Patriot Memory is expanding its portfolio of next-generation storage with the launch of two new, more mainstream PCIe Gen 5 x4 SSDs. The new mid-range Viper PV563 and the entry-level Patriot PA523 join the existing flagship Viper PV593, creating a complete three-tiered lineup of Gen5 drives designed for a broader range of budgets and use cases.

The new Viper PV563 is aimed at users who seek the high speed of PCIe 5.0 without the flagship price tag. It's rated for sequential read speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s and write speeds up to 11,000 MB/s on the 4 TB model. Interestingly, it achieves this using a DRAM-less architecture, relying instead on the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) and dynamic SLC caching.

Serving as the new entry point to Patriot's Gen5 family is the PA523. This drive still offers a significant performance boost over any Gen4 drive, with read speeds of up to 10,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 8,500 MB/s. It features a single-sided M.2 2280 design, making it a perfect fit for thin laptops or SFF builds where space and component clearance are a concern.

Both new drive series will be available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, are backed by a 5-year warranty, and offer solid endurance ratings of up to 3,000 TBW on the largest models. With these new additions, Patriot now has a clear Gen5 product stack for every type of user. The company has not yet announced final pricing or availability, but these new mid-range and entry-level options are expected to bring Gen5 speeds to more accessible price points soon.

KitGuru says: How much would you be willing to spend on an entry-level PCIe 5.0 SSD?

Proving that true classics never die, the developers behind Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition have just announced another DLC for the legendary RTS. More than 26 years after the original game's launch, players will soon be able to take command of one of history's greatest conquerors in a new campaign focused on Alexander the Great.

The new Chronicles saga campaign was revealed in a trailer, showcasing the military victories of Alexander and his Macedonian forces through a blend of antique art and classic gameplay. The update will also introduce three new playable civilisations to the game's already massive roster: the Macedonians, the Thracians, and the Puru, each shown with their own unique architecture. However, none of these will be available in ranked gameplay. Moreover, the DLC is also introducing 16 new units, four new technologies, and 13 new music tracks to complement the 18-scenario-long campaign.

The ongoing support for Age of Empires II is genuinely remarkable. The Definitive Edition, first released in 2019 to commemorate the game's 20th anniversary, has seen a steady stream of new content that surpasses many modern live-service titles. This continued development, which even saw the game successfully ported to consoles like the PS5 earlier this year, has kept the classic RTS thriving for a whole new generation of players.

The “Chronicles: Alexander the Great” DLC is scheduled to launch on October 14th and will be available for all versions of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

KitGuru says: Are you still playing Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition? Will you buy the new Chronicles DLC, even if it's clearly focused on the single-player modes?

When it comes to competitive gaming, every advantage matters and for many, that means getting as light a mouse as possible. Corsair is launching its lightest mouse ever this week with the new Sabre V2 Pro Ultralight, which weighs in at just 36g.

The CORSAIR SABRE V2 PRO Ultralight Wireless Gaming Mouse was constructed from the ground up for top-level competitive FPS gaming. It weighs just 36g to deliver exceptional agility and control in the moments that matter most. A lightning-fast 8000Hz polling rate delivers inputs up to eight times faster than standard gaming mice, ensuring latency-defying responsiveness whether connected wirelessly via 2.4GHz or in wired mode.

At the heart of this mouse is the CORSAIR MARKSMAN S sensor, which delivers up to 33,000 DPI with 99.7% resolution accuracy and tracking up to 750 IPS and 50G acceleration to reliably capture every sweep, twitch, and flick. As this is a wireless mouse, battery life will also be an important factor – the Sabre V2 PRO Ultralight delivers on that front too with up to 70 hours of wireless use.

The CORSAIR SABRE V2 PRO Ultralight Wireless Gaming Mouse will be available starting this month, priced at £89.99.

KitGuru Says: Are you in the market for a new gaming mouse? 

GameMax has unveiled its new flagship chassis, the N90, a dual-chamber case that has a unique combination of premium and retro-tech elements. Building on the success of its N80, the new N90 combines a seamless panoramic glass view with a customisable dot matrix display and even an interchangeable wood top panel.

The N90's most striking feature is its panoramic view, created by a single piece of curved tempered glass that wraps from the front to the side without a corner pillar. This is complemented by a 512-LED dot matrix display on the left side, which can be customised to show system stats or retro-style images. In addition, GameMax also includes two interchangeable magnetic top panels in the box: a standard high-airflow vented panel and a wood-finish panel for a more elegant look.

