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'The last time I liked everything about a game was probably Baldur's Gate 3': Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, talks us through the games installed on his PC
AppWizard
July 26, 2026

‘The last time I liked everything about a game was probably Baldur’s Gate 3’: Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, talks us through the games installed on his PC

Raphaël Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, was inspired to enter the gaming industry after playing Ultima 7, which led him to co-found Arkane in 1999. The studio's first game was Arx Fatalis, and it has since produced titles like Dishonored and Prey, with their latest project being Weird West. Colantonio is currently playing Mewgenics, having previously completed Cyberpunk 2077 and enjoyed Baldur's Gate 3. He has revisited Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth for enjoyment and research. Colantonio has logged 649 hours in Wasteland 2 and expresses nostalgia for Thief, Fallout, and Deus Ex, noting their influence on his work. He uses DaVinci Resolve for video editing and DiskState for managing hard drive space. Colantonio maintains a tidy desktop with minimal icons and folders.
15 years before Dishonored, Thief devs considered letting Garrett shrink himself rat-sized so he could scurry through drains and mouse holes
AppWizard
July 20, 2026

15 years before Dishonored, Thief devs considered letting Garrett shrink himself rat-sized so he could scurry through drains and mouse holes

Corvo Attano, the protagonist of Dishonored, possesses the unique ability to inhabit various creatures, including rats, allowing him to access otherwise unreachable areas. This concept was considered for Thief: The Dark Project over a decade earlier. Both Thief and Dishonored feature stealthy protagonists embroiled in political intrigues, but Garrett from Thief lacks supernatural powers and relies solely on stealth. Thief emphasizes navigating environments without detection, while Dishonored allows for combat if stealth fails. Thief's focus on stealth mechanics has significantly influenced the genre. Recently, Thief has gained attention due to the announcement of a remaster, Thief: The Dark Project Remastered, by Nightdive Studios, which will include additional missions and enhancements. Original artist Daniel Thron is involved in revitalizing the game's cutscenes. A release date for the remaster has not been announced, but excitement within the gaming community is high.
007: Nightfire review (2003)
AppWizard
May 30, 2026

007: Nightfire review (2003)

007: Nightfire, reviewed in PC Gamer issue #107 (February 2003), struggles to capture the essence of the Bond franchise, with notable flaws in artificial intelligence and combat mechanics. Guards lack awareness but can detect Bond easily, leading to frustrating stealth gameplay. The damage model is inconsistent, with some weapons causing one-shot kills while others are ineffective. Boss battles lack creativity. However, the game features well-designed environments and some inventive sequences. The multiplayer component includes standard modes with recognizable Bond characters, though their execution varies. Overall, Nightfire is seen as lackluster compared to other spy games like No One Lives Forever 2, and Bond's portrayal is criticized for lacking charisma and depth.
Before Dishonored, Arkane was tapped to make Thief 4, and my heart weeps for what might have been: 'We had an amazing pitch for Thief'
AppWizard
May 25, 2026

Before Dishonored, Arkane was tapped to make Thief 4, and my heart weeps for what might have been: ‘We had an amazing pitch for Thief’

The Dishonored series is inspired by the Thief franchise, with Stephen Russell, the voice actor for Thief's protagonist Garrett, voicing Corvo Attano in Dishonored 2. Before creating Dishonored, Arkane Studios was approached by Bethesda to develop Thief 4, as they were seen as the ideal candidate for the project. Co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith have discussed this potential project, expressing nostalgia for an Arkane-crafted Thief game. Thief 4 was eventually developed by Eidos Montreal but received a lukewarm reception. A recent spiritual successor, Thick as Thieves, has also been released with mixed reviews.
14 years ago we published our Elder Scrolls 6 wishlist, and honestly? It still holds up
AppWizard
May 23, 2026

14 years ago we published our Elder Scrolls 6 wishlist, and honestly? It still holds up

