Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced hits 2million at launch

Ubisoft has shared launch day results with the release of Assassin’s Creed™ Black Flag Resynced, the latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, released on July 9. 

With 2 million copies of the game sold on its first day, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has made a strong start. 

This trend is expected to continue as players across the world get their hands on the game. The game ranked Top 1 on Twitch on July 9 and reached a peak of 99 451 concurrent players on Steam within 24 hours of launch, making it the highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin's Creed title on the platform. 

 

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is also received positively by critics, with a 85% review score on Open Critic and 84% review score on Metacritic, making it the highest rated Assassin’s Creed game since the launch of the original Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. 

This includes reviewers like IGN scoring Resynced 9/10 and declaring it “bigger and better in all the ways that matter”.  The technical achievement has also been praised by specialists such as Digital Foundry, referring to it as “One of the most effective remakes we've ever seen.”. The game is also well-received by players with a current rating of 4.76/5 on the Playstation Store, 4.7/5 on the Xbox Store and Mostly Positive reviews on Steam.  

 

“Black Flag has always held a special place in the heart of the community, and ours.” said Martin Schelling, Head of Assassin’s Creed Brand. ”Bringing it back with Resynced was a promise to that passion for Edward’s adventures, and to the unique sense of freedom players experienced back then. Seeing so many players set sail on day one, along with the great reviews from critics, is the greatest reward we could have hoped for.” 

 

A testament to Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, originally released in 2013, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, led by Ubisoft Singapore*, is a faithful remake rebuilt from the ground up and powered by the latest Anvil engine. The game features stunning updated visuals and enriched gameplay, including parry‑driven combat, improved stealth and parkour, deeper naval mechanics, and new narrative content.  

 

Set during the Golden Age of Piracy, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced invites players to sail the Caribbean as Edward Kenway, a rebellious pirate captain drawn into the centuries-old conflict between Assassins and Templars. As Edward pursues glory and fortune, he crosses paths with legendary figures such as Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Calico Jack, while the fate of everything the pirates have built hangs in the balance. 

 

The game is available on Ubisoft+**, PlayStation^®5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as Windows PC through the Ubisoft Store, Steam (Steam Deck verified) and the Epic Games Store.  

 

For more information on the Assassin’s Creed Franchise, please visit: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-au/game/assassins-creed  

For the latest news on the Assassin’s Creed Franchise and other Ubisoft games, please visit: https://news.ubisoft.com/.   

 

*Along with the following co-dev studios: Ubisoft Barcelona, Ubisoft Belgrade, Ubisoft Bordeaux, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft DaNang, Ubisoft India, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Philippines, Ubisoft Quebec, Ubisoft Shanghai, and Ubisoft Sofia 

**Ubisoft+ Premium is available for AU$23.95 per month. Cancel anytime.  More information at plus.ubisoft.com.  

 

What's on DocPlay in August

Here's everything that's streaming on DocPlay in August 2026.

This August, discover compelling portraits of creatives from across the globe. Sydney-based filmmaker Carla Thackrah directs The Last Violin, about an octogenarian violinist; while Oscar®-winning director Kevin Macdonald crafts a candid portrait of the controversial fashion designer John Galliano. Prolific documentarian Mark Cousins (The Story of Film) examines the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock, and The Exorcist director William Friedkin reflects on an impactful career in Friedkin Uncut.

3 August

Iron Winter

Friendship is tested as two young herders struggle to keep 2000 horses alive over Mongolia’s harshest winter. From Australian director Kasimir Burgess.

13 August

High & Low: John Galliano

A candid and gripping look at the rise-and-fall story of one of the most influential names in couture fashion, High & Low: John Galliano is the new documentary from Academy Award®-winning director Kevin Macdonald.

13 August

The Last Violin

Master violin maker Charalambos Vatiliotis is convinced to come out of retirement by Romano, a violinist and his friend, to make one final violin. From Australian director Carla Thackrah.

