BuildKit Brief — Gaming & Tech — September 21, 2026

Introducing The Way of the Stonefist Bundle and Other New Effects

More cosmetic options have arrived in Path of Exile 2! Shapeshift into a Polar Bear or Snow Leopard, explode your enemies into smithereens with various Grenade effects, and cast a hex on your enemies with the Chaosborn Occult Skills!

Fan Art Competition Runners-Up

Last week, we announced the winners of our Fan Art Competition. Today, we'd like to announce and highlight the runners-up. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated in this competition! Click here to check out the runners-up!

Introducing the Spirit Warden & Seer of the Maji Microtransactions

The Legends of Wraeclast: Spirit Warden Bundle and the Seer of the Maji microtransactions are now available! Commune with sacred Spirits and become their Warden, or channel the ancient rites. Legends of Wraeclast - Spirit Warden Walk with the Spirit. Hear its whispers. Become its vessel.

The Third Path of Exile 1 ExileCon Qualifier Is Going Live!

Will you be the next to join allexpleblord and imexile at ExileCon 2026? Join the third Path of Exile 1 Qualifier for your chance to earn a spot in the finale this November!

The Third Path of Exile 1 ExileCon Qualifier Begins Tomorrow - Earn Twitch Drops

Catch the third ExileCon Path of Exile 1 Qualifier tomorrow at 2 PM PDT on September 17, at Earn the Darkshard Helmet Attachment by watching the official broadcast or any Path of Exile 1 stream for 30 minutes.

Fan Art Competition Runners-Up

Last week, we announced the winners of our Fan Art Competition. Today, we'd like to announce and highlight the runners-up. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated in this competition! Click here to check out the runners-up!

League check: Allflame is live

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

Создатель Counter-Strike объяснил исчезновение классического режима со спасением заложников из-за киберспорта

Соавтор оригинальной Counter-Strike Мин Ли рассказал о причинах постепенного заката классического режима со спасением заложников, который стоял у истоков культовой франшизы.

Counter-Strike 2 Update

Cache Fixed various gaps in map. Fixed a wallbang spot on B site. Added a missing competitive CT spawn point. Added additional T spawn points. Reworked CSPlayerCamera: Renamed it to CustomPlayerCamera. Added GetPlayer, GetMode, SetMode, and SetFollowConfig.

• Fixed various gaps in map.
• Fixed a wallbang spot on B site.
• Added a missing competitive CT spawn point.
• Added additional T spawn points.
• Reworked CSPlayerCamera:
• Renamed it to CustomPlayerCamera.

Minor Update - 09-16-2026

- Unstable Rift comeback resist max values now scale over the course of the game. Previously the max values were 35%.

Valve's nerf-happy new Deadlock update makes it harder to turn games around

Valve has just dropped a new Deadlock update ahead of its anticipated major overhaul, and it's filled with item nerfs and hero balancing. Read the full story on PCGamesN: Valve's nerf-happy new Deadlock update makes it harder to turn games around

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

HOI IV | Patch 1.19.3

Generals! With the weather becoming more gloomy and the summer on its way out, we bring the last “Summer” release. This will be the last patch that specifically targets Thunder at our Gates and brings a few additional pieces of content for the countries that were introduced with it.

• Add a tracking of total participation in a combat to award HQ capture to the most participating country.
• Halved supply usage for light/medium/heavy armored HQ's.
• Added supply usage to motorized army HQ battalions.
• SIA: Removed Production Efficiency Cap from Agrarian Economical Policy.
• SIA: Removed Research Speed and Factory Output from The Army of Siam.
• AST: Stretch the Fleet, Battle of the Ocean, Workers Educational Association and Equal Pay reduced to 35 days.

HOI IV Dev Corner | One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Three if by…Air?

Hi all, and welcome to the next installment of our 2026 Dev Corners. Your feedback on ideas in early development, including my prior ones on army quality and airborne troops, is very helpful to us. I hope I can benefit from your input once more.

• What are the limitations of the current system of air transport wings, and how they deliver airborne troops and supplies?
• How would you feel about not having to control all transport wings manually, and if they were more abstracted at a national level similar to naval convoys, d…
• Would it be interesting for you if there was a more specific, point-to-point connection between two airfields you controlled, that would allow air transport…
• Would using airborne troops Crete-style, to capture and hold an enemy airfield to use as a base of replenishment and remove the vulnerability of operating en…

HOI IV Dev Corner | Industrial Might & Military Production

Generals! Welcome to an additional Dev Corner on Military Production. Hello, I am Zwirbaum, Game Designer for Hearts of Iron, and welcome to this Dev Corner about Industry. This is a follow-up to the Military Production Dev Corner since you had a lot of feedback around it.