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WB Games has lost over $400 million on gaming projects in recent years. We already know that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League led to a $200 million loss, but it turns out WB has lost a further $200 million on Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, MultiVersus and an upcoming Wonder Woman game. There is at least a little hope for fans though, as Rocksteady has reportedly been tasked with developing a new single-player Batman game. 

The Batman Arkham series propelled Rocksteady Studios into the spotlight during the late 2000s and 2010s. Unfortunately, a desire to chase trends amongst WB bosses led to Rocksteady ditching its single-player approach for its latest game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Fans expressed concerns about this long before the game released, but nonetheless, the title was pushed through to release and was ultimately an embarrassing failure both critically and commercially.

Rocksteady may be able to earn its reputation back though. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Rocksteady is now working on a new single-player Batman game. However, it is still early days, and the game is said to be “years away” from seeing the light of day – much like Monolith Productions upcoming Wonder Woman game, which was recently rebooted after reportedly burning through $100 million.

While a new single-player Batman game from Rocksteady would almost assuredly be a hit, the amount of money WB Games has lost, and the lack of promising titles hitting the market over the next couple of years, it is unclear if WB executives will be willing to continue investing in these projects for what could end up being a five+ year development cycle, which is the rough average for modern AAA single-player games.

KitGuru Says: I do hope that Rocksteady survives the turmoil going on at WB Games. Unfortunately, due to the amount of money lost at this stage, we have to consider the possibility that it is already too late. 

We observe evidence around ASUS’ Q-Release PCIe slot causing scratches on video cards

The Highlights

• The ASUS Q-Release PCIe slot was designed to feature a buttonless design that is supposed to make removing video cards from motherboards easier
• ASUS’ Q-Release Slim mechanism appears to be causing damage to the GPU’s PCIe-connector
• The damage is hard to notice until around 60 or so re-installations

Table of Contents

• AutoTOC

Intro

The below is a research report that we wrote originally for internal use. The ASUS Q-Release PCIe slot has been in the news lately for potentially scratching the PCIe slot of video cards. ASUS published a statement about the Q-Release slot and got our attention. We found the fact that it was publishing a statement seemingly randomly to be odd, so we looked into what prompted it.

This report is what we wrote to determine if the Q-Release PCIe story deserved a full video or not. We pulled facts together and determined it wasn’t worth pursuing as a standalone video (as it simply didn’t seem to be a major issue), but thought it was worth running as a news story and published this report for two reasons: (1) The public might benefit from it, for anyone who has similar questions, and (2) it may become a bigger story in the future, so having our research publicly preserved will help if that’s the case. The big question will be if ASUS rejects warranties related to this, such as if the Q-Release slot damages the gold pins on a video card at any point.

Credits

Writing

Steve Burke
Tannen Williams

Web Editing

Jimmy Thang

Below follows the research write-up to recap the topic as it stands today.

Research

Uniko’s Hardware Article & Testing Video: 

Uniko’s Hardware uploaded a video plugging and unplugging an ASUS PRIME RTX 4060 Ti OC 8GB into a ROG STRIX X870-A GAMING WIFI 60 times. These are the before and after results:

Uniko’s Hardware reports: “After the 60th time, the graphics card still works normally without any faults. After the 60th time, the right corner of the PEG power supply part of the PCB (corresponding to the metal spring in the ASUS special slot) is slightly worn, showing white spots, and the inner side shows black spots.”

This was the result after 3 installs/removals. It may be difficult to recognize, but it seems every single plug/unplug cycle may cause extremely minor cosmetic damage to the inside corner of the PEG power supply, which normally isn’t apparent until around 60 or so removals.

Uniko’s Hardware wasn’t extra careful when unplugging the card, but they did seem to mostly follow ASUS’ guidelines for unplugging the card, however they might not have exaggerated the “slight tilt” as much as ASUS would have preferred.

Source: https://unikoshardware.com/2025/01/test-asus-pcie-q-release-slim.html and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TdYEknfHgM&t=83s

ASUS’ Press Release Statement

ASUS posted a press release on January 31st that included detailed instructions on how to use the Q-release Slim mechanism, along with these illustrations.