17 August

My Name is Alfred Hitchcock

Directed by Mark Cousins, My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock re-examines the vast filmography and legacy of one of the 20th century’s greatest filmmakers, Alfred Hitchcock, through a new lens: the auteur’s own voice.

25 August

Nuremberg: The Real Story

At the Nuremberg Trials, Nazi leaders faced justice, shaping international law. Psychiatrist Douglas Kelley assessed defendants' fitness for trial, engaging in psychological duels with Hermann Göring that revealed dark truths about power.

What's on Netflix in August

Here's what's streaming on Netflix in August 2026.

The Whisper Man (August 28)

DIRECTOR: James Ashcroft

WRITERS: Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY: Alex North

PRODUCERS: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, Kassee Whiting

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Marcus Viscidi, Tim Connors, Alex Leb

CAST: Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague, Acston Luca Porto, Will Brill

Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as "The Whisper Man."

What's on Disney+ in August

Here's everything that's streaming on Disney+ in August 2026.

The Shards (August 6)

Starring Igby Rigney, Kaia Gerber, Homer Gere, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley and Jordan Roth, The Shards is based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

A summer of suspense, seduction and obsession begins with the premiere of FX’s “The Shards,” the new drama series from executive producer Ryan Murphy based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis. The series will premiere Thursday August 6, 2026 exclusively on Disney+ in New Zealand.

Set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence. 

At its center is Bret (Igby Rigney), an aspiring writer and keenly observant teenager whose reality begins to unravel with the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere). Transferring in just before his senior year, Robert’s appearance coincides with the growing terror of The Trawler, a serial killer targeting teenagers across the city.  

Alongside Bret is his elite social circle, which consists of Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell), a glamorous and deeply entangled group drawn into a life of wealth, beauty, parties and excess. The promise of their youth is contrasted with the dark and cynical world of the adults surrounding them: Terry Schaffer (Wes Bentley), Liz Schaffer (Evan Rachel Wood) and Steven Reinhardt (Jordan Roth).

A fusion of the voices of two of America’s most provocative storytellers — Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis — FX’s “The Shards” is executive produced by Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Ellis, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, Tanase Popa, Nick Hall, Michael Uppendahl, Max Winkler, Kathleen McCaffrey and Brian Young. The series is produced by 20th Television.

What's on Prime Video in August

Here's what's streaming on Prime Video in August 2026.

Sterling Point (August 5)

Sterling Point premieres August 5, with all eight episodes streaming exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

 

The series is led by 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin). Raised in New York City with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father (Jay Duplass), Annie's life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather's island in Canada. There, she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets. Sterling Point also stars Amélie Hoeferle (The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes, Night Swim), Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie (Billie Blue), Daniel Quinn-Toye (Sunny Dancer) Bo Bragason (Renegade Nell, The Radleys), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), Nikko Angelo Hinayo (Davey & Jonesie's Locker), Mabel Strachan (The Ridge), Elle-Maija Tailfeathers (Three Pines), and Missi Pyle (Harlan Coben’s Shelter).

 

Megan Park (My Old Ass) serves as a director, co-showrunner, and executive producer alongside Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, under their Fake Empire banner and Dani Gorin and Tom Ackerley under LuckyChap.

 

About Sterling Point

Sterling Point is a heartfelt, coming-of-age drama led by 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin). Raised in New York City with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father (Jay Duplass), Annie's life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather's island in Canada. There, she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets. The cast also includes Amélie Hoeferle, Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Bo Bragason, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Nikko Angelo Hinayo, Mabel Strachan, Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, and Missi Pyle.

 

Sterling Point is created by Megan Park and produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Fake Empire and LuckyChap. Park serves as a director, co-showrunner, and executive producer alongside Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, under their Fake Empire banner and Dani Gorin and Tom Ackerley under LuckyChap.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni Headset: Review

The world of the headset is beset with many contenders.

