Game Freak wrapped up the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet generation back in 2023 with the release of two expansions. Since then, we've been waiting on the next major Pokémon title to hit Nintendo consoles, and it looks like we'll get some much-needed details later this week. 

As is the case every February, The Pokémon Company will be hosting its own showcase stream. On the 27th of February at 2PM UK time, Pokemon Presents will go live once again, giving us a new look at the upcoming Pokemon Legends ZA, the next big open-world game that takes us back to an ancient version of the Pokemon region from the X & Y titles.

It is also worth noting that this year also marks the anniversary of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan. It is unclear if The Pokémon Company plans to do anything special to celebrate this, but given how beloved those original games are, I expect we'll get something. Perhaps some of those classic Pokémon games will finally become available on Nintendo Switch, something that fans have been asking for since the system first launched in 2017.

KitGuru Says: We'll no doubt be back next week reporting on the news as its announced, so stay tuned for that. 

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Back in 2022, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto V: Expanded and Enhanced for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles. The main addition? New graphical features like Ray Tracing. Now years later, and just ahead of the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, those graphical enhancements are finally coming to the PC version of GTA 5. 

Rockstar confirmed plans to release a GTA 5 PC graphics update in late 2024. Now, the update is ready and is freely available to all PC players. The update brings the game up to the same level as the newer Xbox Series X/S and PS5 versions of the game.

Below you can see some of the key highlights of the update:

• Ray tracing features only available on PC such as ambient occlusion and global illumination — plus ray traced shadows and reflections first debuted on consoles
• Support for AMD FSR1 and FSR3, and NVIDIA DLSS 3
• Faster loading times using SSD and DirectStorage on supported devices and configurations
• Enhanced support for higher resolutions, higher aspect ratios, and higher framerates
• DualSense® controller support, with adaptive triggers
• Enhanced audio with support for Dolby Atmos and improved fidelity of speech, cinematics, and music

Due to the new graphical enhancements, the recommended PC system requirements for GTA 5 have been updated – a rare sight for a decade-old game. To utilise the new features, you will want a system with at least an Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16GB of RAM and an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT graphics card.

This change also brings a whole bunch of new vehicles to the game, as well as access to GTA+, Rockstar's subscription service that grants monthly bonuses for GTA Online, as well as free access to classic games, like the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy, Bully and more.

KitGuru Says: Do you still play GTA Online regularly? Has it improved since Rockstar added anti-cheat? 

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Valve has been putting a lot of its development resources into new projects in recent years. From Artifact and Dota Underworlds, to more successful releases like Half-Life Alyx and Counter-Strike 2. This has essentially meant that Team Fortress 2 has been left behind. Now, Valve has handed the keys to TF2 to the community.

Team Fortress 2 is now open source. The Team Fortress 2 Source SDK is now available. With this tool now available, people can essentially re-write Team Fortress 2, enabling game overhaul mods, new modes, new multiplayer experiences and more.

“Unlike the Steam Workshop or local content mods, this SDK gives mod makers the ability to change, extend or rewrite TF2, making anything from small tweaks to complete conversions possible”, Valve explains. “The SDK is licensed to users on a non-commercial basis, meaning that any mod created using the SDK must be free, and any content in those mods must be free. TF2 mods may be published on the Steam Store, and after publication will appear as new games in the Steam game list.”

Using TF2 as a base, developers could also create new game listings for the Steam Store. We've seen this happen with Half-Life projects in the past, like Black Mesa, a complete remake of the original Half-Life.

There is just one stipulation Valve has in place. As Workshop modders were responsible for a lot of in-game content for TF2 in the form of custom hats and other cosmetics, Valve does not want any developers to take those workshop items and then reutilise them for profit. It is unknown if Valve would make an exception for a developer willing to share a revenue split with the original workshop item creators.

KitGuru Says: With this move, I think we can safely say that there will be no more major content updates for Team Fortress 2. Now fans have to wonder – is Valve considering a Team Fortress 3?

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It seems the wait for AMD's Ryzen 9 9000 series with 3D V-Cache might be over soon. Both the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X3D have just surfaced on Geekbench with single-core and multi-core benchmark scores.

The leaked Geekbench results shared by @Olrak29_(1, 2) show both CPUs tested on Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AXE motherboards with 32 GB of DDR5-4800 memory. The 9900X3D achieved 3,274 and 19,227 points in the single-core and multi-core tests, respectively, while the 9950X3D scored 3,363 and 20,465.

Comparing these leaked results to the previous generation 7000X3D series reveals some interesting trends. The 9950X3D shows a roughly 15% improvement in single-core performance and a 4% gain in multi-core performance compared to the 7950X3D. The 9900X3D boasts a 14.5% increase in single-core and a 9.3% increase in multi-core performance relative to the 7900X3D.

While AMD officially announced these CPUs for release this quarter, they haven't provided specific launch dates. Rumours suggest that the 9950X3D and 9900X3D could launch alongside the RDNA4 GPUs, which makes sense strategically, especially if the RX 9070 XT proves to be AMD's flagship offering this generation. Pairing it with top-tier CPUs would create a compelling combination for customers.

KitGuru says: Were you expecting a bigger performance uplift on the new X3D processors, or do these values match your expectations?

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EK has unveiled its next-generation EK-Quantum Velocity³ CPU water blocks. Designed for compatibility with AMD AM5 and Intel LGA 1700/1851 sockets, the Velocity³ offers a high level of customisation, allowing users to fine-tune their cooling setup for optimal performance and aesthetics.

One of the key innovations of the Velocity³ is its flexible design, enabling easy switching between Intel and AMD platforms with minimal adjustments. Users can reposition the jet plate alignment, cold plate, and mounting bracket to accommodate their chosen socket type. This adaptability ensures that the Velocity³ remains a viable cooling solution even if you decide to switch platforms in the future.

The customisation goes beyond mere socket compatibility. The Velocity³ allows for the rotation of internal components, adjustment of the heat spreader, and repositioning the ports, giving enthusiasts control over their liquid cooling setup. This level of flexibility caters to those who demand both performance and aesthetics, ensuring the Velocity³ integrates into any build.

Available in Plexi, Acetal (black), and White finishes, the Velocity³ features a sleek, modern design crafted from high-quality materials. Its optimised cooling engine delivers exceptional performance, boasting up to a 2°C improvement over previous EK water blocks. The EK-Quantum Velocity³ 1700/1851/AM5 is available for purchase now for €109.90 (all variants).

KitGuru says: Are you planning on building a new custom loop? Would you take a thorough look at the new EK-Quantum Velocity³ water blocks, or do you already have something else in mind?

The post EK launches new EK-Quantum Velocity³ water block for LGA1700/1851 and AM5 sockets first appeared on KitGuru.

Apple has officially unveiled its much-anticipated “budget-friendly” iPhone, the iPhone 16e. While rumours previously suggested it might be named “iPhone SE 4,” Apple has opted for a new moniker for its entry-level offering.

The iPhone 16e features an A18 SoC with four GPU cores (instead of five), likely paired with 8 GB of RAM, ensuring compatibility with Apple Intelligence features. As predicted, the design takes cues from the iPhone 13 era, with a 6.1-inch OLED display boasting a 460 ppi pixel density and a 12 MP TrueDepth camera with Face ID support. The mute toggle switch has been replaced with the new action button, and the phone incorporates Apple's first in-house 5G modem, the C1, promising significant efficiency gains.

The iconic notch remains, and on the back, there's a single 48 MP camera. Other notable features include a USB-C port (albeit with USB 2.0 speeds), an impressive 26 hours of video playback (up from 22 hours on the iPhone 16), an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and emergency SOS via satellite.

The iPhone 16e starting price is $599 for the 128GB model and will be available on February 28th. While this represents a price increase compared to the now-discontinued iPhone SE 3, which started at $429 for the 64 GB model, the iPhone 16e's array of new features and increased base storage arguably justify the premium.

KitGuru says: Were you waiting for Apple to launch a new “entry-level” smartphone? Are you planning on upgrading your current smartphone, or do you think Apple is asking too much for an “entry-level” device?

The post Apple launches Iphone 16e powered by A18 SoC first appeared on KitGuru.