ASUS stated:

“In our internal testing and evaluation of the extremely small number of cases reported we found no damage to the motherboard or graphics card that would affect functionality or performance. However, it is important to emphasize that any type of PCIe add-in card will exhibit signs of usage and wear marking after 60 continuous insertions and removals.”

In the questions section of their webpage, ASUS asked itself “Is ASUS working on design revision/change?” ASUS replied, “If the graphics card is inserted and removed following the manufacturer's recommended installation methods, there should be no issues.” 

ASUS noted, likely in response to the Uniko’s Hardware test video, “60 insertions with incorrect methods caused additional wear, making usage marks more apparent. Incorrect angles and excessive force can cause further scratches but do not affect the functionality of the graphics card or motherboard.”

ASUS noted there were no reported issues on the original Q-Release (non-slim) mechanism, making it seem like they possibly overcomplicated things by trying to advance the design.

In a comment on the Intel subreddit that ASUS posted this statement on, ASUS was asked if these cosmetic marks would cause ASUS to deny warranty claims, to which an ASUS (North America) representative pointed out:

“First, we note that if there is an issue caused by the Q-Release Slim slot, we'll take care of end-users in the North America region. I make that distinction because I cover only the NA region.

Second, despite the visual damage you could see that were posted on social media, both cards were unaffected when tested for performance and functionality.

Third, and this is based on many years that I've done customer service previously at a competitor, it's not uncommon to see some signs of usage or wear and tear on the gold fingers just through normal use. In addition to some level of wear by inserting and removing the card, you can also slightly scratch the gold fingers when you miss the slot or set it down on a rough surface, etc. But this kind of wear doesn't typically damage the card in a way that prevents it from normal operation, and purely cosmetic scratches shouldn't void warranty.

Lastly, the type of damage you see on the PCIe connector that will void warranty typically involves severe scratches to the connector that exposes metal and/or damage that looks like the card was dropped and made contact with the ground. In these cases, it's usually apparent that the damage is no longer cosmetic and the card probably won't function at all.”

Because it’s the video cards that are damaged, and not the motherboard, we wonder how much authority ASUS has for speaking on warranties for other manufacturers.

Source: https://www.asus.com/us/news/ya8rt06hmk6xthtq/

Affected Motherboards

ASUS’ motherboard product page lists 16 SKUs of motherboards with a Q-Release Slim mechanism (listed below). These product lines that may feature the Q-Release Slim include: ROG STRIX Z890/B850/X870, ROG MAXIMUS Z890/Z790, TUF GAMING Z890 (only one), and a Pro WS WRX90E (only one).

• Important note – not every motherboard from the above product lines feature the Q-release Slim, sometimes this feature depends on the SKU from that product line.

1. ROG STRIX Z890-H GAMING WIFI
2. ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO BTF
3. ROG STRIX B850-I GAMING WIFI
4. ROG STRIX Z890-I GAMING WIFI
5. ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX
6. ROG STRIX Z890-F GAMING WIFI
7. ROG STRIX Z890-E GAMING WIFI
8. ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO
9. ROG MAXIMUS Z890 EXTREME
10. ROG STRIX Z890-A GAMING WIFI
11. TUF GAMING Z890-PRO WIFI
12. ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI
13. ROG STRIX X870-A GAMING WIFI
14. ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI
15. ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF
16. Pro WS WRX90E-SAGE SE

Source: https://www.asus.com/us/motherboards-components/motherboards/all-series/filter?Series=PRIME,ProArt,Workstation,ROG-Republic-of-Gamers,TUF-Gaming,CSM,Business,Others

ASUS Manual Documentation

ASUS’ documentation for using the Q-Release Slim is shown above, stating:

“To release an expansion card on a Q-Release Slim PCIe slot: Pull the front end of the expansion card upwards, this should release the expansion card from the Q-Release Slim PCIe slot, allowing you to remove the expansion card from the Q-Release Slim PCIe slot,” along with a reference illustration. In their most recent press release, Asus noted a "2 degree angle" in an illustration.