Inside, the case features a modern dual-chamber layout that conceals the PSU and storage, and it offers native support for the latest back-connect motherboards. This combination enables builders to create a cable-free stage for their components, further enhanced by a dedicated cable management compartment with a hinged lid.

Out of the box, the N90 comes with a full complement of six pre-installed Tornado Series ARGB/PWM fans, adding some extra value to the case. The GameMax N90 will be available in both black and white, with the black model priced at $189.99 and the white variant at $194.99.

KitGuru says: Do you think the new GameMax N90 is worth its asking price?

When I was jumping into Techland's Dying Light: The Beast, it wasn't for the third time since the first title's release in 2015. It was for my very first, and like an amateur parkourer trying to jump across one roof to another for the first time, I was cautiously enthusiastic. Aware that this could go horribly wrong, or be an amazing thrill. Thankfully, after fearing I would suffer the former in my early hours, my time with it leaned closer to the latter thanks to its survival elements and the two tried-and-true pillars of the series. I began to understand […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/dying-light-the-beast/

Following on from last week's massive RTX 5080 upgrade for GeForce Now Ultimate, it is back to business as usual with the weekly game announcements. This week, 13 more titles join the GeForce Now library, including new releases like Dying Light: The Beast. 

Dying Light: The Beast is a new standalone game focused on Kyle Crane, the main protagonist of the original Dying Light. It launches tomorrow on PC and will be available day-one through GeForce Now.  If you plan on playing the game natively on your PC, then you'll also be pleased to know that Nvidia has rolled out new Game Ready drivers with day-one optimisations for the game on GeForce graphics cards.

Here is the full list of games coming to GeForce Now this week:

• Fata Deum – The God Sim (New release on Steam, Sept. 15)
• Town to City (New release on Steam, Sept. 16)
• Goblin Cleanup (New release on Steam, Sept. 18)
• Project Winter (New release on Epic Games Store, Sept. 18)
• Dying Light: The Beast (New release on Steam, Sept. 18, GeForce RTX 5080 ready)
• Warborne Above Ashes (New release on Steam, Sept. 18)
• Jump Space (New release on Steam, Sept. 19)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (Steam, Battle.net, and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
• Field of Glory II: Medieval (Steam)
• Two Point Campus (Steam, Epic Games Store)
• Two Point Museum (Steam, Epic Games Store)

While RTX 5080-powered servers are now available to GeForce Now Ultimate subscribers, not every game has moved over to the RTX 5080 servers. New games that are ‘RTX 5080 ready' this week include Dying Light: The Beast, Monster Hunter Wilds and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

KitGuru Says: Will you be playing any of this week's new games? 

The latest AGON by AOC gaming monitor has arrived. The new AGON PRO AG276QKD2 pushes refresh rates to the limit with a 500Hz QD-OLED panel.

The new AGON PRO AG276QKD2 ships with a 3rd Gen QD-OLED panel, with 2560×1440 resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 500Hz. Assuming you have the graphics card power to achieve such high frame rates, the end result should be super smooth gameplay paired with instant response times.

Unlike previous AGON PRO QD-OLED models that featured DisplayHDR True Black 400, the AG276QKD2 elevates the experience with a DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification. This enhancement delivers a peak brightness of 1000 cd/m² (APL 3%), 515 cd/m² (APL 10%), and 300 cd/m² for a full white screen, representing a significant step up in brightness compared to previous models. The monitor supports 10-bit colour depth and therefore 1.07 billion colours, with exceptional colour coverage of 99.1% DCI-P3 and 98.0% Adobe RGB as well as an sRGB gamut area of 147.6%, making it equally suited for competitive gaming and professional content creation.

For connectivity, the monitor ships with a DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR 20) port, offering up to 80Gbps of bandwidth, so you won't have to make any sacrifices to image quality to achieve the 500Hz refresh rate. The monitor also has dual HDMI 2.1 ports, ensuring compatibility with current-gen consoles, as well as PC.

The AGON PRO AG276QKD2 will be available starting this month, priced around £679 in the UK.

KitGuru Says: If you play a lot of competitive multiplayer games, this monitor should draw your attention. 

Intel is about to go through another major change, as Nvidia has just bought up $5 billion worth of stock. With the investment in hand, Intel will also embark on a new joint-development effort with Nvidia to create multiple generations of custom datacenter and PC products.

