We were all shocked to see the director behind Marvel Rivals let go by NetEase weeks after the game's incredibly successful launch. Now, it turns out that the game was almost cancelled, as NetEase bosses were unhappy with the idea of paying licensing fees to use the Marvel characters.
According to sources speaking with Bloomberg, NetEase CEO, William Ding, was against the idea of paying Disney a cut of the game's revenue. In an effort to avoid doing so, he had a team or artists swap in original hero designs to the game, with the idea of pivoting Marvel Rivals into a wholly original IP. That effort ended up costing the company millions of dollars and ultimately led to nothing.
Naturally, this kind of news could sour the relationship between Disney/Marvel and NetEase, so it should come as no surprise that a spokesperson for the company told Bloomberg that it has “enjoyed a close partnership with Marvel since 2017” and denied that the game was being considered for cancellation.
Ultimately, Marvel Rivals did release and by all accounts, has been a huge success, accruing around 40 million players since launch in December. Currently, it is one of the most popular multiplayer games on Steam, regularly appearing in the top ten most-played titles.
KitGuru Says: Given the post-launch success of Marvel Rivals, hearing that the game was almost canned is almost unbelievable to me. There is no doubt in my mind that the game would have turned out like Concord had it pivoted to ‘original hero' characters, rather than utilising the brand power of the Marvel IP.
The post NetEase almost scrapped Marvel Rivals to avoid paying Disney license fees first appeared on KitGuru.Obsidian's latest game, Avowed, has finally launched to positive reception, but the game we ended up with is far from what the studio had originally envisioned. In the early days of Avowed, it was supposed to feature a much larger Skyrim-style world, with multiplayer being the hook.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Avowed director, Carrie Patel, revealed plenty of details about the development of the game. Prior to Patel taking over, Avowed had already been in the works for a couple of years and was even used by Obsidian to pitch itself to potential buyers, like Microsoft. Back then, Avowed was set to be a much larger scale game and was internally referred to as ‘multiplayer Skyrim'.
Obsidian eventually realised that creating Avowed in its originally envisioned form would require far more manpower than they felt comfortable assigning to one project, hampering the studio's small-team, multi-project approach to development that has allowed them to release titles like The Outer Worlds, Grounded, Avowed and soon, The Outer Worlds 2, all in quick succession.
When the game went back to the drawing board in 2021, Patel faced a few challenges stepping into the director role. For a start, she needed new creative leadership and beyond that, she had to create a new vertical slice for the game with a much larger team of 80 developers. Typically, when developing a vertical slice, you would have a much smaller pre-production team, but Patel had to get the ball rolling on the new version of Avowed fast. From there, the open-world and multiplayer elements were scrapped in favour of smaller open-zones, akin to what we saw in The Outer Worlds:
“Normally if you’re stepping back and reevaluating your creative direction, putting together a new vertical slice and revised production plans, you would do that with a very small team”, Patel told Bloomberg. “A lot of lessons we learned as we were building this game, ideally we would’ve learned on a small scale with a true preproduction.”
Now that Avowed is out in the world and new players are experiencing The Living Lands for the first time, Patel is moving on to the idea of expansions and sequels, carrying forward the Pillars of Eternity legacy for a new audience.
KitGuru Says: Have you had the chance to play Avowed yet? What do you make of the game? Would you like to have seen ‘multiplayer Skyrim' realised by Obsidian, or do you like the studio's current approach to smaller, more manageable single-player RPGs?
The post Avowed was originally going to be ‘multiplayer Skyrim’, Obsidian director confirms first appeared on KitGuru.We are still a month away from Assassin's Creed Shadows' intended launch date, but it seems that copies are landing in the hands of gamers well ahead of time. A number of physical copies of the game have seemingly been stolen and sold online, leading to a number of leaks.
On social media, user @DannyStevens_ posted photos of the game's case, install screen and images of the game running, which have since been taken down. The account has also gone private since making the post. The early copy of the game was found on Facebook Marketplace in the US and it wasn't the only early copy being put up for sale a month ahead of launch.
On Reddit, another person with early access to the game shared a number of details. For starters, the version of the game currently on the disc is a very old build, and since we are still a few weeks away from launch, there is no day-one patch available. With that in mind, any early gameplay footage that does the rounds will likely include bugs that won't be seen in the day-one version of the game.
Based on this early version of the game, players will begin as Yasuke, a character that has been at the centre of controversy. After nearly 10 hours of gameplay, it is claimed that the person with this early copy of the game had yet to meet the game's second playable character. Whether or not Ubisoft has changed this to allow players to pick their preferred character from the start of the game still remains to be seen.