Following on from pre-release reviews yesterday, today the RTX 5070 Ti graphics card is launching to the masses globally. As we've seen with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, stock may be hard to come by. If you are looking to pick up an RTX 5070 Ti as soon as possible in the UK, we've compiled a range of listings for you to choose from, with a particular light shown on GPUs that actually get close to the MSRP price tag. 

As we've already seen in the US, many RTX 5070 Ti models are already being marked up above MSRP pricing. While Nvidia's MSRP for this GPU is $750, there is no Founders Edition card for board partners to compete with, leading to a slew of $900 to $1000 versions of the RTX 5070 Ti. If you are seriously considering spending that kind of money on a new graphics card, be sure to check out a range of reviews first – here's our RTX 5070 Ti launch day review. So far, the general consensus seems to be that the RTX 5070 Ti is not worth its marked up price, but that could change from individual to individual based on when you last upgraded your graphics card. The jump is likely far more worth it to someone coming from an RTX 20 or a lower-tier RTX 30 GPU, compared to an RTX 40 graphics card.

The Asus Prime RTX 5070 Ti was supplied to reviewers in the US as an example of an MSRP-level card. Here in the UK, this graphics card is launching at £739 for the OC Edition. Pricing varies between Scan, eBuyer, OCUK and CLL, with Scan being the cheapest at the time of publishing.

On the MSI front, there are several listings for the RTX 5070 Ti Ventus 3X model, priced at £729.99. For Gigabyte, your best bet for a reasonable price is the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti Eagle model, which is coming in at £899.

Unfortunately, there are not many options available at launch for those wanting to only pay the MSRP price. PNY, Zotac and Gainward each have options available that come pretty close, with MSI being the cheapest with an MSRP-level £729.99 card.

Speaking of Scan, if you are looking to pick up an RTX 50 GPU, they have set up a very handy RTX 50 notification page with daily stock updates, as well as updates to currency conversion rates so customers know when to expect prices to rise or fall slightly.

Do note that all prices here are correct as of 2PM GMT on February 20th. Prices are subject to change due to a myriad of factors, chief of which is supply and demand, followed by currency conversion fluctuations.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of the RTX 5070 Ti launch? Will you be upgrading or avoiding this current generation until prices settle down? 

 

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There have been many disappointed enthusiasts who have been unable to get hold of an RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 graphics card since launch last month. In an effort to avoid scalpers buying up Founders Edition graphics cards, Nvidia has now set up a Verified Priority Access program. 

In a statement shared on the Nvidia forums today, Nvidia confirmed plans for the Verified Priority Access program, saying that it will give “a limited number of verified GeForce gamers and creators” an opportunity to buy one RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card from the Nvidia Marketplace.

To be eligible, you have to A) be in the US. B) have a registered Nvidia account from before January 30th. You can sign-up to be considered for it by filling out a form where you simply select which graphics card you are looking to buy and then tick a box to say that you agree to Nvidia verifying participation “based on region, configuration, games and app usage”. From the sounds of it, Nvidia will be targeting power users who have spent time engaging with Nvidia's services.

There is no word on whether or not this program will roll out worldwide, or if Nvidia will have plans to put something like this in place for future Founders Edition launches. It certainly would have helped a lot of enthusiasts avoid the stress of retail queues and scalpers driving prices up.

KitGuru Says: Do you think something like this should be in place for enthusiasts looking to upgrade moving forward? Do you want to see this program open up in Europe and other regions?

The post Nvidia fights scalpers with ‘Verified Priority Access’ program for RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 first appeared on KitGuru.

As they have done for years now, each week a new game or two are given away for free via the Epic Games Store for all those with an EGS account. From today, users can get their hands on the cute indie RGP Garden Story as well as Saber Interactive’s World War Z: Aftermath.

Available to add to your library from today until the 27th of February at 4pm, this week’s free titles are being headlined by World War Z: Aftermath. While this has been given away on the Epic Store in the past, in case you missed it back then, this Saber Interactive-developed co-op shooter functions similarly to that of the iconic Left4Dead series but with a 3rd-person perspective.

As expected, the game throws massive swarms of zombies all clumped together at you with intent to kill. Featuring a number of different and unique classes, you and three other friends can buddy up and take on its co-op story driven campaigns which take you all across the world.

World War Z: Aftermath is the complete version of the game, and so if you aren’t one of the 15 million who've already experienced this title, now is as good a time as any.

Garden Story meanwhile is a cute indie RPG in which you must “unify a broken community as the newly-appointed Guardian of The Grove”. Think of it kind of like Stardew Valley except you play as a grape.

Both World War Z: Aftermath and Garden Story are available to claim from today at 4PM UK time.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offerings? Have you tried World War Z: Aftermath in the past? What’s your favourite fruit? Let us know down below.

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Just yesterday, we reported on the possibility of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series returning, thanks to one professional skater who let slip that he is in an upcoming ‘remaster’ of the series. It seems as though this will indeed be the case, as following his claims leakers have now revealed that THPS 3+4 is set to be officially announced this June.

As reported by known industry insider eXtas1s, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is planned to be shadow dropped by Microsoft during the company’s Xbox Games Showcase in June. According to the insider, this release will launch simultaneously on PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5 – marking another first-party Xbox title headed to PlayStation.

For the uninitiated, following the success of 2020’s Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (which went on to become the fastest-selling entry in the franchise), studio Vicarious Visions were working on a similar remake for the 3rd and 4th entries…until it was cancelled by Activision.

Given the fact that Vicarious Visions has since been absorbed and renamed to Blizzard Albany, it is unknown which studio has been tasked with this remake – though hopefully the Albany team were involved in some way.

As mentioned, just yesterday professional skater Tyshawn Jones revealed that “I’m in a Tony Hawk coming out, that’s cool. They got a new one they remastering so that’s about to come out, I was in the last one”. With collaborators and now leakers reporting on this remaster, it seems as though we might finally be getting the previously-ill-fated Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for the return of THPS? Which game in the series is your all-time favourite? Which studio do you think is working on the remake? Let us know down below.

The post Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 reportedly launching this June first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, Sony updates its PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium libraries with a new line-up of titles. Similarly, every month a number of games are also removed from the service. With February’s line-up now available to claim, the console maker has revealed that 10 titles are set to leave the service in a month’s time.

In going to the PlayStation Plus tab on your PS5, you’ll find a list of 10 titles under the ‘Last Chance to Play’ section. Leaving the service at some point in March (likely around the 18th) are the following:

• Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6
• Resident Evil 3 Remake
• DBZ Kakarot
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
• Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R
• Life is Strange True Colors
• Life is Strange 2 Complete Season
• Final Fantasy Type-O HD
• Street Fighter 5 Champion Edition
• Mortal Kombat 11

Fighting game fans might be disappointed to see 3 major titles leaving PS Plus, with Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R stinging particularly hard. In addition, it is interesting to see two Life is Strange titles being removed given the fact that the brand new Lost Records: Bloom and Rage has been added as a day-one release onto the service.

If you have not yet caught up with the Life is Strange series, you might want to give the two departing titles a go before they’re removed. Fortunately, both entries are relatively short affairs, and so you should have plenty of time to complete them.

In case you missed it, February’s PS Plus Extra/Premium titles are now available on the service, including the likes of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; TopSpin 2K25 and Patapon 3. The full list can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of February’s PS Plus additions? What about the games set to leave? Will you try to finish any of these games before they’re gone? Let us know down below.

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Back in May of last year, the team at Supergiant Games surprise-dropped the early access launch of Hades II. Since then, the game has seen one major content update alongside a bunch of smaller patches. Finally, Supergiant Games are back with Hades II’s 2nd major update – bringing new levels, gods, boons, revamped menus and a whole lot more.

Making the announcement, the team at Supergiant Games officially released and detailed their latest ‘Warsong Update’ writing:

“Our second Major Update has arrived, featuring the final confrontation of the surface route, one last Olympian and all his Boons, a new Animal Familiar to bond with, streamlined resource gathering, plenty of new music and artwork, and more! We're excited to know what you think, and will be monitoring feedback in the coming weeks to ensure these latest additions are working properly.”