The two companies will focus on integrating Nvidia GPU and Intel CPU architectures using NVLink. The end goal will be devices that leverage the strengths of Nvidia's AI accelerated GPU computing with Intel's leading CPU technologies and x86 ecosystem. This will include custom Nvidia x86 CPUs destined to power AI infrastructure. On the PC side of things, Intel will offer x86 SoCs with integrated Nvidia RTX GPU chiplets.

As for Nvidia's massive investment in Intel, the company will acquire $5 billion worth of common stock at a price of $23.28 per share. Speaking on the move, Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang said: “This historic collaboration tightly couples NVIDIA’s AI and accelerated computing stack with Intel’s CPUs and the vast x86 ecosystem — a fusion of two world-class platforms. Together, we will expand our ecosystems and lay the foundation for the next era of computing.”

Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel, said: “We appreciate the confidence Jensen and the NVIDIA team have placed in us with their investment and look forward to the work ahead as we innovate for customers and grow our business.”

There will be a press conference later tonight where both CEOs will answer various questions about the deal, so a few more details should surface this week.

KitGuru Says: This could be particularly interesting for the handheld PC market. Currently, AMD Ryzen Z-series chips power most of the gaming handhelds, with just a few Intel options. An Intel SoC with RTX graphics could change that very quickly.

Sonic may not need a car to get around, but a hedgehog has to rest his feet from time to time, and Sega's mascot has amassed a fairly hearty collection of racing games over the years. While most of these racers have struggled to escape the shadow of a certain mustachioed rival's racing efforts, a few have managed to stand on their own and carve out respectable fanbases. Now, only a few months after the big release of Mario Kart World, the blue guy is also hitting the asphalt again in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Is this one of Sonic's more […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/sonic-racing-crossworlds/

KitGuru first saw the Thermaltake View 390 at CES in January 2025 and we were taken by the curves glass main panel which curves across the top of the case. This gives the 390 its View name and also means you have cooling in the floor, front, side and back but not up top as the roof is solid glass. For this featured build we are using a large pile of Thermaltake hardware which includes a significant amount of ARGB lighting.

Components used in our featured build

• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
• CPU Cooler: Thermaltake MAGFloe 360 Ultra ARGB Sync AIO
• Motherboard: MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
• Memory: 32GB Thermaltake TOUGHRAM XG RGB D5 Memory DDR5 5600MT/s
• Graphics card: Palit RTX 5080 GameRock OC 16GB
• SSD: 1TB Crucial T705 M.2 NVMe
• Case: Thermaltake View 390 Air Future Dusk
• Case fans:
  • 2x Thermaltake CT200 ARGB Sync
  • 5x Thermaltake TOUGHFAN EX 120 ARGB
• Case accessory: Thermaltake 6-inch LCD Screen Kit
• Power supply: Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GT 1200W
• OS: Windows 11

Closing Thoughts

Building a PC inside the Thermaltake View 390 is an easy process as you have heaps of access once you remove the main glass panel from the case. As you will observe in our video and photos, the right hand panel and drive plate cover the mess from the power supply and other cables. This means you have to perform the bare minimum of cable management and simply hide all the nasties out of sight.

We pushed the limits of the Thermaltake View 390 by installing ARGB fans in every location and the visual results are impressive, but we also found something interesting. Installing the Thermaltake MAGFloe 360 Ultra ARGB Sync AIO in the side of the case in exhaust mode effectively separates the airflow for the CPU away from the airflow for the graphics card. This was especially clear when we used smoke to visualise the air flow which you can see in the YouTube video at the top of this page.

KitGuru says:  What do you think of the curved glass on the Thermaltake View 390 and is the new Future Dusk colour to your taste?

Earlier this year, the indie puzzler Blue Prince released to a great deal of attention and a ton of praise, going on to become the second highest rated game of 2025 with a Metacritic score of 92. Despite its relative inaccessibility as a highly complex puzzle game, Blue Prince has now officially surpassed 2 million total players.

In a recent talk discussing the development of Blue Prince, the game’s Art Director Davide Pellino revealed that the universally acclaimed puzzler has been experienced by over 2 million players worldwide since its release back in April.

It is worth noting that 2 million players does not equate to 2 million copies sold, especially as Blue Prince was made available day-one across both Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra.

Still, for a highly niche debut title from a relatively new indie studio, Blue Prince’s success is certainly worth celebrating. It will be interesting to see what the team at Dogubomb plan to work on next.

Blue Prince is a first-person rogue-like puzzler in which you must “navigate through shifting corridors and ever-changing chambers” in an attempt to locate and gain access to the mysterious Room 46.

