Thief
News, coverage and analysis tracking Thief across the outlets.- Sunday Postmortems/RetrospectivesNightdive Studios brought on the original developer of the 1998 Thief game to ensure the cutscenes for Thief Remastered were accurately recreated. The article discusses the challenges and considerations involved in this process for the PC version.
SGJ Podcast #516 – Our Favorite Sound Design in GamingThe SGJ Podcast hosts discuss their favorite examples of sound design in video games, covering titles like Elite Dangerous, Thief, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. The discussion highlights how audio contributes to immersion and gameplay experience across a variety of genres.- Thief: Pulse of Promise Brings the Hit Stealth Gaming Franchise to ComicsA new comic book spinoff titled Thief: Pulse of Promise is set to bring the stealth gaming franchise to a new medium. This announcement comes as the original Thief game is also slated for a remaster this year.
One of the biggest VR developers in the business closes a studio: 'The VR market remains a challenging space'VR development studio Vertigo Games has announced the closure of its Amsterdam studio, citing the challenging nature of the VR market. CEO Richard Stitselaar stated the decision was difficult and acknowledged the impact on employees. This follows similar struggles in the VR space, including Meta's closure of multiple VR studios and layoffs.- Everything Announced at the PC Gaming Show on Sunday, June 7The PC Gaming Show featured over 20 world premieres and more than 60 games, including new titles like Wielders of the Essence, Star Trek: Outposts Unknown, and Stronghold 4. Many games announced, such as Warhammer 40,000: Darktide - Skitarii Class and Abiotic Factor: Entropic Break DLC, are available to wishlist on Steam, with several offering demos.
Over 27 years later, Thief: The Dark Project is getting a remaster from retro revival specialist Nightdive Studios this…Nightdive Studios announced a remaster of Thief: The Dark Project, set to release this winter for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The remaster aims to smooth out the visuals while preserving the original's retro charm, potentially serving as a new entry point for the series.
"It felt like we had needed couples therapy": Dishonored devs Arkane making Thief or Blade Runner games sounds ace, but might have sparked a creative director scrapArkane Studios co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith discussed the development of Dishonored, which combined their initial concepts for Thief 4 and a Blade Runner game. The directors revealed that the process of deciding which project to pursue led to creative friction, likening the experience to needing couples therapy. Ultimately, Bethesda Softworks merged their ideas to create Dishonored.
Before Dishonored, Arkane was tapped to make Thief 4, and my heart weeps for what might have been: 'We had an…Arkane Studios co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith revealed that Bethesda initially approached the studio to develop Thief 4 or a Blade Runner game before Dishonored. While both directors were passionate about the franchises, neither project materialized, leading Arkane to develop Dishonored instead. The studio was later acquired by ZeniMax Media.
Dishonored co-creators were working on Thief 4 and a Bladerunner game before Bethesda let them make an imsim classicDishonored co-creators Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith revealed that Arkane Studios was initially slated to develop Thief 4 and a new Blade Runner game before Bethesda greenlit their original immersive sim. Both Colantonio and Smith expressed strong interest in these projects, which ultimately fell through, leading to the development of Dishonored.
Arkane's Dishonored always felt like a secret Thief sequel, and that's because it started life as oneDishonored originally began development as Thief 4 before publisher Bethesda offered Arkane the choice between that franchise or Blade Runner. Directors Raphaël Colantonio and Harvey Smith discuss the project's evolution into Dishonored and their experiences co-directing the game.
The director of the best Splinter Cell game reckons that modern lighting engines are making stealth games 'so much…Clint Hocking, director of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, believes modern lighting engines make stealth games harder to read. He argues that the realistic, diffuse shadows in contemporary games obscure player visibility compared to the clear, baked lighting of older titles like Thief. Hocking suggests that developers aiming for pure stealth experiences with modern graphics need to carefully consider how to implement lighting.
There is no discovery on this earth more pure than a closet full of your dad's '90s big box PC gamesA Reddit user's discovery of their father's extensive collection of '90s big box PC games has resonated with many, sparking discussions about physical media and shared gaming experiences. The collection includes classics like System Shock 2 and Diablo, alongside more eclectic titles, highlighting a bygone era of PC gaming.
Stealth-Action Heist Adventure Thick as Thieves with Co-Op Mode Drops on PCThe stealth-action heist game Thick as Thieves, developed by OtherSide Entertainment and published by Megabit Publishing, has launched on PC via Steam. The game features solo and two-player online co-op modes, set in an alternate-history 1910s Scotland where magic and technology collide. Players take on the role of a Thieves' Guild member undertaking heists with shifting security layouts and dynamic difficulty.
Splinter Cell veteran says realistic modern lighting has screwed up stealth games: "it gets very hard to tell what’s light, what’s shadow, what’s dark, what’s safe"Designer Clint Hocking believes that realistic modern lighting has made stealth games harder to develop and play. He argues that the sophisticated rendering and diffusion in current games obscure the clear distinctions between light and shadow that were present in older, "baked lighting" titles. Hocking, who has worked on games like Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, suggests that developers need to rethink how they communicate visibility to players in modern titles.
Embracer Group cuts itself into pieces, this is its last resort: Bifurcation, new listing—licensing out Kain and…Embracer Group is splitting into two separate companies to improve focus and value creation. One entity, Fellowship Entertainment, will house studios like 4A Games and Crystal Dynamics, managing IPs such as Tomb Raider and The Lord of the Rings. The remaining Embracer will include THQ Nordic and other studios, with properties like Biomutant and Wreckfest. CEO Lars Wingefors indicated a more active exploration of external partnerships for IPs like Saints Row and Legacy of Kain.
Franchises Like Deus Ex And TimeSplitters Might Just Have A FutureEmbracer Group will split into two companies in 2027, with Fellowship Entertainment retaining major video game intellectual properties. The company is seeking partners to develop titles such as Deus Ex, TimeSplitters, and Saints Row, while also exploring collaborations on franchises like Metro and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Dark Horse Comics will also play a role in utilizing Embracer's IP.- Franchises Like Deus Ex And TimeSplitters Might Just Have A FutureEmbracer Group will split into two companies in 2027, with Fellowship Entertainment retaining major video game intellectual properties. The company is seeking partners to develop titles such as Deus Ex, TimeSplitters, and Saints Row, while also exploring collaborations on franchises like Metro and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Dark Horse Comics will also play a role in utilizing Embracer's IP.
Embracer Plans On Letting Licensing Out Saints Row, Deus Ex, Timesplitters And MoreEmbracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors announced plans to explore external partnerships for licensing out several of the company's intellectual properties, including Saints Row, Deus Ex, and TimeSplitters. This strategy aims to revive dormant franchises and expand their reach beyond gaming into other media. A new entity, Fellowship Entertainment, will focus on major franchises like Tomb Raider and The Lord of the Rings.
Embracer is splitting in half again, sending Fellowship Entertainment on its merry wayEmbracer Group is splitting into two segments, creating a new company called Fellowship Entertainment to house major IPs like The Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raider, with an IPO planned for 2027. This move aims to better communicate Embracer's diverse operations and unlock the potential of its undervalued assets. The company has undergone previous splits and significant layoffs following financial difficulties.
Deus Ex, Saints Row and TimeSplitters might be lent out to external partners, Embracer say, possibly paving the way for new entriesEmbracer Group is exploring licensing out major IPs like Deus Ex, Saints Row, and TimeSplitters to external partners, potentially leading to new game entries or media adaptations. This strategy is part of the company's recent corporate restructuring into two main entities, Embracer and Fellowship Entertainment, with CEO Lars Wingefors highlighting the potential for these well-known franchises.