The full list of patch notes can be found HERE, but some of the more interesting/notable changes include:

• More than 2,000 new voice lines and new events
• New final confrontation
• New Olymian (Ares) plus boons
• Revamped boons
• Revamped Altar of Ashes
• New and reworked keepsakes
• New enemies
• Revamped special encounters
• Much much more

In case you haven’t been keeping up with Hades II’s early access release, each major update has been huge for the game, not only in terms of new content, but how the currently available content is dished out and used.

Weapons and boons in particular have seen a great deal of changes over the months, and so it will be interesting to see how the Warsong Update switches up the gameplay formula. If you have yet to give Hades II a chance, now might be the best time to do so ahead of its full 1.0 release.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this update? Will you be heading back into Hades II? What’s been your favourite weapon to use thus far? Let us know down below.

The post Hades II gets second major patch with ‘Warsong Update’ first appeared on KitGuru.

HBO’s The Last of Us was a huge hit when it released back in early 2023, amassing 10s of millions of viewers and winning a ton of awards. Though it was known that Season 2 is planned to arrive sometime in April of 2025, we’ve now gotten a concrete premiere date.

Making the announcement with the release of 3 new character posters (alongside the tagine ‘Every Path Has A Price’) HBO has now confirmed that Season 2 of The Last of Us will premiere on the 13th of April – meaning it'll be here in under two months’ time.

The character posters released show Joel, Ellie and Abby walking down a path away from the camera while standing on items which are significant to each’s story (Joel’s broken watch; a guitar for Ellie and a Firefly pendant for Abby).

Whether for the right or wrong reasons, The Last of Us Part II was a highly controversial game when it released back in 2020, and so it will be both exciting and somewhat scary to see how HBO and Naughty Dog plan to adapt this narrative for the show.

That said, given just how excellently the team managed to translate the first game, HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is bound to be a gut-wrenching and highly evocative series when it premieres this April.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Season 2? Do you think any changes will be made for the show? How do you think Season 2 will be formatted when compared to the game? Let us know down below.

The post HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 gets official premiere date first appeared on KitGuru.

Ubisoft is teaming up with gaming peripheral manufacturer Lexip to equip Assassin's Creed Shadows fans with a collection of co-branded gaming accessories. This collaboration features six custom-designed items, each reflecting the game's feudal Japan setting. These peripherals will also be available in unique bundles with the game itself upon its release on March 20th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, macOS, and PC.

Starting with the Engraved Wireless Headset, it has an ancestral Japanese-inspired design. Enjoy cross-platform compatibility, connecting wirelessly to a wide range of devices via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz dongle. For those seeking enhanced control and precision, the Programmable Mouse with Thumb Joystick offers a unique programmable analogue thumb joystick, four buttons, a clickable wheel, and an optical sensor.

The Ergonomic Controller provides a comfortable and customisable gaming experience across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Android, and iOS. It features four programmable rear paddles, a D-pad, two joysticks, vibration feedback, and 14 buttons. The AC: Shadows-themed mechanical keyboard uses red mechanical switches and customisable RGB backlighting. It's available in QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layouts to suit different regions. Complete your setup with the Rigid Mouse Pad, with a customisable backlight, or an XXL Flexible Mouse Pad, made from washable neoprene with a non-slip latex base.

These accessories are available in various bundles, including the standard edition of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Assassin's Creed Shadows launches on March 20th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, macOS, and PC via Steam, the Ubisoft Store, and the Epic Games Store.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Interested in any of the Assassin's Creed Shadows-themed peripherals?

The post Ubisoft and Lexip unveil Assassin’s Creed Shadows-themed peripheral collection first appeared on KitGuru.

The DRAM market is facing a potential upheaval as leading manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix are considering halting the production of DDR3 and DDR4 memory by the end of the year. According to industry sources, this move is driven by a combination of lower memory prices and declining demand. While this could lead to a shortage of DDR4 memory, which is still widely used in entry-level PCs and consumer devices, the situation is more nuanced than it first appears.

As per Digitimes' report (via Tom's Hardware), the root cause of this potential shift lies in the aggressive pricing strategies of Chinese DRAM manufacturers, like Changxin Memory Technology (CXMT) and Fujian Jinhua. These companies have significantly ramped up DDR4 production while slashing prices, undercutting their South Korean rivals. In some cases, Chinese DDR4 memory ICs are reportedly cheaper than reconditioned chips, making it increasingly difficult for major DRAM manufacturers to maintain profitability in the DDR4 market. This has led them to consider phasing out DDR4 production in favour of more lucrative options like DDR5 and HBM.

However, demand for DDR4 remains strong, and whether Chinese manufacturers can meet this demand alone is unclear. If Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix exit the DDR3 and DDR4 markets, a supply shortage could emerge as early as mid-2025. While Taiwanese companies like Nanya Technology and Winbond Electronics could potentially fill the gap, their focus on specialised DRAM with lower production volumes and higher prices might not fully address the broader market needs. Moreover, some clients hesitate to use Chinese-made DRAM.

Nanya Technology predicts the DRAM market will bottom out in early 2025 before recovering in the second quarter. AI-related cloud computing is expected to remain a key driver, while overall consumer demand is projected to see only a modest increase. Anticipating the decline of older DDR memory versions, Winbond Electronics plans to transition to a more advanced 16nm manufacturing process in late 2025. This move from 20nm will enable the company to produce higher-capacity 8Gb DDR chips, better positioning them for current and future market demands.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you still have a system using DDR3 or DDR4 memory? If you're planning to upgrade your memory, it might be a good idea to do it soon, or you might end up paying more for the same.

The post Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix will reportedly halt production of DDR3 and DDR4 memory in late 2025 first appeared on KitGuru.

Phil Spencer has been doing the rounds in headlines again this week thanks to a newly published interview. We've already heard that Microsoft is no longer interested in convincing gamers to switch to Xbox from competing platforms. Spencer has now confirmed that future Xbox game showcases will feature more multi-platform titles.

Typically, a Nintendo Direct, PlayStation State of Play or an Xbox Games Showcase focuses primarily on first-party games, releasing exclusively for each platform holder's console. As Microsoft takes on this more SEGA-like multi-platform approach, we will start to see the focus shift more from exclusives in showcases to multiplatform titles. While multiplatform games shown during these showcases often only appear with one console logo or splash screen, Microsoft plans to include PlayStation and Nintendo logos on trailers for its multiplatform games during showcases.

Speaking with XboxEra, Spencer confirmed the shift in strategy saying:

“I think it’s just being honest and transparent about where the games are, and we actually even had this discussion last year for the June showcase, and by the time we kind of made our decision, we couldn’t get all of the assets done and it felt weird to have some of them in and some of them out.”

“But I just want to be transparent with people – for shipping on Nintendo Switch, we’re going to put that. For shipping on PlayStation, on Steam… People should know the storefronts where they can get our games”.

If you needed any further confirmation that Microsoft plans to lean more into multiplatform games and do away with true exclusives, this should be it. We're still not a point where Xbox has ‘no exclusives', and for now, a lot of games are still coming to PlayStation and Nintendo months, or years after the original Xbox and PC release. However, as we've seen with Sony and its quicker pace of PC releases, those lengthy gaps are only going to get smaller.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I know Microsoft thinks it can still sell Xbox console hardware after all of this, but this weird in-between position they've taken cannot last. Eventually, the masses will notice that they don't need to own an Xbox to play Xbox games and from that point, they will invest in other platforms. 

The post Phil Spencer confirms plans for more multiplatform games in Xbox showcases first appeared on KitGuru.

The Pillars of Eternity series was incredibly well received but due to the top-down, CRPG nature of the game, it wasn't as widely accessible to the gaming masses as something like an Elder Scrolls or Fallout. Obsidian is opening up the world of Eora to a new audience today with the launch of Avowed, which has released to a very positive reception on Steam. 

Avowed is now available and sits at a ‘Very Positive' rating on Steam, based on close to 3000 user reviews at the time of publishing. Prior to release, Obsidian talked a lot about how the team wanted to perfect combat in this game, especially for those who prefer to cast spells over swinging swords. The developers will be pleased to see that many of the top-rated reviews absolutely rave about the combat in this game, from the dual-wielding functions to meaningful spells, destructible environments and all of the animations in-between.