Ubisoft is aware that early copies of the game are circulating and is already issuing DMCAs to get marketplace listings and gameplay footage taken down. Assassin's Creed Shadows will officially release on the 20th of March for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
KitGuru Says: Situations like this do occur from time to time. Anyone who was following Kingdom Hearts 3 in the lead-up to launch will remember that copies of the game were similarly stolen and sold online weeks before launch. This time around though, it looks like Ubisoft became aware of the problem before gameplay footage and streams began circulating.
The post Assassin’s Creed Shadows being sold online weeks before launch first appeared on KitGuru.Montech is debuting its quietest AIO cooler yet – the new HyperFlow Silent. This new AIO cooler is designed to deliver peak performance without compromise, all wrapped up in a minimalist aesthetic that does away with ARGB lighting to focus on a clean and professional look.
The HyperFlow Silent aimed to redefine quiet computing by minimising noise to unheard of levels. The pump in this AIO operates at a low 28 dBA, even at high speeds of 3100RPM. Minimising pump noise wasn't the only focus though, Montech has also gone ahead and combined the cooler with new Metal PRO 12 Silent fans, which reduce noise by 23 percent compared to the previous version, all while keeping the durable structure in-tact.
The HyperFlow Silent is designed to handle high-performance CPUs with ease thanks to its advanced 27mm fin stack and high-density thermal channels. The durable structure and dedicated ring tech ensure consistent temperatures during intense gaming or creative tasks. As you have likely noticed from the images above, this cooler also does away with ARGB lighting, instead opting for a swirl pattern on the metal pump interior and a timeless black or white colour variant for a more professional aesthetic. If you ever have an issue with the cooler, it is backed by a six-year warranty, so you can buy with peace of mind that any issues will be covered.
The Montech HyperFlow Silent will be available starting today, priced at $69.99 for the 240mm version and $79.99 for the 360mm version.
KitGuru Says: Are you in the market for a new AIO cooler? Will you be considering the Montech HyperFlow Silent?
The post Montech launches its quietest AIO cooler yet – the HyperFlow Silent first appeared on KitGuru.
Despite running since 2004, it took the Monster Hunter series multiple installments to reach the level of popularity it enjoys today, and that's largely due to the much-improved accessibility. Much like the first entries in FromSoftware's Souls series, the early Monster Hunter games had some obscure mechanics that weren't properly explained in-game and required some experimentation to properly grasp. Since 2018's Monster Hunter World, however, making the series more accessible has become one of the main focuses, an effort that has paid off immensely, as working on making the franchise more accessible to newcomers also addressed some of the series' […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/monster-hunter-wilds-peak-hunting/
iPhone 17 Lineup CAD pic.twitter.com/xednTkpJnq
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) February 23, 2025
Following on from our preview at CES, DeepCool is now launching its new daisy-chainable FL12 series case fans. The new fans combine aesthetically pleasing ARGB lighting effects with high performance airflow at low noise output.
Using an 8-pin cable, the F12 fans can be easily daisy-chained to reduce wire clutter and provide simpler installation for a cleaner and more organised build. The ‘cross' on the backside of most case fans has been removed for the F12R, so you can get uninterrupted ARGB effects whether you are using the fans for intake or exhaust. Each fan is also packed with 36 ARGB LEDs, leading to very smooth transitions and very bright colours.
Below you can find the specifications for each of the FL12 series fans:
FL12 120mm Specifications:
FL12 WH 120mm Specifications:
FL12R 120mm Specifications:
FL12R WH 120mm Specifications:
Prices for these fans start at €21.99 or the FL12 & FL12 WH, going up to €29.99 for the Reverse fan models (FL12R and FL12R WH). The fans are also available in packs of three, priced at €62.99 for the standard FL12, going up to €79.99 for the Reverse fan 3-pack.
KitGuru Says: Are you looking to pick up some new case fans to improve aesthetics and performance? The new FL12 series are worth looking out for.
The post DeepCool launches FL12 Daisy Chain fans packed with 36 ARGB LEDs first appeared on KitGuru.Intel has launched a dedicated webpage showcasing its Intel 18A (1.8nm-class) fabrication process. While launching a website solely for a manufacturing process might seem unusual, especially since it primarily reiterates previously announced milestones, it's a strategic move for a company facing intense scrutiny from many sources, including investors, industry observers, customers, competitors, and even governments.