From sets that are about comfort to headsets that are about quality, it's been hard to combine all those to get the perfect set for what anyone wants and needs.

Added to that, the more you pack into a headset, the higher the price will go and suddenly getting sound quality and durability starts to become one of those things that users will feel like it's too much to take on board.

These days, everyone wants a headset to do everything. From gaming to listening to music to taking calls and wearing on the go, the needs of a decent headset have exponentially grown as time has gone on and technology has improved. And it goes without saying that gamers expect much more from their games, so why shouldn't they expect that from their headsets?

Fortunately, that ethos is something that's permeated SteelSeries' mantra for their tech and it's one that very much comes into play with the latest from its Arctis range, the Nova Pro Omni. 

While it's important to note that the price tag of these is somewhat steep at around $1050, the company is at pains to point out that it sees these multi-purpose headsets as an investment, something for gamers to buy once - like any kind of hardware - and not worry about needing to upgrade them or buy another set for a few years.

And it's easy to see why that attitude would permeate the perception of this set - because it's very, very good.

These are the kind of headphones you can use as much for lifestyle as your gaming needs - and never feel that while you're wearing them to do other things, you're just using a "gaming headset" to conduct your daily business.

Right out of the box, you can tell these are a premium product.

From a leatherette cushion headband to some chunky-looking, yet comfortable, ear cups, the set's adjustability, while taking a couple of days to settle into your head size (no judgement here), ensures that the fit becomes as natural as putting on clothes. It's obviously important that the headphones are comfortable for extended periods and it's clear that SteelSeries has pushed a lot into ensuring this is the case - not only for long gaming sessions, but also for a daily commute or exercise. They sit perfectly and feel like they're not there while you're wearing them - something which can't be overstated enough.

With a minimalist design and finish, the headset's approach may feel like they're on the cheaper side of the design spectrum, but given that keeps the weight down on these, they're an important contribution to ensuring the set is a longlife one.

As all the controls are relegated to one earcup, it's a case of learning what's what and where and then you're away laughing. It makes it easier to have it all in one place and is also practical given that the other earcup is used for housing the battery. And it's battery life which makes a difference in this set, because the return of the changeable and chargeable battery means that you're never without power, something which given the more premium lifestyle edges of this product is not something to be sneezed at.

The battery changer may not be a new thing for the Nova Pro series, but it's good to see that given the extra durability of these headphones and the idea that they're for more than just gaming, some thought has been given toward ensuring there'll be no breaks between use.

What impresses greatly about these headphones and the set itself is that it just makes everything so easy to use. Whether it's the base station for tackling different inputs (you can connect in PlayStation, XBox and PC with ease) that allows for customisation or the app which lets you fiddle with your settings to achieve the output quality you want, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni has adapted versatility as its mantra.

Along with OmniPlay which allows you to mix different sources to varying degrees, the emphasis is on both usability and quality. Having the ability to switch between inputs with ease makes for an incredible experience and one which once you've used it once, you'll wonder how you never had it before.

The Omnidirectional microphone which extends out of the earcup and then settles back in nicely when not in use offers solid quality of sound for both input and output. The retractable nature of the mic doesn't make a difference to quality and works across different platforms with ease - its sound is of a quality that means doing everything on the one headset once again becomes a tantalising proposition.

With its ClearCast Pro Omnidirectional microphone that uses AI and its app to increase the sound quality and cut all noise around it, it has to be said the microphone covers everything you need. From calls to gaming moments, this is a step up from what SteelSeries has offered before - and it shows.

All in all, it has to be said the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni Headset is perhaps the one that gamers need in 2026. Its clear and concise sound, coupled with what feels like futureproofing for upcoming hardware changes with features like the microphone and the OmniPlay makes you wonder exactly what the group could do next to make an even more superlative headset.

But for now, this is the set that both gamers and casual users deserve and need to have as part of their life.