The Elder Scrolls Online Season One: Return of the Thieves Guild is Live Now

The Elder Scrolls Online has launched Season One: Return of the Thieves Guild for PC, Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

 

Season One runs until October 21 and features multiple content drops throughout, including new stories for the Thieves Guild and the Daedric Prince of Madness Sheogorath, as well as the experimental High Seas of Tamriel event. All ESO Seasons content is free and available to all players.

Season One kicks off with the first new story content for the iconic Thieves Guild in ESO since 2016, building on the original narrative and taking place in High Rock’s Glenumbra zone. Whilst this new Thieves Guild content is available for all players, those who have completed the original storyline from 2016 will have more options and some unique dialogue choices. The original Thieves Guild DLC became free for all players who own ESO earlier this year.

 

Also launching today are Favors, a new take on daily quests found at Freerunner’s Post Boards in each alliance. Favors will take players across Tamriel, checking in with fan-favorite characters through ongoing narratives, with a special reward for completing each story arc. 

Dynamic Encounters also arrive today, introducing a range of story-driven, multi-stage events that players can stumble upon on their journeys across Tamriel. These are more than just combatting waves of enemies, and players can join in simply by getting close enough to the Encounter.

 

Sheogorath, Nowhere Vault and more arrive this summer

On July 29, the infamous yet beloved Daedric Prince of Madness Sheogorath will take players on a new mind-bending adventure across Tamriel as he attempts to experience a mortal life. Players can expect some chaotic Sheogorath shenanigans, and plenty of cheese.

 

On September 21, players will discover the Nowhere Vault (previously named Sage’s Vault), a space between realms safeguarding valuable artefacts, tied to the Thieves Guild storyline. The Nowhere Vault introduces more than just new lore – it’s a playable area with brand new puzzle and traversal challenges never seen before in ESO. 

 

Rumors also arrive on September 21, introducing narrative scavenger hunts hidden across Tamriel. Players will have to follow clues in the old-school way – there’s no UI or map markers telling you where to go, reminiscent of classic questing from TES III: Morrowind.

 

Dropping alongside Rumors and the Nowhere Vault is a brand new 12-player trial, the Crimson Veldt, alongside more quality-of-life updates including improvements to the Antiquities system.

  

High Seas of Tamriel event

Towards the end of Season One from September 30 – October 14, the High Seas of Tamriel arrives as ESO’s latest experimental event. Taking place on the Gold Coast, players will experience naval combat and underwater exploration in ESO for the first time and will need to learn some new tricks to survive and traverse their new surroundings.

 

Sam Neill, Jurassic Park actor, dead at 78

Veteran Kiwi actor Sir Sam Neill has died aged 78 in Australia.

"It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia." 

“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," a family statement said online.

"The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.  They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care. More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss."

Neill had a wide-ranging CV of roles, from the likes of Dean Spanley to TV series Peaky Blinders.

Sir Sam is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.

Sam Neill (1947–2026) pic.twitter.com/acWuPqGa2d

— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) July 13, 2026

Sam Neill (1947–2026)

Rest in peace, Sam Neill.

We have lost a true legend. 💔 pic.twitter.com/glWjIScJ5s

— Madman Films (@MadmanFilms) July 13, 2026

To Sam Neill, you had an amazing career. You did so much. You made an impact.

Nobody else could have played Dr. Alan Grant. You did that.

Rest easy Legend. pic.twitter.com/jHcYZ7qwj5

— 𝙲𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚖𝚊 𝙱𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚝 (@CinemaBurst) July 13, 2026

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.