As Avowed isn't meant to be on the same scale as a Skyrim or a Starfield, players get smaller open zones to explore rather than a sprawling map. That means that Obsidian is able to hide treasure in all sorts of interesting places across the map, making exploration rewarding and interesting. We've all had that moment of disappointment when reaching an out of place platform, or going behind a waterfall, only to find absolutely nothing there. Based on reviews so far, it sounds like that won't be a problem for those playing Avowed.

This is a nice change from last week. When Avowed first released to Premium Edition buyers last week, the game had a ‘mixed' reception based on early Steam reviews, but over the last few days, as the game has opened up to millions of new players, that overall review score has improved significantly.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As a big fan of Obsidian RPGs, I've been looking forward to Avowed for years and I'm looking forward to finally diving in. Have any of you picked up Avowed already? What do you think of the game so far? 

The post Avowed launches to ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam first appeared on KitGuru.

GameSir is raising the bar for multi-platform gaming controllers with its latest release, the Super Nova. This controller prioritises comfort, precision, and customisation, offering a single device to play across PC, Switch, Android, and iOS devices. The Super Nova's standout feature is its focus on silent operation. Noise-free ABXY buttons and cutting-edge GameSir Hall Effect sensing sticks deliver smooth, precise feedback without distracting clicks or stick drift.

One of the Super Nova's key selling points is its connectivity, with tri-mode connection options ensuring seamless integration with various platforms. Whether you prefer Bluetooth, a wired connection, or a wireless dongle, the Super Nova has you covered. Incorporating GameSir Hall Effect sensing sticks guarantees exceptional durability and responsiveness, with a lifespan of up to 5 million cycles. Anti-friction glide rings further enhance the experience, eliminating stick grinding and ensuring smooth, precise movements.

The Super Nova also features precision-tuned Hall Effect analogue triggers, offering a smooth and responsive operation. Trigger stops allow for customisation, enabling players to switch to a short pull position for rapid-fire action. Additionally, a hair-trigger mode can be activated for lightning-fast responses. A 1000Hz polling rate further enhances responsiveness by minimising latency. Dual asymmetric rumble motors provide haptic feedback, while the built-in 6-axis gyroscope enhances motion control. Moreover, it also has a one-press wake-up feature.

Customisation options abound with two back buttons that support single button mapping and macro recording, putting complex commands at your fingertips. Customizable RGB light strips and a detachable center faceplate allow you to personalise the controller, while the ABXY configuration can be physically altered to suit individual playstyles. Thanks to a 1000 mAh battery and an intelligent auto start-stop charging station, charging is effortless. Simply pick up the controller to start playing and return it to the station for automatic recharging when you're finished.

The GameSir app and GameSir Connect app unlock even more customisation options, allowing for firmware updates, stick and trigger dead zone adjustments, vibration intensity control, and button testing. Many of these settings can also be accessed through on-the-fly key combinations. The Super Nova is available in white-pink and black-blue for £37.00.

KitGuru says: If you were to buy a new controller, would you consider the GameSir Super Nova?

The post GameSir unveils the new Super Nova wireless controller first appeared on KitGuru.

January saw the launch of both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, but today the 50 series rollout continues with the RTX 5070 Ti. Targeting a £729/$749 MSRP, this new GPU is the natural successor to the RTX 4070 Ti Super, but just how much of a generational improvement is on offer? We test rasterisation performance, ray tracing, DLSS 4, power, efficiency and more to find out…

Set to launch at retail tomorrow, February 20th, the RTX 5070 Ti is the most affordable RTX 50 series GPU yet – though it is still an extremely expensive purchase! Remember the days when the xx70 class cost about £300?

It's also worth clarifying that there's no Founders Edition for the RTX 5070 Ti, as was the case with both the RTX 4070 Ti and 4070 Ti Super. Instead, Nvidia sent us the MSI Ventus 3X OC model, a card we are told should land at the MSRP.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:47 RTX 5070 Ti specs
01:46 Test setup
02:52 Alan Wake 2
03:19 Black Myth: Wukong
03:46 Cyberpunk 2077
04:12 Final Fantasy XVI
04:37 Forza Horizon 5
05:00 Ghost of Tsushima
05:21 Horizon Forbidden West
05:47 The Last of Us Part 1
06:06 Plague Tale: Requiem
06:31 Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
06:52 Starfield
07:14 Total War: Warhammer III
07:54 12-game average results
09:09 Cost per frame analysis
10:48 RT Alan Wake II
11:21 RT Black Myth: Wukong
11:45 RT Cyberpunk 2077
12:06 RT F1 24
12:27 RT Ratchet & Clank
12:50 RT Returnal
13:10 RT Shadow of the Tomb Raider
13:36 RT Star Wars Outlaws
14:01 RT 8-game average
14:59 DLSS 4 – Multi Frame Generation
17:51 AI & productivity benchmarks
19:15 MSI Ventus 3X design
19:52 12VHPWR temperatures and cable current
21:19 Thermals and acoustics
21:56 Power draw and efficiency
23:31 Overclocking
24:21 Closing thoughts

	RTX 5090	RTX 5080	RTX 5070 Ti	RTX 4070 Ti Super	RTX 4070 Ti
Process	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4
SMs	170	84	70	66	60
CUDA Cores	21760	10752	8960	8448	7680
Tensor Cores	680	336	280	264	240
RT Cores	170	84	70	66	60
Texture Units	680	336	280	264	240
ROPs	176	112	96	96	80
GPU Boost Clock	2407 MHz	2617 MHz	2452 MHz	2610 MHz	2610 MHz
Memory Data Rate	28 Gbps	30 Gbps	28 Gbps	21 Gbps	21 Gbps
L2 Cache	98304 KB	65536 KB	49152 KB	49152 KB	49152 KB
Total Video Memory	32GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR6X	12GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface	512-bit	256-bit	256-bit	256-bit	192-bit
Memory Bandwidth	1792 GB/Sec	960 GB/Sec	896 GB/Sec	672 GB/Sec	504 GB/Sec
TGP	575W	360W	300W	285W	285W

First, a quick spec recap. Whereas the RTX 5080 is a full implementation of the GB203 die (378mm²), RTX 5070 Ti is cut down across the board. Comprised of six Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each holds up to eight Texture Processing Clusters (TPCs), with a total of 35. Each TPC is home to two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), giving us 84, and each SM still holds 128 CUDA Cores, meaning the RTX 5070 Ti has a total of 8960 shaders. We also find 70 RT cores, 280 Tensor cores, 280 Texture Units, and 96 ROPs.

This time around, however, there's no node-shrink, and GB203 remains fabricated on TSMC's N4 node, as per the RTX 40 series. As such, rated clock speed has not stepped forwards this generation, with the RTX 5070 Ti rated at 2452MHz, which is actually lower than the 2610MHz boost of the RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4070 Ti Super.

The memory configuration is almost identical to the RTX 5080. That means we find 16GB of GDDR7 memory, but it's clocked slightly slower, at 28Gbps, and that puts total memory bandwidth at 896 GB/s, a 33% increase over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. L2 cache still comes in at 49MB.

Lastly, the RTX 5070 Ti features a 300W TGP. This is something we focus on closely in this review, using our enhanced GPU power testing methodology, so read on for our most detailed power and efficiency testing yet.

The post MSI RTX 5070 Ti Ventus 3X OC Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Insurgency Labs, a new company in the PC hardware scene, has just launched its very first PC case. If you want something different from the usual rectangular or fishtank boxes we typically use to house our hardware, then the new ModuCase ITX modular chassis might be up your alley.

The ModuCase ITX Premium Modular Case is designed specifically for small form-factor builds. It uses an open-air configuration, so you'll always have easy access to your hardware and can easily swap parts in and out. Ultimately, you'll end up with an extremely small form factor build, but with a full-sized ATX power supply on the bottom, ensuring compatibility with high-end hardware.