Intel's 18A process is a milestone for the company. It's their first commercial process to utilise gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and a backside power delivery network called PowerVia. These features might help it stand out from its closest competitor, TSMC's N2 node. Moreover, 18A marks Intel's first leading-edge process to embrace industry-standard EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools and third-party IPs, making it accessible to external customers through Intel Foundry Services. The company has high hopes for this process, viewing it as a testament to its ability to deliver cutting-edge manufacturing technology.
The Intel 18A website emphasises the collaborative nature of the process, highlighting its compatibility with industry-standardised tools, IP developers, chip designers and cloud-based design providers. Intel also underscores the process's strategic importance by highlighting its selection by the US military and government for various applications. However, with Intel's first 18A product (Panther Lake processors) not expected until mid-2025 and the first tape-ins of third-party 18A designs slated for even later, it's still too soon to know specifics on third-party adoption.
This proactive approach to communication marks a shift from Intel's past practices. In the days when Intel's manufacturing prowess was unchallenged, information about next-generation processes was typically revealed alongside actual product releases. While those announcements, which included deep dives into new materials and transistor architectures, were exciting for tech enthusiasts, the current landscape demands a different strategy. Whether it will work out or not, we should find out later this year.
KitGuru says: With many doubting Intel's ability to reclaim its process technology lead from TSMC, the company aims to dispel scepticism and rebuild confidence. The 18A website is a platform to showcase their technological advancements and attract potential foundry customers, showing them they're back at the forefront of semiconductor manufacturing.
The post Intel 18A process node detailed first appeared on KitGuru.Over two decades after its initial release, Neverwinter Nights has received a new expansion named Doom of Icewind Dale. This unexpected addition breathes new life into the classic BioWare title, offering fans a chance to revisit the world of Neverwinter.
Initially launched in 2002, Neverwinter Nights garnered critical acclaim and spawned two expansions and a sequel, Neverwinter Nights 2, which Obsidian Entertainment developed. Both games are considered landmark titles in the realm of Dungeons & Dragons video game adaptations, with the original often cited as one of BioWare's finest creations.
Doom of Icewind Dale picks up where the original campaign left off, offering players a 10-15+ hour journey through the frigid landscapes of Icewind Dale. The expansion introduces 14 new areas to explore, five new companions to recruit, 14 new monsters to battle, and a host of new music to enhance the atmosphere. It's a welcome return to a beloved world, offering nostalgia and fresh content for veteran players and newcomers alike.
Developed by Neverwinter Nights community founder Luke “Alazander” Scull, Doom of Icewind Dale is a passion project that captures the essence of the original Dungeons & Dragons experience. Priced at $9.99 (with a 10% launch discount on Steam until February 28th), it's a worthy investment for fans of the original game. Scull has even hinted at future instalments, with Doom of Icewind Dale serving as the first chapter in a new campaign called The Blades of Netheril. The following DLCs, however, don't have a release date yet.
KitGuru says: The release of Baldur's Gate 3 has reignited interest in D&D video game adaptations, and rumours of an Enhanced Edition of 2006's Neverwinter Nights 2 have further fuelled anticipation. Whether those rumours materialise remains to be seen. Still, one thing is certain: the world of D&D is experiencing a renaissance in the digital realm, offering a wealth of adventures for new and veteran players.
The post Neverwinter Nights gets a new expansion 23 years after release first appeared on KitGuru.With the release of the 5000 series graphics cards from Nvidia, comes the release of new prebuilt gaming desktops, and today we assess the Cortex Pro from PCSpecialist. It features an RTX 5080 graphics card alongside a Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, 32GB of Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 memory running at 6000MT/s, and a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro M.2 SSD – a spec list that puts it on the cutting edge of gaming technology. With a price tag of £2699 though, it raises the question, is it worth it? That’s the question we're aiming to answer today.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:59 Overview
01:28 Mat's current PC (compare system)
01:54 PCS system Specs / Price
02:26 ASUS RTX5080 Tuf OC Edition
03:25 Memory / Storage / Mobo
05:15 PSU / Cooler / Fans / Case
07:01 Build quality / cable management
07:44 The 2 system test comparisons
07:58 Counter Strike 2 (1440p)
08:26 Hogwarts Legacy (1440p)
08:57 Sniper Elite Resistance (1440p)
09:34 Forza Horizon 5 (4k)
10:20 A Plague Tale Requiem (4k)
11:10 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (4k)
11:55 Cyberpunk 2077 (DLSS / FSR / Frame Gen / RT)
13:12 Hellblade 2 (4k)
13:51 Gaming Performance thoughts
14:32 Synthetic benchmarks
14:58 Cinebench R23 Multi Core
15:13 Cinebench R23 Single Core
15:28 3DMark Timespy
15:45 Total System Power
16:14 System Noise
16:43 Thermal Imaging
18:35 Closing Thoughts
Specifications:
– MODULAR 80 PLUS GOLD, ULTRA QUIETThe core specs are confirmed in the following CPUZ and GPUZ screenshots
Gaming performance is impressive on the Cortex Pro desktop. The combination of RTX 5080 GPU and 9800X3D CPU enable smooth and fast gameplay in all titles tested. For full details and comparison to a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and AMD Radeon 7900XTX based system, head over to our YouTube channel to watch the full review.
