shadows Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

I’m very into this Papers, Please-esque puzzle game about identifying traitors to the socialist motherland

Players assume the role of Aleksey Lutomski, a recruit at the security service of a fictional 20th-century communist state, in the game What Awaits, Aleksey?. Set in 1970, the game involves examining evidence such as coded letters, covert photographs, and wiretapped conversations to identify members of an underground dissident cell called the KNOT network. The gameplay emphasizes a balance between challenge and engagement, with players needing to present findings to superiors who critique their work. The game features a 1970s setting with mechanical tools like calculators and tape recorders that enhance the investigative experience. Players must navigate misleading clues and make critical decisions that affect their allegiance, potentially choosing between siding with conspirators or remaining loyal to the state. The game explores themes of loyalty, identity, and moral dilemmas within a historical context.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Going from skull-cracker to safecracker in Dishonored 2

The author reflects on their experience playing Dishonored and its sequel, detailing their initial chaotic playstyle that led to a High Chaos ending. They express a desire to adopt a stealth approach in the game, facing challenges from the Chaos system and the deteriorating state of the city. In Dishonored 2, they aim for a flawless run without kills or detections, which requires extensive planning and execution. The Clockwork Mansion mission tests their resolve, particularly when confronting the character Kirin Jindosh and solving the Jindosh Lock puzzle. The author ultimately finds satisfaction in solving the puzzle independently, using creativity and notes to aid in their success.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: GTA, Borderlands, Kingdom Come, Stray and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles this week: Nova Lands and Tattoo Tycoon, available until July 16, when Echo Generation and Luto will replace them. The July Humble Choice lineup includes eight games: Sea of Stars: Sunset Edition, TUNIC, Neon White, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, Drop Duchy - Complete Edition, Sledders, Dicefolk, and Our Adventurer Guild, available for purchase until August 4. Additionally, Humble has released two game bundles: the Narrative Bundle, featuring 12 games, and the Squad Goals bundle, which includes cooperative titles. The GOG store has ended its DRM-free summer sale but continues with standard promotions. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

This Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Mod Removes the Yellow Color Filter for More Natural Graphics

Modder ‘Blu’ has created a Reshade Mod for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced that removes the yellow color filter, allowing for a more authentic color palette. This mod is available for download and requires the latest version of Reshade with Prod80’s shaders for optimal performance. Comparison screenshots show the differences between the modded and vanilla versions. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced performs better than its predecessor but has a bug that can lock the framerate during cutscenes, which Ubisoft is addressing in an upcoming update. Players can adjust settings like Ray Tracing, BVH, and Terrain Quality to mitigate performance issues.

AppWizard

July 11, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sells 2 million copies in 1 day and achieves the ‘highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin’s Creed title’ on Steam

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sold over two million copies within 24 hours of its launch, surpassing newer franchise entries like Assassin's Creed Shadows in player engagement on Steam. Ubisoft expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic response from players, highlighting the game's nostalgic appeal since its original release 13 years ago. The emphasis on two million copies sold rather than player count raises questions about the comparative success of Black Flag Resynced and Shadows. Industry analyst Joshua Wolens noted that nostalgia is a powerful motivator in gaming, and Martin Schelling, the brand boss of Assassin's Creed, emphasized the significance of the game's revival and its connection to players.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

Black Flag Resynced blows every other Assassin’s Creed – and very nearly The Witcher 3 – out of the Steam waters

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, launched on July 9, achieved a peak of 99,451 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing previous franchise entries such as Odyssey (62,000) and Shadows (64,000). Valhalla has struggled to reach 20,000 concurrent players since its release. The game is close to The Witcher 3's peak of 103,000 players and trails behind Skyrim's original launch peak of nearly 300,000 players.

Tech Optimizer

July 10, 2026

Your Antivirus Has A Blind Spot, And Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) Know Where It Is

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are a type of cyber threat characterized by long-term infiltration aimed at stealing sensitive data or surveilling communications, often orchestrated by well-funded groups. Unlike traditional malware, which seeks immediate disruption, APTs employ a methodical approach, spending weeks mapping out networks and identifying valuable credentials. Traditional antivirus solutions often fail to detect APTs because they rely on signature-based detection, which is ineffective against custom malware. APTs frequently use legitimate tools already present on systems, making detection challenging, and some forms of APTs operate directly from memory without writing to disk, evading traditional scans. To combat APTs, a multifaceted strategy is recommended, including behavioral detection, network monitoring for unusual patterns, and a mindset of skepticism towards all network activities.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review: 22 CPU and 30 GPU Benchmarks

Ubisoft is releasing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the original 2013 game, developed by Ubisoft Singapore. The remake utilizes an enhanced Anvil engine, featuring technological advancements such as ray tracing, fluid-based wind simulation, and virtualized geometry. Players will again control Edward Kenway, with a narrative that follows his transformation from a buccaneer to an Assassin. The game includes redesigned environments with new paths and parkour elements, expanded mission designs, and omits modern-day scenes for better immersion. Players can upgrade their ship, the Jackdaw, and interact with historical figures like Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Naval combat has been revitalized with improved customization, boarding maneuvers, and combat mechanics.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Get 100 FPS With an RTX 4070 in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced Using Our Optimized PC Settings

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has been remastered as Black Flag Resynced, utilizing the Anvil Engine from Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game features three presets for portable gaming devices and is designed to run on a minimum of an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT. Visuals are enhanced with lush vegetation and advanced water effects, particularly benefiting sailing and ship combat. The game includes ten graphical presets and twenty adjustable settings for optimization. Recommended specifications for 1440p gameplay include an RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, achieving around 60 fps at ‘High’ preset with ray tracing on ‘Standard’. The RTX 4070 can average 76 fps under these conditions, with potential for 100 fps by adjusting settings. Optimized settings for mainstream PCs and handheld devices are provided, allowing players to customize their experience based on hardware capabilities.

AppWizard

July 6, 2026

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Remastered Lighting Drops On PC This Week, as Modder Transforms Game To Another Level

Modder David Matos has developed a custom Shader Injector mod for the PC version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, addressing the game's flat open-world lighting. The upcoming version 2.0 of the mod will eliminate manual shader setup, introduce new game shaders for improved tonemapping, experimental screen-space global illumination, and automatic exposure. Users will have customization options to disable certain features and adjust settings like contact shadowing and ambient occlusion. Matos has shared that version 2.0 is expected to release within a week and will include a complete overhaul of screen-space reflections to fix light-leak issues. The mod's release coincides with renewed interest in the Final Fantasy VII trilogy following the Summer Game Fest reveal of Final Fantasy VII Revelation. While the enhancements may affect PC performance, Matos believes the visual improvements are worthwhile.