The addition of support for ATX-sized power supplies makes the ModuCase ITX more flexible than standard SFF cases, which typically require an SFF-sized power supply, which aren't as common on the market. The chassis is crafted with durable materials, but they are also 3D-printed, opening up plenty of modding possibilities for hobbyists with a little CAD knowledge.

Here is everything that comes in the box:

• Motherboard Mounting Base: A sturdy foundation to securely hold your motherboard.
• PSU Mounting Base: Designed to provide a snug fit for ATX power supplies.
• Routing Back Cable Support: Keeps your cables neatly organized for a clean build.
• Motherboard Backplate: Adds additional support and stability for the motherboard.
• SSD case (1x): SSD enclosure that fits perfectly between the motherboard base and the backplate for additional expansion.
• GPU Support: Ensures your graphics card stays firmly in place, preventing sagging.
• Screws (4x): Essential hardware for securing components.
• Motherboard Spacers (8x): Helps elevate the motherboard to prevent contact with the case.

The Insurgency Labs ModuCase ITX Premium is available now, priced at $115 CAD, which equates to just over £90 GBP. As these cases are shipped from Canada, you may have to spend a little more on imports if you are buying from Europe, the US or elsewhere.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like a test-bench style chassis like this over a standard enclosed case? 

The post Insurgency Labs’ ModuCase ITX case supports full-size PSUs for SFF builds first appeared on KitGuru.

RTX 5070 Ti reviews are coming up shortly, but one popular reviewer has broken embargo to discuss the situation with pricing. Despite being sent an ‘MSRP' RTX 5070 Ti that is supposed to sell for $750, these graphics cards are already being marked up at retailers, bringing prices up to $1000 for certain versions. 

JayzTwoCents, a popular tech reviewer on YouTube, published a video yesterday to discuss RTX 5070 Ti pricing. While he is not supposed to talk about which specific RTX 5070 Ti he is reviewing before the embargo lifts, he ran into issues when looking into retail pricing. While Nvidia had sent Jay an Asus Prime RTX 5070 Ti, which Nvidia had classed as an ‘MSRP' level card that should hit the market for $750, retail listings show this GPU as selling for over $900. Some other custom models already listed on Micro Centre from the likes of Asus, MSI and GIgabyte all feature prices between $900 and $1009.99, well above the $750 MSRP set by Nvidia.

Here in the UK, we have a list of RTX 5070 Ti's that are supposed to sell at MSRP, but currently, no UK retailer has put pricing details on their listings, which is in stark contrast to the situation in the US, where retailers have already revealed prices for pre-orders. Some of the cards we've been told will be ‘MSRP' cards are the same models already being marked up in the US, so we'll have to wait and see how the conversion rates shake out when the retail embargo lifts tomorrow afternoon.

While it is interesting to see this pricing discussion kicked off ahead of embargo, there isn't much ‘new' here. If anything, this is business as usual, as has been the case since RTX 2000 dropped in 2018. We rarely see custom cards from the biggest GPU brands, like Asus, MSI and Gigabyte, selling at MSRP. Here in the UK, we typically see cards from the likes of PNY, Zotac and Inno3D actually hitting MSRP. However, Nvidia has opted to use bigger-brand Asus graphics cards to send to reviewers as an example of MSRP cards, which is where the confusion comes in.

Since the release of Jayz' video, the Micro Centre listing for the Asus RTX 5070 Ti Prime has been knocked back down to $750. However, this is displayed as a discount on the store page, meaning the price may rise by $150 shortly after launch once supply sells out. The other cards from MSI and Gigabyte are still being listed at over $900.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The idea of paying up to $1000 for an x70 class GPU is going to put a lot of people off upgrading this generation. Hopefully over time as supply improves and initial launch demand wanes, we will start to see prices fall back to more ‘acceptable' levels for the PC gamers of the world. 

The post What is going on with RTX 5070 Ti pricing? first appeared on KitGuru.

Following a string of less-than-stellar releases, the iconic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series was revitalised thanks to the excellent Pro Skater 1+2 Remake. Unfortunately, while a remake of THPS 3+4 was in development, the project was ultimately canned. That said, Pro Skater 3+4 might have some life left in it, as according to one professional skater, there’s a new Tony Hawk remaster “that's about to come out.”

In an interview conducted by the Breakfast Club podcast (and reported on by VGC), professional skater Tyshawn Jones seemingly let slip that a new Tony Hawks game is coming out soon, saying “I’m in a Tony Hawk coming out, that’s cool. They got a new one they remastering so that’s about to come out, I was in the last one.”

As stated by Jones, the skater did feature in the aforementioned Pro Skater 1+2 Remake, lending a great deal of credence to his words.

For the uninitiated, following the success of 2020’s Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (which went on to become the fastest-selling entry in the franchise), studio Vicarious Visions were working on a similar remake for the 3rd and 4th entries…until it was cancelled by Activision.

Given the fact that Vicarious Visions has since been absorbed into Blizzard, it is unknown which studio has been tasked with this remake. That said, with Microsoft having acquired Activision Blizzard in the years since, it’s possible that the team were later put back onto the THPS 3+4 project.

Regardless, it seems as though we won’t have to wait long to find out; if Jones’ word is anything to go by. As mentioned, while later Pro Skater entries failed to match the quality of the original games, having a remake of 3+4 should satisfy almost all fans of the series, assuming it’s as good as 1+2.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2? Were you disappointed by the cancellation of 3+4? What do you hope to see from this upcoming remake? Let us know down below.

The post Pro Skater claims new Tony Hawk Remaster is “about to come out” first appeared on KitGuru.

Twice a month, Microsoft updates its Xbox Game Pass library with a line-up of new/returning titles. For the second half of February, the service is launching one major title in the form of Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed – alongside a couple other additions. Unfortunately, even more games are set to leave Game Pass at the end of the month.

Making the announcement on the Xbox Wire Blog, Megan Spurr – the Senior Community Lead for Xbox Game Pass – wrote “For those of you that have been exploring the Living Lands in Avowed, thank you for taking a break to check out the latest Game Pass news! We have some exciting new reveals and exclusive Perks to tease your install buttons.”

With that, the full list of Game Pass additions set to drop onto the service over the course of the remainder of February is as follows:

Available Now

• Avowed [GP Ultimate and PC]

Coming soon

• EA Sports F1 24 [GP Ultimate and PC] – 20th February
• Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader [GP Standard] – 20th February
• Watch Dogs: Legion [GP Standard] – 25th February

As mentioned, an even greater number of titles are unfortunately set to leave the service on the 28th of February, those being:

• F1 22
• Gris
• Maneater
• PAW Patrol World
• Space Engineers
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
• Wo Long Fallen Dynasty
• Yakuza 3 Remastered
• Yakuza 4 Remastered

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you checked out Avowed yet? What do you think of it? Which of the departing games will you try to complete before the end of the month? Let us know down below.

The post Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Yakuza and more leaving Xbox Game Pass first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo’s Gold Points system was a nice way for players to get a bit of money back on games they bought, with Switch owners receiving Gold Points valued at 5% of a purchase’s value. While a small benefit, Gold Points were a nice feature to have – too nice it seems, as Nintendo has announced they'll be discontinuing the service next month.

Making the unfortunate announcement on their site, Nintendo officially confirmed the end of the Gold Points era, writing: “On March 25th, 2025, at 3:30PM AEDT / 5:30PM NZDT, the ability to earn Gold Points will end. Gold Points already earned can still be used on Nintendo eShop to receive a discount, even after this end date. We sincerely thank you for using the My Nintendo rewards program and apologise for any inconvenience.”

While the company did not offer any reasons for this, it seems quite clear that this change is due in part to the upcoming Switch 2 release.

Whether the successor console will include a revamped version of the Gold Points system is yet to be seen, but given the fact that Nintendo games sell in the millions consistently, that extra 5% could translate into a lot of spare change for the console maker – especially if Switch 2 games launch at £70.

Alongside this, the company also nerfed its Switch Game vouchers, confirming that they won’t be usable with Switch 2 games.