KitGuru says: Are you one of the 2 million players? What did you think of Blue Prince? Where does it sit on your personal GOTY rankings for 2025 so far? Let us know down below.

Following studio changes, countless delays and more, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is finally almost here, with the game set to arrive on the 21st of October. Ahead of its launch however, fan outcry regarding the game’s DLC choices has led to a degree of backtracking, with the previously DLC-locked clans being made available for all on day-one.

While not quite the all-encompassing RPG that the first game was, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 does feature one of the original game’s biggest aspects: its clan system.

That said, a solid 3rd of the clans were initially planned to be locked behind DLC, with the base game only including 4 of the 6 total clans.

Fortunately, in response to fan feedback, the teams at The Chinese Room / Paradox Interactive have backtracked on this plan, with the latest ‘Overview Trailer’ confirming that the base game will now include all 6 playable clans.

As mentioned, development on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been far from smooth, with the sequel to the 2004 classic starting development around 2015. Initially being worked on by Hardsuit Labs, The Chinese Room was later put onto the project in 2021.

Since then, the game has suffered countless further delays, setbacks and changes. Finally, more than two decades on from the first game, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is almost here.

Though not quite the sequel that some fans were wanting, hopefully the game manages to be a solid experience in its own right. We won’t have to wait long to find out.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2? Will it be able to match the original? Are you glad to see them backtracking on the clan DLC decisions? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Scalebound was an ambitious action-RPG being developed by PlatinumGames – in partnership with Microsoft – in which players would be able to fight with and alongside a dragon companion through Platinum’s signature style of action and spectacle. Unfortunately, the game was cancelled back in 2017 following 4 years in development. Reflecting on this time, ex-PlatinumGames head Hideki Kamiya has once again offered his thoughts on this ill-fated project.

In an interview conducted by the publication VGC, PlatinumGames founder and ex-head Hideki Kamiya spoke on a number of topics including the announcement of Okami 2, his new studio CLOVERS and more.

While looking forwards into the future, Kamiya also reflected on the past, with the director being asked about the ill-fated Scalebound and what could have been had the project been under a different publisher.

In response to the question “Do you think it would’ve gone differently if you had a Japanese publisher for Scalebound?” Kamiya claimed:

“I do think it would’ve been different. I don’t mean that if it had been a Japanese publisher, the game would necessarily have been completed and released, but I imagine the process itself would have played out differently.”

Kamiya expanded on this: “Japanese companies tend to be more open to new challenges, and I think the conversations would have been more positive, like, ‘Okay, so how should we approach this together?’ For me personally, overseas publishers seem to have a much stronger desire to see a finished product as quickly as possible. If it had been a Japanese publisher, I feel they might have given us more leeway.”

That being said, Kamiya made sure to not throw Microsoft under the bus, adding “We’re talking about this specific title as an example; however, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding: the failure of Scalebound was ultimately the responsibility of PlatinumGames, myself as director included. But because I have now experienced working with overseas publishers, I feel that if the opportunity ever comes again, we’ll find a way to take advantage of both sides’ strengths.”

Of course, Microsoft has since amassed a bit of a reputation of cancelling games, with 2025 alone seeing major highly-anticipated first-party titles being unceremoniously killed. That said, for many, Scalebound represents the one that got away.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Scalebound’s cancellation back in the day? Did you have hopes that it could be revived? Which cancelled Xbox game are you most disappointed about? Let us know down below.

Ever since its first entry back in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has vastly expanded its scope with each new title – for better and for worse. With the latest piece of DLC for Assassin’s Creed Shadows available now, the team at Ubisoft have admitted that some of their previous games, in particular AC: Valhalla, became “messy” and was “a monster” of a game.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Claws of Awaji DLC lead Simon Arsenault spoke on the lessons which Ubisoft have learned from previous series entries, claiming:

“If you played [Valhalla] at release, it was good, but the more you waited, all the expansions and free content was piling on. At one point it became a monster game. It was already a monster, but it became a way bigger monster game by the end.”

For the uninitiated, the base game of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla could easily take you well over 100 hours if you wanted to engage in much of the game’s side content. Trying to 100% the title meanwhile could require up to 150 hours – not including any of its DLC.

The base game for Assassin’s Creed Shadows was already much more palatable, with the main campaign taking roughly half as long as Valhalla. It appears as though this idea of limiting bloat has carried through to the game’s DLC, with Arsenault adding:

“For [Claws of Awaji], we had a limited time, even though we got a lot more than we expected at the beginning, but it was limited so we had to focus. And how do you focus? You keep the scope as clear as possible.”