Source: https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1851/ROG_MAXIMUS_Z890_HERO/E25755_ROG_MAXIMUS_Z890_HERO_EM_V4_WEB.pdf?model=ROG%20MAXIMUS%20Z890%20HERO

Brief History of Q-Release Slim

ASUS first released the Q-Release Slim version on August 20th, 2024, and showcased it at Gamescon 2024, making it a relatively new feature. This came after their original Q-Release mechanism that they unveiled in 2021.

Source:

https://press.asus.com/news/press-releases/asus-x870e-x870-motherboards-ryzen-9000/
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/asus-and-msi-debut-motherboards-with-gpu-quick-release-for-easy-upgrades

Issues with Slight Angle

Found via PCWorld, Andreas Schilling of HardwareLuxx posted on Bluesky saying, “I have made a schematic drawing of what the problem is in my case. It is not always possible to create the necessary angle because of the back of the case,” along with this picture (below).

At the time of writing this, ASUS has not responded to issues with creating the necessary angle to use the Q-Release Slim mechanism.

In a February 5 tweet, Uniko’s Hardware showcased an example of more noteworthy damage to a user’s video card. The tweet reads: “we further dig in the photos provided by affected asus users. about the extreme cases reported, actually not just the peg part are damaged but also the corner of the x16 part. we all know the metal piece of q release slim is at the peg side only so the scratches that happened on the x16 part make zero sense. thus we are now suspect the root cause of the problem is the metal between x16 and peg which is intended to be soldered to PCB for smt slot rigidity. our initial test of 60 times plugging and removal shows almost no damage on the x16 part of the PCB, so if you follow tight the asus official guide, the extent of the damage could be minimized.”

It included this image:

Source: 

https://bsky.app/profile/aschilling.bsky.social/post/3lgwux6ikb22j
https://x.com/unikoshardware/status/1887113682200707194/photo/1

Simple Recap

• ASUS’ Q-Release Slim mechanism appears to be causing damage to the GPU’s PCIe-connector.
  • ASUS currently lists 16 SKUs of motherboards that use Q-Release Slim. This feature came out at the end of August 2024.
• Ultimately, it is pretty hard to notice the damage caused, until around 60 or so installs/removals (as highlighted by Uniko’s Hardware testing video). However, you may be able to notice extremely minor damage to the inside corner of the PEG power connector after every removal.
  • It is extremely hard to tell if Uniko’s Hardware perfectly followed ASUS' guidelines for removal, but it also should not be a requirement to perfectly follow the precise angle to the degree. We think that removing a video card is a standard process that should not require new care just for this mechanism. ASUS documentation says: “To release an expansion card on a Q-Release Slim PCIe slot: Pull the front end of the expansion card upwards, this should release the expansion card from the Q-Release Slim PCIe slot, allowing you to remove the expansion card from the Q-Release Slim PCIe slot,” which Uniko’s Hardware did follow, however in their most recent release, ASUS highlighted a 2 degree angle, which we’re not sure if Uniko’s Hardware did on every removal. But this also shouldn’t matter.
• ASUS' most recent press release acknowledges the issue, but claims this is only cosmetic damage to the GPU PCIe-connector (motherboard unaffected) that will not impact the performance or card functionality. 
• When asked about warranty claims, the ASUS representative said this shouldn’t affect warranty coverage.
  • “We note that if there is an issue caused by the Q-Release Slim slot, we'll take care of end-users in the North America region. I make that distinction because I cover only the NA region,” and “In addition to some level of wear by inserting and removing the card, you can also slightly scratch the gold fingers when you miss the slot or set it down on a rough surface, etc. But this kind of wear doesn't typically damage the card in a way that prevents it from normal operation, and purely cosmetic scratches shouldn't void warranty.”
    • Because it’s the GPUs that are damaged, and not the motherboard, we wonder how much authority ASUS has for speaking on warranties for other manufacturers.
• ASUS noted there were no reported issues on the original Q-Release (non-slim) mechanism, making it seem like they possibly overcomplicated things by trying to advance the design.
• Andreas Schilling of HardwareLuxx posted on Bluesky saying, “I have made a schematic drawing of what the problem is in my case. It is not always possible to create the necessary angle because of the back of the case,” along with a picture illustrating the angle issue.
• Ultimately, it seems that this isn’t a large issue because it only causes minor cosmetic damage that will not affect performance of the card and shouldn’t affect the warranty. Our biggest concern is if ASUS rejects warranties. We’d also be concerned if a video card dies for some unrelated reason, then the user gets rejected for PCIe damage caused by ASUS. This is something we can’t account for until it happens.
• As a bonus, most end users will likely not install/remove their card 60 times anyway. This is likely a much bigger issue for reviewers/testers.