Again, whether this feature will return in a refreshed manner is yet to be seen, but if not, then Switch 2 owners could wind up paying quite a bit more for games over the course of the upcoming generation. We will have to wait and see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of these announcements? Will Nintendo introduce some new form of loyalty program? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post My Nintendo Gold Points to be discontinued ahead of Switch 2 launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Marvel Rivals has been a huge hit since it launched back in December last year, with the free-to-play hero shooter amassing more than 20 million downloads in under two weeks and seeing a peak concurrent player count of almost 650,000 on Steam alone. Despite the game’s undeniable success, one of Marvel Rivals’ game directors has announced that he and others from his team have now been laid off.

Making the surprise announcement on LinkedIn, the Games director at Marvel Rivals' support studio Thaddeus Sasser wrote “This is such a weird industry…My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games…and were just laid off! Oh well! Times are tough all over – Let's find these incredible people new jobs, because we all need to eat, right? :D”

Alongside Sasser, Marvel Rivals level designer Jack Burrows confirmed this recent spree of firings, writing “Welp, just got laid off from my job working on Marvel Rivals with NetEase. Was an enormous pleasure to work with my American coworkers who join me in this sad culling. Just couldn't dodge that big boot I guess, no matter how big the success of the gig.”

Given the undeniable and rapid success of Marvel Rivals, this announcement comes as a huge surprise. Hopefully we learn more on exactly what went down sooner rather than later.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how players respond to this latest move – and whether this marks the first major red stain on what was otherwise a highly-compelling and growing live-service shooter.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this firing? Does this reflect badly on Marvel Rivals / NetEase? Where do you hope to see Sasser and co. move to in the wake of all this? Let us know down below.

The post Marvel Rivals Director laid off following the game’s highly successful launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we take a look at another new power supply in the MSI catalogue – the MPG A1000GS. This PCIE5 ATX v3.1 supply is fully modular, and is 80 Plus and Cybenetics gold certified. Is this a unit you want to be shortlisting for a new build in 2025? Let's find out.

While the last flagship MSI power supply I looked at cost a staggering £600 (MEG Ai1600T – review HERE), the MPG A1000GS I am reviewing today has an more palatable MSRP of £184.99. Checking pricing online as we go to publication this indeed appears to be the case (HERE). MSI are including two native 12V 2×6 connectors to support the new range of RTX 50 series graphics cards (although one is surely enough for a 1000W PSU). This power supply has a power excursion rating of 235% and is PCIe 5.1/ATX 3.1 ready.

The OEM partner of choice for this power supply is CWT based on the CTE platform.

This power supply falls into the mid tier of a ‘triangle rating system' inside documentation that MSI sent us. I think this is worth a little clarification today as I had so much to discuss regarding the Ai1600T in the previous review, I did not dwell on this at all.

So, for clarity, the ‘MEG' range is ‘Enthusiast Gaming' sector in the high end, with the aforementioned £600 Ai1600T filling that slot. The supply we are testing today falls into the MPG ‘Performance Gaming' sector and the lower end 1000w/850w/750w/650w units fill the MAG ‘Arsenal Gaming' sector.

MSI MPG A1000GS Overview:

• Supports Nvidia® GeForce RTXTM 50 series graphics cards
• 2 x native 12V-2×6 connector
• Dual-color 12V-2×6 cable
• 80 PLUS Gold certified
• Optimized the sound level
• 100% all Server-grade 105oC capacitor
• Embossed Jacket Cables, the cables are more bending and routing
• Industrial level protection with OCP/ OTP/ OPP/ SCP/ OVP/ UVP/ SIP/ NLO

The post MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 ATX v3.1 PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.

OCCT, a popular stress testing and monitoring tool for Windows PCs, is expanding its reach with a new Linux version. Long favoured by enthusiasts for its ease of use and comprehensive testing capabilities, OCCT is now available in alpha for Linux users, marking a significant step for the platform.

While the Windows version of OCCT has seen substantial updates in recent years, including a modernised UI and expanded functionality, the Linux version is still in its early stages. Currently in alpha testing and available exclusively to OCCT patrons, it has already received positive feedback. A public release is planned, though no specific date has been announced.

OCCT promises a straightforward installation process for the Linux version, requiring no external dependencies or root access. The utility even implements its own version of HWInfo, as no comparable solution currently exists for Linux. While this integrated HWInfo isn't as feature rich as its Windows counterpart, development is ongoing to achieve parity. Designed for compatibility with various Linux distributions, including the Debian version that powers SteamOS, OCCT has demonstrated its commitment to the platform. The company has even confirmed a collaboration with Valve to create a dedicated version for Steam, ensuring updates and support for the Steam Deck.

While there are no plans to make OCCT open source, the developers have hinted at allowing third-party applications to interact with the software. Details are unknown, but more information is expected to be revealed later this year. The OCCT team has also promised to unveil additional features around Computex 2025 in late May.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you use OCCT? Are you glad they're expanding to Linux?

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Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has stormed out of the gate, achieving impressive sales figures in its first two weeks on the market. The developer announced via the game's official social channels that it has surpassed two million units sold, a remarkable feat considering it took just one day to reach the initial million milestone (though pre-orders helped).

While official platform-specific sales data remains unknown, Steam statistics suggest that a significant portion of those sales originate from PC players. The game's popularity is further evidenced by its peak concurrent player count on Steam, which reached an impressive 256,000 users. This secured its place in the platform's all-time top 50 leaderboard, even surpassing Team Fortress 2.

During Embracer Group's recent Q3 2024/25 earnings call, CEO Lars Wingefors publicly acknowledged Warhorse Studios' accomplishment, stating that the game's performance has exceeded the publisher's expectations. This success is a testament to the anticipation surrounding the sequel and the strong foundation established by the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Warhorse Studios is committed to supporting the game's long-term success and plans to release mod tools soon. Furthermore, they have outlined a comprehensive roadmap for 2025, including free updates like barbers, horse racing, and Hardcore Mode in the spring, followed by three premium DLC releases: Brushes with Death in the summer, Legacy of the Forge in the autumn, and Mysteria Ecclesiae in the winter.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried Kingdom Come Deliverance II? Do you think the game deserves the praise that it's getting?

The post Kingdom Come Deliverance II has already sold 2 million copies first appeared on KitGuru.

While synthetic benchmarks don't always paint a complete picture of real-world gaming performance, these early results offer valuable insights into the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti's capabilities.

It's important to note that with ray tracing and upscaling technologies in play, assigning a single performance metric and expecting it to translate universally across all benchmarks is challenging. Results can and will vary. However, synthetic tests tend to be more consistent than graphics API tests (like OpenCL).

To ensure consistency, the benchmark entries shared by VideoCardz use a single set of benchmarks from a source using a system equipped with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 48 GB of DDR5-6000 memory. The tested card is an MSRP model with Nvidia reference clock speeds. Moreover, they've included comparisons with the RTX 5080 and 4070 Ti Super to compare it against the higher-tier SKU and the one it's replacing.

On average, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is 16.6% faster than the RTX 4070 Ti Super. Compared to the RTX 5080, the 5070 Ti is, on average, about 13.2% slower. As mentioned earlier, gaming benchmarks will provide a more comprehensive picture, but these initial figures seem reasonable considering the reported specs of the upcoming graphics card.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Were you expecting more or less performance from the RTX 5070 Ti?

The post RTX 5070 Ti benchmark leak puts it between RTX 5080 and RTX 4070 Ti first appeared on KitGuru.

PowerColor has been well known in the graphics card space for decades. Now, they are taking aim at the peripheral market, starting off with the new Alphyn AM10 wireless gaming mouse. 

The Alphyn AM10 is designed to deliver everything you need from a gaming mouse. From the classic ergonomic palm-grip shape to the ultra-high 8000Hz polling rate, ensuring minimal latency between your mouse clicks and the PC. Using a PAW3395 sensor, you'll get top-tier accuracy with up to 26,000 DPI and 650 IPS tracking, blending speed and precision.