Screenshots from Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Cyberpunk 2077, Senua's Saga: Hellblade and Hogwarts Legacy are below.
Synthetic testing resulted in the Cortex Pro comfortably beating that comparison Ryzen 7 7800X3D and AMD Radeon 7900XTX based system, as we would expect to see. Total system power draw was a particular highlight and showcases the efficiency of the newer technology found in the Cortex Pro.
Click to enlarge
You can buy the Cortex Pro Desktop from PCSpecialist for £2699 HERE.
Pros:
Cons:
KitGuru says: The Cortex Pro is undoubtedly a very powerful gaming machine featuring one of the latest graphics cards from Nvidia. The high price tag will certainly put it out of reach for many, but if you can afford it, it's a well built gaming powerhouse.
The post PCSpecialist Cortex Pro Prebuilt Desktop Review first appeared on KitGuru.
The plot thickens regarding the GeForce RTX 50 series ROP issue. While Nvidia initially confirmed that a limited number of RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs were affected by a production defect resulting in fewer active ROPs (Render Output Units), new evidence suggests the problem might be more widespread.
A Reddit user named gingeraffe90 has reported that their RTX 5080 Founders Edition card also exhibits this issue, showing only 104 ROPs instead of the expected 112, according to GPU-Z, the same diagnostic tool that initially brought the problem to light. This raises concerns about the extent of the defect and the number of cards potentially affected.
To confirm the validity of the Reddit user's findings, VideoCardz contacted the poster for GPU-Z validation. The validation confirms that the reported ROP count is accurate, even after the user has reinstalled drivers. This leaves little doubt that the RTX 5080 is indeed affected by the same ROP defect. The issue now appears to extend beyond the initially reported RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti models, raising questions about the scope of the problem.
In related news, another Reddit user (Der_Zeitgeist) posted a GPU-Z screenshot of its newly acquired MSI RTX 5070Ti Gaming Trio OC card. Instead of the advertised 96 ROPs, this particular card had only 88. The user ran several benchmarks to assess the performance impact, comparing their results to reference values. According to the data shared on the ComputerBase forum, the affected 5070 Ti showed a performance deficit of 12% in 3DMark Time Spy, 3% in Steel Nomad, and 9% in Speed Way compared to a card with the correct number of ROPs. While these are synthetic benchmarks, and real-world gaming performance may vary, they demonstrate the impact of the missing ROPs.
So far, Nvidia's response has been less than ideal for those impacted. Nvidia has asked affected customers to seek replacements from the board partner that produced their graphics card. However, supply of these graphics cards aren't exactly in abundance, which can lead to difficulties in getting a replacement in a timely manner. With that in mind, a more proactive approach from Nvidia, like a recall of the impacted GPUs, might be more appropriate.
KitGuru says: Your chance of finding one of these GPUs in stock is already low, but now a portion of the few that managed to get one are finding that their GPUs are defective, leading to a messy situation we rarely see around GPU launches nowadays.
The post First Nvidia RTX 5080 card with missing ROPs found first appeared on KitGuru.Prior to the official unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 last month, I postulated on the strategies and movements which I believed the company should utilise in order to ensure their upcoming sequel console is just as if not even more successful than the 150+ million seller OG Switch from back in 2017. One of the most pivotal points in my opinion was the necessity for the Switch 2 to feature some sort of weird gimmick. Sure enough, cut to Nintendo’s – admittedly short – reveal trailer and we got our first taste for what the company is cooking. While not outwardly stated, the teaser showed off what many believed to be a sort of hybrid mouse mode, taking the previous Switch’s split Joy-Con mode and reinventing it further into what I believe could be one of the most transformative ‘gimmicks’ the company has come up with over the decades. Whether it will resonate with 10s of millions is yet to be seen, but in my opinion, this new mouse mode might just be exactly what I’ve dreamed of for many years now.
Growing up as a console player, I of course spent years completing all my games using a dedicated controller – be it a 3rd-person action-adventure title; a strategy puzzler or a first-person shooter. Using controllers just felt more natural to me. And so, when I switched over to PC gaming, my muscle memory from years of gamepad usage left me struggling with a majority of titles.