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is still a relatively meaty game, it is encouraging to see that Ubisoft appears to be aware of this fact, and is trying to make the latest entry in this long-running series more palatable. The full interview can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of AC: Shadows’ length? Did it hit the sweet spot? Are you planning to check out the game’s DLC? Let us know down below.

The countdown has been going for quite some time but we are now down to the final days of Win10 and older non-Cloudy Office versions.  If you are running local versions of…

It's been two years since the launch of the AMD AM5 motherboard platform and the 600-series motherboards. Since its launch, the platform has seen the launch of several CPUs in the Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, and Ryzen 9000 families. While the 600-series motherboards provide great features & compatibility with newer Zen 5 CPUs, motherboard makers are always looking to enhance user experiences through the latest technologies, which is why AMD has introduced a new chipset line called the 800-series. The first wave of AMD 800-series motherboards (X870E & X870) hit shelves last year with the Ryzen 9000 series, & these […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/msi-b850mpower-motherboard-review-the-best-am5-matx-for-overclockers/

It was recently claimed that Marvel's Wolverine would be re-revealed soon, likely as part of a State of Play scheduled for later this month. Now, a second source has made the claim that a State of Play is coming. 

The original report from Insider Gaming stated that a State of Play would be taking place in late September. That same report also claimed that Insomniac's long-awaited Wolverine game would be part of the show. However, the rumoured Venom standalone game was delayed and would not be announced.

Now, Nate the Hate (via Insider Gaming), who accurately leaked this month's Nintendo Direct date, has stated that the next State of Play will happen next week. This also lines up with the start of the Tokyo Game Show, Japan's biggest gaming conference. Sony typically has a State of Play around that time.

State of Play is Sony's PlayStation equivalent to a Nintendo Direct, where new games are announced from a mix of first-party and third-party studios.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: In a perfect world, we would be getting an update on the KOTOR remake. 

Microsoft has begun rolling out a major update for its Xbox app on PC and handheld devices, aiming to address the issue of “too many launchers” on a device. The new version introduces an aggregated gaming library, which automatically detects and displays your installed games from multiple storefronts in one convenient place.

According to the announcement, when you install a game from a compatible PC retailer, such as Battle.net, it will now automatically appear in your “My Library” section and your “Most Recent” list within the Xbox app. This allows you to launch all your games from a single interface, regardless of where you bought them. For those who prefer a cleaner look, you can also head into the settings and toggle which storefronts you want the app to display in your library.

Later this month, Microsoft will introduce another significant quality-of-life feature: cross-device play history. A new “Jump back in” list will sync across your console, PC, and handheld devices, letting you quickly resume your last played game, no matter where you left off. The library will also be getting a new “cloud playable” filter to make it easier to see which of your owned games can be streamed on the go.

This is a significant step in Microsoft's goal of making the Xbox app the central hub for PC gaming. Combined with the recently tested “My apps” feature for launching third-party programs, it appears that Microsoft wants its app to be the primary interface you use, especially on controller-driven handheld devices, where navigating multiple apps can be cumbersome.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried the new features on the Xbox PC App?

The first time I used an EasySMX controller, it was the EasySMX X05, which offered tri-mode connectivity, buttery smooth joysticks, and a solid build quality for just $30. The company makes dedicated controllers for consoles as well, and has recently launched the S10 controller for Switch 2. It's the first dedicated Switch 2 controller by the company and design-wise, looks somewhat different from its previous Switch offerings. The EasySMX S10 isn't just made for Switch 2, but can work with a variety of platforms, including PC and mobile devices with iOS and Android OS. This is essential since most controllers […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/easysmx-s10-controller-review/

Last year, Netflix announced its Splinter Cell animated series with a short trailer and no release date. Now, season one is just weeks away, so we have a full trailer and some fresh details about the show.

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch will have 16 episodes in its first season according to IMDB. Considering Netflix's knack for cancelling things, it could end up being the only season, who knows.  Sam Fisher will be voiced by actor Liev Schreiber.

Derek Kolstad was the lead writer and executive producer, but he is best known for creating John Wick. The animation style takes some notable inspiration from Invincible, a breakout hit series on Prime Video.

In its blurb for the series, Netflix says: “In the shadowy world of espionage, Sam Fisher is a rumor and a legend. Pulled back into action, he must help a new recruit unravel a global conspiracy.”

