark on adventures as shipwrecked pirates, gathering resources, crafting tools, and facing challenges like formidable Dodo birds and undead pirates called Drowned. Players can repair shipwrecks, rescue crew members, and engage in ship-to-ship combat. The demo offers around seven hours of gameplay, with no announced release date yet.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

New report says older games like CS2 and League of Legends take up 35% of PC playtime, but Roblox reigns supreme

The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes, with a few major titles dominating player engagement. The "big five" PC games—Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox—account for 35% of player hours, while older titles make up about 10%. In 2025, newly released games, including annual franchises like Call of Duty, represented only 14% of player hours on Steam. A large portion of PC gamers, 45%, engage with games that are one to seven years old, and 41% play titles that are eight years or older. Despite challenges, industry revenue has been maintained or grown through price increases rather than expanding the player base. Roblox has emerged as a significant market driver, representing over 4.5% of non-China spending and accounting for 67% of net growth in 2025. Developers on Roblox are earning over 0 million annually, with a 70% year-on-year growth. Titles like Grow a Garden have surpassed engagement metrics for Blizzard's games, and others have outperformed Valve's Dota 2. The anticipated release of GTA 6 could signal a new era, although its 2026 launch is uncertain.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Witchspire is the League of Legends Star Guardian survival game of my dreams, even if it needs a little more polish

Witchspire is a survival game developed by Envar Studio, known for its League of Legends splash arts. It features a Sailor Moon-inspired anime trailer and Ghibli-esque visuals. The game includes a captivating narrative voiced by actors like Victoria Atkin and Matthew Mercer. Players assume the role of a witch in a mysterious realm, combating corruption while utilizing familiar survival mechanics such as crafting and upgrading weapons. Unique to Witchspire are the Familiars, companion creatures that assist players in combat. The game allows players to gather resources easily and features a magical sickle for cutting down trees. The combat mechanics have some flaws, particularly with AI behavior during encounters. Witchspire's gameplay is accessible, lacking hunger and stamina meters, and includes an Astral Projection system for strategic advantages. The game offers lore drops and voice lines that enhance storytelling. The demo is available on Steam, featuring the first island, Vyr's Landing, and supports multiplayer for up to four players.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

This excellent Secretlab sale gives your butt the late Valentine’s Gift it deserves, with over $100 off gaming chairs

The Secretlab Titan Evo is a highly regarded gaming chair known for its comfort and durability, making it a popular choice among gamers. It offers various customization options, including the SoftWeave Plus fabric and leatherette alternatives, with designs inspired by popular franchises. The Secretlab Magnus Pro desk is also available at a discount, featuring cable management and adjustable height settings. Currently, shoppers can save up to £94 on the Magnus Pro and up to £100 on the Titan Evo. The sale ends for UK customers on February 20, 2026, and for US customers on February 26, 2026.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

A fraction of the most popular PC games over the past year use hardware-level ray tracing, which is far fewer than I’d predict just 24 months ago

Ray tracing technology has seen a decline in prevalence among popular new game releases as developers prioritize optimized performance due to hardware challenges. In the past year, only a few titles have utilized ray tracing, such as Monster Hunter Wilds for basic reflections and Borderlands 4 using software-based Lumen from Unreal Engine 5. Indie games are increasingly favored for their accessibility and lower development costs, often avoiding high-performance techniques. Unreal Engine 5 has led to a resurgence of software-based ray tracing, though hardware ray tracing can provide better results at the cost of performance. Upcoming titles like Elden Ring: Nightreign and Battlefield 6 have opted out of hardware ray tracing to focus on gameplay performance. Many award-winning games have also chosen not to implement hardware-based ray tracing, emphasizing gameplay experience over graphical fidelity. Despite its reduced prominence, ray tracing remains a valuable tool for enhancing gaming experiences when used thoughtfully. The potential for ray tracing to improve visual storytelling continues as hardware becomes more accessible.