Can I play games using a mouse and keyboard? Of course, but it is far from my preferred method of control. While there is no denying that using a mouse and keyboard does have its own unique set of benefits, it also comes with a great deal of downsides. Unlike a traditional gamepad/controller, mouse and keyboard as a method of input is highly unoptimal.
First, on the keyboard front, having 100+ keys laid out in these equally-spaced and homogenised rows is far from utilitarian, with one needing to look no further than the WASD keys’ to identify the fact that keyboards were created and formatted for writing and navigation – with games then having to work around this in order to try and find a comfortable layout of usable keys.
Forget RSI from continuous use of a mouse, my entire left hand needs to be contorted and stretched in unnatural positions for possibly hours at a time in order to perform movements as simple as sprinting or sliding. Keyboards were not designed for this type of continuous multi-finger hyper-tapping. The invention of sticky keys and the doubling up of CTRL/Shift/Alt keys on both sides of the keyboard serve enough proof of this fact.
That’s not to say that over the decades PC games haven’t adapted to this system, with a majority of titles using similar layouts in order to make the overall experience more familiar from game-to-game – but to say that keyboards are a better designed product for playing video games is objectively false.
Of course, for some, a controller can feel like holding an alien remote, and I would never besmirch you for your personal proclivities when it comes to your preferred input method. However, for me, using a keyboard for gaming just doesn’t sit right with me.
The humble mouse on the other hand offers a much more compelling argument for its use when compared to controllers – leading me on a years long search for the perfect hybrid between the two types of peripherals.
This search sent me down a long and arduous path which ultimately ended in disappointment. One of the first methods I attempted was to hold a controller in my left hand and a mouse in my right. While this could be the best of both worlds in theory, the uneven weight of the full controller in my left hand did not make for a comfortable experience in the long-term.
Even if it did, only a handful of titles offer the ability to dynamically switch between the two peripherals – with even fewer allowing for simultaneous usage – and so I had to keep looking.
Next, I tried more gaming-focused keyboards such as the Razer Tartarus: a gamepad which purported to offer the control of a mouse and keyboard while removing all the dozens of unnecessary keys. While certainly an improvement, the keypad’s attempt at an analogue stick for movement left plenty to be desired, functioning more so as a multi-directional d-pad with a couple bonus inputs.
While I respect the peripheral and what it is attempting to do, for my purposes it fell just a bit short. Then came the Nintendo Switch.
Thanks to its hybrid nature and the invention of Joy-Cons, the OG switch in TV mode allowed for one of the first instances of split controller usage, letting you freely use one Joy-Con in each hand. While primarily a function of comfort, the potential for such a feature was notable, and while Nintendo themselves did little with it, I was hoping to see its implementation spread to other manufacturers.
Sure, we did get some controllers which could be split into two, but the concept wasn’t taken any further than this.
Cut to 2025 and the Switch 2 was officially announced. During the brief hardware tease, Nintendo showed off the refreshed Joy-Cons racing around a flat surface on their side.
Shortly thereafter, patents published by Nintendo were discovered, confirming the Switch 2’s new mouse mode – allowing you to control a character’s movement and more in the traditional way, while simultaneously turning the right Joy-Con into an optical mouse for added precision when aiming.
This alone would solve the issue I’ve been struggling with, however according to the patents, this new feature can go even further with the R1/R2 buttons serving as left and right mouse clicks while still giving you the option to use the right analogue whenever you wish; similar to using both a thumbstick and gyro aiming at the same time but with even greater precision.
Assuming this works as intended (and is as seamless as the last-gen split Joy-Con mode), Nintendo might very well have created the exact control method which I’ve been searching for. It’s just a shame that such a control scheme will be limited to the Switch 2 itself.
Until now I’ve failed to mention one of my biggest grievances with mouse and keyboard controls – that being the lack of any haptic feedback. While in no way necessary (and somewhat alleviated by a good set of headphones) the added tactility and response felt by tight haptic feedback when shooting, jumping or performing any other action – especially on the likes of the PS5’s DualSense controller – makes for an infinitely more satisfying experience in moment-to-moment gameplay.
Now I understand why you wouldn’t want to have your keyboard and mouse buzzing about with each button press (and peripherals which have tried to approximate this have struggled in the past), but with what will presumably be an upgraded form of their HD-Rumble included with these new Joy-Cons, I once again may be able to have the best of both worlds in this regard; offering tight yet prevalent haptics while still offering the many benefits of using a mouse.
