BuildKit Brief — Gaming & Tech — September 03, 2026

Path of Exile 2: Forbidden Rites Patch Notes and Item Filter Information

The patch notes for Path of Exile 2: Forbidden Rites, launching September 4th at 1PM PDT are now available. Click here to check them out. We’ve also prepared Item Filter information you may need for this event.

• Jiquani's Soul Core of Automation
• Jiquani's Soul Core of Malediction
• Jiquani's Soul Core of Targeting
• Jiquani's Soul Core of Rallying
• Jiquani's Soul Core of Radiance
• Jiquani's Soul Core of Severing

Path of Exile 2 Full Release Registration

Sign up at to receive updates on the Path of Exile 2 Full Release and get exclusive rewards! You have until December 10th to register, so there is still plenty of time to reach the milestones. The more players who register, the more cosmetics the community can unlock.

Fan Art Competition Highlights #3

We’ve launched the Fan Art Competition a while back, which is inspired by the latest expansions in Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2. Since then, the community has shared plenty of incredible artwork, and we’ve gathered some of the latest highlights to showcase in today’s news post!

Watch the Path of Exile 1 ExileCon Qualifier Tomorrow - Earn Twitch Drops

The first ExileCon Path of Exile 1 Qualifier begins tomorrow! Tune in to at 2 PM PDT on September 3 to watch the action live and acquire a reward doing so! Twitch Drops will be available for 24 hours once the broadcast begins.

Path of Exile 1 Build Showcase: Luminary Facebreaker

Turn your fists into the heaviest matter in Wraeclast with today's Build Showcase episode. This Luminary Facebreaker build by Alohaa features the new Scion Ascendancy and relies on a specific Mercenary for its core interaction. Check it out! Thanks to Alohaa for putting this build together.

Fan Art Competition Highlights #3

We’ve launched the Fan Art Competition a while back, which is inspired by the latest expansions in Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2. Since then, the community has shared plenty of incredible artwork, and we’ve gathered some of the latest highlights to showcase in today’s news post!

League check: Allflame is live

Current PoE1 challenge league: **Allflame**. Started Jul 24, 2026.

Counter-Strike 2 Update

Added custom_hud_layout entity: custom_hud_layouts are the entry point for scripted maps to provide custom UI. Panel, Label, Image, and Button panel types are supported. Styling with css is supported. Events and client side scripting are not supported. Maintains state during tools mode reloads.

• Added custom_hud_layout entity:
• custom_hud_layouts are the entry point for scripted maps to provide custom UI.
• Panel, Label, Image, and Button panel types are supported.
• Styling with css is supported.
• Events and client side scripting are not supported.
• Maintains state during tools mode reloads.

Valve assures Deadlock players hungry for its next big update that it will notify them, 'or order a ton of pizza', when it's ready

I don't envy Deadlock players who are dying to see the hybrid MOBA-shooter continue to grow in its pseudo-early access state. Valve is notoriously elusive when it comes to communication and has never made any promises to update it on a regular schedule... Read more.

There's a new Deadlock mod that syncs your gameplay with your vibrator. You're welcome, I think

A new Deadlock mod syncs your deaths and kills with your vibrator. Great if you're good or bad at the game, albeit potentially too good. Read the full story on PCGamesN: There's a new Deadlock mod that syncs your gameplay with your vibrator. You're welcome, I think

Minor Update - 08-22-2026

- Radiant Regeneration: Heal on cast reduced from 70 to 65- Restorative Locket: Spirit Resistance reduced from 10% to 8%- Celeste: Dazzling Trick cooldown increased from 32s to 34s- Celeste: Dazzling Trick T2 barrier rescaled from "+80 and +0.7 scaling" to "+70 and +0.76"- Celeste: Dazzling Trick…

Beta Patch Notes - v0.111.0

Time for another beta patch! Heads up that there won't be a patch on the 27th as our team is taking a break in the last week of August.

• Nerfed Tezcatara's Brightest Flame card: max HP loss increased from 1 → 2
• Nerfed Nonupeipe's Beautiful Bracelet relic: now Enchants 4 random cards instead of allowing you to select the cards to Enchant
• Buffed Axebot:
• Hammer Uppercut move damage increased from 12(14) → 14(18)
• Now gains +10 Max HP each time it respawns
• The One-Two damage from 9(10)x2 → 10(11)x2

The Neowsletter - August 2026

Hi Slayers, the August Neowsletter is here! The team has been hard at work on new content but it'll be at least a month until any of it hits the beta branch. We'll be out of office during late August for our annual team break, so there won't be an August 27 patch.

Slay the Spire 2 updates are slowing down again, but a new character and alternate act are next

In its August Slay the Spire 2 Neowsletter, developer Mega Crit reveals it's actively working on another Act Two and the next new character. Read the full story on PCGamesN: Slay the Spire 2 updates are slowing down again, but a new character and alternate act are next

HOI IV | Open Beta SE™ Update 3.03

Generals! Hello, I’m Zwirbaum, Game Designer for Hearts of Iron, and I want to welcome you to yet another Open Beta SE™ (Not really trademarked) Update for Hearts of Iron IV.

• Right-click the game in your library
• Select Properties from the drop-down menu
• Select Game Versions & Betas
• Select the beta branch called open_beta If you are already on the Open Beta client, you should get an update automatically. Finally, to report any issues you…
• Interwar Light, Medium and Heavy Tank Chassis gets -5% Soft, Hard and Air Attack bonus for module additive values.
• Improved and Advanced Light, Medium and Heavy Tank Chassis get respectively +5% and +10% Soft, Hard and Air Attack bonus for module additive values. (5% for…

HOI IV Dev Corner | Inlay Windows & Congress

Hello there! Welcome to the next Dev Corner, where we might present something we’re working on or gauging people’s thoughts on mechanics and other things.

HOI IV Dev Corner | Romania, an Industry Divided

Hello all! In today's Dev Corner, we're diving into the economic crossroads of Romania. Like many nations in the 1930s, Romania was torn between its agrarian foundation and a push for rapid industrialization.