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Ubisoft axes six games, including the Prince of Persia Sands of Time remake that felt like it was finally within reach

Ubisoft has announced a comprehensive organizational and operational reset, which includes the cancellation of six in-development projects, notably the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. This remake, initially unveiled in 2020, has faced development challenges and is now shelved indefinitely. The company's strategic pivot is a response to changes in the gaming industry, focusing on open-world games and "Games as a Service" (GaaS) experiences, supported by investments in generative AI. Ubisoft has created "Creative Houses" for dedicated teams to enhance brand focus and streamline development. Despite the cancellations, Ubisoft is developing four new intellectual properties, including March of Giants. Additionally, seven upcoming titles have been delayed, with speculation surrounding the remake of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag and other potential candidates like The Division 3 and the remake of Splinter Cell.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

AU Deals: Today’s Best Value Game Deals on Console and PC Hunted Down for You

Assassin's Creed Chronicles India celebrates its tenth anniversary, while Lost Planet turns 18. Discounts for Nintendo Switch include: - Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion (-45%) - Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-35%) - Diablo III Eternal Collection (-27%) - Hot Wheels Unleashed (-85%) - This War of Mine Complete Edition (-90%) Discounts for Xbox include: - Assassin's Creed Mirage (-69%) - Persona 5 Royal (-51%) - Star Wars Jedi Survivor (-63%) - Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate (-32%) - Star Wars Squadrons (-38%) - For Xbox One: Dishonored 2 (-77%), Spyro Reignited Trilogy (-37%), Diablo III Eternal Collection (-59%) Discounts for PlayStation include: - Ghost of Yotei (-13%) - Spider-Man: Miles Morales (-48%) - Elden Ring (-53%) - Returnal (-43%) - Tekken 8 (-45%) - For PS4: BioShock Collection (-57%), Persona 5 Strikers (-58%), Batman: Arkham Collection (-90%) Discounts for PC include: - Pacific Drive (-60%) - South Park: The Fractured but Whole (-70%) - SteamWorld Dig 2 (-94%) - A Plague Tale: Innocence (-80%) - Little Nightmares Complete Edition (-75%) LEGO deals include: - Minecraft: The Creeper (-29%) - 3in1 Wild Animals Panda (-35%) - V-19 Torrent Starfighter (-30%) - Balrog Book Nook (-25%)

BetaBeacon

January 6, 2026

How To Play PC Games On Your Android Device In 2026

Playing PC games on an Android device using GameHub and GameNative is legal and does not involve questionable workarounds. Game emulation for older systems and retro consoles is different and may have legality issues. GameHub and GameNative are recommended methods for playing games on Android, with GameHub being the best all-rounder. Tweaking settings may be necessary for optimal performance. Android handhelds have advantages over x86 gaming handhelds but may not be a proper replacement yet. The future for PC gaming on Android looks promising as more development is being done in this area.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Minecraft could be in line for some big changes as Mojang hires former Ubisoft exec as new ‘head of Vanilla’

Minecraft Vanilla is the unmodified version of the game, maintaining its original gameplay without any mods or enhancements. Katie Scott has been appointed as the head of Minecraft Vanilla, starting in February, and she has a background in integrating microtransactions into games from her time at Ubisoft. Scott's previous roles involved aggressive monetization tactics and live service strategies in franchises like Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six. Concerns have been raised within the Minecraft community regarding her experience with monetization practices, including 'surprise mechanics' associated with predatory tactics. While Minecraft is already a monetized platform, the implications of Scott's appointment for the future of vanilla Minecraft remain uncertain.

AppWizard

December 13, 2025

The Game Awards live coverage: Every reveal and announcement as it happens

Geoff Keighley is engaging audiences on social media ahead of The Game Awards, teasing announcements and appearances. Confirmed highlights include potential developments for Tomb Raider, a new look at Resident Evil Requiem, the sci-fi RPG Exodus, and a new project from Neon Giant. The preshow starts at 4:30 PM PT, with live updates from staff writer Morgan Park. Keighley shared coordinates to a mysterious statue in the California desert, leading to speculation about its connection to games, particularly a new project from Larian Studios related to "Divinity." Rumored titles generating buzz include Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Control: Resonant, a Diablo 4 expansion, an Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, and a Max Payne Remake. Game of the Year nominees include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already won Best Independent Game and Best Family Game for Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as Innovation in Accessibility for Doom: The Dark Ages. A demo for Pragmata was announced, set for release in April 2026. Clair Obscur faced its first loss in the Players Voice category but secured the title of Game of the Year, bringing its total awards to ten.

Assassin’s Creed