You never know, the likely success of the Switch 2 could see PC accessory manufacturers revisit the concept, now that more game studios are likely to be conscious of implementing support for simultaneous multi-connectivity (and the fact that advanced haptics are more – well advanced – and cheaper to boot).
As mentioned, I previously wrote a KitGuru Games piece ahead of the official unveiling of the Switch 2, in which I discussed – among other things – what weird gimmick I would like to see Nintendo try out for the upcoming console. The two main off-the-dome ideas which I proposed was to see the return of glasses-free 3D screens / pressure sensitive screens.
I knew neither of these were going to happen (especially as they would only work with the Switch 2 in handheld mode), and while I would still totally love to see Nintendo give its 3DS gimmick another go at some point, I can’t deny that this mouse mode has me extremely intrigued and enticed.
Why did the console maker opt for this as their primary new gimmick? I honestly don’t know. It seems a bit too niche when compared to the company’s other grand swings which they’ve taken with previous systems. That being said, I could see a couple first-party Nintendo titles (such as Metroid 4) make use of this in a similar way to that of motion aiming – not for everyone, but a nice optional quality-of-life addition which will be welcomed by some.
So, while I don’t think this mouse mode will revolutionise the way games are designed, I do hope it sets a precedent for more developers to add dynamic controller support – and in tow see more hardware makers create hybrid controllers; ultimately creating a new loop of invention and reinvention which could very well eventually evolve the way we physically play games.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Nintendo Switch 2’s new mouse mode? Could it be revolutionary if widely adopted? What’s your favourite new Switch 2 feature? Let us know your thoughts down below.
The post KitGuru Games: Switch 2’s Mouse Mode could Revolutionise Game Control first appeared on KitGuru.2017’s NieR: Automata was a beautiful, evocative and highly fun game which introduced millions to the unique and bleak world of NieR. 8 years following its release (and 15 years since the first game), Square Enix has announced that they will be hosting an anniversary livestream this April.
Well in advance of its actual stream date, an upcoming livestream celebrating NieR’s 15th anniversary has been penned for the 19th of April, with the team writing (as translated by ResetEra user ‘Super’):
“This is a live broadcast of the ‘NieR’ series, which will celebrate its 15th anniversary in April 2025. We will deliver the latest information on events and merchandise planned to be held in commemoration of the 15th anniversary, along with talks from developers. We also plan to have a mini live performance during the program. We hope you enjoy it. The program is scheduled to last about 2 hours and 30 minutes.”
Despite first arriving 15 years ago, the series has so far only seen two mainline entries – those being the original NieR Replicant/Gestalt and the aforementioned Automata (as well as the mobile-only ‘Re[in]carnation'). That said, Automata in particular was huge for the series, alone having sold over 9 million copies.
Considering the fact that we’ve seen neither hide nor hair regarding a sequel, do not go into this livestream expecting an official announcement. More likely the stream will focus on interviews, panel discussions, answering questions and the like – with some new merch announcements or something on top.
That said, with Automata selling almost 10 million units pretty much as its own new IP (with very little carryover from the original NieR), it would make sense now more than ever for Square Enix and director Yoko Taro to finally announce a new title. We will have to wait and see.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the livestream? What do you expect to be announced? Will we ever get a NieR 3? Let us know down below.
The post Square Enix announces 15th anniversary NieR livestream first appeared on KitGuru.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is one of the biggest Microsoft-published games set to release in 2025, with the id Software developed FPS once again seemingly reinventing what it means to be a DOOM game. Ahead of its 15th of May debut, the team have shared a ton of new details on what separates The Dark Ages from its predecessors.
In an interview conducted by EDGE Magazine (and collated by ResetEra user Rychu), the team at id Software offered a bunch of new details on DOOM: The Dark Ages’ many mechanics.
Regarding the new shield, the team confirmed that it can be thrown “in the style of Captain America” as well as functioning as a block of course. Beyond this, in a nice bit of attention to detail, when thrown, the shield will react differently depending on the surface – or enemy – it hits. Lastly, taking inspiration from God of War’s Leviathan Axe, the Shield in DOOM will be used for puzzles and exploration.
In terms of melee options, players will have 3 different weapons to choose from: The Gauntlet; Flail and Mace – all of which function differently and have their own benefits/drawbacks.
When it comes to level design, id Software have gone big with The Dark Ages, claiming it to feature the largest spaces in the franchise, serving more as sandboxes as opposed to linear paths. Interestingly, we actually got a description for how long each level will be, with these sandbox levels taking around 1 hour to complete if taking the main path (which can of course be lengthened through further exploration).
That said, the levels aren’t just giant squares, with the team confirming that they will be split into acts – with some starting off more linear only to then open up later on.