If you are reading this review you might be interested in buying the fastest gaming GPU on the planet, but it seems that availability won't improve any time soon. NVIDIA's latest Founders…

Monolith Productions, the studio behind the Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War games, has been hard at work on a Wonder Woman game for years. Unfortunately, we are no closer to seeing the game in action, as the title has reportedly been rebooted. 

The rough times continue for WB Games. The company lost over $200 million on last year's release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. They lost a further $100 million on Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions and MultiVersus, the latter of which will be shutting down in a few months' time.

Now, according to a report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, WB Games is facing an awfully thin line-up of games, so there is unlikely to be a financial turnaround in the near future. Part of the reason for this lack of upcoming titles is due to the fact that Monolith Productions has faced challenges with its Wonder Woman game.

The Wonder Woman game, first announced back in 2021, has already burned through $100 million in spending, and to make matters worse, according to sources familiar with development, the project was internally rebooted, scrapping years of work to start from scratch.

The reboot sets the game's release date back quite significantly. The title is said to be “years away” and with it already being $100 million in the hole, and WB's other live service bets also bleeding huge amounts of money, it is unclear if the game will actually make it to release, or if it will be cancelled before we even get a glimpse of it.

KitGuru Says: Given WB Games' current fixation on ‘live service', I doubt many were particularly excited for Wonder Woman, especially after the reception to Suicide Squad. We can only hope that someone over there gets some sense and starts balancing out the workload at studios with a healthy dose of single-player games. 

Civilization, the legendary strategy game series, has hit a roadblock with its latest iteration. Civilization 7 launched this week to an influx of negative reviews on Steam. Now, Firaxis has responded, promising patches. 

On Steam right now, those who pre-ordered the Advanced Access version of the game are leaving an influx of negative reviews. As a result, the game has a ‘Mixed' review score, just based on those who pre-ordered the Founders or Deluxe Editions of the game. The majority of players will get access on the 11th of February, although the negativity surrounding the state of the game could lead to some pre-order cancellations.

There are a number of issues being called out here. Long-time players are not pleased with the UI, making moment-to-moment gameplay frustrating. Some playing the game in languages like German have called out grammatical translation errors, leading some to believe that AI was used for the game's localisation.

As a result, fans are calling for a visual overhaul of the game and it is largely viewed as a downgrade compared to the likes of Civ 6.

In response, Firaxis has said that it needs “some time to digest” the feedback and will then begin working on fixing things up. The UI interactions, map readability and additional polish are all cited as key areas of focus for future updates. Additionally, the developers have compiled a list of community-requested features to implement, including co-op teams in multiplayer matches, a wider variety of map types, additional customisation options and more.

While Civilization 7 is off to a bit of a rocky start, Firaxis says it will support the game “for years to come”, which has been the case for older titles in the series. Eventually there will no doubt be a series of expansions and DLCs for players to dive into as well. For now though, Firaxis is focused on free updates to get the game into shape.

KitGuru Says: Have any of you picked up Civilization 7 already? How do you feel about the game in its current form? What changes would you like to see? 

Krafton has been exploring ways to expand the PUBG universe for several years at this point. Following on from the announcement of the mysterious PUBG-linked ‘Project Arc', the publisher has now announced the game officially – PUBG: Blindspot, and a demo for it is dropping later this month. 