 

In the table below, you can see the full spec sheet for the mouse:

Model Name	ALPHYN AM10 BLACK
Connectivity	USB 2.0 HighSpeed 2.4G with dongle BT5.2 or higher
DPI	Selectable, 100 ~ 26000
Backlight	1 zone configurable ARGB 12 pcs
LED indicator	DPI status, 1 RGB LEDs
Protocol	USB HID class v1.11
Programmable Buttons	6
Sensor Type	PAW3395
Grip Type	Palm, Claw
Battery Capacity	500mAh, Ploymer Li-ion Rechargeable
USB Data Length(bit)	16bit per axis
Tracking Speed (IPS)	650
Report Rate	Selectable, Wired : 8000/4000/2000/1000/500/250Hz 2.4G : 1000/500/250Hz BT : 125Hz
On-Board memory	5 profiles
Battery Life	50 Hours (Max.)
Mouse Button	Omron Optical Switch (On MB1/MB2, 70M Clicks)
Weight	96g Max
PC Control Panel	Windows 10/11
Cable	1.8 Meter, Detachable
Acceleration (g)	50

The PowerColor Alphyn AM10 gaming mouse can be tweaked and customised to your liking using PowerColor Keystone, a new hub with options for customising mouse sensitivity, button shortcuts and RGB lighting. This software also works perfectly for those using the AH10 gaming headset, unlocking a host of EQ and mixer settings for your audio.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for a new gaming mouse? Will you be adding the Alphyn AM10 to your shopping list?

The post PowerColor combines speed and precision with new Alphyn AM10 mouse first appeared on KitGuru.

Nowadays, everyone wants an AIO cooler with an LCD display on the pump. Gamdias is launching one of the nicest looking AIOs yet this week with the new Chione P5 series, available in sleek black and white colours. 

The Gamdias Chione P5 series AIO coolers feature a 3.4-inch IPS LCD display, so you'll get accurate colours even when looking at the display from an off angle. With a resolution of 480×480, users can set custom images or animated GIFs to the display. Just below the LCD display you will find an ARGB lighting strip to add a vibrant glow around your CPU.

Using the Gamdias Zeus Cast software, you can also access real-time monitoring of essential system information, from temperatures and clock speeds to clock time and calendar date.

So the cooler looks great, but does it have the hardware to tame today's high-end CPUs? The Chione P5 AIO cooler uses an upgraded coldplate with precise 0.12mm microflow channels to target CPU hotspots. The optimised fluid routing system and 10-pole motor ensure stable pump speeds of up to 2700RPM. To help move heat out of the system, the Chione P5 also comes equipped with Notus fans, which operate at just 25.48 dBA at 1600 RPM and peaking at only 34.91 dBA at 2200 RPM, so your CPU will be running cool and quiet.

The CHIIONE P5 Series AIO cooler includes an upgraded mounting kit for seamless installation on both AMD and Intel platforms, including the newest Intel LGA 1851 and AMD AM5. Prices start at $139.99 for the 240mm AIO and $159.99 for the 360mm AIO.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you in the market for a new AIO cooler for a PC upgrade? What do you think of the latest models from Gamdias? 

The post Gamdias unveils its best-looking AIO CPU cooler yet first appeared on KitGuru.

Nearly 30 years ago, CyberConnect2 was founded, and in the decades since the studio has brought us countless great and fun games across popular franchises including but not limited to Naruto; Dragon Ball; JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and more. In celebration of the studio’s upcoming 30th birthday, CyberConnect2 has now launched a dedicated anniversary website sharing its fresh rebrand.

Making the announcement via this brand new website, the team at CyberConnect2 has begun its 30th birthday celebrations (ahead of the company’s actual anniversary on the 16th of February 2026.)

Giving fans a glimpse into their celebration plans, the company wrote “CyberConnect2 would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to their fans across the world, clients, and friends who have made this possible. Embracing their 30th year, CyberConnect2 will revamp its corporate image and begin operation on a variety of celebratory projects as a way of relaying their thanks to all who supported them along this journey. Details and updates will be posted regularly on CyberConnect2’s special anniversary website.”

While we will likely see a bunch of more substantial news over the coming year, the studio did kick off this anniversary event by announcing its new studio rebrand. Alongside a more modernised/simplistic take on the previous company logo, they also unveiled a new slogan/mantra: “One Part Love, One Part Passion, All Entertainment” which is said to “[embrace] CyberConnect2’s company spirit and intention of connecting with their fans and bringing them joy through the entertainment the company provides.”

Last but not least, the studio also revealed their new mascot. Designed by studio artist Higashi, fans will be able to vote on what they wish for this new mascot to be named through the company’s Twitter page.

While this kickoff is lacking in any new game announcements, CyberConnect2 seems to have a whole suite of plans for the next 365 days – and so it will be interesting to see what else they have in store.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of CyberConnect? What’s your favourite game by them? What would you call the new mascot if it were entirely up to you? Let us know down below.

The post CyberConnect2 begins its 30th anniversary celebrations plans first appeared on KitGuru.

While the initial trailer for the first Sonic the Hedgehog film introduced a hideous character redesign sparking a ton of backlash, the final product proved to be a major success for SEGA and Paramount Pictures – spawning two sequels in the years since. Finishing its cinematic run with almost half a billion in the bank, Paramount is now set to bring Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to digital platforms later today.

Set to drop onto the streaming service Paramount+ today, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the most recent (and successful) entry in this ongoing franchise, having brought in over $478 million though cinema screenings.

While fans eagerly await the 4th film (which was confirmed to be coming in March of 2027), Paramount is now bringing the 3rd entry to its streaming service – and will later be available through Amazon Prime Video sometime in May.

Each successive Sonic film has been bigger than the previous, with Sonic 1 bringing in $319 million at the time; Sonic 2 boosting this to $405 million – and as mentioned – Sonic 3 raking in just shy of $480 million.

Of course, this still pales in comparison to the highest-grossing film based on a video game, with Nintendo’s Super Mario Movie amassing a massive $1.36 Billion during its cinematic run.

Still, with the Sonic films continuing to see an increase in both critical and commercial reception, it will be interesting to see what SEGA and Paramount have planned for the aforementioned Sonic 4.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Sonic the Hedgehog 3? How much money do you reckon the 4th film will make? Which of the 3 films is your favourite? Let us know down below.

The post Sonic the Hedgehog 3 comes to streaming today first appeared on KitGuru.

Since their pivot to digital showcases, Sony has created two different and distinct online events – those being their State of Plays and the more substantial PlayStation Showcases. Despite the former typically featuring lower-stakes announcements, the console maker’s recent State of Play stream broke records with over 2 million concurrent viewers.

As reported by StreamCharts, Sony’s recent State of Play showcase (which took place on the 12th of February) saw a massive boost to its viewership counts when compared to prior similar showcases.

According to the publication, the 45 minute presentation saw a total average viewership of 1.8 million, with peak concurrent watchers surpassing 2.18 million – both of which were new records for its State of Plays.

Beyond this, other interesting stats include the fact that the SoP was co-streamed by over 1000 different channels for the first time, indicating an increase in awareness of the event across the board.

As mentioned, State of Plays typically feature smaller announcements when compared to the company’s grander PlayStation Showcases. That said, with State of Play quickly becoming a recognisable brand name similar to that of Nintendo Directs, it will be interesting to see whether the company winds up sticking with the branding for its upcoming Summer event – or if they will continue with their two-pronged approach.

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KitGuru says: Did you catch the SoP when it was live? Do you prefer this branding, or PlayStation Showcases? Should the console maker keep both events separate? Let us know down below.

The post Sony’s recent PlayStation State of Play set new viewership records first appeared on KitGuru.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, instead of PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox, the video games industry’s 3 console giants consisted of the aforementioned PlayStation and Nintendo – but also SEGA. Unfortunately, following the failure of the Dreamcast, the console maker would pivot to becoming a 3rd-party publisher. With Microsoft seemingly set to go a similar route, Xbox Head Phil Spencer has now directly addressed these comparisons.

In an interview conducted by XboxEra, Spencer was asked about Xbox’s current strategy of releasing an increasing number of its first-party titles onto competing platforms, and whether this will ultimately lead to a similar full 3rd-party shift like we saw with SEGA back in the 2000s.

In discussing this (and the 30% cut that Sony takes on all Microsoft games which do come to its platform), Spencer stated [as transcribed by ResetEra user ‘Super’]: “I would love to make all of the money for all of the games that we ship right, like obviously we make more on our own platform. It's one of the reasons that investing in our own platform is important. But there are people, whether it's their libraries on a PlayStation or Nintendo, whether it's they like the controller better, they just like the games that are there.”

