2nd – 5th January, 2026
RUMOR: Assassin’s Creed Hexe Targeting Late 2026 as a Linear Game
According to new rumors, the witch-trial themed installment (Assassin’s Creed Hexe) is now expected in the second half of 2026.
It is reported to be a linear experience rather than an open-world title
Early reports suggest Apple’s upcoming M5 Max chip could match or even outperform NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU in some games like Cyberpunk 2077.
It’s also estimated to be ~47–55% faster than the previous M4 Max.
However, these are unofficial, preliminary estimates and should be treated with caution until official benchmarks are released.
Arc Raiders Confirms “Playstyle-Based” Matchmaking System
In an interview with GamesBeat, Embark Studios President Patrick Söderlund detailed a unique approach:
🔫 Aggressive Players who frequently engage in PvP will be matched together.
🎯 Objective-Focused Players who prioritize PvE and missions will be matched together.
The system is designed to categorize players by their dominant in-game behavior and create more cohesive session experiences.
This addresses long-standing community debates about balancing PvP and PvE preferences in shared-world shooters.
XBOX Gearing Up for a Big Week of Announcements
📅 Xbox Game Pass January 2026 Lineup – New games to be revealed
🎬 Xbox Developer_Direct 2026 – Expected official announcement with date and lineup
AAA John Wick Video Game Officially in Early Development for PS5
Lionsgate confirms a big-budget, AAA action title is in the works, expanding the assassin’s universe beyond films.
The studio plans a “regular cadence” of new John Wick content moving forward.
Report: PS6’s Fate & Price Tied to Volatile RAM Market
According to sources from Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID), Sony’s next-gen console plans are highly sensitive to memory pricing:
🔧 Chip Production Locked: Deal with TSMC to start processor production in 2027 is set.
💰 RAM is the Wild Card: The final RAM amount and console price are not yet decided, awaiting clarity on future memory costs.
⏳ Delay Possible: If RAM prices rise significantly, a postponement of the PS6 remains a real option.
Former Rockstar Developer Speculates on GTA 7
A 14-year veteran of the studio shared expectations for the next entry:
🔁 Predicted Return: The series will likely revisit a familiar U.S. city cycle – New York (Liberty City), Los Angeles (Los Santos), or Las Vegas (Las Venturas).
💬 Blunt Assessment: “We are stuck in a cycle of only about 5 American cities.“
📱 ASUS Reportedly Pauses Smartphone Launches for 2026
The Taiwanese tech giant is temporarily stepping back from the mobile market this year due to the significant rise in memory prices.
⏸️ No New Models: No ASUS smartphone launches are planned for 2026
💹 Pricing Pressure: High component costs would force significantly higher retail prices, reducing competitiveness.
🔧 Operations Continue: The smartphone division will continue operating, and warranty & support for existing models remains unaffected.
Black Ops 7 Hits Historic Low for Concurrent Players in Call of Duty Series
The latest entry is reportedly being outperformed in player count by older, unrelated titles like:
🎭 VRChat
🔪 Dead by Daylight
Sony to Hold Conference at CES 2026 on January 6
The company’s PlayStation division will be present to showcase cutting-edge technology and share various statistics about the PS5.
Benoît Richer, director of Batman: Arkham Origins and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, has officially updated his LinkedIn to confirm he is leading the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Hexe.
🎬 Proven Experience: Richer also served as lead designer on Far Cry and Rainbow Six titles.
Game Setting: Hexe is set in 16th-century Germany during the witch trials.
👤 Protagonist: Features the series’ first solo female lead, with reported supernatural abilities (spells, animal control).
🖤 Tone: Promised to be the “most terrifying and darkest” experience in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
2025 Marks Xbox’s Worst Year for Console Sales in UK History
According to journalist Chris Dring:
📊 Sales Decline: Xbox Series X|S sales fell by nearly 40% in 2025 vs. 2024.
🇬🇧 Market Impact: This is the largest annual drop for the brand in the British market.
🔄 Strategic Shift: Analysts link the downturn to Microsoft’s pivot toward services & multi-platform releases, reducing focus on dedicated hardware.
A defining and challenging year for Xbox in the UK. 🎮
🎮 Former Rockstar Director Reveals Why GTA IV Remaster Never Happened
Obie Fermie states a true remaster would have been astronomically expensive, potentially exceeding $100 million.
Reasons:
🎨 Extremely powerful original graphics that are costly to recreate at modrn stand.
🎬 Complex cinematic scenes requiring massive rework.
💰 Budget would likely surpass even GTA V’s development costs for a proper remake, not just “light cosmetic improvements.”
1st January, 2026
Happy New Year 2026 from the GamesNerdz Team!
As the clock resets, we wish you a year filled with legendary loot, flawless victories, and countless epic gaming moments. May your connection be strong, your frames be high, and your passion for play never fade.
Game on & cheers🎮