Further details on many of DOOM: The Dark Ages’ mechanics and features can be found HERE. Given the overwhelming success of 2016’s DOOM, it is both interesting and somewhat refreshing to see the team at id Software continue to evolve and add on to the DOOM formula in new and interesting ways. Hopefully the game resonates with long-time fans.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to DOOM: The Dark Ages? Which of the most recent titles had the best gameplay loop? Has the DOOM series innovated too much when it comes to this recent trilogy? Let us know down below.
The post A ton of new DOOM: The Dark Ages details have been revealed first appeared on KitGuru.2025 is a busy year for Obsidian Entertainment, with the Microsoft-owned studio having just released their fantasy RPG Avowed – and The Outer Worlds 2 coming up later this year. Despite having quite a lot on their plate, the creative director for Avowed is hoping to support the series for years to come with expansions or even a sequel.
In an interview conducted by Bloomberg (paywalled), creative director ‘Carrie Patel’ spoke on the future of this series, saying:
“Now that we've built this wonderful world, and also built this team strength and muscle memory around the content and gameplay in this world, I'd love to see us do more with it.”
Avowed has seen a pretty positive reception from both critics and fans alike, with some of the main complaints being the world’s relative lack of reactivity in particular when it comes to the NPCs and some of its writing.
Both of these issues could easily be overcome with a sequel or even expansions, and so with Avowed having a solid core, it would make sense for Obsidian Entertainment to build upon it – assuming Microsoft are happy with the game’s sales/performance of course.
KitGuru says: Have you been playing Avowed? What do you think so far? Would you want to see an expansion/sequel released at some point? Let us know down below.
The post Avowed creative director hopes to work on a sequel/expansion next first appeared on KitGuru.Back in late 2022, it was officially announced that a film adaptation based on the popular indie fighter/brawler SIFU was in development, being headed by the creator of the John Wick franchise. While we’ve heard little in the way of new information since, a new report has confirmed that SIFU will be distributed by Netflix – alongside additional details.
As reported by Deadline, Netflix has joined the film production of SIFU, serving as the funding machine/distributor for the adaptation. Interestingly, the set-up for its production has changed slightly since the initial announcement, with Derek Kolstad no longer helming the script – instead seeing T.S. Nowlin take charge of the writing.
For the uninitiated, Kolstad is the creator of the John Wick franchise and served as the writer for all 3 entries in the franchise. Nowlin on the other hand has a slightly less reputable past, having written the screenplays for the Maze Runner series as well as Pacific Rim Uprising.
That said, much of the team behind John Wick remains involved in SIFU, with series director Chad Stahelski and his company 87Eleven joining Story Kitchen as producers.
SIFU is known for its impactful and flashy combat, and so to have someone familiar with the genre working on the adaptation is encouraging (even if it is no longer Kolstad himself). It will be interesting to see whether SIFU’s more mystical elements (such as the game’s aging mechanic) will make it into the film. If nothing else, at least the action will hopefully look cool.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the recent updates for SIFU’s film adaptation? Are you disappointed by the change in writer? What is the most important aspect of this adaptation in your eyes? Let us know down below.
The post SIFU film adaptation is no longer being written by the John Wick creator first appeared on KitGuru.
AceZone may not be among the most popular gaming headset brands, but it has been making a name for itself for some time by producing headsets for eSports tournaments, focusing on features tailored for this specific use case. In the past few years, however, the company entered the domestic headset market with some headsets, including the A-Spire and the A-Rise headsets, which brought some of these features, such as excellent noise canceling with Active Noise Control built for gaming, fast in-game response and more. The A-Spire model was later updated with some additional features, becoming the AceZone A-Spire Wireless, which […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/acezone-a-spire-wireless-for-the-most-demanding/
Apple's backend has revealed that the next 3rd party iOS-AI integration will be Google Gemini pic.twitter.com/0rIuJhT5Lj
— Aaron (@aaronp613) February 21, 2025
Here's a first look at how cases might look on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/HzCGkRBIQv
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) February 23, 2025
We had a podcast. Routine. We talked about NVIDIA for the first 20 plus minutes straight. Routine.
But also on the menu is next gen Intel GPUs, Windows 11 mods, and all…
G.Skill is raising the bar for server and workstation performance with its latest release: an enhanced version of DDR5 R-DIMM memory sticks. Built to the recently announced JEDEC specifications, these new memory sticks will feature a 16-layer PCB for improved signal integrity and incorporate robust voltage protection for enhanced reliability and stability.