Unlike the Battle Royale version of PUBG that we are all used to, Blindspot will be a tactical shooter. The name PUBG: Blindspot reflects the development philosophy behind the game, as well as the core gameplay elements.

As we can see from the first-look trailer, first released three months ago, PUBG: Blindspot is a top-down tactical shooter, offering vision-based tactical play, with players taking advantage of intricate maps filled with cover. The map design is clearly based around giving players plenty of places to hide, forcing a tactical approach to clearing rooms and checking angles.

The game will offer 5v5 PvP gameplay, with players being able to utilise a range of gadgets to help them on the battlefield. We don't have a final release date for the game yet. However, a demo will be available on Steam between February 21st and March 3rd, giving everyone an opportunity to try out the game and give feedback.

How well the demo is received will likely have an impact on release date plans. If it goes poorly, we can expect a longer development cycle as the developers make changes. If it is well received, then the developers are already on the right track with their vision and can ramp up towards getting the game ready for full release.

It is unclear if Blindspot will be a free to play game, but we expect to hear more in the months ahead.

KitGuru Says: Will you be giving PUBG: Blindspot a try once the demo drops later this month? 

Dead by Daylight is kicking off 2025 with a bang. It is bringing back its popular 2v8 game mode with a twist: a Resident Evil crossover. From February 10th to the 25th, “The Fog” event will unleash a blend of asymmetrical horror and iconic Resident Evil characters, promising a unique gameplay experience.

This marks the third iteration of Dead by Daylight's 2v8 mode since its debut in July 2024, and it's already proving a hit with players eager to test the new take on this familiar formula. This time, the 2v8 mayhem welcomes two Resident Evil Killers: The Nemesis and Albert Wesker, the Mastermind. Joining these two is Dead by Daylight's own creation, The Legion.

Resident Evil is a natural fit for this crossover, having already contributed two dedicated Dead by Daylight Chapters, complete with Killers, Survivors, and various legendary outfits. And what better stage for this clash of titans than the Raccoon City Police Department? All Resident Evil characters will be available in the 2v8 mode during the event.

In addition, Dead by Daylight developers are introducing new themed gameplay elements to enhance the Resident Evil crossover. The Nemesis and Mastermind's powers revolve around infecting and weakening Survivors using the T-Virus and Uroboros, respectively. In a 2v8 match featuring both Killers, a unified antidote will be available in Supply Crates, capable of curing both infections.

Another nod to the Resident Evil universe comes in the form of Herbs. Green and Yellow Herbs will spawn randomly on the map, with the former restoring one Survivor Health State and the latter healing one Hook State. However, Killers can permanently destroy any Herb they find. When they do it, they'll also get a small movement speed boost, adding a strategic layer to their placement. Moreover, two Survivor bots will populate each lobby to streamline Killer queue times.

But that's not all. The new update adds new outfits to the game, with The Nemesis receiving the Nemesis Origin Outfit. At the same time, Albert Wesker will get the New Dawn Outfit from the Resident Evil 4 remake. On the Survivor side, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, and Rebecca Chambers each receive a new classic outfit.

KitGuru says: Do you play Dead by Daylight? Do you like to see crossovers such as this?

Corsair is expanding its workspace solutions with the Multi Frame Pegboard, a versatile add-on designed to bring order and extra storage to any workstation. Its clamp-on system attaches to your desk, instantly increasing usable space by moving items from the desktop to the pegboard and its accompanying shelves, keeping essential equipment within easy reach.

The Multi Frame Pegboard draws inspiration from the Elgato Multi Frame, originally designed as an add-on for the Platform:6 Desk. Responding to community demand for a standalone version compatible with existing desks, Corsair has delivered. Whether you're a streamer, gamer, or simply someone who appreciates a tidy workspace, the Multi Frame Pegboard offers a compelling solution.

The Multi Frame Pegboard significantly increases storage capacity with two generously sized pegboards, three adjustable shelves, and a selection of hooks. Its universal standard 3060 aluminium T-channel crossbar is a key feature, allowing seamless integration with a wide range of accessories. From Elgato favourites like the Key Light and Flex Arm to custom 3D-printed creations, everything can be easily mounted using the included T-nuts and adapters. The rail also supports attaching one or even two VESA monitor arms, allowing for better monitor placement and reducing desk clutter. Integrated wire management channels further contribute to a clean and professional aesthetic.