The February 2012 "Armchair Designer" column in PC Gamer highlighted ten desired features for Elder Scrolls VI, shortly after Skyrim's release. The game is now projected for a 2026 release. Bethesda has since developed Fallout 4 and Starfield, incorporating new systems like settlement management. Fans hope for a return to Morrowind's flexibility and improved stealth mechanics, influenced by design director Emil Pagliarulo's background. The column proposed exploring Akavir, introducing colonial themes and diverse factions, with a narrative that allows for complex interactions between Tamriel and Akavir's cultures. The vision for TES 6 aims to blend nostalgia with innovative storytelling, enhancing player choices and consequences.
The director of the best Splinter Cell game reckons that modern lighting engines are making stealth games 'so much harder to read'
AppWizard
May 23, 2026

The director of the best Splinter Cell game reckons that modern lighting engines are making stealth games ‘so much harder to read’

The stealth gaming genre has shifted from emphasizing the intricate interplay of light and shadow to focusing more on lines of sight. Clint Hocking, director of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, notes that advancements in lighting technology, such as the transition to softer shadows and ray-tracing models, have changed how players perceive stealth mechanics. The recent release of Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow marks a return for the series after over a decade, though it has received mixed reviews. Additionally, Thick as Thieves offers a cooperative stealth experience but in a simplified format. The future of stealth gaming will depend on how developers balance innovative lighting with the core elements of stealth gameplay.
Warren Spector's Thick As Thieves encapsulates the joys of the heist, but I'm not convinced it'll steal my attention long-term
AppWizard
May 19, 2026

Warren Spector’s Thick As Thieves encapsulates the joys of the heist, but I’m not convinced it’ll steal my attention long-term

In Elway Manor, a master thief uses the Vistara Diamond to detect guards and navigates security measures while executing a heist. The game, Thick As Thieves, is set in an alternate early 1900s Scottish city, Kilcairn, where players aim to join the Thieves' Guild. It features two launch maps with dynamic security layouts and three difficulty levels. Stealth mechanics are crucial, with players utilizing various gadgets from the Black Market. The game has shifted to a cooperative format, allowing players to team up. After about ten hours of gameplay, some repetition may occur, but the experience remains polished with quick load times and smooth performance. The game is priced modestly, promising future content from OtherSide Entertainment.
Everything you need to know about the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake
AppWizard
April 23, 2026

Everything you need to know about the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake

The remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag, titled Black Flag Resynced, is set to be released on July 9, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, priced at in the U.S. and £50 in the U.K. The game will feature enhanced combat mechanics, reworked stealth gameplay, new story scenes, three new recruitable crew officers, modern-day segments related to the Animus, ten new sea shanties, upgrades for ship weaponry, and the option to adopt a pet cat or monkey. The core story and original map will remain unchanged, and the game will not follow the RPG format of recent titles. However, it will not include multiplayer modes or recreate the original game's downloadable content.
Jazzy stealth-action game Thick as Thieves hits PC on May 20
AppWizard
April 9, 2026

Jazzy stealth-action game Thick as Thieves hits PC on May 20

OtherSide Entertainment has announced that their game, Thick as Thieves, will be released on Steam on May 20. The game is set in a fictional Scottish city named Kilcairn and features two distinct thieves, two maps, sixteen contracts, six unique pieces of gear, and multiple difficulty settings. Originally introduced as a PvPvE experience at The Game Awards in December 2024, it has shifted to focus on solo and two-player cooperative gameplay, with the announcement made on Steam on April 2, 2026. The game was initially planned for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, but the current focus is on the Steam release.
I became a master of stealth in Styx: Blades of Greed and finished my playthrough with hundreds of guards kicked off cliffs, countless coins pilfered, and a full arsenal of magical abilities
AppWizard
February 17, 2026

I became a master of stealth in Styx: Blades of Greed and finished my playthrough with hundreds of guards kicked off cliffs, countless coins pilfered, and a full arsenal of magical abilities

Styx: Blades of Greed is set to release on February 19, 2026, and will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S. The game focuses on stealth gameplay, encouraging players to navigate intricate environments without being detected. It was reviewed on a high-performance PC with a 5070 Ti graphics card, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM. The PC download is priced at .99 on Fanatical.
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