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch will release on October 14th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Will you be watching this when it comes out? 

While Sega was rather quick to release Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 after the success of Yakuza 0, RGG Studio stopped its remakes there, instead opting to focus on new mainline games and spin-offs. Now, it seems that the Kiwami series will be coming back, with fans uncovering evidence that Yakuza Kiwami 3 will soon be announced. 

The Japanese website for the Yakuza series had been updated with mention of Yakuza Kiwami 3. This reference appeared directly through Google search results, indicating that SEO settings have been updated prior to the announcement later this month. The game is most likely to be revealed at the Tokyo Game Show. The leak was quickly spotted and shared by fans across social media.

Yakuza 3 has an odd place in the series. In terms of gameplay, it suffered from some changes that were later kept out of future games. However, it is also cited as being a pivotal story for the Kiryu saga.

If Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a reality, then chances are we will get long-awaited updates for Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5. This would bring the entire six-game set onto even footing. While Yakuza does continue beyond this point, Yakuza 7: Like A Dragon brought in a whole new cast of characters and switched from action-based to turn-based combat. When it came time to announce Yakuza 8, the developers had renamed the series to Like A Dragon.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see the remaining Yakuza games given the Kiwami treatment? 

Back when Dragon Age Inquisition came out, many players found themselves mentally stuck in The Hinterlands, a large open area early in the game with a never-ending banquet of side quests. Bioware ultimately had to put out a PSA to get players to move on. Gearbox may want to consider something similar with Borderlands 4, as the game's Fadefields area is drawing comparisons. 

Borderlands 4 has been out for a few days now. Early on in the game, you explore the Fadefields, a large, somewhat hard to navigate section of the map, filled with side quests and points of interest. As pointed out by PCGamer, those with a mind towards 100% completion will likely spend too much time in this starting zone, and it could come back to bite them later on in the game.

Borderlands 4 has a full endgame system, allowing players to obtain even more power to take on the hardest challenges only available upon completing the campaign. The progression system for endgame comes in the form of Specialisation Points, which are awarded to the player as soon as they finish the final campaign mission. If you save some of the side quests to play after finishing the campaign, you will have an easier time levelling up in the endgame. Beating them all during the campaign will leave you with fewer options for XP farming in the endgame.

I've been playing Borderlands 4 myself and after finishing a very charming side quest that involved rebuilding a missile, I decided to spend several more hours in the Fadefields, but the side quests really do just keep appearing. It seems that you could quite easily spend dozens of hours in this one zone, but doing so would work against you later down the line when you gear up for endgame content. It is something worth keeping in mind for those jumping in for the first time.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you tried Borderlands 4 yet? Have you moved beyond the starting zone? 

Sharkoon has launched a new series of PC cases with a unique design touch aimed at builders who want a more elegant and distinctive look for their setup. The new AK7 ARGB and its smaller sibling, the MK7 ARGB, feature a combination of tempered glass and a stylish fabric covering.

The new cases feature a fabric covering on the exterior, which is positioned below the tempered glass front and side panels. Thermals might be affected, but on the other hand, you get a distinct aesthetic to the typically all-metal interiors. Both the ATX and microATX versions are available in black or white finishes.

The ATX-sized AK7 ARGB comes well-equipped for cooling right out of the box. It includes four 120mm ARGB PWM fans, and in a thoughtful touch for such a case, three of these are reverse-blade models designed for the side intake, ensuring a clean look without the fan's motor hub being visible. For liquid cooling, the case can support up to a 360 mm radiator, with room for a secondary 280 mm radiator as well. As for drives, there's space for two 3.5″ HDDs or four 2.5″ SSDs.

Internally, the AK7 has plenty of room for high-end hardware, with clearance for GPUs up to 410 mm long (a rubberised support bracket is included), PSUs up to 235 mm long, and CPU air coolers up to 170 mm tall. The case also offers full support for back-connect (BTF) motherboards from manufacturers like Asus and MSI, which is a perfect match for its clean, showcase-orientated design.

For those looking to build a more compact system, Sharkoon is also launching the MK7 ARGB, a microATX version that comes with three pre-installed ARGB fans (two are reverse-blade models) and space for three 2.5″ SSDs instead of four. Both the AK7 ARGB and the MK7 ARGB are now available for purchase, priced at €89.90 and €84.90, respectively.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you have a preference for any of the models of the AK7 ARGB and MK7 ARGB case series?