Available in 4-foot (120 cm) and 6-foot (180 cm) lengths, the Multi Frame Pegboard accommodates desks 4-foot wide and larger. Choosing between black and white colour options ensures it complements various home office styles. The quick and easy clamp-on mounting system makes installation a breeze. Industry-standard pegboard hole spacing and the included 13 hooks allow for complete customisation of the storage layout. The Multi Frame Pegboard is now available for £399.99 for the 4-foot model and £499.99 for the 6-foot model.

KitGuru says: If you want to add some extra storage capacity to your desk, something like the Multi Frame Pegboard could be a good solution. However, its price might make some forget that idea and look for a cheaper solution.

Thermal Grizzly has expanded its thermal pad lineup by introducing the Minus Pad Basic, Minus Pad Advance, and Minus Pad Pro series. These new pads were built upon the established Minus Pad 8, featuring optimised thermal conductivity, compressibility, and price-performance ratios. Designed for versatility, they are suitable for a wide range of applications, including SSDs, graphics card coolers, GPU water blocks, voltage regulators, and memory modules.

The new Minus Pad series offers a tiered approach to thermal pad performance, allowing users to choose the best option for their needs and budget. All three pad series share some key characteristics, including ease of application, availability in various sizes, and non-electrical conductivity.

The Minus Pad Basic offers good thermal conductivity, slightly reduced compressibility compared to the other Minus Pad series, and an excellent price-performance balance. Stepping up, the Minus Pad Advance brings enhanced thermal conductivity and improved compressibility. Finally, the Minus Pad Pro delivers the highest level of thermal conductivity and excellent compressibility, albeit at a slightly higher price point.

The Minus Pad series is available in 100 x 100mm and 120 x 20mm sizes, with thicknesses ranging from 0.5mm to 3.0mm. This wide selection suits various applications, allowing users to fine-tune their thermal solution for optimal performance. The Basic series starts at €14.90, while the Advance series starts at €19.90. The flagship Pro series starts at €29.90.

KitGuru says: If you needed a few thermal pads, would you consider Thermal Grizzly's new Minus Pad series?

Since it was first announced, there’s been some mixed messaging regarding the performance of the upcoming Obsidian Entertainment RPG ‘Avowed’, with the devs initially claiming that 60fps is not necessary for the game. Since then, the team clarified that 30fps will be the minimum target, hinting that a 60fps mode might be available by launch. Finally, the team has fully confirmed that Avowed will launch with support for a 60fps mode – on Series X at least.

As part of an interview conducted by Minnmax, Avowed’s director Carrie Patel was asked 175 rapid-fire questions, confirming that the game won’t include level scaling; will let you play as a bad guy and side with the antagonist; and offered a simple “maybe” on the notion of post-launch DLC.

Among the nearly 200 questions, Patel also confirmed that “you can get up to 60 [fps]” on the Xbox Series X, but no word was given on Series S framerates.

It is worth noting that the performance of first-party games on Xbox has been somewhat inconsistent this console generation, with many titles launching with a 30fps cap, only to then get an update later down the line – even for Series S in some cases.

At the very least, it is nice to know that when Avowed does launch later this month, Series X owners will be able to experience it in their preferred performance mode. Hopefully a Series S 60fps update is added at some point post-launch.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for Avowed? Is 60fps a must-have in your mind? Let us know down below.