He continued, “And I don't want to then look at that and say, well, there's no way that we should be able to build a business there, find fans of our franchises there. I'm not trying to move them all over to Xbox anymore. People were all so invested in where our games are. Let's just allow more people to play and yes, the 70% that we make on games on other platforms is helpful to us being able to build great portfolios like we showed at the Dev Direct and I hope this will continue to show through the rest of the year.”

Of course, regardless of whether the company was planning to leave the console hardware business or not, they would be unlikely to reveal such information until absolutely necessary.

Still, with Microsoft reportedly working on its next-gen console right now, it seems that Xbox as a hardware brand is here to stay – at least for the time being.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Phil’s response? Will Xbox eventually leave the console business? Let us know down below.

The post Xbox Head Phil Spencer responds to SEGA comparisons first appeared on KitGuru.

Counter-Strike has been one of the most popular games on Steam for over a decade but the game is showing no signs of slowing down. Just this past week, Counter-Strike 2 surpassed its old record and hit a new peak concurrent player milestone. 

Not all players were happy about the transition from CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2, but that hasn't stopped the game from growing to new heights. The first Premier season for CS2 just wrapped up and Premier Season Two officially launched, introducing the new version of the map ‘Train' to the competitive map pool. As a result, players have been flooding back into Counter-Strike 2, leading to a new peak player count.

On the 16th of February, Counter-Strike 2 reached a peak concurrent player count of over 1.744 million. This happened around the afternoon in Europe, just as America was waking up and Asia was going to sleep, which indicates how strong the playerbase for Counter-Strike is in European regions.

Counter-Strike 2 has not yet surpassed the all-time high player count from CS:GO, which hit over 1.8 million concurrent players in 2023. Counter-Strike 2 isn't far behind though, and all it takes is one new operation and a set of new skins, or a new competitive season to send the numbers flying back up.

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KitGuru Says: Have you been keeping up with Counter-Strike 2 since launch, or did you drop out of the game after the transition from CS:GO?

The post Counter-Strike 2 sets new concurrent player record first appeared on KitGuru.

Fans of Overwatch have been calling Blizzard out for their missteps in the transition to Overwatch 2. Now with Marvel Rivals dominating the hero shooter space, the director behind Overwatch 2 has admitted that the game has not “evolved as much as it should have” over the past couple of years.

Overwatch 2 was originally exciting due to the announcement of a full PvE campaign and other changes, like hero talent trees, allowing players to customise their playstyle further. Plans for both of those things were cancelled, leaving us with an underwhelming sequel that added very little to the overall experience.

Now with Marvel Rivals providing tough competition, Blizzard is finally looking to take some risks with Overwatch once again. In an interview with Games Radar, Overwatch 2 director, Aaron Keller, admitted that the team has felt pressure to make changes after the success of Marvel Rivals.

“There is pressure on the Overwatch team, and a lot of it is internal. You know, a lot of the things that we’re announcing for seasons 15 and 16, like perks and Stadium, they’re things that have been in development for Overwatch for quite some time. And I think what’s driving that is, when we look at our game, we feel like it’s either missing something or it hasn’t evolved as much as it should have.”

“We’re obviously in a new competitive landscape that I think, for Overwatch, we’ve never really been in before, to this extent where there’s another game that’s so similar to the one that we’ve created”.

Blizzard just recently began announcing updates for the next two seasons of Overwatch. For starters, the cancelled hero talent tree system is coming back. Additionally, a new Stadium mode is being added to the game. Hopefully over the course of 2025, we see Blizzard trying more ideas as it attempts to make Overwatch interesting to the masses once more.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While it is good to see the Overwatch team finally kicking things up a notch and introducing interesting new ideas, I can't help but feel that this is all incredibly temporary. Blizzard was quite happy to sit on Overwatch for years, trying almost nothing to add to the game. If the competition from Marvel Rivals drops off, Blizzard may well just pull back and let Overwatch sit in stasis again.

The post Blizzard admits Overwatch 2 ‘hasn’t evolved’ following Marvel Rivals success first appeared on KitGuru.

Everyone is looking forward to Grand Theft Auto 6 later this year but for the first time in the franchise's history, the single-player campaign might be the least important part of the release. With GTA 6, we are also expecting a big new version of GTA Online, and it seems Rockstar might be taking tips from major online games like Roblox and Fortnite. 

Fortnite and Roblox are both extremely popular for their creator modes, allowing players to create their own games. With the next version of GTA Online, Rockstar is reportedly looking to build a platform for user-generated content. We've already seen some steps towards this with Rockstar's acquisition of the FiveM development team, who were behind the insanely popular FiveM RP mod for GTA Online.

Rockstar isn't stopping there though. According to Digiday, Rockstar has been hiring some of the most popular creators on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite to prepare new modes for the next version of GTA Online.

At this point in time, it is unclear how these creators will be able to monetise their creations in GTA Online. We already know that some streamers are going to try and put together a blockchain, crypto-backed GTA Online RP server when GTA 6 drops, but Rockstar has previously banned attempts to link crypto currencies with GTA Online. Chances are, Rockstar's official implementation won't involve any crypto or web3 shenanigans.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What are you hoping to see Rockstar change with the next iteration of GTA Online? 

The post Rockstar will reportedly open up GTA Online to user-generated content and mods first appeared on KitGuru.

Bethesda quite famously announced The Elder Scrolls 6 back in 2018 but to date, we've heard very little about the game. With Starfield now out of the way, the studio has been fully focused on the next mainline Elder Scrolls game and you can now put yourself in the running to be included as an NPC in the game.

The Elder Scrolls 6 is still several years away but if you'd like to see yourself in the game, Bethesda is offering up a once in a lifetime opportunity. In support of the Make-A-Wish foundation, Bethesda is auctioning off the opportunity to have yourself added to the game as an NPC.

“The Elder Scrolls series, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, is renowned for its vast open worlds, deep lore, and immersive storytelling. With this exclusive experience, you’ll work with the developers to create a custom character that will appear in the game, leaving your mark on the legendary franchise”, the description reads.

Bethesda already has another custom NPC in the works for The Elder Scrolls 6. Shirley Currey, a content creator better known as the ‘Skyrim Grandma', is also being added to the next game in the series as an NPC.

We don't know when The Elder Scrolls 6 is due to release, but the game has been in production for a couple of years now and there is a playable build of the game running inside Bethesda's offices. Considering that AAA games take five years to develop on average, the game likely won't be out until 2027-2028.

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KitGuru Says: We're still some ways off from seeing The Elder Scrolls 6 in action but progress is being made. Hopefully we'll start getting more news on the game later in the year. 

The post Bethesda is auctioning off the chance to become an NPC in The Elder Scrolls 6 first appeared on KitGuru.

A recent EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission) filing from Zotac has been spotted, listing an RTX 5050 graphics card among other upcoming models. While EEC filings are notorious for including unreleased or even entirely fictional products, this particular entry has caught our attention due to the lack of prior rumours or evidence suggesting the existence of such a GPU.

The filing itself lists a range of confirmed SKUs, including the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070. We also know that the RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti are expected to launch within the next two months. However, the RTX 5050 remains a complete mystery.

This raises the question: could there be some truth to this listing? It's certainly possible. Nvidia is expected to transition its entire production to Blackwell GPUs soon, which could eventually lead to the Ada models disappearing from the market. If that happens, even the RTX 4060 wouldn't fill the entry-level segment in the GeForce lineup. Considering the relatively high pricing of the RTX 50 series so far, it's unlikely the RTX 5060 will hit the £300 price point.

This would leave a gap in Nvidia's portfolio, particularly in the price-sensitive market segment where Intel's Arc Battlemage B580/B570 GPUs are positioned. An RTX 5050, potentially a heavily cut-down variant with 8GB of RAM, could be Nvidia's solution in this segment.

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KitGuru says: Do you think Nvidia will manufacture an RTX 5050?

The post Nvidia RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 spotted on the EEC database first appeared on KitGuru.