Thief [PC/PS4/One/PS3/360]

[Sweey]

Source: Eidos Montreal hinted that the title for its next "AAA" project after the recently announced Deus Ex 3 will begin with a "T" on its official Web site (check the blurb on the bottom-right of the screen). That led to widespread speculation that the studio would be bringing back another Eidos-owned PC franchise with a cult following, Thief.

What we heard: "T" is for "tease." As in, Eidos Montreal is a horrible tease for toying with true Thief fans' emotions like this.

When one thinks of Eidos franchises beginning with the letter "T," Tomb Raider is probably the first thing that comes to mind. But the next Tomb Raider game--Underworld--has already been unveiled, and is being developed by Crystal Dynamics. Underworld is also far enough out on the release schedule--fourth quarter of 2008--that it seems unlikely Eidos Montreal would already be gearing up for the follow-up.

That leaves Thief as the natural next choice, considering other Eidos-published "T" games like TimeSplitters and Thuderstrike: Operation Phoenix are either owned by other studios, or would be bizarre choices to bring back. Add into this that elsewhere on the Eidos Montreal site the studio says its first two games "will revive successful franchises" and the studio's next project seems certain.

[UPDATE]: This article originally referred to the rumored Eidos Montreal project as Thief 3. Thief: Deadly Shadows was originally titled Thief 3, so this would actually be the fourth proper installment in the Thief franchise. GameSpot regrets the error.

The official story: An Eidos representative said the company had no comment on the matter.

Bogus or not bogus?: Unless Eidos is full of sadists who enjoy dashing their customers' hopes, this one is not bogus.

If there's a God this will not only be true but they'll also ensure they don't fuck it up by copying the freeform style of Assassin's Creed.

We sit in the shadows, waiting.

 

[Jesus]

I heard Thief was good, so that's good news to me.

By the way, did you play Vampire Masquerade Bloodlines? I remember watching my cousin play it and it taking ages to load.

 

[Sweey]

One year on:

What we heard: When Eidos Montreal announced that it was working on Deus Ex 3 in November 2007, many fans of the thought-dead sci-fi series rejoiced. Five months later, the same studio sparked rumors that it was working on a new version of Thief, another classic franchise created by now-defunct Looking Glass Studios and continued by the later-closed Ion Storm.

Now, one year after Eidos Montreal declared that its "AAA project" would begin with the letter "T," the soon-to-be-Japanese-owned British publisher's French-Canadian shop has posted a new teaser banner for the game. On the lower-left of its official site, the studio posted a small black-and-white notice that promises "Eidos Montreal's second project to be revealed soon."

Though no further details--such as a date--are available, the info vacuum was filled by a theory reminscent of The Onion column Fontly Speaking. One diehard fan on the dieharder Through the Looking Glass forums noticed that the font used in the teaser banner (center) is very similar to that used in previous Thief games (bottom).

The official story: Eidos reps have not responded to requests for comment.

Bogus or not bogus?: Though the font is a tenuous link at best, the not-so-subtle hints that the remake-happy Quebecois studio has dropped aren't exactly Garrett-level stealthy. Throw in the fact that Eidos' new corporate master Square Enix name-checked Thief as one of "the world's leading video game properties," and a fourth Thief is looking not bogus.

 

[Sweey]

Release date confirmed as February 25, 2014 in the US and February 28, 2014 in Europe.

Everything we know about the game so far including a couple of E3 videos here: http://www.pcgamesn.com/thief/thief-4-everything-we-know

Today's trailer here along with some slightly rubbish provisional box art: http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/08/16/thief-release-date-announced-with-new-trailer

 

[Sweey]

[MENTION=79096]Jonno394[/MENTION] [MENTION=17788]Dundon's[/MENTION]

Using a 290 Tri-X OC at 1080p with the highest settings I got the following results:

13.12 drivers Min FPS: 47.6, Max FPS: 83.6, Avg FPS: 63
14.3 beta drivers - DirectX Min FPS: 49.5, Max FPS: 83.7, Avg FPS: 63.7
14.3 beta drivers - Mantle Min FPS: 56.9, Max FPS: 93.6, Avg FPS: 69.2

Mantle certainly seems promising.

 

[Dundon's]

Impressive indeed.

Game any good Sweey?

 

[pj_puttz]

One of my brothers got Thief recently and has told me he's not been very impressed with it so far and the generic storyline hasn't gripped him at all.

In saying that he did admit he isn't very far into it and will give it another go so maybe it gets better later on.

I'll post my own thoughts once he loans it to me!

 

[Jonno394]

[MENTION=14866]Sweey[/MENTION] results for Mantle seem good. Is there any reason why I should download the 14.3 Catalyst Beta driver if I don't have any mantle related titles atm?

 

[Sweey]

[MENTION=14866]Sweey[/MENTION] results for Mantle seem good. Is there any reason why I should download the 14.3 Catalyst Beta driver if I don't have any mantle related titles atm?

I stayed on 13.12 until this. There were some complaints that the 14.2 beta reduced performance and compatibility compared with 13.12. Until there's a final version of a 14.x driver released, I wouldn't bother.