Each month, those who are subscribed to Amazon Prime are able to acquire a wide range of ‘free’ games as part of the company’s Prime Gaming initiative. Throughout February, subscribers will be able to get their hands on almost two dozen titles, including but not limited to Bioshock Infinite, The Talos Principle and Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Available as a staggered release throughout the month, February’s Prime Gaming offerings once again represent a varied line-up of titles for the service, with the following games being added:

Available now:

• AK-xolotl: Together [Epic Games]
• Sands of Aura [Epic Games]
• BioShock Infinite Complete Edition [GOG code]
• The Talos Principle: Gold Edition [GOG code]
• Surf World Series [Amazon]

Arriving on the 13th of February:

• Hardspace: Shipbreaker [Epic Games]
• Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior [Epic Games]
• Dark Sky [GOG code]
• The Smurfs 2 — The Prisoner of the Green Stone [GOG code]
• Stunt Kite Party [Amazon]

Available on the 20th:

• El Hijo — A Wild West Tale [Epic Games]
• Republic of Jungle [Epic Games]
• Colt Canyon [GOG code]
• Royal Romances: Cursed Hearts Collector's Edition
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood [Microsoft Store]

Dropping on the 27th of February:

• Redemption Reapers [Epic Games]
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution — Director's Cut [GOG code]
• Yes, Your Grace [GOG code]
• Night Reverie [Amazon]
• Sine Mora EX [Amazon]

While it would be preferable that all of the games given away were made available through a single platform, it is still welcome to see Amazon continuing to give subscribers a massive pool of titles to obtain and play every single month – even if they aren’t the latest and greatest set of games.

KitGuru says: Are you subscribed to Amazon Prime? Do you like the current system or would you rather they offer fewer-but-higher-quality games? Let us know down below.

Capcom’s mainline Resident Evil titles have been for the most part highly praised across the board, with the publisher continuing to maintain this string of quality across its successive entries. That said, RE’s multiplayer spin-off titles have struggled in this regard – with their latest effort (Resident Evil Re:Verse) set to be shut down in just a few months’ time.

Making the announcement on their website, Capcom confirmed that Resident Evil Re:Verse will be officially shutting down in a couple months time, writing:

“Thank you for playing Resident Evil Re:Verse. This is to inform you that service will be ending for Resident Evil Re:Verse, which comes packaged with a purchase of Resident Evil Village for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Steam. The application and all of its related DLC will no longer be available for download or purchase.”

From the 3rd of March, the game will be removed from digital storefronts, meaning no new players will be able to check Re:Verse out. Additionally, at the same time all of the game’s DLC will also be removed from online stores.

Finally, on the 29th of June, the service will officially fully shut down, with no one being able to play the game anymore, regardless of whether you previously added it to your library.

Speaking on this end-of-service, the team explained that “Resident Evil Re:Verse was developed in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Resident Evil series, and your overwhelming support for the game has far exceeded our expectations since the time of its release. Now that we've reached a new turning point for the series, we feel that Resident Evil Re:Verse has served its original, celebratory purpose admirably.”

Whether this is the true reason for its closure or not, Resident Evil Re:Verse was far from the greatest RE experience, and so it reaching its end-of-life is not too surprising. Hopefully a more comprehensive multiplayer RE game is in the works.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the game? Was it worth your time? How would you like to see Capcom approach future multiplayer Resident Evil games? Let us know down below.

One way in which video games are leaked ahead of time can be attributed to games rating boards, who publicly publish their content reports on titles ahead of their release – making such projects visible for all. First announced back in 2022, Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach seems to be gearing up for release, with the game having now been officially detailed by the Korea Game Rating Board.

As discovered by ResetEra user Xenosaga, the Korean Game Rating Board has officially published a listing for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach to their website – indicating that the game could be close to release.

Given the fact that the titles need to be in a playable state in order to be rated, the release for Death Stranding 2 could be sooner than expected – with some fans hoping we might get an official launch date during the next PlayStation State of Play.

Of course, it is worth noting that the game being rated does not necessarily mean its release is imminent, with the same Korean Rating Board listing the highly-elusive and yet-to-be-released Hollow Knight Silksong all the way back in April of last year.

Still, with the first Death Stranding being rated in Korea just a few months out from its release back in 2019, we may see a similar cadence when it comes to its sequel. Hopefully we learn more later this month during the upcoming State of Play.

KitGuru says: What do you think of game rating boards? Are they an accurate indicator of things to come? When do you think Death Stranding 2 will be released? Let us know down below.