A key upgrade in these new DDR5 R-DIMM modules is the implementation of a 16-layer PCB, a significant advancement over previous 8- or 10-layer designs. This increased layer count enhances signal integrity, resulting in more reliable and stable data transfer, even under demanding high-performance or overclocked conditions. This makes G.Skill's new DDR5 R-DIMM an ideal solution for high-performance computing applications in server and workstation environments.
Moreover, each module incorporates two bidirectional transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes and a fuse to improve reliability, providing dual-layer protection against unexpected power fluctuations. This design safeguards the memory from voltage spikes, ensuring maximum stability and dependability for mission-critical workloads and next-generation high-performance computing systems.
These new DDR5 R-DIMM memory kits are expected to be available starting in mid-2025.
KitGuru says: If you plan on building a new server or workstation later this year, will you consider using G.Skill's upcoming enhanced R-DIMMs?
The post G.Skill will soon launch new R-DIMM memory with 16-layer PCB and voltage protection first appeared on KitGuru.In recent weeks, a few RTX 50 graphics card buyers have encountered some issues. This time, we aren't talking about burning connectors, but a different kind of fault. It turns out, a small number of RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards were shipped with GPUs featuring fewer ROPs than advertised on the official spec sheet.
According to Nvidia, the problem stems from a factory defect affecting a small number of GPUs, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5090D, and the recently released RTX 5070 Ti. These defective GPUs were shipped to board partners, meaning cards from various manufacturers could be affected. The defect, which results in a reduced number of ROPs (Render Output Units) being enabled, can lead to a performance decrease of up to 4%, as confirmed by TechPowerUp's investigation.
Nvidia's statement was the following:
“We have identified a rare issue affecting less than 0.5% (half a percent) of GeForce RTX 5090 / 5090D and 5070 Ti GPUs which have one fewer ROP than specified. The average graphical performance impact is 4%, with no impact on AI and Compute workloads. Affected consumers can contact the board manufacturer for a replacement. The production anomaly has been corrected.”
While Nvidia claims that only 0.5% of GPUs are affected, this still translates to many potentially defective cards already in consumers' hands. What's particularly concerning is that Nvidia seemingly knew about this issue for some time but failed to disclose it before the launch of the affected cards.
The company's statement offers little guidance for affected customers, simply advising them to seek a replacement from their board partner. However, securing a replacement could be tough given the ongoing supply challenges, particularly for the high-end 5090 series. A prompt recall of the affected cards would be a more appropriate course of action.
KitGuru says: This statement casts a further shadow over the RTX 50 series launch, which has been marred by underwhelming performance gains, inflated pricing, and now, production defects.
The post Nvidia admits that a small batch of RTX 5090(D) and RTX 5070 Ti were shipped with fewer ROPs first appeared on KitGuru.We were expecting to learn all about AMD's upcoming RX 9070 GPUs at CES in January but a last minute change of plans has led to weeks of speculation. Now, just ahead of the planned late-February reveal, details about these GPUs, the reference designs and more have surfaces.
Hardware leaker Hoang Anh Phu (via VideoCardz) initially shared details confirming clock speeds and total board power (TBP) values, although the post was quickly deleted. According to the deleted post, the Radeon RX 9070 XT is set to boast a boost clock of 2,970MHz and a TBP of 304W, while the non-XT RX 9070 will feature a boost clock of 2,520MHz and a TBP of 220W. The leaks also confirm support for PCIe 5.0 x16, meaning the GeForce RTX 50 series will no longer be the only consumer GPUs supporting this PCIe standard.
Adding to the excitement, a leaked 3DMark benchmark (via @GawroskiT) has surfaced, showcasing the RX 9070 XT's potential performance. While there's some speculation about the benchmark's authenticity, with suggestions that pre-release drivers might be masked as a Radeon RX 7800 XT, the results are impressive nonetheless. The leaked benchmark shows the RX 9070 XT achieving a score of 7979, putting it on par with the RX 7900 XTX, surpassing both the 7900 XT and 7900 GRE, and exceeding the 7800 XT by over 50%.
In addition, AMD has confirmed (on X) that the dual-slot reference design it previously showcased in marketing materials will not be available for purchase. This departs from AMD's usual practice of offering reference cards alongside partner models. While some might be disappointed by the lack of a reference design, this could benefit consumers. In the past, AMD has prioritised the production of its reference cards, often limiting the availability of GPUs for AIB partners at launch. This time, AIBs will be solely responsible for the RX 9070 series launch, potentially leading to greater variety and availability of custom designs.
KitGuru says: What kind of performance do you expect from the Radeon RX 9070 series?
The post AMD Radeon RX 9070 details leak ahead of full reveal first appeared on KitGuru.
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